Folding knive suggestions

Tactical Gear Tactical Lights, Lasers & Knives
1

For a Christmas gift for myself, I’d like to get a nice folding knife. I have been using a Kershaw Vapor II with the CZ logo (came with my CZ75 Tactical a couple of years back) and it’s a decent enough knife.

However, I’d like a quality, made in the USA knife. 3 1/2" folder, with a pocket clip and a thumb peg (not sure what they are really called.)

I don’t know a lot about knives, but I am more concerned with quality and less about price (within reason, I can’t spend $1000 but I can spend a couple hundred if necessary).

So, I am open for suggestions. This is a daily carry knife, typically used for cutting things that I encounter daily (go figure). Like anything else, it could be used for self defense some day. You never know.

Requirments:

3 1/2" folder
Thumb peg for easy opening (preferably not spring assisted)
Clip
Made in the USA
Durable handle materal, preferably not wood unless someone can convince me otherwise

Thanks in advance for any advice to the knife ignorant.

2

Kershaw Blur.

3

I would go with the Benchmade 552 (Doug Ritter RSK Mk1). It is a great all around knife especially for the $.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=552-RSK+Mk1

http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk1.htm

4

It’s hard to go wrong with the RSK for a little over $100. I have a bunch of Benchmades, and like them a lot. The Axis lock is very easy to use, and deploy the knife one-handed. The CPM-S30V steel is quite good.

I have a Kershaw Blur - it is spring assisted. It’s a decent little knife for the money.

Do you want or care about serrations on the blade? Personally, I am not a fan.

For around $100-$150, Emerson and Spyderco also make very good knives. Emerson has a Waved opener, which allows you to deploy the knife with one hand. Earnie licensed the Wave to Sal, and Spyderco uses it with the permission of Emerson.

Is self-defense a consideration, as you stated? I am a fan of carrying my knife on the left side, and being able to deploy it with a single hand. An Emerson Mini-Commander is pretty handy that way. You can deploy it by simply pulling it from your pocket.

This is the non-serrated one that keeps finding it’s way back into my pocket as my EDC:

http://www.emersonknives.com/ekMiniCQC7BW.php

The Wave is awesome. It’s good for weapon retention that way. If need be, you can cut someone’s hand off your weapon during a disarm attempt in a fast and efficient manner.

BTW, Earnie will drill one of his right-handed knives for left-handed carry. I think he charged me $17 for it.

May I suggest a vendor to buy a knife from? Grant at G&R Tactical sells Benchmades. If he does not carry what you need, New Graham Pharmacy is a family business, selling knives for a long time. They have great service. Mike and Annie remind me a lot of Grant and Roxanne. Highly knowledgable, and customer-focused.

Also, something to think about on the Spyderco knives. Sal sells trainers, or “drones”, for some of his live blades. So for about $130, you can get a carry knife and a trainer.

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=227

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=251

You would never buy a pistol, and not get training for it. So why would you would ever buy a knife and forget to train with it?

I’ll be happy to help with further info if you wish. Stay safe, and good luck.

5

Thanks for all the info.

You’re right about training … I’d definitely look to that sometime next year if something was available locally and funds permit.

6

I would get an Emerson CQC knife. Select whichever one you like. Make sure you get the wave.

The Spyderco Delica/Enduras with the waves are a cheaper alternative

7

I’m also fond of the Benchmade 550 Griptilians. I have a small pile of them that I have accumulated over the years.

Thanks for the info on the Doug Ritter Version, I’ll have to add one or two of those to my pile.

8

Mike Janich does some traveling classes, and they are not very expensive. I think I paid a whopping $100 for the day-long class. I have a Ronin and a Yojimbo, both Spyderco knives that were designed by him. He also publishes a set of DVD’s you can track down.

Another trainer you might look up is a police officer that goes by the name of “Southnarc.”

http://www.shivworks.com/

He worked with Trace Rinaldi to design the Clinch Pick, IIRC, and also helped Sypderco design the P’Kal, which is another interesting defensive knife.

