Help me find that "one perfect knife"

[skeeter1]

I've got quite a few knives, but none of them are exactly what I'm looking for. Several are inexpensive folders with 420 S/S that doesn't hold an edge for very long. One is an old Gerber that holds an edge forever, but its brass bolsters are so heavy as to rule out pocket carry.

Here's basically what I'm looking for: A 3-4" folder with a locking blade. Any advice as to lock-back or liner-locking? 440C-grade S/S (or better) that holds an edge well. Is there any advantage to a blade coating like titanium or teflon? Light enough for pocket carry, and a S/S belt or pocket clip is a must. Is a 1/2 serrated blade preferable over a plain blade? Clip point is preferable (I don't care for tanto points). No plastic handle material, and probably not wood either. That leaves aluminum or titanium. Should be <$100, which probably rules out custom knives, not that there aren't fine factory knives out there. I'm leaning toward some of the bigger brands, like S&W, Case, Buck, Benchmade, Gerber, etc.

So, is there any hope of me finding that "perfect one?" Any and all suggestions are certainly welcome. Thank you.

 

[12GA00buck]

Here is my input:

1. Blade coatings are especially useful on carbon steel where rust is a bigger concern. Their fine on stainless, although I prefer the look of plain steel.
2. 440HC and AUS-8 are quality stainless steels that I’d carry any day. 154cm, ATS-34, ATS-55 and VG-10 have the potential to be a bit harder, and thus hold an edge longer; conversely they will take longer to sharpen. The biggest issue is whether the heat treatment was done properly.
3. Serrated edges require a triangle shaped, or round stone to sharpen. Serrated edges are very aggressive; they excel at cutting thick fibrous material. For more precise cuts, a plain edge has the advantage. I switch back and fourth and have haven’t been able to come to terms with what I like best. A plain edge sharpened with a very course stone will act similar to a serrated edge.
4. Clip points are great for scalpel like cuts, however, the lack of metal behind the tip makes them prone to breaking. I prefer a drop point hunting blade for general work and skinning, and a small clip point for precise cuts. Tanto points are useless in my opinion. A clip point would also be preferable over a drop point for fighting.
5. If you don’t want plastics, I’d choose steel or titanium for the handle. Aluminum’s fine too I just don’t like it. Regardless of what you choose, get something heavily textured so you wont loose it when it gets wet from rain, blood etc.
6. S&W makes some of the worst knives I’ve ever seen. Benchmade or Spyderco would be my top choice. Case and buck are both make quality knives. I have an old gerber with 154cm steel, which holds an excellent edge. The newer gerber’s appear to have terrible steel and quality control. A hatchet I bought came with a folded edge right from the factory, and the two knifes must have been made with the cheapest Chinese “surgical steel” they could find. I will not due any more business with gerber.
7. I’d look for something that fits you right, is made of the above mentioned steels, anywhere around 58-60 Rc should be just right. A nice spyderco or benchmade should fall under $100.

 

[rugerfreak]

Benchmade:
Griptilian
520
525
710

Spyderco:
Endura
Delica

Look at all those and see what fits you and your budget the best.

Don't waste your time with anything else.

If you think you can deal with something a little bigger/heavier----the Buck 110 at Walmart for $26 is a steal.

 

[hso]

The fact of the matter is that there is no "perfect" knife. Not in folders and not in fixed blades.

Blade shapes are not limited to clip points and "tanto" points any longer. Wharncliffes, spear points, drop points and others abound today. Locks aren't limited to liner or back lock. There are lots of innovative systems out. Nail nicks, thumb studs, saucers, hooks, holes and fins all are available to help get the blade out and open. Handle materials range from wood and plastic (which you don't want) to glass composites, carbon fiber composites, Ti, Al, steel and then the use of decorative exotic natural materials like the familiar bone to the less familiar damascus and mammoth ivory. Then there's the huge variety of steels. 440C still gets the job done, but you can pick from HC in the 400 series to CPM steels to, well, you name it.

We know you want light weight with a pocket clip. We know you don't want a "tanto" tip or plastic or wood scales. Let's find out what you will be doing with the knife day to day first before suggesting a bunch of knives and tell us what your favorite knife up to now has been.

 

[Baba Louie]

Ahhhh. The quest for the "one perfect knife" has left me with a footlocker chock full.

Having purchased a Benchmade "mini Grip" years ago, I thought I had "FOUND THE ONE!" Until my son decided he HAD TO HAVE THAT KNIFE. So I gifted it to him. I now carry a Benchmade Osborne 940 Axis. Pretty good knife. A bit long for local legal ordinances which allow 3" (know your local laws) and costs a bit more than your $100 set limit.

