I need an everyday carry knife. I'm torn between dropping around $100 on a quality cutting tool or buying two $50 pieces. I lose things easily, like my last benchmade so I'm apprehensive about dropping a good amount of money.

As far as the knife, not any longer than 6'' closed, lightweight, auto (maybe), Serrated or not. Tanto or spear point...not really sure.

Who carries a knife that fits in these parameters?

These are my top choices....$100+ Category:

Benchmade 3550 - I had this in non auto and fucking loved it
http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productID=10134&TabID=1&cm_sp=ItemBanners-_-BestSellers_1-_-10134

Randall King Swift Striker II....It made in NC which is a plus for me but its much bigger than the Benchmade.
http://www.greatknivesgreatprices.com/servlet/the-337/Randall-King-Swift-Striker/Detail


The $50 category....

Crkt m16 srt 12 or 14

http://www.totaloutdoorsman.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-M16-SRT-Folding-Knife-Black-T-Combo-Spear-PointDual-Thumb-Stud-Liner-LockPocket-Clip-35-Blue-Anodized-Aluminum-Box-_p_721-3469.html

Cold Steel Recon 1

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=61304

SOG Trident

http://www.manventureoutpost.com/outdoor/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1331

12/1/2008 6:23:27 PM

I know this is the Lounge, but I couldn't resist

12/1/2008 6:27:19 PM

check out some kershaw knives...I bought one a year ago and I carry it everyday and have not sharpened it once and it is still sharp as hell. absolutely wonderful knife.

12/1/2008 6:28:28 PM

^^that clip is always welcome

12/1/2008 6:29:19 PM

Damn, Odell really lost some weight too



I watch him on DirecTV pretty much every night. Still doin' the damn thing, selling knives

12/1/2008 6:30:25 PM

I agree about the Kershaw.
I have one and it is great.

12/1/2008 6:30:31 PM

ive got a spyderco....dunno the model

people talk shit about the brand, but it is hard to argue with VG-10 steel

12/1/2008 7:16:30 PM

kershaw blackout

12/1/2008 7:19:14 PM

The QVC knife show is the greatest thing on TV, ever.

12/1/2008 8:49:04 PM

I have owned tons of knives, all grades of Benchmades, Spydercos, Microtechs, CRKT, Boyd, Buck, Kershaw, Fallkniven, Boker, you name it.

I've gotten rid of most of them and the folders I have now include a Microtech LCC, Microtech Amphibian, Benchmade Pika, and Spyderco Native.

My Microtechs cost 4-6 times as much as my lil Native...but guess what my EDC is.
My Native.

It's the shit. Period. It's only $40 at Walmart, the lockback is plenty strong, and CPMS30V beats all the steels in your list by a wide margin.
Maybe I've gotten older and wiser, but nothing beats a simple plain edge piece of premium steel.

From your list I'd pick the Benchmade 3550, but I'd go with the manual version.
I've owned plenty of autos but sometimes you need to do delicate work with the blade half open.

The Randall would be ok too if it was a manual.
154CM and ATS-34 are both good.

I hate the CRKT M-16 series. The locking mechanisms are way too flimsy and the scale spacers are an inherently weak design. Not to mention the AUS steels don't hold an edge.

The Cold Steel Recon would be ok...but I don't like 440A. It doesn't hold an edge well, but at least it sharpens easy. There would be no way I'd spend $60 on one when I can get a Native with CPMS30V for $20 less.

The SOG Trident would be a definate no. Tantos aren't handy if you actually use a knife for cutting. Same statement about the AUS steel applies...

Quote :

"ive got a spyderco....dunno the model people talk shit about the brand, but it is hard to argue with VG-10 steel "

Lets talk about steel for a second. In an EDC I would rank steel as:
Best - Any of the CPM (crucible partigle metallurgy) steels.
This includes CPM 440V, CPM 420V, S30V, S60V. These hold an edge as much as 5 times as long as the next best thing. The older CPM 440 and 420 were harder to sharpen, but the S30 and S60 are easier while still holding the edge. I don't know why that is because the formulation is the same between the S and 400 series.

very good - VG-10, 154CM, ATS-34
I'd rank the VG-10 very slightly above the other two in edge holding, ease of sharpening, and rust resistance.
All three are fairly easy to sharpen and hold edges well (but nowhere near a CPM).
154CM and ATS-34 are the same forumlation, but 154CM typically has better consistency than ATS-34, so you're more likely to get a nice piece of steel.

