I recently posted a thread about my Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder. The knife is fairly large and not well suited to daily off-duty carry so I was thinking of dumping the Applegate for something in a reasonable price range. I am looking for something in either D2 or S30V. So far I have come up with this knife http://www.wildeals.com/lone-wolf-lc17305pln-harsey-t1-tactical-rosewood-plain-p-70.html I can get it with either the rosewood as shown (which I really like) or with G-10 grips. Can anyone recommend a comparable folder for a comparable price in D2 steel? I am having a bit of trouble finding one.
Daily carry knife
- Thread starter ctrout
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That is a beautiful little knife! Thanks. I also found this one.
Both of these look really nice for around $60. Can anyone here attest to their quality? Also, of the three knives, which would probably be best for normal day-to-day general pocket-knife type use? S30V or D2?
Both of these look really nice for around $60. Can anyone here attest to their quality? Also, of the three knives, which would probably be best for normal day-to-day general pocket-knife type use? S30V or D2?
Kacerdias
Member
I've been very happy with my daily carry knife. It's a Benchmade "Gaucho" 12800 folder. It's an Osborne reverse tanto design and keeps a wicked edge. The axis lock is a great feature and worth it. Though the knife has an MSRP of mid $150's, I got mine for about $100 new.
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7ranquilcitizen
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Some Walmarts carry the spyderco native in s30v for i think $40 or $50 which is quite a steal. Lonewolf makes some nice knives but I had noticed some folks complaining about the fit and finish a few months back. Then again most companies have slip ups here and there its about their customer service that matters. The benchmade 710 in D2 is a real nice knife but at about $100 usually. Cabela's has the popular benchmade griptilian and mini-grip in D2 for a good price. For a little more you can get the griptilian in s30v from doug ritter.
I like the Dozier thorn mentioned above and always wanted one but questioned it because of the handle material, might be a little bit slippery.
I like the Dozier thorn mentioned above and always wanted one but questioned it because of the handle material, might be a little bit slippery.
glockman19
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a Classic Buck #110
Hunter0924
Member
I agree with glockman19 about the Buck 110. My favorite lockback and my daily carry knife.
borrowedtime69
Member
my daily carry
i have a CRK&T M16-12Z with the tanto point. it has never failed me, the blade lock hasnt ever let the blade fold at the wrong time, it has a nice combo blade, and fits the hand well. also, its a 3" blade so its legal to carry where i live. -
Eric
i have a CRK&T M16-12Z with the tanto point. it has never failed me, the blade lock hasnt ever let the blade fold at the wrong time, it has a nice combo blade, and fits the hand well. also, its a 3" blade so its legal to carry where i live. -
Eric
There are just so many options and opinions for a good daily carry knife, so I'll just say that I have carried the Spyderco Endura for the last two years and it has been the best knife I have ever had. I live on a farm so I've carried a knife on me since about age 8. 20 years and a bunch of blades later, I'm buying another spyderco...Tim
A little more than the one you're looking at, but for $107 you can get the Doug Ritter Benchmade Mini Griptillian.
S30V steel
For $8 more than that ($115) you can get the full size Doug Ritter Benchmade Griptillian:
one of my daily carries is more or less the same as above, just with a combo edge (serrations) and a black coating:
If not carrying that, I carry my regular Benchmade Griptillian (154CM steel), or my Buck Rush assisted-opening knife which I'm not even sure what steel it is, but I doubt it's super high-grade. I usually also carry a small knife too which is either a Leatherman Micra, Gerber mini-something-or-other, or swiss-army knife.
S30V steel
For $8 more than that ($115) you can get the full size Doug Ritter Benchmade Griptillian:
one of my daily carries is more or less the same as above, just with a combo edge (serrations) and a black coating:
If not carrying that, I carry my regular Benchmade Griptillian (154CM steel), or my Buck Rush assisted-opening knife which I'm not even sure what steel it is, but I doubt it's super high-grade. I usually also carry a small knife too which is either a Leatherman Micra, Gerber mini-something-or-other, or swiss-army knife.
oregonshooter
Member
154CM is S30V
I've been packing the larger Ritter Griptillian for over a year. Awesome folder.
