Affordable knife with designer steel

Biggfoot44 · May 25, 2015

For the most part I have old school tastes for steel , and prefer my knives affordable enough I don't scream when I loose them.

But in the back of my mind , I'd like to test drive somthing with high zoot super duper steel , if only for curosity.

I've been checking out the Buck factory custom 110 or 112 with upgrade to S30V .

What else should I look at ? Preferably largish , but still pocketable folder , but will consider fixed with 4in-ish blade. Under $100, $50-ish even better. Doesn't have to be tacticool.

fidelity · May 25, 2015

fidelity · May 25, 2015

For a top end, premium steel (ZDP-189), see these ...

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica-Green-ZDP-189-Folding/dp/B001CO0224 (same knife is $103 at Knife Center)
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Dragonfly2-Brithish-ZDP-189-PlainEdge/dp/B004VG77R8/

ZDP-189 has a Rockwell hardness rating of 65 and takes work to sharpen.

I'm actually considering to buy some of the ones that I listed in the previous post. I did some background research on ZDP-189, and although it does have desirable characteristics, it's not one that would really suit my needs.

Bafflingbs · May 25, 2015

Benchmade griptilian
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/BM5...45-satin-drop-point-plain-blade-black-handles

501st · May 25, 2015

Biggfoot44 said:
For the most part I have old school tastes for steel , and prefer my knives affordable enough I don't scream when I loose them.

But in the back of my mind , I'd like to test drive somthing with high zoot super duper steel , if only for curosity.

I've been checking out the Buck factory custom 110 or 112 with upgrade to S30V .

What else should I look at ? Preferably largish , but still pocketable folder , but will consider fixed with 4in-ish blade. Under $100, $50-ish even better. Doesn't have to be tacticool.

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1670S30V-Knife-Steel-SpeedSafe/dp/B0015ZXCT0

INMY01TA · May 25, 2015

Bafflingbs said:
Benchmade griptilian
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/BM5...45-satin-drop-point-plain-blade-black-handles

This is next on my to buy list. :thumbsup:

hooligan82 · May 25, 2015

If you like the griptilian, you should consider spending an extra $40 and get the Ritter grip. You get m390 and a better blade shape with a wider belly.

More info here. http://www.dougritter.com/dr_rsk_mk1.htm

http://www.knifeworks.com/dougritterknivesandgear.aspx

grb · May 25, 2015

Spyderco Endura with jigged bone scales and VG-10 Damascus steel. Titanium bolsters. I got one of these a year or so ago and it has become my daily carry. Sharp out of the box, but after 10 minutes on a 6000 grit water stone and 5 more minutes on a strop and it is scary sharp. Holds an edge very well.

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Endura-Damascus-PlainEdge-C10JBOP/dp/B00EHMWOGK

fidelity · May 25, 2015

I've been coveting a similar one from Spyderco, but find the price (even when discounted) scary as well. :eek:

alucard0822 · May 25, 2015

hooligan82 said:
If you like the griptilian, you should consider spending an extra $40 and get the Ritter grip. You get m390 and a better blade shape with a wider belly.

More info here. http://www.dougritter.com/dr_rsk_mk1.htm

http://www.knifeworks.com/dougritterknivesandgear.aspx

Hells yes, probably the most knife for the money you can buy. The Spyderco Manix2s in S30V or the lightweight in S110V, are similarly high value knives. S30V is really the gateway to supersteels, it's what most steels are compared to, and fairly well rounded. It offers improvements in edge holding and resistance to edge/tip damage that most casual users will notice, many other steels may perform "better", but not enough to notice, or trade one aspect of performance for another.

hooligan82 · May 25, 2015

alucard0822 said:
Hells yes, probably the most knife for the money you can buy. The Spyderco Manix2s in S30V or the lightweight in S110V, are similarly high value knives. S30V is really the gateway to supersteels, it's what most steels are compared to, and fairly well rounded. It offers improvements in edge holding and resistance to edge/tip damage that most casual users will notice, many other steels may perform "better", but not enough to notice, or trade one aspect of performance for another.

I have one of the previous generation Ritter grips in s30v. I'm not sure if m390 is a lot better in edge retention and ease of sharpening, but that's my experience. I read somewhere that some of the s30v knives had heat treatment issues. It's possible mine was a part of that batch, or m390 is just a superior steel.

