Unlikely Favorites

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
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I have a bunch of favorite knives that I hardly EVER read about on the forums or hear about. Some of them are ones I just bought out of curiosity or discovered otherwise and have come to love. I just thought I'd start a thread about the subject in hopes of introducing some people to a few cool knives that don't get much press or attention or might even be a bit obscure. I also hope that others might post their obscure or unlikely favorite knives and help all of us find a few odd favorites ourselves.

Well, here are mine:

Cold Steel Prolite plain edge:
Almost as fast to deploy as my D2 Axis AFCK since it's also tip-up and has an (even larger) opening hole, smooth as well-oiled silk and has more belly than the Budda statue in front of the Chinese restaurant around the corner.

Buck Tac-LIte:
I actually thought of the button-to-disengage the liner lock long before this knife came out but never patented the idea. Bummer. I keep it as a reminder to DO SOMETHING with my ideas and not get ripped off like I always do when I have a good idea and not do anything with it.

Timberline WORTAC:
It got a good review in Tactical Knives Magazine and I bought it immediately. I've got the large plain-edge one and I just can't say enough good things about it. It's an AMAZING value for $60. Frankly, you'd have to be nuts not to own one.

Kershaw Whirlwind:
A cheap knife that has surprised me with it's craftsmanship for a Zytel-handled knife. Passed the "Whack" test with flying colors. Discreet. Another amazing value knife that I often carry when I want to carry only one knife of a shorter length (3.25 I think) but still be able to deploy very quickly. It beats the pants off the Avalanche and Blackout! For the price... hell, humor me!

Sog Outline Neck Knife:
Very simple but useful neck knife and a great value for $20. I like it because it's COMFORTABLE and doesn't weigh down on my neck like some do. It does more work, hands-down, for the price and weight. It's really too bad it's such and overlooked neck knife. I've really used it to death and it's more than paid for itself just wearing it around the apartment. If nothing else, it's just PERFECT for opening a bag of chips!

CRKT Urban Shark:
One of the first times CRKT has had the guts to put a really shallow bevel on a knife. Coolness factor is way up there and is sheeple friendly. Probably the SINGLE BEST fit and finish and craftsmanship and design I've EVER seen from CRKT. Damn good looking knife and quality for the $22 you can find one for on Ebay currently. Besides, really, when was the last time you saw Grey Zytel?

SOG Autoclip:
The Autoclip mech. is totally cool. It's great to be able to tighten the clip down on my pants pocket or even the waste band of my underpants when I'm walking around my home. The steel on these things is FANTASTIC and the coating on the coated versions is also fantastic. Super quick to deploy with tip-up carry and opening hole! Best Zytel knife out there for under $35. I own a bunch of them in all different colors and blade styles. Get at least one. I mean, really, who could resist having a light knife clipped tightly to their undershorts?

CRKT Commander Series:
A nice, boring, simple tactical knife. This was my first tactical knife and I carried it for 4 years. The lock does fail the "whack" test, but this knife is a great handle-heavy utility knife that stays in your hand when you open your hand to use your fingers. This knife has always been underrated. And, hey, they've all got cool names of WWII generals.


Well, those are mine. Please tell me if you also like mine and also tell us about some of yours so we might discover something cool and get one.
 
Never owned any of yours. Almost bought the Outline a couple of times. My unlikely favorites, and I've probably said this a couple of times, are Douk Douks, any of the flavors.
 
Here’s my list of high cool factor/low cost/ seldom talked about knives -

Browning 520 Stag Trapper – I mentioned this one in the thread on Browning knives, very cool high quality, costs about $43 on the net.

Camillus ArcLite – An excellent neck knife only about $20 on the net.

Cold Steel Twistmaster – A Opinel style knife updated with a Zytel handle and Carbon V steel, probably not the most practical knife in the world but very cool with an excellent blade geometry. The Twistmasters are now discontinued, but you probably can still find them.

CRK&T Partner Big Sky Hunter – This is hunting knife with a flat ground AUS6M blade, a Kraton handle and a cheap but useable leather sheath – nothing fancy to be sure, but I really like the ergonomics and the blade geometry. This knife has been recently discontinued.

Meyerco Buddy System – This is a small neck knife with a Thumb Bolt sheath; makes a great knife for swimming.

Victorinox paring/ utility knives – These little 3 or 4” knives are ground so thin that they will out cut just about every knife I own. Cost is only $3-$5 for plastic handles and about twice that for wood.




- Frank
 
I agree with you wholeheartedly on the Timberline lg. Wortac....a beast of a knife! Also, I thought the CRKT lg. Apache was a killer blade - especially when you could steal'em from SMKW a while back for $25.
 
One of my unlikely favorites is a cheap, red plastic handled pukko from Kellam knives, the one with the machine forged carbon blade with the forge scale left on it. That thing is sharp, an excellent cutter, and well-nigh indestructible. It sees a lot of use. It is my favorite frog-leg knife.:)

Another unlikely favorite is my Livesay NRGS. You hear quite a bit about Newt's Woo and a few of his other designs, but very little about the NRGS. It is a dandy.
 
