seth
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Post by seth on Jan 13, 2021 19:05:57 GMT
I haven't been making many sword purchases over the last year, but I have been adding to my folder collection. Not all of these were obtained this year, but I thought I would share some of my favorite EDC's. I like an EDC with a blade 3.5"-4" long. Front left to right: Cold Steel Finn Wolf--a great budget folder that can be had for <$40. I like scandy grind blades, and this is a folder. Feels great in the hand and is super tough. Benchmade SocP folder--uber tactical knife but aweseom quality. Super light and rides great in the pocket. An odd design on the grip but it works very well. Gerber Applegate Fairbain covert folder--this knife is old--at least 15 years old--made before tactical was cool--but it holds up. A very solid choice. Benchmade Crooker River--this is a fantastic knife. It is beefy but is made to be a hunting companion. I think this is my favorite, and it often goes with me on hikes and camping trips. Spyderco Paramilitary 2--This knife has a great reputation and it is well-deserved--super smooth action--stays sharp a long time--great in the hand--double choils for close work--light weight and made right here on earth. Microtech SOCOM elite--I love microtech knives. They are best known for their autos which are super fun knives--This isn't an auto but is their bomb-proof military folder--I haven't had this long, but it is a fantastic knife. No tip up carry option, but that's not an issue with me. Spyderco emphasis--one of Spyderco's budget friendly options--Noticeably less refined than the PM2 but a decent knife overall. The steel does not hold an edge like the PM2, but it feels good in the hand. Cold Steel Voyager 4"--I wouldn't hesitate to baton with this knife. A very tough knife for a price much less than other 4" folders from CS. Spyderco endura--a good midpoint between the PM2 and emphasis for price, steel and quality. SOG Spec elite--a side auto knife--auto knives get a bad rap--many of these folders deploy just as fast--I think this is a good entry level auto knife--a lot of the cheaper stuff out there is not high quality. This knife well-put together, but I do not like the grip--the SOG logo etched into it has super sharp edges. Ontario RAT--the most budget friendly of the bunch at <$30--a knife you wouldn't mind getting super dirty or banged up. In fact, I have another RAT I use for yard work. It lives in the garage and cuts all sorts of dirty stuff. Kershaw Emerson designed CQC-11K--it's a good looking knife. I bought it because it looked cool and was on a great deal. But the blade shape isn't great for utility tasks. Overall, my top recommendations: For the woods--Benchmade Crooked River For do-all EDC--PM2 (endura if $ is an issue) For a budget-- CS Finn Wolf
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Post by Murffy on Jan 13, 2021 20:23:49 GMT
Thanks for the reviews. A while back I lost my Spyderco Endura and was going to get another until I saw the current price tag. I bought a CS Finn Wolf instead and I really like it. Naturally, within a day of the Finn Wolf arriving, I found the Spyderco.
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howler
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Post by howler on Jan 13, 2021 20:50:46 GMT
Nice collection. The Gerber Applegate is one of the few folders you can actually sharpen the back (I did) and carry double edged.
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 13, 2021 21:04:04 GMT
Thanks for the reviews. A while back I lost my Spyderco Endura and was going to get another until I saw the current price tag. I bought a CS Finn Wolf instead and I really like it. Naturally, within a day of the Finn Wolf arriving, I found the Spyderco. Bonus!
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 13, 2021 21:05:17 GMT
Nice collection. The Gerber Applegate is one of the few folders you can actually sharpen the back (I did) and carry double edged. Yes. I have a full-size one I sharpened the back edge on. Also a great knife.
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howler
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Post by howler on Jan 13, 2021 22:53:54 GMT
Nice collection. The Gerber Applegate is one of the few folders you can actually sharpen the back (I did) and carry double edged. Yes. I have a full-size one I sharpened the back edge on. Also a great knife. I love the extra thumb safety on the covert and wish more folders had that feature, No way that sucker fails. I got Endura and Delica models on sales of $37 and $22 total respectively ...just WISH I purchased more for resale and extras around house.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 13, 2021 23:47:10 GMT
Fellow I work with was showing off his SocP recently, and I was intrigued enough to look into them. Wound up going for a Fact 417 instead, but the SocP is still a pretty cool knife. It's silly to me that double-edged "daggers" are illegal in so many places causing many single-edge "dagger style" knives, like the Applegate-Fairbairn. On one hand, I can see the safety consideration for folding knives. On the other, I know that's not why they're restricted. I was never a fan of Cold Steel until I picked up their Luzon, the design alone granting it an exception, and the Finn Bear has caught my eye a handful of times, but I'm still not sold on the brand. Anyway, cool knives.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Jan 14, 2021 0:11:32 GMT
Nice collection. I just picked up a Cold Steel Kris Voyager XL myself.
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 14, 2021 0:20:55 GMT
I got Endura and Delica models on sales of $37 and $22 total respectively ...just WISH I purchased more for resale and extras around house. no kidding!
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 14, 2021 0:21:47 GMT
Nice collection. I just picked up a Cold Steel Kris Voyager XL myself. Is that a sword in your pocket? Cold Steel's big folders are great knives.
