Yer basic package opener!

ZDHart

ZDHart

Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
471
Probably the blades I use the most - for the mundane task of opening packages, envelopes, boxes.

I had been using the little CRKT Folts Minimalist Wharncliffe at our incoming package counter. I loved the blade shape so much that I stepped up to a bit beefier Wharncliffe - the Cold Steel Tuff Lite.

Cutting edge is nearly the same length on both, but the handle, beefier blade stock, and added weight make the Tuff Lite my first choice for package opening now. My wife still prefers to use the dainty little CRKT Minimalist - which is a great knife also.

Simple, wonderful tools they both are! And both reside in the drawer beneath where we bring our daily incoming packages.

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The Tuff Lite handle had some sharp edges which I beveled slightly with some sand paper. The lock spring on it is incredibly strong - it could be a good bit weaker for easier operation, but at least there is NO chance of that blade ever closing inadvertently from your hand pressure on the handle, no matter how tightly you grip the knife.
 
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My tool of choice for opening packages - which is my most used knife given the number of packages I open these days - is... Spyderco Dragonfly in zdp-189
 
ridnovir said:
My tool of choice for opening packages - which is my most used knife given the number of packages I open these days - is... Spyderco Dragonfly in zdp-189
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I love the Dragonfly! What an awesome knife that is. I have a pair of them - and they're great package openers, as well - especially the Wharncliffe. Just a superb little knife that I think every knife owner would love.

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kershaw leek - wharn blade also but with more length and still incredibly small... it's so good, I use it at restaurants and every edc task that comes up

14c28n steel, and the low price results in something that won't be easily replaced anytime soon
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dirc said:
kershaw leek - wharn blade also but with more length and still incredibly small... it's so good, I use it at restaurants and every edc task that comes up

14c28n steel, and the low price results in something that won't be easily replaced anytime soon
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Leek is an awesome knife... and I love the frame lock on it. I have the all-stainless version. For me, though, for package opening, the blade is so long and the point pretty delicate. Cool knife, though, indeed! I treat my Leek mostly as a "Gentleman's Knife."
 
If you are only opening envelopes and cutting tape, that 5Cr15Mov won't be the end of the world. It's also pretty easy to sharpen. The issue is that it's a pretty subpar steel choice by today's standards. I could be mistaken but when the CRKT Minimalist was released about a decade ago, I remember knives with similar price tags using 8Cr13Mov or other better budget choices. Time isn't helping the quality gap either...

The CRKT Minimalist is up there with the Kershaw Fraxion and the Tonife Squirrel on my wish list of knives I want to see released in a better budget steel.

Some other good choices have been mentioned, though they may cost a little more. I carried a fancy version of the Leek for years. People talk about the tip being delicate but my use probably wasn't much different than yours. It was my "office carry" and essentially a glorified letter opener. I eventually sold it in favor of an M390 Dividend. The blade shape is different but it functionally replaced the Leek for me. The normal Dividend uses 420HC. I don't have any experience with Kershaw's 420HC but I'm sure other people here do if you're curious.
 
Chronovore said:
If you are only opening envelopes and cutting tape, that 5Cr15Mov won't be the end of the world. It's also pretty easy to sharpen. The issue is that it's a pretty subpar steel choice by today's standards. I could be mistaken but when the CRKT Minimalist was released about a decade ago, I remember knives with similar price tags using 8Cr13Mov or other better budget choices. Time isn't helping the quality gap either...

The CRKT Minimalist is up there with the Kershaw Fraxion and the Tonife Squirrel on my wish list of knives I want to see released in a better budget steel.

Some other good choices have been mentioned, though they may cost a little more. I carried a fancy version of the Leek for years. People talk about the tip being delicate but my use probably wasn't much different than yours. It was my "office carry" and essentially a glorified letter opener. I eventually sold it in favor of an M390 Dividend. The blade shape is different but it functionally replaced the Leek for me. The normal Dividend uses 420HC. I don't have any experience with Kershaw's 420HC but I'm sure other people here do if you're curious.
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My guess is that the 420HC will perform similarly to 5Cr15MoV.

Would 8Cr13MoV be nice in the Minimalist? Sure. And perhaps it's time for the change? I wouldn't hold my breath for it though.

One may wish for another steel, depending on use, but the 5Cr15MoV in the Folt Minimalist has done all that I ever ask of it. (Admittedly, light-duty.) It takes a very sharp edge quite nicely. And the trade off is that you will probably sharpen it more often.

Funny thing: not once have I even given half-a-thought as to what grade of steel it might be using. That's just not a factor for me, with this knife. They (I have two of them, one Wharncliffe and the other a Bowie) have both served me quite well. They are simple package openers, as far as my wife's usage goes, and for around $20-$24 each, a good buy. My wife has really taken to the Folts Minimalist Wharncliffe - she's picky about what she likes and she does like the Minimalist Wharncliffe.

If CRKT were to release a larger version of the Folts Minimalist - perhaps a Folts "Maximalist", which might be more suitable for more demanding tasks, a higher grade of steel may be nice to go along with that. I could see buying a bigger version of it - perhaps 50% larger. It's a cool knife. CRKT has made a variety of options with that knife, different blade shapes (Bowie, Drop Point, Wharncliffe, Tanto, & Keramin), different scales, etc. but so far, only in the Minimalist size. I guess some may carry it as a neck-knife. And depending on how one uses the knife, perhaps a steel that holds an edge longer may be desired.

