Pocket knives
 

I am buying a pocket knife as a gift and am at a loss as to what to get. I am leaning towards the Benchmade Mini Stryker with the coated serrated blade.

Is that something that you would carry?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Take care,
HQ6

Right now, in my immediate area, for folders I have a Benchmade 810 Axis Lock, a BM 805 Axis Lock in D2, a Leatherman Wave, a Victorinox Swiss Champion, a Wenger Swiss Pocket Grip, an Emerson, and in my pocket, a large Sebenza in S30V.

I have also been lusting in my heart lately for a Bill Harsey folder, and will probably have to settle for one of his designs made by Gerber.

The BM knives are good, I like the coating, but the serrations will be hard to sharpen and of little value unless you have to cut cordage, nylon webbing, or aluminum sheet metal a lot.

HTH.

TR

Is the knife for a 12 year old or a 25 year old soldier? Everyday carry, or just in the field?

TS

It is a graduation present for someone in SFQC. My hope is to buy something that will be useful either at work or while remodeling his home.

Edited because I am rude: Thank you TR for your input.

TR beat me to it...

I carried a Victorinox Swiss Champion and a large knife.

TS

Thank you TS for your input also. I couldn't ask for two better resources.

CHAMPION®: Features Large knife blade, Small pen blade, Corkscrew, Can opener, Medium screwdriver, Bottle opener, Large screwdriver, Wire stripper, Reamer, Phillips screwdriver, Scissors, Magnifying glass, Wood/rope saw, Fish scaler, Fish hook disgorger, Inch/metric rule, Nail file, Metal file, Wire Crimper, Key ring, Tweezers, Toothpick, Wood chisel, Pliers, Fine screwdriver, Metal saw blade.

Even I could use a knife like that! Can you carry the Victorinox Swiss Champion at work? Or the large Sebenza? Is Chris Reeves the benchmark for knives? Or William Harsey?

Maybe I should just get him a baseball cap instead :D

By the way TR... is this what you are lusting after?

My dummy cord has a Victronox Ranger / Camper and a bic lighter...and
HH6 bought me a nice Benchmade folder with Titanium handle
My fixed blade is a "Rigid" with full tang and brass capp and butt re-enforcements.

I bought a couple similar to this. Microtec Ultratech.

Terry

Champ is good, but is generally eclipsed by the Multi tools. I like the Wave, and rarely use my Champ any more.

Yes, you can carry one to work, but I have my Wave in a pouch (made by Razor), and the Sebenza in my pocket.

Chirs makes a super folder in the Sebenza, but at $350 a pop, not too many are going to the woods. That is what I have the Benchmades for. Bill designs a lot of knives, mainly for Gerber, and makes a few himself. I prefer the originals that he makes, especially if I can get him to make it from S30V.

I would get him a Wave at less than $80 or so, engraved with the class number and date, maybe with a striking rod attached or a DMT folding sharpener, and a good light like the Photon or Surefire L1/L2 if you want to spend any more.

Just my .02, HTH.

TR

:D Drooling too much over the knife and forgot to add remarks to the post, Sir?

I never would have thought of the engraving! Thank you TR for the suggestions.

Welcome aboard Bill!

You have a Private Message.

The Team Sergeant

Thanks!
 

Team Sergeant, It's an honor to be here, also humbling. I do not pretend to know what you guys do and darn sure wouldn't dream of telling you how to do it. If I can be of any service, please advise. Bill Harsey

Re: Thanks!
 

That's what we're here for in part, to discuss what we do with those that have questions.

Glad to know we now have a resident and skilled professional knifemaker on board! I'm sure there will be some questions for you soon enough.

TS

Bill Harsey:

Welcome aboard, that "Yarborough" is a beautiful knife.

Terry

Bill Harsey
 

I see Mr. Harsey snuck in here while I was napping.

Welcome aboard, Bill!

In case anyone does not know who he is, Bill is one of, if not the pre-eminent knife designer in ther U.S., was chosen by COL Applegate to remake the Smatchet and the Applegate-Fairbairn knife, designed the Yarborough Knife, and probably dozens of designs for Gerber and other manufacturers. He is THE MAN when it comes to blade design, folders and fixed.

Get one of your kids to help you put up some pics in here!

Or we can see about starting a Knife Discussion area for you. No lack of strong opinions among this group.

TR

Thanks Terry, I'm a bit partial to that design myself. Time to get back in the shop but I'll try and return here soon.

Holy smokes Mr. Harsey is on Professional Soldiers. :eek:

Mr. Harsey damn fine work you do. I wish I could afford some of your works of art

Smokin Joe, Thanks for your comment, this is also why I work hard with industry to mass produce, hopefully, good usable stuff. Please note I will NEVER make a bad comment about whatever gear (knife) a man carries. For example I work hard at sharpening any knife that comes in the door of my shop. You should see this place just before deer or elk season, looks like a McDonalds drive thru. That said I do enjoy working with best possible blade and handle designs coupled with state of the art tool steels (sorry about the overused term but in this case it's correct) and heat treating procedures. When something truly good comes along I will use it and hopefully it will make a difference when needed. Bill Harsey

I carry an Emerson in my pocket, because that is what I was trained with and a Leatherman cap crimper multi-tool plier thingy in a single mag pouch on my belt.

