Work knife help!?!

B

BladeAmateur97

Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
13
First and foremost hello,

I'm 18 and and work in environmental construction I need a dependable blade that I can just grab and go...I understand basic knowledge about steels, Rockwell Scale various heat treating processes and basic blade care..

The Kershaw I bought a month ago was a Kuro and is manufactured in China so clearly I got what I paid for, however I thought $20 would get me something better than that...


Anyway my dad is a big Spyderco fanatic , he has an original Endura and all the Delicas, I'm personally not a fan of the design of them I know they make some blades with g10 handles and not the bi directional "knurling" they just don't grab me but I do love VG-10 steel which is common in the Endura line.

So really I'm looking for suggestions on a $75 or less knife I want a folder with steel that comes sharp that has good retention and isn't a pain for a noob to sharpen. The only thing that I have found that isn't to big/bulky or just outright goofy is a Kershaw Leek 1660CKT I really like the looks but don't want to buy it cause it looks cool, what concerns me is there is no belly on it , it just looks flat , problem I have with that is I cut fabric rolls for work that are wrapped in about 10 mil plastic (looks like heat shrink) so I want to make a clean one swoop pass with whatever blade I get, rolls are 15 foot and they are on a core (Just image a toilet paper roll wrapped in plastic lmao) and we also use straw matting so it needs to be able to handle well with that and other various tasks such as cutting rope and god forbid plastic zip ties if need be , was always told plastic dulls blades.. would also like a straight blade no serrations.



TLDR: NEED A GOOD SHARP KNIFE THAT RETAINS AND EDGE FOR AWHILE AND IS FAIRLY EASY FOR A NOOB TO SHARPEN. I'D LIKE TO STICK UNDER $75 AND A STRAIGHT BLADE NO SERRATIONS. WAS LOOKING AT THE KERSHAW LEEK 1660CKT BUT NOTICE IT DOESN'T HAVE A BELLY AND AM CONCERNED IT'S MORE FOR CLEAN SLICING. NEED SOMETHING VERSATILE...ANY SUGGESTIONS I'M NOT BRAND SPECIFIC



THANKS TO WHOEVER READS AND RESPONDS WANT TO BE THOROUGH!!
 
In your position, I would choose from two knives, both higher than your 75 dollar limit, but both should last for years and do a great job at work. The Spyderco Native 5 lightweight and the Benchmade Griptilian. The Native 5 has better steel and is smaller to carry, but the Griptilian might be better for harder use. Look at the prices. Might be better to speend a little more for a better knife to begin with. Over several years of use, a few dollars won t matter much.
 
Spyderco Delica, Endura, Tenacious. All great slicers,, make sure it's the Full Flat Ground versions
 
Yeah just grab a tenacious. I am into spydercos right now. If you wanna spend closer to 75$ then agreed with above, grab an endura.

If you're not into the look I like my Kershaw Link a lot. But that's assisted.
 
For under $75, i'd suggest the Kershaw knockout. Excellent ergos, plenty of belly, steel comparable to VG-10 in regards to edge retention, yet remaining fairly easy to sharpen, plus, you get KAI's awesome warrenty. It is assisted though, which I personally love and think works great on the knife. It's a very tough and well built for the price too, definitely quality. The aesthetics are great (IMO) and it's a very good edc size. I don't think it would disappoint.
 
If the bi-directional FRN is really a deal breaker, Spyderco does make an all stainless Delica.
I would also suggest you raise your budget ceiling to the $100 dollar mark...so many excellent knives in the $75-100 range.
Some suggestions:
BM Griptilian, HK 14715 & 14716
Spyderco Stretch, Delica, Native 5, Manix 2
Kershaw Blur, Knockout
 
Definitely consider the Kershaw Knockout or Kershaw Link.
 
Kershaw Blur. Hard to beat for the price, easy to get a new edge on if/when you dull it. Woot sometimes has them for as little as $35.
 
Honestly I would buy a Mora, dirt cheap, wont break, and a 7 year old could make it shaving sharp with ease. No need to get a folder that's gonna get gummed up, need deep cleanings, etc. Look into the robust stainless steel models, they are about $25 IIRC. Also buy yourself a pocket size fine stone, if you dont already have one. A few swipes on each side and a little stropping will keep it sharp for at least a day. I prefer a fixed blade working, and I'm an 18 year old carpenter too! I do finish carpentry primarily though.

