Your favorite non-flippers for @ $400

Kaizen1 said:
+1 on the Microtech Socom Elite. I was genuinely surprised how well made these are. This knife should be a top consideration in this price range

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Nice pics. What’s the difference between the SOCOM Elite with the talon on the blade like in your pic and the standard SOCOM Elite with just “Microtech” on the blade?
 
The claw logo ones are signature series (special/limited runs) and the Microtech text ones are the regular production runs.
 
Mines blacked out DLC with bronze clip that has the Marfione signature on it. But basically same knife as stock model with $50 of bling.
 
Regular Socom Elites are $300 retail and Signature Series Socom Elites are $400. If you don't care about Signature Series exclusive grinds, or the idea of having a "special" version, the extra $100 may not be worth it to you. Besides, the regular version Socoms are just as well made.
 
you know what's crazy?

Take a look at my join date. In the late 1990's, I asked the owners of Arizona Custom Knives (then Jay and Karen Sadow) what was the best tactical folder for about $400?

Their answer?

Sebenza and Microtech SOCOM Elite.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
 
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Wolverine666 said:
Cool , thanks. So is the only difference the blade logo?
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Like others said, the signature series usually have special grinds and/or colors. If you don't care about all that just grab the regular Microtech ones. They're usually $100 cheaper and will be the same quality as the signature models.

The Socom Elite is a steal for $300.
 
AKnife said:
Like others said, the signature series usually have special grinds and/or colors. If you don't care about all that just grab the regular Microtech ones. They're usually $100 cheaper and will be the same quality as the signature models.

The Socom Elite is a steal for $300.
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They seem to be very popular. Not sure if the extra $100 is worth it to me for the signature series. But the standard still looks great. I used to have one but only for a short time.
 
I have a few large knives, I have big hands.
I use and abuse knives almost daily, I don’t have any safe queens.

I’ve had a couple Striders, SnG and SMF. They were good, I preferred the SMF.

My current big knife rotation includes a good variety, here are my thoughts....

Benchmade Vallation: good all around knife, holds a good edge, sharpens up easy. I love the blade shape and handle feel. The pocket clip breaks easy, BM will send you two a year. Some people don’t like that it’s assisted and that it’s heavy, it never bothered me.

CRK Large sebenza 21: Another all around good knife. Legendary build quality with great fit and finish. Holds a edge good, sharpens easy. I love the hollow grind and premium materials. I don’t care for the thumb stud shape or position. I’m also not crazy about the hand feel.

Microtech SOCOM Elite: Good knife. I would say these are damn near over built. The fit and finish is outstanding and these are very solid with one exception, the tip is too thin for my liking. I love the build quality and overall ruggedness of this knife. I don’t like the thin tip, the tip down carry and thin butt end of the handle. The opening is a little different, but easy to get used to.

Southern Grind Bad Monkey: I put the build quality of these, I have 3 of the 4 I’ve owned, up there with CRK and the SOCOM, better than the BM. This is my all time overall favorite work knife. 4 inch blade, great hand feel, smooth opening, holds a great edge and sharpens up easy. It is also very light for its size. Steel snob EDC bois talk crap about the blade steel, but I feel like it holds up as good, if not better than the ‘super steel’ blades I have. The pocket clip is another source of debate. It does a great job, but it does provide a slight hot spot during some movements. The only issue I’ve had is with the silver, bare steel hardware rusting when exposed to sea water. I’m a sailor though, so that won’t be an issue for most folks.

microtech lightfoot LLC D/A: This is an out of production knife that runs 500 and up second hand currently. I really like this one, more for fun than work, but I do use it. It has great build quality as other microtech knives do. Smooth hand feel, takes an edge and holds okay, but rolls easily. The D/A is my favorite part. It opens smooth with the thumb stud, but it also opens automatically with a hidden bolster button. The bolster slides. I have yet to hand it to anyone and have them figure it out.

in closing I will say if you want a great work knife, get a Bad Monkey. Not the most popular choice, but again my opinions are based off of working the knives and beating the piss out of them.
 
RWBNavy said:
Southern Grind Bad Monkey: I put the build quality of these, I have 3 of the 4 I’ve owned, up there with CRK and the SOCOM, better than the BM. This is my all time overall favorite work knife. 4 inch blade, great hand feel, smooth opening, holds a great edge and sharpens up easy. It is also very light for its size. Steel snob EDC bois talk crap about the blade steel, but I feel like it holds up as good, if not better than the ‘super steel’ blades I have. The pocket clip is another source of debate. It does a great job, but it does provide a slight hot spot during some movements. The only issue I’ve had is with the silver, bare steel hardware rusting when exposed to sea water. I’m a sailor though, so that won’t be an issue for most folks.
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I haven't had the Bad Monkey, but I do love the Spider Monkey which is a more reasonable size for me. You're right about Southern Grind's build quality, they're some of the best knives I own. Personally I'm a fan of their short pocket clip, it doesn't give me any hot spots on the Spider Monkey, has plenty of tension and is unobtrusive, with very little chance of it catching on something like a longer clip would.
 
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