EDC knife for a young man-gift ideas

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https://www.buckknives.com/product/345-vantage-select-large-knife/0345FAM01/
My wife got me this Buck Vantage 345 several years ago. Its a good knife that has served well without being overly expensive ( I'm bad for losing and abusing pocket knives at work) . Its funny cuz if it had cost more I'd have lost it by now!
I think she paid closer to $35 at bass pro maybe 3-5 yrs ago.

Ordered from Buck it can also be engraved. That might be nice.

This post reminded me of my Buck Spitfire. Extremely sturdy and holds an edge well.

https://www.buckknives.com/knives/recreation/

It is a great knife, but if size and weight is an issue, perhaps a mini? And as mentioned, Buck will engrave them.

https://www.buckknives.com/product/726-mini-spitfire-knife/0726FAM01/

Lots of guys here suggesting a Leek. I have several, but as mentioned on another thread, I have personally broken several tips. The Leek is a beautiful, slim knife, but the tip is way too fragile for a kid who may end up playing "Stick It' or get into trying to throw it into a tree or something.

Kershaw has replaced every knife I sent them, so no issues with them, but I really don't see the Leek as a good model for the intended purpose.

My first real knife was a Buck 110, but it's big and bulky for a pocket.

This is the mini...it comes in several colors, and is a "Legacy" knife.
0726GYS-B.jpg
 
Picking a knife for someone else isn't easy. Heck, just thinking about a knife for me isn't easy.

I ruled out Benchmade due to price. I ruled out Leatherman due to weight and size. (I'd like him to have a pair of pliers on his knife, but that will make it a belt sheath carry knife.)

Thinking about how I use my SAK, I almost never use anything other than the main blade. Second-most, I use the phillips tip screw driver as a marlin spike to untie crazy knots. Sometimes I use the bottle opener as a lever/pry bar.

Given the way I use my knife, I'm really thinking about buying him either a single blade knife (Kershaw Leek or Buck 055) or some version of SAK just because I've carried a SAK pretty much my entire life.

I also like the SAK because it looks more like a tool than a weapon.
 
Leathernan Skeletool is lightweight and has a pocket clip. But I would lean toward a Spyderco Endura for a useful sized slicing blade.

If those are too expensive then I would seriously consider a Ganzo. Very good knives regardless of price.
 
A few suggestions here to purchase on Amazon. Unfortunately, they seem to have more than their share of counterfeits in many products.
I don't disagree with this, which is why I made sure I was buying from Spyderco through Amazon. I didn't want to risk getting a knock-off, and I feel pretty confident that Spyderco would be suing the pants off of another company using their name for an Amazon storefront. I sure would be.
 
I don't disagree with this, which is why I made sure I was buying from Spyderco through Amazon. I didn't want to risk getting a knock-off, and I feel pretty confident that Spyderco would be suing the pants off of another company using their name for an Amazon storefront. I sure would be.
If you click on knives within that linked "store", they'll show as being shipped from and sold by Amazon or others. Spyderco doesn't sell direct to consumer outside of their own website and physical store within the Golden, CO HQ. Spyderco sells at full MSRP, unless you're Mil/LE/First Responder/Veteran who's eligible to buy through their OpFocus discount program. They're not going to take business away from their retailers by selling At MAP on Amazon. I'm sure that they sell wholesale to Amazon, but they aren't operating a store front there.
 
Leathernan Skeletool is lightweight and has a pocket clip. But I would lean toward a Spyderco Endura for a useful sized slicing blade.

If those are too expensive then I would seriously consider a Ganzo. Very good knives regardless of price.

everything is subjective; I don't call 5 oz "light weight." (Even though my own knife is 8 oz.)
 
If you click on knives within that linked "store", they'll show as being shipped from and sold by Amazon or others. Spyderco doesn't sell direct to consumer outside of their own website and physical store within the Golden, CO HQ. Spyderco sells at full MSRP, unless you're Mil/LE/First Responder/Veteran who's eligible to buy through their OpFocus discount program. They're not going to take business away from their retailers by selling At MAP on Amazon. I'm sure that they sell wholesale to Amazon, but they aren't operating a store front there.
I stand corrected. I guess I took a larger risk than I had realized when I ordered. I've only ordered one Spyderco through Amazon and it looks like it came from the BladeHQ storefront. Still, it may be the last one I order through Amazon, given what I'm seeing in this thread.
 
This post reminded me of my Buck Spitfire. Extremely sturdy and holds an edge well.

https://www.buckknives.com/knives/recreation/

It is a great knife, but if size and weight is an issue, perhaps a mini? And as mentioned, Buck will engrave them.

https://www.buckknives.com/product/726-mini-spitfire-knife/0726FAM01/

Lots of guys here suggesting a Leek. I have several, but as mentioned on another thread, I have personally broken several tips. The Leek is a beautiful, slim knife, but the tip is way too fragile for a kid who may end up playing "Stick It' or get into trying to throw it into a tree or something.

