The Knife Thread - Pocket Knives, Kitchen Knives, Knife skills- and everything in between -A place to discuss your knife layout and use

[Frostnipped Todger]

Are there any particular multitool brands that are cheaper than Victorinox/Leatherman that are still really high quality? Or is this one of those "you get what you pay for" things?

Honestly bro, I think you get what you pay for.

I think Victorinox is (maybe) a little overpriced, but when you've got a lifetime warranty, it's still a great deal.
I love my Leatherman Rebar, and I carry it and use it every day. It was cheaper than a Victorinox, but certainly not cheap, and a 25 year warranty is also excellent.

I've tried budget multitools and they honestly suck.

 

[WhatInTheActualFuck]

Recently picked up a Kershaw Covalent just to have a crossbar lock flipper to fidget with. D2 steel, super smooth operation and super fun to fiddle with at the desk. Pictured here with a couple of CRKT folders (Graphite and Thero):

 

[XYZpdq Jr.]

duality of man

 

[Attempt Turd]

I just want to say that I hate modern blade and handle geometry, all the tacticool greebles and the insane blade height. The only time you want a high blade is to not hit your fingers on the cutting board or to guide a cut in something soft.

I also hate the pocket clips and don't understand who or what they are for. If you reach for a blade often make it a fixed blade with a sheath. If you want a small blade to carry with you put it in your pocket like a normal person.

What is the use case for them?

 

[Lord Xenu]

What is the use case for them?

You dont have to reach into your pockets with dirty/wet hands. You dont have to take your gloves/mittens off to get your knife. Most of the guys* I work/hunt/fish with carry a folder with a clip. If you use your knife once or twice a day, it's not worth carrying a fixed blade, it's also more conspicuous than a folder. I wouldn't buy a folding knife without a (reversible) clip.

*I know at least one person I work with doesnt carry a knife, because there is a kitchen knife sitting on top of the hay bales, that they're using to cut the baling twine

 

[Badungus Kabungus]

I also hate the pocket clips and don't understand who or what they are for. If you reach for a blade often make it a fixed blade with a sheath. If you want a small blade to carry with you put it in your pocket like a normal person.

What is the use case for them?

Clips are there so you don't have to dig through your pocket for the knife. Keeps it in the same place so you reach it quicker. A larger folder like a Spyderco Military also gives you more blade length in a smaller package.

 

[Harvey Danger]

Clips are there so you don't have to dig through your pocket for the knife. Keeps it in the same place so you reach it quicker.

This. If you use a knife at least once a day, being able to reflexively draw it from the same place in the same pocket every time, is a huge time saver.

If you want a small blade to carry with you put it in your pocket like a normal person.

Most clips are removable, if you don't like it then take it off. You only need 2-3 fairly common screw bits to get most of them off, I don't think many modern knives do unremovable rivets any more.

 

[Attempt Turd]

This. If you use a knife at least once a day, being able to reflexively draw it from the same place in the same pocket every time, is a huge time saver.

Yes, it's called a sheath, tool belt or Carpenters pants.

I use my folder at least once a day. I use other things such as keys more than once a day. Reaching past a clipped on folder is a pain in the ass.

How long does it take to reattach the clip?

I worked as a carpenter for years please tell more about how to reflexively draw any of the three blades i carried. Now, when I don't use a knife all day i reflexively reach in my pocket and find the shape of the folder i carried for 10+ years.

I tried using the clip-on one knife before i removed it. It was fiddly to reattach and wore out the fabric on the attaching point. It also blocked the rest of the pocket contents

Most clips are removable, if you don't like it then take it off. You only need 2-3 fairly common screw bits to get most of them off, I don't think many modern knives do unremovable rivets any more.

Thanks... I know how screws work.


Does no one want to defend modern blade geometry?

 

[Badungus Kabungus]

There are appropriate times to use folding knives and there are appropriate times to use fixed blades. It's not a one-fits-all solution.

If I'm in an urban environment and wearing business casual attire or a suit, I'm not going to wear a fixed blade, but I can easily fit a 4" blade folder in a pocket without it printing. If I'm out hunting in the woods, I'll have a fixed blade on my belt and a small axe or a tomahawk strapped to my pack.

 

[Harvey Danger]

Now, when I don't use a knife all day i reflexively reach in my pocket and find the shape of the folder i carried for 10+ years.

Thanks... I know how screws work.

