What's the perfect knife design for you?

Dirk

Dirk

Joined
Mar 19, 1999
Messages
2,277
I haven't seen this topic in a while, so I thought I would see where people are with their choices.

What is the perfect knife design? Material? Why? Production or custom, fixed blade or folder.

Mine has changed. My current perfect knife is a folder. A Darrel Ralph EDC, plain edge, fighter style blade. Carbon Fiber scales and 420v steel. This knife fits my hand very well. It has a premium steel, although that isn't as important to me as it is to others. It has a nice recurve for a little extra cutting service, wicked clip point that can be employed in a folder version of a back cut. The carbon fiber allows for a lighter knife, while adding stiffness to the handle. Plus, this knife is just on heck of a good looking knife. It has become my Every Day Carry.

------------------
Win if can, lose if you must, but always cheat.
 
What a coincidence! I have an integral lock Apogee on order, but have already decided that a cf EDC is next. Does yours have the slotted scales? I want one just like this:
http://www.darrelralph.com/ddr/edc12/domnb.jpg.html
Looks like you already know the perfect design for me
smile.gif



[This message has been edited by OwenM (edited 12-18-2000).]
 
Hey guys,

Well perfect is hard to describe. To me a Commander is my daily carry as well as a Vector. I love the commander because it can do a multitude of tasks well. I use it on my job to open boxes, cut paper. I love the wave. It just fits my hand great.
Now I would love is a Commander with an intregal lock,true satin finish and double bevel blade. Now that would rock.

Liong

------------------
Follow The Path of Fantasies.
 
Cold Steel Gunsite (& Gunsite II) Folder.
smile.gif


This knife fits my hand like it was made for me, and is lightweight (due to the Zytel handle), yet has a very strong lock-up.

The AUS-8A steel holds a razor-sharp edge very well, and is easily sharpened, using my Spyderco Sharpmaker.

It is also a "Lefty-friendly" folder (ambidextrious thumb-studs and a "back-lock", with a "point-up" carry), although it isn't a TRUE "Left-handed knife", as the pocket-clip is on the "wrong" side.

I have one of these with me at all times.
smile.gif
.

------------------
Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
I'm fortunate in that the perfect knife for me is one that I have made for myself.You guy's should try it sometime.Dave
 
Out of the knives I own, one of my least expensive knives is the most comfortable.

It's a SOG Magnadot lockback with one piece Zytel handle, and 440A blade.

I like the aggressive blade styling with large belly. The contoured Zytel handle -- being beefy -- is more comfortable than my other knives.

GLOCKMAN99,

What happened to you being the CRKT C/KFF spokesman? Did you lose your CRKT sponsorship?
wink.gif



[This message has been edited by Full Tang Clan (edited 12-18-2000).]
 
The perfect knife design?
For EDC that would be a folder, with a linerlock for one hand opening and closing, wharncliff style blade in the 3" range, front bolster with slight guard to keep the fingers from slipping forward and a swelled butt to fill the hand. For looks as well as joy of carrying stag handles and stainless steel Damascus.....yummmmm.
I couldn't find this knife so I drew it up and had Art Washburn make one for me.

View



------------------
"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
OwenM, as luck would have it, I have two of Darrel's EDC's. The one I am not carrying is the model you posted. It has the slots and it is tip up or tip down carry. I need to sell at least one of my Ralph's to pay for another knife. If you are interested and don't want to wait, we might be able to work something out. send me an e-mail.
 
Full Tang Clan,

I found some production knives even better than CRKT...Cold Steel. I'm not really sure the difference between the AUS-6 that CRKT uses, and the AUS-8A that Cold Steel uses, but I have NEVER seen a speck of "rust" on ANY of my Cold Steel knives, and I CAN'T say that about those from CRKT. Also, my Cold Steel knives seem to hold a sharper "edge" better (longer) than the CRKT ones...
smile.gif
.

------------------
Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Something like a BM 940 Osborne with a blade of CPM440V steel with a hole in it rather than an opening stud and availability in varying lengths, including one less than 3" for those of us in jusrisdictions with that requirement. Alternatively, a Spydie StarMate made available in an additional size of less than 3" and also made available in colors other than basic black.

------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
The perfect knife to me is my Benchmade Mel Pardue 720. I like it because it isn't to big, or to small and the blade holds an edge for a long time. I like the feel of the handle and it has a big "belly" on it.
 
For durability, reliability, versatility, strength and ease of maintenance I am still trying to find something to beat the Sebenza.

------------------
James Segura
San Francisco, CA
 
Lynn Dawson's Draco is as close as I have come:

View


Good point for poking and picking, plenty of belly, dropped edge for cutting board use and integral guard, excellent handle ergonomics.

I would want something a little bigger for field use, but the Draco is just about perfect for every day carry.

For field use, 3/16 Mad Dog Arizona Hunter:

azhunter.jpg


Loads of belly, full width flat grind, superb ergonomics and handle comfort for extended long, hard use. Great knife. Don't know of a better design for an all-around big hunter.

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 12-18-2000).]
 
The Spyderco Native. As close to perfect as I have found, so far. Excellent blade shape/size for everyday tasks. Outstanding CPM-440V blade steel. Lightweight FRN (zytel) handle. Affordable, too!

Paul

------------------

Trust no one...
 
Spyderco Wegner, VG-10 steel, slightly larger opening hole, and eccentric pivot.
biggrin.gif


------------------
Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif
 
Another vote for the Spyderco Native. Great design and very affordable. Having lost a very expensive folder I am very reluctant to carry any of my custom knives these days that have all the great features I admire. As a compromise I choose to carry Spydercos which are very innovative and again affordable. Affordable enough that I won't cry if I lose one.
 
For a folder, the small sebenza works for me. For a fixed blade I look for hunters, and I like the Marbles sport99 with micarta handle and high carbon steel. This may change when I get my Busse Lean Mean Street. Recently, I just received a Dozier Professional Guides Knife and have to admit, this is close to perfection for me. A bit bigger than I would normally use on small game and trout but I'm sure it will do a dandy job on small stuff as well as large stuff. However, I also have a Dozier General Utility coming, and this may end up being my best small game knife.

In general, I like dropped or clip points, micarta scales and a reasonably good to high quality steel and I like both stainless and carbon, but especially carbon. I prefer flat or convex grind but when it's done to perfection in high quality steel like a Dozier or a Sebenza, a hollow grind is hard to beat. For folders, I prefer an integral or axis lock.

I also prefer a knife that is as comfortable to use in the "blade up" position as the blade down position. This means having a place to put your thumb and a handle that will fit the heel of your hand when the blade is in the up position. Dozier's Professional Guides Knife and the Busse Mean Street are great examples of knives that are comfy in both positions.

------------------
Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Perfect knife?
For some reason, it always seems to be the one I don't have.
smile.gif
(Or so my wife will tell you)

Jim McCullough
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top