Best tactical knives according to redditors
We found 1,089 Reddit comments discussing the best tactical knives. We ranked the 464 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 1,089 Reddit comments discussing the best tactical knives. We ranked the 464 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
![Gerber LMF II Survival Knife, Black [22-01629]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31BB6iB6VvL.jpg)
Steel is steel mate. You can go with the expensive stuff, or with the cheap stuff - We're talking expensive at several hundred and cheap as under 20-50. I've seen 20 dollars knives made just as well as the 600 dollar knives, they just dont have the name brand. It's a chunk of steel, treated so it stands up to specific conditions and holds an edge better. It looks to be full tang - not sure what is up with the holes in the blade, or the design near the MT-5 logo. I found pictures online, looks like the steel comes out a bunch there? No idea what this design is or what purpose it could have - looks sketchy. And the holes in the blade...I mean I've seen the 5 dollar walmart knives with holes so you can create a makeshift spear but..Other then that, no idea why they are on this knife, and they cause more harm then good. You can use it for basic bushcrafting tasks but I'd be careful batoning, I've personally never heard of the brand - it could be name brand and be great, but it has some weird designs.
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Really, steel is steel - all the fancy features cause more harm than good.
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Stainless-4-1-Inch-Military/dp/B004ZAIXSC/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=morakniv&qid=1571462370&s=sporting-goods&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sr=1-4
That is a 12 dollar knife, and you really won't ever need more, but there are better options. The 12 dollar knife has a thinner blade and isn't suitable to as heavy duty work, but is a great beater knife for doing anything.
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Bushcraft-Survival-Starter-4-3-Inch/dp/B00BFI8TOA/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=morakniv&qid=1571462370&s=sporting-goods&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sr=1-7
And their top of the line knives are
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Garberg-Carbon-Leather-Sheath/dp/B07B8SP4G9/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=morakniv&qid=1571462370&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-10
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-M-12642-Stainless-Compatible-4-3-inch/dp/B01I1GITMA/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=morakniv&qid=1571462370&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-12
There's a carbon version and stainless steel version. I'm gonna be honest...for the most part, they all do the same thing, but people want different things and fancier things - the garberg is the only full tang out of the bunch, but even their half tang knives are bulletproof, they hold up incredibly well and I've batoned with him countless times without issue. Mora, IMO makes the best knives - I have several other brands, and there are some I like better for ergonomics - but that's not the point, the point is any knife will work, steel is steel. Just find what you think looks and feels good, learn how to sharpen it and what you like, it depends on the what materials/types of trees you are working with, and what type of work you do. I prefer convex and Scandinavian grind (V Grind) knives, the Cudeman MT-5 looks to be a full flat grind - which I mean..AFIAK is mostly used in like chef knives and stuff, it's incredibly sharp but it's not durable, hitting hard objects is gonna cause knicks and it's gonna be brittle. This is all from experience, it's not like im an expert - but to be fair, I'd just keep trying different ones and see how you like it, but I wouldn't go spending crazy money, the $300 knives you see all the fancy bushcrafters use...these are what I call wall knives..They use them in the videos cause they look good but most people would just keep them at home and keep using their beater knives, because we are hard on our equipment and honestly, they work just as wall, all the fancy scalings and what not make them expensive, but they don't make them better.
TL;DR: Steel is steel. Get a cheap knife, in a better grind suited for the work your doing. All depends on what work you do, and what tress you have, soft woods, hard woods ETC.
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Edit: Definately don't have to go with Mora, I've just always used them and they've done me well.
I suggest one of these.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J690VE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_X1wQAbSKX9M61
Has a blade, seat belt cutter, and the end is shaped for breaking windows :)
Ok first off, sexual assault/harassment is a very severe offence here. Anyone caught would be seeing the inside of a cell for a very, very long time.
>what are the laws regarding something like this?
She's entitled to defend herself by whatever means necessary. But that doesn't mean she can commandeer the bus and run the bastard down until he's a gooey paste (which I would prefer).
>I've heard carrying a knife is OK, but no idea about using it to ward of an attacker.
They're definitely NOT ok. A pocket knife, folding knife, multi/utility tools are fine.
But an actual single blade would get you into trouble.
Anything can be a weapon, I carry with me a Schrade Tactical Pen. Which can be used to severely hurt someone or write a love letter to my wife. It saves me the trouble of having to check on luggage because of a knife. I just carry that pen everywhere.
My wife carries it with her when she travels alone and it came in handy a few times.
/r/edc most of the men on there have knives, including myself. A knife is incredibly useful and cheap. It is a habit to carry one as an ex-paramedic that I never dropped.
I think folks get freaked out because they always assume it's going to be for a fight, when I use it mostly as a letter opener and tool.
The one I have now cost $20 and has a glass puncher and seatbelt cutter and may one day save my life or yours.
Adding to my wishlist. This is amazing. I normally carry a giant 7 inch knife because YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED IT.
Edit: posted the pic of the knife below. Here it is in case anyone wants it. Cold Steel 80PGTK GI Tanto 7" Carbon by Cold Steel http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H9DO4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_sWJgtb0K2QB5T
(read my edit below)
Don't get just any knife. I would suggest getting a rescue knife.
Like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWBG2TS-Serrated-Seatbelt/dp/B0037F1B9E/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1414195122&sr=8-13The integrated seatbelt cutter allows you to safely cut a seatbelt. There is also a glass breaking tip that'll shatter glass easily if needed.
In fact, I lost my rescue-knife so I'm buying another.
If you're on a budget, this is the knife I originally had and is < $10. I liked mine and had no issues with it.
http://www.amazon.com/TAC-FORCE-Assisted-Opening-Linerlock-Sawback/dp/B00EH0MKXE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=0CWWRYRCE4R4AQJP5DJ3EDIT:
I looked into what /u/lt-ghost was saying. While a steel tipped window breaker may work, it requires significantly more work and in a panic situation probably won't work at all. The razer for the seatbelt should work regardless though, but if not you still have the blade.
It seems like the best option for a rescue knife would be Spyderco Assist I. Expensive, I know.
BUT, the ResQme seems to work exceptionally well. I actually just bought a couple of them for myself. Go look on Youtube.
You're welcome.
On that, Cold Steel actually has some good products. They are absolutely edgelords and make a lot of "cool factor" cringe stuff, so bear in mind this isn't me playing the contrarian. However the way they became known in the first place was by producing quality blades.
Take a look at their take on the Kukri.
Though it might not look it given the context, a Kukri is a serious blade for actual work (a cross between a hatchet and a large knife, the design done right can split wood, finely cut, chop, and even in some cases pry). Cold Steel is absolutely serious in this offering, and are attempting to compete with authentic handmade Himalayan Imports kurkis from Nepal for serious users. That's bold.
Now personally, I never was a knife guy but I've always liked tools and like to read on outdoorsy stuff.
Me tip: Get a small U.S. made stockman knife to carry. You'll actually get a lot of use out of it without being an edgelord or being disruptive. Learn the names and uses of each blade on it and review a quick page on safe knife usage and rules (e.g. folks think you can pry with a knife, you cannot, and other little safety and usage tidbits; like the right amount of blade for the right task).
Anyway, the one that really put Cold Steel on the map was their G.I. Tanto.. I kept an eye out and picked one up at a pawn shop, one of the original runs, for the original price. The perks were that it had a paracord-wrapped grip (at the time), was carbon steel, indestructible literally (you can even pry with it, split wood, etc.) because it would flex into a U-shape before breaking/deforming; it had a tanto-edge (very strong shape), and originally sold for $15. Its design competitors were often less robust, broke easier with exotic steels, were even heavier, and went for $300+.
Needless to say that became popular for serious users and modding them became a thing. Very serious knives are often extremely basic and the value is subtle in the design; like with Opinel, Ontario Old Hickory series, or Mora--all completely overlooked by the tacticool crowd. The GI Tanto was aimed at the neckbeards, but it found a home with serious usage.
So Cold Steel was and is actually a serious brand, and they're absolutely appealing to neckbeards in their badass lineup. On that, however..
Cold Steel was and is usually the only company making actual swords (an oxymoron). What I mean is, swords are usually low-quality steels, ridiculous designs, are unsharpened and are unusable (will snap, or they don't have actual tangs). Cold steel actually made historically accurate, very durable pieces for a decent price. They wouldn't break on you or pose a danger, and were basically quality built.
Take a look at this katana, $600 with ray skin handles. This isn't for fantasy zombie slayers, but can be decorative or used by a martial artist who skillfully chop those bamboo bundles and learn historic techniques.
Or (video warning) this weeb.
Anyway to that end Cold Steel has very good quality and usable blades, and a "guilty pleasure" lineup that includes US-made, high quality Russian Special Forces shovels and tactical boomerangs. There was one elder I knew who had a nerve disease who needed a cain, and who carried a Cold Steel battle cain because they are good quality, unassuming, and could help him to defend himself (given his inability to run or fight with his hands).
So that's the lowdown on Cold Steel and what they're about.
I always carry one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Switchblade-Comb/dp/B004JK1NIA
In all seriousness, carry the most pen-like, basic tactical pen you can find (doesn't look like a weapon, no firearm or aggressive branding). Better than nothing, and if it's very arguably a writing tool, who's going to fine you for carrying a pen?
I.e., this, but not something like this since it could be construed as a weapon.
But then, this is California we're talking about. It's absolutely retarded protecting oneself is becoming a crime. I'm all for open and concealed carry; it's not like anyone with violent intent is worried about state laws.
$100 to spend? Lets get him started out right!
Fixed blade knife and Saw for Bushcraft tasks:
Bahco has a combo kit with a Mora fixed blade knife and a folding saw for $28.50 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bahco-LAP-KNIFE-Laplander-Folding-Multi-Purpose/dp/B008ZG8S0A
Folding Knife for food prep:
Add an Opinel #8 for $20: https://www.amazon.com/Opinel-Carbon-Blade-Folding-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3OVY093ZE8FB9&keywords=opinel+no+8&qid=1573841922&sprefix=opinel%2Ctools%2C152&sr=8-4
or an Ontario RAT 1 for $25: https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ontario+rat+1&qid=1573842093&sr=8-1
Axe for fire prep:
Cold Steel Trail Boss fo $32: https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-CS90TA-BRK-Trail-Boss/dp/B001CZ9UY4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21DD9KF7WOYCB&dchild=1&keywords=cold+steel+trail+boss&qid=1573842210&sprefix=cold+steel+trail%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1
Total
That pretty much covers all things pointy and sharp to get him started in bushcraft for a grand total of $85.50
As he learns and develops more bushcraft skills he can upgrade when needed but this will get him started out with some solid gear.
I carry an Opinel No 8 everywhere i go. i use it to cut food and light gardening work (trimming, pruning, cut twine to tie up tomatoes, etc). "everywhere" includes backpacking, and any kind of travel. it's short enough and no spring assist, so it doesn't conflict with local laws when i travel.
when i'm backpacking i also carry a small wire key ring with the following:
Key Ring
Leatherman Micra
Gerber Shard
Streamlight Nano
if i'm doing any kind of campfire, then i bring a mora companion to do any processing that i'll need.
If you have a few bucks lying around, the easiest way to answer this question is to have you buy a decent knife and see for yourself how much better it is. For a nice folder in your size range, the Ontario Rat1 would be a nice start...it's only $25 (which is a very low price for a quality knife), its 3.5" blade is big enough to do most things you'll need it to do while also being legal to carry almost everywhere (in the US), it's supposed to have a buttery smooth pivot action, and it has a decent blade steel (AUS-8) as opposed to the who-knows-what in a typical gas station knife. And yes, the steel alloy does make a lot of difference, a good blade will hold a sharp edge for longer, be tough enough to withstand some abuse, be flexible enough that it doesn't shatter easily, and unlike crap "stainless" steel it will actually remain rust-free under reasonable conditions. The heat treatment of the blade also contributes to these traits, and I can guarantee that Ontario does a better heat-treat than whoever made your $7 gas station knife...which probably didn't receive any treatment. If the Rat1 isn't your style, Kershaw makes a bunch of budget-friendly (~$30) knives that are also pretty highly regarded, something like the Cryo which has spring-assisted opening or the very sexy Skyline which isn't assisted opening. And if those aren't to your liking, then Spyderco makes a couple budget folders, one of them being the Resilience which has a bigger 4.25" blade and nice G10 handles, you may like that one for the bigger size. Might wanna check the legality in your area though...
So yeah, apart from working better, a nice knife also has a much smaller chance of failing and cutting off your finger, which is the main reason that I cringe a little bit when people use bad knives...I just don't want to see someone who doesn't know any better get hurt by a knife they thought would work fine. Unfortunately, I do see plenty of knives like that around r/EDC, but maybe I just hang out in /r/knives too much.
To tag along with your friends who already have gear, I assume you can share a tent so I'll skip shelter. Also my links are to stuff I like, but there are tons of options in each category.
That, or something like it, should pretty much cover you from June thru Sept in northern CA, assuming you can snag a spot in some else's tent and you're sharing bear canister space for food storage (when backpacking places that require it).
Good luck!
I just ordered myself an Opinel no. 8 for my ropes. The only thing is since its carbon and not stainless a bit more attention has to be given to it so it doesn't rust up
Knife: Opinel Blade no8 ($14)
Flashlight: Streamlight pen light ($20)
Pen: Pilot G2 Limited ($9)
Mechanical Pencil: Pentel GraphGear 500 0.7 ($7)
Wallet: Recycled Firefighter ($9)
(Nearly) hard mode completed. $59 total.
