New folding knife or multi-tool

[LeJerk]

I am thinking of getting one. Is Spyderco still the best for folding knives?

I used to have a Leatherman Wave and loved it until it got stolen.

Is there anything better these days?

[RRD3]

I like SOG


http://sogknives.com/store/tools.html

[Driftwood]

For a decent knife that's not too expensive, I like the Cold Steel Voyager. They make nice folders. The tanto is my preference.

http://www.knivesplus.com/COLD-STEEL-FOLDERS-VOYAGER.HTML

[DocMedic]

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=610

Love this Knife. I have the 610SBK

[PsyKo]

i have been carrying a spyderco police for almost 11 years, i couldn't imagine a better knife.
i am equally impressed with the victorinox swiss tool, i have had it almost the same amount of time and use it everyday with zero problems.

[chrisguy]

2nd vote for SOG... on my second Flash-2 (assisted opener), loved the first so much I immediately grabbed another when I lost it.

Best of both worlds: some of their multi-tools have one or even two blades w/ same assisted opening, accessible without opening the tool/pliers. I'll probably get one of those soon too.

[M2MG]

I'll never buy another Leatherman, the owner is VERY ANTI RKBA and gives money to the Brady Center.

Great tools, just bad politics.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=255x253

M2MG

[MichiganMilitia]

Great tools, just bad politics.

Unfortunately I did not know this when I bought mine, or I probably would have gone with another brand that supports our constitution.

I will say however, that my Leatherman Skeletool CX is awesome. It is simple, lightweight, and convenient to carry (built in carabiner) and to boot, it comes with a decent blade. I've had it for about 4 months and it has saved me a lot of trouble on a few backpacking and mountaineering trips.

http://www.leatherman.com/multi-tools/full-size-tools/skeletool-cx.aspx

Unfortunately because they are so anti-America, I will not be buying their products again.

Otherwise, I usually carry a Benchmade Griptillian or a CRKT work blade of some sort. I highly recommend both benchmade and CRKT.

[LeJerk]

Too bad about Leatherman.

[theGinsue]

I own about a dozen Leatherman tools (got my first one for Christmas in 1988) and have always loved their style and quality - to hear this information about them is VERY distressing. I should have known it was too good to be true.

[Dr_Fwd]

I am thinking of getting one. Is Spyderco still the best for folding knives?

I used to have a Leatherman Wave and loved it until it got stolen.

Is there anything better these days?

I'll trade you this tool for 223 wolf ammo. It's new out of package. http://sogknives.com/store/S60.html lemme know.

[LeJerk]

No, thank you. I don't have an AR-15 (yet) or .223 ammo haha. I'm still looking :)

[SNAFU]

I carry the once original multi- tool,,a Swiss Army knife.
After having Leatherman's,,Gerbers,,and SOGs,,I find I always have a Vitronix Swiss Army knife.
Used the file quite often,,scissors,blades,cork screw,,tweezers and the tooth pick.

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=outdoor&product=53861&

[PsyKo]

this is the one i carry and abuse, very solid and well built if i ever find a way to break it or lose it i would not hesitate to buy another.

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=swisstool&product=53935&

EDIT: thats an updated version of mine, i dont have scissors on mine. i have had it around 10 years.

[hobowh]

You can't go wrong with a benchmade knife, or sog multitool

[bjl913]

I have been carying the same Gerber tool for about 10 years now. Love it. Keep thinking about getting something new, but why mess with whats not broke?! And it fits in a single mag pouch on my duty belt!

Gerber - http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/gerber/images/7564.jpg

As far as folding knives go. I carry a few with me on duty, and have been through literally hundreds. I am very happy with my CRKT Desert Cruiser. Its a little bulky but a GREAT knife for the lower price(about 80 bucks) with a very positive feel in the grip. The clip is also reversible so it can be carried either tip up or tip down.
That is VERY important when choosing a knife. You may find the coolest knife you have ever seen that is built like a tank, but you have always carried tip down and its a tip up knife... Changes the whole learning curve when switching knives. My number one choice is the Emerson Commander(about 200-250 bucks). Amazing knife, with a little practice it opens when you pull it out of your pocket. Great feel in the grip, and an amazing edge. I also carry a Microtech(same people that just started making the Steyr AUG copies not to long ago) Amphibian(about 300-350 bucks). It has a VERY thick blade made from carbon steel, auto assisted opening, and nifty grip-tape on the handle for a positive feel.

Desert Cruiser - http://www.teraasekeskus.com/images/extra/CRKTDesertFolder.jpg

Amphibian - http://www.blue-steel.com/images/GrnCamoa2.jpg

Commander - http://www.mattdtactical.com/thumbnail.asp?file=assets/images/supcom.jpg&maxx=300&maxy=0



my .02 cents...

[theGinsue]

I think that the CRKT Desert Cruiser blade looks a lot like the blade on my Gerber Gator - Serrated which I think is fantastic knife.

