What do you want to use the knife for? As a tool or for personal defense?

I've really never carried a pocket knife for defensive purposes except on the rare occasion that I can't carry (legally or illegally), then I have a Zero Tolerance for that.

For a true pocket knife (tool), I carried a Swiss Army Tinker for many years and it served me very well (even gutted an elk with it once because I had forgotten my hunting knife at home). I then went to a belt worn Leatherman and retired the Tinker.

My advice & you can buy both for
around 200.00 total.

Spyderco Delica 4
Spyderco Paramilitary 2

Kershaw Blur. They're usually about $60-100, but twice I've gotten them for about $40 on Woot.com

I've tried lots of knives, some of which were very expensive, including a couple "auto" knives. However, I keep coming back to the Blur.

Here is the one I have:
https://www.amazon.com/Blur-Bl...eywords=Kershaw+blur

I really like this Boker Kwaiken. It's my current EDC knife. I bought it after my Spyderco Paramilitary 2 went missing.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--B...Flipper-Knife--28579

Much like those recommending the Kershaw Leek, I also think a good but inexpensive folder for EDC is the solution. But instead of the Leek, I'd recommend an Ontario Rat 1. If you want bigger, get the Rat II. Great knife, and if you do lose or damage it, the cost of a replacement is no big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by davetruong:
Looking for light, sturdy, good steel, not too thick folding pocket knife. Budget is around $300 or less.

Thanks in advance

I just noticed you live in Orange County.

Do yourself a favor and go visit Plaza Cutlery in Costa Mesa. They will take care of you.

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
I haven't used the Gerber, Woodman, but my Kershaw Leek opens one handed like buttah, one flick of the finger. Maybe yours needs some factory love?

Mine too. I like that it flicks open with the index finger as I've never found a knife that I was really comfortable opening with my thumb. Closing it one handed is not all that hard either but does require you to close it towards your thumb momentarily.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
I haven't used the Gerber, Woodman, but my Kershaw Leek opens one handed like buttah, one flick of the finger. Maybe yours needs some factory love?

Mine too. I like that it flicks open with the index finger as I've never found a knife that I was really comfortable opening with my thumb. Closing it one handed is not all that hard either but does require you to close it towards your thumb momentarily.

Well, dip me in buttermilk and roll me in flour! I forgot!

A couple weeks ago I got sick of the Leek never opening right, and I tightened up the sliding "safety" via its tiny Torx screw.

So yes, the Leek does now flick open with my thumb. Almost like it is spring loaded. Closing one handed, no not really. Feels like it'll slip out or cut off my finger tips. A little small, and too smooth. More for self-defense and opening the occasional box. Cutting the occasional piece of rope, maybe. For a knife in and out of my pocket ten times a day, I'd want something with more grip.

Also, the Leek is lacking the extra safety keeping the blade from folding back which the Gerber has. The patented blade lock lever, a secondary manual locking system, can be flipped into place with the thumb as it presses into the hilt of the handle, and prevents the open blade from closing on the hand of the operator for absolute confidence in its use.

I'm more of a tool-knife guy, and beat the crap out of them. It's literally in my pocket every day. I use it as an extension of my fingers except the blade does not bleed. The Leek is a little too nice for that. The Leek is my dress knife, when I have to be a gentleman.

If you are ok with a blade over 3 inches then my vote is the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 in s110v steel.

3 inch blade and under I'd go with the Spyderco Paramilitary 3.

If you don't like Spyderco then I'd look at the Benchmade Griptilians.

All of these knives can be bought for under $200.

quote:

Originally posted by ac26:
My advice & you can buy both for
around 200.00 total.

Spyderco Delica 4
Spyderco Paramilitary 2

The only two pocket knives I currently own. Great blades!

I love my Spydercos. I personally prefer the H1 steel in the Salt models, no rust even with salt water exposure. I'm not a big fan of the "Spyder Edge" though, prefer a straight edge. The Salt 1, with a straight edge if you can find it would be my choice. I carry one every day, also have one with the longer 3.75" (I think) blade. Perfect knives for utilitarian EDC use in my humble opinion. Won't break the bank either...

Small folder, around 3":
Benchmade Mini Griptillian or Spyderco Native

Meduim folder, around 3 1/2":
Benchmade Griptillian or Spyderco PM2

You can easily get two of the above for your $300 budget.