Having said that, you'll find, if I empty my pockets, a Spyderco Cricket (SS) used as a moneyclip and a Wenger SAK Soldier 100 Jahre attached via bail to my keys. Somewhere in my briefcase or Man-purse (messenger bag) lies a Leatherman Wave (which could be unto itself, the one perfect knife, if need be).

One perfect knife indeed. They are all perfect for something or someone. Even cheap knives need a good home.

You know what I find amazing... is that I've given several knives to my fellow coworkers over the years and yet, to this day (or yesterday, case in point) whenever someone at the office needs something cut, they come borrow one of mine... because no one there has a knife with them!!! Sad. Fingernail clippers too. Hmmm.

 

[Ghost Walker]

CRKT #6783. Perfect! I've carried this blade with me, everyday, for the past 10 years. None better for under $100.00; and, it's got a double lock on the blade. If I should ever wear it out or lose it, first thing I'll do is buy another.

CRKT Crawford/Kasper

 

[GunTech]

Have one made that fits you specifications.

 

[raginrednek]

spyderco

try a spyderco native, all metal or with Frn handles, i have both, great knives.

 

[skeeter1]

Thanks. You guys have helped me more than you realize. I've now ruled out S&W, which was near the top of my list. Same goes for Gerber. The one I have I got from my dad 30-40 years ago, and as good as it is, it's too heavy for everyday carry and the brass bolsters and wood inlays are a pain to take care of. Same goes for serrated blades -- out. Great for opening cardboard boxes, but a rough sharpening with my Chef's Choice diamond sharpener ahd skipping the honing step will probably work well enough, and it's a lot easier to sharpen plain blades.

My everyday carry knife right now is a 3" folder that I got free as a promotional gift. It's junk quality, but fairly useful for non-defensive uses, and could be pressed into defensive service if that should happen.

I have a first-generation Leatherman multi-tool that I carried to work for years, and it is indeed handy. People came to think of me as "that guy with the little tool kit on his belt." Too bad it's so cumbersome to get the blade out if you need it.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. You've already steered me away from what I think could have been a bad couple of choices.

 

[scubie02]

you know, with all the "wonder steels" out there these days, I still haven't found anything better than Case's old chrome vanadium (which sadly they have all but abandoned in favor of their crappy "trusharp" stainless--Csse these days is a poser collectors company, and has few "serious" knives, alas) or Cold Steel's carbon v, which was probably basically a copy of Case's chrome vanadium. They held an edge like crazy, but were still easy to resharpen. I have yet to find a new wunder steel that holds an edge as well--some are close, but the ones that are tend to be a royal PIA to sharpen, and many of the steels that seem in vogue these days can be brittle and chip easily too.

I'm not really sure what the perfect knife is these days. A Buck 110 is still a damned nice knife for the money and a great hunting knife, but they don't have a pocket clip or thumb stud and are heavy. The new 55 makes a nice small pocket knife IMO if your work doesn't want you carrying a knife and a pocket clip is out. I have a couple of benchmade mini-griptilians, and they are close. But I have one with the D2 blade and it chips very easily, and the one with 154 isn't really anything to write home about either. Ergonomics are great though and I really like the axis lock. I won't touch the liner locks that are so popular these days--have one close on you once and about take a finger off and you won't trust them anymore either. The Axis lock or a regular lockback is the way to go as far as I'm concerned.

I've been buying knives for years trying to find that perfect one, and I'm still looking. Oh, the Syderco natives aren't a bad price at walmart and they are ok, definitely don't pay more than walmart prices for one. They do come with what is considered decent steel now but are a pain to sharpen comparatively, you generally have to ask to see several to find one that locks up absolutely tight, and the pocket clip sticks out a bit too much and snags things as I recall (didn't have mine long). May have been sharpish too if it's the one I'm thinking of.

Honestly, I may end up having to make my own knives or something to get the perfect one! haha

Oh, the Fallkniven U2 doesn't seem bad for a daily carry fold for a smaller pocket knife, though it's a bit thick and the blade shape isn't ideal. I haven't had to sharpen mine but I'm guessing a diamond/ceramic stone is going to be necessary though.

 

[Ghost Walker]

What's all this about blade serrations being tough to sharpen? This is, now, the third or fourth time I've read that on this forum. The serrated part of the blade is the part I use most often for cutting: string, rope, and paper.

