Best Place to Learn About Knife Brands

[RyanMc]

I’ve been clicking all over BladeHQ, but don’t think I can tell which brands are good quality and which are worth the money. I’m looking for a website or YouTube channel to do my research. Any suggestions?

P.S, I have a bunch of inexpensive blades. Looking for a higher quality EDC.

 

[Rocky Mosasaurus]

Right here on the forums. Spyderco, Kershaw, Victorinox, Benchmade, Cold Steel, Zero Tolerance.

 

[RyanMc]

Right here on the forums. Spyderco, Kershaw, Victorinox.

Ha! I thought someone might say that!!

 

[Rocky Mosasaurus]

Indeed. I figured I’d kick the discussion off with some naïve advice in the form of well-known brands. @enbloc can definitely guide you in the right direction.

 

[boilermaker]

There is a ton of good knives out there. Are you looking for fixed blades or folders?

 

[enbloc]

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! I'm an Enthusiast... not a Guru.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

Right here on the forums. Spyderco, Kershaw, Victorinox, Benchmade, Cold Steel.

Ummmm. You forgot.

ZERO TOLERANCE.

And benchmade really? I hear it goes nicely with Black Rifle Coffee.

 

[enbloc]

There is a ton of good knives out there. Are you looking for fixed blades or folders?

As boilermaker said. Where do your interests and needs lie...?

And Welcome to NES~ Knives @RyanMc !

 

[fshalor]

Right here on the forums. Spyderco, Kershaw, Victorinox, Benchmade, Cold Steel.

This.

Also EDC forums and Candlepower.

Add in ZT and Emerson. And Ontario KT.

 

[RyanMc]

Ah, I see I found the discerning crowd.

My non-shooting interests are Scout leader, hiker, and fisherman.

Folding preferred. I lived through the 1980s so no need for butteryfly or throwing knives!

 

[Climbnsink]

Price pretty much tracks with quality. How much you need, want, willing to spend is all on you. Figure out your price then buy something. If you don't know what you like there are cheap options to try out brands. IE Byrd knives are Spyderco's cheap brand, I have one and like it well enough.

 

[Gidge]

What's a good quality/good value knife, these days, and how much will it set me back ?

 

[enbloc]

Great place to start is BladeForums...

BladeForums.com

Step 1) Decide on a purpose for your knife. (camping/survival/bushcraft/defense/utility/custom)
Step 2) Decide on a price range, and then seek out the knife makers who fit into steps 1 & 2.
Step 3) Research the shit out of your options... here/youtube/google and everyone forgets books and magazines.
Step 4) Always try to buy the BEST knife you can afford for its intended use. That doesn't always mean the Most Expensive either...
Step 5) Narrow your choices down to 2 or 3 knives... then try and put each one of them in your hand.
Step 6) Hold it...Feel it...Love it?...BUY IT!

Lastly: Sometimes a knife that seemed "PERFECT" at first... looses its attraction.
No Worries! Sell it and repeat Steps 1 thru 6...

Life is Short... "BMK"...


Buy Many Knives.

 

[Sterg]

Ah, I see I found the discerning crowd.

My non-shooting interests are Scout leader, hiker, and fisherman.

Folding preferred. I lived through the 1980s so no need for butteryfly or throwing knives!

Modern folders or traditional old school?

 

[RyanMc]

Modern folders or traditional old school?

Tell me more, my friend. Not sure what you mean!!

 

[RyanMc]

Great place to start is BladeForums...

BladeForums.com

Another forum to search endlessly!! Better than Facebook, I guess.

 

[bfm]

Great place to start is BladeForums...

Not a fan of Sparkles. Your mileage may vary.

 

[enbloc]

Not a fan of Sparkles. Your mileage may vary.

Damned Gay Manatees...

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

The Usual Suspect Network was always a good one. Lots of tactical stuff but tons of sub forums and just about any type of knife both production and custom being discussed.

 

[bfm]

Damned Gay Manatees...

Does he still run the place? 15 or something years ago I tried resetting my password and reached out to him for help with it and he basically told me to eff off. So could not even tell you when I was last there. Vampire Gerbil was still around then, that I remember. He died a while after I left. After that I helped moderate the Badlands forums for a while, that was fun.

 

[enbloc]

Does he still run the place? 15 or something years ago I tried resetting my password and reached out to him for help with it and he basically told me to eff off. So could not even tell you when I was last there. Vampire Gerbil was still around then, that I remember. He died a while after I left. After that I helped moderate the Badlands forums for a while, that was fun.

I don't peruse it that much anymore, and when I do it is with a very selective Search String...

It's funny how forums morph over time.

 

[golden chicken]

Tell me more, my friend. Not sure what you mean!!

Traditional:

Modern:

Given your listed interests outside of firearms, maybe a Leatherman multi-tool or Victorinox Swiss Army Knife would suit you?

 

[bfm]

I don't peruse it that much anymore, and when I do it is with a very selective Search String...

It's funny how forums morph over time.

Knife forums was good for a while too, Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives used to post a lot of details about new steels and heat treating. He was porting on Jerzey Devil forum until that blew up.

 

[RyanMc]

Traditional:

Modern:

Given your listed interests outside of firearms, maybe a Leatherman multi-tool or Victorinox Swiss Army Knife would suit you?

Perfect visual explanation. Thank you!!

I have an old Gerber multitool that’s great for everything but cutting. I find them awkward when trying to do easy cuts. And with Scouts, I’m always using my cheap folder for something.

Thanks again!!

 

[Delkancott]

Check out usamadeblade.com

start with a budget and go from there. A $30 knife will often cut as good as a $500 one. Also, learn how to sharpen if you don’t know already.

 

[Sterg]

Perfect visual explanation. Thank you!!

I have an old Gerber multitool that’s great for everything but cutting. I find them awkward when trying to do easy cuts. And with Scouts, I’m always using my cheap folder for something.

Thanks again!!

Yes. Thanks @golden chicken for the clarity. I have my eye on this one. Still if you prefer made in USA then there’s a bunch to choose from. This one is a cross between old and new.

 

[Sterg]

Does he still run the place? 15 or something years ago I tried resetting my password and reached out to him for help with it and he basically told me to eff off. So could not even tell you when I was last there. Vampire Gerbil was still around then, that I remember. He died a while after I left. After that I helped moderate the Badlands forums for a while, that was fun.

Who were these people on Bladeforums? I was there for years in the traditional section mostly. They were a decent crowd.

 

[bfm]

Who were these people on Bladeforums? I was there for years in the traditional section mostly. They were a decent crowd.

Spark ran the forum. VG was a big fixture there back then. As was Paracelsus and few others.

I left after the blow up with Strider Knives. They started Badlands about the same time USN started.

I sometimes think about searching for old posts over there just to see when I left.

 

[SCreign]

For scout stuff, the multi-tool in your pack and a modern folder clipped in your pocket or on a belt will cover you for a lot of needs.

I tend not to pay a lot for folders because I've lost a few knives.
I't s less painful to lose a $50 or less knife than a $100+ knife.

Just my 2 cents

 

[enbloc]

Another forum to search endlessly!! Better than Facebook, I guess.

Would you just like me to pick the knife for you...?

Benchmade 940 Osborn.