Tough work folder for around $100??

Knarls

Knarls

Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
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Hi all, I am looking for a work folder for around $100 3-4” I am a comercial, industrial electrician.
I am looking for something tough enough to strip big wire from 3/0 to 1000MCM, and general work tasks. Would prefer FFG just makes for a better slicer IMO.
Another requirement is that is has decent edge retention, I have had a knife in vg10 and just hated the edge retention on it.

I just recently purchased an endura 4 in ZDP-189 and after using it to stip some 500MCM it was chipped from the copper I guess?? Weird. I currently use a pm2 in s30v and I love it. I was wondering if there was anything out there that would come close.

Thanks.

Josh
 
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Maybe if you keep an eye peeled for a user Military, Manix 2, or PM2 in Cruwear?
The steel is Very tough, edge holding comparable to S30V, though it can patina, it tends to be fairly resistant to staining.
 
When I was pre-wiring houses I used one of three knives to strip Cat5 and Coax if needed: 1:Spyderco Stretch Superblue (this will make some cringe but it kicks ass and doesn't chip) , 2:Emerson Cqc8 (Awesome Stripper) , and last but not least for stripping wire and whittling or boring a hole wider the Coldsteel Ultimate Hunter. All three will work for you, I have used them for about everything a "beater" needs to be used for. If I could only have 1:Stretch, Best for stripping:Emerson, Have to do some horrible shiesty stuff: Cold Steel UH.
 
NJBillK said:
Maybe if you keep an eye peeled for a user Military, Manix 2, or PM2 in Cruwear?
The steel is Very tough, edge holding comparable to S30V, though it can patina, it tends to be fairly resistant to staining.
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Oooo I did not know cruwear was a “tough” steel. I have seen it on para 3 and pm2, I also didn’t know they made a manix 2 version. I love my manix 2. I will look into that.
Thank you
 
In w
Kreyzhorse said:
The Manix 2 sounds like it would be a really good option for you.
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In what steel? I have a S110V lightweight and i absolutly love it. I was flirting with the idea of getting a s30v in g10 and trying to switch the blades. I have read some threads that say you can switch them without drilling out the rivots in the lightweight and also some where people replaced the rivots with screws.
 
Definitely the Manix would be one of your best bets but I would try to find one with a saber grind for your work and purposes.

Past that Buck Marksman definitely comes to mind and would be very easy to manipulate one-handed is well.
 
sharp_edge said:
How about a Cold Steel Recon 1 with cts-xhp steel?
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This. I own 2 Recon 1’s and they are as solid as it gets IME.

I would buy one soon as they have started transitioning from XHP to S35VN. Not much of a difference but most prefer XHP.
 
See if you can find a Spyderco gayle bradley 2 on the exchange. Nice tough folder that is thin enough to still cut well.
 
Generally speaking toughness and edge retention are inversely proportional qualities. Since it's easier to fix a dull blade than a chipped blade I'd lean towards a tougher steel for a hard use work knife. Any steel goes dull eventually. So, for the money, I'd get a nice set of diamond stones and get in the habit of consistently toughing up the edge. Don't let it go dull. Just my $.02
 
For $100 I am going to have to agree with the others above and recommend a cold steel folder either in cts-hxp or s35vn. When it comes to folders they don’t get much tougher than a cold steel with a triad lock. Just make sure the model you get features that lock.

Also going to agree with the Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1 or 2 recommendation. Both of those are excellent work knives with the 1 being abit more robustly built. To get them for under $100 I think you would have to find a used one on the forum or somewhere.
 
Spyderco Gayle Bradley 2 . 150$ , M4, still available all over.

I would recommend the original Gayle Bradley but they can be a little hard to find.
 
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