What's your Near Perfect Knife?

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Each about as good as you could expect. The Cadet’s small enough to carry in wallet sleeve and can handle anything that doesn’t need pliers. The mini-grip with the hive pattern grips provides the perfect non-slip grip and ergonomics for me and, unlike my mid techs, I have no remorse using it hard.
 
It’s funny that when I think about my “perfect” knife, so many very different knives come to mind. The short list:

Spyderco Chaparral
GEC cocobolo skngle blade 78
GEC 35 Churchill
GEC 15 crown lifter
Boos Blades Mini Aero (if only the centering was better)
Kizer Feist
Spyderco Mantra 1
Victorinox Cadet or Electrician
 
Daniel Thompson said:
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For me its the CRK Small Sebenza 21 CF Insingo. The Carbon fiber and the lanyard keep it interesting and make it a nice art piece, and (at least for me) the insingo blade shape is the most useful one out there. And of course, it has all the other sebenza perks. Great history, made in the USA, good blade steel/handle material, good warranty, and a slim profile.

Of course no one knife is perfect, but I'm not sure there's any other 1 knife that fits my daily activities and personal preferences better.
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Small Inkosi with carbon fiber scale is also a gem of a knife, king in its category/size.
 
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I can only comment on knives that I currently own but for me and my daily tasks I'd have pick one of the following.

ZT 0450cf
BM 535 Bugout
 
T. Erdelyi said:
A knife I've wanted for the last 25 years was the Victorinox Scientist in White Cellidor scales. Real ones tend to be pricey, well north of a C note so it's always been a want knife. I like the minimalist tool choices on it and the size is perfect for pocket carry.

Now the odds that I could get the scratch needed to pick one up on the secondary market were next to nil, especially bein' on a fixed income. Still I always look and I had mentioned it in another thread that I've always been on the search for a white Scientist and how it's a favorite/grail/wants knife on my long list when I get a message askin' for my address, a few days later I get a package from Yablanowitz containing a modded, I'm presuming a Yeoman turning it into the 2 layer fauxScientist.

Thanks Jack I still have that smile on my face and I keep grinnin'everytime I take it out to use it. I do a lot of lookin' at fleamarkets, auctions and yard sales for knives and antiques. The toolset on the Scientist is perfect for flea market person. The magnifyin' glass and screwdriver set all come in handy while examining vintage knives and antiques. Just wanted to put it out there that Jack put this together for me and not as a fake Scientist. Kinda like a disclaimer so anyone who ever sees this knife again know it's a fantasy SAK. Great job Jack and definitely my definition of the near perfect SAK. ;)
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I've carried a white SAK Scientist for years and it's still my favorite of the cellidor scaled SAKs. I was worried about losing it since they're a tough knife to score as you found out but I did a similar mod of a black scaled Explorer to act as a back up so now I don't fret too much about it.
 
Pretty much any CRK I own, but this is my latest of those and is the smoothest and freest I've yet to handle, plus I just love Wilson Combat StarBurst grips--

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--of course my Inkosi in natural Micarta is no slouch either--

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--and then there's my Shirogorov 95T "Turtle". I can't find a flaw with this beauty.

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I EDC both of these, and I have a lot of knives to choose from. The William Henry B-15 has a ZDP-189 San Mai blade, and I added a pocket clip to it. The Camillus CUDA MAXX has a custom 5.5” Stellite 6-K blade. I carry the W/H on the placket of my shirt. The CUDA is RFP.View attachment 827634View attachment 827635
 
Cscotttsss said:
I can only comment on knives that I currently own but for me and my daily tasks I'd have pick one of the following.

ZT 0450cf
BM 535 Bugout
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Two knives I have come very close to picking up. I like the blade length, perfect EDC size for me.
 
rtal said:
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Each about as good as you could expect. The Cadet’s small enough to carry in wallet sleeve and can handle anything that doesn’t need pliers. The mini-grip with the hive pattern grips provides the perfect non-slip grip and ergonomics for me and, unlike my mid techs, I have no remorse using it hard.
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That is a great combo, for sure.

I have a combo close to that myself. A full size 551 Grip in D2 and a Pioneer or an Alox Soldier(I have both). Sometimes the Pioneer gets switched out for a Cadet. On paper, the Pioneer is a better knife but the Cadet works better for my EDC style.

I could be very happy with just the 551 and the Cadet as my two EDC folders
 
Considering how the cqc7 is probably my all time favourite knife, my only complaint being that I find it abit thick and the lock could be stronger.

Thus I believe the Emerson HD7 would probably be my perfect knife.
 
I guess I should comment on the "perfect knife" concept. No such beast. Every knife has limitations, we all know that.
But, there are certain features I consider ideal in a folding knife.

1. one hand opening is preferred.
2. FFG drop point or CRK's Insingo style blade (3 to 3.75 inches preferred).
3. FRN, G10, or micarta scales.
4. Simple grip shape. Emerson's CQC7 is an excellent example.
5. Suitable for use with gloves.

I have never handled a knife that has all of these traits. Benchmade's Bugout and 531 both come close.
 
Nearly perfect EDC knife? I'm hoping, when the leather sheath comes in, that it will be my TOPS Skinat. Seems tough enough, for now. If not, it'll be something else soon enough.

For a folder, the Kershaw Shallot with ZDP-189 composite blade. Takes a wicked edge.

Nuthin fancy, I'm easily amused...
 
There's a perfect knife out there I just can't seem to find it !
Thought it was a small sebenza - just a bit too small . Tried a large Sebe - just too large . Went on to flippers ZT 0450 very close but just not great ergos
ZT 0220 good ergos , too heavy ..
Olamic 247 almost perfect . just long in the tooth [ blade]
Koenig Arius - WOW ! - if it were only 1" smaller overall
I guess I'm just to picky
 
CQC-7

More expensive knives have come and gone. A 7 is typically in my pocket from day to day. It does everything I need it to do, it can take a real beating, incredibly easy to maintain the edge, and it's expendable. Perfect .. for me.

4ghf701.jpg
 
mfm22 said:
There's a perfect knife out there I just can't seem to find it !
Thought it was a small sebenza - just a bit too small . Tried a large Sebe - just too large . Went on to flippers ZT 0450 very close but just not great ergos
ZT 0220 good ergos , too heavy ..
Olamic 247 almost perfect . just long in the tooth [ blade]
Koenig Arius - WOW ! - if it were only 1" smaller overall
I guess I'm just to picky
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That's my reservation about a Sm 21, it's very similar in size to a Mini Grip, which is just a tad too small for me. 3.25'' is the perfect blade length for me, I really like the looks of the 0450 but I don't think the ergos will cut it.
 
mt666tm said:
CQC-7

More expensive knives have come and gone. A 7 is typically in my pocket from day to day. It does everything I need it to do, it can take a real beating, incredibly easy to maintain the edge, and it's expendable. Perfect .. for me.

4ghf701.jpg
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My man!

Idk what it is about the cqc7, it’s magical.
 
For me, the Spyderco Gayle Bradley 2 is as close to perfection that I have found. Unfortunately I really don’t like the lock. If it had a compression lock, it would be perfect IMO.
 
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