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Words to live by!
Gloves. Just your standard Nitrile gloves. I have a box in my closet with about 5 pair in my truck. Although with Texas summers here, I'd bet they've melted together by now. I should really check on that...
Safety Glasses Any brand will do. Just look for ANSI Z87.1. You'll probably never use them, or 90% of what's in your bag, but they're nice to have on hand.
Knife w/seat belt cutter & window punch. This is mine. I keep it on my trucks visor when I'm driving, and on me when I'm not. Cheap and useful. A little big though.
Simple Breathing mask. Always good to have around.
Gauze Rolls & Gauze Pads. I've used these a couple times, all on myself. I have the uncanny ability to fall when running outdoors. It's truly a gift.
Large SAM Splint. Surprisingly I've used two in only a year of building my kit. Once for myself, colles fracture from tripping, and the second time for a friend who slipped in my kitchen. We're not the most coordinated bunch.
And if you're feeling adventuress (sp?), Emergency Blanket, Cold Pack, & a Hot Pack. These aren't necessary, but nice to have if you have some extra $$$ to burn.
This is all i carry in my truck medical wise. It's also a good idea to have a flashlight on your vehicle or in the bag. Don't waste money on anything "fancy". You'll never use them and if you do you'll probably get sued.
I received a pre-stocked jump bag from a family member as a gift for getting my EMT cert. Came with OPA's, C-Collar, Adult/Pedi BVM, & a couple suture kits. These are no-no's. Good Samaritan laws won't protect you if you use these. DON'T BUY/USE THEM WHEN NOT ON A RIG! (The suture kits are another matter...just don't) I took these out of my bag completely.
TL;DR K.I.S.S. Avoid anything a non-EMS person couldn't use.
EDIT: Formatting
Maybe an Opinel No 6 Carbon Steel Folding knife will fit that budget nicely.
Ah the classic Opinel http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1459123049&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=opinel+8&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=addourscom-20&amp;linkId=cb7f541450dae33b9704c46d7db36738
Truthfully I'd just recreate what I have, as it would almost entirely fit inside the budget:
SS Jotter, I used this before switching to a TT Shaker, it is still fantastic.
Leek, been thinking about upgrading but still fantastic and the alternatives are way more expensive.
SF 348 I got the unlabelled BLF variant, and it is fantastic. Sleek, small, and bright.
MOTA Pocket Tool One of the card tool variants, I've used a few of its parts, but will radily admit that on these not everything is useful.
Flowfold This holds everything listed above, and does so without increasing the volume of my pocket, and making everything quieter and easier to pick up and go with.
Cable Key Ring Great, because it is large and thin, so I have my keys and car keys and USB on here. I tried a Keydisk mini, but found it still rattles against the car key, is fairly bulky, and cannot hold the USB. May try one of the new Orbitkeys next.
USB Drive, goes with the keys, I actually have a SP J80 32, but for some reason that one has increased in price.
Bifold Wallet The one I currently have is very similar, but I have no idea what it is called, a basic bifold.
So, this budget covers everything save the watch, which I didn't leave room for, because downgrading from a pebble would be sad, and getting one would be the entire budget. My choice to recollect everything I have mostly indicates how happy I am with the set that I created.
It's a Kershaw Cinder, $8 on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I1GITMA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1486316246&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=morakniv+full+tang&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41a9O3roZZL&amp;ref=plSrch
Looks like mass drop has this one for sale at $60.
http://dro.ps/b/unaICKn
Or pretty much any morakniv.
Boker Plus Urban Trapper Cocobolo would fit beautifully into this line.
definitely. Though a decent knife for the price it doesn't compare to the non Hollywood version.
$8.65 if you have Prime. I own the TopQ, which I think is the previous version of this (or the Robust), and it's a solid everyday use knife. The Craftline is good enough for bushcrafting, if not torture tests.
The Rescue knife is also an option, since you want something with a blunt tip if you want to tear out a seatbelt. Though you should have something with a glassbreaker. This S&W is the least obnoxious looking knife in OP's budget.
Cocoon Grid-It organizer. It's rather cheap and especially useful if you use different bags like a messenger bag for school and a backpack for a bit longer travels. You can easily attach stuff you need once in a while to the grid and just throw it to another bag.
Currently my grid-it contains a USB-stick, couple cables, one of those Victorinox card multitools, a powerbank and a pen. When I'm traveling overnight I add a toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste. 5/5 would buy again.
Edit: Pilot G-2 pen and Opinel No 08 knife are another fantastic pieces of equipment I carry everyday
Not too far from the sticks though. (It's a joke, I have and like this knife, but down vote away.)
Because of this, I just bought one on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SCUO04/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Hi! And welcome!
I like the Gayle Bradley 2 in M4, and the BM Valet in M390, but they are both very expensive to start out with. The Shuffle II is kind of crappy - I'd definitely pass on that one. I have no experience with
the Bartender Defeder, but even the XL version looks too small, as is the Rodie. The Delica and Leek are great knives, and would likely be solid options (their ergonomics are better than their handle lengths suggest, especially the Delica). The CRKT M16 is ok, but it's not great (in my opinion). I've never handled CRKT's Endorser, but it looks like a solid choice.
My best suggestion is a RAT 1 in D2. It's 40 bucks and you get a very well-made knife in D2 (semi stain resistant and will hold an edge for a good long time). The AUS-8 version is good, too, but if you're cutting boxes, the D2 option will stay sharp way longer.
As for some other options, here are some good ones from CRKT:
Foresight - It's big and comfy in-hand, but it's expensive for the materials used (aluminum and AUS-8)
Shenanigan - lighter and cheaper than the Foresight, but with the same blade material (AUS-8)
Outrage - aluminum handle and 8Cr13MoV steel (similar to AUS-8, id est, reasonably stainless, decent toughness, ok-ish edge retention), ball bearing pivot (nice and smooth!)
Ripple - aluminum handle, 8Cr13MoV blade, ball bearing pivot
With these suggestions, it may seem like I'm a shill for CRKT, but I'm not. I'm just a fan of Ken Onion's designs and ergonomics. I also like:
Spyderco Endura - very good stainless steel in a lightweight package, with plenty of handle real estate
Byrd Cara Cara 2 - Spyderco's value brand (basically a cheap Endura with 8Cr13MoV steel instead of the excellent blade steel VG-10)
Spyderco Resilience - big and comfy (G-10 scales with 8Cr13Mov steel), and my daily carry at work
Spyderco Manix 2 - light and medium sized (they also make an XL version), with BD-1 (kinda similar to AUS-8, kinda)
Cold Steel Recon 1 Spear Point - a big knife with lots of grippy G-10 handle space. The CTS XHP steel is the bee's knees, and the Recon 1 is an excellent value, but it may be too expensive as a starting point.
Also, I'm sure some other folks will chime in, too. The guys & gals of /r/knifeclub are pretty knowledgeable and helpful.
Again, my number 1 suggestion is the RAT 1 in D2. It'll be hard to beat interms of construction, ergonomics, and utility.
Happy hunting!
Oooh, this is a fun challenge.
This is the most expensive item on my list, but I figure that with knives this is the best small EDC knife you can get for the money. I'm not a fan of large knives for daily carry, and the Dragonfly gets the job done.
While I initial thought was the F-91W, this watch seems to have far better water-resistance for roughly $7 more. Plus I prefer analog watches.
While I've never used one of these personally, why not take the loss of all my stuff as an excuse to pare down how much bullshit I carry in my wallet? Reviews (outside of Amazon) seem pretty good and I'd love to give this thing a shot.
I like having one of these kinds of dumb little multitools handy for prying and bottle-opening and other random tasks that I wouldn't want to abuse my knife with. At only $3 it's worth the space in my budget and my keychain. Speaking of keychains...
If you're like me, you often have to add and remove keys and other items from your keychain. Wire/cable keychains are the friggin best for this. I generally prefer the ball-and-socket types rather than the kind that screw closed, but I'm counting my dollars here.
I can't stand pens that use caps, and nothing writes as well for me as the Pilot G2. 0.5mm is about as fine a line as I want to get because the 0.38mm ones tend to get a bit scratchy on most paper. And if you'll allow me to count the cost as only a dollar rather than the price of a twelve-pack...
With a few extra buck open in the budget, I realized that I've had one of these on my keychain for about as long as I can remember, and it pays to have one handy with a copy of your choice of documents, music, and other media. Super handy to keep available at all times.
--
My total price for these tools puts me at $98, assuming the cost of only one pen. I assumed that I would be able to keep my phone, which provides me with enough illumination that I've never bothered with carrying a dedicated flashlight outside of the colder months when I'm usually wearing a coat. So I didn't bother with choosing one for this challenge. Anyone have any good suggestions for AAA, clicky tail-button flashlights under $20?
https://www.amazon.com/Switchblade-Comb/dp/B004JK1NIA#immersive-view_1491787575215
It's great! Small yet feels great in the hand. Its my first Spyderco and I couldn't be happier!
It's also only $33 on Amazon.
Firstly, some unsolicited advice. If there's a low chance of the knife getting confiscated for whatever reason, I'd say save up a little more scratch and get something a little nicer. Alright, now that I've said that, I'm going to assume that you're going to completely ignore it. (Which is fine.)
Ontario RAT 2 always comes highly recommended. You pretty much can't go wrong here. It is a liner lock, which will be a little easier to use one-handed than a lockback. Though maybe only if you're right handed.
I think if I were going for a Spyderco in that range, I'd go with the Ambitious instead. (Right under $30, blade is 2.25 inches.) Or, save up a few extra bucks and go with the Persistence (Just under $35, blade is 2.75 in). The Byrd line is designed by Spyderco, but made by other companies under Spyderco's direction. I'm sure they are a decent value, but if that's what you want, I think you'd probably be better off, and happier, saving your money and getting a Delica 4.
You may also want to look into the Buck Vantage. It's a flipper, so easy opening is there. I think it's a liner lock as well. The steel is okay, but expect to be sharpening it fairly often (maybe once a week if you want to keep it razor sharp).
Another option is the Ka-Bar Dozier. It uses AUS-8A steel, which is pretty good for the price range (in my opinion). Thumb stud, lockback. This one's $20, so a little below your budget actually. Could use some of the money saved to get some sort of sharpening system (DMT Card maybe?)
Blue Ridge Zancudo, designed by the same people behind the RAT series. Pretty much the same idea, but I think the blade shape on the Zancudo is a little better if you need to be able to pierce things.
Last one, the Kershaw Shuffle. A little smaller, at 2.4 in blade length. But has a bottle opener, if you're into that sort of thing. Also, cheaper than any of the rest of the options here. I also think that this one probably has the best blade-shape, in my opinion. It's almost all belly.
Personally, I have found that having the longest knife you have is good, but a lot of the time most of that edge isn't put to good use. Sometimes it's too long, which makes it cumbersome. If you're mostly opening boxes and mail and stuff like that, something closer to a 2.5 inch blade might be more the ticket. I find that it makes it easier to make precise cuts.
I think it's a rubber prop knife, lol. I got this one, it's inexpensive but has great reviews.
The bottom one is a Ka-bar and can be bought here. Im not sure about the bottom one but it is a kukiri blade shape.
Well I have two knives. One an opinel 8 that I EDC. Then a Condor Nessmuk. A Silky Gomboy Saw and a Hults Bruk Torneo Axe. And an actual multi tool Leatherman Signal. That's my full load out on tools.
if you only have $14 to spend on a knife
In that case maybe check out this Schrade it's one of the less aggressive looking tactical pens, and it's not so expensive as to be unlosable.
Always flexing.
That and a thermos full of coffee.
Yup.
Spyderco Ambitious Folding Knife - Black G-10 Handle with PlainEdge, Full-Flat Grind, 8Cr13MoV Steel Blade and LinerLock - C148GP https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0XoKDb340M13P
These guys go on sale and can easily be had in the sub-$40 range. Super solid for the money.
For the record, I feel the same that the Cryo is too slippery - which is why I'm super glad Kershaw released a G10 version of it last year.
I also agree that the Tenacious is just a bit too big for EDC - and they do make the Persistence, which is a shrunken version of the Tenacious, with a 2.75 inch blade vs the Tenacious' 3-3/8 inch blade. If you wanna go even smaller, the Ambitious has a 2.25" blade. All 3 knives share a similar design (though the Ambitious is small enough that the proportions might look a little weird to some).
A few other knives of note that are standouts in the sub-$50 price range:
A few notes here
ETA a few more links and some clarification of my still-awake-at-5am rambling.
That is a very good range, great price point for awesome hunting knives.
