I'm looking for a new pocket knife. I've been carrying a Gerber for 5 years, but I'm ready for something better that will HOLD AN EDGE. This Gerber does not hold a very good edge. I'm looking for a 3" to 4" folding, one-handed operation, lock-blade, smooth edge knife with a pocket clip. Preferably a wood handle. Any suggestions? Do any of you custom guys build pocket knives?

Also, do I need to be looking for a carbon steel knife instead of just stainless? I appreciate any info you guys can give me.

I bought the Case XX trapper. Awesome smooth knife

Hi ES, There is a builder or two on here that make folders. I have been thinking about trying to make one to sell on here.
Yes, a higher carbon blade will stay sharp longer. I can always tell how good the steel is, by how hard it is to sharpen. Are you looking for a single blade folder, or a multi-blade rancher type? PM sent

Benchmade Mini Griptilian is your answer.. not a wood handle tho..

I am looking for a single blade......

I also forgot to mention it has to be a lock-blade.

Not to hi jack the post, but I would be interested in on too. I didnt know the knife makers on here made folders.

Everything you need sans wood handle...the Kershaw 1550.

Moore Maker is the only way to go look them up

IMO One of the best production knives made.

big tony is the way to go

moore maker or eye brand. once you try one of these you will never want another nife. espeacially eye brand.

Big Tony makes a heck of a small skinner. If he does not make a folder, Moore Maker is a good knife.

Hen&Rooster...trust me.

SOG are great knives

Seems like a good knife.....but what about its "edge holding ability"? It's just a stainless blade right?

On a scale of 1 - 10, I think Kershaw would rate an 8.

That's being conservative.

And, they have wood handles. Or they used to have some with wood.
Just can't beat wood for a good grip.

I'd stick with the carbon steel myself. If your gonna go with a production knife and not a custom, some of the one's mentioned above are good choices. I have benchmade, cold steel, kershaw, eye brand, and boker as well as a few cheap'os to carry to work and around the house. Here is a website that has good prices and carries most of the good brands and some cheap one's as well. Again, carbon is the way to go for the edge and resharpening. Stainless is just too soft IMO.

http://www.knivesplus.com/

What about this one??

http://www.kershaw-knives.net/Kershaw-Groove-1730.htm

moore maker has the best one hand operated I've ever owned,steel is a little soft but overall great knife

Here is mine http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=383&brand=kershaw

I tried the SOG's which are excellent knives (except assisted opening) and real expensive. I tried the assisted sogs and hated them , they dont always open. Some thing like that needs to fully open 100% of the time. When the stuff hits the fan you wont have time to be fumbling with opening your knife.I took them back and got the one I posted. It opens with a push from your index finger and if it does not fully open for some reason just flick your wrist and its open. Not like the sog which would have to be reclosed and reopened. I like this one since I carry it daly and it not as heavy as others and thin so you forget you even have it. It also has a clip that is reversible.

CRKT

I last sharpened mine 4 weeks ago...I can still pop hairs off of my arm with it. All those embarrassing bare spots. IMO Stainless steel is underrated. It'll hold an edge just fine. I think I paid a little over $39 for my 1550 on ebay. Heck of a deal. All of the other mentioned are good as well. I just have always liked Kershaw's and the way they open. They are truly one handed.

I have purchased 3 Kershaw's and they are well worth it.

cold steels

Ryan Minchew has a folder for sale here in the classifieds, I believe. I don't think any of the rest of us knife makers do folders.

First consider what you want to do with this knife and what you expect from it? Then choose a type of grind, hollow,double hollow, flat, convex, chisel etc? Do you need it to slice thin paper or do you need a working edge that is easy to sharpen that will chop a small limb off a tree ? There are trade off with all steels. Purchase a knife that you know what the steel is made from. Carbon steel requires more care where stainless requires less care. Not just the hardness of the steel counts but it's total ability and treatment in the making process. Good Luck!

I second the Benchmade knives. Dont like the kershaw because of the thin blades, or lack of quality IMO. Hard to beat a Benchmade. I carry one daily for the past 3 years and have 10 more put up in the collection...ATS34 or 154cm steal Blades are pretty good. They hold and keep an edge and dont rust..

Robert

EYE BRAND!!!!

I use to be a Moore Maker man, and I still love them, but for a workingknife Eye Brand is the way to go. Hammer forged steel holds agreat edge.

Eye Brand is great if you get an older one with carbon steel blades I dont like the new ones that are stainless they dont seem to hold the edge like an older model though at least not for me. I carry an OLD eye brand , schrade or kabar small three blade myself but the one handed job is left to a tried n true OLD 110 buck newer ones are hard but seem brittle. Have been know to pocket the old eye brand sodbuster too though. I prefer to lay back the edge on these and getem to cut not a factory bevel I put a 1/8" of shine on my edges. If i get dull a few strokes on a fine stone and a few more on a strop and good to go again.

Well I'm looking for an "all-around" knife for everyday use. I'm usually cutting open boxes, or cutting a rope, or sometimes twine off a bail of hay, or sometimes skinning a deer, just whatever comes my way. I don't really cut any one thing more than the other. I cut lots of different things and I use my knife quite a bit. I don't want a knife that's going to rust easy. Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I had someone tell me that S30V steel is much better at holding an edge than 440.....what do you guys think?

bump

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-Automatic--3839

Look as this boker, eland slayer. I have one of these and when they say automatic, that's exactly how it works. one push of the button and this thing is open immediately. It's light weight, has a belt clip and at the time, I found it somewhere online for around $30. I bought five or six for guys at work that wanted to try them and everyone loved them. Might get one now before they pull them from the market since their not assisted open and fully automatic.

crkt, carson m21. great knife, manual but very quick and double locking safety

Eland Slayer,

If you're looking for a really nice folder, with all the goodies, I don't think you can beat the Chris Reeve Mnandi. It's S30V, wood inlay handles, removable pocket clip, and it has great balance and 'feel'. If you're like me, you keep track of your knife and don't lose them often. Of course, you wouldn't want to lose this one at all . This knife doesn't have a thumb stud, but the large slot on the top of the blade makes one-handed opening easy.

Also, check out their Sabenza. It's a larger folder. I use a Sabenza for hunting and the Mnandi as an EDC. Their heritage is African, of course.

Check them out at www.chrisreeve.com . He's relocated to Idaho now, and their service is super.

Nice.....but are those legal to carry? I carry my knife 24/7/365

Beautiful knife.....but unfortunately, WAY out of my price range. I need to stay under $100.

As of now, looks like I might be going with a Kershaw Blur.....

I'm a big Kershaw fan. If you're not going to go custom, I think Kershaw is a great choice.

Not for sure but, I don't see why they'd be illegal if they are being sold retail to the general public. Maybe someone else can fill us in on the up-to-date laws. I know i'd rather explain myself after i protected my life than have someone else explain why i'm not here.

It doesn't have a wood grip but the benchmade griptilian is a great knife. I bought one several years ago and liked it so much I bought all of the groomsmen in my wedding one. The grip on it is great no matter what your doing even wet. It's not an assisted open but a good knife. I like my benchmade torrent also. It's an assisted open with g10 grips (awesome). Both of these knives are 154cm steel and hold a great edge.

Just letting yall know.....I ended up ordering a Kershaw Blur 1670S30V. I think it will do what I need it to nicely. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

love all kershaws!

Just got my Kershaw Blur 1670S30V in the mail this afternoon!! I LOVE IT!! It's razor sharp.....and opens smooth and quick!!