Needing some advice on EDC knife

[MPGlock]

So, been thinking about an EDC knife but will be the first to admit I don't know jack about what I'm looking at/for. Can someone point me to some good resources or possibly help me out on answering a few of the questions below:

1) I see a lot of knives listed as auto opening but from research I've done, aren't auto open and switchblade the same (again I'm ignorant on this subject) and if so I thought switchblades were illegal in TN
2) Couple of my buds carry assisted opening - what are pros and cons?
3) being a lefty, most knives are set up for right hand operation. Any recommendations on ambi?
4) brands/price range to look at for first EDC (use would be general utility, last line of SD). I don't mind spending $ for quality.

Thanks for your help and sorry for the very general questions but again, don't know much about this subject.


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[xjsnake]

So, been thinking about an EDC knife but will be the first to admit I don't know jack about what I'm looking at/for. Can someone point me to some good resources or possibly help me out on answering a few of the questions below:

1) I see a lot of knives listed as auto opening but from research I've done, aren't auto open and switchblade the same (again I'm ignorant on this subject) and if so I thought switchblades were illegal in TN
2) Couple of my buds carry assisted opening - what are pros and cons?
3) being a lefty, most knives are set up for right hand operation. Any recommendations on ambi?
4) brands/price range to look at for first EDC (use would be general utility, last line of SD). I don't mind spending $ for quality.

Thanks for your help and sorry for the very general questions but again, don't know much about this subject.


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I'll take this in order.

 

1) As of last year, automatic knives are completely legal to own and carry in TN.

 

2) I have a few assisted opening knives and personally I don't carry them. Many disagree with me and will say they are the way to go. It's all personal preference. Honestly I can pull a manual folder and have it open just about as quickly as an assisted knife, and I have the option of opening it slowly and quietly if the situation requires it (say at work).

 

3) Folding knives are very lefty friendly, just pick one that has holes for the pocket clip on the left side and the rest should work out just fine. Knives are easier to make ambi than a gun.

 

4) This is a loaded question. You can spend about $40 and get a Spyderco Tenacious (or other sizes in that line) and have a pretty good knife. You can spend about $60 and get a Spyderco Endura or Delica which are great knives. You can spend ~$100 and get a Benchmade Griptillian or Mini Grip and have a great knife. You can spend $300+ and get a Chris Reeve Sebenza and have a fantastic knife. Blade steel plays a HUGE part in the cost of a knife. For someone just getting into knives I'd suggest a steel on the softer side (much easier to sharpen) and less expensive to get into the hobby (yes knives can be a hobby just like guns). There are many good knives that are cheaper than what I've listed but they require quite a bit more attention to the edge.

 

Honestly I hate to suggest one knife for you but if you want a knife that is good quality and will "do it all well" I'd get an Endura or Delica. Knife nuts tend to have one or more of them for a reason and they are very reasonably priced.

Edited June 30, 2015 by xjsnake

[gjohnsoniv]

As I've said in other threads, I have far more expensive and nicer knives than what I carry, but I always come back to Kershaw.  Never had any problems with them and they take an edge well.  Past that they aren't that expensive and some of them are US made.

[MPGlock]

Good places to start, really appreciate the help! I'll look into the ones mentioned


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[Mike.357]

I am a lefty too in a world of righty knives.  As I am sure you have already done adapting is what works best.

 

My EDC is the Pro Tech Runt 4 TGO special edition.  I am used to holding it and opening it lefty.  It is made for rightys. But the steel is 154cm and that stuff is tough as nails. It gets sharp and stays sharp.  I use it all the time, really I abuse it all the time and it is my best blade. The blade makes the knife.

 

I am a Kershaw fan too.  My backup is a Kershaw Speedsafe.  The flipper is really fast and the metal, while not 154cm is still good. It takes an edge and holds it for a reasonable amount of use.

