Total newb, rube and know-nothing

First, Outdoors has a few knives, but they are sadly grossly overpriced.

A couple of knives in the ballpark you seem to be not considering, the Buck Vantage Pro (S30V with G10 scales for about $50) and the Spyderco Byrd line (not the greatest steel, but a step up from what you have been using, and a Byrd Raven is about $25).

The composite Leek seconds on the sale side of this forum are well priced. For that you get a lightweight 3" blade with CPM D2, and excellent steel. Yes, you have to deal with the metal scales, but they aren't that bad.

As for Spyderco, I cannot say enough nice things about the new FFG Delica 4. It is such a nice, lightweight knife, I have sold some of my heavier bruisers and switched to it.

A word of warning, buying this knife, whatever it is, will not be your last.
 
Wayne, my thinking is, well, the Byrd, I can get the Persistence for $25. How does that compare to that Leek composite? I can go check the Leek composite out and maybe overthinking that stainless handle.

What do you think of the black Scallion blem for $22? And adding a Persistence and seeing if I can sell or trade my Leopard to find the mini Grip? Or getting the Scallion and waiting to see if I can get the Grip and if not, then instead of a cheaper Sypderco, trading or buying something like the Delica or there is a trade thread on a Native 3 and was thinking that? I do have my Leopard for trade and maybe it brings $75 in trade value?
 
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In all fairness, I am a Spyderco fan-boy. Most of my knives come from them and Canal Street. So, I am biased. I know very little about Kershaws. I've looked at the composite Leek and liked it. I intend to pick up a G10 Leek at some point...when I get around to it. I've owned a MiniGrip, but I traded it. Very nice knife, just didn't fit me. Ultimately what should drive your decision is what fits your hand the best. The bad thing is that you should try to hold the knives first. In Memphis, though, that is a tough thing to do given the lack of quality knife shops.
 
Three options I am down to

the Mini Grip alone

the Persistence and the Scallion or Leek (Nascar for $20, or the composite) if I go cheap, both from Kershaw guy, and open to another blem priced $38 or so and less

third option is a Delica or Native alone.
 
Those are vastly different knives. You have an axis lock, an Onion flipper, and two classic Spydies (one with and one without choils). See how they feel in the hand before you buy.
 
Yes, I know. Just was wondering what you and others thought. Mini grip feels great, but the scallion did as well and the leek stainless scales were the least comforting in the bunch I did hold. Delica was nice, but no Native to be held. But other than feel, are there practical considerations for EDC and general home and office use? Not gonna go hunting, or do landscaping with it
 
The other practical considerations are the type steel, blade shape, grind, and weight in my mind.

Of those the MiniGrip is 154CM (I think), the Delica is VG10, the Composite Leek is CPM D2, and the Native is CPM S30V. From a steel snob point of view, the D2 and S30V are better. Practically speaking, are you going to notice a difference in edge retention and toughness. Likely not, given your use. So, that is a wash. Blade shape, again, all over the map. What appeals to you? Weight, I am unsure of the respective weights.
 
About the Spyderco knives: I am not a huge fan of how they lookin the blade shape, many other knives appeal to me more. When looking at the Delica you can see it is neither pretty nor handsome. But I bought an Endura which is just a larger Delica, in part because many on this forum were telling me that Spyderco are good.
BUT:
If you ignore the looks of the Spyderco and just use the knife then you start to appreciate the design. The handle is comfortable in the hand, it just feels 'right'. The blade design is good, it is a good blade to use on most cutting chores and without much of a curve on it sharpening is easier than on many other blades. The clip can be removed or left as is or moved to be in any one of 4 different locations (left or right, tip up or tip down) to suit your preference. After a while you start thinking it looks pretty good, but that is because your judgement is clouded by your love for the knife. I still don't love the look, but I don't mind it either - I realise that they were designed to be practical and work well rather than look pretty, function over form! Generally I prefer that to form over function - something that looks good but is a pain to use is not really what I want.

I like my Endura and since you seem keen on a smaller knife then I would recommend that you buy a Delica and have fun using it. There is a reason why your nephew owns a bunch of Spyderco knives - they are really good to use. Get a FFG Delica - available in different colours and looking pretty nice. I doubt that you would regret than purchase, even if you go on to add some other knives to you collection like Kershaw and Benchmade knives that you have already mentioned.
 
I have Benchmades, Spydercos, Byrds, and Buck. All will do what you need w/ no problem. My Benchmade holds an edge longer than the others. My Griptillian cuts with less effort than my Delica or Byrd Cara Cara. I have the modified sheepsfoot blade Griptillain with the round opening hole. The Axis lock is my favorite out there now. I've had issues with lock backs like the Delica failing to lock. It wasn't a Delica, just the same style lock. For a smooth opening knife, the Axis lock is hard to beat.

