Quest for "The" knife

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Lil' T, BEST KNIFE EVER. :spyder:

[VWTattoo]

Here Here, Michael!! The Lil' Temp is my winner for the best knife ever!

Although, the newest member of my Spyderco family/ Collection- a Manix 83mm which was graciously provided by our own pjrocco has recently superceded the Lil' Temp in my "precioussss" category. It even has some Lil' Temp flavor, with a customized Green G-10 overlay on the grips! I cannot express how great this knife or how great of a guy Paul is. I am nearly speechless with this knife!

They do make quite a dynamic duo when next to one another! (Pics to come soon.)

I also agree that the quest for THE ultimate knife is a never ending one, and a quest which I am proud to have embarked on!

[SoCal Operator]

delica zdp

True. What a knife.

[Knifewing]

I'm new to the forum but have been enjoying everyone's posts for a couple of weeks now. I've been on my own quest for THE knife but with a slight "twist"--I've been looking for THE small outdoor folder (preferably Spyderco) to carry while hiking or as a clip knife to support my fixed blade when camping. The leading candidates (so far after reading all your posts and doing my own research) are: Paramilitary and Manix 83 (the two Spydercos that get majority mention in posts, along with the Li'l Temp), and the Delica 4 and Lum Tanto. The non-Spyderco contender is the Al Mar Mini SERE. Any ideas on THE outdoor knife? One other note, I'm a big fan of CE (my EDC for years at an office job was a CE Baby Wayne Goddard), but I'm open to PE.

Thanks for your help and for your community.

[bigcat]

The "ultimate knife" is like the river. Always changing. As you change and the world changes around you, the "ultimate knife" changes.

"You can't step into the same river twice."

sal

TOO SAL: In my book the " Pro-Venator, SS Handle, Combo 40/60, ATS-55 Blade, is closest to the "ultimate knife". At least that's what floats my boat. Thanks for making it possibe.

BigCat

[stonyman]

RI4. I like the way you said for the next month or two. You too suffer like the rest of us. And oh yeah....what Sal said too! HA...Ha...

[SoCal Operator]

Knifewing: Be sure to take a look at the Salt line of knives. They are a great deal, H-1 is rustproof, and you can choose yellow handles, an advantage in the field if your knife is dropped. They are very tough knives, and since they are rustproof, they are easy to clean.

[walderdackel]

The "ultimate knife" is like the river. Always changing. As you change and the world changes around you, the "ultimate knife" changes.

"You can't step into the same river twice."

sal

Brutal but true!
And the simple answer why i cant sell a few of my way to many knives.

But this continous changing makes me nervous. Want to take a hammer and pin this always changing character on its place.(at least the good parts from it)

So long :D

[Puyallupknifegu]

Ultimate knife?

I have almost 2 sketchpads filled with designs trying to figure that out...anyhoo...my "ultimates" for now are the waved D4...which is with absolutely everywhere I go now, and the Dodo...or Chad's biscuit...

:D

[smcfalls13]

My tastes in blades change so often, that for me, finding the perfect blade is near impossible. I've found knives that satisfy me for a few months, but then I find I want something different.

Still looking for the "perfect" knife, and I don't think it's been made yet.

[cornelis]

The "ultimate knife" is like the river. Always changing. As you change and the world changes around you, the "ultimate knife" changes.

"You can't step into the same river twice."

sal

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The paths of your life are determined by the choices you make.

It's like the ultimate wife

[The Deacon]

I've pretty well given up on the quest for a single "do it all" folder. One reason is that the atmosphere I work in makes using a smaller knife for tasks not absolutely requiring a larger one seem wise. The Kiwi fills that role for me. It is a great little cutter and handles all the office type tasks with ease. Plus, many "non-knife people" find it attractive, and it is not viewed as a "weapon" by any but those would also view a SAK, or a Case Stockman as one.

