Not Cheap Pocket Knives

[liliysdad]

The trend here lately seems to be toward cheaper knives, I thought I would start a thread for those who prefer slightly more high end stuff.

What do you carry? What do you want?

My daily carry seems to be cyclical. I will carry one for a while, then another for some reason. I am an unabashed Spyderco guy, and 98% of the knives I won are made by them. I have owned and carried knives from a lot of makers...but always wind up back with the boys from Golden, Colorado.

I am a police detective, and I wear a knife daily. I use my knife from mundane stuff like opening envelopes and cutting evidence tape to pretty hard use. Over the years, I have used the knife in my pocket to cut seatbelts, pry open windows, and even to cut open the aluminum fuselage of a crashed plane.

I am currently carrying a Tim Wegner designed BladeTech Professional Hunter in S30V. Tim Wegner had a very good relationship with Spyderco, and designed several knives for them. He later started building his own, and the knife is very very Spyderco like in design.

Other knives in the regular rotation are a Spyderco Rock Lobster, a Syderco Endura FFG, and a Spyderco Police 3. I have not yet delved off into the truly higher end knives...and don't know that I will. $250-300 seems to be my working limit for quality vs risk. I have a Spyderco Military with broken tip...so there is always that risk...

Whatcha Got?

 

[ChargerRT]

Picked up a Benchmade Mini Grip a couple years ago and fell in love... Just picked up a second with a better material blade and its partially serrated... going to roll with this for awhile.

 

[4xdog]

I'm not really a knife guy, although I've had them around since I was a kid 50+ years ago. The one I reach for most these days is the Benchmade 527 Mini Presidio knife with a laser-etched Overland Journal magazine logo on the blade that I got for a subscription renewal in 2012. It's a good size, beautifully smooth and secure opening action, and has held its edge better than any knife I've had. Makes me a fan of Benchmade.

 

[Wyoming09]

My EDC is a Kershaw Blur. Some think it's a large knife but I've been carrying it so long it just seems perfectly normal size to me.



https://kershawguy.com/products-page/?product_search=blur

 

[JP Chestnut]

I EDC'd a 3.5 inch Hinderer XM-18 for years. I replaced it with a Hinderer Eklipse when those first came out. I eventually moved on to various Strider SnGs and settled on an all TI MSC SnG that I loved.

 

[ItsNemo]

Have a few Benchmade knives...they're outstanding.

 

[gloy]

My last 3 edc's were Benchmade. My current one is a Benchmade mini freek. Awsome knife.

 

[M635_Guy]

I don't carry a knife often, but when I do it's this Tidioute

I'd love to get all that darkening off the blade without losing the graphics....

 

[mhejl]

I EDC'd a CR small Sebenza for 25 years until a couple of years ago. I have a large, too, but prefer smaller for EDC.

The Sebenza is retired and I now alternate between a Southern Grind Damasteel/Carbon Spider Monkey, A CR small Inkosi with Micarta inlays (in my pocket now), and a ZT 0450.

Occasionally a couple of William Henrys but those are too "special" for rough work and feel rather fragile in hand.

In the woods, an older Doug Ritter small RSK with custom CF scales or a Delica ZDP-189 with custom orange G10 scales.

The ZT 0450 is a bargain if you like flippers. The ball bearing pivot is amazingly smooth; better than the box full of Benchmades and Spydercos I have and the lock is as stout as a Sebenza.

 

[exmaxima1]

I

Last couple years I've started carrying a Benchmade Griptilian. Really like it, so have bought others. It's parallel in the tool world is Snap-on vs Proto or SK. Nice, 20% better for 3 times the price. Excellent choice if the price isn't the critical decision factor.

I have a bunch of nice knives as well, and agree that the Benchmade Grip is a solid design. I hated the plastic handle though and replaced with custom G10 slabs.

 

[jd_1138]

I have an Uncle Henry Bear Paw (older USA made one) folder in a leather sheath that lives in the side door on our CRV, and I carry a Wenger Swiss Army Knife. Also, I keep a Shrade multi-tool in the side door of the CRV.

