o/t Anybody makeing a good pocket knife?

[M.B. Naegle]

I have a Leatherman Kick as my EDC. Used to have a Wave too until I forgot it in my bag and then it became property of TSA. They are my bad-habit tool getting used far too often for things that I should grab proper screw drivers, plyers, dykes, wire strippers, etc. The warranty is what keeps me with them though. My Kick was an Eagle Scout gift and a friend tried to use the flat head screw driver to mount a bicycle tire (promptly broke off), and the Wave I found on the side of the road with a broken plyer jaw. In both cases I sent them back to Leatherman and they were fixed or replaced free of charge, minus my cost of shipping. The knife blade isn't the best quality, but it holds up good enough for me. I've got a few old-time multitool type knives too, mostly made for fishing or camping, but they're fun and handy.

For a typical folding pocket knife, I follow my dad who always had Case XX pocket knives like you find at hardware stores. It's become a right-of-passage thing for our kids now when they get their first Case XX. I can't say if their quality has stayed the same as they were when Dad was my age, but they do the job and we've always liked the fit and finish of them. IMO, how sharp the blade can get has less to do with any secret metallurgy and more to do with how you maintain it. We're constantly sharpening things in our shop with stone, rouge, etc. and touching up a pocket knife every couple days isn't a problem for us. It's like measuring drill bits before putting them in the chuck. You learn not to assume things and It just becomes a habit. As much of a sentimental thing as they are, they are expendable. I've got a couple knives around the house that have very thin blades now, but they can still open boxes and such.

 

[BoxcarPete]

Buck Spitfire. Not too fat, excellent blade profile, elegant appearance (unless you prefer one of the flashy colors you can get on the anodized handle), and mine says USA on it for what that's worth. I carry mine everywhere I'm legally allowed to do so for the past 8 years or so, and I'm on my second one. I lost both, but my father in law found one of them in his yard last spring, looking fresh as a flower after wintering under the snow.

 

[steve45]

Talk to the experts, Bear Claw Knife & Shear, in Midland, TX: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bear-claw-knife-and-shear-midland-2

 

[WizardOfBoz]

I post about my pocket knife choice every few years when we have one of these threads.
Do you guys listen?
No!….

Well in any case I have one of the Emerson ‘mini’s with me all the damn time.
I never sharpen them so eventually they are fairly dull which suits as they serve as a pry bar scraper general poke things which need more persuading than my fingers can manage.

I must use the knife twenty times a day and feel lost without it.
These are thick stainless bladed utility type knives.

Good heavens, TR, those things cost $250 a pop! And most folks use knives to mostly cut. So a very expensive dull prybar for $250 doesn't align with (at least my) use cases.

No doubt good knives but I'd feel weird about carrying that expensive a knife around in my pocket. Because (see above) I'd lose it. If I ever had the guts to use it. I mean I wouldn't want to scratch the thing...

That said, it gives you pleasure and it is "multiple pooch approved", so ...

 

[dgfoster]

I guess the Leatherman knives are too bulky for your needs. But, Leatherman (the Portland OR founder's name) is a good quality knife made in Portland by a real person who struggled to get his company bootstrapped 37 years ago. Dang nearly failed. The Leatherman has a place in my heart because the quality is there and the company is one of the rare real USA companies. I have, among others, two of the very early "Original" designs that I keep in backpacks. Nice to have.

Denis

 

[Glug]

Good heavens, TR, those things cost $250 a pop! And most folks use knives to mostly cut. .. No doubt good knives but I'd feel weird about carrying that expensive a knife around in my pocket.

You do get a feel for whether your knife is clipped in your pocket, like your wallet. And you can adjust the tension on the clip.

I have mostly carried Benchmade folders, great knives, US made - all in Oregon. Back around 2001 they were about $40-$50. That was expensive then, but the quality was well worth it - like most good tools. Reliable single hand opening and closing was also key, even when I wasn't sailing and absolutely needed it for emergencies (need to cut a 1" line Now). Never know when you might get jumped by a cougar or pitbull. Benchmade lifetime free service is excellent.

Now those 'old' knives of mine, that still function perfectly are easily worth triple what I paid - like this:

Discontinued Vintage Benchmade USA Bali-Song Folding Pocket Knife ATS-34 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Discontinued Vintage Benchmade USA Bali-Song Folding Pocket Knife ATS-34 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

When I saw that value a few years ago I briefly thought 'Hmpf, I should have bought some to resell in 20 years!' but then I think of how Amazon stock was $10 a share back then, and is now $2500/share..

New Benchmades are $150+, made and serviced by people in Oregon very much like most of us on this site. They say it's one 144K sq foot building, and it is all done there. $50 will apparently get you a decent knife from China.

