What would you buy?

momedic

momedic

Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
12
I'm searching for my new EDC knife, it will be replacing a 10ish year old Benchmade Auto Mini Reflex. I want something that will more than likely last a lifetime. My budget is $500. I know that the Sebenza is a highly recommended knife in this price range but for whatever reason those knives don't appeal to me. I've been looking hard at a Hinderer XM-18 3.5" skinner and Strider SnG, from my research the consensus seems to be that the better knife of these two is the Hinderer. I guess what I'm asking is should I buy the Hinderer and never look back or are there some other options that I should check out before jumping into the Hinderer.

Thanks guys!
 
Are you rough on your knives? I recently picked up a Benchmade 940-1 here on the exchange and it's quickly become my favorite knife. Great steel, incredibly light and all in a small package. Hinderers are overbuilt IMO and for my uses its just not necessary.
 
04e58e2bc2f86f58ed8e4cff39f7b869.jpg


I'd say I'm pretty hard on knives...
 
If you dont like sebenza try an umnumzaan. For the hinderers, it depends on if you like flippers or not, and they aren't always so great at flipping. They have models with out flippers. As far as Strider goes, it may take some trial and error to find the right one for you, lego, CC, gunner grip etc.
CRK, Hinderer, Strider are all very different animals, find out what features you want out of this knife, then choose. All should last a life time.
Best of luck!
 
I can't speak for Striders, as I've never owned one, but I have had both the Umnumzaan and an XM-18 3.5. Both are awesome, well made knives that would serve you well, however, I prefer Hinderer. Not saying they're better, I just happen to like them more. My XM illicits feelings and speaks to me in ways the Zaan never did.
You will probably have to handle or buy all three at some point to see which appeals to you more.
Best of luck in your search.
 
If you are ^ that hard on knives, a higher price won't make it last a lifetime... Expensiver (yes I made that word up), expensiver knives will show wear from heavy use/hard use/abuse...

My suggestion, based on the little information you gave, for $500 buy 3 knives...
-An overbuilt ZT workhorse (designed by Hinderer) like an 0550
-A slicer, like a Spyderco Chaparral
-A truly expendible but still tough beater like a Kizlyar Ute

Buy all 3 for within your budget, and carry appropriately according to needs of the day, and enjoy a trifecta foundation perfect for building upon.
 
BossOyster said:
Wow...what a beautiful thing. Love seeing knives that have been 'loved'.
Click to expand...

It's been a tough one... All the dents in it came from the time it fell out of my pocket on a gravel road and got ran over before I realized that it had fallen from my pocket. Once I decide on a replacement I'll be sending her into Benchmade for a new blade.
 
Taking into consideration the broken tip, I would suggest something like a scout/camp knife with a screwdriver and awl/punch.
Maybe a SAK Farmer, Huntsman, or Tinker/Super Tinker.
 
Buy the skinner. Hinderer makes great knives, and it sounds like that's the one you are leaning towards anyway. Worst case scenario you don't care for it, just let it loose on the exchange. They hold their value well. I prefer the ergos of the xm over strider.

On another note, you can't go wrong with CRK either. Extremely well thought out design and execution.
 
I would get the Strider but I just scanned though the post but you do know that you can send that back to benchmade and get a new blade for 35$
 
I agree with the M4 suggestion. Get a spyderco Gayle Bradley and don't look back. Watch the youtube video with Gayle himself talking about the knife. There's a new version or you can still find the last version. Both are great. I like the last version better because the design is more conducive to a choke up. Then you'll have 350 left over and you can find a lightly used xm18 or strider.
 
This is actually a very good suggestion, IMHO. Except that I would definitely be on the lookout for a lightly used xm18 and not a Strider, to join my Gayle Bradley.

GlockandBalls said:
I agree with the M4 suggestion. Get a spyderco Gayle Bradley and don't look back. Watch the youtube video with Gayle himself talking about the knife. There's a new version or you can still find the last version. Both are great. I like the last version better because the design is more conducive to a choke up. Then you'll have 350 left over and you can find a lightly used xm18 or strider.
Click to expand...
 
I agree withStrategy9, if you like the Hinderer look/design, just go with a ZT/Hinderer collaboration. You'll save some dough to put towards other purpose knives, and will still end up with a tight tolerance high quality blade.
 
I've had strider, CRKs, and Hinderers. I really like knives from all three, but I feel like Hinderer blends CRK quality with the overbuiltness of a Strider perfectly. I'd opt for a sliver or Skinner grind. ZTs are really great too for less cash.
 
It looks like you really whoop on your knives!
For $500 bucks I'd personally get a ZT like the 0562 and get a small fixed blade like a Survive! Knives 3.5 or 4.1 to go along with it. You'd probably have plenty left over to pick up some Swiss Army Alox knives.
I've never owned a CRK, Strider or Hinderer but I have seen them used hard and I'm impressed. I just can't fork over that kind of cash for one knife that can get lost easily.
 
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