I don't have any trouble sharpening serrations - never had! Takes me less than a minute to do a small folding blade with one of these:

Smith Reversible Rod - (Gander Mountain, Cabela's, etc.)



With a little practice, serrations are easier to sharpen than a straight edge. Shouldn't be an issue!

 

[GunTech]

IMO, serrations are for people who don't know how to properly sharpen a knife.

 

[hrgrisso]

Kershaw

Vapor II in my pocket. Sharp, strong lock easy to clean and oil. Can't go wrong with it, especially since with your 100dollar limit you can buy three!

 

[skeeter1]

I went Benchmade!

Thanks, gents. By way of your expertise and a couple of hours on the websites, I've went and ordered a Benchmade. It's just one of the "red" (Asian-made) series, but at ~$50 and with just about everything I was after (I'll reserve judgement on the "glass-filled" G10 grips), I decided to take a chance on it. The plain blade is made of "8Cr14MoV Stainless Steel", whatever the heck that is. The high-end Benchmades are wonderful, but I can't justify $200 for one right now. Besides, this has to be an improvement over what I have now.

The Case, Buck, and Gerber offerings seemed too much "old school", much like my Gerber, Solingen, and others -- heavy bolsters and many without blade locks. The Spydercos were just a little much "new school" for me.

So, I went with the one that tickled my fancy the most, and that is Benchmade. If this one is any good at all, I'm sure I'll be buying one of those more expensive models maybe a year down the road.

Thanks again!!!

--skeeter

 

[hso]

8Cr14MoV is the Chinese "equivalent" to AUS 6 which was the Japanese "equivalent" to 440C (kinda).

 

[12GA00buck]

I don’t mean to split hairs, but according to benchmade’s web site, 8Cr14MoV is closer to aus-8 than aus-6. Looking at the composition charts, aus-8 is closer to 440C, rather than AUS-6.

Anyhow, I’d say you made a good choice going with the benchmade.

 

[hso]

IMO, serrations are for people who don't know how to properly sharpen a knife.

Many people also hold the same incorrect opinion.

Just as sharpening to a "toothy" as opposed to polished "razor sharp" edge allows a blade to cut "better" on some materials, a serrated edge works better when you're dealing with some fibrous and many synthetic materials and you don't need a smooth edge to the cut. Check out many of the cutting tests in Blade Magazine and on Cliff Stamp's website.



Thanks 12GA00buck. That's great information.

 

[skeeter1]

I got the Benchmade today...

To say that I'm impressed with it is an understatement. Although it may be one of their Taiwanese-made line, the quality is superb. The titanium-coated plain blade is just the right size and shape, it has a liner lock and the pocket clip I wanted, and I take back what I said about plastic grips. These fiber-glass laminated plastic grips look like they'll outlast me. Best of all, at $50, it was 1/2 of what I had budgetted. This is the perfect knife to put in my pocket every day. Well, at least until I have about $200 burning a hole in that pocket for one of the more expensive Benchmade models!

Thanks, gentlemen, for recommending the Benchmade. It is exactly what I wanted. I owe each of you a beer.

--skeeter

 

[coelacanth]

uh oh . . . . .

We've seen this kind of thing before Next thing you know you'll have to empty out a dresser drawer so you can have room for all your "perfect" knives. Welcome to our addiction.

 

[12GA00buck]

Hso,

Just noticed the Hyperlink in your post. I must say that is the most informative well-constructed web sight on knives I’ve seen; I would go as far to say that the quality rivals many books on cutlery. The individual case study testing of each blade is unique; that link probably deserves a sticky somewhere. I will definitely use it as a reference for my next blade purchase.

Thanks for sharing,
Josh

Skeeter, Glad your happy with your benchmade; you made a great choice.

 

[hso]

There are plenty of folks in the knife community that don't like Cliff's tests, but even when he goes deeply into abuse of a knife he reveals it's strengths and weaknesses so we can learn how it will perform when we push past reasonable and into "Only if my life depended upon it".

 

[skeeter1]

Next thing you know you'll have to empty out a dresser drawer so you can have room for all your "perfect" knives. Welcome to our addiction.

Yes, I can envision that happening already. They're spread all around the house right now, and I'm running out of places to put them. I guess I don't really need to wear socks, now do I? Well, at least knives are cheaper than the firearms that I've filled the safe with.

Skeeter, Glad your happy with your benchmade; you made a great choice.

Thanks, I'm really happy with my choice. Now if I can just convince myself that it's not too nice to use!