Okay - 440C, 420HC
These hold edges fairly good. The biggest thing is they are very easy to sharpen and are a little more corrosion resistant than 154CM and ATS-34.

The rest is crap. I would say I'd pick 440A and 420 over the AUS.
Every knife I've had with AUS steel would chip easily and wouldn't hold an edge, regardless of the edge geometry.

One last thing, screw serrations.
A well maintained plain edge will cut circles around serrations in any material and serrations are a bitch to sharpen.

12/1/2008 8:49:09 PM

God this sucks. So many choices out there. I also probably shouldn't have stated that these are my 'top choices' just ones I've been looking at. I'm really open to any ideas.

[Edited on December 1, 2008 at 9:49 PM. Reason : fhdjkf]

12/1/2008 9:42:25 PM

Step 1: Drive to Walmart
Step 2: Tell cashier you want the Spyderco Native
Step 3: Hand cashier $43
Step 4: Bask in the knowledge that you got premium steel for less than half the price of your "top picks"

The above only works if:
1 - You actually want to use the knife to cut things and can appreciate good steel
2 - You don't mind giving up the coolness factor

I guess I'll add a few more words as if I haven't said enough...
What do you want the knife for? Just to have around? Just to have something fun/cool? Are you going to really cut a lot of stuff? Are you going to be cutting heavier stuff?

Spydercos are really top notch in the "actually gonna cut stuff" department. Their blade geometry is the most user friendly, their quality, while simply designed, is great, and they offer quality steel at lower prices.
You could take a look at the Spyderco Delica, Endura, or Police if you want larger blades (and a lil more coolness) than the Native.

If you're expecting to hack small trees down then Spydercos aren't good for that because their blades tend to be thin and they are too light (characteristics that make them great for cutting)

The Benchmade Axis lock knives and that Randall would work well for hacking bigger stuff due to the added weight and thicker primary grinds.

I've owned them all and can say if you want a knife to use as a knife then the Spydercos and other higher end knives (Benchmade, Microtech, higher end Kershaw models) are definately worth the money. You've just gotta pick the one best taylored to the type of cutting you'll be doing.
If you just want something neat in your pocket that you can use to occasionally open a package then pick whichever one looks coolest cause it really doesn't matter what it's made of or how it's made.

[Edited on December 1, 2008 at 10:16 PM. Reason : ]

12/1/2008 10:04:15 PM

Hmmm...I've got a bunch of knives and had even more over the years. I've got to say that I prefer my two Benchmades to anything else. I've had a couple of Spydercos and they are great quality, but I don't think the hole in the blade is that great for one hand opening. It works fine, but it's just not as easy as having a nub you can put your thumb on. Their lock mechanisms are solid, but I still prefer the Benchmade axis lock.

I have a Benchmade mini-Griptillian that I paid $55 for at a gun show several years ago. It is still as smooth as day one and there is zero play in the lock mechanism. The blade holds an edge well, it's a good shape, feels very well weighted, and it's an easy open even with big hands.

The other one is a pre-production Benchmade 941 I believe...It seems to be MIA today and I hope I didn't lose it. That thing opens like it is on ball bearings and cuts like a piece of surgical equipment. I only paid $60 (new without box), but I think they normally go in the $150 range on eBay. I've got a non-local guy who usually has some steals on nice knives and he cuts me deals because I have bought quite a few from him.

[Edited on December 1, 2008 at 10:10 PM. Reason : l]

12/1/2008 10:08:35 PM

Ahh, Griptilian = Benchmade's best bang for the buck.

Decent steel and great edge geometry.

