What is the best defensive folder for $75 or less???

[nonbox]

Is it the crkt M16 or Crawfords? How about the S&W SWAT?

 

[Jim March]

CRKT Crawford/Kaspar is definately in the running, especially if you're limited to 4" or less by law. More discussion on this beast here: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000873.html

However, in California's "any size folder is concealable" climate, I think the Cold Steel Gunsite, Large Voyager or especially the Vaquero Grande with it's monster 6" blade has the CRKT 4" class beat.
Mike's prices on the CS folder line are here: http://onestopknifeshop.com/store/cold-steel-folders.html

More specs and pics are at: http://www.coldsteel.com

Mike's price on the 6" CSVG is $10 over your $75 limit...the 5" version is only $3 over and is still a better fighter than the 3.75" CRKT KFF. The plainedge 5" Gunsite is $76, only a buck over...that's a good piece. But again, your local legal climate could make the difference.

What else...SOG will soon ship the 5" Pentagon Elite 2 with a really nice modern lockwork, list price $100, could sell over the Internet at near your hypothetical $75 limit. Pending tests and reviews, it could unseat the Cold Steel 5" family by way of it's more advanced lock, dual steel liners and full field disassembly capability. It's due out pretty soon now, Ron has been quoting "late summer"

. It could prove a strong contender for the "best folding streetfighter under $100" title currently owned by CS.

Still, for it's very low price comparable to the detestable S&W SWAT and WAY better ergonomics and lock than the SWAT, the CRKT KFF is a magnificent achievement. If your budget is "sub-$50 absolute max", look no further. If you're limited to 4" and can't afford an Arc/Rolling/Axis/integral lock starting at $90 and going way up from there, CRKT KFF ain't bad. The Cold Steels use a "primitive, old-school lockback" which is quite tough and safe, but not exactly the smoothest. More details and even a pic at the first linked thread above.

Jim

[This message has been edited by Jim March (edited 07-30-2000).]

 

[rdangerer]

A used Benchmade AFCK 800 or 710 could go for about $75. Used is so much better than less expensive-new.

 

[glockman99]

nonbox,

Your search is over.

.:

...This IS the CRKT Kasper LARGE "Fighting Folder".

.

It sells for WAY-UNDER your $75 limit, and is worth WAY-MORE than their "asking-price"!

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663



[This message has been edited by glockman99 (edited 07-30-2000).]

 

[Chang]

If you shop around, you can get it for $85, a little over your budget, but this knife is sweet.

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Chang and the Rebels of the East!
Southern Taiwan Will Rise Again!

[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 07-30-2000).]