 

[SkinnyG]

I've never carried a pocket knife on a regular (or even semi- regular) basis, but had recently been talking with a friend about them and he highly regards his Benchmade blade. Couple that with the recent discussions on this forum, and that led me to spend the weekend browsing through their catalog. I settled on this Bailout model. Until it arrives, I'll be wondering if I made a mistake (buyers remorse, maybe?), but I think I'll be happy.

 

[ItsNemo]

The serrated part is useless and annoying for 99% of the cutting jobs you'll probably do.

 

[CallumRD1]

The serrated part is useless and annoying for 99% of the cutting jobs you'll probably do.

But great for cutting twine and thin rope. (I do prefer a non-serrated blade myself, though.)

 

[SkinnyG]

The serrated part is useless and annoying for 99% of the cutting jobs you'll probably do.

Didn't notice the serrated blade in the pic I posted. The one I ordered does not have a serrated blade

Edit: corrected picture above.

 

[Legion Prime]

Griptilians are great, I carried an S30V Griptilian sheepsfoot for years and loved it. I only stopped carrying it because I finally managed to get my hands on a 710 in D2. The Osborne is another nice one from Benchmade, it's rather on the small side but if you're looking for a thin knife to slip into a pocket that may fit the bill. The S30V steel is incredible, it holds an amazing edge for a good while. If you need to reset the bevel you'll want a diamond hone though. Once it's set regular whetstones have been sufficient for me to maintain the edge. From my Grip to the 9050 to my 710 to a CQC7 I have never regretted any Benchmade I've ever purchased.
Spyderco makes some nice knives as well, I have a Tenacious and Paramilitary 2 and they are great slim knives that almost disappear into a pocket. I've always wanted a Chapparral, just haven't ever gotten around to it. They sure do look nice though.
A ton of my friends have Sebenzas, they are a classic. The ZT knives are great as well, I've just personally never been a fan of their style of blade that's half as tall as it is long. Still hasn't kept me from being a click or two away from ordering one a couple times though. You might also take a look at Medford knives, a friend got a Praetorian a couple years ago and he was rather impressed with it. Bawidamann knives also have quite a following, I haven't gotten my hands on one yet but they are stout knives.

 

[Handyandy23]

Can anyone comment on Kershaw's black versus backwash finishes? The blackwash especially I find a bit hard to discern in pictures how dark it is.

I guess it really comes down to personal preference, but I'm curious if anyone has any input on this? Will one wear / age better than the other?

 

[snickers muncher]

I am a police detective, and I wear a knife daily. I use my knife from mundane stuff like opening envelopes and cutting evidence tape to pretty hard use.

My brother is a detective, but went the opposite way. He started out carrying Spyderco but soon switched to whatever was the cheapest he could find and buying multiples.

His reasoning was that you don't need a great knife for 99.79% of tasks, but every few months you'd have to cut something you really don't care to get the knife back. You toss it and grab a new one out of the drawer when you get back.

 

[Jack84]

I rotate between various knives. Sebenza 21, 25, Umnumzaan, Hinderer, Fallkniven and Spyderco. Currently rocking a custom made knife.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[twistedstang]

I like my Zero Tolerances and Microtechs. I'd love to pick up a Shirogorov some day but the $1000 entry price is a serious commitment.

 

[Citation]

This is what I carry


Long ago I carried a "full size" swiss army knife. It was nice but then the car companies decided that car keys needed remote fobs and the heads of the keys couldn't be thin and flat anymore. At about the same time the car phone guys decided to conspire to make phones that could fit in your pocket. Well the could if you didn't have other things in those pockets... like keys, wallets and/or full size pocket knives. For a long time I carried a Leatherman Squirt. Very high quality yet compact tool. I still have it. I would still carry it but for purchasing a clearance priced mini-swiss army knife that had a USB stick. All I wanted was the USB stick but I found that the included tiny scissors were handy and the included writing pen was a killer things to have. I had no idea I would find that joke of a pen so handy. I carried that thing around for years until I finally decided that too damn many kids toys needed a screwdriver to get at the batteries. Well the mini swiss knife above has that little screw driver for kids batteries, that pen I love and is still so small it doesn't fight for space in my pocket. So given an unlimited budget I would likely spend about $23 and buy exactly what I currently carry.

 

[bdbecker]

...His reasoning was that you don't need a great knife for 99.79% of tasks...

Careful, you're likely to get some folks riled up with that type of talk.

