Which types of blades you consider to be basic to have?

I

ivanhoe

Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
108
I'm a beginner myself and I'm trying to come up with some sort of plan on blades to get. Here's what I've been thinking:

- Beater - blade on which I'd learn sharpening, use, disassembling, cleaning, etc. On the affordable side obviously. Could have serrations to get a feel on that. E.g.: Byrd, cheaper Boker, S&W, Kershaw, etc.
- Users: large, medium and small one. Suitable for carry, solid steel and good overall performance. E.g.: Endura -> Delica -> Dragonfly.
- Higher end, premium blade. Can be something for fun or combined with any of the previous categories. To get a feel of how a superior blade should feel. E.g.: ZT, higher end Spyderco, Mcusta, etc.

Which knives do you think would make an all-around collection for beginners?
Which knives you wish you have started with?

Would love to hear what you guys think - especially those with lots of experience.

Thanks!
 
In all seriousness...collect whatever you like and makes you happy. That's all that matters.
 
Beater: The lower priced Kershaws would serve well for this purpose, I think. Be aware that some of their LOWER end knives now use cheaper 3cr13 rather than 8cr13MoV, which might make a difference as far as learning to sharpen it, though they have 8cr13MoV that cost about the same or a bit more. This may be considered a HERETICAL recommendation, but for a BEATER that you want practice with and not be too concerned if you mess something up, I wouldn't overlook M-Tech knives for this... very cheap price, not great steel, but I think would serve this purpose well (stay away from the overly fancy ones, seldom worth the additional price).

User: First thing that comes to my mind is the Ontario Rat 1 (or Rat 2 for a smaller version)... the non-assisted version. This is an excellent knife, very fairly priced, and the manual action is so smooth it will make you question the need for assisted knives. Another I like for a small knife is the SOG Flash I. Some people love this, some seem to hate it. If you watch YouTube videos, there are more than one of people shaking the knife, showing how the release switch rattles when the knife is closed... personally, I've never seen a need to shake a knife like that, rather pointless. What so great about this knife is that it is small, but not TOO small and VERY light. I lost mine once for several days... then I discovered that it was clipped to my pocket and I had been clipping another knife next to it each day (true story)! Only really downside is I think SOG's are a bit overpriced.

Higher End: THE most excellent knife available, IMO, the Spyderco Paramilitary II. I'm not in general a Spyderco fan (price, spyderhole makes their knives generally 'wider' in my pocket), but I love everything about the PM II (except that Spyderco seem incapable of adjusting it properly from the factory). This is actually the only 'higher end' (by my definition) knife that I also personally consider a 'user', because it is just to great not to use... great steel, light weight, compression lock is AWESOME (once you get it adjusted). As far as Zero Tolerance, I really like the 0200. This is a BIG knife (as are most ZT's) which is the main reason I wouldn't call it a 'user', but it is less expensive than many of their models and pretty much just as good (unless you are after 'exotic' steel or something). I like the 0200 so much that I have two.

So, just a few recommendations in each category, there are no doubt others I could mention, but these come to mind first...
 
ZT0566 in Elmax is my main heavy-duty high-end user.
My new Delica in ZDP is my lighter-duty user
I have a RAT 1 for abusing (haven't yet, it's such a pretty knife it's hard to beat up)

I don't have any that I keep around and not use, the ones I don't use are going up for sale as I have no need for them.
 
I carry a rough rider half whittler on Mon-Fri day. 440c, easy to sharpen, very, very inexpensive. Weekends are mostly a delica vg-10, and Elmax blur. Around the house is a mora carbon steel and a Byrd Cara Cara 2, 8cr13mov . In the car kit is a mini grip in 154cm and a buck Vantage sits in my car's change drawer in 420hc. I've tried plenty of steels but these + s30 and s35 are my favorite steels for how easy they sharpen up and the fact that they don't break the bank of most often reached for knives, sometimes a Goddard gets whipped out for fun.

I have medium size hands and I just love the blur and Delica. The Delica is not the highest end knife but I've gotten rid of a ton of other spydercos because 7 out of ten times when I would want to carry a Spyderco I would reach for the Delica. Size wise it's a great non scary edc with enough blade to do the job that doesn't take up pocket space.

The rough rider's are like 9 bucks so you can buy them all day.
 
I am not really a collector. I do enjoy knives and have a few but all serve a specific purpose.

Outdoors knife: Fallkniven F1

Work carry:Spyderco Military

Weekend carry: Spyderco Paramilitary 2

Dress slacks/light shorts carry: Benchmade 530

3" carry knife (State next doors legal limit): Spyderco Native 5 lightweight

SAK/Multi tool : Victorinox Hiker

Necker/belt fixed: Spyderco Swick 4

So that is my collection plan. When I get bored with a knife from one of my carry needs it gets passed on. Then the fun begins with searching for a replacement. Of the knives listed only the Vic Hiker and F1 are safe from being replaced :)
 
I too, choose a knife each day based on where I'm headed and what I'll be doing. All the knives I own get used though.