Here’s a couple all purpose bushcraft/outdoors knives:
The Benchmade Buschraft: Micarta scales and a very nice leather sheath put it at $200 even. Benchmade is made in the US and is very well known for their high quality and their great warranties. I just bought a Crooked River and am enamored by it.
https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-162-Bushcrafter-Drop-Point/dp/B00B0E1MB6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1549089167&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=benchmade%2Bbushcraft&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41uGBLFBQNL&amp;ref=plSrch&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1
Next up is the Fallkniven F1. It’s got a composite rubber handle but is still full tang. Made out of VG10 which means high rust resistance, great for bloodwork in the cold when you don’t have a lot of time to clean it. This brand is out of Sweden and those dudes know their outdoors gear. I could go on and on about them but there’s not much more needed to be said. At $115 you’re getting an incredible knife for a hell of a price.
https://www.amazon.com/Fallkniven-F1-Thermorun-Handle-Sheath/dp/B001JA9Y66/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1549089232&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=fallkniven&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41BlkNY8VfL&amp;ref=plSrch
Now look at the Esee 6P, this is a good example of everything a knife should be and no more. Its 1095 high carbon steel so the implication would be to keep it cleaned and oiled, but there is a DLC (diamond like carbon coating) so it will keep the rust at bay until it wears off over time. $116 is a modest price, especially for the size of this particular knife.
https://www.amazon.com/ESEE-Desert-Molded-Polymer-Sheath/dp/B0049TYBL2/ref=pd_aw_sim_468_1/147-9912666-5096041?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B0049TYBL2&amp;pd_rd_r=35b4fb85-26b5-11e9-a2ee-7323802ef2ad&amp;pd_rd_w=EV1gz&amp;pd_rd_wg=WIYnq&amp;pf_rd_p=469620d9-3e90-496d-9dc8-b19f900ba5fe&amp;pf_rd_r=VEHBMYRN110K86ZGZE9G&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=VEHBMYRN110K86ZGZE9G
That being said I don’t know a great deal of “brand name” filet knives but what I can assure you of is that there is no more a reliable product than a Morakniv. They literally have a knife for every job, and they’re all incredibly robust and utilitarian. Don’t let the low price point fool you, they are worth much more than the company charges. These are made of 12c27n sandvik steel, again in Sweden. The steel is good stuff, nothing glamorous but still a step above 440c. They have awesome belt clips that are just as simple as can be and I couldn’t personally suggest a whole line of knives other than Morakniv.
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Fishing-Comfort-Stainless-6-1-Inch/dp/B00EAL1HI4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1549089826&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=mora%2Bfillet%2Bknife&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31IMwXb73cL&amp;ref=plSrch&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1
I have no experience this, but ever consider a Kukri
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HZIF7N0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687522&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=B00F2ISW32&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=1A32FANH989TS53W1XGP
Boker Plus Urban Trapper Cocobolo
Wife picked it up at Amazon.
It seems like an almost perfect EDC when wearing business attire. The opening mechanism is crisp, smooth, and somewhat less threatening than many other knives I have seen.
The only thing that caught me off guard is how light it is. I'm not sure if it is a good or bad thing, but it weighs about half as much as any other knife I own.
The Mora garberg is full Tang clan.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I1GITMA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1509636963&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=mora+garberg+knife
This will probably be my next knife. I've tried both carbon steel and stainless. My main BC knife is a condor bushlore and it's been great. If I ever upgrade it, it will be the Mora garberg.
Moraknil Garberg: https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Garberg-Sandvik-Stainless-4-3-inch/dp/B01I1GITMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503887832&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=morakniv+garberg
Boker Plus 01BO734 Urban Trapper 3 1/2 in. Blade https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010IH57ES/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9bMyybHDYBQWF
This is what I have. Kershaw Cinder knife. It's small, durable, and didn't break my bank. It seems very well built and comes from a reputable company. Kershaw 1025X Cinder Knife, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BAJK7DE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1CykzbBE808BT
Got a blade material are you looking for? (stainless steel or carbon)
Blade profile? (drop point, tanto, spear, clip)
Blade grind? (Flat, Saber, Scandinavian, or Hollow)
Off the top of my head:
Becker BK16 - flat 1095Cro-Van
Esee Camp Lore PR-4 - Saber 1095
Esee 4P - flat 1095
Esee Izula - flat 1095
Morakniv Bush Crafter - Scandinavian 1095
Morakniv Garberg - Scandinavian 14C28N
Cold Steel Master Hunter - Flat VG1 in San Mai
&#x200B;
FYI The ESEE brand has perhaps the best lifetime warranty of fixed blades. Return and they will replace with no questions asked policy. It is also transferable so they do tend to keep their value over time. Tactical Intent is a verified seller on amazon. At that price range you can get a pretty great knife.
Hope this helps!
congrats man
I keep a very small foldout knife on my keychain: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BAJK7DE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I used to carry a larger flip out knife but... flipping something like that open out on the street can attract the wrong type of attention.
That is a very large knife, almost 17" long, which is a bit big for my tastes. My favorite at the moment is a Gerber LMF II but the ubiquitous KA-BAR is also hard to beat.
this is quite the can of worms. people are very emotional about their knives.
the popular knives are this and this
that said, the bear grylls knife is a good knife, especially at the price point. the LMF II is similar but the butt hammer is a different style and the sharpener on the sheath is different as well.
my main complaint about the bear grylls knife is the firestarter. there's a small portion on the back of the blade to scrape it but it just feels awkward when doing so. using the main blade however, will dull it and thus should not be used.
Well... I'm sure it's "ok". I wouldn't buy it, If I had the money I would get http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B000E3QUB6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1426028020&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Lmf+II&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31FmPJrcQNL&amp;ref=plSrch&amp;pi=SX200_QL40 and a fire striker. I feel it's a better quality and as an american I can be happy it's made in the U.S. The consensus on this sub (from what I've seen in the past) is that bear grillis gerber knives are crap.
Nah get one of these instead. Just as cheap and guaranteed to last a lot longer.
Flashlight: Nitecore TIP
Knife: Byrd Cara Cara
Pen: Pilot Kakuno
Wallet: Saddleback Leather Sleeve Wallet
Caribiner: Metolius Mini
Total: 98.33
More realistically, I would DIY the wallet with a $10 piece of tooling leather, and get a better knife like a Spyderco Efficient. This would put me a couple dollars over, so swap the pen for a Zebra F701. Total:$100.42
Hard mode:
Flashlight: Nitecore Tube
Knife: Opinel #6
Pen: Pilot Kakuno (same as linked above)
Wallet: DIY Sleeve (as discussed above)
Caribiner: Metolius (same as linked above)
Total: $49.14
A Morakniv Classic is a pretty great choice. Comfortable grip, well made, cheap. You just have to be aware that it is carbon steel, so it will rust if you leave it wet, and the sheath it comes in is kinda crappy. If you don't mind those two things, a mora would be great for you. If you'd rather a folding knife, the other one I can recommend is an Opinel. While that particular knife is carbon steel, you can get the Opinel in stainless as well, and it has pretty much all the same advantages of a Mora.
All that being said, so long as your Swiss Army knife is sharp, and you start on an easy bit of wood, soft, no knots, straight grain, you probably don't need a new knife.
I'd try to build this EDC with the assumption that I could keep it for years (if not indefinitely):
Wallet: allett Ultra Slim Sport Wallet - $15
Knife: Opinel No. 6 Carbon - $12
Multitool: Leatherman Style PS - $25
Light: Olight i3s - $15
Pen: Zebra Sarasa Clip - $3
Watch: Timex Weekender - a variant under $30
I EDC a Style PS right now, and have EDCed the Olight i3s and Zebra Sarasa Clip in the past. I own (but have never EDCed) an Opinel No. 8 stainless, and it's excellent, but I wish it were smaller and could sharpen up even more, so No. 6 carbon it is. I've handled allett wallets in stores and trust their usability and quality. The Timex Weekender is the only one on this list that I haven't had direct experience with, but it's the cheapest watch I could find that I'd feel I could keep for a long time.
I would consider any tailstanding AAA light under $15 with a reasonable high and low. I went with the Olight i3s because I've used it, but I'd also take the Lumintop Worm or Thrunite Ti3 if I could get it under $15.
Opinel no.6, 7 or 8.
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-Carbon-Steel-Folding-knife/dp/B000UGYWQM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426518486&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=opinel
Hope this helps a tad!
Found my Smith and Wesson folder online!
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWFR2S-Partially-Serrated/dp/B001J690VE
Love this knife but it's getting old and I enjoy knives and want to get into collecting. I'm sure everyone here understands haha
A RAT, a Tenacious, an Opinel, or a Cryo are the usual choices. What's wrong with 8cr13mov steel? It's not the best but for sub $30, it'll get the job done.
Well heres a list of some from amazon.
Hope that helps!
PS if you aren't sure about your knife laws check out this PDF just scroll to your state and check. Also /r/Knives can probably help you if you have more specific questions about knives. Although going to that sub-reddit will also probably mean spending more than $30 so be forewarned.
> or you could keep one of these[2] handy for emergencies.
I keep a Smith & Wesson Border Guard 2 in my car just in case for the seat belt cutter and window breaker.
http://www.amazon.com/Schrade-SCPENBK-Tactical-Pen-Black/dp/B003AACADM/ref=pd_ybh_3
http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Tactical-aviation-Aluminum-Anti-skid/dp/B00LB39VLO/ref=pd_ybh_4
its a shrade tactical pen
EDIT: link: http://www.amazon.com/Schrade-SCPENBK-Tactical-Pen-Black/dp/B003AACADM
Don't get a Skyline, they look nice but feel like a wonky butter knife, and they don't fit your size requirements anyway.
Here are some superior options:
Ontario RAT-1 ($26.88, amazon)
Ontario Utilitac 2 ($24.95, knifecenter)
[Bee EL-01](http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Enlan-EL-01A-Folding-
Camping/dp/B00CFX38DG) ($18.95, amazon)
Cold Steel Voyager Large ($43.35, amazon)
Spyderco Resilience ($40.98, amazon)
If you don't mind buying an evil counterfeit, you could also try a carbon fiber, uh, let's call it a Chinderer, with cf from here ($22.99, aliexpress)
Titanium is not an ideal knife material. A stainless steel blade, even one made of cheaper steel will perform better than a titanium equivalent.
The knife you linked is not titanium, I think they are claiming the coating is Carbonitride Titanium but the blade itself is good old AUS 8. Which is a decent steel. If you like that knife, it would probably work just fine.
In this price range, I was going to recommend Kerhsaw, Benchmade and Spyderco. But, I just looked through the UK amazon store and your choices are really slim. So, I looked through the store and picked a couple solid choices.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/g6q/Ontario-Knife-Company-Folder-Plain-Folding-Blade/B001E8EM2E/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spyderco-Resilience-Plain-Folding-Knife/dp/B004AWOLV8/
If you end up further down the rabbit hole /r/knives, /r/knifeclub, /r/turtle/
Have you thought about the [Dragonfly?] (http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Dragonfly2-Lightweight-Black-PlainEdge/dp/B004GUL6IA/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1408379680&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=spyderco+dragonfly+ii)
Check out the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 as a less-bulky, aesthetically-pleasing knife.
$85? You must be looking at a ZDP version. Regular VG-10 version is more like $45
Spyderco Dragonfly2 Lightweight Black FRN PlainEdge Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GUL6IA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_kft.wb6CMEN7K
Seconded. I just retired my M16 combo tanto because the handle is uncomfortable, boxy, and thick; and the blade angles are weird and very hard to sharpen well. For $35, I recommend the Kershaw Skyline (the same length as the M16, here it is in orange) or Scallion. I haven't had a Tenacious, and it seems large for my tastes, but for Spyderco a Dragonfly ($45) is next on my list.
You might try the Spyderco Dragonfly 2. 2.25" blade, great with a zip-tie mod for even easier opening, wonderful cutting power for such a small, compact blade.
Edit: I know you're not a fan of Spydercos, however the blade shape here really gives you maximum torque and control for how incredibly short of a blade you're restricted to.
Cheap carbon steel knives I've had my hands on are Glock Field Knife, the Cold Steel GI Tanto, and the Cold Steel Bushman.
The GI Tanto is very heavy and effectively indestructible. My brother in-law describes it as an orc knife. Easy to make a spear out of but not as easy as the bushman. Can be bent 90 degrees laterally and spring back.
The Glock is also indestructable and while not as heavy as the tanto it isnt light either. Very thick spine. Comes with or without a root saw.
The bushman is much lighter and thinner than the other two. Turns into a spear really easily. Can also be bent 90 degrees laterally.
Not saying any of these are the best there is but I have used them all and I couldn't see any of them ever breaking outside of extreme abuse. They're also a fraction of your budget so that's always nice. Don't expect them to be pretty. They're purely utilitarian.
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y
The Cold Steel GI tanto is pretty great, and for $20 you can't complain, my friend abuses his like crazy, and it holds up great
Given the job and the terrain I'm imagining this is more of a general-abuse knife (ie, "sharpened pry-bar") than a dedicated cutter. Accordingly, I'd try not to spend a fortune on it.
Though they're not serrated I'd be inclined to get a couple of these (~$26 on Amazon) which are designed to be cheap abusable knives for this situation. If there's lots of prying to be done an interesting option would be to get a Breacher Bar, plus a sheath for it (such as this one but currently out of stock), wrap the handle with paracord and pair it with a decent folding knife (such as the RAT 1) for actual cutting.
Other usual suspects:
http://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-Fighting-Utility-Serrated-Sheath/dp/B000BSZDP8
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Short-Tanto-Point-Serrated/dp/B001EIALK6
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Short-Fixed-Blade-Knife/dp/B000JMEWBC/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1334972468&amp;sr=1-5
(NB: with the Ka-bars make sure you get 1095 carbon steel not 440A stainless.)
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Kraton-Handle-Concealex/dp/B000BSY9AS
Or, for something rather smaller maybe an ESEE 3.
