Hey everyone, David C. Andersen here coming at you from the KnifeCenter Welcome to KniFAQ
number 37. The knife series where I answer all your knife questions whether they're sharp or
dull. This week, we're going over some things like knife safety, always very important, and
how little amount of money you can spend and still expect to get a good knife. Let's get into
it.
Did you get a new shirt? No. (KniFAQ)
All right, thank you to everyone who has been leaving their questions in the comment section
of these videos. We've got some really great stuff to talk about as a result. If you want a
chance to have one of your questions featured in a future episode, as always, just leave it down
below. Let's get into the first one this week, which comes from Matthew dannic. David, you
mentioned a couple times that as you've gotten deeper into blade smithing, you upgraded from a
Ken Onion edition workshop to a more robust one. I'm not sure you've ever gone into detail about
what you ended up purchasing. But I'm interested. Sure, I'll talk about it a little
bit. You won't be able to go buy one yourself because what I have is kind of cobbled together
from a from a few different things. But essentially the next step up from a Ken Onion
unit with the blade grinding attachment, which I love, by the way is fantastic unit. But above
that you get into like actual professional metal and knife grinders and a two by 72 inch belt
size is the most common. What I have is actually a dual two by 48 setup, it has a motor in the
center wheel on each side. And I bought it from a machinist who kind of made it up himself from
some parts to do what he wanted. And then I've modified it further. So on the left side I've
got I can work off the platen on the right side I've got slack section and a small wheel holder
so I can do different small radiuses. And then of course you got the contact wheels on each of
the bottom sides to work with variable speed. I love it. It's really awesome. But not something
I would ever recommend to most people because that's not what we're what we're about here for
the hobbyist more or less. If you're getting into the the more heavy actual blade grinding
and stuff. I don't do any smithing myself, I'm all stock removal. But that's kind of the next
step up that you're going to want to start to look at. Some people do actually go up to a one
by 30 inch belts on some of these hardware store small Sanders out there. That's certainly an
option too, but definitely not professional stuff. So thank you for the question very much.
Next question comes from Dan in Michigan. Recently I found out I have to comply with a
blade length limit. Very sorry. Haven't had issues so far and I'd like to keep it that way.
What folders could you suggest that are at least four inches closed have a blade no longer than
three inches Don't scream tactical and are $100 or less American made is a bonus. Sure
Absolutely. thing that comes to mind here that fits those things. has kind of a classic look
has the length requirements you're looking for American made in that budget.
The Buck 112 slim pro right now, American made comes in $80 blade length there you've got your three
inch under three inch requirement s 30 v steel, so you've got some good materials there. micarta
or G 10 handles, this is the green micarta one and unlike the the old school Rangers from Buck,
it's not a super thick handles. This is definitely a pocket friendly knife. Again, also
thank you to that deep carry pocket clip there which is reversible for left or right carry lock
back there. Dual thumb studs, you've got one hand opening and it doesn't scream tactical.
It's just a nice pocket knife gets us gets you that that good amount of workman like capability
for sure. Some other good options. The Kershaw leek is always a fan favorite. I don't know if
that's too tactical for you. But another option along similar lines, the Gerber fastball, again,
s 30 v three inch blade aluminum handles here comes in just under 100 bucks, you've got a
liner lock, and you've got ball bearings in the pivot. So a lot more flippable and fast action
than that book, whether that gets to be too tactical, seeming and in the area where you need
that three inch limit. That's up to you to decide but either one of these good materials,
American construction and some really nice designs as well. Next question comes from grabed
Q. I would like to know what is the cheapest EDC knife that you would fairly recommend? easy
answer the Ka-bar dozer folding hunter in ahsay all day every day. 22 bucks does not feel like a
cheap knife even though it is very inexpensive. Actually, this would be a good budget option for
our previous questioner as well because you've got three inch blade length here. Also eight
steel like I said, but D two is available. But again, that's more expensive. You Looking to
spend the least amount of good money here. So go with the Aus eight version there's actually for
a couple bucks less even. You can get a an even shorter blade but three inch blade i think is
where it's at. But either one same same kind of quality though, Zito handles in this case you've
got a reversible pocket clip. You have a reversible thumb stud and that back lock. But
you got that excellent, versatile everyday carry blade with the neutral handle shape means just
about anyone is going to be able to hold on to this real nicely. And while you may not feel
like you're carrying a premium knife is not a knife that feels cheap either. Really good
option. Actually Another one would be the the slim select versions of that Ranger a couple
bucks more. I think they're about 23 or 24 right now, but they have injection molded handles and
420 Hc blades. Another good option but I guess purely based on dollars that Ka-Bar would take
it since it is just a skosh cheaper. All right, next up is forged by dragon. Another one to
compare the rat one two apart from that bK 40 is the ESEE Avispa. I'm going to go ahead and