Just remember while deciding, a man only graduates from the SFQC once in his life.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Welcome Mr. Harsey

Good gear, I know both those guys personally and they do good work. I'll be honest, haven't seen the crimper on the Leatherman "thingy", what model is that? Does it work well? My experience with powder is limited to road building and stump shooting. Ask The Reaper sometime about "Harsey's double load fridays". Maybe this is why I work by myself now...Bill

NousdefionsDoc, Thank you for the welcome. Bill

I don't know what model the Leatherman is, its old like The Reaper, I've had it for years. I only ever crimped one cap with it to see if it would work and it did.

I've always liked the Emersons because we started training with them, so I'm comfortable with them. Used to be kind of like a .45 though, they need a little work out of the box to be just right. Locktite on the clip screws, a little Dremel tool around the edges. I didn't like that wave thing at first because I sometimes carry inside the waist band and the damn thing came open on me before I was ready a time or two, but I've gotten used to it.

I saw one of the early AFs you did, I should have bought it, but the ex thought groceries were more important (hence "the ex"). Beautiful pieces of work those. I haven't actually touched one of the SF knives, but I've seen the pics, very nice and a nice compliment to the boys. Thank you and welcome again to the board.

I also have two of the Gerber Mark IIs, just in case. LOL Good stress relievers. One of our old Team Sergeants helped Echanis develop all that joint service program and we worked them a lot.

Good thinking with the loctite on the pocket clip screws. I found that was the way to go early on. You guys may be way ahead of me but I use three types of "Loctite" around here. Blue (medium)and red (hardest hold) of course but when I need something to hold that can be easily undone, I use clear nail polish (with nylon) for the lightest hold. This will work on firearms screws too if light additional gripping is needed. Use a cue-tip and acetone to de-grease the threads first. Boy have I had it from TR for telling you I have nail polish in the shop. It was Al Mar who introduced me to Col. Rex Applegate in 1984. Col. Applegate lived 60 miles from here and every delivery I made to him for 14 years was in person. This is how I got my start building knives for guys in the Special Operations community. This is also where I learned to have profound respect for those who do the job. Those old A/F fixed blades bring back memories. I still make a few of those. Bill

Watch him closely, Mr. Harsey. He is old and exceedingly cunning. Bill/NDD is also the "Smatchet Master" I mentioned earlier.

Thanks for your help and the amount of time you have spent answering my incessant questions.

NDD:

Those crimpers are not particularly good ones, and they do not make a water resistant crimp, but in a pinch, they will do as well as your teeth, and are a lot cheaper to replace.

TR

Mmmm...


"HONEY! Bring the chequera! No, no, the dollar account, Mr. Harsey doesn't want pesos." LOL

I don't think Reaper will say much about the nail polish, if he does, let me know and I'll lend you some ammo. :D

Roger, the crimp didn't look waterproof, but I haven't had to blow up any SEALs in a couple of years and the FARC can't swim. LOL. Agreed, emergency use only.

I am not old! I'm "experienced". LOL - I've got jungle boots older than the 18Xers.

NO! You females can't have them!:D

Get in line and wait your turn William.

I have already requested one from him.

BTW, I already used the "I've got jungle boots older than you" line today on my favorite PSYOP E-7, and I was correct.

We toured the Paraclete plant, and got access to the nylon room. We made a few small purchases, you would have loved it.

TR

Tr, Will do as advised, NDD, Thanks for offer but will take any lumps coming instead. I don't start fights with guys that practice this craft. It's a health issue. I gotta get to the hardware store before they close. Out here, for a bit. Bill

Mr Harsey:

Looks like you have a new title under your name.

Please check your emails.


All:

Below is a flyer on the New Wave, retail is about $87 each, should be out in July or so. Greatly improved on the current model, which was the best.

If you want to see it, I may post another pic of their top of the line tool.

Questions?

TR

Mr. Harsey,

Do you make or design a non-linear lock folder? I have looked far and wide (well as far and wide as google and dogpile can provide) and I haven't been able to find any of your designs that are a non-linear lock folder. I understand the linear lock is a great lock but I'm left handed and whenever I grip a linear lock knife I dis-engage the lock.

Joe

Uh-oh, checked emails but haven't downloaded the files yet. Nice pic of someone destroying perfectly good logging equipment. Bill

Smokin Joe, All the folders I make are liner locks but I bury the release in a well (no big cut out opposite the spring) so that it can't be released by the gripping you mention. I'm very familiar with what you speak of. I also make dedicated left handers as does Chris Reeve.

I don't know how I missed this one ALL DAY, but it happened. Welcome aboard Mr. Harsey. If I can help in any way on here, please give a shout.

Have you ever heard of a Knifemaker by the name of Van Sickle ??

Take care.
Martin

Ambush Master, Thanks! It's an honor to be here. No I have not heard of the knifemaker by that name but that doesn't mean anything, we have some GREAT knifemakers that I haven't met yet. Where does this knifemaker call home? Bill

Thank you Mr. Harsey. Now I need to start shopping.

Any personal favorites or recommendations on a left handed folder design with about a 4-6 inch blade w/ half serrated blade would be greatly appericated.

Thanks again for your help, information, and craftsmanship.

Joe

http://www.leatherman.com/dealer-ext...hy/new2004.asp

http://www.leatherman.com/dealer-ext...re/default.asp

I see Tim (Leatherman) is using names on new products like "Blast" "Charge" and "Fuse", has he been hanging out with The Reaper?