(Official?) Pocket Knife Discussion Thread

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by issues

420HC may not be super steel but it will get scary sharp and even if it isn't the best at holding an edge it is really easy to resharpen. I would go with the Surge with a saw or file, depending on which you may use more at work.

You could always carry a second small knife in a pocket with some decent serrations to take the place of a dedicated saw.

oh yeah, forgot to mention -It's illegal to carry a knife in Venezuela. Jail. not fun -- a bit less likely if the knife is inside a multitool -- so my trusty benchmade is getting sidelined.

And tools are VERY expensive down there. -- this tool won't be for EDC, this will be for a mostly home toolbox. Building, fixing, repairing, you name it. Last year I used my old one to disassemble and fix a laptop, break into a locked strongroom with a stripped out lock, string wire, and fix plumbing. that was in the span of a few weeks. This time around I'm moving there - It will be my everything!

[smitty81]

I'd contact Leatherman on their FB page. They have one of the best customer service departments I have ever dealt with. They will have some good input and advise.

They are about making customers happy, not pushing products if you know what I mean.

Heck, MAYBE, after you buy your tool, you could send it into Leatherman and they could swap the blade for you. I have had that done before.

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by smitty81

I'd contact Leatherman on their FB page. They have one of the best customer service departments I have ever dealt with. They will have some good input and advise.

They are about making customers happy, not pushing products if you know what I mean.

Heck, MAYBE, after you buy your tool, you could send it into Leatherman and they could swap the blade for you. I have had that done before.

Interesting idea..... If they could swap the scissors for an Awl in the TTi, I'd take it! But i'm not so sure on that one - seems taht each of the models has it's own handle size and locking specs, not sure the Awl from a full size 4.5" long Surge/SuperTool would fit on a 4" Charge... never know till I ask I suppose... or till I buy both, physically compare em, then return one

Originally Posted by issues

Ouch!!!

I still think the Surge is your best bet. 420HC can be touched up using your kitchen knife steel honer without a problem.

I've taken the ALX out of the running and narrowed it down mostly just the Surge and the Charge TTi, with a "Super Tool 300" as a distant 3rd tried and true backup possibility... Kinda looked at the Victorinox SwissTool as well... seems well made, but I guess I'm just a Leatherman guy

[smitty81]

Originally Posted by spectrrr

Interesting idea..... If they could swap the scissors for an Awl in the TTi, I'd take it! But i'm not so sure on that one - seems taht each of the models has it's own handle size and locking specs, not sure the Awl from a full size 4.5" long Surge/SuperTool would fit on a 4" Charge... never know till I ask I suppose... or till I buy both, physically compare em, then return one



I've taken the ALX out of the running and narrowed it down mostly just the Surge and the Charge TTi, with a "Super Tool 300" as a distant 3rd tried and true backup possibility... Kinda looked at the Victorinox SwissTool as well... seems well made, but I guess I'm just a Leatherman guy

I dont think they would swap scissors and things but they might swap a crappy blade for a better one if you threw them a few bucks.

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by smitty81

I dont think they would swap scissors and things but they might swap a crappy blade for a better one if you threw them a few bucks.

I'll swap it myself if the geometry will fit and they'll sell me the replacement part - or heck, sell me the part for a few bucks and I'll worry about the fitting myself!!
But along the same lines, if the geometry fits, that means upgrading the blade on the Surge to a the S30V also might fit as well

Originally Posted by CasaDooley

How about the Leatherman Wave? I have one (old style with permanent screw drivers) that has served me quit well.

Not so much a Wave fan for this particular "must do everything and then a bit more" usage - other models all have additional features that I would like to have some if not all of - Awl, better knife steel, replaceable wire cutter blades (supertool)

[issues]

Ouch!!!

I still think the Surge is your best bet. 420HC can be touched up using your kitchen knife steel honer without a problem.

[spectrrr]

So it's been asked before, why carry a blade?

Here's a story for ya'll about the importance of EDC'ing a blade of some kind, ALL the time. And its related to the Leatherman discussion I already started .

I used to own a Leatherman Super Tool (the original ). Last year I gave it to a friend in Venezuela, I knew he would get some good use out of it. Little did I know how much!

Last month he was driving in the car with his girlfriend, on the highway, out in the middle of nowhere. The car was in an accident, completely mangled and totaled. Miraculously, both of them escaped being crushed, but they came to rest with the seatbelt wrapped around his girlfriends neck, rapidly choking her. Out came the Leatherman on his hip and he cut the seatbelt off her. More than likely saved her life. And today they are both fine!

Moral of that story - always have a blade! Some kind of survival tool stashed under the seat would have been useless in that situation, he only had what was on him at the time. The rest of the car was impressively crushed, mangled, and "reorganized"!

[spectrrr]

So rather than staring at pictures and trying to pick one, I just purchased all 4 of them from amazon, and I'll pay $5 to send back the 3 that I don't want!

4" Charge TTi
4" Rebar
4.5" Surge
4.5" Super Tool 300

There's a much bigger size difference between 4" and 4.5" than I realized!

The Rebar is identical to the iconic Super Tool 300, just smaller, a lot smaller. The handles are thinner, it's a nice carry size.

I must have a bad sample of the Surge, it's loose and rattly when closed (but sending to to them would surely fix it)

I worry a lot about the strength of the Charge TTi's pliers, putting a crimper forward at the tip really screws up their structural integrity IMO.
GOOD NEWS is that the awl on the 4" Rebar looks like it's a perfect match to fit in the 4" Charge TTi in place of the scissors.

And as for the rest... I'll spare you the blow by blow review of the 4 models, suffice only to say that they're all good in some aspects, and it's going to be a tough decision.

[issues]

Excellent Idea, good luck choosing which one you're going to take.

[SvilleKid]

Going thru my dresser, sorting clothes for an upcoming trip, I ran across these I had hidden away in the past:

A small Buck assisted opener


My favorite knife as a teen (not my original), Case XX Sod Buster, Jr. And I do own the regular Sod Buster

[SvilleKid]

And one my wife had to hunt down for me. A folder made for backpacking. The Buck Revolution:



That's a carabiner made as part of the blade, for clipping onto backpack loop for quick, easy access

Here it is opened halfway



Open all the way and locked. Push button is the lock and unlock, Not assisted opening

[newcigarz]

Not a knife, but picked this up from burchtree bladeworks.

[emopunker2004]

Originally Posted by newcigarz

Not a knife, but picked this up from burchtree bladeworks.

That's cool. Microtech makes something similar too i think.

[issues]

Thanks Bryan! The blade shape is a modified or tactical Wharncliffe.

Originally Posted by newcigarz

Not a knife, but picked this up from burchtree bladeworks.

BTW, I am totally jealous of that snakebite bottle opener!

I want a Burchtree blade so bad but I'm sure it is well outside of my price range. I was in a lottery for a chance to buy a lefty mid-tech he had made but I didn't win and really didn't have the funds to pay for it if I had...lol

[363]

Woots offer today
Kershaw Vapor III Folding Knife
Just thought I'd share

[issues]

Finally received one of the customs I had ordered.



This thing is built like a tank!!!

Very nice, Tony. Interesting blade shape you chose.

[Blak Smyth]

Woot Kershaw great deal today for $9.99:


I just ordered one!

[Digs]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

Woot Kershaw great deal today for $9.99:


I just ordered one!

Wow thats insane! Did they have $20 dollars worth of shipping lol

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by Digs

Wow thats insane! Did they have $20 dollars worth of shipping lol

Everything ships for one $5 charge on Woot! No matter how many you order.