I've used the Doug Ritter RSK MK1 locking folder (made in collaboration with Benchmade) for many years. Highly recommended:



http://www.dougritter.com/dr_rsk_mk1.htm

The new SpyderCo WolfSpyder, designed by Ray Mears looks pretty sweet, too:

The edge geometry on the Spyderco looks like a winner. Not sure about the handle, but the blade looks like a cutter. On the other hand, that Doug Ritter Benchmade leaves me flat. I haven't wrung one out, but the geometry looks like more of a skinner/gutter/butcher blade than a good utility knife.

Zzz wrote:The Leatherman c33Tx arrived. I like it thus far, it's a nice compact knife.

Two months later and a trip to AK... what's your review of the Leatherman c33Tx? I'm considering one....

kg wrote:

Zzz wrote:The Leatherman c33Tx arrived. I like it thus far, it's a nice compact knife.

Two months later and a trip to AK... what's your review of the Leatherman c33Tx? I'm considering one....

I really like it. I'm not a steel connoisseur so for me the price was right ($32.00).

I am a long time Swiss Army knife guy though and really like carrying a lightweight knife that isn't a modern multi tool. This thing has what I need. The flip-open mechanism is awesome. I feel like it's a switchblade.

Some of the accessories were a little stiff to operate out of the box, and the bottle opener/carabiner took me a little playing with to figure out how to unlock and stow it.

The size is perfect.

All in all, I'm happy. Highly recommended. It's about time for its first sharpening.

Where's the cork screw?

Hammer wrote:Where's the cork screw?

Unless you're European or a thrifty home brewer, you don't need a corkscrew for beer.

Thanks Z. I think I'll order one ... I'm going with the plain blade rather than the serrated for ease of sharpening. Don't know why but the serrated blade is cheaper. Looks like $46 for the plain blade version, the c33t.

I just recently received a Spyderco Endura 4; https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/detail ... roduct=284
The way you open the knife was a little odd at first but it works well. I can open and close the knife one handed.

I'll admit that the the look the knife has grown on me. I like it.

Feels like a personal history lesson.....first was a Buck 110, took it all over the world with me, fended off a hippo in the Okavango swamps one night. After looking at what was on the belts of the Marines in Mogadishu in '94, got myself a Leatherman that I still have, but no locking blade. These days I have a Gerber Gator as my hunting knife (kinda big for a pocket), Leatherman Wave for a multi-tool (kinda heavy for a pocket), and directly as a result of perusing this forum just picked up a Kershaw Cryo 1555TI (thanks rcwflyer). Nice size, weight, pocketable.

Lots of nice folders on this thread. I have a feeling that I'm going to end up with another knife. That's not a bad thing, right?

Normally when in my pocket is a cheap swiss army knife knockoff I found. More a tool than knife.
Leatherman Rebar in my flight bag for when I fly.

I've bought a Gerber Multi-Tool 20 years ago specifically to carry in my flight kit. It's light weight and has never failed me in 20 years. I carry it more the the multi tool convenience than knife. Probably not the best "survival" tool, but good for tightening up screws or cutting paracord.



About a decade ago I purchased a Syderco Pacific Salt h1 and it's a great EDC knife. Lightweight and won't ever rust. I've been a huge fan of Spyderco's since they appeared on my RADAR in the early 90s. Lots of good knives out there but these have always been my favorite.

I have always loved benchmade knives. A couple of years ago I was admiring the folding knives made by Triple Aught Design, While visiting the Overland Adventure show with my wife, they were priced over $400 so I never would’ve bought one, but lo and behold guess what I received for my birthday present.

Without a doubt the best folding knife I’ve ever had, -titanium -ball bearing instead of washers, after daily use and abuse Not a hint of free play. After balking at the price initially, if I lost one I would buy another one in an instant. I’ve spent much more money on power tools that I only use a couple times a year, this is something I use daily and could possibly save my life one day.

https://tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/daun ... -titanium/

Four years later and the Enzo Borka is still the only folder I carry, despite having a drawer full of high-end folders gathering dust.

Knives, I must have a drawerful of them. For years I carried a Swiss army knife, the one there in the center, for its Phillips screwdriver. They are unfortunately, quite poorly made, in spite of all the propaganda the Swiss put out. They usually wore out on an annual basis and the plastic on the sides is quite susceptible to a variety of solvents and melt. The big Swiss Army knife, found on the beach in Key West is regulated to Afrikaburn events, where it slices up ostrich meat cubes for omelets and the cork screw comes in rockingly handy for all that good wine. Aside from that it sits in the drawer. The big Gerber flip blade is a nice knife with some kind of wonder metal blade, a gift. Last time I used it was in the field in Borneo, where it came in handy with slicing up all the rope we used for rigging. However I am rarely stabbing or skinning anything on a regular basis. It keeps the Swiss army knives company. The Skeltool, I love it, never carry it, too big. and easy to lose the little bits.