[MPGlock]

Thanks Mike .357. To be honest what really got me thinking about all this was Willis68s post about the Protech TGO punisher. That thing is bada$$! Good to know from one lefty to another on that particular auto opener


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[mikegideon]

I'm a lefty, but do lots of stuff right handed. Out of the knives mentioned (and I own most of them), the Delica and Endura are true ambi knives because of the lockback and Spydie hole.

 

I carry my knives like a righty. I own a number of Protechs, and they're really designed for right handed folks. MOST of my knives were designed for righties. All the frame locks and liner locks (including the Sebenza). Spyderco Native, Endura, Delica, and Police don't care which hand you use. I'm a big Delica/Endura fan.

[DWARREN123]

For less expensive I also like Kershaw. I have a couple and they work well.

Just like everything else knives are a personal choice.

[mikegideon]

I sure have a hard time deciding what I like best. Lot of really great ones out there.

[peejman]

I'm also a lefty and can do lots of things right handed.  I carry a Kershaw flipper in my right back pocket all the time.  The Kershaw is cheap, gets razor sharp, holds the edge well, I like the assisted opening, and I'm not out $100+ if I lose it. 

 

When the mood suits me, I'll carry my TGO Runt4 in my left front pocket. It's a killer knife, but it wasn't cheap and I am so I really don't want anything to happen to it. 

 

When wardrobe appropriate, I carry a moderately sized fixed blade on the left side of my belt. 

[mikegideon]

My normal carry is a ZT0561. 

[leroy]

I'm like lots of folks here... Got a pile of knives, and like 'em all...I'm also a "lefty", and use these knives left handed...

 

RE: "Best-least expensive knives"... I think the best bang for the buck is this knife here....http://kershawguy.com/products-page/low-priced-imported-items/cqc-4kxl-model-6055-new-emerson-colab/  .. if ya like a big knife (...i do...)...; or this knife here....http://kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw-blems/leek-stainless-serrated-1660st-blem/  ... if ya like a smaller knife.... Ole Kershaw guy is a princely guy that is great to deal with, as are many other on-line knife dealers..

 

My usual edc is generally a spyderco paramilitary or a ZT350... They are the right size for me... I also keep a slip joint like a case hawkbill, or a queen congress pattern (...4 blade..), or a swiss army knife like this guy ...http://www.cutleryshoppe.com/victorinox08201281rpioneer-orangealox91mm-cutleryshoppeexclusive.aspx   ... in my pocket... 

 

As ya can see, im as bad a knife junkie as a gun junkie... Been that way since i wuz a boy, and that's been a long time ago... The secret is to handle 'em, use 'em, and pick the one(s) out ya like the best... While im on the subject; im bad to carry a spyderco endura too... Any color, any flavor; or a spyderco manix 2... They are another "just the right size" knife for me, at least...

 

Have fun pickin your own special knive(s) out...

 

leroy

[willis68]

I own a lot of knives and have carried a mess of different ones, since the law passed I have only been carrying automatics and of all the ones I own I still carry my Protech TR4 the most. It is a big knife but not too big and  for me it is just right.

 

If you do not want an auto, I would go with a Zero Tolerance, they are great knives, the Zero Tolerance and Protech knives cost more money but when you hold one you will see what you are paying for, 

[Monkeyman2500]

I've carried a pocket knife as long as I can remember. Cheaper is ok but if you can skip it. I use mine a lot and the cheaper ones like SOG wear out quickly. If you want heavy duty the ZT knives are great. If your new to sharpening I would avoid the recurve type blades, I find them harder to sharpen with a regular stone. A Protech will be my next purchase. Have heard only great things about their products and company. Everyone else is giving great advice too. Just pick one and buy it. It will not be your last. :)

[musicman]

Sooo.... ditto all of the above, really. I also fall back to Kershaw when not carrying a Protech. I have probably 15 Kershaws between $25-$50, but by far my favorite is this:http://kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw-blems/1670tstbw-black-washed-tanto-blur-blem/

I happened to toss that one in my pocket this morning... wanted something different today as I've had the TGO Runts in my pocket nonstop for a couple weeks.

