Pocket knife similar to but better than Gerber Bear Grylls Scout knife?

J

JGAN

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Jul 14, 2014
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Requesting the knowledge of BFC for help recommending a knife for me. I work as a house painter in NY (which I'm sure has some annoying laws on assisted knives, so bear in mind) and need an upgrade for my knife I use. Currently I just have a Gerber Bear Grylls Scout knife I picked up a while back at Walmart, and it has worked great. However, because I put it under pretty tough daily use, the blade steel just isn't holding up for me and I really have to get it sharpened every week or two.

Nevertheless, I have been hard pressed to give up this knife. To me, the size, feel, and texture of the handle is perfect for me and my hands, especially when they are soaked with wet paint and everything is practically a greased pig. I also really like the size of the blade and the light weight of the knife overall, so I would like to keep it as close to those as possible. A deep pocket clip like this one would be great too.

I guess what bugs me is really just the knife steel. I regularly use it to do anything from turning screws to cutting branches and caulk tips to opening cans to cutting paint chip samples. The worst is when I use it for scraping, especially if we are up against a stone patio scraping, where the Gerber will easily get bent and dulled in minutes against the ground. I also dislike serrations, especially partial serrations on a blade. A full plain edge would be ideal.

My dream knife probably would be the Benchmade Griptillian, but unfortunately it just isn't worth it for me to buy a $100 beauty that will be ruined in a week. Thus, I am looking to all of your expert advice to help me out and see what you can come up with. Price isn't a huge issue just yet, but below $40 would definitely catch my attention, $50 max.

Thanks in advance!
JGAN
 
Ontario rat 1.

In your price range its hard to beat and they do a great job on the AUS-8 steel in these knives

ETA: you may want to think about a SAK to pair with your new knife. I carry a wenger highlander in the bottom of my pocket and I use it at work to open paint cans, remove/replace electrical plates etc
 
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I've never handled a Rat-1, but I've heard nothing but glowing review of it here.

I will add a Spyderco Tenacious or Persistance to the recommendation - the leaf shaped blade should help retain strength for some unconventional use, and the sweeping drop of the edge would work nicely for scraping, I'd imagine.

My favorite knife in the price range is a Kershaw Leek, but with your use, I fear a snapped tip may be inevitable - worth looking into, though, if you think that can be avoided. The modified wharncliffe would be great in many of your uses.
 
Take a look at an Ontario Utilitac or something from Cold Steel (their Recon line is pretty budget friendly).
 
I think that a Cold Steel Voyager,Recon1, or American Lawman would all do the trick. Kershaw Thermite, Knockout, and several others they make. Also a Kabar Dozier is a very good buy for the money. Good Luck. Kevin :thumbup:
 
My google search shows that the Grylls is a fixed blade knife, but your post mentions several folders. What is your preference? For an inexpensive, but tough folder, I'd recommend an Enlan EL-01 (you can get these for under $20). These are large one hand flip-open knives with decent steel.
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But for opening paint cans, I'd have to advise you to go with a swiss army knife by Victorinox.

Another idea might be a CRKT Razel, but I think you'd have to find a used one (or you could just sharpen up an old chisel's edge....

crkt-2011-stubby-razel.jpg
 
Yeah, I'm a painter too. I use a 5 in 1 and (currently) a victorinox camper.

I do very little residential... More commercial and industrial, and the only thing these two tools will get the job done.
I even used the saw once outside to cut some branches that were ruining my freshly painted Windows.
 
Sebenza

'Nuff said :D

Seriously though, the jobs you are listing are not what I would recommend any knife for. The painters tools shown above are going to probably serve you best AND you can keep the knife you already have and like with a better edge preserved for cutting tasks;)
 
Wow, you guys are quick with the suggestions! I just can't keep up, I really appreciate it guys!!

There are a few knives in the Bear Grylls line, fixed and folding. Mine is the basic folder Scout.

We definitely use 5-in-1 tools, don't worry. The problem is that they get used so much that they tend to dull even faster than my knife, and a lot of the time there are just some jobs that are easier and quicker to do with a knife than a 5-in-1, like cutting small branches and making lunch. Plus a pocket knife is just so much easier and more convenient to carry up high on ladders and roofs if you catch some quick work that was missed during prep.
 
Kershaw Skyline. 3.1" blade, Sandvik 14C28N steel (fine grained, takes a very keen edge, good edge retention and toughness). 4.25" closed, 7.4" overall length (opened). I don't have the Gerber BG Scout, but based on the specs, the Skyline is almost exactly the same size (0.1" shorter blade being the difference). The Skyline is very lightweight and carries very discretely in pocket. It has textured G10 handles, which should provide good grip, even when wet.

Kershawguy has some blems for $29 and a Black-washed version for $49. USA Made Blade has a regular Skyline for $41.
 
Do you not wear painter's pants? The white dickies ones? They have a pocket purely dedicated to holding a 5 in 1.
 
Been checking these out, and I really like the look of those Ontario and Kershaw knives guys! Curious though, are there any suggestions for lockback knives?
 
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