Tactical Folder Suggestions..........

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SamG.

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I recently lost my Benchmade folder :banghead:, and I need to buy a new Tacticool Folder. I just bought a Gerber Gator skinner, but it's not easy to access. I was wondering if you guys could help me pick out a new knife. I would like to get something good, not real high dollar though ( like $80 bucks or less). I was thinking something like a another Benchmade, or a Cold Steel but I don't know.
Thanks
Sam
 
My most recent folder that I feel you might like for tactical purposes is the SOG Mini-Vulcan. Check it out. It is a fast strong knife (sharp too).
 
Sam G.,

That's too broad a question. What do you actually do with a knife? How do you carry it? What conditions will you use it in?
 
I have a CRKY M16-13Z. It has a tanto point and half-serrated, but you can get it with a different point if you want. It's very, very fast and sharp. And it's only like $40 now, IIRC.
 
I have a CRKY M16-13Z. It has a tanto point and half-serrated, but you can get it with a different point if you want. It's very, very fast and sharp. And it's only like $40 now, IIRC.
Click to expand...

I gotta say, everyone seems to love that M-16, but the one I bought at Wal-mart has left me fairly disappointed. It's not fast at all, and while using it tonight, I somehow managed to get the bar stuck, so now I can't close it. I have practiced and practiced with that darn flipper, and while it does haul the mail when I can get it to work, I can't get it to work on anything approaching a regular basis.

Still, that might just be my particular knife, or it may just be me. Like I say, a lot of people seem to really like it, and I wouldn't tell you to not try one out. I think at this point, I can safely say it just isn't the knife for me. That's OK, there are plenty of other choices.

My vote goes for a bunch of different Spydercos or a griptilian. The Native, which I plan on ordering tomorrow, is a good economical choice, and the Griptilians seem to be quite a knife.
 
Kershaw Blur.

I've never had the chance to play with a benchmade (believe me it's on my list) but I am a huge fan of AO knives and would be hard pressed to admit the axis lock is faster :)
 
Hope that answers your question.
Click to expand...

Almost.

What will you do with it as a Utility or EDC? What I may require of a knife I carry in the office is different from what I require of it around the property. So, what will you cut/pry/scrape/gouge/pierce with it?
 
Ok, I have a better idea now.

What do you do for a living? Office or Craft or Sales or Logistics?

What sort of outdoor activities do you do? Do you hunt or rock climb? Backpack or whitewater? Bank fish or canoe?

What sort of hobbies?

You far SE or up in my neck?
 
The Smith and Wesson HRT is essentially the same as the knife pictured two posts up. I've carried it for four years and love it.
 
With TimboKhan on the WalMart CRKT M16. This was the knife I really wanted to like, but just can't. Slow opening, IMHO the lock mechanism is a little much, handle is less than stable, even the thumbstuds are recessed to far to be of use. This was my test knife for the company, before I spent money on the Hissatsu. I'm less than impressed with CRKT.:mad:
 
CRKT is an awesome brand. I have 2 of the crkt m16s, walmart style, they are nto what you should judge crkt on, they were specifically made cheap, with aus 4 blade steel. I bought one, got one free with another knife from a site.

But.... my crkt m21, 3" blade, aluminum handle, never leaves my pocket, it's my secondary edc. has a better grind for light work. mainly used on food and light tasks, but if you leave the normal grind on it, this is a great everything knife. The aluminum handles make the flipper work like a dream, if you have some torx bits you can easily remove the lawks system, it's separate from the rest of the mechanism. I recomend an m21 highly. M16, maybe an aluminum handle one, but I like a knife that fits my hand. The small m16 doesn't.

Other crkts I own. K.I.S.S. Least scary knife you can own, money clip, with a blade. Rollock weirdest lock, fun to play with. Ringed Razel, the perfect pocket fixed blade. Ultima 5", it was cheap, and I love the handle.

If I edc 2 crkts, I think they are a good enough brand to earn my trust, just steer clear of the zytel m-series knives.
 
Let me mention here that YOU have to personally HANDLE the knife before purchasing. Your hand is nothing like mine. Your hand isn't exactly like anyone else's either. One of the places I love so much is Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Gatlinburg, TN. The last time I purchased a knife, I went there and ended up handling about 250 knives before purchasing a Smith and Wesson HRT.

One example: The friend who went with me has hands a good deal larger than mine. He ended up wanting a crosslock Applegate/Fairburn. It fit his hand perfectly. Unfortunately for me, the normal model is too large for my hand and the smaller one is just a bit too small for me. Make sure you pick a knife for yourself.
 
Tacticool and useful functionality don't always intersect at the $80 mark.

You're really asking for a strong reliable utility folder, so look for a flat ground drop point blade with G10 handles - the Benchmade Vex and Spyderco Tenacious can both be had for around $80 together. You might also consider the Buck/Strider folders, but only in ATS34 and G10 with plain drop point blades and handle screws. The Gerber Covert series, CRKT M16's, etc can do as well. The Gerber Hinderer is an interesting first responder knife.

Avoid the Mart knives, unidentified 420 stainless, fiberglass reinforced nylon molded grips, or stainless locking liners. There is no positively remarkable hard use knife made with all three, unless the Griptillian, and it's priced accordingly.
 
I'm gonna check out Sportsmans Warehouse this evening. I'm perdy sure they have a Cold Steel Recon 1. I'm also interested in another Benchmade, or Cold Steel Scimitar, but we'll see. Other suggestions would be great too. I'll keep you posted. By the way, Smokey Mountain Knife Works is awesome!
Sam
 
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