Great model, I just wish the scales were made of something with better grip.
It's truely better for real world cutting than any of the other Benchmade Axis Locks IMO.

12/1/2008 10:18:55 PM

I have had several of the CRKT folders, the m16-10, m16-12, m16-14 series, I use them till they get lost or stolen form my work crap. Another option is ColdSteel.

12/2/2008 1:54:16 AM

Shit, I just bought one of these for $9
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-41493-Serrated-Edge-Knife/dp/B000Q7V6PU



Sure, it's no Benchmade, but I don't need anything stellar. It's small and light and feels surprisingly good.

But basically I didn't have the cash to spend on a better knife

12/2/2008 7:52:47 AM

I don't know a lot about all the new steels and whatnot, but it's hard to beat a Case. Lifetime warranty and made in the USA. It doesn't get much better than that. Maybe I'm too oldschool.

http://www.bluegrassmountainknives.com/store/

[Edited on December 2, 2008 at 2:21 PM. Reason : .]

12/2/2008 2:15:54 PM

Case is good, but Restricted wants one you can open with one hand.

The steel in Case knives, like Swiss Army KNives, tends to be fairly soft with high chromium content.
They don't hold edges well, but they're very very easy to sharpen and you can make them razor sharp easier than the premium steels.
Cases are good for everyday use, they just don't fit what he wants/needs.

12/2/2008 2:34:40 PM

Buck Rush, walmart, $50-60 depending on the store. I got mine about 3 years ago, performed flawless.

Assisted open, 420HC blade
Weight 2.4 oz.
Blade length: 2-1/2".
Closed length: 3-3/4".



ive used mine as a hammer, pry bar (limited force), screwdriver (broken tip=flat head )

Tits in my book

12/2/2008 4:08:26 PM

So my other Benchmade is a pre-production 773.
I found it in the dryer.

This, but with a black blade:


[Edited on December 2, 2008 at 4:34 PM. Reason : s]

12/2/2008 4:31:58 PM

Quote :

"Case is good, but Restricted wants one you can open with one hand. The steel in Case knives, like Swiss Army KNives, tends to be fairly soft with high chromium content. They don't hold edges well, but they're very very easy to sharpen and you can make them razor sharp easier than the premium steels. Cases are good for everyday use, they just don't fit what he wants/needs."

http://www.casexx.com/DisplayPatternPageFH.asp?PatternAutoId=194
One-handed opening.

He said himself he wants an EDC, and you said Cases are good for everyday use. Any knife from a reputable manufacturer will be good for everyday use, unless you are cutting cardboard and rope all day long.

12/2/2008 4:49:25 PM

ive had crkt and benchmade knives, a benchmade 520 presidio is my edc now. best knife hands down ive owned. i bought my dad the griptilian for fathers day/birthday or something and he loves it. probably the best customer service you can ask for. my dad didnt have the same steel in his knife as i had in mine and called because it wasnt holding an edge. they sent him whatever their coated blade is and he didnt like it, so sent his other in for sharpening and they replaced just the blade with the newer 154cm steel. i have a spyderco also, but i usually carry that when im around water (and im also not a huge fan of serrated blades for edc) brass washers on the knives are a huge plus. the crkts ive owned have teflon ones and the lack of rigidity is definitely apparent. if youre in raleigh, although im not a huge fan of the store, davi's has hundreds of knives, and really good brands at what looked like reasonable prices.

12/2/2008 9:56:48 PM

i 3rd the kershaws

i have the kershaw oso sweet as my everyday carry knife i love it

12/2/2008 10:21:28 PM

the CRKT designs can be taken apart by the user to clean them, change the clip on the 4 way clip models, etc. Mine have all gotten lubricative bronze washers in place of the stock plastic, followed by adjusting blade screw tension, and locktite on the screws.

12/3/2008 2:14:57 AM

^Or you could have started off with an inherently better design...

You can take apart almost any decent knife except for some of the Spydercos; but in those models there's no need to take them apart to clean them.