Edit: Just remembered the Glock 78 - again it's on the sharpened-pry-bar side of things and sheath and retention are probably better than most of the options above. (It's a proper Glock product and not just some random company that's licensed the name (I'm looking at you, Smith and Wesson) and IIRC is issued in the Austrian forces.) Available in black, olive green, and sand colours. There's also a saw-back version (the Glock 81 IIRC) but I'd recommend against that.
http://www.amazon.com/Switchblade-Comb/dp/B004JK1NIA
Maybe get him one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Switchblade-Comb/dp/B004JK1NIA
Looks awesome! You should get one of these to use on your beard when you need it.
I carry daily carry a Spyderco Ambitious, and it is perfect because even after a few years of use it is impossible to "flip" open using "centrifugal force" as referred to in NY Penal Law § 265 (5) yet it is very useful as an EDC because of its blade shape. It is only a 2.25 inch blade, but for using it as a tool it is more than adequate, and I would recommend it to anyone carrying in NYC. It cannon be flipped open because of the short blade and the low moment of inertia of the blade, as well as the high quality slip joint mechanism holding the blade in place while closed. You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415218781&amp;sr=8-8&amp;keywords=spyderco
If you want a knife, take a look at the Kershaw Leek it's an awesome, medium sized folder, it is a great value for what you get. Amazon puts them on sale for sub $35 sometimes, so keep an eye out for that. It also has some different colored handle scales if you want to personalize it more to your liking.
If you want something a little smaller than the Leek, you could take a look at the Spyderco Ambitious, which is also a high value knife (less so than it's $35 bigger brother the Tenacious).
If you want an even smaller blade, take a look at the Spyderco Ladybug, it sports a 1.94 inch blade, so very inconspicuous and not "scary looking" at all. It'll look even more fun if you get yellow handle scales on it. They also have a purple version.
These are just a few options for you to look at, it really is only the tip of the iceberg. These are low cost, high value for what you get, I'm recommending the lower cost knives specifically because someone who isn't into knives might not value them as much (and thus not willing to pay higher amounts of money) compared to a person who is into knives. A lot of people think "What do I need a knife for?", well buy one, carry it on your person for a month and get back to me, you will see what a useful tool it is after carrying one for a decent amount of time.
Another option, the Spyderco Ambitious. A lot along same lines, in your price range and offers some good quality for budget. It is not assisted like you like, but once you get the flick down using spyder hole, it is a fun little blade.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO
Long time follower on r/knifeclub and this is my first post! It's been almost 2 years since my last knife purchase so I figured it was time.
I'm over in Alberta, Canada so knives (Besides buck and gerber) are pretty slim without ordering.
I hopped on to amazon.ca and found paramilitary 2's for for $154.99 CAD! You can't even get them from the states for that cheap!
Heres the link : https://www.amazon.ca/Spyderco-ParaMilitary2-Camo-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004VZVI88/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
I've always been a huge fan of the delica and VG-10 so when I saw the blue delica 4 in stock I had to add it to my cart as well.
I've also been practicing freehand sharpening so I figured I may as well get a 3rd and see how I like 8cr13mov.
(Didn't get to include the Opinel #8 I also got!)
The blade on the CX is a lot better, good choice.
Spyderco PM2 is a solid choice, there's also a few Benchmades like the Griptillian that comes in a lot of different styles that make great general purpose work knives.
I have the Original Trayvax in charcoal gray, might get one of the newer models though.
Opening boxes, cutting tags off clothing, opening up bags of food (if scissors are far away), random things that require more dexterity/less size than your finger (but do not necessarily require a blade), opening locked doors, opening beer bottles, using it as a single-slot screwdriver for a few things, etc.
...and I only have this knife (not a multitool). Imagine what I could do if I carried a multitool every day.
Few different Leeks are Amazon's deal of the day
$41.96 - DLC-Coated - https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Unisex-Onion-Assisted-Flipper/dp/B0009VC9YK/
$33.48 - Purple Anodized - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU6NIV2?pf_rd_p=f3acc539-5d5f-49a3-89ea-768a917d5900&amp;pf_rd_r=3E55T7XT0DZ2S6PQ0VXA
$36.73 - Black Anodized - https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Stonewashed-1660SWBLK-High-Performance-SpeedSafe/dp/B00AU6NIFI/
It's definitely enough for a nice knife, though you might want to go a bit higher for a great knife. The KaBar BK2 is actually designed with things like batoning (hammering the knife through wood as a kind of faux hatchet using another piece of wood against the blade of the knife as the hammer itself) or chopping. It's a bit over $60, currently available for $69 to be precise, but as long as you don't flat out abuse it (prying heavy things, for example) it'll serve you well and quite possibly for the rest of your natural life.
At a lower price, you can get the Condor Bushlore, which at $35 is a perfectly valid choice that will serve you well indeed.
For an even lower price yet, the Mora Heavy Companion is from one of those few cheaper knife companies that does incredible work. I wouldn't baton with it, honestly, but even if you did it'd probably hold up just fine.
At a more expensive range, the Ontario Rat-5 is an amazing bushcraft knife. The Fallkniven Pilot Survival Knife is also an amazing knife. The Benchmade Bone Collector is spectacular knife made in D2 tool steel, one of the better steels available at that price. Another amazing knife is the Spyderco Bushcraft made in O1 tool steel. Finally, the Benchmade 162 is a pretty amazing knife.
One thing you'll notice about all of these knives with the exception of the Pilot Survival knife and the BM 162 is that they're all carbon steel knives. Carbon steel is a lot tougher than stainless (with a few very, very rare exceptions I'd never trust a long knife to be stainless steel) with the trade off of being a lot more of a hassle to take care of, since it needs to be regularly cleaned and oiled.
If you want a fire starter, carry a magnesium fire starter. With the carbon steel knives, you can probably strike it against the back of the blade to create the sparks you'll want and if not (like with some of the coated ones) you'll be carrying the striker anyway.
For sharpening, you'll want to get a decent sharpening setup and start stropping. A couple of easy sharpening systems would be the superior Spyderco Sharpermaker (usually available on Amazon around the $50 mark) or the Lansky Sharpening system which while cheaper isn't as good. You could take the time to learn how to free hand it, but most casual users don't care that much because it takes a long time to get proficient at freehand sharpening. Stropping is running the blade against something like smooth leather (usually smooth leather, actually) to remove burrs along the blade of a knife made by use and sharpening and the restore a blade to a better edge without removing metal. Stropping allows for a level of sharpness unachievable by sharpening alone and extends a knife's lifetime by allowing sharpness to be achieved for longer without removing metal from the blade. To learn how to strop, watch videos on YouTube or check out guides from the sidebar of /r/knives.
Finally, if you want a whistle, just carry a whistle. If you want a mirror for signaling, carry a small signaling mirror or mirror polish the knife you buy (a process where you sand the blade with increasing grit level sandpaper until it shines like the sun and you can see yourself in the blade).
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
$150 is plenty of budget for a good knife. This one is just slightly over that budget but will last you the rest of your life. It's kind of my dream survival knife.
The Fallkniven F1 is very popular as well and right in your price range.
Currently I use this knife which is also very good.
If you want to go a little less expensive still, Becker makes some good ones such as the Bk16. I know the Becker doesn't look anything like "hand made", but I have the BK2- I used paint remover to take the black coating off the blade, replaced the plastic handles with micarta and stained it to look more like wood, and built a leather sheath for it. It's a beautiful knife now. Too bad it's so goddamn heavy.
You could also go with something like the Mora bushcraft. I have that one also, very decent knife.
You could even just get a regular Mora or a Condor bushlore which are even more economical options.
Boker kwaiken.
Edit: It's classy, relatively small, and not as threatening as a PM2. If looking scary plays a factor, maybe get the Boker Urban Trapper or the classic. Comes in Cocobolo and Carbon Fiber. And of course the G10.
With the Kwaiken, comes in Carbon Fiber, stonewash titanium, G10 and Micarta. Could also get the mini-kwaiken
Edit2: OOR you can get the buck 055. Tiny ass knife that you barely notice is there, doesn't need a clip, and is the opposite of intimidating.
Boker Urban Trapper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010IH57ES/ref=twister_B018K3OLOO?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1 CRKT Crossbones https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-7530/dp/B06XS5CY5S
The boker plus is a far superior knife to the crkt thats the one i would purchase.
That skillet is gold.
I have this Gerber knife instead, but same idea.
Right?
Now, apparently, I get my choice of some overpriced $300+ pair of headphones, to throw on the pile of regular-ass headphones that I have which do the job just fine, a $150 pocket knife that I probably won't like more than my $14 Opinel (seriously...I can't see what the point of $100+, very losable pocket knife is...what does it sing you a song when you're using it to open your mail?), or...a watch. I guess they sell camping equipment too? Lol?
It just seem like they're trying to move away from a site that offered good deals on a variety of objects to being a site that offers only absurdly expensive versions of objects you probably already have, primarily for hipsters that don't mind spending hundreds of dollars...on a knife, or a pair of headphones. Or something?
I don't get it, personally. They must not be doing well.
Leatheman Style CS has excellent scissors and a very good blade for it's size(1.6in blade). It is basically a step up for the SAK classic. Better scissors, blade, and tweezers. Loose the toothpick and gain a bottle opener. Can be found for around $20. It won't replace an actual knife in most peoples EDC, but for many it could.
If it isn't enought knife then look into a value dedicated knife like an opinel no.6 as well if you want more knife.
Hi!
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I am the same, always bring a flask of whiskey. I also always bring a pipe and tobacco, cob pipes are pretty light.
Anyways, here are my suggestions:
All together these adjustments would save you around 10.4lbs. Hope this helps!
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Good luck and have a great trip!
Here's mine. (I didn't include anything crazy like a Spyderco Manix 2...which I've wanted for years...just stuff that's affordable)
Yeah, $12, quality blade, very light, ingenious locking mechanism that will lock it either open or closed. I probably am going to pick to a no. 8, too, little bit bigger, but the 6 is perfect for my pocket.
How about this?
I've had my eye on this. KA-BAR is known for making good, solid knives that can take a beating. Not sure how it would hold up as a pry-bar though. The handle is kraton, which is a polymer. I'm not sure if it's non-conductive...but I think most polymers are.
Big Left, top to bottom:
Gerber Gator Jr.
Harbor Freight $8 survival knife
KA-BAR #1213 Black Straight Edge
Ka-Bar Short Kraton-G Handle
Big Right, top to bottom:
Schrade SCHKM1 Large Full Tang Fixed Blade Kukri
Schrade SCHKM1SM Small Full Tang Fixed Blade Kukri
Schrade SCHF9N
Small stuff, top row, left to right:
Bessey D-BKWH Quick-Change Folding Utility Knife - Wood Grain Handle
Some cheap Husky multitool I got at Home Depot two-for-five-bucks back in '10 or '11
CRKT Eraser
Small stuff, bottom row, left to right:;
SOG Aegis Mini
Kershaw Thistle
Spyderco Resilience
-----
The Harbor Freight was an impulse thing. Same with the cheap-o Home Depot multitools.
The rest is pretty budget-conscious stuff. No matter what, though, even though they're not considered top-of-the-line or whatever, nobody will ever convince me that Schrade doesn't make some pretty damn good knives.
> any specific knife recommendations
I'm sure you'd get better than my (recommendations) from a specific sub but we've been using Cutco at home with great success so far. We've got a basic set for home, spent altogether about $40-60 per blade, and couldn't be happier so far. In the restaurant (sushi) the chef pics his own stuff and I see him with no name knives he gets somewhere from Korea that he has sharpened about every 3-4 days and it works for him, I'm sure it wouldn't be exactly what you'd want for home unless you want to be flashy.
At home we also have and use constantly some random stuff including all kinds of J.A.Henckels knives with various success, I think the worst one was either Spanish or Chinese made. I like a $5 random blade at some point acquired from Target or Walmart better than one of those.
Again, the main point is to find something that serves your purpose without emptying your wallet. Cutco more or less did it for us at home and now and then we'd use some very very weird and random stuff we picked up here and there, nothing really fancy, and whenever we have people who prep food us and don't bring their own tools, they are ok with our even shittiest serrated plastic handle crap, which is kind of weird.
Personal favorite though, sometimes for shits and giggles, I'll cut a salad with a Ka-Bar (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-1213-Black-Straight-Sheath/dp/B001AIAIP8/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1497043965&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=ka-bar).
This is all you need. You could buy 3 with your gift card. Seriously, not all knives have to have military color schemes.
Opinel makes good knives for hella cheap. I love 'em and think they're classy.
If you want just a knife, I think you can go for a classic knife like a Buck model 110 (Link) or an Opinel (number 8 - Link) are safe bets.
Edit: Added Amazon.com links
There's the Shilin Cutter
Chambriard makes some cool ones
The classic Opinel or douk douk
[The Okapi knife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi_(knife)
Higonokami
Sgian Dubhs
The Navaja
The German Mercator
Canadian Grohmann
Mora
Swiss army knife
Stockman
Also, here is a good website to find similar knives: http://www.worldknives.com/
If he had been carrying a Swiss Army knife that's probably the style he prefers, Opinel makes single bladed knives that open in the same way his old SAK did, and leatherman makes amazing multitools, I would recommend checking all these brands out.
Opinel knives are usually extremely cheap and run about 20$/£, their most popular knife is the No. 8 for about 12$/£, it comes in other colors and wood types as well. No. 8 is a bigger model and it might be a little bulky for someone use to a SAK, the small the number in the name ex. No. 7, No.6, get smaller as their number designation does. I have the No. 8 Trekking knife in slate and its a pretty great knife for its price (18$/£).
