Hey TW! Let's see your knives!

For a first knife for all around use and on a budget, what would you guys pick?

 

Very nice. Just clean and simple. Good blade design for slicing tasks.

 

I would probably go for the Kershaw. Spyderco does make a good quality product. Check out CRKT too. Best thing to do is find a place you can handle the various knives and see which you like best.

The only other comment I'd have is for an EDC knife, you probably want to avoid the fixed blade and stay with a folder for every day use.

 

The Spyderco Tenacious is their version of one of the best budget pocket knives I've ever come across, the Benchmade Vex. Since the Vex is no longer available, I'd recommend the Tenacious for sure.

 

Thanks guys for the advice. I think I will go with the spyderco Tenacious since the great reviews and it might fit in my hand better.

 

When you get into $60+, the field opens up a lot. The Blur is a good choice if you want something pretty beefy for the pocket. The Spyderco Endura wave is a crazy nice knife for $60, but it can be a little scary to office workers when you whip out a 4" knife. The Delica wave is the same but about 3". It comes down to what you want.

I think you'll like the Tenacious. I also think you'll end up with 10 knives if you're not careful. They tend to multiply.

Endura wave:

$106 Spyderco Endura 4 Signature Knife with 3.80" VG-10 Steel Blade with Emerson Opener and FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C10PGYW

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00190VMFM?vs=1

 

I think I will get the Tenacious first and see how I like it. I will start a list though of good knives like the Blur. Thanks for the tips. Btw, how do you guys sharpen your knives ?

 

For sharpening, it depends on what I'm doing. For long kitchen knives, I have a Chefmate electric sharpener. For reprofiling new knives or fixing bad damage, I have a 10" diamond-embedded rod. For pocket, hunting & survival knives, I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I just bought a Smith's 3-sided stone to keep the new carving chisels I bought nice and keen. I also made a two-sided strop that I run blue & red rouge on for final polishing.

 

I will put the Sogzilla on the list , looks like a good cheap knife. Do you say that you dont love the knives because that blade sharpener is not good on knives ?

 

I found this spyderco in a field training exercise while I was in the Army and my gerber 4" I got for a kit knife on my last department

 

Ah ok.

 

I have the tenacious and after getting one of spydercos more expensive knives (PM2) the quality is night and day, i would much rather get a kershaw than a lower quality spyderco.

 

Rat 1 and 2 are my absolute favorite "cheap" knives.

 

I forgot to mention this would be an EDC and I forgot it was fixed blade but it does look like a nice knife.

PM2 with camo handle is definitely something I would like but I think it would be too expensive for my first real knife.

 

Rat 3 is fixed. Rat 1 and 2 are liner lock folders. Get the Rat 2. It's $25 and perfect for its price point. Yes, it has Aus 8 steel which isn't top of the line. But it's good enough for EDC. Or, just spend the money and get a good quality Spyderco or Benchmade.

I've learned the hard way. It becomes addicting buying and looking for that " perfect" EDC knife. I started with the Gerber,went to Kershaw Leek, then Rat 2, BM mini griptilian ( which I like), Spyderco PM2 (great knife but a little big), and now I'm on my Spyderco Sage 2. The Sage 2 is now my absolute favorite by a mile. But of course it cost $160.

I'm just saying, knife people get it. Non-knife people consider spending $160 on a knife Fing stupid.

 

Yeah I don't think it is stupid since I know they use high quality materials but I just don't think I should get a knife that expensive for a first knife.

 

I wouldn't recommend a high quality steel for someone getting their first knife. You need a decent sharpening system to get those edges cleaned up, and even more than that, you need to know what you're doing with it - otherwise you'll prematurely destroy a blade and/or pull your hair out because after an hour of using a bad sharpening technique you still can't cut paper, and in fact, it's getting duller the more you sharpen it.

AUS8/CR13MOV are great beginner steels. Sure, they're soft - they don't hold an edge all day long, but they're much easier to sharpen for the same reason. Learn the basics on a cheaper knife, and if you find a passion for it or exceed it's limitations - buy a better knife or the proper tool if that is warranted. In other words.. a knife makes a great box cutter, but so do box cutters, and they are cheaper and maintenance free.

RAT of your choice or Kershaw, Spyderco, even a Victorinox ALOX model is an awesome first knife (or tenth knife).

Don't buy more knife than your skills allow for.

A $30 Spyderco can be touched up several times a day under heavy use if needed and it won't break your heart or your wallet.

 

Going to repost this again. I still can't get over this collection.

 

Yeah that's exactly why I am getting a cheaper knife. Learn how to do the basics so I won't damage an expensive one.