However, I also like to have a knife with me that can slice a tomato, halve an orange or apple, or cut a large sandwich into manageable pieces without "running out of blade". For that, I've found the Stretch ideal, with the C83 Persian a very close second. Interestingly, of those last two, the Persian, despite what many would describe as a more "agressive" blade shape, actually raises fewer eyebrows. I can only attribute that to the more "civilized" look of the bolster and scales construction. The primary virtue of the Stretch, for me, is the flat ground blade, which I find better for food prep.

My true "ultimate" would be a C83 with a full flat ground stainless damascus blade, 14mm opening hole, nice fine grooving on the thumb ramp and finger choil, no Boye dent, and wood scales. I believe that combo would provide maximum utility, maximum eye appeal, and as low a "fear factor" as is possible for a 3.5" blade to project. Will admit though that I still would have reservations about pulling it out in the middle of a business meeting to cut the string on a box of pastries. Some things are best left to a Kiwi or C27 Jess Horn. :D

[Manix Guy 2]

C44 Dyad , is the ultimate all time for me . Sal's quote I think is from "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse , great book .

[sal]

C44 Dyad , is the ultimate all time for me . Sal's quote I think is from "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse , great book .

And highly recommended.

sal

[Manix Guy 2]

I'm glad we have the same taste in literature as well as knives , I'm flattered . Now about that lefty Military..... ha ha !

[Senate]

I'm new to the forum but have been enjoying everyone's posts for a couple of weeks now. I've been on my own quest for THE knife but with a slight "twist"--I've been looking for THE small outdoor folder (preferably Spyderco) to carry while hiking or as a clip knife to support my fixed blade when camping. The leading candidates (so far after reading all your posts and doing my own research) are: Paramilitary and Manix 83 (the two Spydercos that get majority mention in posts, along with the Li'l Temp), and the Delica 4 and Lum Tanto. The non-Spyderco contender is the Al Mar Mini SERE. Any ideas on THE outdoor knife? One other note, I'm a big fan of CE (my EDC for years at an office job was a CE Baby Wayne Goddard), but I'm open to PE.

Thanks for your help and for your community.

I'd go for the superior size to go hiking then THE outdoor knife in CE would be a Military, very light compared to a Manix, easy to clean, slim... perfect :)

[Richard IV]

Richard IV you might wanna try the UKPK too...

in my book the Persian is a BIG spyderco! maybe you're talking about the 75mm Persian, the smaller brother.

I'd LOVE to find a UK Penknife. Why UK, anyway? Law is almost the same in France: No locking blades. Period...

Sal, please, make a UK penknife with a corkscrew, and call it "French penknife" or "Euro penknife" (for Spain, Italy and even Greece make great wines too), THAT would be my new "ultimate knife" for a while (me and almost 10 millions europeans!)... A :spyder: with a strong corkscrew is really missing in your catalog :)

And yes, Senate, I was talking about the "mini" Persian.


R.IV

[Axlis]

I'm hoping the Caly 3 will satisfiy this need for me!

It's going to be VG-10, scales of lined G-10, wire clip, and just the right blade size, which is a bit longer than the Caly Jr. The handle ergos are improved as well.

IMHO, the Caly 3 is the result of a long span of Sal's design evolution, it is refined.

Yep, the Caly 3 is one of my big hopes. :D

[Axlis]

"You can't step into the same river twice."

sal

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The paths of your life are determined by the choices you make.

Maybe Sprint Runs are kinda like just looking at the river, you don't get wet that way. :p


I believe there's never going to be a universal "perfect" knife for everyone, but there's always those models just just really "hit the spot" for many people.

The one that I feel is the best design out of my collection is the Lil Temp, you really made a great one there Sal!

[Halfneck]

I could not limit myself to one knife if I tried. Currently I am loving my Endura 4 as a EDC, my Blue Handled 93mm Rescue as a work EDC, and my Schempp Kris for the "WOW" factor.

Really looking at getting something smaller & lighter for my work EDC. Was looking at either a SE FRN Delica or a SE (possibly yellow) Tasman Salt.

Of course I really like the look of that Foliage Green CE Delica...