Folding knife suggestions

[ez bake]

OK my favorite knife so far was the Spyderco Native, loved the steel, the weight, the angle of the handle the geometry everything except the handle material. I have a manix right now that I carry but I don't feel the same way about it the ergos feel off, I like my millie but its too big.


EZ I know you have something I should try.

Edit: the Native blade seeemed a tad short, but the Manix is too big imo.

If the Manix is too big over all (i.e. length and blade-thickness is fine, but it's just too broad of a blade/handle-profile) then you need to get a Paramilitary 2 (if you're right-handed). It is considered to be the perfect folder by so many for a reason. It's thin and narrow in the handles due to the nested liners. It has a long blade, but it's narrow-profiled and the spine is straight so you end up with something that isn't too broad, but gives you plenty of working edge to use. It has some super-thick blade-stock, but the full taper is beautiful so you end up with this almost needle-fine point to work with. The choil in the blade is love/hate for everyone who has owned this knife, but personally - I love it. If you have large hands, you'll appreciate it for sure.

Just a tad smaller than that, you've got the Sage series in any flavor you want (I personally like liner-locks and the Sage 1 is my favorite). The Sage is one of the most well-balanced folders I've ever owned. It does have the broad leaf-shaped blade (though not quite as broad as the Manix).

If you want assisted, check out the Benchmade Volli (or a tad longer, but again - skinnier profile you've got the 890 Torrent, but know that it cannot be de-assisted like the Volli should you want to do that). If you want the same length in a both narrow-profiled folder with skinny and lightweight scales, look at the Benchmade 943 or 940.

The ZT 0566 is another good option, but it's fairly broad in profile and a hefty knife (but the scales are thin and flat, so it carries well for me). I de-assisted mine and it's one of the smoothest folders I own. It is also a touch shorter than the Manix 2 in overall length.

But if you really like the Native and want something that feels larger, then you have to check out the Cold Steel American Lawman. It's a slight step down in steel from S30V to AUS8a (speaking strictly in Edge Retention), and it has no liners - only G10 scales on a G10 backspacer, but don't let that fool you - it's a tank and a half and easier to sharpen than S30V. It doesn't have just a plain back-lock, it's got Andrew Demco's Tri-Ad lock (which is arguably one of the stronger locks out there; like the Axis lock or Compression lock) and the ergos are spot-on for a 3.5" folder. Look for one at under the $50 price-point - they're out there.

 

[donner]

I de-assisted mine and it's one of the smoothest folders I own. It is also a touch shorter than the Manix 2 in overall length.

Did you remove the torsion bar only or did you have to add a ball detent?

 

[ez bake]

Did you remove the torsion bar only or did you have to add a ball detent?

Ball detent is already there on all of them, but the detent hole in the tang is only on all ZTs and I believe all US made Kershaws (and a handful of the imports). Sadly, the Cryo doesn't have the detent hole from the factory, so to de-assist, it must be added (very carefully).

 

[mike miller]

Has anyone been to Little Joes since they stocked a bunch of knives. I think he went heavy into Case with some Customs there also.

 

[neginfluence04]

 

[SoonerShooter08]

Ended up scoring a Benchmade Triage (915BK-ORG) from Amazon when they momentarily dropped the price to $121. Good thing I had a price alert set up. I had to jump on it after all the MAP pricing crap that Benchmade is forcing now. It's listed at $156 from Amazon.com now. Also, this is shipped from and sold by Amazon. Not a marketplace seller. Otherwise, I may have passed. According to three camels, $118 is the lowest price this knife has ever been on Amazon. Figured $121 wasn't bad with two-day shipping since I have Prime.

 

[SoonerShooter08]

Just an FYI. GP Knives dropped the pre-order price of the ZT 0620CF to $202.50. I had already placed an order with Blade HQ because they were the first ones to make pre-ordering available back in January. MAP is $240. They required a non-refundable payment of $5. I emailed them and they agreed to match GP Knives' price of $202.50 shipped for those that ask. Just an FYI for those waiting on the ZT knives announced at SHOT 2014. Most are probably anticipating the 0620CF and 0562CF. BHQ simple asked for my pre-order number and replied back that they'd put a note on my order for the lower price. Seems like an excellent price considering carbon fiber and M390 blade.

 

[ez bake]

Just an FYI. GP Knives dropped the pre-order price of the ZT 0620CF to $202.50. I had already placed an order with Blade HQ because they were the first ones to make pre-ordering available back in January. MAP is $240. They required a non-refundable payment of $5. I emailed them and agreed to match GP Knives' price of $202.50 shipped for those that ask. Just an FYI for those waiting on the ZT knives announced at SHOT 2014. Most are probably anticipating the 0620CF and 0562CF. BHQ simple asked for my pre-order number and replied back that they'd put a note on my order for the lower price. Seems like an excellent price considering carbon fiber and M390 blade.

Oh, you suck for posting this - I was totally going to resist the new ZT Emersons, but damn - CF and M390 in a Ti Frame-lock, with a licensed Emerson wave feature with ZT's old-school bullet-proof pivot for $202...

This is going to be a rough year for my wallet - I thought for sure I was going to be able to resist more and Spyderco dropped their new-knives bomb from the Amsterdam show.

Sigh... It truly is the golden-era of folding knives right now though.

 

[SoonerShooter08]

EZB, which knives from Amsterdam caught your interest?

BTW, I'm looking for just the right piece of Timascus for a little project that I'm going to have Alex Dietz work on for me. Bad timing though since makers are snatching up materials for Blade Show knives. I'll give myself at least a month or so to look. At least in this case it isn't necessarily a bad thing to be in a two month queue.

BTW, you probably looked already, but the ZT 0562CF is listed for the same price as the 0620CF after adding to cart at GP. You need an Emerson-designed AND a Hinderer-designed knife, right!?

 

[ez bake]

I don't know quite how I feel about the 0562 at the moment - I own (or have owned) every Hinderer-designed folder ZT or Kershaw made and I've actually gotten rid of several and really locked in on the 0566. If they made a relieved/Ti version that weighed about 3oz less, I'd own it in a heartbeat, but it's size is hard to knock. That said, I'd like to try out a slicer-grind version, so the 0562 may find its way into my collection.

As for new Spyderco folders, the Lil’ LionSpy is my size (the LionSpy original was too large for the position of the pivot/spydie-hole making it an awkward opener for me personally), the K2 would be on the list if it were smaller (love the lock-bar cutout), and the Mike Read PITS seems like it is interesting enough that I might end up with one.

The Peter Carey Rubicon is on the verge of peeking my interest as well, but the Slysz Bowie is a definite buy: