Hey everyone, David C. Andersen here coming at you from the KnifeCenter and welcome to
KniFAQ number 57.
The knife series where I answer all your questions whether they're sharp or dull.
This week we're comparing some kind of well known do everything style of knives, some
construction knife options, and even something so simple but so important, as were some of
the best torque sets out there, you can get to adjust your knots.
Let's get into it.
(KniFAQ) Alright, everyone, thank you, as always, for your questions for this FAQ series.
It's one of my favorite things to do here.
While I'm at the job.
If you want a chance to have one of your questions featured in a future episode, you just drop
those down below in the comment section for us to review them and look over them and have
fun with them.
First off this week comes from Josh good strong eponymous name.
I'm having a hard time deciding between the Spyderco native five, paramilitary to and
the Benchmade Griptilian.
Looking for an EDC that can do some light tactical if necessary, going hiking and staying
in a camper van so I need something that will do it all including cutting food, but it's
also durable for long term EDC use $150 max range.
Alright, cool.
We kind of touched on this a little bit in one of our between two knives episodes with
me and Seth with kind of this do everything outdoor EDC, little bit of tactical usage
combined into one design.
One thing we didn't talk about in that video was food prep, which you've kind of brought
in to your question here.
So and that that's where, again, there's so many different push and pull elements in the
requirements for this blade that there's no one easy answer as to what's best so I'll
throw a few things at you do some comparisons and throw another model into the mix as well.
The first knife the native five here, this kind of feels like the odd man out in terms
of the knives you mentioned.
Price on these on the lightweight versions is about 108, 108.50 I think the black coating
is a little bit more expensive than that.
And for hiking.
The lightweight nature of this would be really nice.
The lightweight ish nature of the Griptilian would be pretty good as well.
Although the native native five is lighter.
I'm less keen on this though, for like tactical usages.
Just because it might be a little slow for you and maybe maybe a little small, kind of
all depends on your use is a little bit, the full flat grind on the blade here would definitely
do a good job for the the food prep side of things, at least on the smaller scale that
the size of a blade could handle, but it just doesn't quite feel tactical enough to me.
So we'll move on to the Griptilian which I think as that video showed that we'll make
sure to leave a link to where we were talking about earlier.
I think this is one of the great all rounders and one of the greater folding knives that
you can take into the outdoors thanks to the handle comfort, the blade shape, you know
the lock whole nine yards, prices on these but 110.50 for the standard model and nice
neutral shape.
It's gonna work great for all those things.
Maybe not the best for food prep though.
You have a flat grind but it's kind of a half height or a saber height flat grind.
Not the slice iest in the world, but it would be fairly easy to keep clean thanks to the
nature of the lock and the fact that you don't have ball bearings or anything in the pivot.
In fact you don't on any of the knives I'm about to show which brings us to the para
to the paramilitary to which really great blade shape here good all around stuff.
Obviously quite tactical full flat grind is going to work really well.
For the slicing stuff.
I think this would probably be my choice based on purely the food prep side of things for
these guys.
The s 45 vn steel that they recently upgraded to is quite nice.
The compression lock is also quite nice hiking.
Yeah you can absolutely do it but I would want something personally with a little more
handle comfort this one doesn't quite do it for me either day to day EDC it's perfectly
fine but if I'm doing any kind of like wood carving or anything like that, I'm going to
want something a little more girls something like that Griptilian for that and for the
reason that these are getting a little bit more expensive nowadays we're at about 155
so just over your your $150 range.
I have another option for you to think about.
And that is the Hogue, or sorry, the SIG K 320 which is made by Hogue.
The KnifeCenter exclusive versions of this knife are available with a stonewashed finish,
all the standard models have a coating and you get kind of a hybrid between Some of the
knives we just looked at blade shape kind of a cross between the pair of the para 2
and the Griptilian.
You've got traditional drop point shape, we've got a higher flat grind a little bit slice
here a little bit more comfortable in the handles, I'd say the Griptilian is more comfortable
to me.
But if I'm doing longer carving sessions, I think I would like this a little bit better
than the paramilitary to, it's a little bit less expensive.
Like I mentioned, s 30 v still a high quality steel, you've got the crossbar lock, easy
to keep clean as well.
She's another really good option that could do pretty well for you and it's a little bit
it's a little bit lighter than the parents who as well let me check to make sure 4.2
ounces on the hoegh and 3.9 ounces on the para 2 about the same so the specs, specs
made a liar out of me this particular time.
None of these would honestly be a bad choice but none of them are going to be kind of perfect
for everything.
Hopefully that gives you an idea of the the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Whichever one you think feels better to you just based on the the specs or the descriptions.
go with that one.
