Which folder is the Best?

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thk2c

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Sep 2, 2007
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As you can probably tell by my post, I am a new member to this forum. The question I have for you is this: which folder is the best? I want a folder that is first and foremost a knife. I don't want frills and mother of pearl inlays with a fancy locking system that lights up and sings a song when it is engaged. I want a knife that is unparalleled and unsurpassed in quality and most importantly a knife that has unreal edge retention. I need a knife that will perform day in and day out and last a lifetime no questions asked. Money is no object. I need a knife that works, because when it doesn't, my life is on the line.
 
Sounds to me lke you want to wait 3-4 weeks until they're available, and get a Spyderco Military in S90V steel. Hell to sharpen, but holds an edge forever!:p

Benchmade and Spyderco S30V and D-2 are also superb, but the new S90V promises to beat them by a mile.

Read Joe Talmadge's "steel FAQ" on the "Maintenance, Tinkering and Embellishment" subforum :thumbup:
 
Welcome to the forum.

There are a few modern classics among folders. The Benchmade 710 in D2. The Sypderco Military in S30V or CPM-D2 or BG-42 or, as Ben says, the upcoming S90V. For semiproduction folders, the CR Sebenza is hard to beat for fit/finish/and no-frills engineering.

If you need something larger, the Spyderco Manix (S30V) or Benchmade Rukus (S30V) are top candidates.

Among those five folders, you will find an amazing knife in a variety of sizes and steels that will meet your expectations.

But don't forget, it's not just the knife. You also have to know how to property sharpen and maintain and use the knife. Invest in yourself and the knife.
 
i doubt any knife can last a lifetime if u use it hard everyday. but even a crappy knife can last a lifetime if u barely use it.

Best folder ?

among productions, Benchmade Rukus, Bradley Alias, CRK Sebenza, Spydercos, and etc.

Among customs:

way too many: Choose from Rick Hinderer, RJ Martin, etc etc
 
$750. will buy you your last folder and that folder is Phill Hartsfield's. "IF" money is no object.
 
thk2c said:
As you can probably tell by my post, I am a new member to this forum. The question I have for you is this: which folder is the best? I want a folder that is first and foremost a knife. I don't want frills and mother of pearl inlays with a fancy locking system that lights up and sings a song when it is engaged. I want a knife that is unparalleled and unsurpassed in quality and most importantly a knife that has unreal edge retention. I need a knife that will perform day in and day out and last a lifetime no questions asked. Money is no object. I need a knife that works, because when it doesn't, my life is on the line.
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Try an Alaskan Guide Buck 110 from Cabela's.

Don't be fooled by the price....it will outperform many knives costing five times the amount.

knives220.jpg
 
I don't get the 110. I bought one back in the '80s. It was nice then, but way too heavy to carry in a pocket. And I don't really like carrying bulky stuff on my belt. When the thinner, lighter, tougher, faster, one-handed folders came out with pocket clips, everything changed.

I guess the closest thing to it in a modern knife is the Rukus, which I think is stronger and way easier and nicer to use with its axis lock. And if you look to the Military, you'll have a knife that's cuts much, much, much better than the 110, is easier to open and much easier to carry.
 
There are plenty of knives that'll last a lifetime and without fail. The question is, what do you need it for, what kind of environments will it see most (sandy, salty, cold, etc), and how often and how much effort you intend to spend maintaining it. Also, blade length and legal limits will narrow down the choices.

Also consider this: every knife needs sharpening! There's no knife that doesn't need to be sharpened at least occasionally. Serrated knives will excessively outlast plain edge knives as far as edge retention goes, but when you do sharpen them they'll take a little more effort and slightly more specialized equipment (a $40 Spyderco Sharpmaker will do the job perfectly) -- most companies will resharpen their knives for you, but not all will resharpen the serrated portion (Spyderco will).

As far as fail-proof and top-notch goes, I'd say the Chris Reeve Sebenza is right up there. The Regular and Classic models come plain, with no extra embellishments (those are optional) and they'll certainly last a lifetime. Expect to pay $300-400 for one, depending on size. Other highly respected companies, such as Spyderco, also make tough, dependable knives.
 
And if you look to the Military, you'll have a knife that's cuts much, much, much better than the 110, is easier to open and much easier to carry.
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As an owner of a carbon fiber Military....

knives014.jpg


I'll respectfully disagree.

As nice as the Military is, I prefer the Alaskan Guide 110.
For me, the 110 is more comfortable and cuts better too.
 
Carrot brings up good and valid points. What do you intend to use the knife for? What will it see? What is you experience with maintenance and care? There are many fine production knives mentioned above as well as some customs. Have you checked into the companies listed above or even the Zero Tolerance line? Do want something custom?
 
allenC said:
I'll respectfully disagree.

As nice as the Military is, I prefer the Alaskan Guide 110.
For me, the 110 is more comfortable and cuts better too.
Click to expand...

This is an important point for the OP. He can ask for people's opinions, but in the end it will take his own experience to find the best folder for him.
 
Murdok72605 said:
...Have you checked into the companies listed above or even the Zero Tolerance line?
Click to expand...
Speaking of Zero Tolerance...If you are looking for a MAN'S folder, get yourself a ZT 0200. I have a pair of 'em, and they are a folder that WILL last a lifetime, and will put up with alot of use & abuse...No frills, and not even close to being a "sissy-knife".
 
Oh, and you ain't fooling me, Allen. That Military looks way more used than the 110.
 
I would like some clarification. The 110 shown is the S30v heat treated by Paul Bos, is that correct? You say it outcuts the BG 42, that is saying a lot. I have the 110 in S30v, I haven't used it, so I can't recommend it, except to say that the vintage Buck 110 is one hell of a good knife!

Being that the 110 is a lock back and the Spydie is a frame lock, perhaps the OP would appreciate some opions on the common locking mechanisms and and if they could be expected to last a lifetime.

I personally have difficulty imagining a linerlock or framelock lasting a lifetime, being used each and every day opening and closing several times.
 
The Spyderco Military is a liner lock. (Most Spydercos are lockbacks.)
The Military is one of their classic models, in production for over 10 years. I have heard of Spyderco Military knives being in service for over 10 years and still having many more years left in them, so longevity does not seem like a problem. Sebenzas are framelocks and there are plenty very old ones with plenty of life left in them, too. I understand the reasoning behind believing frame and linerlocks will wear out but I think a very well designed frame or linerlock will alleviate the wear process to a point where it is acceptable to consider it to last a lifetime.
 
Manix. May have to find one on the secondary market as they have recently been discontinued by Spyderco. Great cutter, super tough, excellent edge retention. The lock is a vault like lock back and the ergos are superb.
 
If you're looking into some of the more "tactical" knives and don;t mind spending the cash you can also check out Crusader Forge. I've had a few of their folders and they are freaking beefy and solid.
 
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