Help Finding the Perfect Pocket Knife

[giantranger97]

I am looking for the perfect EDC pocket knife for me. I currently have a Case Sod Buster Jr and like it but am looking for something that I will love.

Here's what I want. A small (4" or smaller closed), lightweight (as light or lighter than the sod buster jr.), thin (as thin or thinner than the sod buster jr.) pocket knife with the following features... Spring assist, a locking system that can be easily closed with gloves on (preferably with one hand)... a removable pocket clip, a smooth blade.

Need something that will be extremely sharp and stay that way when cutting rope, cardboard, etc but not be excessively had to resharpen.

I am looking to spend between $50-$100 if necessary.

I have looked at several knives by gerber, case, kershaw, boker, etc. and I just haven't found everything I am looking for in one knife.

Thanks for any knives you can suggest that will suit my needs.

Chris

[pinnah]

Chris, welcome to the forum!

Just a guess on my part, but it sounds like you have 2 different needs going at once: EDC personal use and work use like gloved open/close and box cutting.

If this is the case, maybe consider 2 knives: an EDC knife of choice and an industrial box cutter.

Cardboard is insanely abrasive. Three approaches. First disposable box cutter blades changed as needed. Second, get an expensive super steel that is very abrasion resistant but expect difficulty in sharpening. Third, get an easy to sharpen blade like carbon or Buck's 420HC and commit to regular sharpening.

One hand close with gloves on will be tricky. If this is a real requirement, you might look at rescue or sailing knives. Some have big knobs and such for open/close in harsh environments. I would expect more bulk though. One challenge with modern tactical style knives is that frame locks require some dexterity to close.

One knife that you may consider is the Bucklite Max 482. It's thin, light, inexpensive. It has a thumb stud, which is short of assist. It's a lock back and I find the easier to one hand close. It comes with a riveted pocket clip which can be removed with careful dremmel work. It's an ugly knife but very functional. Bucks best value.

[jerryd6818]

Welcome to AAPK.

It's almost impossible to pick a knife for someone else but we can certainly suggest.

Dave speaks true and straight. From what you've told us, it sounds like you actually need two knives. As Dave said, cardboard is a straight up killer on knife edges (actually any paper product is) so the perfect tool for the job is one that's made for it -- a lockback folding box cutter.

There are a ton of these type utility knives out there. Most made in a foreign country which shall remain nameless. They're handy, inexpensive and do the job.

Example:

folding lockback utility knife.jpg (24.72 KiB) Viewed 1199 times

As for the other knife, you've described a Kershaw Leek. Four inches closed, Made in USA, all metal (no plastic, G-10 or other composite materials), Kershaw's patented assisted open 'Speedsafe', reversible pocket clip, Wharncliffe type blade, light, slim, strong, liner lock or frame lock and scary wicked sharp out of the box. Several different handle treatments and they can be bought on eBay all day long for less than $40.

[giantranger97]

Thanks guys, yes technically I should carry 2 knives but the extra bulk of the folding box cutters prevents me from doing so... I actually have a couple nicer ones, the one I like the best is this one http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... nivesmv=rr and I have the mini version.

I really like them but I don't wear a belt (so no place for a sheath) and there just isn't room in the pocket for two.

As a boilermaker I don't normally open many boxes but when I need to, I will pull out the pocket knife instead of taking 15-20 minutes to head to the tool room (usually conviently located 1/2 mile for the work site lol) to get a utility knife.

General work use will be 1/2" to 1" manila rope, some cardboard boxes, tape, etc.

I will be a little more specific on the gloves, I am required to wear basic cheap leather gloves and at some job sites will be required to wear kevlar gloves when using any knife. So it is not bulky hunting or insulated gloves so I am thinking a thumb stud or maybe even the thumb hole in a spyderco knife should work.

And also as for the one hand closing, its not a necessity... I can normally have both hands free for closing so I am thinking a lockback will be ok, I am just not a big fan of the liner lock knives.

Hope that clears things up, and opens up some suggestions. I will check out the knifes you have suggested so far.

Thanks

Chris

[gino]

Buck 110, maybe even a 110 finger grooved that would be my choice with your tasks.

[313 Mike]

I would suggest the Kerhsaw "Needs Work"....I've been using this beast for the last 5 or 6 days at work and it has been performing like a champ! The big ol' wharncliffe syle blade snaps out one handed real smooth like with the Kershaw speed safe assist, and the razor blade like shape makes slicing through boxes a joy, it just glides through cardboard and packaging like butter....it has been maintaining it's edge quite well, I've given it a few strokes on the steel to touch it up and it just keeps on slicing away...rope or twine? no prob. The pocket clip on it was real tight so I took it off and just pocket carry it with no problems. It is a liner lock, but I've had no problems with that and I think with thin gloves you would still be able to manage it......USA made and you can find one on ebay for right around 30 bucks. Comes in black, grey, red or blue.

[MrBlister]

97.. just do what we all did..
Buy bout 500 knives over the years..
One of em will be perfect for ya.. LOL

[Cutty]

I agree with Jerry . A Kershaw Leek fits all of your requirements IMO. I carry and use one daily along with a traditional slipjoint. I have used my leek while wearing work gloves many times and have had no problems closing the liner lock blade and the index finger assisted opening is a breeze with gloves as well. The blade is Razor sharp out of the box and it's a very solid knife with relatively thick blade stock. I have cut boxes, twine, rope, plastic bottles etc. with mine and it zips right through and holds it's edge really well. Mine has the DLC coating wich adds rust and abrasion resistance. It is a little more $$ but to me it's worth it.

[TripleF]

Yeah, for one hand opening I agree with the others - Kershaw Leek and Needs Work.

I'm also a huge fan of the Great Eastern Cutlery Mini Lockback Hunter......

