what is your opinion is the best hard use folder

Al-Mar SERE 2000. Despite years of buying and trying different folders, this one has always been my most trusted standby. Solid lockup after about 10 years. Smoothest action. Amazing clip. I would take this folder into hell to kill the devil himself.
 
If I'm gonna put a lot of hard use on a knife, I would pick some with cheaper price, definitely not over $100.

Maybe a decent fix blade...
 
The Cold Steel Tri-Ad locks are pretty tough knives: Lawman, Recon, AK-47, etc. I would imagine the Crusader Forge stuff is also pretty tuff stuff, if you want to spend another $300 to $400 beyond that.

Maybe the strongest, toughest folder ever made (not including balisong actions, although maybe it does include them) was the Megalodon made by Arlee Niemi. It featured a lock called the centerlock.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ers-What-s-the-quot-Strongest-quot-Lock/page2

Not much information remains about this knife, maker, or style of lock.

More information....a blast from the past: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...st-Folder-A-mini-review?highlight=arlee+niemi
 
Last edited:
If i'm really anticipating abusing my knife, I'd probably want one of the cold steels with the tri-ad lock. I feel they offer a great balance between cost, toughness and cutting ability. Pretty much all of my 'hard use' consists of cutting material thats hard on the edge itself, and maybe dirty environments, I've not found much use for prying myself.
 
I know they're a little spendy, but I have nothing but positive stuff to say for my Strider PT. The S30V isn't completely stain proof, and my work near the ocean has put a good patina on it. I've used it as an EDC on deployments and back home, dug up spruce root, scraped pitch off trees for fires (also not great for the finish), field dressed game, shaved fuzz sticks, and even had to baton with it in order to start a fire in the rain. The blade profile is a narrow straight grind which makes for great cutting ability, unlike many overly thick knives, and the blade, pivot, and lock have held up beautifully to the work I have asked of it. It's no safe queen, and no collector will give me a good resale value, but it has been a trusted companion and I have no intention of getting rid of it. My only complaint is the design of the pocket clip, which turns up at the tip and tends to catch on my shirt hems which, upon raising my arms, have pulled the knife out of my pocket on several occasions. Yes, I should just tuck in my shirt...but I don't wanna!
 
For hard use, I'd use a fixed blade. I tend to prefer the proper tools for the job, like an axe for chopping, and a knife for cutting. For prying, I'd use a small pry bar - Stanley makes a nice small one.
 
I've gotten in the habit of carrying a strong fixed blade along with my folder.

I value my fingers and my folder too much to do crazy stuff with it.

Right now my dynamic duo is a Strider SmF, and a Strider DB-L in 3V - it's 1/4" thick sharpened prybar. I have the utmost confidence in the DB-L for use in prying, digging and just all around general destruction. My folder is used for cutting things.

For value - I've gone on the record to say that the Zero tolerance lineup is as good as it gets, especially the ZT0200 and 0300.

As others have said here, Hinderer, Strider, Demko - just a few of the "mid-tech" hard use knives - running in the $400-$600 range.
 
If I had a Hinderer no way would I wail on it but that's just me. Not that it can't take it but do I really want to beat on a $700 knife? I vote ZT0200 as well. Just my opinion.
 
Extrema Ratio RAO. Spyderco has an upcoming model called the TUFF but don't know when it will be released.
 
philwar said:
Yep, seen it. I almost never have an axe or a prybar on me though. Now a knife, yes, always. :D
Click to expand...

Well not on me either, not really. In my truck yes, just not in my pocket :p...I like the Zt knives, not because of the "hard use" thing. Just because they are over sized and fit my hands well.Though they are built really well..
 
Another vote for al mar sere. one of the toughest knives iv ever used. the key word being knife.
 
CS Spartan. I'm carrying mine right now.

100_1119.jpg
 
The Buck/TOPS CSART is a beefy knife for the money, after I reprofiled the blade a little it became quite the slicer. Just got to be too much knife for EDC. Right now I am finding the Manix 2 to be the perfect balance of "hard enough use" and slicing ability. If I need more strength than my Manix 2, I will probably opt for a fixed blade.
 
ive got an esee 6 to beat on... man that knife can take a beating i was batoning some pic eucalyptus logs with it drying for about 5 years.. super hard but the esee 6 just worked right through it!! bent it at least 40 degrees in the wood when it comes out strait as an arrow every time!! great fix blade to beat on and u dont have to worry if u ever break it... which is doubtful
u got one of the best warranties u can have... u break it they replace it!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top