Recommendations for an EDC Spring-assisted Knife

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gerrym526

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Guys,

Looking for your recommendations on an EDC Spring-assisted Knife. Here are my criteria based on 5+ years of carrying an EDC knife (I'm a hiker, camper, fisherman, handyman-not law enforcement, military, firefighter, or knife fighter)
  • Drop point blade, smooth edge (have no need for a tanto shape or serrated edge)
  • Blade length of 3" + (ideally around 3-3.5 inches)
  • Uncoated blade (I hand sharpen my knives)
  • Sturdy pocket clip (lost my long-term favorite knife because the clip got loose over time)
  • (Optional) variety of handle colors (have started buying my hiking/outdoor equipment in colors other than black or olive drab-much easier to find a piece of gear you accidentally dropped if it's in a bright color)
  • Price-under $100 (not looking for a "collector's item"-even the most careful of us will loose a knife in the woods, parking lot, etc.)
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Gerry
 
Skip the spring assisted gimmick.

Get a new Spyderco Native 5 Salt for just over your budget - https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco-Native-5-Salt-Lockback--78694. The LC200N blade steel is darn near rust proof, and it's easy to sharpen. The handle is nice and grippy, it's light weight, and it's bright yellow.

Or get an even lighter weight Benchmade bugout with bright blue handle for the same price - https://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-Bugout-AXIS-Lock-Knife--74149.

Staying under your budget, there's the Spyderco Salt 2 for $81 - https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco-Salt-2-Lock-Back-Knife--71337. The only problem with the Salt 2 is that H1 steel isn't as good in plain edge as LC200N is. But it's another grippy, bright, damn near rust proof knife.

Or, get a Cutlery Shoppe exclusive Native 5 with bright orange handle and S90V blade, which is a screaming deal for $95 - https://cutleryshoppe.com/spyderco-...-handle-cutlery-shoppe-exclusive-almost-gone/
 
The Native is way too small for my hands, take that into consideration. The first one listed is also out of stock. That last one is a screaming deal, but if you have big hands (again) it may not work. Good knives!
 
I think the Griptillian checks many of those boxes, with a couple options for steel type. Those Spyderco knives are all nice, but I'm with Valkman...I wish they were just a little bigger to make them easier to handle.
 
Valkman said:
The Native is way too small for my hands, take that into consideration. The first one listed is also out of stock. That last one is a screaming deal, but if you have big hands (again) it may not work. Good knives!
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MJD said:
I think the Griptillian checks many of those boxes, with a couple options for steel type. Those Spyderco knives are all nice, but I'm with Valkman...I wish they were just a little bigger to make them easier to handle.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised you both think the Native 5 is too small. I have average length, wide fingers which require me to wear size XL gloves. Using the finger choil, the Native 5 is much more comfortable in my hand than my full size Griptilian. It's interesting how three guys with big hands can have different preferences. I also think the Bugout is the perfect hybrid between the Griptilian and the Pardue 530/531.

The first one listed is also out of stock.
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That's because they just started shipping them. I have the Spydiechef so I know LC200N is a great steel, and the rest of the knife is the already proven Native 5 LW, just with the bright yellow "Salt" series handle color.
 
I bought one Native way back when and it was way too small for me - I gave it away. Same with the Delica, gave it away. I have to have more of a Endura size knife. Is the Native 5 the same size as the old Native?
 
Valkman said:
I bought one Native way back when and it was way too small for me - I gave it away. Same with the Delica, gave it away. I have to have more of a Endura size knife. Is the Native 5 the same size as the old Native?
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They're pretty close. I think the finger choil is slightly bigger. I'm a little cramped on a Delica too, but I can swing it.
 
Forget assisted opening

Spyderco Endura. 3 3/4" blade, around $70-480 street price depending on handle color.

https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-End...=1544396630&sr=8-1&keywords=spyderco+endura+4

index.jpg

Buck 110 Slim Pro. 3 3/4" blade. About $90 with S30V steel comes with green or brown micarta scales or black G10 scales


https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-...=1544397051&sr=8-2&keywords=buck+110+slim+pro


0110ODS4-B.jpg

I have and trust Spyderco and at this time would recommend it but the Buck looks interesting. This isn't the traditional heavy Buck 110. It is VERY slim and light. The thumb studs make one handed opening easy. But the hole on the Spyderco is the best opening method out there. Much better than assisted opening.
 
ugaarguy said:
I'm surprised you both think the Native 5 is too small. I have average length, wide fingers which require me to wear size XL gloves. Using the finger choil, the Native 5 is much more comfortable in my hand than my full size Griptilian. It's interesting how three guys with big hands can have different preferences. I also think the Bugout is the perfect hybrid between the Griptilian and the Pardue 530/531.


That's because they just started shipping them. I have the Spydiechef so I know LC200N is a great steel, and the rest of the knife is the already proven Native 5 LW, just with the bright yellow "Salt" series handle color.
Click to expand...

