Total newb, rube and know-nothing

LawyerSam said:
Ok, price of the knife sharpener is less of a factor. That knifeworks website has some nice specials, and a couple Benchmade field sharpeners at $10. Some place had it, I think Knifeworkds, the Spyderco for $53 so not bad. And since I can use it on scissors and awls (like I am gonna run out and buy an awl, but hey, I do have this belt that ......) could make sense.

Ok, why would I get the Delica over say one of the $25 or so knives at knifeworks here: http://www.knifeworks.com/specialpriceitems.aspx
Click to expand...

If the Delica is a bit rich for your blood, look at the Kabar Dozier Folding hunter. It comes in three sizes, all under 35 bucks I think, and its a great knife. I own the large one. Phenomenal.

Please do not get a pull-through "vee" type sharpener like the Benchmade field sharpener. They aren't very good.
 
you do get what you pay for, especially within a company. there's a reason tthe 25 dollar spydies are $25, and the 200 dollar spydies are $200

that said, i don't think anyone here will tell you to pay mrsp
 
What I haven't heard from the OP is what appeals to you? Specs and which is better/best are great, but which of them looks right to you?

IMHO the 1st consideration is does this knife appeal to you?
 
I vote Tenacious. The steel is a good steel to learn sharpening on, it will take an edge quickly if you do your job right. And it has a very nice feel in hand. The g10 gives it a nice heft in hand, great grip, the blade shape is tremendously useful, and the spyderco "hump" isn't as ugly as on several other Spydercos.

Or go Persistence, which is the same knife but a bit smaller. I think they're GREAT first spydies. I have more expensive FRN spydercos that most people assume are lesser quality if they compare them, because of the lightness of the FRN handles compared to the g10 with liners. But I like the light weight for carrying.... Obviously Enduras and Delicas are great, too. Can't go wrong with a Native around your price mark, too.
 
Something lighter appeals than heavy. I like the curved handles and something that is tactile, not smooth like some stainless I see. Material of the handle, as long as it is durable, is not as important as the ability to grip it and not get hand-tired if I have to saw through a rope.
 
marcinek said:
Please do not get a pull-through "vee" type sharpener like the Benchmade field sharpener. They aren't very good.
Click to expand...

Absolutely this - those pull through sharpeners will ruin your knife.

As far as what to get, everything in this thread so far is a good suggestion. Whether it's a persistance, tenacious, or RAT-1, I am confident you will love it. Personally I'd suggest the persistance, I think the slightly smaller size will serve you very well and hopefully raise less eyebrows among co-workers.
 
Sircantaloupe, love the name. Favorite fruit or one of them in the summer. Won't be at the office. I will try to sharpen, or get someone, to sharpen each of the $5 cheapies to keep here at the office. I open a package a week, law books, shave stuff, so 90% of the time, it cuts open the sealing tape on a cardboard package. I have staple removers for that, and letter openers for the letters. It will be a stay at home knife.
 
LawyerSam, welcome. Nice to have another legal professional on the forum. For use at the beach and around a pool, a Spydero Salt 1 is a great choice. I am at the beach this week, and I brought my Salt 1 along. It is the same dimensions as the Delica, but does not have steel liners. The steel, H1, is completely rust proof. The Salt 1 is worthy of your consideration.
 
you could also get a Kershaw. go on the web and look at sperderco, and kershaw knives. I think that between these two brands you have such a wide selection that you can choose whatever knife looks good, and do alright.
 
LawyerSam said:
...I was thinking that maybe if I got a decent knife, I would find more opportunity - ...- to use it (or play with it!)
Click to expand...

I promise you, if you get a good knife you'll carry it and use it more than you would a cheap knife.

You didn't directly state whether or not you prefer more tactical, locking knives or more traditional, slip-joint knives. By mentioning the Tenacious however, I would assume you prefer more utility/tactical styling. Let us know if I'm wrong because that will open up an entirely different set of options. For various price ranges I would suggest the following

~$25-35 Kershaw Leek, Spyderco Tenacious or Persistence, Kabar Dozier, Vic Swiss Army Knife Cadet Alox, CRKT Drifter, Buck 55 or 503

~$50-60 Spyderco Delica or Native, Boker Exskelibur, Buck Vantage Pro, Kershaw RAM or Blur or Avalanche

At around $100 the world opens up with many great quality knives from Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, and others. You'll get a ton of recommendations if you want to take your options to that level, just let us know.
 
Dont know as I know the difference in tactical vs. slip joint?

Dont like the knife that looks like the end of a bayonet. Like the curves on the flip out knife, and dont need the cocobola wood handles. Modern is cool by me.
 
LawyerSam said:
Dont know as I know the difference in tactical vs. slip joint?

