Knives for Dummies

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jason_recliner
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Knives for Dummies

Post by jason_recliner » December 21st 2014, 8:49pm

My knowledge of knives is akin to a Geek's knowledge of watches. What does a noob need to know?

Also, I need a knife for use around the house - opening packages, cutting cable ties, etc. Is it realistic to aim under $20 and still get something decent? (I'm broke)
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by Racer-X » December 21st 2014, 9:47pm

I'm no expert but there are lots of good $20-$30 knives for around the house. Kershaw makes some nice knives and many are made in the USA. They also have a lifetime warranty.

The Cryo in particular was on sale for $18 at Amazon recently and the Leek was $20.

Many of these will have spring assisted open (speedsafe). Grippy handles are nice and partially serrated blades are good for cutting cardboard or rope.

Bladeforums has some good resources:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forum.php

This site sells Kershaw blems for a pretty decent discount and free shipping right now:
http://kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw-blems/?items_per_page=50&product_order=ASC


Kershaw Scallion - $22 shipped
http://kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw-blems/scallion-1620blk/
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Kershaw Clash - $22
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1605-Clash-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B003LNR5YM/
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Kershaw Zing - $24 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1730SS-Stainless-Steel-SpeedSafe/dp/B0074FDC72/
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Kershaw Volt - $25 shipped
http://kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw/3655-volt-ss-new-in-box/
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Kershaw Cryo - $26
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1555TI-SpeedSafe-Folding-Knife/dp/B0074FI28Q/
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Kershaw Leek blem - $29 shipped
http://kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw/leek-plain-stainless-1660-blem-2/
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Syderco Tenacious - $35
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578
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Last edited by Racer-X on December 21st 2014, 11:14pm, edited 17 times in total.
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by Mark1 » December 21st 2014, 10:25pm

In addition to other sources already listed, Woot frequently has good knives cheap.
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by bedlam » December 22nd 2014, 1:43am

jason_recliner wrote:Thanks everybody. I'll check out Kershaw as I like the idea of USA made.


Be aware that customs controls on imported knives is substantial. I had a Syderco folding dive knife confiscated by customs on its way into Oz. You can own the knife but there are controls on importation without a license of certain classes of weapon. Mine was seized because it could be opened and used with one hand (comes under the same controls as flick knives). I pointed out to them that a dive knife that needed two hands to operate would be unsafe but it all fell on deaf ears. They told me I was not a legal importer for that class of knife and to buy one from a licensed Australian dealer. The H1 I tried to import is a bit like the Tenacious above.

I have sourced a couple since and they are awesome knives

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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by gerdson » December 22nd 2014, 12:45pm

foghorn wrote:Opinel

Best bang for the buck out there. designs been pretty much the same for 100 years plus. they added the locking collar in the 50's.



https://portphillipshop.com.au/c/access ... raditional


But it is French! :o :mrgreen:
Just kidding. Great value, and the carbon steel blade doesn't get dull so quickly. I hadn't bought or even carried a pocket knife for almost 20 yeasrs now, but recently go myself one again, some German brand. No picture, so that will have to wait. When traveling, I can't take it with me for fear that I forget it before checking in the luggage.
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by biglove » December 23rd 2014, 8:08am

I think that the Gerber EVO series offers a less expensive, lighter weight alternative to the Kershaws. Not sure how well they hold up for more than 3-4 years but I have yet to have to sharpen one. Have bought at least a dozen of them for gifts and personal use. My knife experience in adulthood has largely been with these two brands. I owned a Victorinox years ago and was quite UNimpressed with it.

That being said, the Kershaws have a better flip opening mechanism that is far more smooth. I still keep a Kershaw on my desk; but, the EVOs are at least 1/3 the weight for a similarly sized knife. I DO know that the Kershaw can be reshaped and resharpened after I broke the tip of my old one (about ten years old) and my Pop put it to the grinder/sander. But the Kershaw has lost its edge far too quickly again. Also, the Kershaw came with a sharper blade from the factory but has dulled far more quickly than the Gerbers.

You can't go wrong with either brand, Gerber or Kershaw, and have numerous options for weight, size, price.

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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by Luftwafflles » December 24th 2014, 4:55pm

Always liked Gerbers, before they were bought out, and they were making all their knives in the U.S. I collect a few of the classics, like the nine inch blade BMF, and the Parabellum from the 1980's. The Parabellum was unique because it was a large folder, and the sheath was made in such a way that the knife could be worn open or closed.
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Post by anonymous-10 » December 24th 2014, 7:08pm

Gerber has evolved into the Invicta of the knife forum world. I only have one , an Obsidian , which is a decent "multi-tool" type offering.
I'm a big Benchmade and Spyderco fan.
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by Luftwafflles » December 25th 2014, 7:45am

foghorn wrote:Gerber has evolved into the Invicta of the knife forum world. I only have one , an Obsidian , which is a decent "multi-tool" type offering.
I'm a big Benchmade and Spyderco fan.

I agree. They're basically shit now. But when they were making them only in Oregon, they made some prety good stuff.
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by Wasp » March 9th 2017, 6:34am

What I carry every day.

I have used dozens of different styles. This proved to be the most practical for my everyday use. The sheepfoot main blade edge with a negative angle to the knife bolster/handle line makes it ideal for opening taped parcels. The angle also provides a nice feel and leverage when using. Used 30ish on E-bay. Others less expensive are out there.
Make & Model: Case WH10355

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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by Ofcmark » March 9th 2017, 6:48am

Buck model number 110 is a classic folding knife when I first started as a policeman every guy had one on there duty belt. A solid functional classic knife. Best part is you can find them everywhere Walmart Sears any sporting good store you could even find used ones on eBay rather cheap.
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Re: Knives for Dummies

Post by bedlam » March 9th 2017, 9:02pm

Juan, you have an LGBT knife! Not that there's anything wrong with that :-)
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