Which Knife is best?

M

monterevolt

Joined
Feb 20, 2009
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2
Hello all,

I really want to start carrying a pocket knife again and I would like something of decent quality but less than $75. I do a good amount of hiking and outdoor activities so I'm looking for something that might be good if need be in a survival situation but also is light weight, sharp and compact for EDC. I have found a few knives I like online but I'm wondering peoples opinions on them.

Kershaw Junkyard Dog
http://www.knivesplus.com/kershawjunkyardke-1725st.html

Benchmade
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=557

Gerber
http://www.gerbergear.com/index.php/product/id/64

Are any of these knives good candidates? If not would you guys have some recommendations for me? Thanks for the help
 
The Junk Yard dog gets my vote, plain edge though.:D That Gerber is over the top tacticool in my opinion.
 
For under $75 look at a Spyderco Endura/Delica or the Tenacious. For that price, grab a fully SE and PE Tenacious. Rock solid knives. They're all lightweight, great blade steel on the Endura/Delica (VG-10), and pretty good steel on the Tenacious.
 
Benchmade, but personally I'd go with a plain edge.

Based on your links you appear to prefer partially serrated, so go with what you want.

Kevin
 
Junkyard Dog all the way. The grip has plastic-fantasic handles. If you like the feel of hollow plastic, then get the grip, other than that the JYD pretty much wins. The steel in the JYD has better edge retension than VG-10 according to dog of war, yet sharpens up quicker!
 
I would go for a plain edge Griptilian, which uses 154CM blade steel. The handle slabs are made from Noryl GTX, which is a glass reinforced synthetic, giving great strength yet light weight. The Grip also employs a lock which is arguably the finest lock made, the Axis lock.

Oh yes, welcome to the forums, monterevolt! :)
 
Definitely the Kershaw. I just picked one on them up yesterday and so far I like it. As some others have said, look at Spyderco too!
 
......of the three you are considering, the Kershaw and Benchmade are the better choices. I think you would be pleased with either....both are well-made. I wasn't fond of the "Kligon" battle clip on the Junk Yard Dog II; YMMV.

Not to complicate your options....but the Spyderco Endura or Delica are also outstanding choices for your needs.

In any case...a plain edge blade would probably be best for EDC and hiking/camping applications.

- regards
 
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For field use I would avoid knives with the tanto tip. That lets out your Benchmade and Gerber choices. I would also avoid anything from Gerber these days. I would go with a Kershaw or Spyderco knife as being more functional. Benchmade knives are commonly overly thick. That interferes with efficient cutting. I would pass on the Junk Yard Dog due to its gimicky handle. Instead I would look at a Kershaw Packrat for superior blade shape and handle ergonomics:
http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=449&brand=kershaw

You might also consider a Spyderco Endura. In any case I would avoid serrations. They are just too hard to keep at optimal sharpness and they don't work well for fine work.
 
Out of those, i'd take the JYD II. However, out of any, all I can say is get a plain edge. Combo Edges aren't very good, at least imo.
 
monterevolt said:
Hello all,

I really want to start carrying a pocket knife again and I would like something of decent quality but less than $75. I do a good amount of hiking and outdoor activities so I'm looking for something that might be good if need be in a survival situation but also is light weight, sharp and compact for EDC. I have found a few knives I like online but I'm wondering peoples opinions on them.

Kershaw Junkyard Dog
http://www.knivesplus.com/kershawjunkyardke-1725st.html

Benchmade
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=557

Gerber
http://www.gerbergear.com/index.php/product/id/64

Are any of these knives good candidates? If not would you guys have some recommendations for me? Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

I would choose the 550HG over any of the three you posted.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=550HG

The hollow handle on the Griptilian does feel cheap but it's also plenty strong and reduces weight.
 
If it was me I would go with the Griptilian, plain edge, I definatally would NOT get a tanto style tip as I hate them. Check out the Mel Pardue model Griptilian, one of my cousins has one I have been very impressed with, it's been a great knife for him. The Grip has the Axis Lock as a few have mentioned which is by far the nicest lock I have used on a knife (now a few companies are copying it as patent rights have expired, e.g. SOG


Jeff Clark said:
For field use I would avoid knives with the tanto tip. That lets out your Benchmade and Gerber choices. I would also avoid anything from Gerber these days. I would go with a Kershaw or Spyderco knife as being more functional. Benchmade knives are commonly overly thick. That interferes with efficient cutting.
Click to expand...

These last two sentances are highly subjective!! I disagree very very strongly, in my opinion this is misinformation that is outright wrong!! (but hey you know what opinions are like):D
I own a Benchmade Rukus (610) which has been the best knife I have ever owned (unfortunatally out of your price range) It has one of the thickest blades BM makes, It sharpens like a dream and gets sharper then a razor!! Ever other folding BM I have seen has a thinner blade so I see absolutely no way any folding BM has a blade thick enough to "interfere with efficient cutting"
Jeez I guess if a thick blade "interferes with efficient cutting"
Everybodies Busses must be almost useless!!!
A Game wardens blade is way, way thicker than my Rukus and it only has a 3" blade
(enter Busse Game Warden into you tube and you can watch someone split a hair with one)
Again This is my opinion just like the previous poster has their opinion and although we dissagree strongly we are both entitled to have that specific opinion:)

My message to the OP without all my nonsense.....
Get The Grip PE w/ "Modified Sheepsfoot" style blade(Mel Pardue 550HG)
You will Love it!!!
 
I think its a toss up between the kershaw and the benchmade, which ever one get a plain edge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Here is one of my favorite Kershaw knives. The R.A.M.
It has a blazing fast flipper to open the blade.
No assist just finger power!!
I own this one and I love it ! :thumbup:

http://www.knivesplus.com/kershawknifeke-1910.html

Edit: Kershaw is uprgading the blade steel on this one so ask for the new steel (14C28) exclusive to Kershaw.
Btw Its also less $$ than the Benchmade Griptillian Which is also a very good knife.
Kershaw is a lot of quality for the $$.
 
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Any knife that grabs you.... One of the greatest things about the current knife industry is that it's easy to get a very decent knife at a very reasonable price. Most of the things people like throwing around here are their own subjective views and experiences, but it's hard to go wrong here providing you ask before you buy rather than buy and then ask if you bought the right knife. (Odd how many people do that.)
 
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