New Duty Folder

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I am looking to get a new duty folder for my use in the military/law enforcement.
I have previously owned this knife
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Smith-Wesson-Medium-SWAT--3009
Though the version I had had partial serrations. It was very low quality IMO. I had my first one break the first day I had it, and after I had it replaced the second one was broken within a month. I have a co-worker who went through 3 of the same knife. He even sent one in to SW to get it replaced, and the replacement ended up breaking. The rough texture handle also tended to eat up pockets.

So I am looking for something different. My specs are I want a 3-3.5" blade, with partial serrations, single sided blade, spring-assisted folder, with a pocket clip. Also, a preferably black non-ornate plastic grip and a black or non-shiny blade. Also it needs to be easily openable single handed from either hand. This will be for duty use so I am not willing to spend multiple hundreds of dollars on a knife that will end up getting lost in a field or the blade getting scratched, knicked, etc. $65-100 is about the right price for me.

Any ideas?

 

[Leadhead]

Buck has some pretty decent looking inexpensive, new folders and with the "Forever Warranty" it could be the last knife you will need to buy for work..
They are not spring assisted however.....How much of a factor is the spring assist to you?
I think they are interesting but not really necessary and just add more parts and pieces without much benefit.
http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&productID=3564

 

[chibiker]

Lots and lots of choices available in your chosen features and price point. I'm a big fan of Kershaw knives... not real spendy, good quality, made in the USA, lifetime warranty, yadda yadda yadda. That being said I think the Blackout qualifies nicely.

http://www.dealerease.net/catalog/product.asp?pid=44604&ret_id=1085919

If you google it using the shopping tab you will find prices anywhere from less than 30 bucks on eBay to about $150 at some retail places (crazy huh?) Anyway, for thirty to forty bucks I think you'd have a hard time beating it value wise.

 

[amd6547]

Spyderco Endura.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I just picked up a SOG Aegis for $54 and it is a nice knife.
www.sogknives.com

 

[TimboKhan]

The Spyderco Endura would be a pretty good choice, as would a few other Spydercos (to include, oddly enough, the Spyderco Police). Benchmade also makes some good knives. Frankly, there are a ton of good knives by a lot of different makers in your price range, and I personally don't feel that one is necessarily any better than the other, depending on what your going to use it for, your personal taste, etc. I happen to prefer Spyderco products, and I love my Griptilian from Benchmade, but I don't have a problem with Kershaw or Buck, or SOG or Cold Steel or whoever else.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Buck Spring Assist?

Buck has some pretty decent looking inexpensive, new folders and with the "Forever Warranty" it could be the last knife you will need to buy for work..
They are not spring assisted however.....How much of a factor is the spring assist to you?
I think they are interesting but not really necessary and just add more parts and pieces without much benefit.
http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&productID=3564

The "Rush," "Impulse," and "Sirus" models are assisted. I have both the Rush and Sirus. Well made, snappy, sharp.

See their ASAP selection here.

The Sirus is also available in S30V (w/Bos heat treat).

 

[atomd]

I find that if a knife is well made, the "assisted opening" models don't really open much faster or easier..if at all. It's one more thing to break or get gummed up. Also, the partial serrations are worthless in my opinion too. It's such a tiny area that it can't really cut through much that a good sharp knife made from good steel can't cut through anyways. We're talking about a fairly small folding pocket knife here. You're not going to be sawing a tree down with a duty folder. If the blade is 100% serrated, it might be easier to saw through something fairly large in an emergency...but then it's not much good for anything else (such as slicing or stabbing into an object). Also easier and quicker to sharpen a plain edge. Give me a plain edge any day.

Ok, now that I got my opinion out of the way I'll suggest a couple that fit your specs.

Benchmade apparition. Comes in combo edge with a 3.4" blade, controllable assisted opening and sells for $100. They have another model called the Torrent that meets all those specs and sells for about the same. They make a couple of other variations for different companies to sell with their logos on.

Kershaw has the Leek which is priced pretty low but a decent knife.

For something really cheap but also meets all that criteria, Camillus has the Heat and Blaze models. Camillus went out of business a couple of years ago. I think someone might have bought them but I'm not sure. Anyways, you can find those 2 older models for like $25-$35 and they are decent for the money.

I'd take a Spyderco Military or a Delica plain edge over any of those any day though. I also had a Spyderco original Manix with the back lock and S30V steel that was a great knife too. Also, cheaper knives that have the coated blades..that coating comes off in no time. I've even had some expensive ones that the black rubbed off of too. The satin type of finish seems to hold up a bit better than the black until you get into the epoxy type of finishes like the stuff that's on Rat knives. That's a bit more durable but it still comes off after a while. A lot of times people put that coating on when they use a steel that is prone to rusting. Once that finish comes off, you gotta be careful to not let it rust on ya.

 

[WalkAbout]

I have the SOG Trident and I love it. I think it was about $60 when I got it.

 

[bikerdoc]

Another vote for spyderco Endura.

 

[Hunter125]

I have had several different folders along these lines, many of them cheap. My suggestion: don't go with any plastic handles. With most of the knives like this I have had, the biggest problem I have had has not been with the knife itself, but with the pocket clip breaking off or the screws that held it in stripping out. I have never this problem with a folder with a metal handle. The two best folders I have had have been a Colt Python II, which was awesome. It was all aluminum in the handle and a little heavy, but it never failed me. And a Gerber, although I can't recall the model at the moment. It was something in the Gator family. Gerber makes good stuff, Buck is right up there as well. I know you can go way more expensive with stuff like Benchmade or Kershaw, but I have always found these more than tough enough.

 

[skwab]

I'm a big fan of Kershaw assisted openers - great quality for the price - I've ordered most of mine through thekershawstore.com and have had great service through them. But of the several that I have owned I haven't had one fail me.

Some models I've had experience with - you can get all of these either partially serrated or non-serrated.

The blackout - this was my first kershaw and it has been very reliable $56 at the kershaw store, has a light textured grip but the texture isn't too obnoxious - despite how light it is feels very solid and secure when open.

Another is the blur - another quality knife - $62. It has an aluminum handle and just feels a little more secure than the blackout. I think it's worth the extra couple of bucks - is still comfortable to carry.

The Boa - I have this as well - is a little more expensive, has a larger blade and is just a very stout knife - very secure in the hand - also an assisted opener - is a tad heavier than the blackout -

 

[coyotehitman]

Spyderco Native with a plain blade. Durable, sharp, holds and edge, easy to resharpen, quick opening. I used a Kershaw Blur for a while, but it frayed my pockets too much and the 440 steel did not match that of the Spidey.

 

[kamagong]

Off topic -

I like your name. I'm presently reading Atlas Shrugged. Only 400 pages into it, but I'm enjoying it immensely.

 

[Leadhead]

Thanks Arfin, I didn't realize buck was making assisted models!

 

[zombiemaster]

The point to a duty knife is that it has 2 blades, in case your on scene and break or dull one, you have a 2nd blade. Past that its simply money and style that appeals to you.