Knife Recommendations
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Bill DeShivs
New member
Spydercos are good knives, too. The owner is a fine gentleman.
Bill
Bill
Mannlicher
New member
Invicta, ++ on the CRKT M-16. I have been carrying one for about 6 months now. I love it. It is the fastest opening knife I have seen that was not an automatic.
How long have you guys had your CRKT M-16 folders? After about 6 months of everyday use(from scraping gaskets to wire loom cutting), the bevel on the blade(where it contacts the side-lock) wore bad enough to cause the cross-locking tab to fail and slice my thumb to the bone. Other than that, it was an excellent little knife. Easy to open, good edge, and looked pretty darn cool. I didn't like how it was a lint trap though. I also don't like how I have a permanent outline, complete with circles, of it on my upper thigh from a motorcycle accident.
Ever since I lost my prized Benchmade in a car fire, I can't bring myself to spending more than a hundred on a utility knife. I can appreciate good quality knives, and own a few, but would feel bad subjecting them to the things I use them for. I've had Cold Steel 4 1/2" Voyager tanto blade now for about a year and love it. Great size and has done a good job at holding an edge. I think it was discontinued in favor of the GunSight line, but they look the same.
Ever since I lost my prized Benchmade in a car fire, I can't bring myself to spending more than a hundred on a utility knife. I can appreciate good quality knives, and own a few, but would feel bad subjecting them to the things I use them for. I've had Cold Steel 4 1/2" Voyager tanto blade now for about a year and love it. Great size and has done a good job at holding an edge. I think it was discontinued in favor of the GunSight line, but they look the same.
Hardly. I presented my opinion and was given a smart-ass comment in return. I then did the same, where's the harm in that? Just because my post was backed by facts instead of opinion, that makes me a neophyte? If you say so...
The knife I carry is a $40 knife. I was simply trying to show how much more value you can get out of Spyderco than Kershaw, SOG or CRKT. The knives that were recommended were the same price range, and are not as good. Those are simple facts. Would you buy a Hi-Point firearm if it were priced the same as a comparable Colt, S&W, etc? The same applies here.
Yes, very much so. I would rather sharpen VG10 then AUS8, 440C, etc (the 'softer' steels).
While they are softer and easier to form, they usually have imperfections or are so soft that the edge will roll no matter how many times you make a light pass.
I use the Spyderco Sharpmaker and just touched up my Delica last night. It had a burr on it that you could easily feel with a thumbnail from me abusing it. 10 minutes later it was back to new in box sharp (and if you've ever held a NIB Spyderco, you know they are SHARP!)
Bill DeShivs
New member
I guess it's all a matter of opinion. Spydercos are certainly fine knives. I don't like the way they look. As far as blade steels, AUS8 is a very good knife steel, as is 440 (real 440, not the Chinese knives marked 440). I know this from working with the particular steels. There is a new super-steel in the knife business every 2-3 months. Some are very good, especially for a particular purpose. I have found none appreciably better than 1095 or 01 at edge-retention.
The original poster asked about a knife similar to his lost assisted-opener. The SOG fit the bill rather well, so I recommended it. I didn't recommend it because I carry one. I carry one because I think they are great little knives. Could I make a better one? You damn betcha, but when these are available so cheaply, why bother? They stay sharp and are easy to sharpen when they get dull. They work well and are durable. The Spyderco does all these things, too.
The original poster asked about a knife similar to his lost assisted-opener. The SOG fit the bill rather well, so I recommended it. I didn't recommend it because I carry one. I carry one because I think they are great little knives. Could I make a better one? You damn betcha, but when these are available so cheaply, why bother? They stay sharp and are easy to sharpen when they get dull. They work well and are durable. The Spyderco does all these things, too.
CobrayCommando
Moderator
Bill, 52100, properly heat treated (though that very important caveat applies to every knife made of steel), has excellent edge retention as well as "toughness". Busse Knives are made of a modified (main modification is nitrogenation) version of it.
The current knife I carry is a sog flash II with the aluminum handle and half serrated blade. I love it. I have carried benchmade and spydeco knives. They are good knives as well, but there is something about the way the flash feels in my hand. I really love it, and I rarely carry anything else these days.
SOG and Spyderco
I have both SOG and Spyderco knives. Put them through the ringer and they are all great knives and more. I don't intend to purchase another knife for some time. And I like knives!
SOG:
SEAL Pup Elite (Black TiNi)
Spyderco:
Pacific Salt FRN
Raven, Byrd variety
I have both SOG and Spyderco knives. Put them through the ringer and they are all great knives and more. I don't intend to purchase another knife for some time. And I like knives!
SOG:
SEAL Pup Elite (Black TiNi)
Spyderco:
Pacific Salt FRN
Raven, Byrd variety
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Assisted Openers
Kershaw Leek
Kershaw Avalanche
Kershaw Boa
Kershaw Bump
SOG Flash
CRKT Voodoo
CRKT Wild Weasal
My everday carry is a Kershaw/Onion Leek with G10 scales & S30V blade; it's about $70 new and is not inferior to Spydercos, but rather uses superior steel. So you can't make a blanket statement like that anymore (although Spydercos are very good). Those two CRKTs use CPM 154, which is also an excellent premium steel. They are American-made, too.
