Toughest folder for 200 or under

I didn't know that the dark ops was such junk, so i own one thinking it would have been a tough ass folder to carry in a sheath while hiking. it sure looks the part of a tough knife and i think it was geared more towards law enforcement and military use. thats why its hyped up the way it is. but i read their site and pretty well knew they was talking the knife up for use by other than somebody like me. so i got around 200 bucks tied up in this big hunk of junk? the blade locks up tight as can be and it has a great grip. now that i've read all you guys thoughts on the knife i feel taken. i wanted the best toughest damn knife i could get for around 200. you think its that bad? i guess if it is i can live with it won't be the first 200 dollars i've wasted.
 
Hi Jill,

People reflexively bashing products they've heard other people bash (and never had personal experience with) is another form of hype. People bash Dork Ops all of the time, mostly because of their ridiculously lame marketing. But if you have one of their knives, and are happy with it, then you haven't wasted your money. I've never read a straight up test/review of a Dark Ops knife (not that interested) but just from the specs, I doubt they can be all bad, if that's the sort of thing you're looking for.

Not that I'm going to go out and buy one.

The knife that works for you, makes you happy, and is in your pocket is the best knife in the world. Who cares what other people think? Knives are not (should not be) fashion.
 
The problem for the folks who said buy 10 of this or 15 of that is the one time you absolutly cannot have a failure would happen to be the time it does! The man said tough- $200 give him what he wants when he hangin off the side of a rock!
 
Why not a pair of heavy duty knives?
For 200 you could buy two real nice Manix's or not waist the extra hundred and get a nice Rd-6 from Justin.... just a thought....

mmmotorcycle
 
jill jackson said:
I didn't know that the dark ops was such junk, so i own one thinking it would have been a tough ass folder to carry in a sheath while hiking. it sure looks the part of a tough knife and i think it was geared more towards law enforcement and military use. thats why its hyped up the way it is. but i read their site and pretty well knew they was talking the knife up for use by other than somebody like me. so i got around 200 bucks tied up in this big hunk of junk? the blade locks up tight as can be and it has a great grip. now that i've read all you guys thoughts on the knife i feel taken. i wanted the best toughest damn knife i could get for around 200. you think its that bad? i guess if it is i can live with it won't be the first 200 dollars i've wasted.
Click to expand...

It is a copy of an Extrema Ratio design, only with idiotic marketing and a few cosmetic changes. There was also a thread somewhere around where the guy took his knife apart and the lock was barely functioning, and the "handpicked" replacement was little better.

Then again, perhaps they have fixed their quality control by now. . . who knows.

There are many worse knives out there. The main things people object to is Dark Op's outlandish marketing/lies, and stealing of designs.
 
1st pick under $200 would beThe Spyderco Paramilitary.
2nd - SOG Titanium Vision

Good luck,

sp
 
I sent two Microtech MSE-SC's to my kids stationed with 1AD in beautiful Baghdad. They used them for 18 months in terrible climatic conditions without a problem. Of course they kept them clean and sharp. They could be opened quickly with either hand and had a built-in belt cutter notch. Based on their experience it is the toughest knife I know of.

http://www.1sks.com/store/microtech-mini-socom-elite-automatic-seatbelt-cutter.html

They only weight a couple ounces so they are an easy carry. They probably cut better than many of the much bigger (and pricier) honkers whose name starts with "S".

My second choice is a toss-up between the Benchmade Stryker and the Spyderco Military models. Either of these are good tough cutters that don't weigh a ton.

http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/set/2292/Militaryrev.html
 
I don't remember who said it but it was something like this,"The strongest folding knife is a fixed blade"

I've worked constuction and as a mechanic, basically all the maintenance trades so I've worked in offices and new construction, my point is I've always carried a fixed blade and a folder because when it comes to dependability a good fixed blade can't be beat and a good folder can always serve double duty in a pinch.

That bein' said, great fixed blade in that range any Bob Dozier blade and most Spydercos will also fit the bill of folder.

Without really knowin' what ya wanna use the knife for, it's hard to choose, you might be better served by a Leatherman and a Mora, the combo can be had for well under a $100.

When I was workin' as a mechanic in the foundry I carried a Bud Nealy Aikuchi, a BM 730 Ares and a Leatherman Supertool 200, total $450+, but they were my tools so I bought the best I could afford.
 