Benchmade Folding Pocket Knives - Shop 400+ Knives | Blade HQ

Browse our wide selection of Benchmade pocket knives. Get yours at Blade HQ for FREE shipping with all Benchmade orders!

www.bladehq.com

 

[WizardOfBoz]

There is something to be said for a quality product that is made in the USA and well supprrted. And it seems to support TR’s use case and he uses it every day. Plus dual doggy approved. Everybody should get to choose the products that make them happy…. I have a Case xx with rosewood scales. I’m afraid to use it!

 

[scarymonkeyman13]

the cold steel ak47 folding knife has been with me for the batter part of 10 years and is under 3in so you dont have really worry about the cops. the reason i like them so much is if you look at their youtube channel they put them through hell. here is the video for this one

 

[Jaxian]

That Cold Steel knife looks fantastic but I would be afraid to carry it at $250 out the door. Where I live it is 'technically' legal, although they might have changed blade length to 2.5" max, not sure.

But my friend who was a cop said they didn't care, they would take them anyway for 'public safety' and you could fill out a form to get it back. He said he had never seen someone actually get one back and they always give up after a few years and they could take what was 'abandoned' at the station.

I am not a punk kid anymore so would assume I am fine but with the 'above the law' homeless frustration the cops go through here not being able to stop people breaking the law right in front of them they can get kinda squirrelly sometimes. I carry a $50 CRKT and don't worry if it gets got.

 

[Trboatworks]

Good heavens, TR, those things cost $250 a pop! And most folks use knives to mostly cut. So a very expensive dull prybar for $250 doesn't align with (at least my) use cases.

No doubt good knives but I'd feel weird about carrying that expensive a knife around in my pocket. Because (see above) I'd lose it. If I ever had the guts to use it. I mean I wouldn't want to scratch the thing...

That said, it gives you pleasure and it is "multiple pooch approved", so ...

Good heavens, TR, those things cost $250 a pop! And most folks use knives to mostly cut. So a very expensive dull prybar for $250 doesn't align with (at least my) use cases.

No doubt good knives but I'd feel weird about carrying that expensive a knife around in my pocket. Because (see above) I'd lose it. If I ever had the guts to use it. I mean I wouldn't want to scratch the thing...

That said, it gives you pleasure and it is "multiple pooch approved", so ...

Lots of things confuse me in life.
One of them is just how much I should admit to being a damn fool..

So a story.
Years ago after years in our neighborhood it finally started to get through my thick skull that there was lots of crime in these parts and I stood a decent chance of getting robbed/assaulted.

Well I think to meself, self defense and how does a lad go about it.
Well I ran the numbers and eliminated guns, bear spray and other sundry means and for some incredible reason settled on a pocket knife.

Looking back I can’t recon what I was thinking but I ran through the various forums where equally confused lads discus the wound channel character of blade grind and the obvious superiority of the fabled tanto point.
Well one feature for the well informed and armed was the “Wave” hook on Emerson knives and somehow that swayed me to buy one.

Again- the idiocy.
Like I am going to be facing off with an assailant and micro seconds saved by the Wave to bring my razor sharp right bevel tanto point blade to light was gonna be critical.

So happily.
I found outside of the idiocy of a brand sold to people who know what CQC means the knife stood up superbly to what it is also sold as- a tough working knife.

I think deep down I keep it butter knife dull in subtle protest to the foolishness of the art of the blade fighter.

Everything else holds though- this damn thing is a trusty combination.
I have two and it’s been years and haven’t lost one yet.

 

[Screwmachine]

Last 20 years it's been a simple Swiss Army with blade, can/bottle opener, and corkscrew in my pocket, always super sharp. Leatherman in my backpack, which I always have as I use public transport.

 

[WizardOfBoz]

Lots of things confuse me in life.
One of them is just how much I should admit to being a damn fool..

So a story.
Years ago after years in our neighborhood it finally started to get through my thick skull that there was lots of crime in these parts and I stood a decent chance of getting robbed/assaulted.

Well I think to meself, self defense and how does a lad go about it.
Well I ran the numbers and eliminated guns, bear spray and other sundry means and for some incredible reason settled on a pocket knife.

Looking back I can’t recon what I was thinking but I ran through the various forums where equally confused lads discus the wound channel character of blade grind and the obvious superiority of the fabled tanto point.
Well one feature for the well informed and armed was the “Wave” hook on Emerson knives and somehow that swayed me to buy one.

Again- the idiocy.
Like I am going to be facing off with an assailant and micro seconds saved by the Wave to bring my razor sharp right bevel tanto point blade to light was gonna be critical.

So happily, I found outside of the idiocy of a brand sold to people who know what CQC means the knife stood up superbly to what it is also sold as- a tough working knife.