 

[dr_clyde]

I'm currently carrying a Benchmade Casbah as my EDC knife. Love it.

I have a Benchmade Proper as my "Sunday Knife" when I wear dress pants. Kind of a "gentleman's knife".

I have a handful of other fun knives from Benchmade and Spyderco that are great blades.

When they get production running on them again, I'd really like a Grimsmo Rask. Norsemans are cool too but I like the classic look they have with the Rask. Just hard to justify almost a grand for a pocket knife.

 

[1cargarage]

When I carry a pocket knife, it's an

EMERSON CQC-8

Emerson invented and patented the "wave" opening system. Kershaw among a couple others license it for some of their knives.

Overall experience with Emerson has been great. I had a folder whose lock wore out, sent it to them, they replaced it and I had it back in ~1 week. No charge $$$, no questions, no problems.

Made in USA, 154CM, titanium lock, removable thumb wheel, G-10 scales have perfect texture for me.

Only complaint and I ended up replacing is the clip, which doesn't 'conceal' the knife in the pocket well. It leaves the top ~1" sticking out of the pocket, which I didn't care for.

 

[Southern83]

I like my Spyderco and Benchmade knifes but I'm currently rotating between my Emerson Bulldog and DPX Gear H.E.S.T (made by lionsteel). The Emerson is a tank! Getting used to the Wave feature took a little time but now I'd say it's definitely faster than an auto opening knife.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I like my Zero Tolerances and Microtechs. I'd love to pick up a Shirogorov some day but the $1000 entry price is a serious commitment.

That bounty hunter is pretty close to $1000 isnt it??? I was drooling over one online

 

[M6erfan]

Chris Reeve's small Inkosi (plain) with Insingo blade option...

 

[RTM]

What do you carry? What do you want? .....

I am a police detective, and I wear a knife daily. I use my knife from mundane stuff like opening envelopes and cutting evidence tape to pretty hard use. Over the years, I have used the knife in my pocket to cut seatbelts, pry open windows, and even to cut open the aluminum fuselage of a crashed plane.

I think this is a really huge piece of the puzzle. I think when people ask for "best" I usually think "best for what".

I normally have a desk job in an office / lab, but occasionally need to support equipment maintenance. My needs are substantially different from yours. When I am out in the back country, I carry a much different knife than at work.

Thanks for starting the thread with that bit of clarity.

 

[AldeanFan]

Curious what everyone considers a “not cheap” price for a knife.

My edc is a $30 Swiss Army knife and my bush knife is a USA made Schrade Golden Bear, equivalent to a $60 Buck 110.

I don’t consider these cheap knives but I also don’t consider them expensive.
What kind of coin would I need to play with you “expensive knife” boys?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dr_clyde]

Curious what everyone considers a “not cheap” price for a knife.

My edc is a $30 Swiss Army knife and my bush knife is a USA made Schrade Golden Bear, equivalent to a $60 Buck 110.

I don’t consider these cheap knives but I also don’t consider them expensive.
What kind of coin would I need to play with you “expensive knife” boys?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I feel like any knife that’s over a hundred bucks gets you out of cheap knife territory.

Anything over $300 I consider an expensive knife.

I don’t think I own any pocket knives that are worth a **** that cost less than $50.

 

[liliysdad]

In all honesty, I consider price a very small factor in what makes a knife cheap....Materials, build quality, design...etc. It just so happens these things typically cost money.

On the average, I start considering knives as a cheap maybe at $50, $100 will buy you a solid knife, and $300 starts to approach the land of diminishing returns. Yes, they are better....but they aren't better enough to justify toe added cost..FOR MY NEEDS.


Whoever posted that you don't need a good knife for 99% of the things you use a knife for is right.....but that 99% gets done a lost faster and a lot easier with a decent blade, and that other 1% is usually very, very important.

 

[frankieg]

To my wallet's chagrin I have a soft spot for titanium handles: Spyderco Techno II, Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 21 and Cheburkov Bulldog (Damascus blade) are on my desk for opening letters, packages, etc.

I also carry a tiny Spyderco Bug on my keyring, a great little knife that does not look threatening when I'm out.

