...yet, another recommendation thread...

Zuluninja

Zuluninja

Tuquito Leather & Steel Works
Gold Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
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I need some help, peeps. I've been charged with selecting next years equipment for the office, and told to find quality stuff. Fingers crossed that the order goes thru.

I am an Agriculture Specialist for CBP. To summarize, we inspect cargo and passengers arriving to the US, intercepting food items that could be potential vectors for diseases, and also pests that damage our agricultural system.

Over the years, I've seen how gov't just goes by briefly looking at the handbook* and purchase knives that, while not exactly bad (Buck 110 & Gerber Gator, mainly), are definitely ill suited for the jobs that we do. Plenty of fruits and vegetables being cut, but also an unavoidable tendency to drill at holes in wood in search of wood borer larvae means a lot of Bucks with snapped tips.

It's been tricky, but as folders go I will push for a BM Mini Adamas. I've also argued to death the point that a fixed blade is stronger, easier to clean and sharpen, better suited for field duty. What I am looking for in a fixed blade:

- 4-5" blade, serrated or not
- avoid hollow grinds, either mid/tall saber or FFG
- light
- 1/8" to 5/32" stock. 3/16" on that size blade wont cut good.
- a decent sheath. both sheath and handle need to be black, blade can be bare
- stainless
- below $200

I am the knifeknut at the office, but I know my fellow workers are not too picky and, when going after a bug, don't care much about the tool as long as it gets the job done. In the past I got a Gerber Strongarm from our supply getter, but I think it is a bit too thick. Considering the Ruike Jeager and new Condor Xero Dart, maybe an SOG Pillar, but I have not been keeping track of new stuff lately, so any suggestions will be analyzed and welcome. Thanks!

*this, due to genericization. Original language stated "buck knife" referring to pocket knife. Someone caught that mistake years later and "buck" was struck out, but they insist on buying 110s
 
which one? Robust? scandis are not that hard to sharpen, but knowing them, I would end up sharpening all if I get a scandi
 
Actually, the Ruike Jager is a great choice. 14c28n is a great choice for your needs (great steel anywhere really) and a great price.

It sounds like you value toughness or edge retention.

Buck 420HC is hard to beat. Not sure if the handle coloring is a disqualifier tho. PS. I know you don't need a firestarter but a screw driver/pry bar would fit in there nicely with some shock chord to hold it in place.
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Buck-Selkirk-Fixed-Blade-Knife--27469

Handle color a no-go?
https://www.bladehq.com/item--ESEE-Knives-ESEE-4-Fixed-Blade--118461

PS. Some manufacturers have discounts for LEO/military personnel. I would think some companies have discounts for Govt folks too. I just don't what companies those are.
 
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I was thinking it might be better to have a specific tool for boring into the wood and then a knife for cutting. Maybe even a multi tool that has an awl with a good cutting blade. A carving jack might be good for boring wood but not so great at slicing fruit.

Some of those pallets and crates can have some hardwood that could eventually snap the tip on any knife. That’s why I think a wood boring tool would save a good knife.

I’ve got a few Buck 110s with a drop point that have a more robust tip but still might not be up to the chore of boring hard wood. I don’t know just some thoughts. I hope you find what works best for ya !
 
Had considered the selkirk, not sure about handle color since it would be a belt knife, it is a maybe (uniform is dark blue)

Esee 4 in s35 would be great, but I would need to add a belt loop to the purchase. Wish they made it thinner, tho, although the Jager is same thickness🤔

thanks, keep 'em coming.
 
Lesknife said:
I was thinking it might be better to have a specific tool for boring into the wood and then a knife for cutting. Maybe even a multi tool that has an awl with a good cutting blade. A carving jack might be good for boring wood but not so great at slicing fruit.

Some of those pallets and crates can have some hardwood that could eventually snap the tip on any knife. That’s why I think a wood boring tool would save a good knife.

I’ve got a few Buck 110s with a drop point that have a more robust tip but still might not be up to the chore of boring hard wood. I don’t know just some thoughts. I hope you find what works best for ya !
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we do have chisels...they still pry with their blades. Also, I prefer something that could be pulled out and used with one hand as sometimes we have to pin the bugs under plastic wrapping and need to cut around it to capture them, that's why the push for a modern tough folder. The fixed blade would be a backup, I'm sure many won't use it but it is a nice option to have, and better at tougher tasks.
 
zuluninja said:
4-5" blade, serrated or not
- avoid hollow grinds, either mid/tall saber or FFG
- light
- 1/8" to 5/32" stock. 3/16" on that size blade wont cut good.
- a decent sheath. both sheath and handle need to be black, blade can be bare
- stainless
- below $200
Click to expand...

Mora Garberg is where I'd go.
 
If you can look past the length of the blade, the Bradford Guardian 3 (M390 steel, 3.625"/0.14" Stonewash Finish, Plain Edge, Sabre Grind, Sheepsfoot) is a beast that would likely be all you'd ever need. The Guardian 3 punches well above its blade size.

 
I just got a Bradford G3 Wharnie in all black. Black DLC blade, black hardware and carbon fiber handle and black kydex sheath. I am very happy with it. Check out their website.
 
Will look into the garberg and bradford, look like solid choices. Alas, I don't think they will spring for a busse! Thanks, the more the merrier; I will sit down and seriously analyze these options for the next couple of weeks
 
The Esee's have a number of belt and other attachments that either come with the knife or can be ordered as accessories and aren't terribly expensive.
 
I think a sailors knife with a marlin spike like a Meyerco, would work well. Use the spike for boring into wood the knife would work fine for cutting into fruit.
 
14c28n would be an excellent choice of SS for a working knife, easy to sharpen and extremely tough for SS or any steel. So unless you can find anything else within your budget I'd agree with others recommendations the Ruike Jager (I have one an excellent knife) or the Mora Garberg.
 
zuluninja said:
Will look into the garberg and bradford, look like solid choices. Alas, I don't think they will spring for a busse! Thanks, the more the merrier; I will sit down and seriously analyze these options for the next couple of weeks
Click to expand...


To me, the Garberg just seems to make a lot of sense here. It meets all the qualifications for size, being stainless, coming with usable sheath, built tough and basically idiot proof, etc... and aside from anything else, it's budget friendly. I work with the government a LOT and know how tight those pennies can get. A $150-200 knife sounds awesome, but I have a feeling you could be setting yourself up for disappointment when you try to justify that to a beancounter who's idea of knives is what he sees in big box stores. Remember, you've already had to "argue to death" that a fixed blade is stronger than a folder. Considering how basic that knowledge is, these are obviously not knife knuts. Imagine handing them a proposal where you try to sell them on "Yeah you've been using Gerber Gators, but but if you spend five times as much, you can get M390. It's a powder metalurgy steel, and let me tell you how cool that is!" (Bean counter eyes glaze over)

On the other hand, at $80 full retail, and likely less if you're buying in bulk, you've got a much lower hurdle and you can still sell them on it being pretty indestructible. Oh, and for the politically minded bean counters, it may matter where it's made. Sweden is an ally country, and while it could derail the conversation with politics, I'll leave it to you to realize how important buying from an ally country could be to a bureaucrat.
 
Not laughing at your post, laughing at "If ya spend five times as much, you can get M390, let me tell you about it!" *bean counters eyes glaze over*

I really like all my Moras in hand. I have only recently started cutting food with my scandi so I cannot say how well it'd go through the fruits and veggies, I am sure they will be cut, but it's good on wood.
 
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