Quality folding knives?

[Ukraine Train]

I just looked on ebay and they have 15,000 knife auctions in the folding knives category. It's hard to tell what's quality just by the pictures. So, what are some good brands to look for? What does everyone here recommend? Specifically, I'm looking for a half cerrated blade, one hand opening/closing, and a pocket clip.

 

[gino]

IMHO, the two companies that give the best "bang for the buck" are Spyderco and Benchmade. Both have both inexpensive ($40) through relatively expensive ($200) knive lines, and both have great warrantees. Most if not all of these companies knives are one-handed-opening and are made of quality steel that won't dull quickly, and will resharpen relatively easily.

There are other companies that make good knives, but these are the two largest companies for a good reason - they really do make some great knives that don't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Ukraine Train]

How are the Smith & Wesson knives? The price is right.
Something like this:

 

[USAFA]

Spyderco

I'd have to give my vote to Spyderco, I've been carrying one for years. There's one particular model, and I'm not sure which it is, but it's the only one I've found with the clip at the rear of the knife so that it hangs point down inside your pocket. Very handy when you want to deploy it quickly because it's already oriented correctly and your thumb naturally finds the hole. I haven't been able to find any other quality knives that are oriented this way, if anyone knows of one please let me know.
Anyways, just my two cents.

 

[Jeff White]

I think this will do better in the non-firearms weapons forum.

Jeff

 

[yy]

The S&W knives are okay for your daily use - letter opening. But I won't trust my self defense folder to anything that requires sharpening after each use. IMO SW fits that description. It also opens slow. I cannot speak to its integrity. Never tested its strength.

I can recommend a $40 knife for self defense purpose. Check out SOG Flash (I or II) from amazon.com or ultout.com both are good discount sources.

Just in case you wish to spend some time with knife enthusiasts, try the bladeforum.com. Be warned that posters there tend to like to spend big bucks for knives.

have fun

 

[lycanthrope]

Love my Spyderco. Very durable and holds a great edge.

 

[Inspector Callahan]

Spyderco!

 

[roscoe]

Another vote for Spyderco. One thing about them is that they are very light; I can go running with one in my waistband and never notice.

 

[Drjones]

If you want a good, reliable, general-purpose folder, get a Strider.















C'mon guys...what did you expect me to say???



Seriously; you would be well served by a Spyderco or Benchmade. Go to a local store and handle some blades yourself and see what YOU like the best.

Good luck!

 

[David]

I REALLY like my Benchmade Griptilian!

 

[Drjones]

Check your local laws first, but for something different Benchmade makes one of the finest production balisongs for around $100. I have one and it is a damn fine blade, to make an understatement.

 

[ruger357]

I have been more than happy so far with my Benchmades.

 

[RTFM]

My choice, Emerson CQC-7B

RTFM

 

[Ukraine Train]

Looking at the Sypdercos, I don't like the way they're shaped. I'd prefer a thumb stud instead of the hole in the blade. I checked out the SOG II, I like that one a lot and it fits my college budget hehe.

 

[jrhead75]

Lots of good choices. I've owned an S&W, and it was a POS...I agree that it made a good letter opener. It fell apart(literally) with only moderate use.

I carry a Cold Steel Gunsite(Voyager) folder these days, and am really happy with it.

 

[hso]

The following is a less than global list of good knife companies that make knives that fit your description (partial serrated, clip, one-hand opening folder).

Al Mar Knives

Benchmade

Boker USA Inc

Bear MGC

Beretta, USA Corp

Browning

Buck Knives

Camillus Cutlery Co.

W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Co.

Cold Steel

Columbia River Knife and Tool Company

Emerson

Gerber

Ka Bar Knives

Kellam

Kershaw Knives

Microtech

MOD

Puma-Werk

Remington Knives

Schrade (Oldtimer, Uncle Henry)

SOG

Spyderco

Strider

Timberline

Tops

Victorinox - Swiss Army

 

[gptrent]

Quality Folders

Spyderco - Hard to beat the value for the money

Benchmade - Great knives for the money and I like the designs of some of them better than the Sypderco.