Bafflingbs · May 26, 2015

I think I've found you the perfect knife. Actually, I've found 2 perfect knives for you. First, is a beautiful Buck, in s30v. The next, is a Kershaw Blur with s30v. Both are under $100. I'm actually seriously considering both of these for myself...
Buck 845 Vantage Force Knife A-TACS (Military Camo) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YBXG82/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_oJazvb0R33CKB

And...
Kershaw 1670S30V Blur Knife with S30V Steel Blade with SpeedSafe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015ZXCT0/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_JOazvb11KQ3BB

fidelity · May 26, 2015

This looks like one of those threads that's going to cost me money. :deal:

Btw, 501st might have mentioned the same model of the Blur in post #5.

Boom Boom · May 26, 2015

Nothing exotic about S30V. Just higher end. It's a great blade steel. My de facto choice is VG-10.

Maverick0313 · May 26, 2015

fidelity said:
Perhaps not classic styles, but the Spyderco Delicas and Enduras can be reasonably priced (Delicas will come on sale for under $50 at times) with good materials. Here is a Delica with an all around decent steel, VG-10, that holds an edge well and is straightforward to sharpen ...

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B003CH3V5E/

Even more functional are a series of Lansky knives recently released with Sandvik 12C27 blades ...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ94MR6/ (4-inch blade w/ premium grips ... big folder)
http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-LKN111-Mikkel-Willumsen-Responder/dp/B00IJ9C8ZO/ (3-inch blade)
http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-UTR7-Responder-Blademedic-Knives/dp/B00L4FKWIK/ (3-inch blade and portable sharpener)

Case makes a number of pretty folders of a traditional design, albeit not with super steels ...

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Cutlery-Medium-Stockman-Stainless/dp/B001EU61WQ/
http://www.amazon.com/Case-Cutlery-Medium-Stockman-Stainless/dp/B00485D6TK/
http://www.amazon.com/Case-Cutlery-02758-Lockback-Stainless/dp/B001VJ1PM6/

If willing to spend more, Benchmade is making high quality knives for HK ... here are a few for around $100 ...

http://www.bladeops.com/Benchmade-HK-Mini-AXIS-Folder-Knife-D2-Black-Plai-p/ben14716bk.htm (2.9-inch blade)
http://www.bladeops.com/Benchmade-HK-Mini-Sand-G10-AXIS-Folder-Knife-D2-B-p/ben14716bk-1.htm (2.9-inch blade)
http://www.bladeops.com/Benchmade-Sand-G10-HK-AXIS-Folder-Knife-D2-Drop-P-p/ben14715bk-1.htm (3.7-inch blade)

ETA: here's a pair of beautiful Benchmades in S30V ...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4BFLXS
http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-15051-2-Summit-Lake-Hunter/dp/B00IDH9VAM/

GREAT info here!!!! :thumbsup:

Biggfoot44 · May 26, 2015

OK , talk to me about the properties and relevant comparisons of VG-10 . And what other quasi - affordable super steels ?

Bafflingbs · May 26, 2015

Biggfoot44 said:
OK , talk to me about the properties and relevant comparisons of VG-10 . And what other quasi - affordable super steels ?

http://bestpocketknifetoday.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/
Good info.

cmb286 · May 26, 2015

thanks for that... good information

dreadpirate · May 26, 2015

Lots of great suggestions here - probably could not go wrong with any of these. I would just say the Spyderco Delica with VG10 steel for a good basic knife. The Spyderco Enduara is not much more than the Delica but the Endura has a 3.75" blade for like $5 more. And I think the Ritter knife with M390 steel from Knife Works is a hell of a deal for what you get.

dreadpirate · May 26, 2015

hooligan82 said:
If you like the griptilian, you should consider spending an extra $40 and get the Ritter grip. You get m390 and a better blade shape with a wider belly.

More info here. http://www.dougritter.com/dr_rsk_mk1.htm

http://www.knifeworks.com/dougritterknivesandgear.aspx

Yeah - I really like that Doug Ritter knife with the M390 steel :party29:

Affordable knife with designer steel

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