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 14, 2021 0:24:04 GMT
Fellow I work with was showing off his SocP recently, and I was intrigued enough to look into them. Wound up going for a Fact 417 instead, but the SocP is still a pretty cool knife. It's silly to me that double-edged "daggers" are illegal in so many places causing many single-edge "dagger style" knives, like the Applegate-Fairbairn. On one hand, I can see the safety consideration for folding knives. On the other, I know that's not why they're restricted. I was never a fan of Cold Steel until I picked up their Luzon, the design alone granting it an exception, and the Finn Bear has caught my eye a handful of times, but I'm still not sold on the brand. Anyway, cool knives. The Fact is a sweet looking knife. I wasn't much of a CS fan either regarding their folders, but I am now a convert.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Jan 14, 2021 0:47:09 GMT
CS's folders don't come the sharpest or smoothest in the industry, but I really don't think you can beat them for lock strength or sheer martial design function. And you can get a pretty high level of quality for your money with the sub-$50 CS utility folders.
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howler
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Post by howler on Jan 14, 2021 1:14:34 GMT
Nice collection. I just picked up a Cold Steel Kris Voyager XL myself. Is that a sword in your pocket? Cold Steel's big folders are great knives. They sort of cornered the market on the quality mega folders regarding large scale company offerings. Years ago bought a bunch of XL 5 1/2" bladed Aus8 Voyagers in different styles mid $30 each total price range. I'm worried about future deals and quality regarding the recent CS changes.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 14, 2021 1:30:18 GMT
CS's folders don't come the sharpest or smoothest in the industry, but I really don't think you can beat them for lock strength or sheer martial design function. And you can get a pretty high level of quality for your money with the sub-$50 CS utility folders. Their Luzon gave some of my better knives a good run on out-of-box sharpness, and has held its own for edge retention, so I'll give this model that much. I have other knives I like better, but I'm more inclined to the Luzon because it was only $30 and I don't care if it gets messy.
I will say the lock is pretty good, and I like the extra safety slider they added. Out-of-box action was really tough, though, and still is. I also got the XL for lulz and it's actually a lot better, overall, than the M; just too darn big to carry around. I have a 9" blade (nearly 20" open) spanish folder that rides in the pocket more comfortably. Not that it does...
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 17, 2021 17:03:49 GMT
Well, just for kicks--here are my large folders. Kind of arbitrary, but I put anything with a 4"+ blade here. From the top: Western/Coleman hunting folder--Western made these, and Coleman acquired Western and briefly produced the same knife albeit with the Coleman logo. It has a 4.5" blade and a bone saw. An excellent hunting knife for cleaning big game. Carbon steel blades so they have spotting but not bad considering how messy this gets. Spyderco Resilience-- 4.25" blade--one of Spyderco's budget offerings but well worth the price I paid ($46 I think). I big blade, but it rides in the pocket very nice. Gerber Applegate Fairbain Combat folder. I think I bought this in 1997 or so. Still going strong. I sharpened the back bevel on this too. It's a fighting knife, but I have used it many times as a chore inife in the woods. Cold Steel Spartan--a mini kopis in your pocket--what's not to love? This is a tough brute of a fighting knife. It's pretty thick though making pocket carry difficult for some--not a skinny jean knife--LOL. Cold Steel Large Espada--this is just a beautiful knife. It just looks good--the blade shape, the handle shape, the scales and polished aluminum. It is functional and beautiful--I also collect weapons for the aesthetics and this really hits that mark. Of course it makes it harder to use it because I don't want to mess it up. The aluminum does scratch really easy. the handle shape is really well-done, You can slide it back in the hand and grip it there to add several inches to reach. CS XL voyager tanto serrated--This is more in the tactical category but undeniably functional and tough. The benefits of a fixed blade tanto with the portability of a sheath tanto. I know people will scream "it's not the same thing!" but think of it like a Popeye's chicken sandwich--it's the same as a chik-fil-a but it's still pretty darn good. CS large luzon--this is my biggest folder, and it is a beast. It's a fighting knife. It's pretty hard to get this into the pockets of my jeans and most pants. It feels more like my swords in that it's fun to handle and play with, test cut, etc., but I don't expect to use it beyond that.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jan 17, 2021 17:43:27 GMT
That's quit a collection you have going.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 17, 2021 18:07:01 GMT
Yeah, the big Luzon is good fun, but it's not my biggest: Mind you, granted, two of those ride in my pockets, while the other two can, I don't really see the point. They live on my headboard.
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Post by bradc on Jan 19, 2021 0:48:28 GMT
Nice Collection!
I agree on the mini crooked river. It's my favorite folder. Just a fantastic all round clip point knife.
(Someone stole my mini crooked river recently and I'm debating to buy another or use the excuse to upgrade... 🤔, but it's such a good knife I'm not sure where to go for a new clip point)
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 19, 2021 3:01:21 GMT
Yeah, the big Luzon is good fun, but it's not my biggest: Mind you, granted, two of those ride in my pockets, while the other two can, I don't really see the point. They live on my headboard. Wow! If Lynn Thompson sees that he'll be green
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seth
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Post by seth on Jan 19, 2021 3:05:10 GMT
Nice Collection! I agree on the mini crooked river. It's my favorite folder. Just a fantastic all round clip point knife. (Someone stole my mini crooked river recently and I'm debating to buy another or use the excuse to upgrade... 🤔, but it's such a good knife I'm not sure where to go for a new clip point) Dang. Sorry to hear that. Thievery is just so frustrating
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