What is your go to/workhorse knife?

longbeachguy

longbeachguy

Joined
Oct 11, 2005
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I don't know about you guys (and gals) but I find that I have a couple knives that I always go to when there's dirty or rough work to be done, and I need a good knife (not a POS or throw away beater) but don't want to use a top shelf (i.e. expensive) knife because it may get damaged and is certain to get scratched or gunked up.

I do a lot of home projects which have involved putting wood floors in, crown molding, remodeling a bathroom, LOTS of painting, and I do woodworking as a hobby. When I'm engaged in this kind of work I find it's my old Spyderco Delica II full serrated, or my Walmart S30V plain edge Native that I always go for. The combination of light weight, high performance, and good ergos make them very suitable for almost any task and I wouldn't cry if either one got ruined.

I'm sure my Mini-Skirmish would perform as well or better, but I'd cringe at opening a paint can or scraping dried cement off my tools with it.

I'm curious what knives others use for this exhalted purpose. Which of your knives are the unsung heroes that do the dirty work again and again and never let you down?

Edited for clarity.
 
A Syderco Salt 1 serrated, yellow handle. Thats the knife I use most when working around the house or in the yard. The Salts are also a knife I use when out on the water kayaking or fishing, also with yellow handles. Carefree blades that are easy to keep sharp.
 
At home, My buck alpha fixed blade. Tough as nails, sharpens easily, good ergos, and since I got it at half price (29$ USD), I don't sweat damaging it. Out 'n' about, my Wally-World Native.
 
I usually go with an old timer large stockman, case sodbuster, or buck 110. none of which are expensive but have always worked well for me. later,ahgar
 
Lately my Microtech UMS or my Benchmade 550 have been doing the dirty and rough work.
I think their blades are designed for abuse.
 
I usually carry a pe Endura and a Spyderedge (SE) of some kind. The SE gets the most work and the pe gets used for finer work. I gave my SS SE Endura away so I need to get another SE. I'm leaning towards a Pacific Salt.
 
My "user" knife is my REKAT Hobbit Fang...It's my "beater knife", eventho it's still in excellent shape, and as sharp as a razor.
 
I use a Buck Alpha folder for tough tasks that require a strong knife but are also likely to leave it a bit worse for wear. The Alpha locks up well, sharpens like a dream, has a large and comfortable handle (good with work gloves), and cuts well for its size.

I don't always carry an Alpha though, so I am often forced to use my EDC - a Becker necker - for tough tasks. To date, it has lived up to my expectations (and I expect a lot of a Becker). Originally, I was worried about keeping it in top shape, but I have since come to appreciate all of the areas where the coating has worn away to show the steel underneath. It gives the blade a history and a definite personality. Note that in true Canadian fashion the coating on the bottle opener is just as worn as teh coating on the blade ...

- Mike
 
my beater knife is an old 2001 emerson spec-war plain edge . ive pried old boards apart while working pest control.
 
A vic huntsman, I can pry, cut wood and scrape without using the main blade, so it is alwas razer sharp.
 
I have a couple that have been beat up pretty good. One is my Byrd Crow - used for renovation work on a couple of revenue properties. The other is an Endura 3/FRN/CE that a co-worker gave to me after he blew out one of the serrations on a live wire. I would never put my PE Endura thru what I've put these two thru (unless I REALLY had do:) ). Still haven't found the limits of what they can take - really a comforting thought that they can take punishment:D Before that, it was my Gerber Gator and EZ-Out, which I still have - I'm still impressed with these considering the yardwork they've done. This weekend it was the Crow and a Ka-Bar/Dozier folding hunter (my other "beater" blade) - scraping paint, even cutting things the odd time:) when I was waterproofing my deck and painting gutters and window frames. All they needed was a little cleaning and re-sharpening on the Sharpmaker - ready to go at it again. I've probably used the Ka-Bar the most because I've owned it the longest - it's actually pretty amazing how good this one is for the money. My Delica 3 gets used a lot, but not as hard.

- gord
 
I have a few. My main beater knife is my old as hell Opinel folder. It's straight razor sharp (shaved my face with this knife for kicks once) The handle feels really good in my hand, and the thing probably cost me like 5 bucks all those years ago. I've cut everything with that knife. Good old carbon steel...Cant beat this knife.

I have a Mercator CAT that has seen some abuse, and now sees some abuse by my little brother. He has nothing but praise for this knife and what it does for him everyday.

Along with the Opinel, I have a Beretta tanto linerlock folder (handle looks like the 9mm pistol) thats stout and heavy, and i've used it for alot of heavy stuff. Sharp as a razor and still looks great.

Last but not least is a very cheap wally word Winchester brand slipjoint that I reprofiled with a convex edge. Unbelievably sharp. cuts very well and holds that edge forever. Not a bad looking/performing knife for like 4 bucks.
 
One Hand Trekker or old Leatherman multi-tool.
Other options include a G-10 Navigator and my Delica 3 FRN.
Thinking of throwing in a decent Spydie Rescue....
 
BM 525 for nasties, along with a BM 550 for yardwork (cutting open bags of dirt, mulch, etc). For tough jobs, Spyderco Paramilitary Plain Edge. That's about it.
 
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