I've been packing the larger Ritter Griptillian for over a year. Awesome folder.
oregonshooter - say whaaaa?
154CM and S30V are not the same. Similar perhaps, but not the same.
Take a look here for the difference:
http://spyderco.com/edge-u-cation/steelchart.html
both are listed on that chart.
If I recall correctly, 154CM was originally designed for aircraft engine turbines whereas S30v was designed specifically for knives. S30v in my opinion is better than 154CM, but I like both.
154CM and S30V are not the same. Similar perhaps, but not the same.
Take a look here for the difference:
http://spyderco.com/edge-u-cation/steelchart.html
both are listed on that chart.
If I recall correctly, 154CM was originally designed for aircraft engine turbines whereas S30v was designed specifically for knives. S30v in my opinion is better than 154CM, but I like both.
coelacanth
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Those Ritter designs are excellent knives. . . . .
I know Doug and a lot of experience went into those designs and from the samples I've handled the execution is nearly flawless. The KaBars are decent little blades but probably not suited for prolonged heavy use. D2 is an excellent choice but a bit less rust and stain resistant than the S30V if that is a consideration for you. Good luck - let us know how it turns out for you.
I know Doug and a lot of experience went into those designs and from the samples I've handled the execution is nearly flawless. The KaBars are decent little blades but probably not suited for prolonged heavy use. D2 is an excellent choice but a bit less rust and stain resistant than the S30V if that is a consideration for you. Good luck - let us know how it turns out for you.
kd7nqb
Member
my daily knife is a S&W Extreme Ops. I have it in 2 different variations. I love them both. They are inexpensive but I love them, they hold an edge nice and deal with most materials just fine. I have looked at the benchmade auto's that I like a lot too and cost me way more but I cant carry it at work so I have resorted to using the S&W's for both on and off-duty carry.
Both knives for retail under $30, but handle like 100+ knives.
Both knives for retail under $30, but handle like 100+ knives.
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mister_wilburn
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Daily EDC is Benchmade 9050 auto. 154CM and sharp as a razor. Its a really good knife that go nowhere without.
[email protected]
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"154CM is S30V
I've been packing the larger Ritter Griptillian for over a year. Awesome folder."
You don't know what you are talking about.
Check out the Benchmade 960. It is a little more than $100 I think but it is D-2 and it is not too large. I had one and I wish I had kept it instead of trading it.
I've been packing the larger Ritter Griptillian for over a year. Awesome folder."
You don't know what you are talking about.
Check out the Benchmade 960. It is a little more than $100 I think but it is D-2 and it is not too large. I had one and I wish I had kept it instead of trading it.
koja48
member
I favor a Benchmade Osborne . . . light, thin, and a "you don't even know it's there" carry.
12GA00buck
Member
I bought a gerber gator for $50 a few years back, its been in my pocket ever since. 3.5 in blade, half serrated, 154cm steel, decent knife for the price. The new "gator 2's" are made with cheap 420, so be warned.
Chris Rhines
Member
I have several of those Doug Ritter Griptillians. Very good knife.
- Chris
- Chris
poor_richard
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Benchmade used to make a Griptillian in D2 (I think it was a Cabela’s exclusive). There are also the Ka-Bar Doziers that have already been mentioned. There aren’t a lot of folders being made in D2 (I think the reason is that it’s difficult to properly heat treat. Dozier is known as the expert in heat treating D2).
There is a lot of other variables that go into the performance of a knife blade other that the blade steel. Heat treat, edge geometry, and blade grind are all contributing factors. Buck’s 420HC (normally used on the 110, unless you custom order it) is a great example. It’s got very good edge retention. Another great example is the Boker Plus Subcom Folder (the original 420 SS version). The blade steel was 420, but it performed as well or better than some of the premium steel. People who actually tried that blade (including myself (were pleasantly surprised by it’s performance).
