Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepkyng
....but what i want is a good assisted opening, reliable, sharp, durable, basically maintance free knife....
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepkyng
well, mainly cutting ropes, occasionaly hacking chunks (small chunks) out of the trees and snags, cutting foodstuffs...
occasionally i'll be on dangerous terrain, roped in and i'd like something i could potentially open fast and be ready to handle cutting ropes loose.
i want something that will be ridiculously durable, very multi purpose - catering towards a backpackers purpose - and last me a long time....
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Maintenance free? Hacking? Reliable? Cutting ropes loose in a hurry? Sounds to me like you need a good little fixed blade. Also, if you seriously see cutting through fibrous things like ropes in a hurry as an important possible task for this knife, consider something serrated or partially serrated -- though a super-sharp plain edge can do the job, too, they're much less apt to do so in a hurry when they're not tip-top sharp, which, for most folks, is more likely the edge condition of their plain edge knife on any given day than not. Also, it sounds like you require a blade with nice belly (curve) for better slicing (makes most food work easier, too).
If fixed blades are out of the question, and 50 bones is your limit, then a sampling of folders to consider in or near your price range include:
- Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter. Good belly. 3.5" AUS8A stainless blade (a good stainless steel -- I think it's about a 440B'ish equivalent). 5.9 ounces might be a little heavy for some. It's a lockback (mid-lock), and the recent Cold Steel lockbacks I've used generally have pretty stiff springs. I think it only comes in plain edge, however, so keep it sharp if you want to cut ropes quickly. The pocket clip will have about half-inch or so sticking above your pocket or waistband (depending on where you'll clip it -- I prefer waistband for more secure carry). The grip is Kraton, and so it's grippy (feels like hard rubber) -- I've found Kraton to be very durable for most people. I've had very good luck with Cold Steel knives for actual beaters, and have given Cold Steel knives as gifts to many friends and family over the years. This knife is a very efficient cutter due to its high flat grind. This one retails for $89.99.
- Cold Steel Voyager Clip Point. There's a 3" AUS8A clip point blade half-serrated version. Good belly. The serrated portion could come in handy for cutting fibrous, tough stuff like rope. Weighs only 1.8 ounces! Pocket clip leaves about a half-inch or more of knife sticking up above the pocket or waistband. Zytel handle isn't as grippy as Kraton (not many materials used for knife handles are as grippy as Kraton), but the texture makes them grippy enough for most purposes you'd have for a folder. It's a backlock (mid-lock). It's a pretty efficient cutter due to its rather high, flatter grind. The tanto point versions are cool, but have nearly zero belly. This particular one (3" clip point) retails for $59.99, but Cold Steel is having a sale right now on these -- $34.99 during June.
- Benchmade Mini-Griptilian. They make a larger one, too. The Mini Griptilians have blades just under 3" made of 440C (a good stainless, more similar to AUS8A than not, but slightly better and more wear-resistant). Reversible pocket clip leaves about a half-inch of small radiused handle tip above pocket or waistband. Another style of this knife can be found by clicking here. Both blade styles have mild belly. Both are available partially serrated. Axis lock (a newer lock style). Zytel handle. Mini Griptilian retails for $85.00 and weighs 2.56 ounces. Larger (3.45" blade) Griptilian retails for $105.00 and weighs 3.25 ounces. Both are pretty efficient cutters due to low-medium grind.
- Spyderco Endura or Delica. Endura has a nearly 4" blade. Delica has 3" blade. Both come with blades of VG-10 stainless (a top-notch, excellent stainless steel). Both have blades available in plain edge, half-serrated/half-plain, and fully serrated. Handles are Zytel. Endura weighs 2.9 ounces, and the Delica 1.9 ounces (so both are very light). Both have reversible clips, but I'm not thrilled with the clip's fastener (tends to come loose on the ones I've got) that has more than a half-inch of knife handle sticking up above the pocket or waistband. The Endura retails for $72.95. The Delica retails for $66.95. I like these knives, but they're not my favorites due to their low (very curved cross section) hollow grinds, which many other Spyderco knives share (not the most efficient cross section).
These are just a few recommendations. Each of these companies makes several models that may interest you.
If you
can go with a fixed blade, let me know, and I'll recommend a couple of possible candidates for you.
If you like any knives by these companies (and most other manufacturers) priced above your $50.00 limit, contact me via PM and let me know which one, as I can often get most makes and models very inexpensively.
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