Then what's your fucking complaint? Take the clip off when it works better, leave it on when that works better. Are you just a Case fan upset that anyone sells something fancier than a 2 blade canoe?

When the only thing in my pocket is a knife, I don't need it clipped. Same if I'm working and there's multiple things I'm constantly reaching for, because like you said it's annoying to reach past a clipped object. But if I'm running errands and there's multiple things banging around in my pockets, then I want it clipped and out of the way. Same if I'm doing work where I'm grabbing the knife in awkward situations. Or if I'm moving around in ways that unsecured items in my pocket can slip out. Sometimes I clip it to the inside of my waistband instead. I don't want a sheath that can snag on things, or to switch into specific pants. A clip is way more flexible for where you can secure a knife than any of those options.

Modern knife makers put a removable clip on their products for the same reason they sometimes make it reversible and customizable: so that more of their customers can use their knives in more ways, without having to put out multiple SKUs or designs.

 

[Attempt Turd]

Then what's your fucking complaint? Take the clip off when it works better, leave it on when that works better. Are you just a Case fan upset that anyone sells something fancier than a 2 blade canoe?

When the only thing in my pocket is a knife, I don't need it clipped. Same if I'm working and there's multiple things I'm constantly reaching for, because like you said it's annoying to reach past a clipped object. But if I'm running errands and there's multiple things banging around in my pockets, then I want it clipped and out of the way. Same if I'm doing work where I'm grabbing the knife in awkward situations. Or if I'm moving around in ways that unsecured items in my pocket can slip out. Sometimes I clip it to the inside of my waistband instead. I don't want a sheath that can snag on things, or to switch into specific pants. A clip is way more flexible for where you can secure a knife than any of those options.

Modern knife makers put a removable clip on their products for the same reason they sometimes make it reversible and customizable: so that more of their customers can use their knives in more ways, without having to put out multiple SKUs or designs.

lol calm down

But clips are gay

 

[Badungus Kabungus]

As for modern blade geometries, they greatly vary from knife to knife, from the slicier Spydercos to sharpened crowbars like Medfords. Gotta shop around for whatever works for your use case, like with any other tool.

 

[Attempt Turd]

There are appropriate times to use folding knives and there are appropriate times to use fixed blades. It's not a one-fits-all solution.

If I'm in an urban environment and wearing business casual attire or a suit, I'm not going to wear a fixed blade, but I can easily fit a 4" blade folder in a pocket without it printing. If I'm out hunting in the woods, I'll have a fixed blade on my belt and a small axe or a tomahawk strapped to my pack.

What do you hunt with the tomahawk? Your own virginity?

As for modern blade geometries, they greatly vary from knife to knife, from the slicier Spydercos to sharpened crowbars like Medfords. Gotta shop around for whatever works for your use case, like with any other tool.
View attachment 7119323View attachment 7119324

A spyderco is sleek lika mexican is sleek. Fat and fugly. Add a thumb stud if you think you need that functionality.

 

[Badungus Kabungus]

What do you hunt with the tomahawk? Your own virginity?

You sound like a boomer who got all his equipment from a Sears catalog back in '79 and hasn't bothered learning anything new since. Old Hickory isn't the height of knife technology anymore.

I took a black bear apart with that tomahawk last spring. Choke up on it and use it for skinning, or chop through the bones/joints. It's one of those simple Cold Steel tomahawks with a (very) shortened handle.

Also if you can't flick open a Spyderco using the hole and you need a thumb stud, you're doing it wrong.

Edit: It's essentially an ulu with a handle. Chop the handle down so it doesn't get in the way much but still lets you get a good swing, and it's as useful as a fixed blade knife in the bush. More useful than those 9-12" Rambo style choppers people seem to like.

 

[Lord Xenu]

Does no one want to defend modern blade geometry?

Nope. Some of it is pretty gimmicky. If this oddly shaped blade I posted earlier prompted this thought, I can offer a mild defense in that the cutout makes it more comfortable to hold, and easy to sharpen. The big downside is that it removes about a third of your cutting edge on an already small knife.

Here is another knife from Ferrum Forge.


This one I used & carried a lot more than the other one. It has a classic blade geometry. IIRC they positioned it as a competitor to the Benchmade Bugout.

It weighs slightly more, and is about the same size. The blade is S30V as well, but it has a full titanium frame rather than just G10 scales. Again, the pocket clip is bad, this one is little more than an afterthought. It kept bending, so I stopped carrying it, or it would've definitely broken.

