- Joined
- Mar 26, 2005
- Messages
- 184
Wrace said:
A couple of quick thoughts:
A very short handle isn't such a good idea. You seem to be someone who uses his knife hard, and a short handle isn't all that well-suited to hard use, at least IME. I really like short blades in my knives as well, but whenever I try one of the knives with a really short handle I find I go back to use one of my knives with 4 inch handles within a week or so. The shortest handle I'm comfortable with is the one of my Calypso Jr.
Stainless steel handles are definitely *not* a good idea if you use your knife a lot in wet environments. Far too slippery, and IMO also way too heavy compared to FRN handles. FRN handles may look and feel cheap, but you get accustomed to them, and so far I haven't been able to destroy one of them.
Thumbstuds - I don't like them much anyway, but I really feel for your kind of use you're much better of with a nice big hole in the blade.
I often use my knives when wearing gloves, and I find the Spydie hole is just about the best in such situations. Locks - I think I'd go for a lockback. A well made lockback is very reliable and easy to clean, a very important point when you're camping near the ocean. I'd not get an axis lock when I know I'll be using the knife near sand a lot.
I would also *not* get a really expensive knife. Not because I think expensive knives shouldn't be used in tough conditions, rather because I think you don't get any real improvement in performance compared to some of the beaters suggested in previous postings. And let's face it - it's pretty easy to lose a knife when you really use it a lot.
What I'd get? Salt 1 serrated. The steel simpy doesn't rust, no matter what you throw at it, and it cuts like a chainsaw. It appears one the the steels that work best in serrated knives. Easy enough to sharpen with a Sharpmaker.
A close second would be a Spyderco Native. I *really* like that knife, it just feels good in the hand with its deep choil, and it's one of the tougher FRN folders out there. I used a Native I in CPM-440V for years as my primary EDC, and it never once let me down. I prefer the Native I, but the Native III may be worth looking at with its slightly beefier handle. The Native III has a VG-10 blade, and I'd prefer it over the S30V of the Native 1 yor your kind of application. VG-10 is also easier to sharpen IME. It's not quite so impervious to salt water, but one of the very best steels in the world.
My third choice would be a Delica FRN with VG-10 steel. The Delica is one of those knives made for hard use. A well-proven design, fairly cheap, a real beater.
The Calypso Jr. is an excellent knife and one of my favourite Spydercos. However, the very thin tip profile may not quite be tough enough for your kind of use. It's still one of the knives I'd seriously consider if you can still find a gray one from the sprint run.
Hans
