Benchmade 470 Emissary

04/26/2013 by Amanda

-Price Paid: $325.00
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for Less than 1 Month

Comments:

A very small knife, I wish it was a tad bigger as it feels like a child's knife.
The Damascus blade and micarta inlay is really just for show, but, I have a feeling I may buy another one.

This knife is sure to please with it's axis assist and ambidextrous clip mountability.

Of course, at benchmades MSRP of $500, it would not be worth it.

If you can get the GC one for less than $350 you'll be happy.

TOPS Knives Smoke Jumper

04/24/2013 by peter

-Price Paid: $200.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

It will get the job done... promise ;)

ESEE ESEE-3MIL

04/24/2013 by IC

-Price Paid: $108.00
-Used for Other
-Owned for Less than 1 Month

Comments:

Have used this hard at construction site. Knife holds up to abuse and retains an edge, easy to touch up. The handle is a little small for a large hand, but still can be gripped for some heavier cutting tasks. The knife in the molded sheath is small enough to carry every day without getting in the way. ESEE 3 is a small fixed blade that out-performs any folder.

DPx Gear HEST II Assault

04/24/2013 by JT

-Price Paid: $135.00
-Used for Light Duty/General
-Owned for Less than 1 Month

Comments:

Small knife fits a large hand nicely. 1/4" nut driver is handy as well as the wire strippers and cutter. blade is very robust and holds an edge even when abused on the construction site.

Hinderer Knives XM-18

04/21/2013 by Amanda

-Price Paid: $385.00
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for 3 months

Comments:

I've had the XM-18 for a while, and I like the quality in it, but, the ergonomics on mine were uncomfortable.
The price may be the best thing I can say, as at $385, you really do get the quality everyone brags about.

The maker is an idiot though, as he doesn't sell to civilians, so, it makes the XM-18 and XM-24 one of the most sought after and price gouged knives on the market, or should I say NOT on the market...

The blade thickness is absurd, this will not cut as well because of how thick it is, and the factory sharpness is not as good as possible either.

The lack of options for serrations is not good, although the scales are customisable.

Overall, I'd go with a Strider SnG, Microtech Socom Delta or Sebenza instead.

I will never buy another until the problems are fixed.

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Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Sheath Knife

04/21/2013 by

-Price Paid: $39.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for 1 year

Comments:

bought it as a noob in the knife wolrd on the reknown names of gerber and Bear Grills, at first really impressed by the ergonomics loved it (still do) but then i notice after carving a piece of pine!! that the edge got dull real fast and i got it resharpened i'm good at that but the edge doesn't hold
so for a survival useless except for stabbing, the coating wears off really fast (just by cleaning it)
also ...what kind of steel is the mystery gerber steel ???
anyway don't buy it

Benchmade 943 Osborne

04/20/2013 by Gary Hastings

-Price Paid: $150.00
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for 6 months

Comments:

I always bought larger knives for EDC and after a while I realized I could buy a smaller knife with less weight and be just as happy.So my first smaller EDC is the Benchmade 943 and I have to tell you I wish I bought this knife sooner.What can you say its a Benchmade.My last EDC was a Benchmade Contego and that was a great knife but just a little bit to big.This Benchmade 943 is perfect in every way.It has a premium steel blade of S30V and at just under 3.5 inches which to me is a perfect length for EDC.The Axis locking system that Benchmade uses is so smooth and fast it just amazes me every time I use it.I have a Piranha auto and I can open this 943 just as fast as the Piranha.I wish they were a little cheaper but it is still a good deal.I guess i'm just a little cheap.When this knife is in your pocket you cannot even tell it is there.Great job Benchmade!

Zero Tolerance 0350

04/20/2013 by JT

-Price Paid: $108.00
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for Less than 1 Month

Comments:

Have been looking at these knives for a while. I have been a sog and cold steel man most of my life and was hard pressed to find a better edc knive than my cold steel AK47 or SOG vulcan. But i think so far we have a winner. Have carried it for a little over three weeks now and it has yet to loosen up. Have had to sharpen it twice but that is not bad for working in construction in Alaska and abusing it on almost a daily basis. I have had this style blade before and it takes some getting used to when sharpening. Also i was somewhat disappointed in the finish work. The screws along the handle were all slightly loose and were proud of the g10 scales. Once I tightened them they were better but still proud at different depths. does not bother me to much but if your anal this might be a deal breaker. Overall i would recommend this knife as a tough medium size folder. I'll give it a few years and see how it holds up. My Cold Steel AK47 lasted 6 years and then was handed down and is still used and still takes a razor sharp edge. Blade has loosened up and that's why I retired it.

ESEE ESEE-5

04/14/2013 by John

-Price Paid: $130.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

Heavy weight. Too large for EDC. Excellent edge retention and built like a tank.

Spyderco Szabo Folder

04/14/2013 by Abracahandra

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Other
-Owned for 3 months

Comments:

This knife is a beast! I bought this because I love the design. If you can get past the fact it was made in Taiwan then you won't be disappointed with this beauty. It is a very large knife designed for fighting, heavy in the hand but that doesn't bother me. It has a compression lock and a rather unique blade shape that may put off some people. But when you choke up on the blade your thumb slides down into that cut out so nicely. I love it!

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Spyderco S

04/14/2013 by Abracahandra

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Other
-Owned for 3 months

Comments:

This is a light duty knife that is hard to find now. I managed to get the very last one from my knife dealer a few months ago. There were two versions of this knife: the one with the black anodized handle and the silver handled version. It is extremely light and an excellent EDC for very light duty cutting tasks. The blade is formed using MIM technology (Metal Injection Moulded). The blade itself is 440C which Spyderco stopped using some years ago. The Spyderco S is a discontinued model but can still be found if you look hard. A very cool collector's piece!

Spyderco Phoenix by Howard Viele

04/14/2013 by Abracahandra

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Other
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

This knife I bought as a collector's piece. Designed by Howard Viele in collaboration with Spyderco. It looks completely unlike a knife spyderco would ever put out. Sadly it is discontinued making it quite a rare find now. I spent a lot of money for it but it's worth every penny IMO. There is no blade play, side to side or up and down, the lock up is amazing. The materials used, build quality and the ergonomics are fantastic. There is another offering from Howard Viele in the form of a custom called the Mosquito, very similar to the Phoenix. Sadly, owners of the mosquito have had some complaints. But if you do see a Phoenix, buy it! Maybe one day it will rise again from the ashes!