Like entropy, my pocket knife is a Gerber 06 auto and I've been packing it since 2006. Compared to that thing, the Native feels a bit small.
 
cheygriz said:
Whatever you get, look for S90V, CPM-M4 or Maxamet steel.
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That would depend on how much the OP values corrosion resistance, toughness, and ease of sharpening. That's a pretty arbitrarily small group of steels to limit oneself to.
 
Gonna concur with those who say the spring assist feature is unnecessary. Kershaw makes some great folders for those on a budget; I'm a huge fan. And thumbstuds or flippers can be just as fast with practice as an assisted-opening knife.

The Endura is simply fool-proof. I've got a few. The VG10 steel is all you need, though I believe they're now available in S30/35V. What I carry if I don't have one of my ZTs.
folders.jpg
 
I thought of a couple more ideas. Gerry, if you must have assisted opening, USAmadeblade has an exclusive Kershaw Knockout with bright blue anodized handle and M390 blade for right at $100 - https://www.usamadeblade.com/Kershaw-USA-Made-Blade-Exclusive-Knockout-M390-Stonewashed-1870BLSW.htm. The Knockout is a bit bigger than the Link, so it's more in the size range you're looking for.

If you're willing to forego the assisted opening, the Spyderco Manix 2 LW is very nice alternative to the Benchmade Griptilian. It has a little more handle and grip size the Griptilian, and it's a little less expensive, at $90. They come in black or a nice bright blue translucent handle - https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco-Manix-2-Knife--7989. @JShirley has owned one for quite a while, and he's had nothing but good to say about it to me.
 
Those are great picks ugaarguy! That Kershaw caught my eye for sure and the Spydie looks fantastic. I need a Manix 2 now for some reason - don't know why as the safe has a lot of knives in it. But I like it! Waaaaah!
 
ugaarguy said:
That would depend on how much the OP values corrosion resistance, toughness, and ease of sharpening. That's a pretty arbitrarily small group of steels to limit oneself to.
Click to expand...

This is a group that will hold an edge. If you want ease of sharpening, you must give up edge holding ability. There's no free lunch. A blade either holds it's edge well or it's easy to sharpen. you can't have both.
 
cheygriz said:
This is a group that will hold an edge. If you want ease of sharpening, you must give up edge holding ability. There's no free lunch. A blade either holds it's edge well or it's easy to sharpen. you can't have both.
Click to expand...
More or less, yes, but it's not a linear scale. LC200N is very easy to sharpen, yet Pete of Cedric & Ada fame finds it to have edge holding near that of S30V in his rope cut test. Over on their own forum, Sal Glesser has stated that Spyderco's internal testing shows LC200N to have edge holding more in the neighborhood of VG-10. 14C28N is likewise very easy sharpen, and again has VG-10 level edge holding according to most anecdotal sources. Vanax, from what I've read from reputable sources has edge holding in the S30V range, is easier than S30V to sharpen, and is near rust proof. Those three steels have in common Nitrogen as a significant portion of their composition.

Crucible industries describes the Niobium addition, and further slight tweaking of the S30V formula, to give S35VN significantly improved ease of machining and polishing over S30V. S35VN is also tougher than S30V, yet it retains equal (or at worst a statistically insignificant loss) edge retention when compared to S30V.

M390 has better edge retention than Elmax, but is easier to sharpen than Elmax. Elmax is tougher though.

Steel metallurgy is a fascinating science, even to a layman like me. Let's be honest though, the reality is that almost any powder metallurgy or electro slag remelt steel currently used in pocket knives is going to have far more than adequate edge retention, unless you cut cardboard for 6+ hours straight as your job. The steels you mentioned are certainly good, but there are numerous other steels with excellent edge retention. I also prefer much more corrosion resistance than what M4 or Maxamet offer. The OP may have different priorities.
 
My experience with VG-10 hgas been dismal. S30V is not bad, but not in the same league as S90V.

There are many good steels out there besides the ones I mentioned earlier, but I am still convinced that ease of sharpening and edge retention are the antithesis of one another.

As for "toughness" CPM 3V is probably superior. but since I use a knife for cutting, and not for prying, toughness is not a consideration.
 
Since you did specify spring assisted, I'm very happy with my Kershaw Leek, which also seems to hit all your parameters.
 
ugaarguy said:
They're pretty close. I think the finger choil is slightly bigger. I'm a little cramped on a Delica too, but I can swing it.
Click to expand...

What do you think about the Para 3? The PM2 was just a smidge big for me, but I have small hands. The Para 3 feels just a smidge bigger than a Delica, and it's perfect to me.
 
Not a fan of slab sided knives, prefer a rounder handle and no studs
Kershaw 1776
kershaw1776.jpg
Something smaller/cheaper
Kershaw OSO Sweet
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Added some jibbing to them both...because I can:
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:D
 
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