NickZac
Ultimate Member
So you are looking for your ideal folding knife...let's say that price is not of a huge concern, nor is legality. What characteristics and features would make it the best knife for you?
Size of Handle? (overall length, closed)
Length of Blade?
Blade Steel? --stainless vs. tool steel? Higher hardness to favor edge retention, or lower hardness to favor impact resistance and ease of sharpening?--440A, M2 HSS, 440C, M4, 154, S7, S30V, S35VN, D2, 3V, A2, 390, AUS6/8/10, S90V, S110V, Elmax, etc.? (Rockwell Hardness ranging from around 50 to 75, with more common blades between 57 - 63)?
Blade Locking Mechanism? --liner lock, frame lock, omega spring/ball bearing top locks like Benchmade's AXIS, automatic plunge lock, top/compression lock, top spine/back lock, etc.?
Blade Grind? /// Blade Type? /// Edge? --flat, hollow, wedge, saber, etc.? /// Spear point, clip point, utility point, drop point, Bowie, hawkbill/reverse S-curve, upswept tip, wide belly, leaf shape, true tanto, Americanized tanto, wharncliffe, etc.? /// straight edge, partially serrated, fully serrated blade, etc.?
Blade Thickness? --.08-ish - .175-ish inches?
Blade Angle? --25-ish - 45-ish degrees?
Overall Weight? --(ounces)
Handle Material? --stainless, G10, FRN/Zytel/other polymer, titanium, carbon fiber, wood, micarta, exotic materials, etc.?
Opening Mechanism? --hole, oval, stud, assisted, auto push-button, OTF, flipper on the handle, omega spring lock such as AXIS to allow the 'swing', etc.?
Pocket Clip?-- tip up, tip down, LH, RH, low-rise, etc.?
Warranty? / Discounts / Perks of Buying?
Price?
Other Considerations?
I look for my EDC to be a 3 inch uncoated blade with a 3.5-ish thick handle, a frame lock with treated lock bar, an easy steel to sharpen with high impact resistance like S35VN at 59-ish or CPM-3V, .125 - .150 inch thick blade, 30-ish degrees edge for easy sharpening on a SharpMaker, EdgePro, or flat wetstone, with an overall weight under 3.5 oz, titanium G10, peel ply carbon fiber, and micarta, stud or hole for opening, and low-rise pocket clip with lanyard, tip down. I've also come to love PB washers (versus plastic) with perforations to retain lube and keep elements out. I also prefer something that can be detail stripped down to every to be cleaned and sharpened, plus be easy to put back together and that taking down does not void the warranty...hence my love of the CRK Sebenza (daily EDC is a Small Unique Graphic 21) and similar knives like Benchmade's Mini-Skirmish, Spyderco's ti-Sage, Kershaw Cyclone, Zero Tolerance's smaller folders, etc., plus a lot of Benchmade and Spyderco folders of numerous different steels, handles, locks, etc.
So what things do you want your ideal EDC to have?
Size of Handle? (overall length, closed)
Length of Blade?
Blade Steel? --stainless vs. tool steel? Higher hardness to favor edge retention, or lower hardness to favor impact resistance and ease of sharpening?--440A, M2 HSS, 440C, M4, 154, S7, S30V, S35VN, D2, 3V, A2, 390, AUS6/8/10, S90V, S110V, Elmax, etc.? (Rockwell Hardness ranging from around 50 to 75, with more common blades between 57 - 63)?
Blade Locking Mechanism? --liner lock, frame lock, omega spring/ball bearing top locks like Benchmade's AXIS, automatic plunge lock, top/compression lock, top spine/back lock, etc.?
Blade Grind? /// Blade Type? /// Edge? --flat, hollow, wedge, saber, etc.? /// Spear point, clip point, utility point, drop point, Bowie, hawkbill/reverse S-curve, upswept tip, wide belly, leaf shape, true tanto, Americanized tanto, wharncliffe, etc.? /// straight edge, partially serrated, fully serrated blade, etc.?
Blade Thickness? --.08-ish - .175-ish inches?
Blade Angle? --25-ish - 45-ish degrees?
Overall Weight? --(ounces)
Handle Material? --stainless, G10, FRN/Zytel/other polymer, titanium, carbon fiber, wood, micarta, exotic materials, etc.?
Opening Mechanism? --hole, oval, stud, assisted, auto push-button, OTF, flipper on the handle, omega spring lock such as AXIS to allow the 'swing', etc.?
Pocket Clip?-- tip up, tip down, LH, RH, low-rise, etc.?
Warranty? / Discounts / Perks of Buying?
Price?
Other Considerations?
I look for my EDC to be a 3 inch uncoated blade with a 3.5-ish thick handle, a frame lock with treated lock bar, an easy steel to sharpen with high impact resistance like S35VN at 59-ish or CPM-3V, .125 - .150 inch thick blade, 30-ish degrees edge for easy sharpening on a SharpMaker, EdgePro, or flat wetstone, with an overall weight under 3.5 oz, titanium G10, peel ply carbon fiber, and micarta, stud or hole for opening, and low-rise pocket clip with lanyard, tip down. I've also come to love PB washers (versus plastic) with perforations to retain lube and keep elements out. I also prefer something that can be detail stripped down to every to be cleaned and sharpened, plus be easy to put back together and that taking down does not void the warranty...hence my love of the CRK Sebenza (daily EDC is a Small Unique Graphic 21) and similar knives like Benchmade's Mini-Skirmish, Spyderco's ti-Sage, Kershaw Cyclone, Zero Tolerance's smaller folders, etc., plus a lot of Benchmade and Spyderco folders of numerous different steels, handles, locks, etc.
So what things do you want your ideal EDC to have?