When you go looking for a tough, hard-use folder....

Do I need to carry the ZT's that I do? Probably not, but I love them! There is something comfortable about knowing the knife I have with me can stand up to darn near any task I put it to. Are those tasks I do on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? No! But when I need it for such a task I will have it and have confidence it will do the job.
 
Nothing compares to my Busse folders. Awesome.
Just the thing hunting unicorns

If you really, really need a hard use folder, use a fixed blade.
But within the limitations of any folder, there are many great folders.
I love old benchmades which were usually very solid.
Although they are expensive, Sebenzas and Striders are very tough as are custom Lightfoots.
Once they've been marked there's no reason not to use them hard.
But a fixed blade can more more solid, obviously, for a much lower cost
 
The hardest use knife I realistically "need" is my Kershaw Skyline. That said, I like hard use folders for their beefy construction which makes them comfortable to my meat hooks. There's also just something about the way they're built that really appeals to me. It feels good to own something you know would never fail you, within reason of course!
 
I love these threads. We are all using overbuilt folders when you really think about it. Some are more overbuilt than others. I could get away with using a case peanut feor alot of the knife related tasks i run into but i dont want to. I want to use my Seb, Ripple or PT. There is no right or wrong answer. It is purely preference.
 
True that. I work in an office and I won't ask whatever folder I'm carrying to do something I wouldn't ask a SAK to do. Funny thing is, I can perform most "heavy duty" tasks quite easily with a pair of standard office shears. Why beat up a folder . . . especially an expensive folder . . . needlessly when a better, stronger, cheaper, easily-replaceable tool is readily available? So I can prove to myself how cool I am for owning a Sebenza and being willing to carry and use it at the office? Really! :rolleyes: But for what it's worth, I carry and use my Sebenza anyway. Why, you may ask? Because I'm a knife knut, that's why. :p
 
Last edited:
I'm a bit surprised... I thought I might get 1 or 2 posts out of 20 where people had said that they have sought a tougher knife after bending/breaking another knife's tip or seeing their locking mechanism fail. But, that also confirms my initial feelings... The basic knives that we use are pretty dang strong :)

Lately, for office work, I have resorted to carrying a folding utility knife. Sometimes I carry my Large Griptilian. I still think I want something "brute-ish", for those days when I leave the house and have no idea where I will end up :) Maybe a Hogue EX-01 or a BM 810 Contego or a Cold Steel Large Voyager or the new Cold Steel Code-4. One regular theme for me, when I look into buying a "tough" knife... I want to get a lot of basic utility. Even though Hinderer makes works of art, I couldn't see myself using it to dig a screw out of a tire tread in a pinch. Too pretty for that ;)
 
My EDC is to handle the conditions I expect. The hard use folder is for when there will be uncertainty and I want to be sure to have enough knife. If it is really unknown and conditions permit, I go with fixed.
 
ShooterMcgavin said:
I'm a bit surprised... I thought I might get 1 or 2 posts out of 20 where people had said that they have sought a tougher knife after bending/breaking another knife's tip or seeing their locking mechanism fail. But, that also confirms my initial feelings... The basic knives that we use are pretty dang strong . . .
Click to expand...
. . . or they're not stressed to the point of failure. I suspect it's a combination of both.
 
Why is it that if anyone says anything about hard use folders, people feel they need to say if you need a hard use folder get a fixed blade. I've been guilty of this myself a couple of times but the op is talking about folders not fixed blades or I need a tough knife. Not everyone can carry a fixed blade but I'm sure that most people on a knife forum know that fixed blades are tougher. But if someone wants to know about a hard use folder which are out there why cant people just stick to that. Im not hating on fixed blades I enjoy them as well but im just ranting sorry Ill shut up now lol
 
I understand the desire for a "hard use" folder. It is just reassuring to have something that is over built. Still, I think with modern materials most well made folders can take some "abuse" without failing.
 
when i go looking for a tough hard use folder i realize that the job can be done far better, far quicker, and far safer, with a larger fixed blade knife.

for me a "Hard use" folder, is any folding knife that in and of itself does not require maintenance for the period of time i expect to be using it. for example, if i go camping, i want a folder i can use for everything that will have a tough as nails blade steel with excellent corrosion resistance and actual liners in the handle. one with tight tolerances so i dont have to lubricate it every time i get it wet. also something i can use as a go to knife and not have to worry about breaking it. my best examples of this would be the lion steel SR1 in titanium (coated blade), and the hinderer XM-18 3.5 inch (duratech 20cv spanto flipper) i also love stonewashed blades because i never worry about scratching them up.
 
I just buy knives that I like.
That just happens to generally fall into the "Hard Use/Tactical" marketing category.

Sometimes the extra toughness comes into play, like when I used my ZT 0551 along with a long bladed screwdiver to pry the warped facade off my coffee table (it is very large, and the glue was degrading). It did the trick, and worked to scrape off all the glue residue as well. :)

Buy em, use em...they're tools after all.

And if you bust the tip off your knife, put a new one on; that's why God invented sandpaper.;)
 
I like beefy folders but only if they cut well and are easy to clean. I normally carry a Socom Elite in 204P or my 0561 for my beefier knives. They both cut very well and offer a good grip and fold up when they go back in my pocket. All my small fixed blade knives see similar use but don't fold. No brainer for me.

I don't baton or chop or pry with my small fixed blade knives, and my folders work all the same. There are times when a Griptilian works for me as well but they don't clean out easily when I've used them for skinning or other field work.

Just preference I guess, but they aren't overrated IMO. Beefy doesn't mean good, but good knives can be beefy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top