Which knife could I get my dad as a gift?

[AJC723]

My dad used to love knives, he has some nice ones, but the majority of the ones that he owns are really cheap knives. He keeps most of them in a shoebox in the basement. In his truck, he keeps a $5 knife that isn't such a good knife, and the only other pocket knife I've seen him use and love is his Buck 110.

I want to get him a knife as a gift so maybe he can replace the knife in his car, or it will convince him to actually carry one as an EDC. It doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be a decent quality knife.

I was thinking about getting him a Spyderco Tenacious or a Persistence, but I am not sure if he would like the thumbhole, I have to ask him without making it too obvious that I want to get him something. I was then thinking about a Kershaw Cryo, but I have no experience with them, so I don't know what they are like.

I don't want to get him something expensive like my Paramilitary 2, just something of decent quality that he would like.

What are some decent knives at around the $40 or below price range?

I don't want to spend too much on the knife because I am going to pair the gift with a Fenix E21. Not the best flashlight out there, but a great gift light, and I'm sure he'll be impressed because he has only owned MagLite incandescent lights.

Thanks!

 

[richard thurman]

why not a kershaw leek or scallion??

 

[ohen cepel]

If he likes Buck their Vantage could be a great choice.

 

[JWRobinson]

How about a Kershaw Needs WorK? Great user and can be had within your price range if you shop around.

 

[MattyLav]

My Dad loves Dale Earhardt. So i got him a $5 Dale Earnhardt Knife. i think hes gonna love it!
If hes gonna use it hard, you should get a knife with tough steel. I think the RAT 1 is a great knife.
Also if he really likes the Maglite. They makePacks for incandescent maglite lights that replaces it with LEDs

 

[AJC723]

The Leek may be a good choice. I don't like the look of the Scallion too much and I doubt he will either. However, I'm not sure how he would feel about the flippers on the Kershaws, the Cryo included. I really want him to like this knife, and one of the main aspects of liking a knife is how easy it is for you to open it. Although they have the Kershaw speedsafe, I don't know how he feels about the flipper. The only Kershaw I own is the Blur, so the only experience I have with Kershaw thumbstuds on flipper knives was with my brother's Skyline, and they were useless, how are they on the Leek/Cryo?

Although the Buck Vantage has the flipper, it looked like the thumbhole was usable. I do feel like he would like to see Buck on the knife, but how big of a problem is the blade centering on this model?

I realize I am being really picky at such a low price range, I just want him to like the knife, so sorry for that.. If he ends up liking the thumbholes, I'll probably get him the Tenacious, unless someone else has a better Spyderco or any other brand recommendation. I feel like the thumbholes are really hit or miss with a lot of people.

 

[ncbcymtechie]

The thumb stud on the Leek is quite usable. The only possible problem I've heard is that since it is assisted opening, you have to be careful not to slide your thumb over the edge of the blade once the blade has stopped. I've never found this to be a problem, though.

Find out what his preferences are and buy accordingly! You've got a lot of good suggestions in this thread. The Spyderco Tenacious, Kershaw Skyline, and Buck Vantage are all great choices.

 

[AJC723]

Thanks everybody!

I think I'm going to go with the Tenacious/Persistence (don't want to discourage him from carrying it if the Tenacious is a little big) if he likes the thumbholes. Otherwise I think I'm going with the Ontario Rat 1, Buck Vantage or Kershaw Leek.

Thanks guys!

 

[Roogalator]

Another nice choice is the Maxpedition FEROX:

I'm not a big fan of liner locks, but for 29 bucks it's hard to beat. Plus, Tim Tang is a Nice Guy™.

 

[jimnolimit]

the buck vantage avid would be an excellent choice and my recommendation:

checkout a few of boker's more gentlemanly looking knives:

boker plus 3000 lightweight:

 

[broadstreetbully]

he likes the 110 so if it were my dad i woul get him a costomized one. you do it at bucks site,pick the wood, steel, finish. im sure he would carry it they are beautiful. i would get my him a giant esee junglas or bussekin too. every knife guy needs a at least one big chopper