Ultimate hard use folder

Raphael.caluwe

Raphael.caluwe

Joined
Sep 24, 2010
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273
For some time now i've dropped my eye on a xm-24. However, considering the price its not a knife i will(or can for that matter) just buy. So i was wondering, wich folding knife in your opinion is an absolute tank, wich knife would withstand any abuse you throw at it ?

I have owned a sng cc, but i sold it because of the fact it didnt felt bomb-proof. It didnt give me more "peace of mind" than my sebenza (or even my bm940). Not trying to bash strider, but for me a knife doesnt only have to be solid, it also has to feel solid. I want to have the feeling that i can without any worries pry the hell out of it without it faling.

Tl;dr: are xm-24's worth 1k and what in your opinion is the ultimate hard use knife?
 
Most people here are going to tell you if you want a hard use knife, look at fixed blades not folders. I agree with that. That being said. If I had to pick a folder to do some abusive work. Here are a few. I wouldn't pay much for one I plan to beat on either.
Cold Steel Recon 1
Cold Steel American Lawman, most Cold Steels with the Triad Lock are tough.
Most any Zero Tolerance: 0200, 0550 both of those are tanks. These are more expensive.
I wouldn't say any of those are ultimates. However if I had to choose any of those to beat on it would be one of the Cold Steels. Cheap and tough.
 
I realize that you are probably looking for something higher end, but I would recommend a benchmade bone collector or an ontario rat 1. The benchmade is around 100 and the rat 1 is around 30, but cant go wrong with either of these. They are both solid and built like tanks. The bone collector is my favorite knife, ever, and feels like it could go thru war unscathed. Also, take a look at the Benchmade ADAMAS. Dont have it, but have played with one. Its a beast and can be had around 100 to 150. Just my .02.
 
Ive been looking for a ZT 0500 MUDD those are basicaly bomb proof folders, and Im a ZT collector and a G&G Hawk collector so that colab is right up my alley. I have a Strider SFM I use for my work knife that I bear the living snot out of and its held up very well, I only had to take it down to clean it once when I opened about 40 bags of Portland cement one day helping out the block layer on a house I was building. I felt like the spacker where made from 80 grit sand paper but I took it apart cleaned the grip out of it re greased it and its like new. Im planning a Lengthy post in April on my SMF that I used for 1 year as a hard use work knife.
 
Zero Tolerance 0300 series. It's big, it's heavy, it's solid. Thick and wide handles (G10 w/ steel liner on one side, titanium on the other), thick blade stock, wide blade profile, solid pivot, and large contact area between lockbar and blade tang. It is rather awkward to carry in pocket due to its size, but it is an amazingly comfortable knife to handle. The contours of the handle combined with the 3-D machining (rounded rather than flat handle slabs) fit the hand perfectly in both regular and reverse grips.
 
I think the Benchmade contego wins as the best hard use folder I've ever tried. It's a tank but is also very compact and is a great regular knife as well.

The ZT O560 is great as well but I stay away from framelocks for harder use because the lock bars can sometimes jam you apply alot of pressure to the handle. It sucks when you do a bunch of heavy cutting and go to close your knife and you have to pry the lockbar open with a screw driver.
 
if you want to spend some money

medford knife and tool "fat daddy"

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I don't know much about that knife or company. But that kinda looks pretty close to the Strider SnG/SMF.
 
My ZT0551, Spyderco GB, CK LG21, all quickly come to mind. How much money do you want to spend? Since you seem to like Hinderers and the xm24, the ZT560 is def worth a look. The 550/551 are built with thicker handles than the 560, and my preference out of the two is with the more compact but robust 550/551. If you have a good reason to have a longer blade, then go with the 560.
 
Raphael.caluwe said:
For some time now i've dropped my eye on a xm-24. However, considering the price its not a knife i will(or can for that matter) just buy. So i was wondering, wich folding knife in your opinion is an absolute tank, wich knife would withstand any abuse you throw at it ?

I have owned a sng cc, but i sold it because of the fact it didnt felt bomb-proof. It didnt give me more "peace of mind" than my sebenza (or even my bm940). Not trying to bash strider, but for me a knife doesnt only have to be solid, it also has to feel solid. I want to have the feeling that i can without any worries pry the hell out of it without it faling.

Tl;dr: are xm-24's worth 1k and what in your opinion is the ultimate hard use knife?
Click to expand...

in my opinion the ultimate hard use folder is a demko custom. But the cold steel versions arent a slouch either. They incorporate lighter builds to keep the weight down, but the tri ad lock is still a beast. Perhaps a black rhino would be fitting for you, but they are discontinued.

grayman puts out some impressive folders. I have the satu, and its a beast.

the el patron by jeremy robertson is a tank in an easily carried package. with an optional blade of 3v, known for its toughness.

jim burke builds his folders big and sturdy. on a related note, I feel the boker plus mini ressurection is one seriously overlooked value.

i feel the spyderco tuff is one tough customer. as far as i know the only production folder using 3v.

zero tolerance has some awesome models. the tired and true zt200 will inspire extreme confidence at a great price.
 
MY xm18 3.5 is solid as a rock and would trust it with my life. Strider would be on the list if I didn't have 3 in a row come with vertical play and lock slipping.

I think coldsteel's folders are as good as it get and will out perform any framelock.
 
That Medford knife looks like a baby huey blade on an SMF/SNG handle for sure...

:D
 
Last edited:
Raphael.caluwe said:
For some time now i've dropped my eye on a xm-24. However, considering the price its not a knife i will(or can for that matter) just buy. So i was wondering, wich folding knife in your opinion is an absolute tank, wich knife would withstand any abuse you throw at it ?

I have owned a sng cc, but i sold it because of the fact it didnt felt bomb-proof. It didnt give me more "peace of mind" than my sebenza (or even my bm940). Not trying to bash strider, but for me a knife doesnt only have to be solid, it also has to feel solid. I want to have the feeling that i can without any worries pry the hell out of it without it faling.

Tl;dr: are xm-24's worth 1k and what in your opinion is the ultimate hard use knife?
Click to expand...

I still can't believe people pry with a folder. I wouldn't even pry with a fixed blade. What do you pry with your knife?
 
El patron if your looking to wreck stuff! i dont have my 3v one anymore, just my sm-100 model and its awesome
 
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