Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 5 conversations about:
JonasHeineman
5987
Jan 26, 2018
bookmark_border
This is a common question, and very reasonable one. Although sometimes it's hard to start out because you don't yet know all the things you don't yet know to say/ask, the community will be able to help you more if they know a bit more - like what is your budget, and what are things that you definitely do / don't like - handle materials, size, opening and locking mechanisms, etc.
Jan 26, 2018
myselfolli
38
Jan 26, 2018
bookmark_border
JonasHeinemanFair point!
Here's what I've been able to figure out on my own thus far.
I'd want a locking folder knife. Having a fixed blade is just impractical, and a locking folder just seems to be the sweetspot for me, especially since I'll be carrying the knife every day. A belt clip would be ideal.
On that same note: Although I'll be carrying it essentially 24/7, I don't expect to really use it all that often, for me it's more of a "I'd rather have it than need it" - mindeset. Nevertheless, I don't want to get a cheap knife, which brings me right to my budget:
I am in the lucky position to have a stable job without having too many everyday expenses, so if I find something that really blows me out of the water, the price won't matter all that much. It'll just take a little longer for me to get it. With that said, I don't want to spend astronomical amounts of money on a single piece of my EDC gear, so I guess keep I'd like to keep it at a price point of about 150$ for now. Again - please feel free to recommend knife that are out of that budget, just keep it reasonable.
As for the "style" of the knife, I'm into a rather monochromatic, dark (preferably black or grey or the likes) color scheme, since I feel like it really goes with anything else I decide to wear, whereas a colored knife might either fit really well, or not at all. As for the actual blade, a drop point is right up my alley.
A great but simultaneously rather unfortunate example of a knife that unifies all those traits is the Rike Damascus Hummingbird (see picture below), which is actually currently in a drop. My only caveat is its size - the name "Hummingbird" is really well chosen I guess.

search
(It's tiny)
I do really enjoy the look of the handle though.
So tldr;
- EDC knife - locking folder - belt clip - budget of ~150$ (for now) - monochromatic (black or grey, just not colorful) - drop point blade - probably won't be used too often

Thank you all for your help!
Jan 26, 2018
Omniseed
1972
Jan 28, 2018
bookmark_border
myselfolliCheck out the Falcon
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-ferrum-forge-falcon-wing?utm_source=linkshare&referer=SCCUSS
or in plain blue for $15 less
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-ferrum-forge-falcon?utm_source=linkshare&referer=SCCUSS
Also if the Gent or Crux drop again, those are phenomenal knives and have more mass appeal than the heavily stylized Falcon, so they may be a safer bet for you.
For a great low-cost daily driver sort of knife, here's a list of great ones off the top of my head-
Steel Will Cutjack or Modus (D2)
Anything by Ruike, but the best carrying knife they make is the p831, which has a sharp learning curve and can be a frustrating knife until you break it in and get the hang of the opening technique
Bestech's budget lineup is great, I have a Lion that's a perfect full size working knife. Check out their knives with nested liners and ceramic bearings for under $50, insane value.
Sanrenmu 910+, 9103, 9104. All basically the same knife, all under $20 in very ok 12c27 steel, and they're the same maker as Ruike. My 910+ is one of my smoothest knives, and lockup is great. These are inexpensively built, but far from 'cheap'. They also run on bearings.
Tekut Zero, it's super light, the design is like a lightweight version of the Benchmade Nagara but with a different (and more popular) steel.
Clones aren't something I would normally suggest, but I did have good luck with two copies of the Benchmade 940-1, one of them a frankenknife with the blade of the 943. They're carbon fiber and probably D2 steel. They're marked S90V, but that's just because they are shamelessly copying the 940-1. Maybe it's S35VN, I'm not sure, I haven't used either of them hard enough to have any insights on the way the metal behaves. Build quality is great though, the axis lock isn't quite as smooth as your typical good Benchmade, but the spring tension is about right and the pivots are smooth and easy swinging without blade play. That's more than I can say for some of the Benchmades I have owned, which often require you to choose between a free action or a secure feeling when open.
The best knife for the money right now, though, is the Factor Equipment Iconic or Absolute. They have a 20% or 35% off coupon code and the knives are already clearance priced at $100-120. The Absolute is not as sexy as the Iconic but it's a good knife. I think it's ugly, but the design matches the handle and blade profile up very well and as a result it has a great blade:handle ratio. The blade is also nice and narrow, so the knife carries very well, it's small for what you get, and the blade steel is the impeccable Bohler M390.
The Iconic compact in carbon fiber is my favorite, it's basically perfect. The scales are contoured better than a ZT (not nicely chamfered like a ZT though) and the blade has a great flat grind to it. In almost every way it is a smoother knife than the Absolute, although to be fair the three different Factors I have all lock up perfectly and have a great detent. The Iconic is just my current fixation, that's all.
Jan 28, 2018
Omniseed
1972
Jan 28, 2018
bookmark_border
myselfolliI did you an update
Jan 28, 2018
View Full Discussion
Related Posts
Trending Posts in More Community Picks