My CRKT Marzitelli Prowler (hardly sees any Forum time) is one of my favorites. I was interested in the design when I first saw one but wasn't convinced until I got to handle one at a retail store. On impulse I went to purchase it and, guess what? Clearance price! $40 (cheap for retail).

Anyway, the more I carry it the more I like it. The blade has a very useful wide belly to it, wicked sharp, and with enough practice I could thumb-flick it open PDQ. It feels nice in the hand, and carries low in the pocket with a discreet matte grey clip. And it has Marzitelli's cool Pterodactyl(or dragon?) logo on the blade.
 
that haven't recieved much praise that I'm rather fond of. I had an EZ-out for five years that never let me down. A little Kershaw DWO that locks up as tight as the day I got it, some ten or twelve years ago. A plain edge Spyderco Rescue. Nobody seems to get too excited about the Rescue. I have a Case yellow handled CV trapper in my pocket right now that makes me smile, even though Case is more popular with collectors than users. My Middleman is handy and takes a nice edge, even if it isn't very stylish or sexy or whatever. But I've always been attracted to the oddball and underdog. I like the 71-73 Mustang. I like Shar-peis and Australian Cattle Dogs. I married a six foot tall punk rock girl. In SoCal most old Bugs I see are stock or lowered. Mine's lifted, an easy foot of daylight under the front beam. My favorite bird is the Crow. Why start following trends now? ;)

Frank
 
Buck Nighthawk...The shape of the blade is excellent, and the handle is one of the most comfortable that I've wrapped my hand around. I think that many folks are put-off by the Nighthawk 'cause it just doesn't cost enough money to seem like a "worthy" knife.

Gerber Yari...I normally don't care much for "small" fixed-blade knives, but this one...I just love it, as it "feels right"!
 
Queen Serpentine Jack knife, Rocky Moser/Delta Z, CA legal auto, David Boye Prophet.

All excellent knives, and you don't hear much about them.
 
one knife I used alot was the Frost laminated blade with yellow plastic handle. Another is the boye folder (D2 blade) Both of these knives I have used at work for years of trouble free use (except sharpening). Until now I hadn't given it much of a thought of how long and hard these knives have worked.

Gr8 thred :D
 
I'm with Coonskinner on the M-571 knife from Kellam. Forged carbon blade that takes a wicked edge. At less than $20.00, it just don't get any better.;)
 
Maybe not a dark horse, but it was a surprise to me that the Benchmade 942 Osborne with a reverse tanto edge is something that I always reach for. The Ozzie has some competition for pocket space too.

Another knife that I cannot bring myself to dislike is the Cold Steel Mini Tac. Very practical for a thin tanto.
 
One of my best "using" knives has been and always will be the Outdoor Edge Magna. In my opinion this knife was one the production knife world's best kept secrets. Too bad it's no longer in production.
 
I just picked up a Schrade sharp finger yesterday at wal-mart for $19.95.......amazing I didnt buy one of these years ago, it's perfect.
 
Real dark horse - the Buck Quest Flick-it. yes, it's got a thin flimsy handle and a plastic thumbstud, but you will not find a thinner folder with a decent size blade. It absolutely disappears in a pocket (no clip). the blade is standard Buck sharp, and the lockback plenty strong. I don't carry it often, but sometimes it's a nice "2nd stringer" in a change pocket. Great 6.99 knife.
 
One that I found that I really liked and that took up much time in my pocket was the A.G. Russell Featherlight utility blade style. That is one sweet thin light knife. It was cheap and I think it was AUS-6 or 8 can't remember. It has a 3" blade that is just about perfect for those little day to day cutting chores you find. It is so thin and light that it disappears in your pocket.

I also have several Victorinox that are just as handy but heavier in the pocket. I guess that is why they sell a ton of their knives every year.
 
Originally posted by Sticky
I just picked up a Schrade sharp finger yesterday at wal-mart for $19.95.......amazing I didnt buy one of these years ago, it's perfect.
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I just want to take a moment to say that your Avatar is the CRAZIEST one I've ever seen! Thanks for the laugh!:D I remember the moment vividly on SNL. What a bummer that he couldn't control his habit. Imagine what he'd be doing today.:(

Also, I want to add one to my Unlikely Favorites:
The AG Russell Woodswalker:
I don't use it for what it was intended. My girlfriend and I use it in the kitchen and we use the heck out of it and it stays sharp and the thin, flat-ground blade cuts like mad.

There are actually a LOT of AG Russell knives I'm super interested in, but they're expensive and, unfortunately, you can only get them from AG Russell. Not the kind of thing you can get a discount on on Ebay or some of the discount knife sites or I'd buy a bunch of AG Russell knives. I bet AG Russell knives are a fantastic line.
 
It did generate some discussion when it first came out, but I don't think the Kershaw Boa gets as much recognition as it deserves. The Boa is an innovative high-quality tactical that is easily in the same class as the other top-end folders.

--Bob Q
 
Spyderco mini-dyad. Great little 2 blade knife. The plain edge clip point may have a bit of a delicate point for hard use, but it's great for detail work 'cause it's practically needle thin. I've found that I use the point of the sheepfoot serrated blade alot for cutting that I normally use an X-acto knife for.

Browning (I don't know the model number) signature knife with the wharncliffe point. Again, I use it alot like an X-acto knife.
 
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