A nice modern utility knife

BMCGear

BMCGear

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I recently got fed up with the tacticool look and began carrying traditional blades again. However, I miss the convenience of having a utility blade. I believe i'm gonna carry both but I'm wanting some suggestions and thoughts. I've never paid more than $75.00 for a pocket knife. I find myself looking at Benchmade's, Emerson's, and Spyderco's these days as I want a really great knife.

Really dig the BM 940, BM Rift (may be too large), the Spyderco C36GPE, and one of the slimmer Emerson's. Reviews tend to be good and bad. I'm also looking for a good company to invest my money in. I wanna buy a knife that I'm proud to own for not only performance but that it's a good company (this may be odd; but it's how I think).

What I want?

Easy to carry.
4 inch handle
Good steel
Pocket clip at the end of the knife
STRONG/durable design.
$200 or less.

I am open to other suggestions that meet the above criteria. My world has been opened to new brands since joining this forum. :)
 
Spyderco is a great company as is Benchmade and KAI. Emerson is too, these are all great companies. I would look at some Spydercos like the Paramilitary 2 which would be great choice for utility and one of those knives you can not go wrong with. The Benchmade 940 would be an excellent choice as well, it depends on exactly what size you are looking for but since you mentioned slim and easy to carry this would be a fantastic option. There are a lot of good designs so there are many to choose from but the paramilitary 2 is one of Spydercos best sellers for a reason, same with the Benchmade 940.
 
Thanks for your post!

The 940 is such a sleek looking knife; I really like the look. I wanna lean more towards the rift but I think it would be a pocketful especially in khakis. The Spydercos really intrigue me. I like their peculiar designs.

I've heard some qualms with Benchmade's Axis lock and blade play.

Also, always liked Kershaw but I can only find their MIC stuff where I live. :(
 
If you are concerned about weight, consider the Spyderco Stretch. When I am wearing jeans, I usually have either the Rift, Para2 or Ritter Grip in my pocket.
 
From personal experience, I'll vouch for the Rift. It's a slim package with a lot of useful shaped blade packed inside the handle.
 
LastRodeo said:
If you are concerned about weight, consider the Spyderco Stretch. When I am wearing jeans, I usually have either the Rift, Para2 or Ritter Grip in my pocket.
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Akcir said:
From personal experience, I'll vouch for the Rift. It's a slim package with a lot of useful shaped blade packed inside the handle.
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How would the rift do with both jeans and khakis?
 
I had the Rift and regret selling it. But I got the Contego which is like a Rift on steroids.

Its a great knife, carried well and I liked it more than the Para Military. I would say, that the Para carried better as its a bit slimmer.
 
Now that I think about it, the 520 Presidio would also meet your criteria. I also owned that one and stupidly sold it off.
 
The rift is not a bulky knife, it has steel liners, which makes it a little heavier, but we are talking ounces, not pounds. In my opinion the blade shape makes it a little heavier duty. Go for it.
 
Good 'ole Spyderco Endura 4 - FFG is a great EDC. I wish I got it sooner. Under $80 , easily replaceable if lost , useful for anything , thin enough to be unobtrusive , but large enough to do work with. Solid lock-up.The fine tip comes in handy and is plenty strong for cutting tasks.
 
I guess I missing the point. You got fed up with the "Tacticool look" so your carrying traditionals now, but you want to but a "Utility" knife. Sounds like you want another tactical type folder to carry with your traditional. What traditional are you carrying and what did you do with the tactical you got fed up with? Won't one of your old knives fill the bill?
 
We could probably name 20 that would work out for you.

Most modern knives come with black scales and silver or black blades. Spyderco make a lof of models with colors other than black and those would look less tactical.

The Spyderco Bradley folder would be a good utility knife, that is what it was designed for, and it looks less tactical than some other designs.

A few other suggestions-
Benchmade 551, 940, 950, 580
Spyderco Paramilitary2, Endura, Stretch
ZT 0550, 0566, 0562
Kershaw Cryo 2, Thermite, Blur

These are all good brands and you can't go wrong with any of them.
 
NMpops said:
I guess I missing the point. You got fed up with the "Tacticool look" so your carrying traditionals now, but you want to but a "Utility" knife. Sounds like you want another tactical type folder to carry with your traditional. What traditional are you carrying and what did you do with the tactical you got fed up with? Won't one of your old knives fill the bill?
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Most of the knives I had were very tactical looking but I miss the convenience of a modern folder. I traded them for other things.
 
I'm having the hardest time deciding between spyderco and bench made.
 
Spyderco makes some good knives; and, accordingly, there are a lot of people that swear by their knives. I can acknowledge that Spyderco makes good knives...but I have yet to find one I like. The two I own, I bought for the blades (Gayle Bradley in M4, and Manix2 XL in S90V); but I don't like they way they feel in hand, so I don't carry them. My point there is all the opinions in the world are meaningless until you form your own. 300 people could point you toward the same knife, giving it rave reviews; but that doesn't mean you're going to be thrilled with it, or even want to use it.
That truth told, I really like the BM 950 (Rift); but I prefer the BM 581 based largely on hand feel (Barrage with m390). If at all possible, shop the old fashioned way - actually go to places that sell knives, look at them, hold them, open and close them - until you get a good feel for what you like.

Just to complicate things a bit, I also really like the Zero Tolerance 0550; though, admittedly, I didn't care much for the stock scale (I knew I was replacing them before I purchased the knives). The ZT 0770 is also quite nice, but the handle feels a little small for my taste.


Top to bottom:
Spyderco Gayle Bradley, with CPM-M4, BM 581 (Barrage) with M390, BM Rift with 154CM, ZT 0550 with S35VN, ZT 0770 with Elmax
hope the group shot helps
 
bluemetalchurch said:
I'm having the hardest time deciding between spyderco and bench made.
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I personally think spyderco has better knives at better values (in most but not all cases). I'm big on ergonomics, and spyderco seems to design knives for my hand (except the paramilitary, strangely). Meanwhile almost all benchmades don't sit right in my hand. The axis lock is very easy, quick, and smooth but I still think I prefer a solid back lock for reliability. Although spyderco also has a great warranty, benchmade is the uncontested winner in warranty/repair. I think it comes down to what the above poster said, you gotta see some in person.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
Sadly no one locally carries either brand.
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I have that problem as well.

Well, the classic endura is like $60. Might be your best bet to try spyderco out. I would suggest a native though, unparalleled ergonomics and s30v at $70. The cheapest benchmades (mini griptilian) are now like ~$80.
 
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