Best Folding/lockable knives ?

[Tony]

When's the BCUK folder due Tone?

And is it true that it'll be called the Albion? :roll:

:rolmao: What a wonderful idea!!

The bcuk Albion :rolmao:

 

[Tantalus]

Opinel /snip
On the downside get it damp and won't open it until the wood dries out again.

try holding the knife at the hinge end with the handle pointing away from you , then tap the end of the handle onto a hard surface to bring the blade out

Tant

 

[ESpy]

Spyderco Paramilitary has proved to be pretty competent as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Lurch]

Lurch, I wouldnt say i disagree! Although "hate" is too much of a strong word, i certainly think they are over-hyped.

Yep you're right. I don't totally hate them, I just don't see the mass appeal for people who actually use knives. There are some really nice looking SAK's and some of them I would consider buying, but on a collector basis not for actually doing stuff.
Opinels are another one I've never got the appeal of, secure locking I'm sure but yucky to use.
... I'll get me coat!

 

[Stuart]

I had a play with the Doug Ritter's RSK Mk1™ Folding Knife
by Benchmade™

www.equipped.com/rsk_mk1.htm

I think its the best outdoors folder i have ever seen, definate thumbs up from me :biggthump

 

[Adi007]

I like Benchmade stuff but I've never really bonded with the axis lock ... the idea of the way the pin locks the blade is great and seems ultra strong but I see the spring component to be the weak link.

Dunno ... each to his own I guess ...

 

[Martyn]

I like Benchmade stuff but I've never really bonded with the axis lock ... the idea of the way the pin locks the blade is great and seems ultra strong but I see the spring component to be the weak link.

Dunno ... each to his own I guess ...

Battered the hell out of mine Adi, my mini griptillian is my "do all" knife and I havent got a peep out of the mechanism.

For those who might be considering the doug ritter knife....

...think on this:

The cheapest version is $99.95 plus shipping and import duty/VAT - figure on a conservative $140 inc (if you're lucky) - that's a conservative £77.61 at todays exchange rates, but will likely cost you closer to £90.

Or...
You can get a benchmade mini griptillian...

From Joe Echols (ODS) for £46inc. You get a choice of blade shapes and a gazillion different handle colours.

Of course, if you want a real survival knife, you can pay the extra £40 and get one from equipped with the doug ritter logo. :roll:

I know this sounds like a bit of an ad for ODS, it isn't. I'm just pointing out that they are essentially the same knife for vastly different prices.

Before somone points out that the Ritter blade is S30v, yeah I know, but you have to be a serious knife junkie to pay x2 simply for S30v - it aint magic metal ya know?

Just my 2p.

 

[jakunen]

I'd also recommend the Opinels.
Mine has served me exceptionally well over the past 25 years and survived several military exercises and courses, journeys to the Sahara, a month of camping and shooting in the States, you name it.

When the day comes that I lose it or it gets bust, it'll be like losing a friend.

Yes, the blade can stick, but as pointed out, a quick tap normally does the trick.

 

[Andy]

I like this one but it is cold in your hand if you don't keep it in a pocket or pouch on a belt

I find thumb studs get in the way of things.

I don't like most SAKs either

 

[R-Bowskill]

I use an Opinel no 8, Suppose it's cos that's what I grew up with. I have seen the blade on one snap when it was used to extract a stuck cartridge but apart from that they cope with what I throw at them. Mine gets used for dozens of jobs and even gets pressed into service for some jobs in my kitchen at home.

If not kept clean the blade does tend to stick, I oil the wood whenever I sharpen it to keep moisture out and reduce this problem.

My other folding knife is a swiss army mainly so that I've always got a corkscrew, bottle opener and tin opener on me. Sometimes I think that's why people invite me to parties, so they can get tinto the drinks!!!

 

[jakunen]

Sometimes I think that's why people invite me to parties, so they can get tinto the drinks!!!

Now why does that sound familiar???

 

[MartiniDave]

I've bought several lock knives over the years, but I still keep coming back to the opinels, either no 7 or 8. Cheap, robust and good cutters. Excellent.
I also use SAK's as they're very "sheeple friendly"

Dave

 

[Simon]

currently a Gerber Harsey AR2 it's such a simple knife to keep clean and a very sturdy lock with a secondary lock for extra security

will be upgrading sometime soon to a Lone Wolf Harsey T2 .. it seems to have a very good blade shape where as the AR2 has a clip point... the T2 doesn't making it more of a utility knife

Something about William Harsey knife designs ... he also designed the Sebenza ... arguably the best locking folder there is

 

[falcon]

I've tried all sorts over the years but I now tend to alternate between an Opinel No 8 and a steel/wooden handled Fox knife (440 series steel) both of which take a superb edge which I think is important. I'm never without a Leatherman nowadays for everything BUT the knife blade which I've never managed to sharpen to the standard I prefer.

I've also got a fairly old wooden handled EKA knife (about the size of an Opinel NO 8) for which I would dearly like to to have a decent carbon steel blade made. Anybody have any ideas who might give me a price for doing this?

 

[ANDGRIN]

I've used a Puma Cadet for the last 20 years and have given away a SAK Climber and left my Leatherman PST in my bike repair kit.

I prefer fixed blades for use in the outdoors, less to go wrong,( keep it simple)


Cheers
Andgrin :biggthump

 

[JakeR]

Opinels are my favourite folders by far! Great steel, very strudy and you don't mind damageing them as they cost under £10. Best you can get IMO. You can do anything with an opinel that you can with any other and in great comfort (or have i opened a can of worms)

 

[Leon]

Before somone points out that the Ritter blade is S30v, yeah I know, but you have to be a serious knife junkie to pay x2 simply for S30v - it aint magic metal ya know?

I've owned a RitterGrip for a few months now. I think it's worth just adding that not only is the blade steel different from the standard Grips, so is the geometry.
The much higher grind of the Ritter version is finished with a bevel of 15 degrees as opposed to the much steeper (so I have read) twentysomething bevel on the standard Grip. My BM705 has similar steep lines and is not a patch on the Ritter for carving/slicing.
The standard grip is a great knife, no argument there! I personally feel though that the improved steel along with the 'improved' blade geometry is worth the extra dosh for bushcrafty applications, especially if your main fixed blade is a thickish scandi grind not easily persuaded into delicate slicing tasks.
(not that the 'extra' costs of shipping over a knife from the US aren't irritating in the extreme, though :roll: )

 

[dtalbot]

I'd also recommend the Opinels.
Mine has served me exceptionally well over the past 25 years
When the day comes that I lose it or it gets bust, it'll be like losing a friend.

Yes, the blade can stick, but as pointed out, a quick tap normally does the trick.

I think I'm on my third in that time frame! one lasted about 12 yrs before I lost my friend, next about 3 months and No 3 since then. The hit the handle on a hard surface to open a stiff opinel is so much second nature I didn't even think of mentioning it and guess I do it without realising!
David

 

[Richard]

Thanks for all your suggestions folks! What a response. I will look into these a bit further, particularly the RSK.

I love my Opinel from a looks, feel and sharpness point of view but I've never felt the locking mechanism was very safe as I find the metal collar on mine swivels around gradually as I'm using it. I've also snapped the blade (twice) on an Opinel so I worry it isn't up to a lot of bushcraft tasks, but maybe I'm asking too much from it?

Keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Stew]

If you do snap your opinel blade, don't throw it away, make a Bull-ant.