What I have learned since joining

I agree with some of the other posters. I obviously like the spyderco military, but benchmade is my favorite by far for QQ and an ok price for great knives. I even like them more than most customs that I have seen. I love benchmades, but to others they are probobly not only not the best, but im sure some people hate them. Its all about personal tastes.
 
KalEl said:
Yeah I didnt mean to knock any other companies! I don't own any benchmades but I have handled several and just don't feel like they have quite the value for their price point. AT most stores a grip is around 100 bucks and for me it is closer to a 70 dollar knife. Compare that to a manix 2 at a roughly 75 dollar price point and I think spyderco has overall better value for the price. But I am looking at getting a 710 at somepoint and am interested in the ZT line. they look solid!
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A Manix 2 can be found for $75 online. A large Griptlian can be had for around ten bucks cheaper than that if you look around for the standard 154CM blade steel. Both are great knives and a great value if you shop around.
 
I'm just the opposite from you. I love Benchmade's; not so hot for the Spyderco's. Some guys like Chevy's, some like Ford. But you should probably at least test drive them thoroughly before you make up your mind which you like better. . .
 
KalEl said:
Just thought I'd share some of the things I've learned and some of the conclusions I've come to since joining.

1.) Spyderco makes the best folding knives. Period. When I joined SOG folders were my favorite but after grabbing a few spydies including an XHP manix 2 Ive come to realize that sypderco has by far the best ergos and choices of steel of any company.
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Perhaps you already have, but you might consider stepping back for a moment from the conclusion that a single company is the best--in perpetuity and throughout the entire galaxy of (folding) knives available. I buttered that up but what I'm saying is that although there's nothing wrong with having a favorite brand, the last thing you want to do is to limit yourself and your options.
 
I've been here for about as long :)

What I've learnt:

I like Spydercos best, but Fallkniven folders and Mcusta will always have a place near my heart.

I don't like most liner locks.

I want a better local dealer :) and more money.

And lots of others :)
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
A Manix 2 can be found for $75 online. A large Griptlian can be had for around ten bucks cheaper than that if you look around for the standard 154CM blade steel. Both are great knives and a great value if you shop around.
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One has G10 scales the other has plastic zytel scales. I see why you would put them in the same price range and comparable :rolleyes:.
 
You think the hole is the best deployment method for folders. Have you tried flippers?

I agree with the suggestion to revisit your conclusions in a couple of months.
 
....and in about a year from now a knifenut newbie could either go broke from over buying;
or could burn-out and loose all interest in knives...
being a gadget freak or overly tech savvy with all the fads,
is almost from the result of getting played over by some clever spin.
which is not to say that the product isn't genuine in it's claims;
but one could feel quite comfortable and reasonably happy with what's at hand.
that is, until such time when the next new thing comes along.
U see IT, U get IT, U buy IT.
along the way one would make some mistakes,
and the huge ones might even be cause of some deep regret.
all of the sudden U think U know what's been missing all your life.
and that's when the time now suddenly becomes right for another new purchase :-)
but here's what it boils down to.
1) it's about getting high over a piece of sharpen steel.
now, how ever did that state of mind come to be?
would that have been something self-induced?
or what manner of spells hath befallen thee?
2) developing a keen passion that doesn't allow for imperfections.
3) having nightmares in convincing non-believers that yours is the perfect choice.
4) so that all fun will almost certainly be ruined, once obsession takes over.
5) looking good is when good looking is measured by the great care bestowed upon one's very own collection, nutured through one's very own yardstick in measuring excellence of quality - and that's quite possibly with flaws 'n all.
 
KalEl said:
Just thought I'd share some of the things I've learned and some of the conclusions I've come to since joining.

1.) Spyderco makes the best folding knives. Period. When I joined SOG folders were my favorite but after grabbing a few spydies including an XHP manix 2 Ive come to realize that sypderco has by far the best ergos and choices of steel of any company. which leads me to my second conclusion.

2.) the spyder hole is the best deployment system. Sometimes I practice having to deploy my knives as if I was in an emergency situation and the only knives I can consistently deploy are spyderco knives. Thumb studs take more focus and you may not always get it on your first try. the spyder hole is the most consistent way to open a knives and it can be done with gloves on.

3.) Cold steel makes some decent knives for the price point but Lynn thompson has really turned me away from their products. Im going to use my money to support the good folks in Wauseon instead :)

4.) For the money, swamp rat, ESEE, and scrap yard make the best fixed blades. The competition Isnt even close. I love the ergonomics of sog fixed blades like my beloved tech bowie but SR 101 crushes AUS 8 in every department.