There are a few other spring-assist openers, too. Beyond spring-assist, knives that have flippers can be opened very easily, such as the CRKT M16s, M21s, and Desert Cruiser.
Kershaw Leek
Kershaw Avalanche
Kershaw Boa
Kershaw Bump
SOG Flash
CRKT Voodoo
CRKT Wild Weasal
My everday carry is a Kershaw/Onion Leek with G10 scales & S30V blade; it's about $70 new and is not inferior to Spydercos, but rather uses superior steel. So you can't make a blanket statement like that anymore (although Spydercos are very good). Those two CRKTs use CPM 154, which is also an excellent premium steel. They are American-made, too.
There are a few other spring-assist openers, too. Beyond spring-assist, knives that have flippers can be opened very easily, such as the CRKT M16s, M21s, and Desert Cruiser.
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Ok, that's it. Time to re-evaluate when you post a second time in a thread without realizing you've alredy posted. I need time away from the 'net. 
I will backtrack a bit and say that Spydercos do indeed open easily, even though not AO. So I guess they are relevant, since the discussion is "easy open", not just "AO". Another little knife I have which flies open like it's an AO, but it's not, is the Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Mini-covert folder.
Also, good point on the Native Spyderco - I didn't realize they were using S30V, and that's a much better price - if AO is not a must-have, then that's a great choice.
In any event, here's another link the s30v leek at a good price:
http://www.savsonswordsandknives.com/kelewg.html
$68 plus shipping there...
I will backtrack a bit and say that Spydercos do indeed open easily, even though not AO. So I guess they are relevant, since the discussion is "easy open", not just "AO". Another little knife I have which flies open like it's an AO, but it's not, is the Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Mini-covert folder.
Also, good point on the Native Spyderco - I didn't realize they were using S30V, and that's a much better price - if AO is not a must-have, then that's a great choice.
In any event, here's another link the s30v leek at a good price:
http://www.savsonswordsandknives.com/kelewg.html
$68 plus shipping there...
Of the 80ish pocket knives I have, the Colombia river M16 is and will probably remain my every-day/everywhere carry. I own three different variations for different purposes but I love them all. nice weight, holds an edge well, good balance, opens one handed without springs or assists (very important to me when im 50 feet in the air trying to cut cable). At least give them a look, I can't say enough good things about them.
http://www.crkt.com/m16alumn.html
http://www.crkt.com/m16alumn.html
Spyderco.
Another vote for Spyderco.
They are competitive with others (per price and qaulity).
Some people find them a little light/dainty/slim-ish, but I prefer those characteristics in a carry knife. Especially the slim and light parts.
Most Spyderco models have a handy hole in the blade top to push them open easily, and a liner lock for one hand closing. Their blades are, as I said, a bit slim, but tough and hold an edge really well.
I carry a Spyderco at home almost every day. Here (Baghdad) I carry the Columbia River M16 Desert folder and a full size Gerber Fairbairn-Applegate (not the newer mini-version). Both are great, tough knives, but they are a bit fat and heavy to carry well when you're trying to be discreet in the office or Wal-Mart.
Another vote for Spyderco.
They are competitive with others (per price and qaulity).
Some people find them a little light/dainty/slim-ish, but I prefer those characteristics in a carry knife. Especially the slim and light parts.
Most Spyderco models have a handy hole in the blade top to push them open easily, and a liner lock for one hand closing. Their blades are, as I said, a bit slim, but tough and hold an edge really well.
I carry a Spyderco at home almost every day. Here (Baghdad) I carry the Columbia River M16 Desert folder and a full size Gerber Fairbairn-Applegate (not the newer mini-version). Both are great, tough knives, but they are a bit fat and heavy to carry well when you're trying to be discreet in the office or Wal-Mart.
For everyday carry in my front pocket A mid sized stock-man 4 inches or a there abouts, of a good steel is what I have preferred for many years.
I will sharpen the three blades a little different.
The largest is done with a steeper angle that will hold a edge better if a little abused and use it for rougher chores.
The smaller two blades I hone a fine edge on and only use where a very sharp blade is needed.
This way I have one knife that I can do many different things with and always have blades razor sharp.
I will sharpen the three blades a little different.
The largest is done with a steeper angle that will hold a edge better if a little abused and use it for rougher chores.
The smaller two blades I hone a fine edge on and only use where a very sharp blade is needed.
This way I have one knife that I can do many different things with and always have blades razor sharp.
I just got a big order in from Savsonswordsandknives for Christmas gifts, and HAD to open one of the boxes. I opened the Leek just to see the rainbow ti-oxide coating(hey, I got it for my 18 year old future sister-in-law), and it is a sweet little knife. The Ti coating really looks cool, and the assisted opening is buttery smooth. I'm seriously thinking about ordering a couple more Onions. I want to extend a thanks to Playboy for helpping me spend the better part of $500 on that site.