Dont like the knife that looks like the end of a bayonet. Like the curves on the flip out knife, and dont need the cocobola wood handles. Modern is cool by me.
Click to expand...

Tactical may be the wrong term, but I'm generally referring to single-bladed, locking knives with synthetic grips. The Delica is a perfect example.


A true "tactical" knife would be built to very high end specifications for extreme usage.

Traditional pocketknives often have two or more, non-locking blades with natural handle materials, like wood or bone. Like this Stockman pattern from Case...


Personally, I like both depending on the pattern :D Slipjoints have a certain nostalgic appeal, and can handle just about any task you'll need a knife for. The "tactical" knives have a more modern "coolness" factor to them that is addictive, but they are also useful. I often carry both :thumbup:

Welcome to a whole new world my friend!
 
Tactical then. I am looking at the sales forums here, I think that if they are like shave stuff, the prices would be a bit better and less of a gamble then fleabay. Besides, a small scratch would take $$ off and I am fine with that. Saw a yellow Salt I for 47.00, still a bit higher but cheaper then I ebayed.
 
You might want to consider a Kershaw with the assisted open flipper as your first real knife. Why? Because they're really fun to play with.
 
out of your current choices, I'd recommend the tenacious or persistance. I heard great things about them. On the topic of linerlocks, I was a little skeptical of the strength of them until I finally got one. Not worried about lock strength one bit.:thumbup:

I'd also recommend the kershaw skyline as a nice lightweight design. I carry one as my edc and it just seems weightless in my pocket. Also, the flipper on it is a hell of alot of fun :D

I got mine for about 35 bucks.

Here's a link to one http://yourcornerstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12203
 
LawyerSam,

You mention preferring lightweight, 3" blades, synthetic handles. The Delica scores on all counts. The Tenacious is a lot heavier, as is the Leek. The Delica in the lightweight molded FRN version has great traction and toughness. The flat ground blades of the limited run are excellent for most everyday cutting tasks, and you can choose from 5 colors.

The Delica is a knife you won't outgrow, and you're less likely to cut yourself when closing it than with the Tenacious. I say get a Delica.

Bill
 
remmmm said:
You might want to consider a Kershaw with the assisted open flipper as your first real knife. Why? Because they're really fun to play with.
Click to expand...

silly as it may sound, that could be as good a reason as any other. The fun factor. I am looking at some Kershaws.

I am selling a Merkur Slant Bar to fund this, as I had a slant bar made in exotic wood - Honduran Rosewood burl. Check out Robert Quinn's stuff at www.eliterazors.com. Not affiliated, just proud that I got a shave brush and a razor. I dont collect, but I have two brushes and two razors since I do like somewhat of a choice.

Saw a Kershaw Blur in another thread, it looked cool. Dont know about one poster's comment about a coated blade, but I liked the look. If anyone sees an exceptional deal on the exchange forum, PM me, or if you have something to trade for a razor, let me know. Hope I am not out of line.

Maybe it is because I have OCD (which on the shaveforums, we call Acquisition Disorder) but I start to look at belts to see if anyone is carrying a knife. I have to run to Walmart tomorrow, so I will spend some time looking at knives, and maybe run to Dick's and if I have time, yellow page a knife store.
 
Ring said:
What I haven't heard from the OP is what appeals to you? Specs and which is better/best are great, but which of them looks right to you?

IMHO the 1st consideration is does this knife appeal to you?
Click to expand...



I held a Leek today. Loved the feel, did not like the all stainless handle. Compared it to a Mini Griptilan and liked the handles on the Griptilan better, but it was $30 more than the Leek. Have not seen a Spyderco up close.

Now, the Griptilan I think is a 2.25 inch blade or that was what I was told. The size seemed good, but as a first and EDC knife, is it preferable or is the larger Tenacious preferable? I read that the Griptilan may have a Tanto blade, whatever that is, or maybe it was a thread from 2008. Is there a Kershaw and a Ken Onion one at that close to the Griptilan but closer in price to the Tenacious?

I think I am down to a Spyderco, a Kershaw and a Benchmade Griptilan (I think that is the only Benchmade I liked out of the ones I saw). I did like the lock system on the Benchmade a whole lot, and I liked the spring assist opening on the Leek. A serviceman at the shop I was at today has a leek with a black handle, not stainless, and he showed me the tension at play that helps open it.
 
Does Benchmade have a cheaper knife like the Mini Grip as I do like that blade locking system and the opening system and I do like the handle material. The blade I would not mind being bigger but the price is $55 cheapest on line and kinda out of my ball park. I did like the weight of it and it could be a bigger knife and even the full sized Grip was something I liked. How does a Spyderco say Tenacious, Delica, or Persistence compare in weight and blade and stuff? Scallion?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top