Here is what I said in a thread a few weeks ago in the knife section of the forum:

quote:

I have daily-carried a Griptillian for I don't even remember how long. The Axis lock is unreal. I can flip that Grip open one-handed faster than the semi-auto Axis Assist Barrage that I also own. Bonus is that I can flip the Grip closed as well. Can't do that with the Axis Assist Barrage!

The Griptillian is everything you need in a EDC knife. It's not fancy. It's not some uber-steel. It's plastic and metal. It holds an edge and it's easy to sharpen.

There was about a 2-week period where I couldn't find my Grip, and I was pretty convinced I lost it on a wildfire. I had already determined I was replacing it with another Griptillian. Then I found it, and did a happy-dance.

I own ten knives, I carry the Griptillian 90% of the time, and it's not because the others are bad knives. They just don't do everything as well as the Grip does. You can't find a better folding knife for around $100.

If you have your heart set on fancy, I also like my Axis Assist Barrage, but it's marginally heavier than the Grip, and not necessarily better.

They also make the Griptillian 551-1 with G10 scales and some fancy steel blade for like $175.

The Griptillian fills all your needs.

Dave, you got the correct advice above. Go to Plaza Cutlery. Try stuff out. They get exclusives from Chris Reeve (Sebenza great way for you to go), and you can try out Emerson, Spyderco etc etc. They host the California Custom Knife show, which is coming up soon as well show link

I've done business at regular intervals with Dan & his family. Your shop and theirs are 2 must visits in OC.

I think you'll love a Sebenza, and can find others that will be excellent tools for you. Mention to them that you do custom work for "USNers" and that may help.

SOG Trident Elite. Assisted opening, window punch, seatbelt cutter, and a really large handle.

https://www.amazon.com/SOG-Tri...ds=SOG+Trident+elite

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
What do you want to use the knife for? As a tool or for personal defense?

I've really never carried a pocket knife for defensive purposes except on the rare occasion that I can't carry (legally or illegally), then I have a Zero Tolerance for that.

For a true pocket knife (tool), I carried a Swiss Army Tinker for many years and it served me very well (even gutted an elk with it once because I had forgotten my hunting knife at home). I then went to a belt worn Leatherman and retired the Tinker.

Not for self defense, but for anything that I need to do with a knife. I want a nice knife but I won't baby it.

So I've narrowed down to 3 knives here.

However, I will be visiting the Cutlery Plaza down the street....these are my 3 contenders...

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Z...ub-Frame-Lock--52150

https://zt.kaiusaltd.com/knives/knife/zt0456

http://www.benchmade.com/griptilian-family.html

Thank you all...and more suggestions are welcome!!!

Mini Griptilian hands down.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
Well, dip me in buttermilk and roll me in flour! I forgot!

A couple weeks ago I got sick of the Leek never opening right, and I tightened up the sliding "safety" via its tiny Torx screw.

So yes, the Leek does now flick open with my thumb. Almost like it is spring loaded.

The Leek is spring-loaded (assisted opening.)

quote:

Originally posted by davetruong:
So I've narrowed down to 3 knives here.

However, I will be visiting the Cutlery Plaza down the street....these are my 3 contenders...

Thank you all...and more suggestions are welcome!!!

Good luck and have fun. The local Army Navy surplus store (SLO Camp & Pack) has several different knives and it was great to go in and handle them. Some of them ones I thought I would like the best didn't fit my hand all that well. One that one of the counter guys swore by looked great and felt fantastic in the hand, but opening it consistently was a total bear for me.

I carry two pocket knives, a Spyderco Cricket in the left front pocket as an everyday use tool, and currently a Benchmade Emissary as a "social" knife. I switched from the Benchmade Warn as the Warn was a bit clunky and heavy for what it was. The Emissary is great, except that the texture which makes it stick so well in the hand absolutely chews right through jeans where it sits over the edge or the nylon clip of an IWB holster. I even tried covering that edge of the knife with gorilla tape and it ate through the tape. Sigh, I'll be heading back to SLO Camp and Pack and taking another look at the mini-grip as well as some of the other suggestions posted here. If they don't have enough of them I may have to make a trip down your way to check out Cutlery Plaza, though it sounds like that could be an expensive trip. If I do get down that way I'll stop in and say Hi!

The great thing about about visiting a local store is that you can try and see what works for you and they will know the local laws. I'm pretty sure we are limited to 3.5" blades on folders and no autos (except for LEOs), but they will know for sure.