Which knife to get as a gift

[Netherend]

The holiday season is coming around the corner and I would like advice on which knife to get my brother in law. There are so many great options. I welcome suggestions.

A little back story-
my brother in law is the person who originally turned me into a spyderco fan. Years ago he bought (H1) pacific and Atlantic salts for the whole family. He was an off shore diver and swore by spyderco salts . He mused about how he watched rookie’s destroy their knives out in the gulf . He once said “spyderco makes real work knives” He currently has a desk job but still uses his h1 pacific salt

When I saw him this summer I was excited to show him some of my collection of spyderco knives. I showed him my pm2, para 3, my native salt and Manix lw. He was in awe at the different locks handle materials and styles. He did not know about spyderco knives beyond the seki salts. I recently picked up a para 3 (g10)for my father in law for Father’s Day and he (my brother in law) asked me if I could pick up a knife for him for a future holiday/birthday. The question is; which knife?

[VooDooChild]

Military
Pm2
Shaman

[Fireman]

Price and availability are key to the answer

[Netherend]

I am looking to keep the spending under $200

[DansGearAddiction]

I'd go Native Salt in LC200N. Lots of flexibility in terms of the use cases and the Salt would be a nice nod to his past history of diving.

[Airlsee]

Kapara

[wrdwrght]

How will the gift most likely be used?

[airborne91]

I like the thin blue and red line knives. Its a double win. Cool knife and a donation to a good cause.
I got one for a buddy that is a retired police officer.
LS

[TkoK83Spy]

How will the gift most likely be used?

I'd factor this, as well as size of the knife, and which lock type seemed to peak his interest from yours that you showed him. If you can't narrow it down a bit, this thread is going to turn into a mess with 30+ suggestions!

[bleasure]

I'd go Native Salt in LC200N. Lots of flexibility in terms of the use cases and the Salt would be a nice nod to his past history of diving.

If you don't go with DansGearAddiction's excellent suggestion, a more general one that'd make a great gift is a Dragonfly 2 IMO. Not that you don't know any of the following, but: they're extremely useful in a well rounded way. Very well designed in both handle and blade for actual use, rugged and light, and they're neither too big for handling most people's normal daily tasks (even the para 3 is gigantic, weapon-looking overkill in that regard) nor too small to be of real and versatile utility. Lots of choices in colors and steels as well. And relatively cheap, without being cheap! Plus one of the best names among all of spyderco's knives.

[TkoK83Spy]

I'd go Native Salt in LC200N. Lots of flexibility in terms of the use cases and the Salt would be a nice nod to his past history of diving.

If you don't go with DansGearAddiction's excellent suggestion, a more general one that'd make a great gift is a Dragonfly 2 IMO. Not that you don't know any of the following, but: they're extremely useful in a well rounded way. Very well designed in both handle and blade for actual use, rugged and light, and they're neither too big for handling most people's normal daily tasks (even the para 3 is gigantic, weapon-looking overkill in that regard) nor too small to be of real and versatile utility. Lots of choices in colors and steels as well. And relatively cheap, without being cheap! Plus one of the best names among all of spyderco's knives.

If he has a desk job, this would be a great choice, especially the KnifeCenter Pakkawood scales exclusive!

[SG89]

Para 3

[bleasure]

If he has a desk job, this would be a great choice, especially the KnifeCenter Pakkawood scales exclusive!

yeah!!! i forgot about that one, it's so nice. i'd be more bummed i missed out on it by not pulling the trigger when I could have, but having a glow in the dark DF2 around halloween has made me the coolest person at every party. that said, i would LOVE to see other wood / materials along those lines

[Wartstein]

To have a starting point I have to speculate since we don t know which size / use scenario...

You say he still has and uses his Pac Salt and was only aware of Seki knives so far? Might be good if he tried something different in size, lock, handle material, country of origin?
So smaller, not a backlock, not Seki made?

This would actually point towards Para 3, or what I'd prefer Sage 5 (in CF for him?)?
Watu would be another great choice.
And I don't think one can' go wrong with a Manix (for him one of the G10 variants?) though some might say it is not that much smaller than a Pac Salt .

[Doc Dan]

Native Salt, if you can find one.

[Cowboyfromhell]

Spydiechef
Pm2

[ladybug93]

i think he would probably enjoy a caribbean. i'm making a lot of assumptions based on your story... if he bought pacific and atlantic salts, he's not worried about a knife being too big. if he loves the seki salts, he would probably love to stick with similar properties, but may enjoy something that is still capable that happens to also feature a different lock and better fit and finish. the caribbean has the same lock as the para 3 he seems to have liked in your story.

caribbean is the obvious choice in my mind, but the spydiechef might be cool too, since it's also a nicer salt knife. the spydiechef is going to cost more than you wanted to spend though.

[Ramonade]

As other said, that depends on the use the knife is gonna get, and the size that would be the most appropriate for it.
Since he was a diver, i'll speculate that he still likes to go around water a lot, and then the suggestion of the Golden made Native 5 Salt in LC200N is very good ! Ok it's still a backlock, but this backlock has nothing to do with the others, the Native's backlock comes from so many years of research, it's perfect.

To go towards other locks that still are IMHO safe to carry, the CBBL on the Manix 2 is pretty cool.
Though, for office carry and testing a new lock, the lil' native compression lock might be interesting too.

EDIT: The Carribean proposed by ladybug93 is very good ! That would join the native 5 proposition, but with a new lock.

[Evil D]

Endless suggestions on this, depends on what direction you wanna go. Do you think he'd be better off with an office/gent's knife or something he's more familiar with? There are other Salt models now that are similar enough to what he's had but maybe more fancy, like a Spydiechef for example is a Salt model but being titanium it's nicer looking and feeling than yellow FRN. You should also think about size and laws and what he might get in trouble for carrying and what may be too big for his desk job. If he's still carrying his Pacific in the office then it's probably a non issue.

So, lots to consider. Seems like he could be happy with anything from a Military to something fancier like an Air or One Eyed Jack. My first thought was to get him something higher end than he's had since you said he's only familiar with Seki/Salt models, something from Golden with a premium steel. Speaking of steel, also consider what his sharpening abilities are? Is he going to be ok with Maxamet for example?

[tap78]

Spyderco Caribbean