Regarding the Leek, the blade is perfectly sufficient as an "office carry" or as some might call a "gentleman's knife". It's a nice little folder. That thin, sharp tip is something that one would want to be a little careful with. The blade thickness, length, and shape, etc. limit the knife, to a degree, for certain applications - which is perfectly fine, as each and every knife is well-suited to some tasks and not-well-suited to other tasks. That's why (in part) most of us own multiple knives. :) And ain't that fun! Woo hoo.
 
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ZDHart said:
... If CRKT were to release a larger version of the Folts Minimalist - perhaps a Folts "Maximalist", which might be more suitable for more demanding tasks, a higher grade of steel may be nice to go along with that. I could see buying a bigger version of it - perhaps 50% larger. It's a cool knife. CRKT has made a variety of options with that knife, different blade shapes (Bowie, Drop Point, Wharncliffe, Tanto, & Keramin), different scales, etc. but so far, only in the Minimalist size. I guess some may carry it as a neck-knife. And depending on how one uses the knife, perhaps a steel that holds an edge longer may be desired. ...
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My "wish list" for replacing both 5Cr15Mov and 8Cr13Mov in these knives would be steels like 14C28N or Tangram's Acuto 440. I only offered 8Cr13Mov as a comparison to the market ten years ago and what companies like Kershaw still use in the $20 range. In my experience, 8Cr13Mov tends to hold a better edge than 5Cr15Mov but it's not a huge upgrade. The 5Cr15Mov should have a little more corrosion resistance at least. I don't imagine that's a big difference either but it could be enough. I've carried a lot more 8Cr13Mov than I have 5Cr15Mov but I've only ever seen rust on one of them. ;)

Using the Minimalist Wharncliffe as a jumping off point, the Leek and the Tuff Lite feel like opposite directions. The Leek is great on envelopes but I might lean towards the Tuff Lite for boxes.

More in the Leek direction, have you tried the CRKT S.P.E.W.? It has a lot of similarities to the Minimalist line but is basically a size up. More in the Tuff Lite direction but diverging a bit on blade shape, a lot of people seem to love the Pilar. I don't have experience with it but I know it comes in different sizes, steel types, and scale materials.
 
The Christy companion is my favorite package opener, it cuts like a Lazer.
The Christy knife is like a cross between a traditional pocket knife and mini utility knife, it kind of is one and you can extend the blade just a little for such tasks or all the way for normal knife tasks.
Predating the modern disposable knife blade it kind of is the original mini keychain utility knife, but you can carry and use it like a regular small traditional pocket knife and not feel naked like you would if a utility knife is all you had.

 
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ZDHart said:
The Tuff Lite . . . lock spring on it is incredibly strong - it could be a good bit weaker for easier operation,
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You can always take it apart and unbend the spring some. I just did that on a Cold Steel Counter point 2. It made the knife oh so much more accessible as an everyday knife.
 
Yer basic package opener!
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I've gotten to the point I don't want box tape glue on my good knives and the grit in the dirty package dulls the nice hair whittling edges on my good knives so for boxes and box tape that would be :
At work this Gerber EAB. Though of late I have taken to touching up the edge with my little hand held Hard Black Arkansas and Translucent Hard Ark stones.
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At home this Gerber "31-000668 Superknife Edge". Bottom of this old photo.
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Both have the old Stanley Standard box knife blade which is 0.4mm ! ! ! thick.

For cutting those bubble wrap envelopes it is the day's knife that I am carrying or one of my crazy large knives like my Spyderco Police K390 or Cold Steel Voyager Vaquero XL top knife in last photo.
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the tuff life is a very underrated knife, it feels way more substantial in the hand than it looks from the pics online

also if you guys like titanium flippers, the chinese company twosun knives has a few wharncliffes for budget prices, the quality of twosun's are great as they have no play and strong detents, the twosun ts85 looks like it would make a great edc and is going to be my next knife

not my video
 
Wowbagger said:
You can always take it apart and unbend the spring some. I just did that on a Cold Steel Counter point 2. It made the knife oh so much more accessible as an everyday knife.
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There are a couple of pins holding the Tuff Lite together, do those readily push out (using a punch) like pins on a Glock do, basically?
 
Used to use the Gerber EAB - super handy little utility blade! I use it when I have a pantload of cardboard and / or plastic straps to get through or when cutting cardboard on concrete / patio stones. Perfect when I got a new patio set and everything was covered and wrapped in corrugated and strapped together.

Now I always have a SAK ALOX electrician with the amazing little sheepsfoot blade!! Perfection!

I've also used a Benchmade Azeria, which is a fixed Wharncliffe with a canted handle. Also amazing at zipping through packages. Great ergonomics and handle angle. :thumbsup::cool:
 
ZDHart said:
There are a couple of pins holding the Tuff Lite together, do those readily push out (using a punch) like pins on a Glock do, basically?
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The Tuff Lite comes apart normally, just unscrew it and it pulls apart.
 
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