There are a lot of good, premium steels out there. 154CM, S30V, ATS-34, ATS-55, VG-10, ZDP-189. All are good. While I do own 154CM, S30V, and VG-10, I’ve only used VG-10. I like VG-10 because it’s easy to sharpen, yet is excellent at holding an edge. This has been with VG-10 knives from two different companies (although that doesn’t mean it’s a different manufacture).
I’ve heard a lot of people say that S30V is hard to sharpen. I’ve also heard people of the Queen subforum over at knifeforums say that D2 is hard to sharpen (think diamond hones). I haven’t tried S30V, so can’t speak on that. However, I have sharpened my Queen, and it is tough.
Can't go wrong with a Spyderco or Benchmade, although Spyderco's are a little less $$$.
There is a lot of other variables that go into the performance of a knife blade other that the blade steel. Heat treat, edge geometry, and blade grind are all contributing factors. Buck’s 420HC (normally used on the 110, unless you custom order it) is a great example. It’s got very good edge retention. Another great example is the Boker Plus Subcom Folder (the original 420 SS version). The blade steel was 420, but it performed as well or better than some of the premium steel. People who actually tried that blade (including myself (were pleasantly surprised by it’s performance).
There are a lot of good, premium steels out there. 154CM, S30V, ATS-34, ATS-55, VG-10, ZDP-189. All are good. While I do own 154CM, S30V, and VG-10, I’ve only used VG-10. I like VG-10 because it’s easy to sharpen, yet is excellent at holding an edge. This has been with VG-10 knives from two different companies (although that doesn’t mean it’s a different manufacture).
I’ve heard a lot of people say that S30V is hard to sharpen. I’ve also heard people of the Queen subforum over at knifeforums say that D2 is hard to sharpen (think diamond hones). I haven’t tried S30V, so can’t speak on that. However, I have sharpened my Queen, and it is tough.
Can't go wrong with a Spyderco or Benchmade, although Spyderco's are a little less $$$.
As numerous others have noted, this is not true. 154CM is the same chemical composition as ATS-34, however. One is Hitachi, the other is American. CPM markets its own version, CPM-154, which supposedly gives 154CM the benefits of powder metallurgy, but I don't know if there are other tweaks.
islandphish
Member
I've been carrying a Benchmade mini-Griptilian in D2 for several years now. I did buy it at Cabelas and it was about eighty bucks. This one has a post opening system instead of the hole. I would rather have the hole but it wasn't available at the time. She gets really sharp and stays that way longer than any other knife I have owned, but it does take a diamond stone for me to get it that way as I am not an expert sharpener.
This has been a great knife. I'm not nice to it but I don't abuse it either. I have cut wire and stuff like that. The blade has never had any major nicks that didn't come out on sharpening. I have also used it to field dress several deer but I did cheat and hatchet the pelvis. I'm not too into cutting out around the rear. The blade is still in fine shape although the black is wearing off quite a bit.
I recommend that knife.
This has been a great knife. I'm not nice to it but I don't abuse it either. I have cut wire and stuff like that. The blade has never had any major nicks that didn't come out on sharpening. I have also used it to field dress several deer but I did cheat and hatchet the pelvis. I'm not too into cutting out around the rear. The blade is still in fine shape although the black is wearing off quite a bit.
I recommend that knife.
I have several knives in premium stainless (154CM and S30V). I didn't see much difference in blades until I got these knives. The 154CM is a Gerber Emerson Alliance and the S30V is the Gerber automatic 06. Both are excellent knives but I think that the 06 is a bit better quality. The S30V did not seem too difficult to sharpen and the edge is noticeably sharper than my Browning knife which is AUS8. Now that I have seen what a premium steel is capable of, I'd really like to find something that is reasonable for daily use. Having used the S30V, it has become my favorite and I will not downgrade to a lesser steel no matter how similar it may be. I am considering D2 because I have read that it performs better than any "true stainless" and is nearly stainless itself. Father's day and my birthday are about a week off so I'm waiting to see if my wife and kids have been paying attention but if not, I'll probably be picking up the black Ka-Bar Dozier Thorn sometime in July. I'll let you all know what I think.
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