As far as a starting point, I have the Ontario Rat 2 on the brain. At $30 or so, it's got plenty of value. I bought my brother one a month or so ago, and he loves the thing. Hell, I love the thing. So much so that I ordered one for myself. I started with a Skyline (as well as my brother), but I'd have gotten the Rat instead had I known about it. Don't get me wrong, the Skyline is a very well built budget folder. However, I haven't seen my brother carry his since receiving the Rat.

His Rat, my D4.


The Delica is another good one. I don't regret anything about that knife - ended up better than anticipated. It's seen a lot of boxes and packages, and if you ask me is much tougher than it looks.

I have a S30V PM2 that I use for the heavier-duty jobs, though I have a Cruwear Manix 2 on order that will likely be my go-to for warehouse/yard work.

But as a newbie myself, I'd start over with the Delica or Rat 2.
 
Beater: Cold Steel Kudu (less than $10!)

Large edc (for me, 3.5"-4.5"): Ontario Rat 1

Medium edc (for me, 2.5"-3.5"): Spyderco Delica

Small edc(for me, 1.5"-2.5"): Cold Steel Tuff Lite

Upper end EDC: Spyderco Sage 1 (or Sage 3 if you don't want another liner lock)

Decent all around set, a little bit of everything.
 
Last edited:
Great suggestions, all the models I would suggest have already been covered.

I would add though, if you don't own many or any knives now, start with a couple of very different ones, to get a feel for what YOU like using the most. I really wish I had known there was such a wide selection of edc sized fixed blades out there when I started getting into knives.

An esee izula, Becker tweener (models 11, 13, 14) or a Mora would be great if you've never tried a fixed blade before. You might find you like them better than folders!

Also maybe look at a couple of more inexpensive traditional folders made by case or buck...a different flavor of knife everybody should experience!

Read about all of these knives, randomly pick one that appeals to you and is cheaper so you can start learning to sharpen, then use it and see how you like it!
 
just pick a good knife that you can afford and go from there. All the planning is somewhat pointless. My interests evolve constantly. Once you get one you will know what you like or don't like and can use that info on your next purchase.
 
Get a carbon steel opinel and a carbon mora for $25 or so total and figure out if you like a folder or fixed. Or even an old hickory paring knife if you dont like the mora.
Carbon steel is easy to sharpen (even an old belt will work for keeping it sharp) and shows you where you arent taking care of it. Then you arent out much $ when you screw up, it will be easier to fix, and you are learning on something easy to replace. If you have and itch for a modern folder scratch it with a Utilitac or rat1 for now, but leave it alone until you practice on the others.
 
i think the basic spyderco frn spyderco makes a good all around user for a guy just getting into knives. they arent expensive and they are very reliable. they have a good size too.
 
Combat/Utility fixed... Busse TGLB

High end folder... DDR Maxx 5.5"

Balisong... Walter Erickson scimitar

Traditional folder... GEC #22

Production tactical folder... Spyderco Tatanka
 
cchu518 said:
I carry a rough rider half whittler on Mon-Fri day. 440c, easy to sharpen, very, very inexpensive. Weekends are mostly a delica vg-10, and Elmax blur. Around the house is a mora carbon steel and a Byrd Cara Cara 2, 8cr13mov . In the car kit is a mini grip in 154cm and a buck Vantage sits in my car's change drawer in 420hc..
Click to expand...

That's funny, the buck vantage 420hc is also my car knife. Lives in the center hatch. A great knife
 
I think the criteria you listed OP are good ones. A beater knife is a great way to learn to sharpen and give you an idea of how far you could/should push a knife safely. My own experience is Aus8 is a good steal for beaters. 8cr13mov has not been bad to me but has gone dull a little quicker than I care for.

User's are great companions. I feel like beaters and users can sometimes overlap. I consider my recon 1 mini spear point a beater and a user, but my g10 manix 2 just a user.

I view high ends as a healthy fun life reward. It could be something that you research a ton, get lots of feedback on, obviously be something you love and is unique to you. We're all a little different but I know for myself I put in about 20 hours of research before getting a falkniven f1. I put in close to that before doing the same with the mini recon and the manix 2. I'm not saying that's how it should be done, I'm saying that's just fun for me. And when funding, timeline, and availability all line up and you pull the trigger - freaking awesome feeling. I know knife collecting is different for everyone but I feel most of us do it for the experience. I would encourage folks to think about what they want their experience to be and go for it.