Connor
 
Wow, you guys are awesome I have like 15 tabs open now that I copy and pasted your suggestions into on my browser..gonna learn alot and everything you guys said were all exactly the size and look I had in mind. Really appreciate it if anyone else wants to chime in I'm still open for thoughts
 
Any cold steel you want for the most part. Some are "mall ninja" knives but they truly are working mans knives I know few construction workers who love them and guarantee if I used knives any more than I do I woulda chosen one over the delica I bought
 
Kershaw Blur or Knockout. Both can be had for $50-60 are made in the USA and are great knives for the money.
 
Spyderco Delica or Endura depending on how large you want to go with the blade.

Also fully recommend Buck, either a 110, or the Vantage Line.
 
Any thoughts on the Spyderco Sage 1 Carbon fiber ? Looks beautiful and love the steel choice and liner lock..although I really like the native 5 steel choice I don't care for the FRN handle on it and g10 is pricey, but the s35 steel on the native is supposed to deter chipping
 
I use an Ontario Rat 1 for my work knife. Under $30, and I don't mind abusing it. If you're looking for something higher on the scale, I'd go with the Kershaw Knockout, Spyderco Manix 2 (just a hair above your budget, can be found on a certain site that shares its name with a well known South American river for $80)

For an amateur I'd suggest the Kershaw Knockout. It's got a big belly, Sandvik is fairly easy to sharpen, but I've heard the handle/ blade weight ratio is awkward.

Spyderco might look funny, I thought the same when I first saw them, but they're great. At first I had a resilience, didn't realize how big it was and ended up selling it. Then I went straight to the paramilitary 2 which is an amazing blade and I got it for $90 new. Then I got the Yojimbo 2 when I was on a wharncliffe spree. I mostly use it when I go to places where I worry about safety, but it's also a great work knife.

Finally picked up a Delica 4. A lot smaller than I anticipated but it's amazing. Fits in the hand wonderfully.
 
The pickle is; you want something to hold an edge better then 8cr13mov, for work, which is not difficult to sharpen for a novice, at a price less then $75...

The sandvik 14c27n offerings (Kershaw and Realsteel) take a great fine "razors" edge, but their "working edge" once it's gone sucks, since it is a fine grained Steel with minimal carbide growth. You'd be just as well suited IMO with 8cr13mov, which won't take/hold the fine edge as well, but will keep cutting with the working edge just as long. (I carry one of each steels to work, a Kershaw Blur, and a Chinese made in 7cr17mov)

There are some great knives in your price range that will hold an edge noticeably much better;
Kershaw Blur in s30v
Cold Steel code4 in cts-xhp
Spyderco Endura in vg10

But they will all be noticeably trickier/tougher to sharpen, s30v being the most so...

Buck Vantage Pro in s30v is another great option, and they run their s30v a tad softer, so not as great edge holding, (Still much better then 8cr or sandvik though), but also not quite as tough to sharpen, but still not "easy"...

Browning Tactical Hunter does the same with running vg10 a bit on the soft side, (which is already noticeably easier then s30v to sharpen), so that might be a nice solid option for you to get your feet wet into the world of higher grade steels... Not sure who makes it, since Browning doesn't make their own knives, but rather outsources the name to various makers around the globe, but it is a nice looking knife for the price, in vg10 too, at about $50? Hard to beat that, I might even pick one up just to check out, though at 57-58rc I wouldn't expect it to perform as well as it would at 60rc which is where most makers like spyderco typically try to take it, but I imagine it's pretty friggin tough! (And still far better then 8cr which typically is also run at around 57-58 by most makers).

The one steel that really sticks out to me, with ease of sharpening for a novice, but still quite a bit better then 8 or 7cr batches, is something made with 440c;

Kizlyar Supreme - Ute or Vega
Böker Plus - Titan or Uolcos
Would make solid work knives (3.5"+) without breaking the bank, while still maintaining an ease in sharpening for an un/under skilled novice, and will take and hold an edge (both fine and working) better then an 8cr13mov (more carbon, and more carbides)...
 
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