Kershaw has replaced every knife I sent them, so no issues with them, but I really don't see the Leek as a good model for the intended purpose.

My first real knife was a Buck 110, but it's big and bulky for a pocket.

This is the mini...it comes in several colors, and is a "Legacy" knife.
View attachment 856367
My EDC is a Benchmade Leopard but the Buck Spitfire & Minispitfires look great. Just might pick up a couple one for me and another for my son. For $7 additional they can be engraved. I'm impressed.
 
My EDC is a Benchmade Leopard but the Buck Spitfire & Minispitfires look great. Just might pick up a couple one for me and another for my son. For $7 additional they can be engraved. I'm impressed.

Be advised, the larger Spitfire is a hefty knife. It’s all metal and not a lightweight. Great for hard work and wearing in jeans or durable clothing, but I won’t carry it at work in slacks or light khakis.
 
Given the way I use my knife, I'm really thinking about buying him either a single blade knife (Kershaw Leek or Buck 055) or some version of SAK just because I've carried a SAK pretty much my entire life.
Have you looked at the Kershaw Skyline as an alternative to the Leek? It's USA Made, G10 handles, liner lock, flipper, but not assisted, so it can also be opened manually with the thumb studs, and it only weighs 2.5 oz despite having a blade that's 3&1/8 inches long.
 
I'm against traditional non locking saks. They are just to prone to cutting fingers. Yes I know you can be safe, but it happens where I like the one handed trekkers because of the lock.

That said, for a knife that has more of a modern utility look into a spyderco lightweight manix 2, Buck vantage or sprint lines, kershaw bareknuckle or link, or a Benchmade griptilian.
 
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Picking a knife for someone else isn't easy. Heck, just thinking about a knife for me isn't easy.

I ruled out Benchmade due to price. I ruled out Leatherman due to weight and size. (I'd like him to have a pair of pliers on his knife, but that will make it a belt sheath carry knife.)

Thinking about how I use my SAK, I almost never use anything other than the main blade. Second-most, I use the phillips tip screw driver as a marlin spike to untie crazy knots. Sometimes I use the bottle opener as a lever/pry bar.

Given the way I use my knife, I'm really thinking about buying him either a single blade knife (Kershaw Leek or Buck 055) or some version of SAK just because I've carried a SAK pretty much my entire life.

I also like the SAK because it looks more like a tool than a weapon.

A bunch of leatherman models have pocket clips and are easy to carry.
 
I stand corrected. I guess I took a larger risk than I had realized when I ordered. I've only ordered one Spyderco through Amazon and it looks like it came from the BladeHQ storefront. Still, it may be the last one I order through Amazon, given what I'm seeing in this thread.
I would not order any spyderco or a lo of benchmades or zt's off amazon. Too many clones out there.

The kershaw leek of a pretty good choice, and the dividend is basically the same knife with slightly different ergos and a better pocket clip. The kerhsaw bareknuckel is also a pretty good choice, and the copper natrix is pretty. I like the para3 lightweight from spyderco, and the lightweight chaparral is a good choice too. I actually like the sage 5 more than the para3, but it's made in taiwan for spyderco.... The benchmade gugout is a solid choice, but we have broken $100 at this point. The ontario RAT knifes have a good feel to them and are about $30, but I don't know where they are made.

many of the benchmade griptillians in 154cm are being closed out right now for around $80. that's a very good buy, but I cannot remember which knife website I was on when I saw those. it was in the past 3 days..... Do not buy serrations.
 
Consider a multi-tool. The knife blade usually locks, (on the good ones) and you have a handy and compact bunch of tools, rather than just a single blade.

I haven't carried a folding knife for decades.
 
That's been my go to knife for the better part of 20 years. I hear they're Army issue now, too.

Plenty of units do not issue knives, and trust soldiers to bring their own based on preference. I know people who have brought swords, machetes, and axes to country. The only stand alone knife I saw get semi-issue was a Gerber sheepsfoot knife. I happily traded this junk away.

https://www.gerbergear.com/Knives/Folding/EZ-Out-DPSF_22-01648G

Standard issue all purpose tool was Gerber 600 multi tool with blunt nose pliers. I somehow would get these issued to me all the time. I always kept one set unopened in case they asked for it back. Otherwise they always broke on me. I preferred my Leatherman Wave on durability alone.

https://www.gerbergear.com/Multi-Tools/One-Hand-Opening/MP600_07520
 
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