What is strongest folder? Overall not just lock.

messer454

messer454

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Oct 2, 2006
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Allright guys, because of work restrictions I am not allowed to carry a fixed blade knife. I am often far from my personal vehicle and I am putting together a fanny pack sized bug out bag of sorts. I have many Spyderco folders that I love for their cutting efficiency and I have one or two with me at all times. I also have a fixed blade in each family car but this is a different problem as stated above.

I figure that I will always have my cutters with me (Spyderco) so actual cutting , edge holding is not the most important thing to me. What I want is a strong folding knife that in case of some emergency I could use to pry open a window or door or even put in a crack and use for a step for my 270 lb frame.

I have no real pre conceived parameteres for this other than I would like the street price to be around or under $120. I can carry in belt pouch or actually in the pack, a clip is not necessary. I did a search but have seen no topics on this other than lock strength since around 2001. I know lock strength is important but I am more concerned with prying and twisting strength (is lateral strength the term?) than whether or not it will close on my hand.

I would also be interested in any tests or "proof" of strength of knife you would choose. Thanks

Update: I can get a TOPS CQT Magnum from a friend for a good price so lets say that that falls in the price range too. Anybody pick this one?
 
Hinderer's XM-18 may be a good choice. It is one overly built folder. Rick's website shows the knife under the tire of a vehicle and was working fine afterwards. XM-18s have a reputation of being strong knives. But A friend of mine and I tortured a SS Delica 4 just for the fun of it. I ran over this knife as well, and while the knife was in an open position, I threw it out of a moving vehicle. No lock failure, and the knife worked fine afterwards.
I don't know about strongest, but there are a lot o strong folders at different price ranges out there.
Have you seen Cold Steel's More Proof videos? Ha! Ha!
 
I don't believe there is a folder that can be used for prying or for stepping on (many fixed blades don't survive that)

Anyway Byrd SS CaraCara, Spyderco Police, SS Endura, Manix, BM Rukus and BM Skirmish might be worth considering...
 
messer454 said:
Allright guys, because of work restrictions I am not allowed to carry a fixed blade knife. I am often far from my personal vehicle and I am putting together a fanny pack sized bug out bag of sorts. I have many Spyderco folders that I love for their cutting efficiency and I have one or two with me at all times. I also have a fixed blade in each family car but this is a different problem as stated above.

I figure that I will always have my cutters with me (Spyderco) so actual cutting , edge holding is not the most important thing to me. What I want is a strong folding knife that in case of some emergency I could use to pry open a window or door or even put in a crack and use for a step for my 270 lb frame.

I have no real pre conceived parameteres for this other than I would like the street price to be around or under $120. I can carry in belt pouch or actually in the pack, a clip is not necessary. I did a search but have seen no topics on this other than lock strength since around 2001. I know lock strength is important but I am more concerned with prying and twisting strength (is lateral strength the term?) than whether or not it will close on my hand.

I would also be interested in any tests or "proof" of strength of knife you would choose. Thanks

Update: I can get a TOPS CQT Magnum from a friend for a good price so lets say that that falls in the price range too. Anybody pick this one?
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In all seriousness, this or something very similar is what you need:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im...e_0/104-0577932-0191939?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi

You've already got knives for cutting, and all you are looking for something to to pry, twist and support 270 pounds like a ladder. If you're putting together a BOB that might really be necessary someday, put the right tools in it. I like knives as much as anyone but I'd rather save my butt in an emergency and what you describe is not the job of a knife, especially a folder.
 
huugh said:
I don't believe there is a folder that can be used for prying or for stepping on (many fixed blades don't survive that)

Maybe not, that is why I was asking.

I guess I should have said this in the beginning. Yeah I know a pry bar would be a better option. It is too heavy and long to be considered for me. Fixed blade is not allowed. The fanny pack I was talking about is more like a pouch. I am all for carrying the right tool for the right job. How often though have we heard in emergency preparedeness that you actually have to have it with you on your person to be useful. I do not know anybody that goes about their daily business carrying a pry bar. Maybe someone does.

Maybe I should have left all the explanation out and just said.....

What is the strongest folder? Overall not just lock strength? For $120 or less?

(But if I did someone would have said... For What?)
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Striders and the Carrillo Airkat are both very strong folders. But they are expensive:grumpy: . .
 
huugh said:
Anyway Byrd SS CaraCara, Spyderco Police, SS Endura, Manix, BM Rukus and BM Skirmish might be worth considering...
Click to expand...

:eek:

Spyderco makes a lot of good knives, no doubt about it, but the extremely thin, heavily tapered blade of Police, the Byrd and the Endura will break in an instant if they are used even for light prying. Those knives are strictly cutting tools.
 
Years ago,I had to tear apart an old couch,So I stripped it of the material, twisted and twisted and pried the frame apart, and hammed the bolts out, so I could fit it in a 2door sedan,(moving out when freinds with a truck bailed on me). The knife in question(which was in perfectly fine working order at the end I might add)? A balisong. 239 to be exact, the cheaper with weaker handle version of the 42. If your gonna use your knife, get a butterfly.
 
samhain73- Thanks, this is the type of real experiences I was looking for. I had not thought of a good Benchmade Balisong. The only experience I have with Bali's are cheap ones as a kid.
 
You'll get some great suggestions, but I can't think of any folding knife under $120 that could support my own body weight of 155 lbs, let alone 270. Or really any folding knife, for that matter. Prying if a different story.

Look for a smaller knife (3" blade & 4" handle) with stainless handles or titanium handles. I wouldn't trust FRN to pry. G-10 is sketchy, but G-10 handled knives usually come with metal liners of some sort. Plain G-10 will sheer at the pivot, depending on how much pressure is exerted and if the actual blade doesn't snap first.

For what you described, I'd go with the Buck/Strider 881 Mini-Strider. Spear point or tanto, it doesn't matter (prying ability gets a nod to the tanto, though). Thick titanium liners, thick G-10 scales, thick blade, and strong as all get out. I've done light prying with mine (spear point) on paint cans, file cabinet drawers, drywall, and tree bark, among other things. For about a $100, it's a fine knife and great improvised pry bar.
 
Yeah I know a pry bar would be a better option. It is too heavy and long to be considered for me. Fixed blade is not allowed.
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Pry bars come in many lengths and weights. I have one here that's 7 1/4" long and weighs 3 1/2 ounces. I have a couple of even smaller ones, but 7" is probably about the size you want. See what they have at your local hardware store.
 
What about a cold chisel. That would fit in a pouch, be useful for punching holes or prying, and you could use it as a step. I sometimes do electrical work. I keep a cold chisel in my tool pouch for punching holes in stucco etc. Much better than any knife for what you want.
 
i had a tops cqt magnum awhile back and thought it was a very strong and sturdy knife, iknow where there is one for sale here in ohio! email me and i will let you know.
 
Extreme Ratio Fulcrum folder.

STR
 
Take a look at Cold Steel products. They have all sorts of videos where they hang their body weight off knife handles. Like most others here, I do not recommend any knife for prying windows and doors or being used as a step.
 
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