Hello all, this is one of my first forays into this section of CPF. My birthday is coming up in about two months, and I was thinking of getting myself a small fixed blade knife for camping. I have been using a Gerber Air Ranger, with the partially serrated blade. I really like it, it's a solid knife, and has a good "feel" in my hand.
I've also been using a CRKT M16-10KZ, which I don't like. It's seems too "tacti-cool"for me, and doesn't have the same heft as the Gerber. My parents bought it for me as a new knife to be safer with, after I had an accident at Boy Scout camp a few years ago... Basically, I was wittling, and using the knife I had improperly, and undid the lock accidentally and nearly lopped off my right index finger... I sliced through a bunch of tendons, and into the first joint. Had some surgery, a bunch of stitches, learned to write (really badly) with my left hand, and am finally back at about 95% original strength and flexibility some 5 years later.
Anyway, ever since this accident, I've been a little wary of folders. The CRKt has two locks, which my parents wanted... The Gerber still has only one lock, but it actually takes some effort to slide it over to unlock it. So, I'm looking at a small fixed blade to use as a general purpose knife for camping, around the house, etc...
I know next to nothing about knives, the pro's and con's of different metals, etc. And I generally sharpen my knives on a bench grinder (which works pretty well, at least so far), so this knife needs to stand up to some abuse. I can't go crazy expensive, but could manage up to about $125... I would have thought spending more than $50 on aknife was crazy, or on anything for that matter, until about a year ago, when I joined this forum...
I was looking around at a few sites I know of, and stumbled across this Stider fixed blade for $100 at TAD Gear.com http://www.tadgear.com/shop.php?id=9 Unfortunately, it says they're sold out. Is this available elsewhere?
I also like this one (also from Strider): http://www.striderknives.com/site/i...flypage&product_id=31&category_id=4&Itemid=26
From what I've read, Strider is a well respected manufacturer, so I'd be willing to shell out for a $100 knife from them. Other than this one, can anyone give me a good suggestion for a first knife?
My only real requirements are:
-drop point
-full tang, if it has scales on the handle
-blade length of less than 4" Overall length under 8" is needed
-durable, good quality, decent warranty if possible
-non serrated blade
-less than $125
Thanks all!
I've also been using a CRKT M16-10KZ, which I don't like. It's seems too "tacti-cool"for me, and doesn't have the same heft as the Gerber. My parents bought it for me as a new knife to be safer with, after I had an accident at Boy Scout camp a few years ago... Basically, I was wittling, and using the knife I had improperly, and undid the lock accidentally and nearly lopped off my right index finger... I sliced through a bunch of tendons, and into the first joint. Had some surgery, a bunch of stitches, learned to write (really badly) with my left hand, and am finally back at about 95% original strength and flexibility some 5 years later.
Anyway, ever since this accident, I've been a little wary of folders. The CRKt has two locks, which my parents wanted... The Gerber still has only one lock, but it actually takes some effort to slide it over to unlock it. So, I'm looking at a small fixed blade to use as a general purpose knife for camping, around the house, etc...
I know next to nothing about knives, the pro's and con's of different metals, etc. And I generally sharpen my knives on a bench grinder (which works pretty well, at least so far), so this knife needs to stand up to some abuse. I can't go crazy expensive, but could manage up to about $125... I would have thought spending more than $50 on aknife was crazy, or on anything for that matter, until about a year ago, when I joined this forum...
I was looking around at a few sites I know of, and stumbled across this Stider fixed blade for $100 at TAD Gear.com http://www.tadgear.com/shop.php?id=9 Unfortunately, it says they're sold out. Is this available elsewhere?
I also like this one (also from Strider): http://www.striderknives.com/site/i...flypage&product_id=31&category_id=4&Itemid=26
From what I've read, Strider is a well respected manufacturer, so I'd be willing to shell out for a $100 knife from them. Other than this one, can anyone give me a good suggestion for a first knife?
My only real requirements are:
-drop point
-full tang, if it has scales on the handle
-blade length of less than 4" Overall length under 8" is needed
-durable, good quality, decent warranty if possible
-non serrated blade
-less than $125
Thanks all!