My beef with CRKT, especially the M16 styles, is:
-the liners are weak compromising lock safety and allowing handle flex
-the back spacers are weak allowing even more handle flex
-the liner/handle flex along with plastic washers translates into a lot of flex at the pivot
-parts fit isn't goo

They're ok knives, I just don't think they're worth the money even though they're fairly cheap.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 2:56 AM. Reason : ]

12/3/2008 2:50:50 AM

I have these:

http://www.knifestuff.com/sw/tactical/tactical.htm
2nd one on the list:




http://www.knivesplus.com/smith-wesson-knife-sw-cksurt.html

12/3/2008 3:01:51 AM

skip the cold steel knife, what a piece of shit.

also avoid tanto's, and serrated edges- tanto's aren't good for edc, serrations dont work as well as a sharp plain blade and are harder to sharpen

here are my EDC choices- get something you can rely on-

Strider SMF, SNG, PT $200-475
Zero Tolerance folder $180-250 (kershaw/ strider collaboration)

any of these would be your best bet. they all have full titanium framelocks for strength, and S30V blades, they also come very sharp from the factory and touch up easily on ceramic rods.

For me I carry a MSC (custom) Strider SNG XL. this is a terrific knife, though out of most peoples price range.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR- with the exception of some spyderco models, most production knives under $100 are going to break on you. period.

Also, if you decide you want a small, good, sheath knife, you could always buy one that I made. (shameless self-promotion)

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 10:17 AM. Reason : ..]

12/3/2008 10:13:54 AM

my favorite everyday knife so far is the CRKT rollock 2



i don't think they make it anymore, though

12/3/2008 10:29:48 AM

I carried one of those for over two years and still have it. It really wasn't very good IMO. The nylon bushings wore out quickly. The lock mechanism wasn't very good and it got weak towards the end. And it was just too bulky IMO.

12/3/2008 11:14:11 AM

IMO

12/3/2008 12:21:20 PM

^^ I like it, but Im not a huge knife person.

I was issued one in the service and loved it.

On the other hand I dropped mine and it bent the tip slightly, but its pretty good for every day use.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 1:20 PM. Reason : ,./]

12/3/2008 1:20:06 PM

Quote :

"skip the cold steel knife, what a piece of shit. also avoid tanto's, and serrated edges- tanto's aren't good for edc, serrations dont work as well as a sharp plain blade and are harder to sharpen here are my EDC choices- get something you can rely on- Strider SMF, SNG, PT $200-475 Zero Tolerance folder $180-250 (kershaw/ strider collaboration) any of these would be your best bet. they all have full titanium framelocks for strength, and S30V blades, they also come very sharp from the factory and touch up easily on ceramic rods. For me I carry a MSC (custom) Strider SNG XL. this is a terrific knife, though out of most peoples price range. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR- with the exception of some spyderco models, most production knives under $100 are going to break on you. period. Also, if you decide you want a small, good, sheath knife, you could always buy one that I made. (shameless self-promotion)"

haha, you're a total uber knife snob

I think he can get away with something in the same sturdiness department as a Benchmade 710, Spyderco police, etc.

Do you carry only one knife? I always have two on me, one larger folder (Spyderco Native, LCC, or Amphibian) and a swiss army knife for cutting small stuff and fingernails. It seems like if you go with any other those thick bladed striders you'd have to carry a second smaller knife for other tasks, at least for me.
BTW, I hate the clip on that Amphibian I bought from you.
The bitch fell out of my pocket in the woods twice and I just got lucky enough to trace my steps and find it both times. Its a thick clip, just a bad clip design.
It's a great folder. That knife will take down small saplings like there's no tomorrow.

Got any pics of your small fixed blades?
What steel and how thick is the stock?
I've been thinking of getting a bird and trout knife.

12/3/2008 1:24:14 PM

i don't really get it...anything but the cheapest knives are generally good for most people...spending more than $50 on a knife is pretty silly (IMO) if you're just carrying it with you for everyday use...unless your everyday is out in the woods or in construction or something similar, $50 will get you a knife that will last you for YEARS

12/3/2008 3:42:05 PM

"Everyday" is different for different people.
For some people it's opening mail, opening packages, cutting food, and a few other little tasks.