That Kershaw Blur is just the perfect size for me. Nicely weighted, great blade, and very comfy to hold. I love the little grippy inserts in the scales. I've had it for maybe two years and it shows wear, but it's still in perfect condition for use. I got mine as a blem as well but from a different vendor. The only reason I can see for it being a blem is just that they marked it as such!

Just take yourself a couple or 3 $20 bills, head to Academy and buy whatever looks cool to you. You'll start to use it and find things you like and don't like... then you'll get another one. And another. Soon you'll be jumping in on every TGO Protech Willis posts up!

[musicman]

I should add... though I love S&W, the knives sold under their brand generally disappoint me. There is a huge assortment of them at Academy and I feel like their $40 knives are like any other brand's $15-20 knife. It's just licensing money. I bought a couple cuz I'm a Smith nut, but they just don't last. Some of their more expensive knives are OK, but then you could have a Protech... no question in my book.

[tnhawk]

I own a lot of knives and have carried a mess of different ones, since the law passed I have only been carrying automatics and of all the ones I own I still carry my Protech TR4 the most. It is a big knife but not too big and  for me it is just right.
 
If you do not want an auto, I would go with a Zero Tolerance, they are great knives, the Zero Tolerance and Protech knives cost more money but when you hold one you will see what you are paying for,

I've had several good knives over the years but Protech is the only brand I've carried for the last year.
As willis68 said above the TR4 is usually in my pocket. Edited June 30, 2015 by tnhawk

[JAB]

I recently went on a 'quest' for the perfect (for me) edc folder.  I started a thread about it but some of my posts were kinda long as they went into detail about what I was looking for in an edc and so on.  As part of that quest, I ordered a few lower cost (but good brand) knives from Amazon to try out.  Rather than rehashing it all here, I am going to try and provide links to the specific posts in that thread which were specifically about the knives in the hopes it might help you out.  I got some good advice and suggestions from others in that thread, as well, so perusing the whole thing might be helpful for you, too:

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/86966-my-developing-knife-philosophy-and-recent-purchases/#entry1256461

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/86966-my-developing-knife-philosophy-and-recent-purchases/page-2#entry1258374

 

For me, the Spyderco Resilience has (for now) won the battle to be in my pocket on a daily basis.  I like that it has a nice, long blade (long enough that it would have been illegal under the old, four inch limit) that is still practical for daily use.  I convexed the edge a little and sharpened it up to shaving/near shaving sharp and - with an occasional stropping on an old, leather belt I use for the purpose, it has held the edge well.  I mostly use an edc blade for mundane tasks (like preparing my lunch at work) and the Resilience will peel the heck out of an apple, slice bread as well as a serrated bread knife and cut right through hard cheese better than some kitchen knives.  The length of the blade really helps in tasks such as the latter two I mentioned.  I have gotten used to the thumb hole and can now open it as quickly as a knife with a thumb stud.  With its large thumb hole and multiple options for mounting the pocket clip it should be a pretty good choice for a southpaw, I would think.

 

If the Spyderco hadn't won, I have a suspicion that the Ontario RAT would have.  I absolutely love the shape of that blade.  It has a thumb stud on both sides and also provides multiple options for mounting the pocket clip right or left, tip up or down.

 

Like others in this thread, I am a fan of Kershaw's 'budget' line.  I feel you get a lot of 'bang' (or would that be 'slice'?) for the buck with those.  I carried the Freefall for about a week before the Spyderco arrived and liked it just fine.  I suspect I would like carrying the Manifold, too, but never got past the Resilience enough to really carry it.  One potentially really good thing, for you, is that the Freefall and Manifold are both assisted opening knives with a 'flipper' on the rear of the blade, making them easy to open with either hand.  The deep-concealment pocket clip on the Freefall mounts to the butt of the knife and could easily be switched over for left pocket carry.  It seems that one, potential weak spot for the Kershaw is that the pocket clips often get loose and fall off so if you go that route you might want to put some loctite on the screws (I don't plan on moving the clip on mine so I put a dab of Gorilla Glue on it.)

