Knife for daily use

[Taavi[esT]]

Hello
I would like to purchase a knife for daily use. Carrying it a lot.
~150$
Any suggestions ?
Thanks

* Folder
* No traditional slipjoint. just blade would be great.
* Pocket clip would be useful / doesn't really matter, thumb stud i guess.
* I cant use blades over 3,35 inches in my country, but this only applies for spring- or gravity opening knives and knives which are sharpened on both sides.
* Don't know, which one is better ? I live in Estonia and climate here is pretty varied (gold, warm, snow, rain) .

I would use it (for self protection and) mainly on things that come along during the day. Like cutting meat or grafting boats out of wood when i' am bored. I also like dither around the woods in summer.
And i just love knives.

 

[Rupestris]

Fixed blade or folder?
Are you looking for a traditional slipjoint?
Modern "tactical" black, pocket clip, thunb stud or hole for opening?
Any laws in your area regarding blade length?
Corrosion resistant/stainless steel?

Just trying to get an idea of what you might be looking for.

 

[Taavi[esT]]

Thanks for your replay.
* Folder
* No traditional slipjoint. just blade would be great.
* Pocket clip would be useful / doesn't really matter, thumb stud i guess.
* I cant use blades over 3,35 inches in my country, but this only applies for spring- or gravity (whatever it means[?]) opening knives and knives which are sharpened on both sides.
* Don't know, which one is better ? I live in Estonia and climate here is pretty varied (gold, warm, snow, rain) .

I consider something like this: http://workingperson.com/products/8...:_Nitrous_Plain_Edge_Folding_Knife_913D2.html / A bit expensive. But is it gravity opening (don't know what it means, don't understand the law on this point) ?
Of course i would like to hear some other thoughts and opinions why and what.

 

[bikerdoc]

Since you like the benchmade, and found the site try looking at the pika
also go the Spyderco site and look

 

[conw]

If I were you I'd get a couple of knives for $150. One of the heavy-duty, solid spydercos for rough use, and a smaller, less "scary" and more friendly-looking smaller folder like a Case, Old Timer, or even an offering from Kershaw or one of Spyderco's smaller knives.

What is your primary purpose? Most people here carry a knife as a "last ditch" defense (they don't want to use it unless they HAVE to, but it's there as a last resort), but also a "user knife" that may or may not be the same knife, that they use in the kitchen for food preparation, at the dinner table, cutting open boxes, etc...

Personally I strongly prefer a carbon steel blade for a "user" knife, although I just got a fixed-blade made from CPM 154 that is doing nicely so far. If you take care of your knife and aren't a seaman, carbon steel will be fine.

If you want this kinda thing, I'd recommend two different knives, plus perhaps a set of stones.

Amazon.com has a really cool set of Dia-sharp diamond Credit-card sized stones, all three (coarse, fine, extra-fine) for $20.

 

[alaskanativeson]

Benchmade Mini Griptilian is a great knife. I'd recommend the Doug Ritter Griptilian from Aeromedix since the only one I'm aware of that comes in S30V steel. I carry the black plain blade Mini Griptilian as my everyday carry knife. It has a 7.3 cm blade. The full size Griptilian has a 8.7 cm blade which may be longer than you can carry but the Mini is just as good a knife.

 

[conw]

http://www.amazon.com/BAREHEAD-SLIM...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B000KK98AI

Case slimline trapper, in Chrome Vanadium steel. A great "user." Easy to resharpen, friendly, hides in your pocket.

http://beatmyprice.com/event/new?product_id=218860802&search_id=4196966531&type=click

Credit card stones ^

http://www.amazon.com/Delica-Wave-G...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1229547720&sr=1-9

Your basic tactical folder, Spyderco Delica 4 w/ wave opening. The wave opening snags a catch on your clothing, opening the knife as you draw it (unless you prevent that). Made of VG-10 steel. If you want a bigger knife or one w/o a plastic handle, spend the remaining $30 of your $150 budget on a different folder.

 

[hso]

Taavi[esT],,

A gravity knife is one that opens only by gravity. You push a release and the blade falls into position. The old German paratrooper Fallschirmjäger-messer is a classic example of a gravity knife.

A switchblade or automatic is a blade that is released by a switch on the handle and the blade is driven into the locked open position by a spring. The classic Italian switchblade with the cross guard is what many people think of when the word "switchblade" is used.

An assisted opener is a knife with a spring assisted mechanism that drives the blade to the locked position after the user opens it manually part of the way. An assisted opener is not a switchblade because no release is on the handle.

There are many good options for knives. Please tell us what you would be using the knife for 75% of the time.

BTW, your English is very good.

 

[snow]

Benchmade Vex, is a solid performer for an everyday working knife.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10750

 

[TimboKhan]

I carry a Benchmade Griptilian and couldn't be happier.

