What are the best slipjoints on the market right now?

balisong88

balisong88

Joined
Feb 8, 2011
Messages
282
I have already ordered the Carbon Fiber UK Penknife from Spyderco. I am on the backorder waitlist for the Titanium Handle version.

Where I currently live (unfortunately), in MA, I need a slipjoint to get around this ridiculous 2.5" rule.

I am from New Orleans, LA, and Houston/Auston, TX, and these laws are extraordinarily annoying, and IMO, unconstitutional.

I do not want to make this a political debate. I am just looking for advice on the best slipjoint knives in the market right now.

The best craftsmanship, material used (I prefer 154CM, VG10, & S30V for the blade, and Titanium/Carbon Fiber/other strong handles), design, ease of opening, customer service...etc.

Price is not a big deal, thought I really do not need fancy materials such as mother of pearl inlays.

Are there any others that compare or are better options than the UK Penknife that I have mentioned already?

Thank you for your time.

---
 
Next to the UKPK which is marvelous, there is the semi-custom Shing slipjoint from the UK. Lovely stuff, depending on your exact wishes.

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Bimmer1 said:
I think the Boker Haddock looks like a real winner.
Click to expand...

Haddock is a framelock, I think you mean its smaller slipjoint brother called Cox. That one is indeed very nice, I examined it in the Böker shop and could see it as a very decent EDC.
 
Something else you can look into is friction folders. All you need is that it be non-locking and not classed as a switchblade, balisong or gravity knife, right?

Also, as far as slipjoints go, Queen's Country Cousin is very high value do to its excellent D2 blade.
 
-I know of no one using S30V for slipjoints.
-VG10 blades are all done in Japan. You might look for a Japanese maker if that is the alloy you want.
-Case has made some special runs in 154CM. Pricey, but well done, I am told.
-Queen uses D2 as its standard alloy. Dull out of the box, but they sharpen up well.
-Canal Street sometimes uses 440C or 14-4CrMo (the Latrobe Steel name for 154CM)
-Great Eastern makes some blades of 440C, although they make most in 1095.
-AG Russel has had some very nice traditionals made in China of 8Cr14MoV (Chinese equivalent of AUS8). Very high quality stuff.

I'd say your best bet for a production knife you'd like is Queen, if you can go with D2. They have the largest variety of designs.

+1 on trying one of the custom makers. ATS-34 is fairly common material for them.
 
balisong88 said:
...Where I currently live (unfortunately), in MA, I need a slipjoint to get around this ridiculous 2.5" rule...
Click to expand...

Are you sure? It seems to me that as an EMT, you have a pretty good case for an exemption. Like a LEO, when is an EMT ever off duty?
 
I think the traditional slipjoints have been covered well in previous posts, although you should try out Great Eastern's 1095 blades, too.

If cost is not a huge issue, there are a number of custom makers who could make what you want. They could be done with traditional natural materials or with materials like carbon fiber and titanium. I would suggest Ray Laconico for something like that.
 
I live in MA...

locking knives are legal, and it's 3" or 3.5" I believe. That's what I carry and I've never been hassled about it.
 
I thought the 2.5" rule was in Boston specifically, not in MA in general.
 
Joben said:
I thought the 2.5" rule was in Boston specifically, not in MA in general.
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It's definitely not a statewide law but there are a few towns/cities that have a 2.5 in limit(Boston and Worcester do).
 
Who makes the best slipjoints? That is an easy question to answer, Tony Bose. But his knives are expensive and be prepared to wait if you want to custom order it. What company makes the best slipjoints? Now, that is a whole other kettle of fish. I think you will find that most slipjoints don't tend towards the steels you mention. Yes, Queen uses D2. Yes, Canal Street sometimes uses a 154CM clone, but those are outliers. The standard is 1095 carbon steel. Which is very nice. I really do not understand why so many people dislike the fact that it develops a patina....M4 does the same thing.

Frankly, if you wanted to stay under 2 1/2 inches and have a very nice slippie, I would look at GEC. Look at their #25 pattern in particular. It should fit the bill.
 
monger4142 said:
I live in MA...

locking knives are legal, and it's 3" or 3.5" I believe. That's what I carry and I've never been hassled about it.
Click to expand...
There is no state blade length limit aside from autos and double edged knives, which are limited to under 1.5 in.
 
balisong88 said:
I have already ordered the Carbon Fiber UK Penknife from Spyderco. I am on the backorder waitlist for the Titanium Handle version.

Where I currently live (unfortunately), in MA, I need a slipjoint to get around this ridiculous 2.5" rule.

I am from New Orleans, LA, and Houston/Auston, TX, and these laws are extraordinarily annoying, and IMO, unconstitutional.

I do not want to make this a political debate. I am just looking for advice on the best slipjoint knives in the market right now.

The best craftsmanship, material used (I prefer 154CM, VG10, & S30V for the blade, and Titanium/Carbon Fiber/other strong handles), design, ease of opening, customer service...etc.

Price is not a big deal, thought I really do not need fancy materials such as mother of pearl inlays.

Are there any others that compare or are better options than the UK Penknife that I have mentioned already?

Thank you for your time.

---
Click to expand...

You are mistaken- MA general law does not prohibit a regular locking folder and the only blade length restriction I could find was for automatic knives with a blade up to one and a half inches.

The city of boston may have a blade length limit, as may other cities and towns. If you carry the knife for a lawful purpose you will not be hassled.

There is no statute against locking folding knives in the state laws... I carry a Byrd knife with a 4 inch blade daily.

monger4142 said:
I live in MA...

locking knives are legal, and it's 3" or 3.5" I believe. That's what I carry and I've never been hassled about it.
Click to expand...

Joben said:
I thought the 2.5" rule was in Boston specifically, not in MA in general.
Click to expand...

a2d2 said:
It's definitely not a statewide law but there are a few towns/cities that have a 2.5 in limit(Boston and Worcester do).
Click to expand...

a2d2 said:
There is no state blade length limit aside from autos and double edged knives, which are limited to under 1.5 in.
Click to expand...

each city and town may have their own set blade limits. I highly doubt that unless you look and act the part of a hoodlum, you will be hassled by the police for a knife clipped to your pocket in Massachusetts. It's not as liberal as people like to think ;)

A.P.F. said:
Are you sure? It seems to me that as an EMT, you have a pretty good case for an exemption. Like a LEO, when is an EMT ever off duty?
Click to expand...

There is no specific exemption for LEO, Military, Fire/Rescue, or EMT but there is still old fashioned professional courtesy between uniformed agencies in MA. If you have the knife for a lawful purpose, most folding knives will fall into the legal category in the Commonwealth.

Hope this clears things up for you :)
 
knarfeng said:
-AG Russel has had some very nice traditionals made in China of 8Cr14MoV (Chinese equivalent of AUS8). Very high quality stuff.
Click to expand...

Sanrenmu has some nice slipjoints in 8Cr13MoV as well, including the AOH02, which is a neat little one hand opener.
 
Peruna1998, thank you for the suggestions.

Pete1977, i live in Boston where they have the 2.5" law so that is why I ask.
 
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