I think deep down I keep it butter knife dull in subtle protest to the foolishness of the art of the blade fighter.

Everything else holds though- this damn thing is a trusty combination.
I have two and it’s been years and haven’t lost one yet.

View attachment 399193

Well, you like drip coffee, and you and I both splurged on a Chantal teapot. So maybe I agree with your choice to spend some to get something good more than I thought. As I said, I have a Case XX Exchanger with Rosewood handles that I never use (it was a company gift - like a safety award for everyone or something - I chose the knife). Given the choice of a $120 knife that I never use, or your $250 knife that you use every day, I think you're closer to an optimal decision than I am! It's pretty clear that you've extracted more out of the thing than you paid for it! Enjoy your coffee (and your knife), TR.

 

[Archer120x]

Mercator k55k.

 

[TeachMePlease]

That Cold Steel knife looks fantastic but I would be afraid to carry it at $250 out the door. Where I live it is 'technically' legal, although they might have changed blade length to 2.5" max, not sure.

But my friend who was a cop said they didn't care, they would take them anyway for 'public safety' and you could fill out a form to get it back. He said he had never seen someone actually get one back and they always give up after a few years and they could take what was 'abandoned' at the station.

I am not a punk kid anymore so would assume I am fine but with the 'above the law' homeless frustration the cops go through here not being able to stop people breaking the law right in front of them they can get kinda squirrelly sometimes. I carry a $50 CRKT and don't worry if it gets got.

Ah, yes, police blatantly admitting they purposely violate the rights of the citizenry they supposedly serve. Excellent.

 

[EmGo]

$50 will apparently get you a decent knife from China.

Must be for export because we don't use knives. Seriously, the average china kitchen may have one for decoration but no one uses it. You can't cut down rubber trees, hit the garlic on the side to smash it, wack through bones, slice vegetables with some pansy-ass little knife. You need a real cutting tool.

https://files.catbox.moe/6bjrer.mp4

(Making the Designer ones is kind of interesting, they take old bearings, chop them in half, heat them up red, unwind them with a power hammer, beat them to shape, laser or plasma cut the profile, hand grind and heat treat, make handles, it's a funny combination of primitive and modern. Gives the villagers a way to make money.)

 

[scarymonkeyman13]

That Cold Steel knife looks fantastic but I would be afraid to carry it at $250 out the door. Where I live it is 'technically' legal, although they might have changed blade length to 2.5" max, not sure.

But my friend who was a cop said they didn't care, they would take them anyway for 'public safety' and you could fill out a form to get it back. He said he had never seen someone actually get one back and they always give up after a few years and they could take what was 'abandoned' at the station.

I am not a punk kid anymore so would assume I am fine but with the 'above the law' homeless frustration the cops go through here not being able to stop people breaking the law right in front of them they can get kinda squirrelly sometimes. I carry a $50 CRKT and don't worry if it gets got.

the blade i got is 2.5in and cost me $65. looking online i cant seem to find it anymore... looks like they changed the handle and lengthened the knife

 

[DavidScott]

Must be for export because we don't use knives. Seriously, the average china kitchen may have one for decoration but no one uses it. You can't cut down rubber trees, hit the garlic on the side to smash it, wack through bones, slice vegetables with some pansy-ass little knife. You need a real cutting tool.

https://files.catbox.moe/6bjrer.mp4

(Making the Designer ones is kind of interesting, they take old bearings, chop them in half, heat them up red, unwind them with a power hammer, beat them to shape, laser or plasma cut the profile, hand grind and heat treat, make handles, it's a funny combination of primitive and modern. Gives the villagers a way to make money.)

No Chinese cleavers? At least the Japanese make nice ones.

 

[mhajicek]

Has anybody here splurged on a Grimsmo knife? Those run $1k or more, I think, and they seem to have a long waiting list. Put your name on the list and when it comes up you get a choice of a few colors, finishes, etc. based on whatever they've finished recently. So far, I've managed to make due with a little Viktronix pocket knife or a Leatherman.

Nice racket if you can swing it. They paid for a frickin' Kern selling pocket knives...

 

[Cole2534]

I have several from Benchmade. They're expensive but they're great knives. Not so great as pry bars, screwdrivers, picks or awls.

One of mine, the most expensive of course, has a Crucible M4 blade. That MFer was sharp, is sharp, and I suspect will remain sharp despite using it as a utility knife and having been washed.

Aaaaaand if one has very keen eyes they can see a hint into Benchmade's level of attention here on PM.

 

[Cole2534]

Nice racket if you can swing it. They paid for a frickin' Kern selling pocket knives...

And pens. Don't forget the pens.