I wouldn't worry about getting all the oil and wrenches and such. Just wash the Griptillian, or any of those you're considering, in the sink and it will be fine. Do dry it as well as possible. I wouldn't worry about tightening the pivot either. Just don't go around flicking the knife in front of people. This applies to any knife, not just the Griptillian. I've actually never been able to flick a Delica or Endura open. That's why I like balisongs.

For sharpening, I recommend a Norton Coarse/Fine India combo stone, available at Grainger, most woodworking shops, and on line. I used mine dry, but it is listed as an oil stone. An 8" model is about $20 and will sharpen all your plain edge knives, but not serrations. At least I haven't figured it out. The coarse side will remove metal quickly from all the knives you are considering, and the fine side will put an edge on them that will carve pieces from a beard hair held between your fingers.
 
Saw a pic of the Native compared to a Caly 3 (liked that) an Endura and Delica. Liked it. And since the steel is great, I am thinking I will like it at $40 over the $25 for a Persistence. I think the Native at $40 is a good value, maybe not a steal of a deal, but I think I am going that way. And not that bad relative to my price point. Now since I am with a Leopard and want to rid myself of it due to its size, you think I should consider a Scallion (cause when it comes to it, I am not liking the Leeks stainless or Nascar handles even though the price is very attractive) at $22 or go for the Mini Grip?

I did go to Dicks tonight and saw a Blackout and it looked nice. The OD-2 looked small and a 3.5 inch Gerber looked too big, and a 2.75 inch Gerber looked sweet. So that 2.75 inch to 3.00 or a little above is a good range for me, I think, given the weight, the size and my expected uses. thanks for letting me think aloud and then responding.
 
I'll go ahead and add to the confusion and suggest the Kershaw Zing. You can check them out at most Walmarts and can often compare them in hand with Spyderco Natives, Kershaw Leeks and OD1s. The Zing has:

-3" blade
-Liner lock
-Tip up/tip down carry options
-G-10 scales for a better grip
-Relatively light compared to primarily stainless steel handles
-Opens like an AO without the mechanism. Simpler mechanism tends to result in a lower risk for failure.
-Might qualify as "tactical" for many people
-The flipper provides added grip security
-Great ergonomics for a 3" knife
-Two color options
-One of my overall favorite sub $50, 3" knives

Kershaw-Zing-1735-600x517.jpg


Kershaw-Zing-Orange-1735OR-600x526.jpg
 
Saw the Zing at Dicks but did not get to hold it. You know how you have it in your mind, however it got there, that something just has cachet or appeal? I think because my nephew loves Spyderco, it is that way with me. I paypalled Kershawguy $25 for a new Persistence. a 2.75 inch blade and a typical Sypderco. They say the steel is one more apt to resist corrosion and easier to keep sharo and stay sharp. Now if he does not have it anymore, well, back to the drawing board but one guy here has a Native and Ill probably go with that. I figured the $15 I would save over a used native could go to the Mini Grip, which I love the opening system, and so I am putting my Leopard knife I got in a trade up up for trade, and then am checking the auction site for sale. I can then see which I prefer and if I hate both, sell them or keep them.
 
The Persistence is a scale model of the Tenacious. They have the same steel. In my opinion it dulls way too fast.
It's easy to get it incredibly sharp again in 5 minutes, though.
 
LawyerSam said:
Saw the Zing at Dicks but did not get to hold it. You know how you have it in your mind, however it got there, that something just has cachet or appeal? I think because my nephew loves Spyderco, it is that way with me. I paypalled Kershawguy $25 for a new Persistence. a 2.75 inch blade and a typical Sypderco. They say the steel is one more apt to resist corrosion and easier to keep sharo and stay sharp. Now if he does not have it anymore, well, back to the drawing board but one guy here has a Native and Ill probably go with that. I figured the $15 I would save over a used native could go to the Mini Grip, which I love the opening system, and so I am putting my Leopard knife I got in a trade up up for trade, and then am checking the auction site for sale. I can then see which I prefer and if I hate both, sell them or keep them.
Click to expand...

While most knives from reputable companies use steels that will do whatever the average person needs of them, I haven't read the best reviews of the steel used in the Persistence for edge retention. That's to say, I'm sure the steel will work fine regarding getting and staying sharp for most people's uses; it's just that the edge retention relative to other commonly used steels (in quality knives) hasn't gotten the best reviews. Compared to the crap knives most people buy from gas stations and home shopping channels and such, any steel, like the one used in the Persistence will have outstanding performance for edge retention and it's ability to get sharp.

All this being said, I think you made an excellent choice by going with the Persistence.
 
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