Or you just get a 12 inch machete 12 inch machete is great, but probably a little heavier
than just a hiker staying in a camper would want to get used to it.
I have no problem with this next question comes from Mikoyan IG after watching the reveal
of the KnifeCenter exclusive SIG Hogue k 320 which you just mentioned I ordered one amazing
knife but how does it compare to the Benchmade turret which in my opinion doesn't get the
attention it deserves.
Sweet let's do a comparison between those two guys.
Both solid knives I think probably the reason the turret doesn't get more love is the partially
serrated edge.
If you could get this in a plain edge profile, I'd actually probably own one myself because
it's really good.
I just don't really do combo edges so if you're if you're into if you're into combat which
is great but if you're into a plain edge the turret isn't gonna have it.
The turrets also almost $100 more expensive and you get upgraded handle materials.
But steel is actually the same here you got s 30 v on these guys as well.
You do have a little bit more blade length then the hug as you can see, when I move back
actual sharpened edge you can see got a decent bit more there between the two.
As far as the handles, you've also got a little more length on the handles on the turret and
for me these are a little bit more comfortable than then the hoegh in my particular hands
anyway, the hook is a little bit thinner.
You've got a little bit more girth on the turret action.
You've got crossbar locks on both, they work really well.
If you're opening them with your thumbs I'd give the edge to the turret and it's thumb
studs they're a little easier to use than the you know kind of small thumbhole on the
the SIG it's not got you know super easy thumbhole like something like that Spyderco does.
handles definitely get a materials upgrade or more premium type of materials here you've
got g 10 which in and of itself is not premium, but it's not plastic, it's not injection molded
like the hug.
You've also got full Liners skeletonised are drilled out in places to remove a little bit
of weight, but those full length liners and the heavier g 10.
Make the knife itself a fair bit heavier 5.1 ounces here.
So a little bit bulkier, a little bit heavier, a little bit more length on the blade.
That'd be about how they compare between the two definitely a little more nimble on the
hook so depends on what you're going for each one of them does have a little bit of a different
personality which is quite nice.
Alright, next question comes from wake; Hi DCA I work in construction parentheses Concrete
Work, and I'm looking for a good hard use fixed blade one that can be used as a pry
tool if needed, preferably with a kydex sheath and under $300.
When I think like pride hard use pry tool, my mind immediately turns to the Becker BK
3 not really a construction expert.
Certainly I mean the last time I did a construction project it took me a whole weekend just to
get an interior door installed and it's still isn't quite right.
shuts and locks but that's that's about all I can say.
But this knife right here is an absolute tank.
Again I don't know if the blade shape is quite what you're looking for but you've got quarter
inch thick of 1095 cv steel, very robust tip sharpened leading edge but you can certainly
get in there and pry with it ser- partial serrations here at the back which in construction
I could see that being a little more useful than my my typically preferred.
Completely plain edge.
Very comfortable hand Not the largest in the world, but still plenty for for my hands to
hold on to, which are slightly larger than average.
But maybe if I'm wearing a pair of heavy work gloves to be a little more cramped, but super
solid, much more affordable than in year $300 price point to about 127.
The sheath is not kydex.
But it is hard plastic.
And it clicks in kind of just like kydex.
And if you want a little bit more, you've got a retention loop there to hold the handle
in as well.
Just super solid tools got an awesome warranty on these.
And if you manage to do something where you break this quarter inch thick piece of steel,
the knife deserved to break that point.
Yeah, you're probably doing something way, way, way beyond the scope of what should have
been done.
But shy of that darn near indestructible.
Gotta love it.
All right, Ben asks David any recommendations for a torx set that can be used for common
knife maintenance and repair that includes most sizes needed?
Thanks for your time.
And the great show?
Well, thank you, sir.
I have one here, I actually really stand by myself.
It's marketed by Boker.
But it's actually a Wiha torx set, very highly regarded maker of torx bits, comes in about
22 bucks, and you've got a standard bit here, the T 15. comes there, you're not gonna really
need that for much.
But inside the handle, you've got several other sizes, including a T8 and a T6, which
are going to be the most common, swap them out to whatever you need.
But the reason I love this so much apart from the high quality bits, is the fact that it's
stubby.
And honestly, what I what I like to do on these is have to either this and another one
or some other standalone torques drivers, because there's gonna be certain things where
you need to adjust from one side but in order to do that, you actually have to hold the
screw captive on the other side.
Perfect example of that actually is the pair to this.
This pin right here in front of the compression lock is kind of free spinning along the the
collar there on the inside.
But because this unit is stubby, you can get it into the screw and actually hold the knife
stable in your hand with the torx bit palmed or the torques driver palmed in the same hand
and then adjust from the other side.
can't really do that with any other shape really than just this.