Al Mar - I owned and own a more than a few of Al's knives made when he was alive. They were top line gear when they were made.

Emerson - Great knives, backed up by good people. I own two Mach 1 knives and gave one to a very good friend. I sent an Emerson Commander to my son when he deployed for Iraq.

Strider - Top of the pile in quality and durability. I know carry an SNG and was so impressed that I purchased another. I am currently on two different lists for the SMF when it comes out. In my opinion the SNG/SMF is the best general purpose knife made.

You will pay dearly for the Strider knife of your choice, but they are worth it. I have sold or am selling some fairly rare Al Mar knives to fund my Strider purchases and I never thought I would do that.

If I could not have a Strider SNG I would carry an Emerson Mach 1. If I could not have an Emerson I would carry a Benchmade.

I currently carry two knives every day. I have my SNG inside my waistband and a carbon fiber scaled Sypderco Delica (serrated) in my pocket. The little Delica is used for everyday uses such as opening boxes, occasionally cutting lightweight cables etc..

GPT

 

[yy]

SOG Flash II rocks!

Glad you like the Flash II, Ukrane. I have one myself. Once you receive the order, I think you'll have lots of fun with the assisted open folder. The knife is a joy to open and easy to operate. I've been practicing lefthaded opening. (ok, it's an excuse to play withe it some more ).

I like the blade shape, and the handle shape. I just wish I had gotten the plain edge instead of the combo edge. Plain edge is so much easier to sharpen. The blade material holds an edge okay, but I find that I need to sharpen it every fifty envelops or so. well maybe I am just too anal and want the blade razor sharp...

Flash II has the 3.5" blade. Loving it.

 

[Ukraine Train]

On the Flash with the TiNi (black) blade, does that finish scratch or wear off? I like how it looks but if it's going to deteriorate I'll just get the regular one.

 

[hso]

coins will rub on to the TiN coating, but it wipes clean with your thumb

 

[shooter.45]

Benchmade Mini Stryker with BT2 coating. Love that knife..

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Benchmade WHOO WHOO!

Several people have already listed your basic good quality knives. So I won't waste your time w/ more of the same. I'll cut right to the chase. Buy a Benchmade. They are generally considered one of the best (the best, in my not so humble opinion ) knives out there. Benchmades are to knives what SIGs are to guns; in that both are generally durable, reliable, affordable, and WELL-MADE. Also, Benchmade will factory resharpen your knives for life. All you have to pay for is the couple bucks to ship it to them. They even pay the shipping back. I sent in four of mine this past August, including the knife my dad wrecked trying to cut the steel belt off a tire (don't ask). That thing was like a butter knife and the tip was gone. Now I could probably shave with it.
Bottom line, if you are willing to invest $100 or so in a quality knife a Benchmade would be worth the money. I recommend the Stryker, AFCK, and Ares models. My $2*10^-2...
Regardless of WHAT you buy, I would recommend checking out knifecenter.com. In my experience they are vastly under retail price and will even beat most other bargain knife companies. I buy all my knives there. Good luck.

(P.S. I'm not really this opinionated, but I figured it'd be for fun if I pretended I was. And it is...)

 

[chaim]

I love my Kershaw Scallion assisted opener. I like it enough that I just bought a a Kershaw Vapor II partially serrated knife (thumbstud, opens pretty well, sharp). I think they make a good knife at a decent price.

 

[CWL]

What? No Sebenza lovers here? My current EDC is my Benchmade Osborne AXIS lock folder with green handles. Fast, sharp and solid. You have to see the AXIS design inperson to understand how fast it is to deploy, I've compared it with an automatic knife, and they're about the same speed.
http://benchmade.com/detail.asp?model=940

A cheaper alternative is CRKT's line of M16 knives. Easy to deploy, use and resharpen.

Don't get all caught up worrying about the finish on the blade, real EDC knives will be used and resharpened many times over the years, this means a worn finish -it adds charachter.