I am looking at purchasing a really high end folder. My budget is $700. I have been looking at Chris Reeves, Strider, Lightfoot, Surefire, Microtech, Emerson, ect…This knife will be for everyday use, everything from opening boxes to skinning elk or people if necessary. What are yalls recommendations, I am just overwhelmed with options.
Chris Revees or Surefire
I have gotten a chance to mess with a few Chris Reeves folders and I am very impressed, definitely worth the money. I have not had the chance to handle the Surefire, can anyone give me some feed back on it?
I use Emerson knives as my daily carry knife. I really like the wave feature, it’s faster to deploy out of the pocket than any automatic/switchblade I’ve seen. As faras opening boxes, I’d use a box cutter. And to skin elk, I’d use a buck hunting knife from Bass Pro. But thats just me.
I do really like the Emerson Commander and CQC-7 with the wave feature I have both and they are very nice knives, I am just looking for somthing a little more unique.
the CQC7 does not make a very versatile EDC, IMO…
I agree it really does not
Why do you want to spend all that money? For status symbol points? For blade quality? For love of precision construction? For the elitist thrill of dropping it ten feet onto a rough granite outcropping and being able to shrug nonchalantly as only the independently wealthy can do?
Keep in mind where your EDC will go with you, and don’t be like the guy who went rock climbing wearing his $10,000 Rolex. When I think about where my EDC goes, and what goes into my pocket with it, and what it does when it’s not in my pocket, you’d never get me to spend $400 on a replacement. YMMV and different strokes . . . That’s just me.
When it comes to knives, guns, watches, ect… you get exactly what you pay for. I appreciate fine tools, and if you pay for quality it will never let you down. I also do happen to rock climb in a $6000 Rolex, I also hunt, dive, mountain bike, weld, and work in that watch as well. It has never let me down. Good tools are worth the money, and are made to be used.
If you can afford a $6000 watch, you’re way out of my league. Enjoy your toys and use them any way you like!
You can’t go wrong with these that you’ve mentioned: “Chris Reeve, Strider, Emerson, SureFire.”
From Chris Reeve, the Umnumzaan seems to be gaining much popularity. There’s also a lot of Strider and Emerson followings. The only experience I have among these four (4) makers are Emerson (Benchmade collaboration then) and the SureFire EW-04 FCUK.
Hope you find what you’re looking for and Enjoy!
What were your impressions of the Surefire. Things like overall quality, durability, functionality, practicality, ect…?
I carry an Emerson M-Wave on duty but I don’t fully trust the liner locking mechanism, however the rest of the knife is perfect for me… I prefer fully positive locking mechanisms like the Benchmade Axis or Reeve/Strider framelocks. I have been carrying a couple modified Griptillians with wave feature and they have held up fine to hundreds of repeated deployments for a couple years now.
My ideal knife would be a drop point, Axis lock, waved, with S30V or similar steel and titanium/G10 handles with a nice choil for positive grip. However, nobody makes this so oh well…
Definitely check out the Axis knives in Benchmades Gold line. Good stuff.
Dennis.
benchmade infidel
http://www.scottcookknives.com/lochsa.htm
I love the Sebenza as much for what it is not- overly fancy, overly thick, and tanto’d- as I do for what it is. My vote is for a large Seb. Or a Lochsa (which I do not own, btw).
there are $150-300 knives that’ll hold up to whatever abuse you can give them… benchmade black-line knives are as tough as tough can get… i lose my current 9050AFO every couplefew years, so i’ve been through a few- i use it to pry on shit, cut cable/rope, cut boxes, use the handle as a hammer, cut felt, hunt/field knife, screwdriver… i’m a contractor and sportsman, i think it probably takes about as much abuse as anyone can give a knife and i’ve yet to break one. can be found for $200 online
if you just really gotta have a $700 knife for personal reasons, do it- but if you think you’re getting anything more out of it, you’re just rationalizing your purchase.
oh, also Lightfoot and Mercworx folders are pretty tacti-swank, too.
If I could justify the cash then it would be something from Benchmade’s Gold Class.
This one would probably be it - Auto Presidio
There is just something about Damascus steel that makes my heart go pitter-patter. 
Quality
Durability
Functionality
Practicality (though $$$-wise is something else)
The SureFire Delta’s been my EDC since 2006. So far in regards to the “built in” tools, I tend to use the finger guard screwdriver the most when whatever task at hand warrants it. Rarely do I ever use the wrench. There were times that I had or did use the wire cutter and the seatbelt cutter for bandings and such.
I did have an excellent customer service experience with SureFire, and there’s a fellow who does work for SF’s Edged Weapons department that service maintenanced my knife. Quick turnaround time I must say! 
In the following picture shot below as posted in the Magpul AFG threads, I’m assuming a similar knife in Travis’ pants pocket.
The Sebenza and umnumzaan from Chris Reeves will give you countless years of pleasure. they are superbly built and finished. i like the sebbie more than “the boss”. the pivot is easier to adjust on the sebbie. you’ll also be alot under your budget, which is always a plus. every knife aficionado will know you bought a great knife.
a pic to keep it interesting:
