What were your gateway modern folders?

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psquared

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Aug 21, 2011
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I was scratching around and found some of my early "modern" folders (single hand opening, locking, pocket clip). I'd grown up, gone through scouts and the army with SAKs and somewhere in the early 90's picked up a Delica ... the rotation (before it was a word) was this bunch probably until 2005 or so when a switch tripped (and I found online knife dealers), a gate opened and its been downhill from there.

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Top to bottom : AUS8 Delica, VG1 Voyager, ATS34 Mini Ascent, AUS6(?) Japanese made Vapor, AUS6 (?) Liner Action, mystery metal Mini Covert.

Looking at it now, I'm not sure why I was into combo edges .... I guess they worked for me in those days.

I still occasionally carry the top three for "old times sake" - so what were your gateway blades? The older the better!!
 
CRKT Kit Carson M-21-12. I havery had 3 of them over the years, first two were stolen from my luggage (on different trips!). I loved that it could be opened one handed. Changed my knife world...
 
My gateway to modern folders was also the gateway for this "hobby". It was a buck bantam. Not a brilliant knife but it got the job done.
 
The first one that fit your criteria was some Smith and Wesson branded folder that I beat to hell back as a teenager. The one that started my trip down the rabbit hole was a kershaw leek.
 
I only have 2 modern folders, a kershaw leek black blade and olive scales. As wells as a soyderco native 5 LW.

Both of them have got me more interested in modern folders. Especially the native.
 
Junky Fury branded knives early on, then a Kershaw scallion that really got me into nicer stuff.
 
Spyderco Police SS, the one that started it all, around 2001
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Spyderco Rookie G10, still haven't found a small knife that I like better, around 2009

Benchmade 940, best series of EDC folders I've ever found, around 2010

I also have a Kershaw Blackout that I've taken to work for at least 15 years.
 
Last edited:
jbarsquat said:
The first one that fit your criteria was some Smith and Wesson branded folder that I beat to hell back as a teenager. The one that started my trip down the rabbit hole was a kershaw leek.
Click to expand...

Pretty much exactly how my journey began as well.
 
For me, it was the Spyderco Endura 4. I did a ton of research online about a good every day carry knife that would be strong, lightweight, easy one hand manipulation, and a decent defensive knife (this was before I had a good understanding about self defense how not great a knife is for that kind of scenario). I jumped in head first and got the Endura 4 with black FRN scales and the saber grind. I. LOVED. THAT. KNIFE. It served me well for years and was lost overseas. I have since owned a couple other Enduras and still have one in the rotation. I prefer the full flat grind these days, however.
 
I'm only 21, but I always had some sort of folding one handed opening pocket knife from the time I was seven. And until I was 14 I only had cheap flea market grade blades. But when I turned 14 I bought a kershaw leek with birthday money, went to the kershaw website, clicked on other suggested websites.....and so started the healthy addiction!! I've owned lots more spyderco, Busse, crkt, esee etc. But my kershaws and more recently their division, ZT still feel and cut the best for me for my edc
 
SOG Flash 2, then a ZT0350. still have both and use them. Very good knives that lead to much more expensive knives.
 
My gateway was a fully serrated ATS 55 blade Delica 3 from the mid-1990s without the Boye dent. I liked it, but eventually sold it off in favor of a Delica 4, PE saber ground, which I still have and use occasionally. I liked Spiderco from the first. They made good sense to me, especially the “Spidey hole,” and I never found them odd looking or extreme. Form follows function, and I have several. Since then, a few more folders have come and gone, but I am happy with the ones I have.
 
Mini AFCK in ats-34 about 14 years ago. Started it all. Years later it was the grip and delica that really re-lit the fire.
 
I was a "traditionals" guy for years and eventually I found I needed something tougher to handle all day working/cutting tasks.
I tried a Spyderco Manix 2, which immediately killed it for traditionals. This led to more Spyderco's and eventually a Chris Reeve Sebenza 21.
I've gotten spoiled with the ease of one-handed openers, solid, worry-free lock-ups and dependable lasting edges.
The ease of sharpening these modern folders has been a blessing as well.
 
Mine was the Gerber EZ-Out, with an ATS-34 steel blade. Still have fond memories of that knife.
 
My first thumb stud liner lock blade was a gerber air ranger. Before that was victorinox Swiss Army knives and a nail nick opening lockback knife.
 
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