For me it's the normal stuff plus cutting rope, cutting small saplings, skinning deer, cutting up fish, and all sorts of other stuff.

Restricted wants a knife that can be used for occasional bigger tasks than what many would consider everyday.

If you use a knife often or need it for the occasional big job or want to have it as potential personal protection then it's worth your money to spend more.

12/3/2008 5:30:26 PM

I carry a leathman wave and a m16-10 if I am at work.
Out and about? CRKT-Ryan plan B plus a small folder for utility use.
Hunting? cold steel lock back, plus a Green River 6 inch skinner sheath knife, I went with the kit model vrs the finished knife to allow we to shape the handle to my taste.
At home? the 16-10Z, nice n small and handy for around the house utility work.

I do not carry a knife for self defense. Maybe as a go to hell plan if getting the fuck out is no longer an option. If I feel that I NEED a knife in a situation as a weapon, not just a tool, I would have brought a GD gun.

And a note on knife snobbery.
I have yet to see many of the 'high end' knife market, non custom, beat out cold steel in price, or be able to beat the proof video's claims. I have owned plenty of cod steel products over the years, inc an old twistmaster, the guy I work with still uses a black coated blade tanto twistmaster. Those knives are almost unkillable. I buy knives to USE THEM, and ABUSE THEM, and often enough, to BREAK THEM. I break blaxe tips off, i use knives as wedges, i use them to pry with on service calls and entrapment responses at work.

YMMV, but I know that I COULD go buy the 'most expensive everyone says its perfect' type item for anything. Or I could buy one that is of MODERATE cost, not cheap crap, not overpriced either.I then use my new TOOL. If it fails when doingt he tasks I demand of it, be they normal or not, I then get a knife mroe in line with what I now know I need. If you always have a pry bar on hand, you do not need a dive knife. Always have a machete/hatchet close? don't need a cleaver of a knife.

Often we fall into the trap of 'one knife for everything'. This knife can do anything, see, it slices, it dices, it makes fries, it has a compass.......

Need a small knife to open mail/trim a rope/keep handy? get a urban pal or other .75-2 inch blade utility knife.

Need a combat knife? buy one. Need to clear brush? get a bush axe. Need to have a large fixed blade 'utility' design? get a cold steel Trailmaster.

12/3/2008 9:03:51 PM

Quote :

"I buy knives to USE THEM, and ABUSE THEM, and often enough, to BREAK THEM. I break blaxe tips off, i use knives as wedges, i use them to pry with on service calls and entrapment responses at work. "

You actually sound like a good candidate for one of those production Striders.
If you got one of those you wouldn't have to worry about breaking anything.

[Edited on December 3, 2008 at 11:59 PM. Reason : "Moderate cost" is also debatable]

12/3/2008 11:57:29 PM

yeah I'm a knife snob.

I use and abuse my knives too. from basic cutting to skinning deer, chopping with a pocketknife (batoning the back of the blade) cutting rope, etc. I do lots of primitive skills and wilderness survival stuff and having a reliable, good knife is a must if your life depends on it. And I've found all that in one package- A strider SMF. I carry it and the small version of it- the PT, and an eze-lap rod for touch up. I'm not saying you cant break a strider- I have once when I was prying real hard on the very end of the tip, but I sent it back and in 3 days it was back with a new blade. Strider's customer service is terrific.

The main problem I have with cold steel is the owner is a fucking rip off artist and a liar and a cheat. search any knife forum and you find stories of him ripping off other peoples original ideas and calls them his own. Aside from the companies shitty business practices, most of the steels used in the blades are not very high quality. (440c, 440v) and the higher end san-mai stuff has a tendency to fracture. I've actually owned and used alot of cold steel stuff- I found there to be better knives on the market. just my opinion though.

Get a strider, or a Busse you won't regret it.