 

[Taser Confetti]

Cold Steel Recon 1 4" S35VN



Cheap enough I honestly don’t give a damn about it unlike some of my Gucci shit like a Benchmade Infidel.

I own a Winkler and won’t actually bring it into the woods when I can abuse an Esee 4.

 

[Badungus Kabungus]

Winkler hawks are far too fancy for the woods, their main use case seems to be fighting and mutilating enemy combatants rather than bushcraft. I do want one of their belt knives some day, though.

Cold Steel hawks cost like $45 and can be easily turned into rather capable tools that can take some abuse. Just need to reprofile the edge to a sharper angle, strip the paint, and chop the handle. It won't be chopping down any trees due to the narrow profile, but that's a job for a saw anyway. Combine it with something like a Mora or an ESEE, add a folding saw, and you're good.

 

[Attempt Turd]

Here are some objectively beautiful knives. Note that they all have been somewhat used except for the retarded french knife that is only good for opening wine bottles and cutting cheese. But it's still beautiful and doesn't have a clip. Don't mind the partial.


"Old" bucks are nice but I lost mine and Gerber makes some great cheap folders. But i traded or lost it. Consider them theoretically included.

You sound like a boomer who got all his equipment from a Sears catalog back in '79 and hasn't bothered learning anything new since. Old Hickory isn't the height of knife technology anymore.

I took a black bear apart with that tomahawk last spring. Choke up on it and use it for skinning, or chop through the bones/joints. It's one of those simple Cold Steel tomahawks with a (very) shortened handle.

Also if you can't flick open a Spyderco using the hole and you need a thumb stud, you're doing it wrong.

Edit: It's essentially an ulu with a handle. Chop the handle down so it doesn't get in the way much but still lets you get a good swing, and it's as useful as a fixed blade knife in the bush. More useful than those 9-12" Rambo style choppers people seem to like.
View attachment 7119452

I didn't really read your message but here is my smallest axe. Note that's it been used... - even damaged.

I use it to split and cut wood until i got a folding saw and a longer knife that can be hit on by a piece of wood. If I'm not walking long distances i still bring it to split, not cut firewood.

Nope. Some of it is pretty gimmicky. If this oddly shaped blade I posted earlier prompted this thought, I can offer a mild defense in that the cutout makes it more comfortable to hold, and easy to sharpen. The big downside is that it removes about a third of your cutting edge on an already small knife.

Here is another knife from Ferrum Forge.
View attachment 7119427
View attachment 7119434
This one I used & carried a lot more than the other one. It has a classic blade geometry. IIRC they positioned it as a competitor to the Benchmade Bugout.
View attachment 7119381
It weighs slightly more, and is about the same size. The blade is S30V as well, but it has a full titanium frame rather than just G10 scales. Again, the pocket clip is bad, this one is little more than an afterthought. It kept bending, so I stopped carrying it, or it would've definitely broken.

Nice blade! The handle color and material is ass but geometry A+ and no clip.

 

[Badungus Kabungus]

I didn't really read your message but here is my smallest axe. Note that's it been used... - even damaged.

I use it to split and cut wood until i got a folding saw and a longer knife that can be hit on by a piece of wood. If I'm not walking long distances i still bring it to split, not cut firewood.

That's cute. I guess my Sears catalog comment was spot-on.

The lack of patina on the knives suggests they were used mostly for opening Amazon packages rather than cleaning game. None of my carbon steel knives are that shiny.

The axe looks like it was never touched up from its factory edge and was left in a shed to rust. Note the practically brand new handle, lack of scratches on the head, and lack of impact marks on the guard, suggesting very little use. I would never have anything that dull, my hawk can pop off arm hairs.

Edit: Friday carry. CKF Sablya in M390.

 

[Attempt Turd]

That's cute. I guess my Sears catalog comment was spot-on.

The lack of patina on the knives suggests they were used mostly for opening Amazon packages rather than cleaning game. None of my carbon steel knives are that shiny.

The axe looks like it was never touched up from its factory edge and was left in a shed to rust. Note the practically brand new handle, lack of scratches on the head, and lack of impact marks on the guard, suggesting very little use. I would never have anything that dull, my hawk can pop off arm hairs.

Like I said. I didn't read your post. Isn't sesrs bankrupt since about five or ten years ago you goddamn boomer.

Show knives. Show tomahawk.