If he likes Swill Army Knives, there are quite a few more options to look at, they can get a little pricey for their size at times, I own the Tinker, this was my first knife and I have found that looking at the tools on these knives would behoove you. I do not need an awl in the knife I carry every day for instance. There are many many options to chose from, and through a little sifting you may find one that you feel suits him best. Victorinox (the brand that makes swiss army knives) also makes knives that are a little closer to the opinels I mentioned earlier, a few of their models (like this one) are simply one or two blades. I would look into local laws however, I know some places do not allow blades that can be opened with one hand like the one I linked you to.
Leatherman makes wonderful multitools and a few pocket knives. Nearly everything they make have blades that lock as a safety feature, although very few can be flicked open, so I would check the specifics of this law, I doubt a multi-tool is illegal. This is the Micra, it appears to be a smaller version of a leatherman I own that I cannot find on their site. This one has a blade that opens in a way that is legal for sure, its blade does not lock either. If you find that some locking blades are allowed, the Skeletool is a favorite of mine, it may look a little outlandish but it has always had the best combination of essential tools out of any of my multi-tools, and it is one of my favorites. The Style is a smaller version with slightly different tools ( I don't think it has screwdrivers), but it's blade does not lock. The skeletool is about 70$/£ I think, and their smaller tools like the micra and style are under 30$/£, this brand has quite a bit more I didn't touch on, if you think he would like something like this I would check out site, I hope you find something that works, I know I'm always thrilled when my girlfriend gets me a new knife.
Considering he kept mentioning self-defense even when you said that's not your intention...sounds like they were just messing with you (why, idk).
You probably already found a pocketknife replacement, but I had the same idea as you and found the Opinel no. 8. It's cheap, sharp, and doesn't look too threatening. If anything it's just a picnic knife but it can cut through boxes & zip-ties just fine.
This answer assumes 1) you want a few knives to cover different uses and 2) you can dig in the couch cushions for $3.53 or you can wait for Amazon's prices to fluctuate just a little bit. The price on the Kershaw jumped $3 just while I am typing this up...
EDC: Kershaw Blur, $54.17. I'm a little goofy, and I like the serrated tanto even though it looks like ass. I assume for most people, they'd prefer the straight blade. I've had one for a few years, and it works great. Just the right size, comfortable grippy handle, and I love the opening mechanism.
Camping knife: Condor Tool and Knife Bushlore 4.375-Inch Drop Point Blade, $36.41. The QA on fit and finish is apparently an issue with this company, but I didn't notice any problem on mine. It's not going to win a beauty competition, but its a hard worker. One of the comments on Amazon says it's the AK-47 of the knife world. I'm inclined to agree.
Inconspicuous Folder: Opinel #8, $12.95. I don't actually own one of these, so caveat emptor, but they come highly recommended by the hive mind. It's a classy looking folder that you could carry around in your suit's jacket pocket or your briefcase.
Under $50? Oy, so many choices.
Opinel knives. Any of them. Sharp as hell, thin blades, cheap enough that if you break one, you don't care.
Nemosine Singularity $20, but a simple and nearly bulletproof fountain pen. Makes my life much easier and my hands hurt much less after a long day writing.
Old Hickory kitchen knives. They're carbon steel and will rust if you don't clean and dry them after each use, but the thin blades and good geometry made a $12 butcher my favorite knife in the block. Mine took some work with a file to get the point sharp, but for $10 it was worth it.
Estwing tools. My hammer has kept grinning through 15 years of work, and still is in excellent shape. One reviewer complains of a ringing noise- never heard it.
Posted this in another thread: http://bit.ly/TWNlLd
You could also check out the Tenacious or Opinel
I have this one. Only $20, and it has withstood a barrage of abuse over the last three years. Plus it has a belt cutter and a window smasher in case you're in an accident and can't get out of your car.
Agreed. I was gifted this awesome Smith and Wesson knife during last year's Secret Santa (along with a bunch of other awesome, very thoughtful travel things) and it's been endlessly useful.
Yeah that lock is a piece of shit. But here's the knife.
I keep a Smith and Wesson Border Guard on me, but its not really for self defense. I use it for... well, whatever needs cutting, improvised hammering, ghetto screwdrivering, etc. I think I've even used it as a crowbar once (and surprisingly did not fuck it up at all). And it's nice have the glass breaker/seatbelt cutter on it, just because you never know.
Glass-breaker, seat belt cutter, and handy tool. I use mine once a day at least.
I'm hoping I never need the first two functions, though.
1. Single Malt Scotch
2. Good Watch
3. Straight Razor Shavette + Kit
4. Decent Pocket Knife
5. Shoe Shine kit
6. Fountain Pen
7. Leather Wallet
8. EDC flashlight
9. Men's manicure set
10. Bottle Opener
Lo!
Also, I really really really want Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium as it is part of the process getting my computer back up and running. However I realistically do not expect that :-P
In real life I could use a tactical pen I have to do therapy and home evaluations in pretty shady neighborhoods and it would be cool to have a pen and semi self defense tool just in case.
Amazon nigga. Maybe the [Fury Trainer?] (https://www.amazon.ca/Butterfly-Trainer-Knife-Silver-Finish/dp/B003YCWFRM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468598751&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=fury+trainer)
I picked up 3 of these for $25 and free shipping, the first one's been starting to fall apart and was stiff at the beginning but for being so cheap its really nice. Keep in mind im no expert on balisong trainers as this was my first one.
In that price range, from lowest to highest price, I found these in a quick search on Amazon:
All of these use pretty much identical materials, and have identical features and quality. So go with whichever you like best.
The steel used on these is middle of the road (the same as used in your Tremor), but overall quality is outstanding for the price. All around these will outperform and feel nicer than any Kershaws in the same price class, though I have nothing against Kershaw's better knives.
I recently received $400 in Amazon gift cards from my Chase Freedom rewards card. These are some of the practical items I've bought for myself:
Fenix E21 Flashlight (2xAA, 150/48 Lumens) - $32.45
Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife - $29.99
Spyderco Resilience Black G-10 PlainEdge Knife - $39.14
Those 3 items add up to $101.58 but if you buy a flashlight you'll also need to buy batteries. I also bought a Fenix TK35 High Performance 820 Lumen Flashlight after being impressed by the Fenix E21.
Besides those items I bought a 1000mA car charger for my phone to replace a cheap 500mA charger, two 4GB SD (not SDHC) cards for use in my '07 Audi, a 5x7 Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer, and a Philips Sonicare HX9332/05 DiamondClean Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush
I'll give you some options here instead of just one choice.
This CRKT is a wonderful tool.
If you'd like another Spyderco you can't go wrong with a Dragonfly or a Centofante III.
If you've never got a Kershaw they're killer knives for the price. The Leek is a great introduction.
Or, you could buy 2 knives with your fifty. Ontario's RAT I and RAT II are some sweet knives.
Depending on your taste. You simply cannot go wrong with any of these knives.
Spyderco Dragonfly
If you like kershaw you can get a blur with S30v steel for around 65$ on amazon if you still want a kershaw. I've never been too impresed with them since I find their build quality to be lacking. They seem to have an excessive amount of blade play and use average quality steels in most of their knives. The a premium steel that can hold a razor sharp working edge. The spyderco delica/endura line is also a great knife. They have full flat ground blades that come razor sharp from the factory with absolutlely no blade play. I personally carry a green delica as one of my edc knives. The dragonfly is also great if you want a knife that dissapears on your person. it is a featherweight knife, that cuts and handles like a much larger knife.
If you are looking for a knife that can take an absolutely harsh beating, I would have to reccomend an Ontario RAT 1 or 2 depending on you size preference. They are a bit heavy in hand compared to other knives it size, but perform just as good as any of my spydercos. It is also on the cheaper side at around 25$.
The benchmades are also a good choice, but I would also reccomend the benchmade mini-presidio.
Anyways, I thought I might as well just post some links to them:
S30v Kershaw Blur
Benchmade Mini Presidio
[Benchmade Griptillian] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Q9BOF0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=2Q6YQ3PL1NNYW&amp;coliid=I1IO3PSF8569TW)
Benchmade Mini Griptillian (I prefer thumb hole openers, but both griptillians also are offered with combo edges and thumb studs.)
Spyderco Dragonfly
Spyderco Delica
Spyderco Endura
Ontario RAT 1
Ontario RAT 2
I would second the Delica recommendation. Amazon has a Delica 4 ffg in Purple that would do nicely. The Dragonfly 2 in a very dark green frn and a yellow H1 salt frn would be great as well. Great gift idea man!
At the top end of your budget there's the Spyderco Dragonfly and it fits all of your crieria.
You could also go with something a little more classic, like the Buck 501 or Uncle Henry. Though they both use 400 series stainless.
You might also like the Kershaw Black Gultch.
There's the Buck Nobleman that I've heard decent things about (440A).
And lastly, I don't consider it a party without a Boker.
CZ 75 Compact
Holster
Wallet
Nexus 5
Streamlight Flashlight
Chapstick
Spyderco Dragonfly2
RayBan RB 4075 Sunglasses
Keys
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H9DO4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_kCaXDb5J4JZJC
I use a cold steel gi tonto. I have literally beaten it with an axe to split wood and it takes the punishment like a champion. Not too expensive if it breaks and with a seven inch blade it can do almost anything
Edit: added amazon link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004H9DO4Y/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/184-4945738-8788764
I only collect Spyderco knives so I'm a bit biased, but in that price range I would recommend one from their budget line. Either the Tenacious $42, Persistence $38, or Ambitious $29, listed from largest to smallest. Also check out the sidebar at /r/knifeclub for more suggestions.
Spyderco Tenacious family are all in the $25-35 range if you want a real Spyderco.
Tenacious 3 3/8" blade
Persistence 2 3/4" blade
Ambitious 2 1/4" blade
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1541692271&amp;sr=8-7&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=spyderco&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41ei%2BUu8zaL&amp;ref=plSrch
I respect your position coming into this and the responses you've given; very level overall and a nice reprieve from the folks that 'really want a karambit' for 'self defense' and 'because it looks cool'.
I'd say you should still take a look at the sidebar for knife choices if you'd be interested in carrying one. While it is an inferior self defense tool in many cases compared to a lot of alternatives (pepper spray + tied laces), it's still a fantastic tool for a bunch of crap that's significantly more likely to happen than you needing it for self defense. I've carried a knife on me daily for over half my life and at this point leaving home without one is like declawing a cat - I just feel like I'm missing something key.
If you're looking for a smaller sized knife there are a good amount of options, but the Kershaw Chill is a great knife overall, even moreso at a $20 price point. If you're ok with spending a bit more, the Kershaw Skyline is another well-loved, low-impact carry. You can also look at Spyderco's Ambitious, or the slightly larger Tenacious. A Tenacious was my first Spyderco knife and I still love the thing. Some other alternatives are the Ontario Rat 1, the smaller Rat 2.
Hopefully this helps - if you have any questions at all, please feel free to respond.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO
Spyderco Ambitious sounds like it would fit.
Edit: Or maybe a Cold Steel Tuff Lite
Spyderco
Docs
I would recommend a Spyderco Tenacious I have one, and it is probably the most sturdy folder I have. If that is a little big, you could always go with the Ambitious for less length. Finally, if you want to go still smaller, a Kershaw Cryo 2 may fit the bill. But I only have personal experience with the Tenacious.
If you don't care about the color there are digi camo ones one amazon
For those that don't know, its a Spyderco Paramilitary 2. I have wanted one since I got my tenacious over a year ago and finally pulled the trigger! Excited to break it in.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VZVI88/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I've been carrying the Kershaw Leek which is really nice if you want a precision point. Also a super fun opening mechanism. Definitely not great if you're gonna be doing rough work, as the point would fairly easily break.
It's the Sandvick steel one, I'll link the the model I have.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU6NIFI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Benchmade 15016-2 Hidden Canyon Hunter https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00I90HWYU/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_80Ecub1DSZGHW
Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00B0E1MB6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_-1Ecub0GQPFNK
You gotta be more specific in your original questions buddy.
First of all, there are 2 reasons to remove an animal from a trap. To rescue (and minimize harm to the animal), or to harvest (and minimize damage to the trap). Here in bushcrafter land, I wouldn't usually assume you aren't planning on eating what was caught in the trap.....
It does sound like you are looking for the rescue side of things, and this is for a film, and you are looking for realism..
A swiss army knife or basic folding pocketknife are fairly realistic options for what a typical person might have with them with just a general plan of being 'prepared'. Something like 4-5inch Condor Bushlore is a decent approximation for what a more bushcraft oriented person might have with them in a wilderness setting. Someone who is going out intentionally to rescue animals from traps though, that is an entirely different question! For that you'd want a blunt tip, the type found in rescue knives, and/or EMT scissors.
For realism, most of us here know enough about the various types of knife that we could likely give you good answers - but you really should explain what kind of realism you are actually going for.