disagree with you there actually got examples of both here I've got the rat one at the top and
the Avispa at the bottom. Even though from the profile shot, they look super similar. blade
itself is a little bit different. You've got the two different drop points. one's more the this
was a little bit more of a spear point. And the handle profile, at least in the these beside on
shot looks the same and it's even the same guys designed both of these knives are actually very
different knives in actual use. The one thing that the the rat knives have going for them
especially the full size rats are the thicker handles here you've got a inexpensive working
knife. Again, another good option rat two especially for our previous questioner, but
you've got a hard use working knife that has a handle to support some of those harder uses. The
vispa is a really good knife, don't do not get me wrong whatsoever. But the handle is
significantly thinner. I mean I hold them up side by side, you can definitely see a
difference there. If you need something with a larger blade, but you don't need something with
a handle that's going to support like really long cutting times or pushing through really
heavy tasks, you're going to be able to carry this a little bit easier. Thanks to that slim
nature. It's not as bulky in your pocket a little bit less weight, about half an ounce than
the Ontario it's not at not a huge difference but it is there. But yeah, that's why even
though these guys are very similar looking from the side, very very different animals in actual
use both each good at some different things a little bit more than the other. Next question
comes from x little country x. I have a challenge for you. I love the Spyderco shaman
but it's out of my budget. Do you know of any shaman like knives for about half the price? Sure, here
is a Spyderco shaman. Excellent knife here. 210 bucks American made a little bit over three and
a half inches of blade s 30 v high flat grind. contoured g 10 handles and of course Spydercos
compression lock. Really nice, really strong lock up. And one of the key things about the
shaman is it's, it's seen as a harder use knife. It's a pretty comfortable knife to hold. And the
locking mechanism is strong and importantly, allows you to keep your fingers clear of the
edge when you're when you're closing the knife. So I've got an option here for you. New
KnifeCenter exclusive SIG k 320s by Hogue. The KnifeCenter exclusive versions now I have a
stonewashed s 30 v blade, very similar in blade length, actually sharpened edge is about the
same between these two knives. similar style handles, you've got black injection molded in
the case of the SIG and you've got a finger trail there at the front, it's actually match up
really well. And well it's not quite half price, it almost is there comes in about 119 right now
for that sick, and you've got their crossbar lock as well, which nothing's obviously going to
be exactly the same as the compression lock, since that is a Spyderco patented system, but
you can do the same things with it and keep your fingers out of the path of the blade. It's nice
and strong. It's even more ambidextrous than the shaman and you can do that risk. flicky stuff as
well. These things are very excellent, I think and a pretty compelling more budget oriented
alternative to that shaman, both made in the USA too, which I really like. I'm also got another
one here on the way budget end of the spectrum. And that is the Gerber Sumo comes in about 37
bucks, a little bit more blade length here but you've got a seven CR series stainless so it's
obviously not going to hold an edge nearly as long the kind of similar vibes in a way, this is
probably, since you're asking something in sort of the half price range, you probably aren't
looking at things way down at this budget range, but some other folks out there might be. But
again, all of these knives have excellent cutting geometry with either high flat or full
flat grinds. You've got a crossbar lock on this Sumo as well. So again, same same benefits as
the compression lock. And it's a nice comfortable g 10. On the handles as well. Next
question comes from john Hughes. Wait... That John Hughes? Might be typing from the from the
afterworld interesting. Hello DCA and KC, loved the series, my favorite knife design of all
time, is the Spyderco tenacious it's a really good design, the opening mechanism at spidi hole
in the blade versus a thumpstar. looking to upgrade outside of Spyderco. Do you have any
suggestions with a similar size. In fact, I do. And we just looked at it. It's that so that SIG
k 320. Again, again, kind of similar sizes, you've got the the opening hole you want. You've
definitely got an upgrade in blade steel, slight less, it's slightly less edge itself. So a
little bit less length to work with. But you've got the s 30 v to boot. One thing I didn't
mention nice deep carry pocket clip on this as well with some nice, nice ridges there to grab
on to check that guy out. It's not a it's not a cheap knife. It's not super inexpensive, but I
think very attainable in price. Our next question is from Jerome Voss. Hey, David, that
Rhino tool isn't an axe. It's a tuning fork. So he's talking about this half read blades, Rhino
rescue x comes in about 280 bucks. Because on the video last week, I did that this thing just
keeps on ringing. It's really cool. We first noticed that actually just pulling it out of the
the kydex sheath. It was enough to kind of vibrate it. But a good tuning fork should be in
tune. So let's see. Got my my chromatic tuner app here from Fender not sponsored content. Need
complete silence for this to work. Let's see. So it's a really sharp G. So not a good tuning
fork. Not a good thing. Good. You just have to tune everything slightly sharp to this guy, if
you wanted to do that sort of thing. Thank you for your question. There we go. Which brings us
to the lightning round for today. J Hara gab 87 asks, best truck knife. Something in your truck.
