Hello, I am just learning more about pocket knives as I suddenly developed an interest in them recently after trying to get one and finding it fell very short of expectations (some cheap Gerber?). I replaced it with a civivi element 2 and have been loving it, but the original buy was meant for my wife and I don’t think that the element will fit their needs. Here are their list of needs:
- The main usage of the knife would be related to their ecological research, so mostly removing bark or cutting twigs for analysis. They also camp, but we do that together so we have the element 2 on hand for anything “heavier”, but something to cut through paracord or other fine material. I don’t know how this would impact the blade metal type, but expect saps and other organic stickies)
- She has small, weak little hands, so tall knives (>0.75") seem to be out of the question for comfortable handling
- 3" seems huge and unweildy to them. I’d think something in the 1-2 range would be more than enough I think?
- They are still uncomfortable with blades (again, bad experience with their first getting stuck open because of lack of hand strength), so something where their thumb isnt in the way of the blade while closing is a requirement of theirs (slide locks and buttons were okayed, back lock was acceptable). One handed opening is also preferred, as they may only have one hand to work with and, again, weak hands.
And, the kicker, they don’t want to spend a lot of money on it (<$100 pretax).
What options could we be looking at?
PS were in VA, so I’m unsure if they can have an automatic (or assisted?) knife, but if it is an option I’d be down to get one/ask more questions about those.
Given your closing/locking mechanism requirement, i.e. no liner lockers, the ISO standard answer is to get a Benchmade 535 Bugout, or a 532 Mini Bugout. Both knives are very svelte in terms of thickness, and the Mini variant should also be small enough not to intimidate too much.
Except.
The Bugout currently costs $180 and, fine knife though it may be, is an incredibly bad value for the money. (Likewise the other small Axis Benchmades, including the Freek and the Full/Partial Immunity.)
I would instead look for a cheaper crossbar locking knife that will inherently have the same action. The Benchmade “Axis” lock, with its patent now expired, is being copied by other manufacturers and called various things including the above, or Kershaw’s “Duralock,” and similar. I find that the Axis/crossbar lock arrangement automatically causes one to hold the knife in such a way that your fingers are out of the way of the blade when you unlock and close it.
Consider possibly the Boker Rockstub or at the outside, the Kershaw Monitor. The Rockstub is the smaller of the two. I would also pitch the Ganzo D727M, although this might have a blade that’s too long (it is over 3").
Debarking wood is actually very hard on a knife’s edge, so a traditional knife will require frequent resharpening if used primarily for this task. In light of that, as plan C I would suggest the Cold Steel Finn Wolf which has a Scandi grind that should hold up to woodland abuse pretty well. Is is a lockback folder, but the blade is longer than your requirement.
Another option is the Spyderco Ladybug, which is a lockback folder with a 1.9" blade.
Yet another option if a button locker is preferred could be the Tekut Pecker, which is one of the very few button locking knives I’ve ever met that I actually liked, and was not an automatic.
Most of the available decent options in your size class are unfortunately going to be liner lockers, and if she is not comfortable with those at all it’s going to limit your selection severely. Resist the urge to buy a non-locking knife, especially a Swiss Army Knife, which despite their popularity are actually kind of crap.
Other things to avoid because they are likewise crap: Gerber (as you have observed), current Schrade knives, Smith & Wesson (both of the preceding now made by Taylor Cutery, who manufacture Chinese garbage), Camillus (now a Wal Mart house brand), and Buck. I’m going to catch flak for dissuading you from buying a Buck, I just know it. Their old knives are quality. Their recent knives are not.
I like your selection, but based on the large number of requirements… what about a fixed blade knife?
Maybe an NRS co-pilot? It’s partially serrated so it would help with paracord/rope cutting. https://www.rei.com/product/230101/nrs-co-pilot-knife
A fine idea, but I’m always of the opinion that if you “need” a serrated knife for cutting paracord, yer doin’ it wrong. Something similar in a plain edge would certainly work. To each their own.
A CRKT Minimalist? SOG Instinct? ESEE Candiru? You can even get that one in purple.
Now I’m just picking out little fixed blades that I like.
There’s always the Boker Gnome…
Those are all good options, I’d think. A couple of them have really small handles, which might be better due to the “small hands” but if it gets too small, then the “weak hands” might become an issue (might not be able to get a full hand on the Gnome, so is it even usable?).
Probably would need to try a few and see which ones would work, cause we’re relying on a third party description of the requirements.
FWIW my wife has the same small/weak hands problem, and we ultimately settled on a Kershaw Chive. A liner lock wasn’t too tough for her to figure out in the end. And I got her the rainbow variant…
Maybe a folding box cutter. The blades are very short and disposable, so you won’t need to worry about sharpening them.
OP should remain aware that the utility knife blades that go in these things are thin, brittle, and very easily snapped or shattered. Especially when used for hacking up horticulture, which was one of the stated use cases. The shrapnel still remains very, very sharp. Careful handling so as not to twist the blade when e.g. debarking wood is vital.
This may be your answer. With the exception of cutting bark, this item may answer may check off all boxes button lock open and closed, quick effortless deployment, cheap, lightweight, pocket clip, lanyard hole, multiple blades, light, and did I mention cheap: three for $17 and a shitload of blades included. If this were to answer absolutely none of the criteria you may have, you are out, again, $17. Lose one, you have two more for $17.
$17.
Yeah, exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about.
Spyderco Dragonfly
Spyderco Delcia
Both are fantastic knives for small hands
Maybe a CJRB Pyrite mini? The blade is just over 2" but otherwise suits your requirements.
Kershaw, Ken Onion Leek is a great knife for the money, and I think it perfectly fits your criteria.
Edit: I just saw your comment about the locking mechanism. In that case you’re going to want a Benchmade Mini Griptilian, for their axis-lock, but it’s $50 over your budget, instead of being $50 under. I’d suggest just teaching them how to use a thumb lock, since that is the most common type of lock on good knives.
Edit 2: if you’re cool with it being a belt knife instead of a folding knife, then the Morakniv Carbon is an amazing knife considering it only costs $15.
I second the mini griptilian. You can’t beat Benchmade quality until you get to $500 Chris Reeves or similar. It will last a lifetime with proper care and Benchmade after-care and customer service is incredible
You can find mini grips for $110 for less popular colors/blade profiles, and if you keep your eyes peeled, they go for under $100 multiple times a year.
I think you can beat Benchmade quality with ZeroTolerance, which is less than the Chris Reeves, but that’s still adding yet another Benjamin on top of the already over-budget price tag. That’s why I didn’t recommend a ZT knife, which I think is the perfect balance of outstanding quality, at a reasonable price. Benchmade makes great knives, but their QC isn’t the best. A lot of people recommend you only buy Benchmade in person, so that you can verify the build is correct. It’s not uncommon for their blades to be off-center when closed and a few other minor QC issues. But when you get a good one, it’s a super solid knife for the price
Seconding the Leek. It and the Chive are great little knives.
Re: The Morakniv Carbon. Incoming obligatory “aktchully…”
I generally recommend the Cold Steel Finn Hawk to people over the basic Moraknivs, despite the mall ninja connotations of the brand. I own one and have extensively handled both – The Hawk is actually better built with in my opinion an nicer handle shape and feel, and it is 4116 stainless steel which should be effectively maintenance free which is important especially for people who are knife newbies.
It is, however, $10 more.
That seems like a solid choice.