Average outdoorsy person with basic 'preparedness' is likely to have something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Army-Huntsman-Leather/dp/B000IOI0NC/
Or this:
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Spine-Fixed-Blade-Camping/dp/B07DDCG3HD
Average Joe who has no idea of what makes a knife good or useful is likely to have something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Tac-Force-Police-Assisted-Tactical-Rescue/dp/B01LZ0T3N9
Average bushcraft subreddit user probably has something similar to:
https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Tool-Knife-Bushlore-Hardwood/dp/B002CC6BPM
but wishes they had:
https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-162-Bushcrafter-Drop-Point/dp/B00B0E1MB6
Someone going out with them intention of rescuing persons or animals would probably be carrying something like this though:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Rescue-Tool-Pocket-Fluorescent/dp/B000PX0LKG
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Assist-Orange-Handle-Rescue/dp/B0012G6KI2
https://www.amazon.com/LEATHERMAN-832590-Raptor-Shears/dp/B07N6P2RCB
https://www.amazon.com/DGX-Titanium-Coated-Stainless-Shears/dp/B01B2YF0AM
And then finally, I'll say this - pretty much anything sharper than a butter knife can be used to safely rescue an animal from most situations. Hell I could probably do it with a can opener or nail clippers. So just decide what sort of situation you expect your characters to have intentionally been prepared for, and go from there.
https://www.amazon.com/GI-P-38-Can-Opener-5-pack/dp/B005EAIXAU
I have the Benchmade Bushcrafter and it is one of my favorite knives for camping. Definitely worth a look. It comes with a leather sheath and a holder for a flint rod.
http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-162-Bushcrafter-Knife/dp/B00B0E1MB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1412554500&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=benchmade+162+bushcrafter
http://www.benchmade.com/products/162
Or the poverty mall ninja edition:
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-4000352-Machete-Sheath/dp/B00HZIF7N0/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cold+steel+kukri&amp;qid=1555718910&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-1
I have two manual flippers that I love, the Boker Urban Trapper and the Kershaw Skyline. The Trapper is a 3.5" blade and the Skyline is 3", so I'm not sure if that is larger than you want or not.
The other one that I really like is the Kershaw Chill, although the steel isn't great.
Kershaw Cinder. Hinderer design and very small.
Kershaw Cinder (1025X) Multifunction Pocket Knife, 1.4-inch High Performance 3Cr13 Steel Blade with Stonewashed Finish, Glass Filled Nylon Handle, Liner Lock, Bottle Opener, Lanyard Hole, 0.9 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BAJK7DE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lWjdBb19XAM9H
Headphones: Airpods (https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MMEF2AM-AirPods-Wireless-Bluetooth/dp/B01MQWUXZS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539218047&sr=8-3&keywords=airpods0
Keys: Nothing special on there except for a Tile Mate and Kershaw Cinder (https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1025X-Multifunction-Performance-Stonewashed/dp/B01BAJK7DE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539217909&sr=8-1&keywords=kershaw+cinder)
Watch: G-Shock (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GR7MG9C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Wallet: Andar Baron (https://www.amazon.com/Andar-Leather-Minimalist-Blocking-Bi-Fold/dp/B01F4KDQGA/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1539218111&sr=1-2-spons&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=andar+wallet&psc=1)
Paracord Bracelet: No link, got it a gun show last weekend
Flashlight: Olight I3T EOS (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DLRK7Q5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Pen: Pokka Pen (https://pokkapens.com/pages/produkts)
E-Cig: Aspire Breeze 2.
Knife: Kershaw Select Fire (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IVPKOU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) or Leatherman Skeletool (https://www.rei.com/product/123035/leatherman-skeletool-topo-multi-tool) depending on which one I think looks better that day
Firearm: Sig Sauer P320 compact with a subcompact frame on it and a Pyntek Compact IWB Holster (https://pyntek.com/products/compact)
Belt: Trayvax Cinch (https://www.trayvax.com/collections/gear-1/products/cinch-belt)
Water Bottle: Yeti Rambler (https://www.amazon.com/YETI-Rambler-Stainless-Vacuum-Insulated/dp/B01ADWO0E6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1539218323&sr=8-4&keywords=yeti+water+bottle)
https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Multifunction-1-4-inch-Performance-Stonewashed/dp/B01BAJK7DE
Items for outside the classroom
Biggest thing to carry is a bottle opener
Cheap Keychain Bottle Opener
You don't want some expensive bottle opener because you'll be passing it around alot and you might forget to ask for it back
BIC Lighter
Kershaw Cinder
BUT preferably swiss army knife classic
SAK Classic
or the rally with a bottle opener
SAK Rally
you sacrifice scissors for bottle opener
wallet
dont get a bifold wallet those are out of style no (no offense to anyone who still carries them) but a simple slim card holder is alot better and sleek
Things you need in the classroom
Best Red Pens a must for note taking
I wouldn't get the blue one uniball because its a dark blue almost black
So get these instead
BIC blue pen
Most "EDC" notebooks are expensive and offer very little sheets of paper. You could use one as an assignment pad but something with acutal dates is better so once you get your syllabus you can right down all the assignments during the first week.
Note books I would just go to walmart. You can get five subject notebooks for $2 now during their back to school special. Where ever you buy notebooks take advantage and buy for the spring semester because prices are only this cheap in aug/september.
Not your usual edc recommendations but I wasn't rolling in dough early on in my college career and rather let people borrow a cheap pen and let them keep it then stress about getting my pen back when I let the next person borrow it to sign in.
your edc should be what you like to carry and use
Okay top 3
Okay top 3
The mora garberg:
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-M-12642-Stainless-Compatible-4-3-inch/dp/B01I1GITMA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1538449420&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=mora+garberg&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=317HPv1LoyL&amp;ref=plSrch
Lionsteel m4 walnut:
https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Steel-Fixed-Walnut-LSTM4WN/dp/B01MQ1AU8Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1538449486&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=lionsteel+m4&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41pioBXORXL&amp;ref=plSrch
Lt Wright :
https://www.amazon.com/LT-Wright-Knives-Next-Gen/dp/B0778X8H6Z/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_468_3?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=1ZY1SF5EYKBR3Q6T1HHP
It looks like the company copys designs. They've got a Folder that looks strikingly similar to the Kershaw Cinder.
What about a victorinox sak jetsetter? There’s technically no blade but it has scissors and a little tool. I don’t know what you’d use it for normally but you wouldn’t be breaking the rules. I know a lot of teachers who use them everyday and swear buy the scissors being enough for there edc use. Plus it’s cheap AF.
Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter 3 Pocket Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00932EPYI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nHnFAbX64X83K
Or maybe a Kershaw cinder? Tiny little keychain knife. I use mine all the time. Still a knife but very small and cheap as hell.
Kershaw Cinder (1025X) Multifunction Pocket Knife, 1.4-inch High Performance 3Cr13 Steel Blade with Stonewashed Finish, Glass Filled Nylon Handle, Liner Lock, Bottle Opener, Lanyard Hole, 0.9 OZ. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BAJK7DE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mLnFAb12BWXEP
list:
boker knife:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010IH57ES/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
J. Crew handkerchief
the Wallet was made by a local guy here in my city. His name is Damien Mitchell
the watch is a seagull 1963
The LMF II is the only thing worth having in that entire kit. In fact, it's all you would need.
LMFII
Yeah, I have a Gerber Magnum that I carry primarily for self-defense, but I also have it for the off chance that I need to cut something, tighten my glasses or whatever else may come up (Zombie Outbreak). It's pretty nice, considering it's my first "real" knife, but it's starting to collect a bit of rust build on the face. It's really my own fault though, I haven't bothered to read up on how to care for a knife properly yet, so I'm pretty sure with a little scrubbing it would come off pretty quickly; I'm just hesitant to throw just any old chemical on it, as I'm afraid that it could weaken the metal or stain it some weird color.
After I return from Boot Camp I'm also considering buying either a Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife or a Smith & Weston Bullseye as a graduation present for myself. I like the thumb stud of the S&W, but I'm not crazy about the rather large serration on it.
If you get something off amazon, chuck one of these into your order.
Fair warning, you may become the go-to-guy whenever someone's knife that is ordinarily butterknife-dull becomes Back-of-the-butterknife dull.
The good news is those knives are normally a softer steel, and those cards do such a good job it won't matter anyway, with some practice they will very quickly get any knife to push cut paper.
EDIT: May as well add one or two of these as well as loaners, that way you aren't reprofiling after someone cuts onions on a ceramic plate, or goes and cuts some roots in the stoney ground.
Gotta echo the Opinel idea. You can get them in carbon steel (can rust, but it looks really cool) or stainless steel for no need to oil the blade.
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-Carbon-Steel-Folding-knife/dp/B000UGYWQM
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No-Stainless-Steel-Folding/dp/B000UGYWTO/
I also have a daily carry, opinel #06 - a little too big for that pocket so it goes in my main pocket.
I plug/unplug my Trezor probably 15-20 times a day so I've also added a magnetic usb connector to it. Bought a dock for my desk at work and home and it's been pretty awesome.
Connector I use
Opinel #06
I can only speak for Berlin but since it's in Germany, you can even carry fixed blades wit a blade lenght up to 12cm(4.72inches). But concerning the original intention of your question (at least I guess so), I'd advise you to go with a Opinel carbonsteel folder. e.g. the model no. 6. It's cheap, reliable and non-threatening and its blade is only 7cm(2.75inches) long. In fact I carry it at work myself (I work in an office).
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-Carbon-Steel-Folding-knife/dp/B000UGYWQM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1416082775&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=opinel
It's an Opinel No. 8 folding knife. Just excellent for everyday use, a lot of history behind their knives too.
Opinels are good knives that are easy to pocket and their straight blade makes them easy to sharpen by hand or an electric sharpener. Opinel No 6 Carbon Steel Folding knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UGYWQM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_6YPKwbY32X01C
It's this one (link provided for example only).
Pretty sleek and badass looking. And on sale at Midway USA for $30 cheaper than BladeHQ and Amazon right now. I've never bought from there, but just noticed the price.
I see the Tech's big brother, the SB1T-L Super SOG Bowie, on multiple "best bowie" lists, so it seems people value what they do in the bowie department. That one's a 7.5" in Aus-8 and the handle is brown leather instead of textured black Kraton. On SOG's site (though you can get better prices) it goes for $75 more than the Tech, so if that's indicative of their own in-house estimation of quality, there's maybe one suggestion on higher quality options you're after.
Staying upmarket, and to put it back in the all-black and sleek tactical-looking department, if a bit less bowie, there's the Fallkniven A1 in black. People rave about their knives.
And if you like the sleek all-black look of that Fallkniven but would rather go budget than spendy on your black badass tacticals, there's the Cold Steel SRK in SK-5 going for a song on Amazon. $35! You could just get that one for dessert. It was so cheap I just got one for fun, just to have it since I'd always liked its shape. Looks like something a Navy SEAL would fight with in the dark. It's comparably manageable in size to the Tech and the design has a long track record. The handle is the same material and pattern as the Tech, no back guard, ricasso half the size, blade width of 5mm instead of 6.1mm, weight a nice 8.2oz instead of 11.2oz, length 10.75" instead of 11". So, just an option for something cool lower down in the budget if you like 'em black and badass.
Here's another sleek black tactical with a bowie blade but otherwise not looking very bowie, looking more spy fighty, the Spyderco Street Bowie, a lot cheaper on Amazon of course.
There's the black version of the classic Ka-Bar Marines fighting knife.
My go-to combo is the Ka-Bar Cutlass machete and the Ka-Bar small sheath knife.
There's not much else you need to do on your own in the forest that these two things won't do. They hold an edge and if you keep them reasonably clean, they'll last your lifetime. Best of all, they're slim and easy to pack.
I'd add this handheld job if you think you will need to get at larger pieces of wood.
Of course, if you're not concerned about weight and portability, get a fuckin' axe.
It's a copy of the classic 'kabar' WWII Navy MkII knife, with a modern synthetic handle and coated blade.
You can get one from an original maker, kabar, for about $65 or so, if you prefer.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIAIP8/ref=twister_B07RFT43H8?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I don't have this knife but I've have a handful of Cold Steel knives and I've been happy with every one of them. Good quality for the price.
http://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-1213-Fighting-Utility-Sheath/dp/B001AIAIP8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374328331&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=ka-bar+usmc
You might want to try,
If the blade of your knife is marked with a four-digit code, you may be able to find it on the list here. If you can't find a product code, we may be able to help you identify your knife using photos. Please shoot both sides of the blade, note any unique markings, measurements, etc, and send it to [email protected]. Please allow a couple weeks for a response... sometimes these things are really tough to pinpoint.
she currently owns this knife
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWFR2S-Partially-Serrated/dp/B001J690VE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1480314536&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=smith+Tanto
Yes.
Smith & Wesson SWFR2S Extreme Ops Knife with Coated Tanto Blade and Rubber Coated Handle, Black
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J690VE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
It's part of my EDC along with my handgun.
This is great. I'm also on the search. I've heard terrible things about the BSA branded knives, so I'm looking elsewhere. I also know there's a 100% chance this knife will eventually get lost, so I'm looking for cheap (no $150 Benchmade yet!). I've found plenty of ideas from /r/knives, I've been going back and forth with these two:
I've got a few knives, but the interesting ones are an Opinel No 8 and a Mora No 2. They're not traditional, but they work fine as paring knives and are easy to keep very sharp.
