meyerco paradox?

[eatatjoes]

since school is out for the summer i've taken a job working in the kitchen at a family friend's restaurant, i do pretty much anything that is asked of me and usually end up cutting open a lot of boxes and then cutting them up for to fit in the dumpster. i don't usually carry a knife so i thought nothing of using one of the kitchen knives to slice the boxes open and then into little pieces, apparently the owner thought this was a very bad idea and after a verbal lashing lent me his benchmade until i can get my own knife.

now, i don't really want to spend a lot on a knife that is going to most likely be abused and has a great risk of being lost. i did some research and came across what appears to be a great deal. the meyerco paradox i found can be had for less than 8$ shipped and appears to be great quality. from what i've found on the knife:

• it is made in japan (good)
• is made with aus-8 steel (good?)
• can be had in serrated and non-serrated 3.5 inch blades (which is better?)
• has a screwdriver and pliers assembly on the opposite end (good or needless?)

here is a picture:

i am thinking about getting three since they are so cheap and i don't want to have to wait for a replacement should the need arise. i don't really know much about knives but i've heard aus-8 is a good steel, will it fit the bill for what i need? would partially serrated work for me or would just a plan blade be better? do i really need the pliers/screwdriver? is there an alternative within the same price range that is as good?

 

[Joe Demko]

A utility knife like you can get for under $10 at any Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Home Depot, or hardware store is the preferred tool for cutting up boxes. Cardboard does a fantastic job of dulling a blade, which is why you got the asschewing for using one of their cooking knives. With a utility knife, when it gets dull, you turn the blade around and use the other side, then throw the blade away when that side gets dull. Replacement blades are cheap.

 

[Soap]

I wouldn't carry it because I don't fully trust liner locks, especially cheapie liner locks. If I were in your position I would pick up a Victorinox Soldier.

Regarding straight vs. serrated, they both cut very well if they are sharp. I like straight for all purposes except for doing a lot of rope cutting. This subject has been beaten to death on bladeforums.

 

[Flashpoint]

If you don't already have a knife I would say go ahead and get one, they are always useful. But take it from someone that worked in a factory that made cardboard boxes for 3 years Golgo-13's advice is very good. If you used a picket knife on the cardboard you would spend most of your time trying to keep it sharp.

I think the meyerco would serve you well as a knife that was used for minor cutting jobs. I like asu 8 steel and the pliers and screwdriver could come in handy at times, but the utility knife would be the best for just cutting boxes.

If you get the knife go with the straight edge, I have found that the only advantage to a serratted is for sawing, most of the time a straight edge would do all you need it to do and it's easier to sharpen.

 

[riverdog]

I think the Superknife is what Golgo-13 suggested. Link doesn't seem to work so do a search on "Superknife". I think they're great for the mundane jobs that destroy good blades.

 

[Tropical Z]

Whos shipping them for $8.00?

 

[riverdog]

meyerco paradox at CDNN
MEY37026 $6.99

 

[hso]

You can get one of the new rubberized Superknife folding utility knives for less than $10 and you won't have to learn to sharpen. All you have to do is replace the blades when you wear/chip one to uselessness.

http://www.superknife.com/

 

[eatatjoes]

i'd like to thank all who responded to this thread. i ordered both the paradox and a rubberized superknife (yellow) figuring i could use the superknife around work and the paradox for EDC.

i haven't recieved the superknife yet but i did order both types of the paradox, one partially serrated and one with a plain edge. both knives came from the factory with a little velcro belt sheath and a shaving-sharp edge. i carried both throughout the day and found that i prefer the partially serrated edge since it makes cutting things like twine and the plastic straps around large boxes fairly easy.

the lock on both blades gave a satisfying snap when opened and appears to be very strong, snapping all the way to the opposite handle. i did a whack test and both locks held fast with no blade play. the cut-out in the blade makes ambi-opening easy and very fast, i find it doesn't irritate my thumb the way some thumbstuds do.

i have average-sized hands and i find the grip on the knife to fit very well, there was no slipping when i cut the large boxes and it even worked great for chopping up my chicken parm during lunch. after cutting up about a dozen medium boxes and several dozen strands of twine/plastic straps i found the knife would still shave but it was not as efficient or smooth as before. i figure this is from the pretty constant use of the serrations to cut things instead of the plain edge.

now, i haven't gotten a chance to use the screwdriver/pliers assembly yet but it is looks like it will work fairly well. the grip when using the pliers takes some getting used to, as does the grip for the screwdriver but i'd rather have both them attached to the back of my knife that an anchorweight leatherman . overall the knife has a good weight and feels right riding in my back pocket, although i do plan not to use it for most of the cutting duty at work anymore and relegate it to secondary use in the kitchen but still keep it on as an EDC knife.

i'm kind of new to real knives (coming from those terrible stainless chinese things) so this being the first one i am smitten by it, hence the glowing review but remember; YMMV.

p.s. now taking suggestions for a sharpening system.

 

[Flashpoint]

Sharpening system?

I use the Lansky with the guid rods. Put a perfect edge on every time. Just make sure that you get the mounting clamp.

 

[hso]

http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/knives.htm