I used to have a Lil’ Loco. My ex has it now… along with a lot of other things I used to own…

All of these knives I mentioned are defensive knives, and not utility tools. When I carry them, I usually just carry a small Leatherman Squirt P4. It has a small blade and pliers, and does not cause eyeballs to bug out from their sockets. That often happens when you produce a serious defensive blade. :frowning:

9

I second the Benchmade Griptilian and love the axis lock. Very good quality for the money. I have daily carried one going on five years.

10

I just received the Benchmade Griptilian in D2 and I like the Axis lock and knife so far.

11

Strider Gen6 SNG (400) (Drop Point) or if you are looking for something a bit larger go for the SMF (475)

Good Luck

12

  1. Buy online, there are some great deals. I use Knifeworks.com and newgraham.com. Both knock a lot off of list. Some of the sellers here may have deals too.

  2. Buddy had griptillian, but after he tried a Benchmade 940 after I showed him mine, he was sold. Slim, easy to grip, light, cool blade profiles. Maybe a bit more than $100, especially the Damascus steel version ;). SV30 steel in most blades, aluminum grips. Come is plain and serated blades, also painted black.

  3. Axis lock, Axis Lock, Axis lock. You can actually just flick an axis lock knife and deploy the blade. Don’t even need the thumb nubbin on the blade. Freaks people out at birthday parties when I flick out the 940 and its blade in one motion, slice thru those damn twist ties everywhere in kids toys now, and close it back up. Sweet. Gotta try it.

This is what I carry. Comes in handy for all kinds of stuff, and makes me feel safer in “Oh no you didn’t” situations.

My Benchmade Knife

13

I’ve been carrying a Griptilian for several months and im very pleased.

affordable.
154cm(probably the best blade steel ive owned).
absolutely love the Axis lock.

Not to hi-jack,but my one complaint…

tip-up.

I’ve yet to see anything with the Axis lock that allowed tip-down.:frowning:

So if anyone knows of one with 154cm or S30v…

14

Won’t say that it can’t happen, but I’ve carried my 940 Axis in my pocket for 18 months and never had a problem. Usually have it loose in there too. And I am horrible at over stuffing my pockets with all kinds of crap that it could catch on.

Not sure I would do the same with my SOG assisted knife.

15

I get those same reactions daily with my Grip. Seems like any other knife too me? :smiley: But its still fun to sweep it out of my pocket using the clip, flick it open, cut whatever, close and put back in my pocket long before most ppl can fish their “Old Timer” out of their pocket.

That 940 seems like a sweet knife, I might have to give one a try someday.

16

Don’t try the 940s!!! There is a reason that on the Benchmade knife forum people never post a picture of a single 940 series by itself. They are addictive!

PS, my wife rolls her eyes everytime I whip out my 940. I love that “SNAP” sound.

17

Thats because tip up is the proper way to carry a knife, especially one that deploys like the Axis does.

18

I got a Gerber assisted opening knife at Wally World yesterday…its lightweight, smooth operation and has locks to keep it opened and closed…for $35 I feel I couldnt really have gone wrong…

19

Thats because tip up is the proper way to carry a knife, especially one that deploys like the Axis does.

shrug

I find tip-down much faster to deploy on a pocket clip folder.My EDC’s for the last decade(+) being tip-down may have something to do with that.It just seems like a far more natural movement for me.

Alot of options out there for tip-down…on some very nice knives…just not one with the Axis lock.

I know the Axis lock limits real estate for mounting a clip,but it shouldnt be that difficult to work out.Any other reason the Axis lock is more suited to tip up than any other folder?

20

OK, it’s official. There are too many options. The benchmade site is insane - it’d take me all day to go through all the variations!

Two that I like so far are the Benchmade 556 Mini Griptillian and the Emerson Mini-CQC7.

http://www.emersonknives.com/ekMiniCQC7BW.php