IMO, Opinel or Svord Peasant Mini. Opinel. Simple carbon steel pocket knife with a solid lock, really useful blade profile & edge geometry, and heaps of class. Can't praise these little things enough. My one complaint is that they're not one-hand-opening. Svord Peasant Knife Mini. Again, about as simple as you can get in a folder, with a carbon steel blade, and no real locking mechanism to speak of; when you hold the knife, your hand wraps around the tang and keeps the blade from closing on your fingers. Very useful for outdoorsy kinda stuff, as in a pinch, you can thwack the spine of the blade with a big bit of wood to split kindling and whatnot, without worrying about a lock failure. The tang also means you can use your thumb to open it one handed. Only problem with the Svord is that the fit and finish is pretty shoddy. The grind can be kinda wonky, but as a practical odd-job knife, it's not the end of the world.
Depends on many things... and once you get to high quality knives, preference is a huge thing.
I enjoy ESEE-3MIL
They have one of the best warranties, but the price also reflects it.
it's 1095 high carbon steel, easy to sharpen and maintain, but can rust if you don't keep it clean.
You probably don't need a large knife for most things.
If you want to spend more on something fancy you can get a BUSSE
as everyone said... can't go wrong with mora for the price.. i'm personally not a fan though. I wouldn't say overall it's high quality, but the blade, where it matters.. is.
It's not too difficult to find a good camp/hunting knife. Like I said, mostly preference.
Just make sure you go with a good knife company or maker.
You can even find some real nice custom fixed knives for cheap from up and coming knife makers if you search around a bit.
Also, you could just get a folding knife.
if you want a super inexpensive one that's as legendary as the mora there is opinel no 8 - also carbon steel
or the Ontario Rat
anyhow, tons of options.
um key are key kinda stuck with em, but i got a phone/wallet protector i cant live without:
http://www.amazon.com/Speck-SPK-A0332-CandyShell-iPhone-Verizon/dp/B004PANZJY
um and a cheap pocket knife:
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04
Yea, looking at the individual retail prices for all the components:
Opinel Knife $12.95
Kaweco Pen $25.19
Godwin Bottle Opener $38
Poppin Notebook $9
That comes to a retail value of $85.14. I guess that's not so bad. However, while the bottle opener is cool, there's no way I would pay $38 for it. Without that bottle opener, the package is $47.14 at retail prices.
There are plenty of "cheap" knives that function wonderfully. For instance there is the Mercator K55K, any Opniel, Case SOD Buster, Cold Steel Tuff Lite, Camillus Trench and many more I cant think of right now. There's no danger in a "cheap" knife if its well made.
Huh. I didn't really know. I don't live in NYC, but spend about 5-6 weeks a year there on average.
I'm usually carrying an Opinel. Definitely can't open one handed - sometimes I can barely open it with two hands and have to use my teeth.
Don't forget the Ontario RAT 2
There's also the Opinel Carbon series of knives which I hear nothing but great things about (and am actually about to buy myself an Opinel No 6 soon).
Opinel 8 carbon blade is only $13.79 on Amazon right now.
I challenge anyone to find a finer pocket knife for this price. I adore mine.
It's a knife brand from France
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04
That's an example of one of their knives.
Some company history
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinel_knife
How small of a knife would you be willing to purchase?
Any of the Spyderco Bug series would be a good choice. Priced right and come in different sizes.
[Bug](http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Slip-Joint-Plain-Knife/dp/B003788U9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1373555986&amp;sr=8-1&amp;
keywords=Spyderco+bug)
Honeybee
Grasshopper
All three deal
For opening boxes (cutting tape) any of those will suffice. If your cutting cardboard, then mostly the Grasshopper will do (although not efficiently)
Also an Opinel looks classy while still being functional. All different sizes to choose from too.
http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Sandvik-Military-4-1-Inch/dp/B009NZVZ3E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382540279&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=mora+knife
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382540355&amp;sr=8-9&amp;keywords=spyderco+tenacious
http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382540386&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=opinel
http://www.amazon.com/Svord-Peasant-Knives-Knife-Handles/dp/B004HV3A3W/ref=pd_sim_hg_15
All good quality knives under $30
Opinel makes a very nice, high quality folding knife that is non-threatening in appearance and about $10. They've been making them for well over a century and your gramps probably uses one to cut an apple while leaning on a fence under the shade of a large tree.
It's a carbon blade, so wipe it down after using it, and occasionally rub it down with oil (I use coconut oil). They make stainless steel variants that won't rust and don't need to be oiled, but the carbon is higher quality steel.
Rotary Tool- https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Woodworker-51832-Rotary-100-Piece/dp/B0065UXX08/ref=sr_1_19?s=power-hand-tools&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1482834981&amp;sr=1-19&amp;keywords=rotary+tool
Rat - https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E/ref=sr_1_3?s=power-hand-tools&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1482835636&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=ontario+rat
Opinel- https://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=sr_1_2?s=power-hand-tools&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1482835690&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=opinel
Micro mesh - https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mesh-Assortment-Pack-18-Pieces/dp/B00HJC156U/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1482835463&amp;sr=8-9&amp;keywords=sanding+pack
Hi! Happy to respond!
Well the high cost is a bummer - I'm not sure about water purity in NZ but what is the cost of tablets? Usually they last forever and you only need one for a liter or so of water.
First-aid kit - you don't really need to buy a premade kit. You're going to want some first aid items in case of emergency: bandaids (do you guys call them plasters?), antibiotic ointment, anti-itch cream or bug sting relief capsules (if needed, I don't know NZ insects), some painkillers (aspirin, Tylenol, whatever), some benadryl (anti-allergy relief) at the least are things you should include in your kit. Those are the minimum items you should bring and you probably own most of them already. You don't need to bring a whole box or bottle of each, just a handful will be fine. If you were to add anything else to that I would bring some gauze tape for larger cuts or wrapping joints as well as some moleskin to help with any blisters you might get. Put all those items into a plastic zip-loc bag (waterproof!) and that's your budget first aid kit with everything you'll possibly need. And you should already know how to use all those items.
Rope - I'm a big believer in the many uses of rope. You can hang your food to keep animals from getting it. You can tie your tent or tarp down in bad weather. You can cut some off and tie your camp shoes (see camp shoes below) to your backpack if necessary. You don't need a lot of rope but for the cost and weight it's can be nice to have. I honestly use the cheap rope people buy to use on clotheslines. But this isn't necessarily a must-have, especially if you don't need to tie anything down. This reminds me that it's good practice to bring some duct tape (not a whole roll) in case you get a rip in your tent or something.
Torch - I personally like a headlamp best. The one I have is lightweight and cost about $25, it is bright and it has a flashing option. I like the headlamp because it keeps my hands free to do other things. I don't usually hike at night but it is easier for me to pee if I have both hands and don't have to hold a torch. But really any torch will do - the key is finding one that is bright (casts a wide beam so you can see around you), durable (in case you drop it), long-lasting (doesn't eat through batteries quickly), and lightweight (priority in that order). You'll mostly want it around camp at night - cooking, getting up to pee, pointing it in the direction of a scary sound. It doesn't need to be expensive or very nice.
Multi-tool - Your mileage may vary on multitools. A lot of hikers are rabid about them but I just carry a small knife. I carried a multitool a few times but the only feature I used on it was the knife. If I'm in the woods I have no need for a screwdriver or a pair of pliers or a can opener - that's just extra weight. Is there any feature of a multi-tool you think that you'll be using besides the knife? Think about that before committing to a possibly expensive and heavy multitool. You might be better off with just a small knife. Check your local laws regarding knife sizes though.
Camp shoes - I didn't remember it before but in case you hadn't thought of these, grab some lightweight shoes you can wear around camp at night. Your feet will be happy to be aired out of the boots for awhile and it'll be easier to put on in the middle of the night if you have to go pee. A pair of cheap rubber thongs is probably fine. Bonus if your camp shoes are waterproof - if you have to do stream crossings it's nice to change into them instead of getting your boots drenched :)
Here are some links to add to my comment.
Opinel Carbon Blade No8 Folding Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fVncBbP2RD1T1
Kershaw Kuro - Tanto Black Serrated Box 1835TBLKST https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F7FCJ70/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nWncBb4XK20MR
Hmm, interesting.
Personally, I keep one of these bad boys in my car. Window breaker/seatbelt cutter.
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-Partially-Serrated-Aluminum/dp/B0037F1B9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485179367&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=smith+and+wesson+window+breaker
It's kinda big, but I really like my S&W Border Guard knife. http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-Border-Rescue-SWBG2TS/dp/B0037F1B9E
Not too expensive, good blade and pretty good glass breaker too. It's my go to off duty knife.
For ~$20, I got the Border Guard 2 by Smith and Wesson from Amazon. Big solid knife with added rescue glass breaker and seatbelt cutter. It lasted me about 2 years, until I was very board and decided to "toughness test" it (Basically ran around for2 hours using as a throwing knife against mainly stones and some trees, and bowling it down a gravel driveway multiple times.) Was pretty dinged up, yet still locked ~ 97% of the time when opened. I highly recommend
Tanto with serrations: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0037F1B9E/ref=psdcmw_3222119011_t1_B0037EZ7GI
Tanto without serrations: http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWBG2T-Border-Seatbelt/dp/B0037EZ7GI
Edit: Links
Edit
I have one of these for each of my cars:
Smith & Wesson SWBG2TS Border Guard 2 Rescue Knife
Nice heavy knife with a serrated edge and a very SOLID lockup when opening.
I like this one, swapped a Fisher refill in there. Schrade scpenbk Schrade SCPENBK Tactical Pen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AACADM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zfr6ybS9B8K5N
Also love my parker jotters
Schrade tactical pen if you don't want to spend too much:
https://www.amazon.com/Schrade-SCPENBK-Tactical-Pen/dp/B003AACADM
Zero tolerance if you want to spend more money:
https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Tolerance-0010BLK-Tactical-Knife/dp/B00TIWOYM6
Both accept fisher refills.
How do I unscrew the screws on my trainer? I recently bought this and I want to use loctite on it, but I don't know what kind of screwdriver to use.
Thank's for the feedback. This one seemed nice (by the same guy), but it said it was unavailable to ship in my area http://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Trainer-Knife-Silver-Finish/dp/B003YCWFRM/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411231245&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=balisong+trainer+silver
I kind of prefer the silver finish ones. :) I'm looking at this one but it's from China so shipping would probably take a while as opposed to Amazon. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/High-Quality-Practice-BALISONG-METAL-BUTTERFLY-Steel-Trainer-Knife-with-Sheath-/221257851406?pt=Collectible_Knives&amp;hash=item3383fee20e
Know any decent sliver ones on Amazon?
Thank you! I was thinking of getting this one
https://www.amazon.ca/Butterfly-Trainer-Knife-Silver-Finish/dp/B003YCWFRM/ref=pd_aw_sbs_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8K5MR8A4MSKMPGZMTW31
(http://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Trainer-Knife-Silver-Finish/dp/B003YCWFRM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&amp;colid=3BK4OEURDAGMX&amp;coliid=I1A1X4JLIYFUJK) I've always wanted a butterfly knife, I just need to know how to use one :P
Trainers you can get no problem, I ordered this one from Amazon and had no troubles.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003YCWFRM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1457312884&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;
Very hefty.
I bought this back in 2012 and it still works great. You will need to loctite the screws but after that its pretty decent.
A hunting knife probably should be a fixed blade rather than a folder, so that's what I went with in suggestion. If you actually want a folder that you can also use for hunting/cleaning game, something that's easy to clean and service would be important! A Spyderco Resilience for $52 or Paramilitary 2 for over $100 don't have springs and whatnot you have to overly worry about and can be taken apart and put back together quite easily. You might also consider CRKT M16 series with this model being $53 OR the CRKT Homefront $53 in particular would make everything very easy.
Spyderco Resilience currently $45.45
Kershaw Blur S30V varient $66.86 currently
Kershaw Blur 14C28N varient $57.54 currently
Ontario Rat Folder in a few finishes $25.32
Ontario Rat in finish two $30.45
Ontario Rat in finish three (Satin) $34.56
Cold Steel Recon 1 Clip Point $49.95
Cold Steel Ti-Lite $40.99
www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Resilience-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004AWOLV8/
The Endura4 looks pretty good! I know this might be a stupid question but what would be the main difference between this and one of the cheaper knives like this Kershaw Emerson?
Is it steel type? Handle materials? Sharpness?
Also, what do you think of the Spyderco Resilience and Tenacious
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0052HQV40/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485534522&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=spyderco&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=416bQseRfeL&amp;ref=plSrch
If you want to stay legal
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004AWOLV8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485534784&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=spyderco&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41CRY-zVxCL&amp;ref=plSrch
If you want a longer blade
Spyderco got some unusual optics, but IMO are great.
Or if you want a knife in Retro look, I'd strongly suggest Opinel, they got all kinds of lengths to choose from. I'd get the carbon steel variant.
For about $50, these are the best you're going to get.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001EI7578/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1498269519&amp;sr=8-5&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=spyderco+resilience&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=21SYwroxw1L&amp;ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004AWOLV8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1498269519&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=spyderco+resilience&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41CRY-zVxCL&amp;ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CH1SQ8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1498269566&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=spyderco%2Bendura&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31TgYMj7KDL&amp;ref=plSrch&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1
These are all great knives, they're just a little different from each other.
> For comparison
I just spent an embarrassing amount of time searching that pic for the police model I thought you were comparing it to. Please don't tell anyone else I did that.
The trait the AFCK has that most Spydercos lack is that it has a slender profile for slipping in and out of the pocket. There's evidently something called the Spyderco Resilience that looks promising, but its relative quality is questionable (altho I'm sure it's fine for a knife priced under $50).
