Another knife?

[joneb]

Well for some reason I think I need another folder I keep looking for the just right knife to have in my pocket. One would think I would happy with the ones I have, but No they're not good enough
I thinking about a Spyderco Endela or Endra in K-390 I have not been able to handle either one so I'm not sure which one?
I have a Rat 1 and 2 with D2 steel and a Spyderco native 5 in S35vn, I like the(edit) Rat 2(sorry I wanted to say the Rat 1) but it is a bit heavy.
What say you for a $130

 

[Valkman]

How big are your hands? Because you're all over the size spectrum there. I have very large hands and need a Endura size knife - the Native size is so small I can't operate it with one hand.

 

[joneb]

How big are your hands?

Medium. I can manage the Native 5 fine but the Rat 2 is a challenge.
I am not familiar with Bohler K 390 and what it compares to, If it holds an edge similar to S35vn I be fine with that. Not sure if K 390 is worth $45 more than VG-10 ?

 

[JohnKSa]

K 390 is a tool steel. Should hold a good edge. It's not a stainless steel, so that's something to keep in mind since you're comparing it to two stainless steels.

 

[jmr40]

I like the Endela. It is a good compromise between the Delica, which I like, but is a little small, and the Endura.

Just to confuse you more here are a couple of others to at least think about. The Manix-2 lightweight is a bigger version of the Native, but with the Benchmade Axis style locking system.

Amazon.com: Spyderco Manix 2 Folder 3.38 in Plain Black FRN Handle: Kitchen & Dining

The standard Manix is the same, but with a different blade steel and heavier G10 handles. If the Rat is too heavy the standard Manix will be too. But it is a very good quality knife.

Amazon.com: Spyderco Manix 2 Signature Folding Knife with 3.37" CPM S30V Steel Blade and Durable Black G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C101GP2: Sports & Outdoors

Similar in size and weight to the Endela is the Stretch 2. Not one commonly seen, but I like the blade shape. It was designed as a hunting knife for gutting and skinning big game, but works for all around use.

Amazon.com: Spyderco Stretch 2 Signature Lightweight Folding Knife with 3.43" ZDP-189 Steel Blade and British Racing Green FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C90PGRE2: Sports & Outdoors

They also make the same knife in a premium steel. A little over your budget, but it might be worth it to you.

Amazon.com: Spyderco Stretch 2 Signature Lightweight Folding Knife with 3.43" ZDP-189 Steel Blade and British Racing Green FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C90PGRE2: Sports & Outdoors

 

[bikerdoc]

Welcome to the endless quest for the perfect knife.

 

[ejfalvo]

Depending on your price point, the Spyderco Tenacious is tough to beat. I carry one daily.

 

[hso]

Well for some reason I think I need another folder

You don't need a reason. I sure don't need another knife, but it hasn't stopped me.

 

[sparkyv]

Funny how that works, isn't it?

You don't need a reason. I sure don't need another knife, but it hasn't stopped me.

 

[Bacon buster]

A little more than you budgeted in the post but imo it’s the cats meow for a pocket knife. Go handle a benchmade freak. I picked one up when the first came out and I’m still carrying it everyday. It retired my other knives

 

[Bacon buster]

 

[hso]

benchmade freak

Just a bit of industry history on the Freek. BM used to make Doug Ritter's RSK folder, but dumped him over the rivalry between Knife Rights and AKTI. Doug now has the RSK mage by Hogue. BM's Freek is a very (very) close copy of the Ritter. Ironically, the RSK is easily found for less than the Freek. The knife industry is a cut-throat business.

 

[Bacon buster]

That’s interesting. I will say I really like the m4 steel. My Spyderco is sv30 and it’s great but doesn’t hold the edge as long as the m4

 

[hso]

I also think the Freek is discontinued, but that may just be some of them. I know that Freek sales were "disappointing", but then a lot of knife nuts disapproved of the decision to drop production of the RSK for Ritter.

 

[Bacon buster]

I believe your right hso. I’ve seen a couple here n there in display cases but I believe that they just never sold. Mine was a first production run limited to 1200 made I think. Last time I was browsing a local shop I saw one that appeared to be a freak and I thought cool they came out with a newer version or something but when I looked it was called something else don’t remember and didn’t use the m4 steel.

 

[ugaarguy]

The Manix-2 lightweight is a bigger version of the Native, but with the Benchmade Axis style locking system.

Ehh, the Manix is kind of its own thing, with ergos most similar to a bigger Sage or Chaparral (mid height thumb ramp that splits the difference between the no ramp / hump Native family, and the tall thumb hump / ramp on most other Spydies). The CBBL may unlock similarly to an Axis lock, but it has some significant differences from the Axis lock. The Shaman and the Native Chief are the bigger versions of the Native. Also, just a heads up, buying any knife over $40 to $50 from Amazon puts you at high risk of getting a counterfeit. All that aside, I agree that the Manix 2 is a good mid-sized alternative to the Endela. You (or joneb) can also get the Manix 2 LW in either Maxamet or S110V as standard production if you want to play with a high alloy PM steel.

I am not familiar with Bohler K 390 and what it compares to, If it holds an edge similar to S35vn I be fine with that. Not sure if K 390 is worth $45 more than VG-10 ?

It's a high speed tool steel. It has almost twice as much carbon as s35vn combined with 3x the vanadium, twice the tungsten, and twice the molybdenum to form lots of carbides with that carbon. It also has far less chromium than s35vn, so it's far from stainless. It's a tough, highly wear resistant steel, that doesn't have great corrosion resistance.

As for the Endela / Endura, I'm lukewarm on them. The clip screws thread into the liners and I always get wobbly clips or stripped screws from Spydercos that mount the clip that way, particularly the Japanese made ones. But, lots of people still love Spyderco's Seki City made back locks. I'm just a little unclear on what you want. Do you want to try out a larger knife than your Native 5 with equal or better edge retention to s35vn? Do you want to try out a high speed tool steel blade? Do you want to try a stainless steel with significantly better edge retention than s35vn?

 

[hso]

buying any knife over $40 to $50 from Amazon

Sad but true. If a trusted retailer isn't where it is coming from, Amazon is rife with counterfeits.