Recommendation, tough construction worker knife

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Richard1234

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Dec 12, 2013
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Hey guys my dad is in construction and needs a good strong knife. I don't want to get him something cheap I don't mind paying if it's good. I'm thinking around the $50-300 price range. He's not a big knife guy so I want it to be kind of dummy proof. It can't just snap if he uses it hard or for the occasional thing that a knife is not really meant for. (Don't bother telling me to tell him not to abuse a knife, he's old school and hard headed and will use it for pretty much anything. I have some ideas but just want to make sure I get him the best fit for his job duties. Thanks!
Ps. He won't carry anything huge so keep it under 3.3 inches and no assisted opening thanks
 
Spyderco's Manix II sure is tough. And I've abused my Rat 1 folder pretty good and it's held up great. It's cheap, but I've been really impressed with how nice of a knife it is.
 
large dozier/kabar folder, cheap and tough. I have used one for work off and on for 7 years and has held up well.
hard to beat for under $40 bucks

I will chime in on Rat-1, great knife just like above and priced the same. both in aus-8
 
I've been in construction for 20 years. On the job I usually carry a native frn or a benchmade 556, both well made knives, but I don't use my knives for "pretty much anything". Any tradesman knows there's a right tool for the job at hand.
 
Top of the line, I think, for your requirement is the Strider SMF. Hard to break, true, but too long and too expensive at $500-ish.

You might try some of the Zero Tolerance knives. I've got a ZT0300 in my back pocket right now, and it's a fine, hard use knife. Not that I am using thusly, but it is. Mine's a blackwash and so a bit under three bills. There are less expensive versions, but not by much.

On the other hand, a saber-ground Spyderco Delica is a pretty damned tough knife. Blade a little under 3" and a total bill of less than $100, even for the all stainless steel version. Hard to beat. And if he breaks it; it's easy to replace.
 
Any of these!



Left to right:

Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Benchmade 760LFTi, Benchmade 275 Adamas, Zero Tolerance 0200


Edit:


Just saw you said nothing under 3.3 inches. I think that eliminates everything here! :o
 
CJZ said:
Any of these!



Left to right:

Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Benchmade 760LFTi, Benchmade 275 Adamas, Zero Tolerance 0200


Edit:


Just saw you said nothing under 3.3 inches. I think that eliminates everything here! :o
Click to expand...

Hahaha at least you tried! Thanks!
 
$50-300 is quite a wide range.
I'd say there are too many quality knives in that price range to list with any meaning.
I could list you 100 great knives between $50-$300. How could I know what your dad would like??

Can you narrow down that range a bit?
Are there any specific features you think he'd like? (flipper, lock type, handle materials, anything?)

You didn't even specify if this is to be a folding knife, or a fixed blade...
 
My dad is a master plumber and has been in the trade for over 40 years. He carried a flat grind Spyderco Delica 4 for a few years and then I got him a Benchmade 943. He loves the 943 and uses it for more stuff than I would have used it for. He's had the 943 for about 8 months.
 
In construction myself...tried out many different folders. Spyderco Gayle Bradley can't be beat. Toughness of m4, classy carbon fiber scales, and the spydie hole makes opening easy even when wearing gloves. Nothing else came close for me.
 
If you want to give him a knife for his work, something like Mora, Hultafors, Marttiini would be the best choice. A knife for anything else would be a different matter.
 
if he would use it for "anything" like prying, etc. then forget the flat grinds of Spyderco, they are only slicers and he will break the tip. Get a robust knife. ZT is good, Emerson has a thick spine, Strider SnG is 3.5'' and as tough or tougher than any in that range with unconditional warranty but pricier at 400$
Perhaps you should look into a tanto style blade? you could pick up an Emerson 7 or super 7 in that price range and could throw almost anything at them
 
In the range you are talking and the specifications you made, I have to highly recommend a ZT 0550!
 
I have a father that is not a knife person, uses ceramic plates as cutting boards, and will use it in ways most of us would never think of. I bought him a spyderco endura in ZDP because I thought the longer edge retention would offset the daily removal of chips and rolled/severely blunted edges. I was very wrong.

When a knife is treated harshly giving it a really good steel only makes that daily sharpening that much harder. I found myself removing the same chips and same blunted edges only on a steel that was much more difficult to sharpen. In retrospect I wish I would have gone with the VG-10 model or even a cheaper knife (quality but less expensive) that is easily maintained.
 
ZT0550, Spyderco Tuff, or a used SNG. I was a trim carpenter for almost 5 years and would always run through knives like pencils. My dad, a trim carpenter for about 15 years, has gone through too many knives to count. He bought himself a Spyderco Tuff after feeling how awesome mine felt and couldn't be happier. He's the same way when it comes to using it for anything, and he beats the crap out of it. With little maintenance, it still looks new, minus the clip wear and a few scuffs on the g10 and titanium. Still has Spyderco's beautiful satin finish and locks up like it's brand new. Highly recommended, though it's just a bit above the size limit but has a massive forward choil that can make the blade seam smaller if choked up on. Hope this helps, I'm a brand new registered user and this is literally the fist thing I've posted as a user on the forum.
 
Welcome JohnnyS.
If you want to be sure he can beat on the blade as well.
Id say the 0550 or 0200. That way he can pry if needed. Id not do that with many other knives.
 
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