 

The Spyderco was the most 'expensive' of all the knives pictured at right around 40 bucks - which still isn't bad, at all, and you get a lot of knife for the money, IMO.  The others were pretty much in the $20 to $30 range.  I hope this helps.

Edited June 30, 2015 by JAB

[JAB]

I should add... though I love S&W, the knives sold under their brand generally disappoint me. There is a huge assortment of them at Academy and I feel like their $40 knives are like any other brand's $15-20 knife. It's just licensing money. I bought a couple cuz I'm a Smith nut, but they just don't last. Some of their more expensive knives are OK, but then you could have a Protech... no question in my book.

 

Aren't the S&W knives made under license by Taylor Brands - the same brand that bought Schrade and ruined that brand, at least for a while?  I recently bought a Taylor brands Schrade Sharpfinger and was surprised to find that it stood up fairly well against the old, U.S. made (real) Schrade I bought years ago - much better than the couple of Schrade junk knives I bought right after Taylor took them over (Schrade's Old Timer pocket knife line was a favorite of mine back before Taylor purchased them.)  I have also heard good things about some of the larger, fixed blade (outdoor, camping/bushcraft type) Schrade knives that have come out recently so maybe Taylor brands are trying to improve, at least with the Schrade line.  They are, apparently, using more and better quality high carbon steel, at least in those knives.  Most of the S&W knives I have held seemed pretty junky so I haven't been able to bring myself to buy one, yet, to see if they have also improved.

Edited June 30, 2015 by JAB

[Two Dogs]

For a lefty I would suggest a Benchmade with the axis lock. As far as I know that is the only truly ambidextrous close mechanism. Look at the Griptillian or the Barrage, both come in a full size or mini. I carry a Chris Reeve Sebenza which is also made in a left handed version. I highly recommend it if you want to spend $400+, they are a work of art.

[mikegideon]

For a lefty I would suggest a Benchmade with the axis lock. As far as I know that is the only truly ambidextrous close mechanism. Look at the Griptillian or the Barrage, both come in a full size or mini. I carry a Chris Reeve Sebenza which is also made in a left handed version. I highly recommend it if you want to spend $400+, they are a work of art.

 

I forgot about the axis lock. I have one of those too. That and a lockback don't favor left or right. My Sebenza (25) is right handed, but does have thumb studs on both sides of the blade. I forgot that they make a lefty version too. 

[musicman]

Aren't the S&W knives made under license by Taylor Brands - the same brand that bought Schrade and ruined that brand, at least for a while? I recently bought a Taylor brands Schrade Sharpfinger and was surprised to find that it stood up fairly well against the old, U.S. made (real) Schrade I bought years ago - much better than the couple of Schrade junk knives I bought right after Taylor took them over (Schrade's Old Timer pocket knife line was a favorite of mine back before Taylor purchased them.) I have also heard good things about some of the larger, fixed blade (outdoor, camping/bushcraft type) Schrade knives that have come out recently so maybe Taylor brands are trying to improve, at least with the Schrade line. They are, apparently, using more and better quality high carbon steel, at least in those knives. Most of the S&W knives I have held seemed pretty junky so I haven't been able to bring myself to buy one, yet, to see if they have also improved.

Yep, them's be the peeps that make 'em. Subpar sruff for the money, imho. The $10 knives are fine for $10 knives, but the $40 knives just feel like more tacticool... $10 knives. :/

[nightrunner]

I bought a S&W knife before I knew anything about knives. S&W makes a good gun, should be a good knife right? Nope. Within a week the blade on mine was so loose I was afraid to use it. Left a bad taste in my mouth. Now I just stick with what I know is quality.

[ehull20000]

http://www.martialbladeconcepts.com

He knows more than I do about knives. I would read/listen to what he has to say and if it makes sense buy something similar to what he recommends.

[MPGlock]

**UPDATE - thanks to all for the advice. Based on a few reviews and feedback just placed an order for the Benchmade mini griptilian. Hopefully first knife in a life of many! Thanks again TGO!!


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