Which Folder Of Yours Has Seen The Heaviest Use?

My BM 551, partially serrated in 440C. I don't think I work my knives nearly as hard as other people here, but I love the way it's held up. Part of the reason I enjoy using this knife so much aside from it's features, is the fact that I don't care nearly as much if I find out it's limits. Of course, I don't use it in any way it wasn't meant to be used.
 
Case Stockman with CV steel. Done many a whittling project with that one. Kind of retired it because I am breaking in some new ones, but there is plenty of life left in it.
 
Spyderco 440V Military. I've lost track of it's age, 6 or 7 years I'd guess, but it's still functionally as-new after years of EDC service.

It's the only blade I have that will survive hard use, cutting materials up to hardwoods without edge damage, with a final edge bevel of less than 30 degrees included.

I've bought a number of folders since buying the 440V Military, but it's still the champ in terms of combined sharpness and edge-holding, comfortable carry, ergos and the great one-handed functionality of the liner-lock (the locking arm has finally crept over to the middle of the locking arc at the butt of the blade).

I favor the Military over my SMF, Benchmade 806D2, Buck/STrider Tarani, Manix and other quality folders purchased after the Military. They're fine knives, but seldom carried.

The 440V Military may be displaced by my new BG42 Military:
- Stronger build.
- Steel a bit softer, but a breeze to sharpen.

We'll see.
 
I did unspeakable things to a BUCK 110 when I was a kid. That old knife just sucked it up and went on cutting. Great knife the ol' 110.
 
My BM910 Stryker w/G-10 scales. Solid as a rock and makes a good screwdriver/prybar too! Shouldn't every knife?

Just ordered my first knife in a few years. My new EDC will be a Mini-Skirmish. I'm not brand loyal (on factory knives) but BM just seems to scratch my 'production' itch pretty well!
 
I have a couple. One of them, surprisingly, is my Gerber Gator, which I bought before I even started collecting, or knowing anything about knives per se. It was a "yardwork" knife", so it did everything from cutting to digging. The other's are an Endura 3/FRN/CE and a Bryd Crow, both of which got used earlier this year for renovation work on a revenue property I purchased. I wouldn't classify my daily stuff as hard use.

- gord
 
My buck 112. It has skinned/dressed a few deer, cleaned trout, been to camp many,many times, and on the job site. Drywall, wire, and just about everything else I can think of. The 420 steel, allbeit not the best out there, never let me down. I don't worry to much about miss behaving with it due to the price.
 
Hair said:
I don't mean to start an arguement, Vivi, but I am surprised your Opinel is still going so strong. I decided to "destroy" my Opinel just to see how much it could handle. I was surprised at how strong the handle and pivot were. I thought I would be able to break the pivot. But the lock and the blade were very weak. I could defeat the lock with not much force because the blade would make a dent in the lock and the lock would wear into the wood. And the blade was so fragile that I could cause major edge damage just by pushing it into hardwood and plastic. Not chopping, just pushing. It peeled the edge back like tinfoil.

My Opinel may not have got a very good heat treat, or something.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how consistent their QC is, but the Opinels I own seem to have solid blades. I've done lots of testing with an 8 and 10, having given away my stainless 8 to my ex girlfriend. From what I've noted they seem to be weakest when tourqing them. Tourqing, so far, is the only thing I've done where I felt like I started giving too much pressure for the knife to handle, and felt I could break it if I pressed on. Maybe I was wrong, but with only having two larger Opinels currently I don't feel like breaking one. Down the road when I get more I'll go all out and destroy one though.

My blade doesn't seem to behave the way you described yours. Did it roll just making a push cut motion into these materials or stabbing through them? I can stab through plastics like water and pop bottles with no problem, and can make slices at more robust plastic like a tupperware container with no edge problems. The worst I see is minimal rolling that is easily steeled out. I've driven my lock ring into the wood handles some and dented the top where the spine rests, but the lockup is still solid with no play and hasn't shown any signs of failure yet. The lock ring on the 8 is loose so that when disengaged it wiggles around freely, but I received it that way. My other ones has stiffer collars that usually require two handed to operate.

I haven't had my Buck 110 long enough to name it here, but it's been a very rugged knife for me so far. It's a bargain at its pricepoint given the fit and finish + build quality. Mine has developed some play, which I've tried hammering out and correcting through a vise. :P
 
Back in the mid 80's I had a Puma 4-Star single bladed lockback folder that I carried everywhere and used for everything. If I remember right it had 440C blade steel. It was a great knife until the day I lost it.:( Now I would have to give the nod to my Rukus or my Strider AR. Both are tough knives.
 
My current EDC, and African Blackwood Mnandi has seen lots of use over the last 3 years. Functionally, still the same as it was the day I bought it. Perhaps a tad less sharp since my sharpening skills are still being developed.
 
My very old Buck 110. Used it all during my working life at the shipyard. It's still sharp but a lot smaller then the new ones (in width) and kind of scrungey looking....it's been a good knife.

Ciao
:thumbup:
 
buck strider 880T
it was my first strider, used for 2 years heavily before passing to my wife after a reprofile as an edc. great knife for the $$$
 
Buck Strider 880 spear point, toughest folder , well at least as tough as my chinook 1 or manix.

--Dave
 
A couple of differnet M-tech folders I use around the house and for lawn work. They get dull and with a few swipes of the "V" shaped carbide sharpener, I'm ready to go in 30 seconds.

Not as cool a saying my Ritter Grip, BM 710, or Rat-3, but alas, it is the truth.

Regards
 
Hey Guys...
Vivi..

The folder I've probably used more than anything,, and sometimes beat on is my Beater/Work Benchmade 710.

I took it on a trade several years ago,, and it's been put to work probably more than any other knife I've owned..

It's cut drywall, miles of plastic sheeting, Big O, plastic pipe,tubing, stripped wires, punctured holes into various things,, opened a can of beans with it once while camping, made hotdog/marshmellow sticks lots of them..

It's sliced through at least one tire..:) (Don't Ask)

I've gutted and split the pelvic bone on several deer. It's gutted at least one black bear, cleaned a wheelbarrow full of rabbits and squirells as well as a host of other things...

This knife has been my Go To folder for rough work for several years now,, been sharpened lots and it still works well, with no failures and the Omega springs are still both intact.

It's a Great knife and would be sorely missed if something happened to it...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Normark, thanks for the response. I've been considering getting a 710, but the quality of my recently received G10 Byrd has made me think twice about that. One 710 or four G10 Cara Cara's? I think you guys can see my problem. :)
 
CRKT M16 Plain edge with the 4" blade. I've had that knife for about 5 years and used the heck out of it. It sharpens easily holds an edge reasonably well and locks up really nicely. I'm amazed at the precision of it for a made in Taiwan knife.


John
 
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