Spyderco has a wide range of folders under $100. There's the Delica, Endura, Dragonfly, Centofante 3, and Stretch to name a few. All high quality, made in the USA.
The Tenacious line (including the Persistence and Ambitious) is awesome if you want good quality for less than $40. However, if you want to spend more, I would definitely recommend US made knives.
Tons of good options in that price range. How big do you want to go? Some ones off the top of my head
From Kershaw:
Blur, Skyline, Leek, hell, the Cryo G10 is what, 25-30 bucks?
Spyderco:
Ton of good options in a variety of lengths and prices. I can't even begin to encompass their entire lineup. However, I'm going to recommend what's in my pocket right now, the Dragonfly 2. On amazon the Salt with H1 rustproof steel is 45 bucks right now. My friend goes scuba diving with his, the thing will not rust. The standard version in VG-10 steel is right at 50 bucks
Cold Steel 20MT Mini Tuff Lite Plain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MNAKYM/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_kOdQub1G794WP
Ive gotten used to one hans opening but might need 2 hands for some people. Comes in other neon colors too.
Or:
Spyderco Dragonfly2 Lightweight Black FRN PlainEdge Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GUL6IA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_HRdQub0CW8JGJ
I may go this direction. The extra $15 is well worth a shrunk down version of a knife I have carried daily for about 5 years now with no issue. My only issue is that on Amazon I can only find the basic DF with a bright orange handle. If you go up to the G10 version it's more expensive and the G10 adds to the width, which is something I want to keep minimal.
EDIT: Nevermind, I found it in Black on Amazon. Link
Fixed blades
http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Outdoor-Military-4-1-Inch/dp/B004TNWD40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411328955&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=mora
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411329214&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=cold+steel+knife
Folding knives
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1990-Brawler-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B005UE6GRC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411329041&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=kershaw+knife
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-3410-Chill-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002IVHQ5Q/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411329149&amp;sr=8-17&amp;keywords=kershaw+knife
If you're on the road you need shit that is all utility. I've put together a list that I think fits that bill. No Kershaw Cryo fashion knives here. I love a good looking blade but if you pull that out and lay it next to you far from being threatening someone will probably just steal it.
You need to buy a hobo knife to be a proper hobo.
For a self defense blade I would look at the Cold Steel GI Tanto. To be honest it is best used as a deterrent, it is menacing enough that it should serve that purpose. It's tough steel too so you can use it to pry and chop too. Prepping firewood with it by batoning is going to be easy.
A coarse diamond sharpening key chain is also nice to have.
Here is a waterproof jacket for $11 from Eddie Bauer.
Some inexpensive dry stuff sacks would be good too.
A stainless water bottle that you can also use for cooking is good too.
For mainly camping get a Cold Steel GI Tanto on Amazon. I usually don't like tango style blades but Cold Steel's has a thick edge that's great for bushcraft while the secondary edge/tip is great for prying and other heavy duty tasks. It is 1055 carbon steel so do clean it after every use. I recommend you modify the grip to something better though, I personally use tennis over grips as they are cheap and amazing.
Or if you want something smaller for both camping and EDC I suggest a Kershaw Skyline
Gi Tanto is the Best knife at the price 10/10 http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415996488&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=cold+steel+gi+tanto
Young man , here is a real knife. Should be able to handle everything Australia can dish out. $20.00 US dollars.
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GovJ_A9yNtg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHLIBtB8BOY
Coldsteel GI Tanto. I own it and love it. $25 cant go wrong. http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y
I love my GI Tanto from Cold steel
http://amzn.com/B004H9DO4Y
I did the same once, as well as a pair of matches.
These days, I only bring my straight razor, but with the blades removed and right fucking next to it (I'm all out of fucks when it comes to airport security). It almost always trips an alarm, but they don't confiscate it. They do ask their supervisor if I can keep my switchblade comb.
Where can you even buy a switchblade nowadays? I haven't seen one for sale.. ever. I once saw a switch-comb that looked very intimidating until you opened it though. I bought it when I was like 9 and used it to scare people, but I'd never actually seen a switchblade before and didn't understand why they were afraid of it. It was quite embarrassing when someone finally explained... I don't think I've seen one in person ever. Don't really understand the appeal, just another part to break and it's not that much more convenient.
I use the slightly extra long machete I got at a thrift store for like $10 for hacking unruly vegetation though. Thing will slice through a sapling the size of my arm if I swing it right. A friend called it the 'banana harvester' because of it unusual length. Smaller knives are more useful for sharpening the saplings. This old military knife I got from my uncle is great for this But I'd never carry that in public, it doesn't fit in a pocket, and it was literally built as a weapon. Makes a good letter opener.
Edit: Sharpen the saplings so they're better at holding meat, which we found in a deer, which we
found on the road on the way home from Walmart.shot with a gun during deer hunting season.We saw the car in front of us hit it. So it was fresh. They didn't even stop, so we figured they didn't want it.. We left a note where it landed in case they changed their mind even!The small black knife is the sort people carry around here. Super useful for just about anything knife related. Can be used as a screwdriver or prying tool if you can ignore the sound of everyone in the room yelling 'noooo, you'll ruin the edge!' They'll be right, of course, and you'll regret it later.
Oh, and I've just noticed I've sort of spammed you with comments. I should read usernames more carefully. Sorry! Typing makes a great fidget spinner[Edit: terrible actually, super distracting endless blackhole of getnothingdone], I suppose. Bad habit, could get embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as the time dad started flicking his knife open and closed as a fidget and absentmindedly did it in walmart. Wasn't around people, fortunately.
Switchblade Comb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JK1NIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LZ1PAbEFX1WAT
Spyderco Ambitious
I carry mine in that little pocket or on my belt depending on the day. Its been 4+ years and its amazing.
I'd recommend a Spyderco Ambitious. Small, about $30, and won't be difficult to get used to carrying around.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO
Okay here are some suggestions
While they are not tactical opinels are really nice and are near $10 and come in lots of sizes.
Also with all the stuff you want to carry, It might be wise to invest in a maxpediton micro pocket organizer which is about $15
If you got any questions just ask.
Blade steel is fine for an EDC, and handle material looks close to G-10, which I would say is the best handle quality for grip. 3 inch blade, looks like it can be opened one handed from thumb stud.
Before making a purchase, check out the cheaper brands from Spyderco and Kershaw, they have $25 EDCs on sale, with same or better quality blade steel.
Here's a few that might be worth a look:
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Chive-Pocket-Knife/dp/B0009VC9RW/ref=pd_sim_sg_4
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=sr_1_10?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1313769769&amp;sr=1-10
http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Folder-Black-Handle-Blade/dp/B0017KTOV8/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1313769793&amp;sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-31-000674-MP450-Compact-Paraframe/dp/B003LY43FA/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1313769825&amp;sr=1-5
Good luck with your purchase :)
Check out the Spyderco Tenacious line. I've been carrying the Ambitious and its very good for the price.
If you want something similar in size to the Shuffle, take a look at the Spyderco Ambitious.
Warriors and wonders has PM2's in stock
Amazon.ca has a few as well : Camo/Satin, Black/Satin, Black/Black
I recently bought a PM2 from Amazon. One thing I noticed was multiple listings for it and at different prices.
I got the all black. http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-ParaMilitary2-Black-Blade-PlainEdge/dp/B004TXMFQQ?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00
Here it is for $30 more.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-ParaMilitary2-Camo-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004VZVI88?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=spyderco%20paramilitary%202&amp;qid=1464034297&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;s=sporting-goods&amp;sr=1-1
Pretty sure mine is legit and I will compare g10 scales tonight.
They're in stock on amazon right now.EDIT: Nevermind that's not a Para 2. I had to wait a few weeks, and just kept checking back until they were in stock.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-ParaMilitary2-Camo-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004VZVI88/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452559351&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=para-military+2
118 now, 96 "when available" and these are unopened. The pm2 rarely fetch over 100 when sold on the secondary.
Y'all are dangerous. This came from just a little bit of browsing this sub and some searching and review reading and whatnot. Amazon links for convenience:
Leatherman Crater c33Tx
Kershaw Leek
Schrade SCHF9 Extreme Survival Knife
CRKT 2020 AG Russell Sting
Any advice or substitutions anybody care to offer? I think for the money this is a pretty damn fine set of 4 knives. The Leatherman might get some funny looks but I had its younger brother for many years and it would probably replace my current EDC (Kershaw Skyline)
Edit: Will definitely take lots of pictures when I pull the trigger.
As Kromulent mentioned, you would want a thin blade. If I were you, I'd look into the kershaw Leek. It's a very good folder (very very reasonably priced) and boasts Sandvick 14C28N steel which a lot of people compare to S90V which is a high grade steel.
My brother got me one for Christmas on Amazon and it was on sale for $24 [http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1660SWBLK-Folding-Knife-SpeedSafe/dp/B00AU6NIFI/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452461703&amp;sr=1-7&amp;keywords=kershaw+leek] (Note, it's not on sale right now.)
Edit: A lot of people hate the look of the knife. I can't get my friend to touch mine with a 10 foot pole, but I prefer tactility of aesthetics.
Also, the Kershaw Leek - great slender knife
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU6NIFI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Edit: Almost forgot, the Leek has a tip lock to prevent the knife from opening accidentally
Is a pocket knife in your daily carry? If so done pocket knives work really well as a money clip I use my Kershaw Leek as a money clip and it works great. I carry 3 cards and 10 or so bills and the clip snaps right back into place every time.
Any recommendations?
I have been considering getting one of these and a custom sheath:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B0E1MB6
I was looking at the Saddle Mountain Skinner since it is a bit smaller. The Bushcrafter felt a little awkward in my hand.
Same steel and a little thinner in the handle. I just don't think I like the jimping at the tip of the knife.
I'd go for this one.
Out of sheer curiosity though, what made you decide on a kukri for bushcrafting needs?
It's primarily a blade designed to be used as a weapon (historians even theorized that its design is inspired after combat blades, like the Khopesh) and in the best of cases as a chopping instrument. It's applications for bush-crafting are quite limited and the blade geometry does not lend itself well for many tasks.
Thing is, if you are after a chopping instrument there are much better, more versatile choices, such as plain old axes/Tomahawks and machetes or just a big ass knife.
An axe, for example is IMHO the best option for chopping wood and processing, splitting logs, etc. It's designed from the get-go to do just that.
As for clearing brush, a good machete or long knife stands uncontested, with a curved blade you have to be extra careful of your surroundings since its much easier to hit yourself, or others with the tip, that is much more "forward" than your grip hand.
Both of these options also are multipurpose, an axe for example can double as a hammer or prying tool with nary a problem, and a knife can, among many other things, be used for food prep or carving.
Anyway, if you get that cold steel one, let me know how it works out for you!
I don't mow but I am going to order one of these to trim some vines in the back yard. :D
awwe fake kukri knife :( i was expecting a modified version of http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Kukri-Machete-Sheath/dp/B00HZIF7N0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1458172877&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kukri this dont get me wrong its still amazing. i never see anybody with a real kukri
Take your pick,
Katana http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00U1IBSO8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1458113447&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=cold+steel+machete&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31yHwwCyOuL&amp;ref=plSrch
Cutlass http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006YBY91K/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1458113447&amp;sr=8-6&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=cold+steel+machete&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=21AZGD%2BZvgL&amp;ref=plSrch
Kukri http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HZIF7N0/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1458113447&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=cold+steel+machete&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41La8lZk8kL&amp;ref=plSrch
A nice Cold Steel Tanto knife. https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y/ref=pd_lpo_200_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=GTXWE56YWW2DGY8FT4E8
Great damn knife I'm sure any martial artist would be happy to own. Only $25.
Not the most durable solution (though if the mechanism breaks you can just disassemble it into a more basic comb)
but I seriously carry, when in need of a comb, this: https://www.amazon.com/Switchblade-Comb/dp/B004JK1NIA
It defuses tension in almost any situation and if you're already known to your co-workers as a knife guy, shows you can laugh at yourself too. Bonus if you can do a fonzi impression.
This is a good knife for regular daily use.
I was going to recommend the Spyderco resilience because that what I use but I don't remember paying $40 for it. The 4.25" blade is perfect for cutting bait for off shore or cutting bass fillets. If you're fishing in salt check out Spydercos with H-1 steel.
Have you looked at...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E3QUB6
It, along with my Swedish fire steel and tomahawk go with me every time I go camping. I've abused the shit out of this knife and highly recommend it. There was a drawback I thought of before purchasing it, not full tang, and not really well balanced because of this. After owning it I haven't noticed it at all. In fact, I cracked open a couple of geodes with the hammer pommel and didn't feel it at all because of the grip style.
I got two, one for my glove compartment so I can smash out of car by breaking window with hammer pommel and one for my camping kit. Its the best outdoors knife you can buy in my opinion.
Smith and Wesson Border Guard.
Apparently they are now $20, but if memory serves I paid close to $10. I've had it for about 7 years, and while I do not routinely process wood with it the thing has stood up well without any maintenance at all.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037F1B9E
Pros:
Tanto point,
Serrations,
Glass breaker,
Seatbelt cutter,
10 inches overall when open.
The only real con: it pokes big assed holes into your furniture if kept in your back pocket.
Edit: gets asked about the cheapest knife I own, gets downvotes for the cheapest knife not being a benchmade $130.
I use this knife daily as a work knife. No complaints. Would make a great camp knife.
Needs more knife.
Ninja edit: Cheap suggestion that wouldn't look out of place with your stuff.