So it works super well.
You can get two of them like just like this if you want they run about 22 bucks.
Me personally I've got one of these and then I've got some other standalone drivers I've
even got an old torx or Kershaw torx driver that with a couple bits that I keep with my
Leatherman day to day but key key part of the arsenal definitely a stubby set like this
with the Wiha bits is a great way to go.
Alright, now we come to the lightning round for today.
First question is from street tuff.
Is there a knife made similar to the Mora's but has a full flat grind?
Sure thing M4 is are great because of their quality and their low price but of course
they're pretty much all Scandi ground.
Take a look at the Commodore bush glider.
It's actually a full tang designed similar to the Garberg which is a much more expensive
knife than this.
This is about 45 bucks 1095 clip point shape, high flat grind, not a full flat, but pickings
are not the most plentiful in this type of genre.
But this guy, definitely solid, great blade profile, great sheath and you'll it'll get
you kind of that Mora price to quality ratio that I think you're looking for.
Alright,
Jeremy two asks, What is the best or rather your favorite German made knife?
No classification of type.
Thank you.
How best versus favorite is different.
So I'm going favorite.
Right now I really love the AK1 the daily knives, pocket fixed blade RWL 34 powder metallurgy
steel about 200 bucks, solid shape and get a clip point or this cool modified wharncliffe
and a true pocket leather sheath with the ulti clip.
They're just a whole lot of fun.
And just a great little utilitarian shape as well.
Next up Mark stretch asks hi DCA, your videos have really opened my eyes to the great potential
of the nessmuk blade shape.
I'm wondering Are there any folding ness mucks that could make a good EDC?
Absolutely.
Check out the Revo NESS. decently affordable about 66 bucks quite attainable D two steel
ball bearing flipper 3.6 inches long, nice stonewashed finish, really extra long, deep
carry pocket clip, feels good in the hand.
I've carried one of these before, on several times, actually.
I happen to own a black One that I enjoy and enjoy being part of my EDC rotation slice
as well.
Pierce as well.
Thanks for the inline tip.
Just a great, great slicer great EDC.
Check that guy out.
Next question comes from chicken drumstick.
Delicious.
Hey buddy.
Hey DCA Have you ever snapped or bent a blade in half?
Thanks.
If you'd asked me this a couple of weeks ago I would say I'd only ever snapped tips which
I did on this old school Mora of mine kind of a classic M4 this is actually a more of
Sweden not even a more Uk naef so it predates the merger whenever that happened.
And yeah, I've bent the tip on this because I poked it in some wood and pride with it
dumb but easy enough shortened it down drop the spine so I have a drop point as opposed
to a clip point now it's pretty cool.
Still carves excellently I've done a lot of stuff with it.
However.
The other day, I was cleaning out my office clean out the closet in there and I found
this
this was a kitchen knife.
I have no idea where the blades This is or even how this happened.
But I did find this so maybe I didn't do it.
Maybe it was like gnomes or something.
Trolls, blade breaking trolls.
So there you go.
I don't know why I'm just holding this up and not saying anything.
Like I expect you guys to react because you can't not in real time.
Anyway.
At times, I gotta tell you, you pay the goblins for their blade smithing.
Look it up.
Anyway.
Which brings us to our most serious question of the day, which comes from Barry Hughes
company name redacted continues to market free gear, just pay shipping.
I have a rescue knife and a dagger are these just garbage.
So I'd probably say I'm not familiar with their stuff.
But if you're not paying anything for the blades themselves, you're probably getting
what you pay for it.
So here's the thing, normally the most serious question of the day, I used to treat as a
little bit of humor to close things off, but I did want to touch on this point.
Inexpensive goods cheap goods are fine they there's a place for it in in today's world.
knives though I do have a bit of an issue with because you know, when we talk about
cheap as an indication of quality, if a knife were to fail, especially if the knife were
to fail catastrophic Lee, the consequences are a lot higher than if your icecube tray
failed that you paid 25 cents for you know what I mean?
You could seriously injure yourself you could you know, ruin your only tool that you might
need in in some kind of emergency situation.
I kind of recommend i like i like to recommend spending a little bit more money than nothing
on something like a knife that is going to be you know has the potential to be a serious
tool.
But on that note, I'm running a little low on on most serious question topics out there.
So hit me with your best ones down in the comments.
But that's all we've got time for today.
Make sure to leave all your questions down there in the comments, not just your most
serious ones.
And if you want to get your hands on any of these knives, we'll leave links in the description
to take you over to KnifeCenter.com make sure you sign up for our knife rewards program
as well so that when you put your money down on one of these knives, we earn some free
money to spend on your next one.
I'm David C. Andersen from the KnifeCenter signing off.
See you next
time.