XLMiguel
Member
FWIW, I've been real happy with my Camillus Cuda EDC. It's a stainless liner lock and CM154 blade. Mine's partially serrated, holds an edge well, and touches up fairly easily. You can find one around $50 in the usualy places.
A good EDC folder?
- Thread starter TMM
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recondoc
Member
My EDC:
It's a customized Al Mar SERE 2000 with VG-10 Steel. These are fantastic knives for the money and the mods were my own in the shop.
I would also second the Benchmade/ Ritter Griptillian. It's S30V Steel.
I just like VG-10 over S30V for edge retention and bite with cutting.
Enjoy whatever you choose. There are a ton of good quality folders out there in all budget levels these days. It's prime pickin's,
Doc
It's a customized Al Mar SERE 2000 with VG-10 Steel. These are fantastic knives for the money and the mods were my own in the shop.
I would also second the Benchmade/ Ritter Griptillian. It's S30V Steel.
I just like VG-10 over S30V for edge retention and bite with cutting.
Enjoy whatever you choose. There are a ton of good quality folders out there in all budget levels these days. It's prime pickin's,
Doc
TMM,
You might want to spend some time over at Bladeforums or Knifeforums to get some good information about knives and what makes them sharp and what makes the dull. Both of these sites are to knives what this is to guns.
You say,"i only remember using it to open a package, cut thin manila rope, and burlap. nothing very hard.", but knive edges are not dulled by "hard" things as much as by abrasive things and manila rope and burlap are both some of the most knife-dulling abrasive materials around. Add that package materials like cardboard are very abrasive and you may find that your knife got quite a workout.
If you just want another knife that's great, but if what you want is a sharp knife then spend your money on a sharpener and learn to sharpen the knife you have. When you do that you'll find that you can make any knife sharp enough in very little time.
You might want to spend some time over at Bladeforums or Knifeforums to get some good information about knives and what makes them sharp and what makes the dull. Both of these sites are to knives what this is to guns.
You say,"i only remember using it to open a package, cut thin manila rope, and burlap. nothing very hard.", but knive edges are not dulled by "hard" things as much as by abrasive things and manila rope and burlap are both some of the most knife-dulling abrasive materials around. Add that package materials like cardboard are very abrasive and you may find that your knife got quite a workout.
If you just want another knife that's great, but if what you want is a sharp knife then spend your money on a sharpener and learn to sharpen the knife you have. When you do that you'll find that you can make any knife sharp enough in very little time.
i guess you have a point, HSO. for the rope and burlap, i only used it to cut open the root ball of an 8-foot tree (i did NOT let the egde go into the soil) i'll go check out the forums you spoke of.
mike, i am checking out the Camillus site right now, seems like a good site. the EDC isn't quite to my likign though.
~TMM
mike, i am checking out the Camillus site right now, seems like a good site. the EDC isn't quite to my likign though.
~TMM
black bear
Member
I have a Blackjack Mamba for many years, but I have developed a carpal tunnel in my right hand and I needed another knife easier to open with one hand.
O bought a SOG Flash II and a Ken Onion's Leek, they are my first tactical knife purchase in many years (although I have purchase many hunting knives for my collection)
I am very happy with them, both are light enough and have clips, it is amazing how much I like the clip idea!!
black bear
O bought a SOG Flash II and a Ken Onion's Leek, they are my first tactical knife purchase in many years (although I have purchase many hunting knives for my collection)
I am very happy with them, both are light enough and have clips, it is amazing how much I like the clip idea!!
black bear
yup, i like both of those, but the thin handles aren't quite to my liking, although i may eventually get one or both of them.
~TMM
*edit* the twitch has thin handles, not the flash... actually, i don't like the flash either. what is up with the end of the handle?
~TMM
*edit* the twitch has thin handles, not the flash... actually, i don't like the flash either. what is up with the end of the handle?
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commygun
Member
I carry a Benchmade Griptilian as my EDC because it's such
a great all-around knife. However, you mention the Snipe in
your original post and I think this is one of the great under-
rated bargains. I got one NIB for $28 off E-bay and was so
impressed I got another one (partially serrated) from the
same seller. It's built like a brick you-know-what, was the
sharpest out of the box of any knife I've owned so far, it
fills the hand nicely, and should make a great work knife.
The Levitator push button lock was a little stiff at first but
smoothed out with a couple of days use. My only complaint
is that the large thumbstud is too close to the scale, making
it a little harder to index than many similar knives. I loosened
the pivot screw just a tad and that, along with familiarity
with the knife, made the opening process faster and surer.
Oh, and I also like the pommel/striking point/butt protrusion
thingee. Try one, you'll like it.
a great all-around knife. However, you mention the Snipe in
your original post and I think this is one of the great under-
rated bargains. I got one NIB for $28 off E-bay and was so
impressed I got another one (partially serrated) from the
same seller. It's built like a brick you-know-what, was the
sharpest out of the box of any knife I've owned so far, it
fills the hand nicely, and should make a great work knife.