I'm thinking thick, beefy, borderline indestructible. Just something that's ready to
throw down get down and dirty. Becker BK two or ESEE five. Be good place to start. If you want
something bigger, more choppy Becker BK nine or ESEE hoodless or Ontario SP five for the budget.
Check those guys out. Those will be really good. Mike blennerhassett asks,
hey there DCA, I'm looking for a gentleman's knife for a non knife person to be given as a
gift thoughts. Yeah, obviously you probably for a non knife person, you don't need to spend a
lot of money because most of them aren't going to know the difference either way, but give them
something good. Give them something classy. That feels more expensive than it is CJRB Ria.
Another three inch option here range of things to start at like 30 bucks or so. This particular
one KnifeCenter exclusive with the pakkawood scales and the powder metallurgy blade, I think
is a really good sweet spot. It's about 55 bucks, looks super classy. has that kind of
timeless pocket knife vibes to it and you get a nice liner lock, one hand opening and a pocket
clip as well. Very nice. Next question is from James Harris. How come obsidian is not used in
any folders or straight knives. It's way too brittle for that sort of thing. Very easy answer
there. You do hear things though about some surgeons actually preferring obsidian scalpels
which there are companies out there that make those just because you know when you get down to
the the chipped you know microscopic edge that flake flicked edge or whatever you call it,
sharper than then even their advanced machines are able to get the steel to be so that's pretty
impressive and cool stuff as far as I'm concerned. Next question, Kenneth okcoin. My
wife just gave birth to my baby boy, congratulations, man. What would you recommend
as a hand me down camp slash bushcraft knife for me to start the tradition with? I'd say anything
by Lt. Right But especially the next gen model. This particular one right here is about 190
American made sized pretty nicely so that it's going to work really well when they're younger
and have smaller hands. But it still feels good when you've got slightly larger than average
hands as the grown up that I do. Really nice feel really great company classic timeless looks
to them and built to last. Next question is from Patrick 12. How can you tell a boker from
Germany and one from China? Real easy, it'll say it somewhere on the blade. Your if you have
something that says Boker Plus, then it is not a German made knife it's made from somewhere
outside, usually China, sometimes Taiwan, sometimes even US on some of the some of the
more premium, non Boker, or non German made products. But the dead giveaway there is you're
gonna have that big plus symbol there. That's the Boker Plus, German made Boker's, we'll say
somewhere on the blade. Typically, Solingen or Solingen, Germany. Never know if I'm pronouncing
it quite right or not. But again, right there on the blade. Interestingly enough, you've also got
Boker Arballito. As another label, those are actually made in Buenos Aires. So very easy to
tell, because they're always pretty upfront on the labeling of their products. Next question
Vir Elliott says asks, says and asks, I have started to collect knives and from time to time,
I find that I cut my fingers by accident when handling them. Some of them have needed
stitches. My wife says I should give this hobby up. But no chance of that good man. Other than
Be careful. Is there any advice you can avoid? Give to avoid cutting yourself? I've thought of
buying cut resistant gloves? Or is this just an unfortunate hazard of this wonderful pastime?
Yes, apart from Be careful, I can also say from experience unfortunately, never tried to catch a
falling machete doesn't work out too well for you. I got the nice big old scar here on my my
joint to prove it, we won't we won't focus too closely on that it'll make make some people
queasy perhaps. But as the adage goes, a falling knife has no handle. And it's very true. Just
let it fall, let it go where it lies, cut resistant gloves could be a decent idea. But I
think what the thing to do is part of getting into knives and part of getting into any sort of
edge tool is learning to treat them with the respect they deserve. That's going to take care
of 99% of your problems right there. You'll still probably get you know a nick here or
there. I got one a little bit earlier. Earlier this week myself, it just happens. But really
learn to respect the tools and they're going to treat you well as at the same time. Which brings
us to our final question, our most serious question of the day from the for CP. If you had
to chase someone with a knife just to scare them, what would it be for you recommend a
couple of things. Definitely some court ordered supervision, probably a restraining order and
almost definitely some therapy. They'll do I think that covers it. Thank you everyone for
your questions. That's all we're going to get through today. Make sure to leave your own
questions below and we'll come through and pick some out for our future episodes. If you want to
get your hands on some of
these knives, we'll leave links in the description as always, which will take you over
to KnifeCenter.com and make sure you sign up for the knife rewards program. So when you put your
hard earned money down on one of these knives, you'll earn some free money to spend on your
next one. I'm David C. Andersen from t e KnifeCenter signing off, see you next time
I swear there's a new shirt