Edit: I realize I didn't really answer the question. I'll go with 5 basic blades I feel folks should have.
Mora - classic or companion - I think everyone should know what these knives are about. They serve as a good yard stick to measure other smaller fixed blades

SAK - most folks probably already own these. They deserve their great reputation and are superbly functional

Carbon Steel - I'll keep this broad. Could be an old hickory 7" butcher, opinel folder, or even include the mora. I feel carbon steels teach the importance of blade maintenance and offer greater insight and respect for stainless steels.

Modern user - rat 1 or 2, zancudo, buck vantage, endura, delica, whatever. Something modern to help build appreciation for ease of use and identify your preference for traditional or modern

Fixed blade sturdy - SRK, Fallkniven f1, becker or esee knives. Something strong and sturdy to establish your needs for wilderness or outdoors.
 
Last edited:
Well, Ivanhoe, your first decision is whether you are going to collect brands, styles or types. You sound like you want to collect types: a representation of knives for different uses. This would involve attention to blade profiles and maybe even grinds later.

Not exactly the way I did it but here's one approach. You can always tweak whatever you want. I would categorize something like this:

Penknife/dress--small folder, discreet, something for slacks; 3" blade, preferably under. Maybe a good slipcase for it so it doesn't profile.
Utility---all around use blades. Folders mainly; differing styles, blade is key.
Heavy duty---something to handle the 'stumble upon' things in life; for jeans and weekends or knockaround. Your badass EDC; the knife you wish you could carry everywhere. One fixed and one folder. Any sheath.
Outdoor---mostly fixed blades for hiking/camping. Leather or Synthetic sheath. Steel and sharpening skills can enter the picture here. At least one dedicated outdoor folder.
Bush---something for extended outdoor excursions; worth spending for quality here. Fixed blade or two. Leather sheaths preferable.
SHTF---the all-around tough guys you're stranded on the island with. These will tend to be a larger ones perhaps. Fixed and maybe a folder. Leather sheath.
Wildcard---the type/style of knife you just 'like' best. Fixed, whatever sheath it comes with, and folders.​

To your questions, which knives would exemplify an all round collection and which knives I would have started with...If you really think you're going to get into this nasty habit, find a good Buck 110 and buy your Sebenza as quickly as you can. That way you have a starting collection anchored by two of the essentials (classics) and the expensive one out of the way. Now you can cruise:

A knife for each of the above categories that I wish I'd started with? Granted an 'average' budget here, off the top of my head:

Pen---A Kershaw Leek composite or small SAK; maybe troll for a cheap William Henry.
Utility---Something like a RAT, Benchmade Griptillian or one of the Cold Steel folders. For fixed, the original DPx HEST by Rowen, hands down.
Heavy Duty---a Zero Tolerance 3 or 500 series. Maybe a CRKT or Spyderco, something like a Tuff. For fixed maybe a USMC.
Outdoor---A BK-11 for sure (another classic) and a good Becker or Esse fixed. Maybe an Emerson or similar for a folder.
Bush---A Cold Steel Trailmaster or one of the DPx fixed blades. Maybe a Falkniven. A HEST folder--probably the 2.0.
Survival---I prefer a good leuku/pukko combination set for fixed. Maybe a Grayman Dua for a folder.
SHTF---5" blade minimum. BK-9, machete, bolo....something large, a shelter builder, that you like.
Wildcard---whatever you like: stiletto, tanto, karambit, khukuri, Rambo, Captain Ricasso ....​

You'll need a couple of good neck/boot knives too. The BK-11 above will get you started there. Then check some of the Bokers and TOPS.

So many good knives out there right now, especially in outdoor blades. Buy the knives you LIKE and don't get all caught up in the steel theories---it will make the hobby much less pleasurable for you. Good luck wid it.
 
Pocket - Something small and discreet that gets lost at the bottom of your pocket, and is hard to open without breaking a nail.

Multi Tool - Swiss Army / Boyscout knife or Leatherman style tool. More tools than you will ever use all in one bulky package.

Razor knife - Folder or not, use for hard jobs like scoring drywall, cardboard, carpet, or other jobs that can damage a fine edge. Just replace the blade if you can remember where you left them.

Tacky-tickle folder, one big blade with a pocket clip that generally bends or breaks, does nothing but cut, they make lousy screwdrivers, great if you are an experienced knife fighter looking for a knife fight. They aslo look cool when you whip them out at the fine steakhouse to cut your meat.

Medium sized sheath knife, for hunting, skinning, doing food prep and just for freaking out the sheeple when you carry it on you hip uptown. Also works well in the steakhouse.

Large fixed blade combat knife, a must have for a mall ninja, nothing impresses the ladies like a big 10"

Large Chopper, for doing all that heavy wood processing normal folks use an axe to do.

As for what to collect, only you can decide. Just collect what you like.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top