The Levitator push button lock was a little stiff at first but
smoothed out with a couple of days use. My only complaint
is that the large thumbstud is too close to the scale, making
it a little harder to index than many similar knives. I loosened
the pivot screw just a tad and that, along with familiarity
with the knife, made the opening process faster and surer.
Oh, and I also like the pommel/striking point/butt protrusion
thingee. Try one, you'll like it.
I've had several knives by MOD, CRKT, many Benchmades (including a couple autoknives). The knife I now carry 90% of the time is a Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian with the thumbstud, and partially serrated blade. Great little knife, and I got mine for $55 from OnPointFirearms.com. Not too heavy, gets the job done, and at that price I won't have a heart attack if it damaged, lost, or stolen.
The 10% of the time I am carrying either a CRKT KISS folder, or the KISS and the Benchmade together.
The 10% of the time I am carrying either a CRKT KISS folder, or the KISS and the Benchmade together.
Third_Rail
Member
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I just thought of this.... if you're opening boxes and whatnot most often, get a folding razor blade that has the replaceable blades, like the Craftsman at Sears... I think AG Russell sells them too. When it gets dull, replace the blade with another $.10 one! 
With the outline you set a Benchmade Griptilian with the axis lock makes a fine EDC Utility knife. They can be had in the $60 range. Many of the knives people are listing here are more expensive than the price ceiling you quoted.
New Graham has some nice prices on knives. Check them out.
New Graham has some nice prices on knives. Check them out.
RoyG
Member
He's right... Most places sell them for under 10 bucks. Cheaper then dirt has them for between $5-10.
Or just pickup one of the el-cheapo knives at the gas station and use it for box cutting and save your good EDC for showing off.
I have a lot of knives and I am always looking for more. I find that 3-4 is ideal so I wouldn't worry about the knife laws because more than 4" is not as usefull as an EDC anyway. I would say that Spyderco offers the best bang for the buck as well. They offer top quality materials with top quality designs for modest prices. The only thing that suffers is the quality of the assembly. Sometimes they are not as well made as Benchmades but I really think they more than make up for it in the better steel that is often used and the better blade designs. They have some weird hang up with back locks over at Spyderco but they do offer some liner locks and compression locks.
When I think EDC, I think of a knife that can be used for just about every day to day task but will also serve as a self defense knife if you really need it to. The list of good knives for EDC is very long so I will just list my favs.
1. So far this is my all time fav. AL Mar Shrike. It is the best knife I have ever had and it is not the most expensive. Everything is great on this knife, looks, steel (VG-10), materials, fit and finish, lock up, action, everything is at the top or near the top in terms of quality. I have knives that have one or two things better but nothing that has the whole package like the Shrike.
Spyderco: Endura, Police, Calypso Jr., Para-Military, Centofante II.
When I think EDC, I think of a knife that can be used for just about every day to day task but will also serve as a self defense knife if you really need it to. The list of good knives for EDC is very long so I will just list my favs.
1. So far this is my all time fav. AL Mar Shrike. It is the best knife I have ever had and it is not the most expensive. Everything is great on this knife, looks, steel (VG-10), materials, fit and finish, lock up, action, everything is at the top or near the top in terms of quality. I have knives that have one or two things better but nothing that has the whole package like the Shrike.
Spyderco: Endura, Police, Calypso Jr., Para-Military, Centofante II.
Here are some of the cheaper knives that are very good for the money:
Kershaw Vapor or Vapor II (one is larger than the other is the only diff)
Kershaw Leek
Spyderco Delica, Endura, Calypso Jr.
Ka-Bar Dozier, these can be had for less than $20 new and give the Benchamde Mini Grip a real run for the money. In fact, you could buy three of the Doziers for the price of one Griptilian and there is no way the Grip is three times the knife of the Dozier.
Spyderco has a series I have not checked out yet that is called the Byrd series I think. People have been raving about them so that may be an option.
Blade shape is geometry is more improtant than the quality of the steel used. A thin flat ground blade is going to slice much better than a thick hollow ground blade no matter how sharp it is. That is why Spydercos are so good, they know how to make a blade that is designed to cut. Benchmade has a long way to go to catch up to what Spyderco has been doing with the blade designs.
Kershaw Vapor or Vapor II (one is larger than the other is the only diff)
Kershaw Leek
Spyderco Delica, Endura, Calypso Jr.
Ka-Bar Dozier, these can be had for less than $20 new and give the Benchamde Mini Grip a real run for the money. In fact, you could buy three of the Doziers for the price of one Griptilian and there is no way the Grip is three times the knife of the Dozier.
Spyderco has a series I have not checked out yet that is called the Byrd series I think. People have been raving about them so that may be an option.
Blade shape is geometry is more improtant than the quality of the steel used. A thin flat ground blade is going to slice much better than a thick hollow ground blade no matter how sharp it is. That is why Spydercos are so good, they know how to make a blade that is designed to cut. Benchmade has a long way to go to catch up to what Spyderco has been doing with the blade designs.