So what do I carry day in and day out. The Leatherman Juice. Since fixing loose bits and pieces on the airplane, car, espresso machines what I normally do. It has all the necessary attachments, pliers scissors, wire strippers, Phillips, straight blades and a blade knife to open boxes. The only useless thing is the bottle opener, I don't drink beer. It fits in the pocket without the "gee are you happy to see me, or is that a multitool in your pocket?" thing going on. If I have to put it in a pouch on my belt, I will forget it, I am that kind of special idiot. That one is around 10 years old, outlasting 10 Swiss turds. I don't believe they make it anymore, but it may outlast me. Not pretty, no fancy wonder metal blades, just some tools that seem to be surprisingly well made. The knifey part of anything I have is usually just opening up boxes or removing packaging from something. Again, haven't stabbed, whittled or skinned anything for a while now. I just wish it had the tweezers, I still get splinters from pallets and the like.

These things are intensely personal focused on what you need to do. So your criteria will depend on what you actually do with them. Forget any tool that is TSA compliant. They will still stop you, pull it out and then finally declare (after huddling with at least three of them), "oh it is compliant." Wasting time.

Wow, 3 years on, here's my update:

The Leatherman C33T was so good, they decided to discontinue it. That's when you know something is great.

I've lost 3 of them, bought 2 more when I saw they were becoming rare. The blade is good-ish and I use the built-in tools often. I can do most stuff on an airplane with my 4" crescent wrench and the C33T. It's critical to have in my pocket for photo/video work and working fasteners for mounts/tripods, etc.

I have a friend who works a few miles away at Gerber, designing knives for them. I bought one of his creations called the Fastball, and it's a great everyday carry knife. The opening action is super positive, though it requires a little technique to safely close one-handed. No tools, but I cool blade profile for stabbing Amazon Prime boxes.

Spyderco are really nice. They sent me a few to take on my AK trip a couple years ago. I gifted a few and kept the Paramilitary for myself.

Long time fan of Benchmades. No idea how good they are compared to the Hammer recommendations but I like the lifetime sharpening deal. Just sent one to them, got it back a week later good as new.

Carried one for many years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Quality American-made knife with great customer service.

JB

I have been told I’m a bit of a tool snob. My selection in knives is no different. My requirements for an EDC lock blade pocket knife are: 2”-4” blade length, tip up - deep pocket carry design, flip or assist opening, and most importantly a reversible carry clip as I am left handed. I really like the Boker Urban Trapper. It’s quite pricey for someone who has been known to misplace expensive things in the past. My next choice and what I’ve been carrying for a number of years (haven’t managed to loose the cheap one) is the Buck Vantage Select this knife has been great! Quite a value at $40.00 if you ask me. I like that I can easily get my knife out of the pocket while seated,

Kershaw Leek - simple, keeps an edge and inexpensive. Kershaw has excellent customer service in the event you need something fixed due to misuse

My dad is a big case guy. I bet he easily has a couple hundred. He gave me a case hunter about a year ago. It’s the first lock blade case knife I’ve ever carried on a daily basis. I love the blade shape. Great for opening letters, cutting open boxes and slicing fruit or cheese. It also has the knob for easy opening and a pocket clip. Plus Case knives are just timeless to me. If I’m doing something more specific like camping, exploring, fishing, hunting etc, I have alternate choices, but for everyday, it’s a trusty old case.

I like playing with knives too. I've tried quite a few.

My son gave me a Microtech, automatic opening and closing, OTF (out the front).



It is hard for me to describe how awesome it is to be able to safely close this knife with one hand! I've had flippers, folders, assisted openings, etc. but they all require some sort of finger gymnastics to close them one-handed and there is no way to do it without risking a cut. Not so with the Microtech. Push a button, the blade pops out. Push it again, the blade pops in. Not a folder, the blade goes in and out of the end of the case. My fingers are never near the blade nor in front of the sharp part.

I can now hold my work in my left hand, reach into my pocket with my right, open the knife, make my cut, close the knife, and put it back in my pocket without the risk of blood flowing out of my hand.

My description doesn't do it justice. My son had one for a couple of years before he gave me one and I was never impressed until I carried this one for a few days. Now I never leave home without it, unless I'm going somewhere where they would lock me up for carrying it.

A couple of downsides.
1. They are expensive.
2. It is a felony in some states to possess one.