Best 4" folder on the market

[The Highlander]

Hey guys, currently shopping around for a new 4" folder for self-defense as well as day to day cutting tasks.

I've had my eye on a few different gerber and spyderco knives, but the recon 1 from cold steel has caught my eye.

What kind of folders to you guys have, and which would you reccomend? $120 and under is preferred although I'm willing to spend up to $150 for a knife that goes above and beyond other folders.

 

[soccergod04]

I love my Spyderco Endura. It's a little under 4" at 3 3/4, but it's plenty big. It also comes in well under your price cap.

 

[zxcvbob]

I love my Gerber EZ-Out that I bought when they were still made in USA. (I wish I could figure out how to sharpen it; it sure took a long time for it to dull though.)

The EZ-Out that I bought my dad just a couple of years later (soon after Gerber was bought by Fiskars) *looked* the same, but it was nowhere nearly as sharp out of the package. Did I mention they hold an edge for a long time but are hard to sharpen?

I've even used mine as a can opener.

 

[Soap]

There are plenty of good choices out there from Spyderco, Benchmade, Gerber, etc. The great thing about knives nowadays is that the pure junk is easily identified.

The two 4"ish folders that are in my carry rotation now are the Benchmade 610 Rukus and the Cold Steel Ti Lite. Both are slightly out of your price range at $175 and $150 respectively.

 

[Valkman]

Endura, Griptilian, and if you are willing to spend $150 a Emerson Commander.

 

[greyling22]

I am a huge fan of the benchmade 940 series of knives. I went axis and now I will never go back. (I"m a lefty though, so liners aren't my thing) If you can do your own sharpening, find a used knife on ebay for about 60% of normal street price.

 

[highorder]

I am a huge fan of the benchmade 940 series of knives. I went axis and now I will never go back.

+1,000,000

And Benchmade will sharpen it for you. For life.

 

[Hans Esker]

If you want one knife for both defense and for everyday cutting tasks, instead of carrying a separate knife for defense, you will want good edge retention (not to mention a light sharpening at the end of every day you do use the knife for utility).

I will admit that I am addicted to Spyderco due to the round opening hole working for me best, not to mention the superior steels/heat treatment they use, but that does not change what I am about to say. The edge holding Of Aus-8 (as used in the Recon 1), no matter what heat treatment, just cannot match that of the newer more advanced steels. That said, any of the top shelf Spyderco will meet that specification.

IMHO the current, 4th generation, Endura just isn't pointy enough to make good defensive blade.

Since you Specify 4 inches, I would recommend the new Police G10 C07G3 (I loved my first generation one and plan to get a new one since I misplaced the other:banghead or a Military. The Military has one of the best steels (SV30), (the better steel of the two) and has one of the strongest locks in the industry (not to say that the Police lock is not plenty strong). If a blackened blade is a requirement, that is available. (I don't like the Military or have one myself as the lock bites me whenever I have handled one). So I would recommend the Spyderco Military for you.

If you could handle before you buy, you would find anything made by Spyderco as having great ergonomics.

Both are at the top end of your budget, but any Spyderco Knife is money well spent.

 

[hso]

day to day cutting tasks

That means different things to different people.

Please define what you mean by "day to day cutting tasks".

 

[Pilot]

I have a BM 940 also. Love it.

 

[MadMercS55]

The Recon-1 from Cold Steel is a nice choice for the money. Same with their Voyagers. The Spyderco Endura series, both waved or non, would be nice too. Also check out the Spyderco Police 3 that just came out recently, it's a very nice knife. I recently picked up 2 in plain edge and think they have great potential as a self-defense and utility piece. Other that that, most anything from Benchmade or Emerson would work great as well, price varying of course.

 

[sniper5]

When I looked at and tried out all the different assisted opening folders at the local knife shop I wound up getting a Kershaw Blur. Liked the ergonomics of it compared to others including Cold Steel, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. 3 3/8" blade so maybe a little shorter than you want. Loved it since and haven't looked back or had regrets. As others have accurately said, there are a LOT of good choices on the market. Probably any blade from a major manufacturer is going to be comparable. I'd go for ergonomics over all else. If the one you pick up feels like a part of you and it belongs in your pocket that is probably the right one.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have several Spyderco Enduras. I like the blade if I want to carry something as large as that. The other one I have that I like is the SOG Vulcan. For me it is a bit too large and I have gravitated to the Mini-Vulcan. I prefer it to the Endura even though I have three Enduras.

 

[auschip]

I'm a big fan of the Benchmade Skirmish, but it will be at the upper end of your price range.

 

[Pax Jordana]

For self-defense/emergency use I carry a Blur ($50).

For daily cutting of things I carry a sodbuster (~$20 maybe?)

still well under your price point in fact, go buy two blurs, and you can go blurs akimbo!

I'd suggest a dedicated SD blade and another for daily cutting, if only because your topic line demands the superlative. Most any knife will be "good" in SD, but the very best knife will perform at its very best if it's not used on your cuticles in the meantime.

 

[CWL]

If you want a daily carry knife that will serve you well (I doubt that you'll ever need it for SD but just keep it sharpened), then I think a Benchmade should be your first consideration.

The Osbornes go for around $124, Mel Pardues $70 and Griptilians $60.

Anything Spyderco is also going to serve well.

I'd put Cold Steel on the bottom of your list when compared to above in your price range.

 

[Soap]

I'd put Cold Steel on the bottom of your list when compared to above in your price range.

Not all Cold Steel blades are bad. The quality of my Japan-made Ti Lite is outstanding.

 

[TimboKhan]

Not all Cold Steel blades are bad

No, they aren't, but I am not so sure that Cold Steel can compete with Spyderco in terms of quality and value at the same price point. Having just bought a new Griptilian, I am having a hard time believing that they can compete with Benchmade.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Best?

Well, that would be whatever I can't afford this week.

Then again, it's possible you have a specific task list in mind.

If "day to day cutting tasks" is mostly food, I'll give you a different answer than, for instance one for mostly rope or mostly cardboard.

Also not clear whether 4" folder is the usual "closed length" or the length of the blade (which usually gives you a 5" closed knife).

You didn't specify one-hand opener or any kind of assisted opener, so . . .

I would think the Spyderco and Benchmade suggestions would work well for you.

But I'm assuming rather much, given the lack of parameters.

 

[Blofeld]

Your specific defense training may have alot to say about your choice. Many styles of knife lend themselves better to specific knife systems.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

The Spyderco Military is one heckuva knife. It's very light, too. It's also a terrific cutter due to the full-flat grind. It'll cost you just a hair over a hundred.

 

[The Highlander]

4" Blade Length, daily tasks will postly involve cutting through boxes and packaging material that gets sent to the home office.

 

[hso]

The "best" 4" folder is the Sebenza, but that's 2 to 3 times your price limit.

Get a good EDC working knife and a second SD knife that you don't use.