As a general rule, I am more of a Spyderco fan, though. The Native is a fine knife that can found for under $50, and the Endura and the Delica are solid, proven designs. You could also find a Spyderco Military for under 150.

I won't say I won't purchase from other companies, but as far as production folders go, Spyderco and Benchmade more or less have my business. More and more often, Boker is becoming my third choice though...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

This one (little):

http://www.thebladeshop.com/Kershaw_K_O_Leek_G_10_Handle_K1660G10_p/k1660g10.htm

Or maybe this one (big):

http://www.thebladeshop.com/Kershaw_K_O_Spec_Bump_K1596_p/k1596.htm

 

[Taavi[esT]]

Answer for a previous question: I would use it for self protection and mainly on things that come along during the day. Like cutting meat or grafting boats out of wood when i' am bored. I also like dither around the woods in summer.
And i just love knives.

(Btw. Is benchmade liner-lock trustworthy ?)

 

[CWL]

Greetings Taavi[est]!

Benchmade has a great reputation for high-quality and reliable knives. Very popular among US military as dependable knives to carry in the field (not really for combat though). They're good-looking too.

I would recommend that you get one with an axis lock. Strong and reliable, also very fast to deploy with one hand.

 

[22lr]

I've got a nice Kershaw, ken onion, ive gutted deer with it, have carried it every day for the past 2 years, and it still hold a razor edge (I can actually shave with it). The assisted opening is nice to.

 

[hso]

Taavi[esT],

Consensus here is that if you intend to use the knife as an every day carry you're best choice is to focus on the tool characteristics instead of the weapon one. While not incompatible, the specific characteristics of a knife as a weapon are pretty narrow compared to the knife as a general utility tool.

A strong lock is important in either role. A point that is somewhat in-line with the long axis of the body of the knife is useful for either role (unless you're skinning game or a practitioner of some martial arts). Non-slip grips, without being abrasive, are important as well. After that, it is mostly a question of what you like and what is comfortable in your hand. The Stryker is a fine knife, but since Benchmade has the Axis lock, as does SOG, I'd go with one of those.

I EDC a Sebenza, but there are plenty of other excellent knives out there.

 

[cbm1948]

Benchmade 551

Sog Flash II

I have them both and like them equally.

 

[salthouse]

At the risk of taking a lot of heat for recommending a leatherman, here is what I carry http://www.all-leatherman-tools-4-less.com/detail-LM_Knife_304-305.html .
A lot less than $150, probably not exactly what you are looking for, but it is a damn good product.

 

[kymarkh]

Kershaw 1600BR for the office and Kershaw 1620 for everywhere else.

 

[Taavi[esT]]

What's the difference between benchmade 551 and Ritters version when talking about blade capability ?

I really appreciate your advice, thank you for that.

 

[CWL]

Hey again Taavi[esT],

My friend's father is Aleksander Einseln, I was wondering how his reputation is standing-up within Estonia.

 

[WardenWolf]

There are many knives to choose from. My only recommendation would be to find one with a lock that will prevent the blade from closing once opened. A locking blade can be used in many ways that a normal folder cannot.

 

[franconialocal]

Spyderco...and only Spyderco

Title says it all my friend.

 

[brooks]

Taavi;

Check out the K BAR TDI knife--designed by a police defense trainer.

http://www.knivesplus.com/ka-bar-knife-tdi.html

Designed as a fast draw defense knife with short blade. About $40 here.

He has a video that I can't find now but it is pretty convincing that the folder is near useless compared to his knife in an emergency.

 

[Zeke/PA]

My daily carries vary from the case Sodbuster to the Trapper.
Lately though I've been carrying a No.10 Opinel in a flashlight holder.
It's a good sturdy knife easily maintained with a cardboard strop and of course the price is right at under 10 bucks.
Zeke

 

[conw]

Personally I find locks really over rated for most cutting tasks that I use my EDC user for...here are a few in no particular order:

Cutting apples to eat in class
Peeling/quartering oranges
Cutting hangnails
Cutting callouses
Cutting string off clothing
Cutting vines/weeds in the garden
Peeling labels, bumper stickers, whatever
Slicing raw meat in food prep
Slicing cooked meat at dinner
Opening packaging on food
Cutting tags off clothing

There are a lot more, and some may be *slightly* more glamorous, but let's be honest...do I need a tactical folder with a 300lb tested lock and a diamond grit encrusted handle? No. I don't need that at all.

If you enjoy a top of the line tactical knife, fine, but if you're anything like me you won't be using your knife for true hard-use stuff daily.

I can also see the need to compromise and get a folder for self-defense, but I wouldn't recommend it being the same folder for a couple of reasons:
1) You can keep the SD folder concealed and have a non-threatening "user" knife out in public
2) You can keep your SD folder sharper
3) If you lose one of the knives it'll probably be the humbler user-knife, and you won't have to spend $150 and effort getting another expensive knife - just another $10-30 on another humble one.