[giantranger97]

Thanks for all the tips guys... I have been doing a LOT of looking around and I did like your suggestions. After Hours and hours of comparisons I think I have narrowed it down to (3) knives.

the Gerber Answer FAST SM
the SOG Aegis Mini
the SOG Flash I

I took everyones suggestions seriously and checked them out.

Here's what I liked about my choices over yours, the lock/closing system. The 3 I like have a button on the side of the knife that is easy to use with my work loves on, versus the liner lock on them. The needs work was more bulky than I like to carry in my pocket.

I have had a couple Gerbers in the past (I carried a Magnum LST for a few years but always found it too bulky and didn't seem to hold an edge as well as i would have liked.)

Never had a SOG but hear they are good knifes.

Between the Gerber and SOG steel what is everyones thoughts/opinions.

Thanks Again

Chris

[jerryd6818]

Thanks for all the tips guys... I have been doing a LOT of looking around and I did like your suggestions. After Hours and hours of comparisons I think I have narrowed it down to (3) knives.

the Gerber Answer FAST SM
the SOG Aegis Mini
the SOG Flash I


Chris

Chris, strictly for informational purposes, since I always do it, I checked the country of origin. If that's not on your list of considerations, as the Aussies say, "No worries mate".

Gerber Answer FAST SM --- China
SOG Aegis Mini --- Assembled in USA
SOG Flash I --- Assembled in USA

Be sure to post pictures of your choice once you get it.

[giantranger97]

Chris, strictly for informational purposes, since I always do it, I checked the country of origin. If that's not on your list of considerations, as the Aussies say, "No worries mate".

Gerber Answer FAST SM --- China
SOG Aegis Mini --- Assembled in USA
SOG Flash I --- Assembled in USA

Be sure to post pictures of your choice once you get it.[/quote]

Even though that was not in my request , country of origin is a selling point. As a boilermaker I try to buy American whenever I can... SOG it is, I will just have to decide which design and size I like best.

Thanks

Chris

[Cutty]

Here's a link to blade steels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_blade_materials

I do not know what Gerber uses for that knife?
SOG uses AUS8 which is comparable to 440B, a mid level 440 steel and no where close to 440C in my opinion.

I have used a knife with AUS8 and it would get relatively sharp but failed to hold an edge for long and ended up in a drawer instead of my pocket. If the gerber is made in the orient my best guess is a mid/low grade steel.

Just for comparison, the leek has 14C28N which is on the higher end of sandvik steel. Not all Kershaws use the higher end steel or are made in the USA. Hers's the ones that do/are. They can all be had for less than the MSRP shown on this site. http://www.kershawknives.com/searchresu ... nd=kershaw

If I had to make a choice out of your options, it would be a SOG, especially not knowing what steel is used on the Gerber? There are members here that use SOG knives maybe one of them will chime in? What ever you get I would lean to the side of good blade steel, that's what you use and want to stay sharp

[pinnah]

Chris,

Of current makers, Buck (and Opinel) is the only maker I follow.

I'm going to suggest the Buck Quickfire (even though I've not handled one). I think it has each and every feature that you're asking for.

Spring assist? Check.

Lock back? Check.

Reversible pocket clip? Check.

Thinner than a sodbuster? Check.

Lighter than a sodbuster. Err...

http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3773

[garddogg56]

Chris;As an industrial electrician I 've found the AUS8 STEEL won't hold up for what you need for scrapping and reaming pipe and unistrut or taking burrs off allthread my choice would be as Pinnad said a Buck Quickfire strong spring and a great lockback system,tough 420HC all though I broke my tip but I reshaped her now she is better,the clip keep her in the Carhartts comfortably.But with all that said I still have a Buck 112 on the belt

[philco]

If you like the SOG knives I'd suggest taking a look at the SOG Mini Vulcan. It's not assisted opening, but the blade has a flipper that will rapidly deploy the blade and which would be far more user friendly when wearing gloves than a thumb stud deployment would be. It has the SOG arc lock system which is rated at 1000+ pounds, so accidental blade closing is quite unlikely. The Mini Vulcan comes with a VG-10 steel blade. It will sharpen up razor sharp and hold an edge quite well. The blade is configured such that it has a lot of strength and can be had in either plain edge or partially serrated, modified droppoint or tanto style. This model is made in Seki, Japan, and the quality speaks for itself. I've carried one for a couple of years now and it has served me very well.

Good luck with whatever you choose, and don't forget that you can always get a different one if the knife you pick isn't "perfect".

[giantranger97]

Ok I want to thank everyone for their input and suggestions...
And to let you know my choice was made and delivered today.



SOG Flash I

Here it is next to my last EDC, a Case Sod Buster JR.

Closed



Open



Here's my first impressions. Love the action and smoothness of the Assist. Only takes a few flips to get it down and its quick and gives a satisfying snap when it locks.

Here's what I find disappointing, First the quality just doesn't seem there. The handle looks, and feels like a really cheap plastic, just about like a $2 knife I bought as a teenager at a flea market.
The Release button is extremely disappointing, it is extremely loose and sloppy with a lot of play (can move it almost 1/2 way with no resistance and when the knife is closed, the button will slide by just shaking the knife. I also noticed that when locked open, If I put moderate pressure on the backside of the blade it would start to give (close slightly), I don't thing it will be an issue but I think the lock should be TIGHT...
I thought it would be a little larger than it actually is, you can tell it is considerably smaller than the Sod Buster Jr.

My conclusion is that I will carry the knife for a while and see how the blade holds up. If I like the steel I am try and get a SOG Aegis Mini. If it doesn't hold up to my liking I will probably get a Benchmade Mini Barrage.

Hope this info helps someone else out.

Thanks

Chris