I would never buy a Dark Ops knife simply because of their ridiculously lame marketing. I think it is bad for the knife industry and insults the intelligence of the knife buying public. The quality of their knives is irrelevant to me due to their marketing plan.
 
i read dark ops site and never really thought that the knife was hyped up so badly. i figured it was for extra heavy duty military use. a tool to get you out of a life threatening ordeal. without failing, at least that the way i took it. the cross lock on the back lock is a little out of the way to use. but it does work. the knife is way to thick in the blade to take a razor edge but i spent a few min on some sticks got it where it will shave. i'm not really bothered if its not as good as i thought. i wonder how strong the lock back really is? mine seems to lock up solid. if it is at least as strong as a manix i'd be happy. it should be stronger but i own the manix as well, plus a lot of other thinner bladed knives than the dark ops folder that certainly will cut much better. so knives i'm always getting more of anyway i'm never happy with not buying more in spite of everytime i get one i think this is it, no more.
 
After using the Spyderco Manix and the Rukus in Passarounds, they are very similar in cutting ability and their massive strength and toughness. It would be hard to imagine breaking either, but the Manix gave me more confidence mentally for whatever reason, definately nothing scientific to back that feeling up. The Rukus is better in the pocket and a little better in fit and finish, but the Manix ergos, grippy G-10, and price work better for me. I would highly recommend either, but I would handle each first and see which one feels best to you.
 
You don't have to spend $200 or anywhere near to get a good tough folder. There are many choices for good tough well built ones that will take a lot and ask for more.

Some that come to mind.

$30 plus or minus cost

Kershaw Storm II

Buck 112 or 110 folder

Byrd Cara Cara Stainless



Medium price range:

These are smaller folders but very tough 80 to 110 bucks price range usually.

The BenchMade HK29 also called the 14210 is a super balanced well made heavy duty folder with super strong lock and handles with a nice little thin profiled blade of 154CM steel. About $106 I have one of these and think its one of the best in smaller folders currently available at any price. The action is smoother than the nicest knife I've ever used.

The Buck Strider 881 is another 4.5mm thick blade style Strider influenced knife that has a pretty good toughness to it. ATS34 Bos heat treated blade here. I've bought these for $90 and one for a deal here for a lot less on our own for sale forums.

Higher dollar knives.

The BenchMade HK34 also referred to as the 14200 model is a very very strong folder that will probably outperform many of the other high dollar tactical knives I've owned and repaired. Its made so precisely and so well as are most BenchMade folders that you could easily take three or more of these same knives apart and mix all the parts up and put them back together with little if any tell tale evidence that you had done so. They run about $140 plus or minus depending on where you shop. The consistancy and quality control of these knives is astounding.

The Spyderco Para Military is a very tough strong folder also in the same price range. This one will probably be the sharpest new in the box of any of these. S30V blade steel in this one and a very nice grippy texture to boot.

The Zero Tolerance 0200 or assisted opening 0400 are very good strong folders with all the signs of one of the toughest liner locking folders you will ever find. These are some super smooth well built Ken Onion designed knives that will blow your mind for the quality and fit and finish. Let alone the thinkness and overbuilt nature of the frames.

STR
 
i own a tanto buck strider with the heat treat by bos. it does not feel like a strong knife to me. i can grap it and feel blade play by rocking back on the tip. maybe it is stronger than i get a sense of by flexing the blade but it comes across to me as having to much blade flex on the liner lockup and side to side. some knives i can just mess with and get a sense that they are stout this isn't one of them.
 
Yes Buck has had some issues with the blade rocking on those folders. I saw that in two of the four I've owned. Most of them it is very slight. If yours is more send it in to them for a fix. I've tested those out and even when there is some give in the locks they hold up to a lot of weight and pressure. I believe the 881 is a more reliable lock than the longer bigger 880 from my own limited uses of the two.

STR
 
a few knives i own that have a solid lock up at least they feel hell for strong to me even though maybe i don't use them all. yes i'm bad about collecting stuff. benchmade mel pardue axis lock, benchmade afck full sized, spyderco manix,starmate and police. kershaw steven seagal liner lock, gerber harsey titianium air frame(not many made),gerber combat folder, mircotech socom m/a liner full sized (one of my faves) buck alpha hunter liner lock, kershaw xxl starky ridge liner lock with g-10, and the hated dreaded dark ops full sized folder. those are a few of my knives that i like the way they lock up and feel as far as the blade being solid.
 
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