5.) s30v is this generation's 440C. It is a solid upper level super steel but not the absolute best that is offered. Its become the bench mark for this generation's knives, just like 440C had been for the last few decades.

Thanks for all the knowledge guys! I learn more and more every time I visit!
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Stick are long enough and read everything you can, you'll get it right some day. Nice try though. :)
 
A lotta nice knives out there.

Just for the record, I liked your comments. I think some people thought you wrote them on stone tablets though. ;)
 
It all comes down to personal preferences I guess...

Just like Sal Glesser says: "All good, just different" ;)
 
I used to think that about about Spyderco, but after collecting folding knives for a few years Benchmade Axis Locks have became the folding knives that I carry 99% of the time.
I alos found out that I prefer thumb studs.
 
kawr said:
One has G10 scales the other has plastic zytel scales. I see why you would put them in the same price range and comparable :rolleyes:.
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So handle material now puts knives in different categories? And G10 should make a knife jump up to the next price level, whatever that might be? Just because your knife snobbery makes you turn your nose up when you see a FRN handle, doesn't make FRN bad or even cheaper to produce. It might actually be a more expensive knife than a G10 one, since the cost of the molds has to be accounted for which can cost anywhere from 20K to 50K depending on how complex it is. And FRN might actually be a better handle material even though you don't like it. So because you don't like it, knives with FRN must never be compared to those with G10. When is the last time that you broke a FRN knife handle? I'm willing to bet never so when is the last time you have seen a picture of a broken one? I bet you can't even find a picture of one because the stuff is bomb proof. G10 on the other hand can chip because I have done it. Just because you like one thing, doesn't mean that everyone else should take that into consideration when comparing knives around here.

I would personally rather have the Griptilian with it's FRN handles over the Manix 2 given that they both have the same blade steel and could care less which of the 2 you like better.
 
Wow man, don't take this the wrong way; but you've bought into the hype on these forums. Sure the companies you've listed are great companies but there is so much out there, don't limit yourself to the oft-repeated recommendations on here.
 
Sorry if the points I wrote seemed like I was stating them as fact, I wrote them really quickly and upon reading them again they do sound very biased. I meant to just share a few thing that I had learned and see if you guys have had similar experiences. I am not going to limit myself to any certain brands or styles etc. When I started getting into knives I didn't like spyderco at all and now I love their knives. Perhaps I will feel the same way about kershaw or orther companies I am not particularly interested in at this point. Even though I'm a spydie fan now, I just used my money to purchase a CF tomcat and not a BG 42 millie. I also came very close to getting a 710. I never want all my knives to be the same and I will always be looking to try something new with my knife budget. Sorry if the original post came across wrong!
 
It's all in good fun. Everyone has their favorite and most are different from the next persons. It is based on past experiances and future needs. My "best" has been a slim line trapper with liner lock and 440 C blade. I retired it and bought the same knife with a blade made of 440 something. The original cannot be replace but this one was close so I thought it was time.
 
KalEl said:
5.) s30v is this generation's 440C. It is a solid upper level super steel but not the absolute best that is offered. Its become the bench mark for this generation's knives, just like 440C had been for the last few decades.
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Eventually you will see obviousness of the truth, neither are "super steels", not in 2010 ;)
And yeah, sad truth is that the same steel was a benchmark "for decades", compare with autoindustry, where more than 70% of the new alloys were invented in a "last decade"....
 
cultivateitnow said:
Stick are long enough and read everything you can, you'll get it right some day. Nice try though. :)
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Actually, no person will ever get all knife related topics right, (or almost all other topics) Evolution in knives will always keep EVERYONE from knowing everything. Haven't you ever known a know it all. That said, I do know a lot about knives and I will never know it all, none of us ever will. To the O.P. keep an open mind it will change, beleive me. It will even change with a closed mind if you stick around long enough, which I hope you do.:thumbup:
 
I am new to the forum, I have used knives since I was a boy scout many decades ago, and still use them on a daily basis. I have learned a lot from this forum, thank you. And, now I am going to use the search function and research sharpening the serrated sections on the knives I use for gardening and hiking .......

Thanks again,
David
 
Things I've learned.
Tactical things and tactical people give me a headache.
I'll never be "prepared".
Simple is better.
There are too many steels.
What worked for my Father was pretty darn good.
Making life faster is not better.
People who like knives are usually good people.
Technology is not the only answer.
Brand loyalty is overated.
 
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