 

[Retroman]

I have 2 in my EDC rotation first is a Shiragorov Neon best action on a knife I have ever had when you can find one there in the $600 to $700 range. My other is a North Arm Skaha II, Canadian made buy a Father & Son with about a 10 to 12 month wait list around $200.00 shipped. I am on the list for another one. If your not in a hurry get on the list before they close the books then forget about it. when your up they send a email and you then pay for it. Both are great knifes.

 

[R_einan]

Benchmade guy myself, rotate between a 710 in m390, an 810 Contego with custom scales, a 275 Adamas, and 1000001 Volli I removed the assist from.

 

[Handyandy23]

This is a serious question / observation I've had reading this thread and several other knife threads and forums:

How much of it is about better quality and usability VS verging on collector or hobby territory?

The idea of getting a better working knife has piqued my interest, but I also don't want to spend a fortune cutting things. The more I delve into the world of knives and EDC, the more I see posts from most people describing multiple high end knives they own and rotate through on a regular basis. There's also limited edition colors and rare finishes. I can stomach the idea of "spend once cry once", but it confuses me that most knife owners have 5+ $200 knives. That to me seems more like a hobby or collection to me.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with that - I collect a lot of things. But I don't have room for more expensive collections, so I'm trying to decide if this is an improved tool I'm adding to my tool box, or just another gateway drug to regular spending on shiny things.

 

[R_einan]

This is a serious question / observation I've had reading this thread and several other knife threads and forums:

How much of it is about better quality and usability VS verging on collector or hobby territory?

The idea of getting a better working knife has piqued my interest, but I also don't want to spend a fortune cutting things. The more I delve into the world of knives and EDC, the more I see posts from most people describing multiple high end knives they own and rotate through on a regular basis. There's also limited edition colors and rare finishes. I can stomach the idea of "spend once cry once", but it confuses me that most knife owners have 5+ $200 knives. That to me seems more like a hobby or collection to me.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with that - I collect a lot of things. But I don't have room for more expensive collections, so I'm trying to decide if this is an improved tool I'm adding to my tool box, or just another gateway drug to regular spending on shiny things.

My take on that issue is pretty easy, I prefer the omega lock on the Benchmade knives over any other locking mechanism. My first was the 710, which is a stellar knife, but on the large size for most social/work scenarios (3.9” blade) so I bought the Volli. When the 810 was released, I bought one to see if the M4 blade was more to my liking than m390 or s30v. The 275 was a impulse buy and resides in a pouch attached to my work bag for a back-up and/or heavy abuse knife. That’s how I ended up with 4 $200+ knives. However, they were purchased prior to Benchmade changing to a MAP policy that required retailers to charge a set price. I don’t think I spent more than $100 for any of them when they were originally purchased.

 

[TonyJ]

My edc for many years was a spyderco military BG42 steel and carbon fiber handles up until I learned it was a sprint run and only 600 of them was made then I switched over to my benchmade 9100 auto which is now also a collectors knife ( original design from 1999-2000) and is my edc for the past 8 years. Special occasions knife is my Damascus endura which is a one of one knife from Santa fa stoneworks. It was Santa fa stoneworks “ center piece “ during the 2014 blade show in Atlanta GA


Tony

 

[dubdoc]

My EDC is a little Kershaw Cryo I bought used off eBay for $25. Couldn't be happier.

 

[liliysdad]

It's no more, or less, a hobby than anything else on this site. Some folks collect Snap-On ratchets, claiming that's how they make their living, others much have every color Matco makes, because they are professionals, ya know...

Myself, I carry a knife every single day. My knife may not leave my pocket, and when it does, it may be a mundane task or something incredibly, inconceivably important. Its the same theory as my pistol; I carry it every single day..and I will hopefully retire having never used it....but I will be damned if I am going to worry sacrifice quality for money, nor do I feel the need to carry a $3000 Les Baer...

I prefer having a good knife...just like i prefer having a good pair of boots, a good belt, a quality watch...etc. In almost every case, a cheaper alternative will work almost as well, and a higher priced option could possibly perform the task more efficiently.

 

[anavrinIV]

I have 2 that I will carry, not at the same time though. My closest to EDC is a Leatherman Surge which is a knife and a lot more. I use the knife most commonly on it. I also have a spyderco, I believe it's a police 4 G10 if my searching is correct (it was a gift). It is a fantastic knife but I don't really have much need for its full capability