I really like the looks of the Microtech Amphibian that you posted.
http://www.blue-steel.com/images/GrnCamoa2.jpg

[llostwolf]

I carry a spyderco knife on a daily basis and love it but for a multi-tool i like the gerber. The leatherman tends to get loose and sloppy. just my .02

[bjl913]

I think that the CRKT Desert Cruiser blade looks a lot like the blade on my Gerber Gator - Serrated which I think is fantastic knife.

I really like the looks of the Microtech Amphibian that you posted.
http://www.blue-steel.com/images/GrnCamoa2.jpg

Its a great knife! I just wish it wasn't discontinued! Anything they make is great! Take a look at the Microtech Curahee. Amazing fixed blade! I also carry the SOG Seal Pup. Not alot of use from this, but it seems to be stout.

Cruiser's blade is alot like the Gator, classic drop point. Works for about anything I need!

Oh, and in the super cheap route, I also carry a smith and wesson HRT with the magnesium handle! great knife that I beat the hell out of and it keeps going! this is my second one! wish i could find the first!

Gator - http://www.filofiel.com/tienda/images/GERBER%20GATOR%20CLIP%20LISA.JPG

HRT - http://www.knifeworks.com/images/view.aspx?productId=2255

Curahee - http://cray-red.hp.infoseek.co.jp/knife/knf_crh1.jpg

Seal pup - http://www.sog-knives.net/images/SOG-SEAL-Pup-M37-K-600x506.jpg

[bjl913]

Also...

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A HIJACK!!!! DO NOT REPLY TO THIS IN THE THREAD, PM ME IF INTERESTED!!!!! THE ONLY REASON I PUT IT IN HERE IS THERE SEEM TO BE SOME KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE IN HERE INTERESTED IN BLADES!!!

... my friend Jeff, and his brother, designed a course that is now Colorado POST approved advanced curriculum, will be hosting a class on Tactical Knife Options for LEO's. LEO's(patrol/detentions), military, and some private sectors are all allowed to take this course.

This one day (POST approved advanced curriculum) course will cover the fundamentals of Tactical Knife Options for the LE Professional. As an Officer / Deputy, you carry several different tools as auxiliary weapons or options in order to effectively deal with different levels of resistance and/or threat. The majority of Officers carry some type of folding knife on them on-duty or off. This class will teach you the capabilities of this second deadly force option and certify you in its use. Special training knives along with active training scenarios will be used to fortify and build your confidence in the edged weapon as an effective tool and secondary deadly force option.

As a patrol or detentions Officer, the most common deadly weapon you will encounter is an edged weapon. This class will help you better identify the threats associated with edged weapons by expanding your awareness and knowledge of the capabilities of the edged weapon.

The County Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC) will be hosting a one day Tactical Knife Options certification course Thursday, October 29, 2009. This is a basic, level one user course.

Students are asked to register no later than October 20th, and class is limited to ten students. Late registrations need to be approved and made directly through Jeff.

Get in touch with me via PM if you are interested. Ill give you his e-mail and phone number.

This is an AWESOME class that myself and a few other cadets took during the academy. I have always said that its not the A-hole /w the gun im worried about, its the sneaky bastard with the knife! This class gave me some heads up on how to deal with a knife, and how to use one VERY effectively...

~Ben

[Marlin]

I have been in construction for over 21 years, So, I guess one could say that I do have a slight amount of experiance with tools, Both good and bad.. So, You can take it fwiw...

I own first generations of both the leatherman and the Gerber.. I got them within months of each other.. And, that has been at least a good 15-16 years ago.. The Gerber looks like it's been to hell and back.. The Leatherman looks brand new.. Why? you ask,, Because the leatherman does not get used..

Politics aside,, The only way I'd take another leatherman is if they gave Me $100,, That way I could toss the leatherman in the trash and go out and buy a Gerber or a SOG...

[BadShot]

Multi-tools tend to garner as many opinions as calibers. I've been using Gerber Multi-tools for the last 17 years. Still have the first 2 that I bought while in the Army. I have around 7 of them now just to make sure I could stash them in various gear bags and such. I prefer the round nose pliers, but the needle nose having their uses as well.

The reason I've stayed with Gerber is that I like the tools being on the inside when the pliers are extended. I've tried several Leatherman and SOG options but could never get use to the grips of either because the interior storage area and the narrow lips of the grips were turned outward.... sorry if that doesn't make much sense, I'm not sure how to better describe it. Regardless all of my Gerber MT's have stood up to every bit of stress and abuse I've put them through.

As for folders.. well I've become a CRKT convert, don't get me wrong there are several quality mid tier brands - Spyderco, CRKT, Gerber, Kershaw, Benchmade.. ect.. but if you're looking for the best, bullet proof and neigh indestructible.. there are 2 choices... Custom or Strider.

Everything centers around what you're willing to pay for these tools. I carry a CRKT M21-02 and have several variants of the M16. All of which are often subject to abuse and heavy use. The price point on these mid tier knives is why I have them (and so many of them), but if I had the spare cash or were going to have a professional need (MIL or LE) then I'd save my pennies and buy a Strider without question.

Hope that helps and remember YMMV

[theGinsue]

I'm not particularly a big fan of SOG knives (I think that they tend to be overpriced), but that Seal Pup is a really sweet looking knife.