I'm a huge fan of spydercos and carry 2 frn plain edge delicas daily. They are cheap and plain, light, thin, have great steel and fit the hand well for cutting. I have never questioned the integrity of the lock (*snick!*).
However if you don't like lockbacks I'd have to reccomend a benchmade.
However if you don't like lockbacks I'd have to reccomend a benchmade.
Not to take too much issue with Spyderco, as they do make some excellent knives, but just what are you talking about here? Spydies, depending on the model, come with flat ground blades or hollow ground blades. The difference is in the intended use of the knife. A flat ground blade will generally be more resistant to the edge chipping out as a hollow grind is a reverse convex grind which thins out the material supporting the edge rather considerably. Thinner is generally sharper, but is also generally weaker, which is why there are four primary grinds in widespread use: Flat, Hollow, Chisel, and Convex, because all are compromises and each offers different strengths and weaknesses. Flat and Hollow are just the easiest to make. I'd love to see more convex offerings myself as some of my sharpest and toughest knives feature that grind.
Particularly to the great uninitiated masses out there, the Spydies seem to cut so well in many examples because they are serrated in many examples. It is commonly known by knife folks that serrations effectively increase the cutting surface of a blade by about 25% at the expense of being harder/more time consuming to sharpen, sloppier to make precision cuts with, and, in most cases by looking worse than plain edges.
Bottom line is that every top drawer knife company out there, that makes a folder, has some which cut better than others within their own line-up, let alone those of competitors. Where Spyderco excels is in offering the latest and greatest in stainless steels, (CPM steels, H-1, etc.) offers hollow grinds for those who want them, and serrates just about everything if one cares for that, and was the first to market with a clip and the hole cut-out, (though originally their clip was for tip-up carry only
). Benchmade makes far more varied offerings of carbon steels (D2, M2, etc., my only stainless knives are SAKs and Leathermans), offers balisongs, and an array of automatics Spyderco doesn't, and one of the toughest locks ever put on a folder. They also license the "hole" like a proper company should. I like that Benchmade only partially serrates its blades, if one wants serrations at all.In the end, neither is really more innovative than the other with some notably exceptional Spydie "firsts.".
Like I said, I have nothing but respect for Spyderco, I just bought a Pacific Salt, but newbies tend to be overly impressed by them and VOILA! suddenly serrations are the be all/end all.
Kinda Glockish following in that respect.
Just realized my only serious stainless knife is a Spydie, (with good reason, they are fantastic).
Kinda Glockish following in that respect.
Just realized my only serious stainless knife is a Spydie, (with good reason, they are fantastic).
I not a fan of serrations at all. Spyderco offers a wide variety of blade shapes but they tend to make their blades a little thinner and with finer points than many makers. They also are not afraid of making full flate ground blades. Spydercos are not really for newbies, they are fine cutting knives but are not as robust as many other makers. For some reason, it is trendy to make knives as thick and strong as possible. These knives will never break but they are a bear to cut anything with.
Try this as an experiment, take a Spyderco Calypso Jr. and cut through an apple. Now take your favorite benchmade and do the same thing. As most Benchmades are not full flat ground, it will most likely be noticably harder to slice though the apple (or whatever) with the Benchmade. If you really want to see what I am talking about, try cutting an apple with one of those 1/4" thick chisel ground beasts that everyone seems to be carrying part of their Mall Ninja gear.
Spyderco tends to have MUCH better blade designs than Benchmade if you really want to slice stuff. If you are looking for more strength, Benchmade blades will probably stand up to rougher use.
I think you should go with the thinnest and most precise blade you can get that will not break in your intended use. I see too many broken tips on Spydercos because people think they are prybars or something. If you want a prybar, get a 1/4"thick Tanto . You won't be able to cut anything but it will look so cool.
Try this as an experiment, take a Spyderco Calypso Jr. and cut through an apple. Now take your favorite benchmade and do the same thing. As most Benchmades are not full flat ground, it will most likely be noticably harder to slice though the apple (or whatever) with the Benchmade. If you really want to see what I am talking about, try cutting an apple with one of those 1/4" thick chisel ground beasts that everyone seems to be carrying part of their Mall Ninja gear.
Spyderco tends to have MUCH better blade designs than Benchmade if you really want to slice stuff. If you are looking for more strength, Benchmade blades will probably stand up to rougher use.
I think you should go with the thinnest and most precise blade you can get that will not break in your intended use. I see too many broken tips on Spydercos because people think they are prybars or something. If you want a prybar, get a 1/4"thick Tanto . You won't be able to cut anything but it will look so cool.
recondoc
Member
The Calypso Jr. from Spydie is one of my favorites for a nice, thin, flatground blade. It just cuts and cuts and cuts some more. Another often overlooked model that Spyderco makes is the Native. It can be had in several configurations like most of the Spyderco line. They are a hollow ground blade and the overall package is a bit thicker and sturdier if abusive conditions are expected. One of the best grips in all of the Spyderco line.
Doc
Doc
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