Fumbler- my knives are hand forged in a propane forge, heat treated in an oven, and tempered the traditional japanese way with clay in a coal forge. I use primarily 1050-1095 high carbon steels, and hand forge my own damascus billets with L6, 1050, and nickel silver. I forge blades as close to shape as possible, and do most of my work by hand, and manage to produce pieces that are on par or better than anything made with a machine.

The fact is I have a good working knowledge of what I think a knife should be. No, not everybody
needs or wants a $500 knife. but its a good investment, one you can use the rest of your life. Breaking $50 knives on a regular basis adds up.

[Edited on December 4, 2008 at 2:16 PM. Reason : //]

12/4/2008 2:09:47 PM

^ i had forgotten that you blacksmith...i talked to you a LONG time ago about my brother, who blacksmiths, too, at a forge in morrisville (at least, he used to, before he left to go to western)

maybe you can answer this question for me...on a whim, i decided to look up the quality of steel used in my CRKT rollock 2, since i've been so happy with it...there's absolutely no plastic/rubber on the entire thing, and so frame is 420J2 stainless (which, i understand, can range from pretty good to pretty crappy...up to 53 rockwells max, IIRC), and the blade is "AUS 2", which i've never heard of (but it gives the range as 55-57 rockwells)

decent buy for the $6 i paid? decent blade?

12/4/2008 3:29:24 PM

Quote :

"Breaking $50 knives on a regular basis adds up."

Breaking them on what? Cutting up bodies or something? But serious, I have a small knife that I won at the county fair about 10 years ago and its still ticking like normal, albeit I haven't cut anything with really, but I am really interesting in knowing what you could cut on the regular basis with a knife an have it to break every now and then. Are you like a king hunter or fisher or something?

By the way, I own a S&W Bayonet knife and let me tell you I almost would feel just as safe as having a gun in my hand at close quarters. Afterall, you have as many bullets as stabs you can dish out

[Edited on December 4, 2008 at 3:41 PM. Reason : /]

12/4/2008 3:40:21 PM

down the street not across the road

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

12/4/2008 5:11:06 PM

I will concur with those that have recommended Kershaw. The only thing that I didn't like was that after time the assisted opening mechanism required tightening with a Torx wrench. Otherwise, great knife.

12/8/2008 12:14:23 AM

loc-tite?

12/8/2008 1:09:33 AM

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/777291

REI has a pretty good deal on a pair of Gerber folders if anyone needs something like this. Free shipping if you do store pickup.

[Edited on December 10, 2008 at 3:33 PM. Reason : l]

12/10/2008 3:33:21 PM

another for kershaw

I have had this knife:
http://www.kershaw-knives.net/Kershaw-Ken-Onion-Blur-KS1670BLK.htm

carried daily for a year with no problems. the speedsafe opening is great and it has been very durable with day to day cutting in addition to some heavier tasks of prying and chopping down small to medium plants. I would certainly buy another if I ever lose/break/want new style.

12/13/2008 9:15:43 AM

CRKT M16 Titanium - Spear Point Knife on sale for $56.60 usually $129.95

http://www.steepandcheap.com/?CMP_ID=ODAL_FFP5001&mv_pc=r239

12/15/2008 3:45:23 PM

That link takes you to a pair of pants.

12/15/2008 6:54:56 PM

A titanium handled M16 will still be an M16.
It'd help the handle flex but it's still gonna be a poor design in my eyes.

But for many people it'd be an ok knife and you might as well get the titanium if you're gonna get it at all.

12/15/2008 11:13:58 PM

I want a pocket knife about 200 - 300. Does anyone have some advice on what I can get?

12/30/2008 8:08:15 PM

So Santa brought me the Benchmade 710. This knife is awesome. I let a co-worker of mine cut open a pocket with it and she ended up making a new one...this thing is sharp and feels like a tank in my hand.

12/30/2008 9:23:16 PM

As a farmer, I have found that the germination rate on expensive knives is no better than for cheap ones, so I always buy ones I can afford to lose. The same principle applies to tools carried on a tractor.

12/30/2008 9:35:46 PM