It's chriiiiiiisstttmasss!!!

[rudrakabir]

Hello everyone on spyderco forums.

I am a new member here and am carefully researching my first knife. I am gonna get it for christmas.(Hopefully!).

I would want an EDC knife, quite dependable, possibly under $150 and with a smallish blade, like maybe as big as a SAK of victorinox, which i have.

I live in India, where it gets quite humid, would i therefore need the h-1 steel???


I am in doubt and am very anxious because this is my first purchase of a spydie and i dont want to fudge it. :-p

Thanks
Kabir

[Bradley]

With $150 and the size you're looking at you could pick a couple to satisfy your wants. What about an H-1 ladybug? Or H-1 dragonfly perhaps? Relatively small, won't rust on you no matter what, and you'd still have money left to get something else if you wanted it.

[rudrakabir]

With $150 and the size you're looking at you could pick a couple to satisfy your wants. What about an H-1 ladybug? Or H-1 dragonfly perhaps? Relatively small, won't rust on you no matter what, and you'd still have money left to get something else if you wanted it.

Yes but i do want a bigger blade than that, and it would be easier to justify one knife than 2!!!

[Bradley]

H-1 dfly and a stretch 2? Or manix 2?

[Jesting Devil]

How about the Salt 1? H1 in a perfect EDC size!

[jtoler_9]

Welcome to the forum Sir. If you are choosing a Spyderco, you can't really fudge it. No need to worry. My guess is you will find you like them so much you want more. H-1 would be a good choice. So the salt series. Also I find VG-10 to be very good at rust prevention. Just clean it every now and again. So that would open the door to the Delica or Endura line. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and welcome again.

[BAL]

Using $150 as a guide, you can just about get anything that you wanted, it would just be a matter of personal preference. I could be wrong, but I don't know that it would be necessary to get an H-1 steel. To me H-1 would be closer to being a requireEment if you were working in water, boating, fishing etc.
All that being said, I'll throw out a Para Military 2, maybe teh black DLC coating. THe blade is 3 7/16 and it only weighs 3.75 oz. If that is too big, check out the Dragonfly. You can get both a Para 2 and Dragonfly for $150. $150 can get a couple quality knives. Happy shopping and welcome.

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

If you're going for the Salt Series, I'd get either the Pacific Salt or the Salt 1, depending on your blade size preference. Either is large enough to be of good EDC usage, but also rust resistant. And they come in either black FRN or yellow, too, depending on preference.

In the US either is well under your price limit. I'm not sure of prices in India, of course.

[theZOOfromHELL]

from my experience, VG-10 has excellent rust resistance (it was my boat knife over the summer and impressively, no rust formed) and apparently so does S30V. If i had $150 and wanted a cool knife in VG-10, i'd get the Persian. However, the Paramilitary2 would also be a rockin' choice. A Delica can be had for under $60 and is a workhorse of a knife, too.

[O,just,O]

Hello Kabir.
I agree that VG-10 steel will do just fine in your humid environment. I live in a place that becomes quite humid & some days at work my clothes are dripping wet. I carry a Spyderco Centofante 4 with a VG-10 blade & it never has any rust issues.
Some people seem to have very corrosive sweat & only need to touch a blade to cause rust, but unless you are like that most steels should be fine. You will be looking after your knfe & keeping it clean & wiping the blade after cutting food or such & that will help prevent rust.
After purchasing one Spydie you will not be able to stop yourself from purchasing another & another & another & another :D
O.

[Evil D]

H1 would be helpful but i don't think it would be mandatory, i'm sure there are plenty of carbon steel knives in India, you just have to take care of them.

[razorsharp]

I would pick from H1, VG10 and S30v,some of the main steels in the spyderco lineup. VG10 and s30v are very rust resistant and will hold their edges longer.

Vg10 is very rust resistant, holds a razor edge for a long time. I suggest a caly 3.5, endura or a delica.

s30v is high performance steel and quite rust resistant. If you want more edge retention, go for something in this steel. I suggest a sage or chaparral, if you want heavy duty, I suggest the paramilitary 2.

If you want care free and rust proof, I suggest a salt 1. H1 in plain edge doesnt hold an edge well at first, but it work hardens to be actually very very good. If you want edge retention and aggressiveness, get serrations , serrated H1 performs up there with the exotic steels.

The caly 3 ZDP-189 w/ carbon fiber is what to pick if you want a really exotic steel. You wont have much rust issues because it is clad with a very VERY stainless steel called 420J2. This knife would hold its edge the longest

I suggest a sharpmaker too, to maintain your edges :)

[SQSAR]

I’d agree with others who have suggested a Para2. It fits in your price range, and S30v won’t have any problem with rust. It’s light weight, and big enough to get a lot of jobs done while not feeling as large as it is. But, to echo the comments of others, , , you can’t go wrong with pretty much any Spyderco.

[dbcad]

Welcome rudrakabir, you've come to a very nice Forum where there's lots to be learned :)

I would suggest a plain edge knife in vg-10 as vg-10 is very corrosion resistant, takes a very sharp edge, keeps that edge well and is very easy to sharpen. H1 is a bunch better for salt water environments, but a PE H1 won't keep a very sharp edge as as well as vg-10. Probably good to steer clear of the tool steels and ZDP.

Also think about you you will be using the knife for. That can help you decide on the right grind and style for you. Deciding on a single, or pair of knives is a very personal decision and you want to be happy with whatever you decide on.

I will put in a plug for the saber ground vg-10 Delica. A very versatile. tough knife that can be made very sharp. I gave mine to a buddy at work to use while I Sharpened his Kershaw. He was also very impressed by the way it held a very sharp edge :) You have to bear in mind I'm somewhat of a very sharp edge nut

[jackknifeh]

Hello Rud, and welcome to the forum. You are getting lots of good suggestions for a knife. I don't have a Paramilitary 2 but have read so many good things about it I can't believe I haven't gotten one. From the people on this forum and what they have said I'd definately recommend one. My favorite knife is the Sage 1. I would also recommend the Gayle Bradley except for what you said about humidity. It has CPM-M4 steel which is not a stainless steel. Still, if you take care of it I think you'd be ok.

Maintenance: You will definately need a sharpener unless you already have one or know someone who does. About corrosion, I recommend Tuf-Glide and a Tuf-Cloth.

I don't know how you plan to buy in India but if you order on the interned I'd recommend cutleryshoppe.com. There are other good ones also.

Good luck
Jack

[jossta]

Take care of any knife and it will take care of you. I wouldn't let that be a limiting factor. I would get a Para 2 or a Superleaf in that price range.

[Uncle J]

Get a dragonfly 2 G-10 with VG-10 steel and a sharpmarker, about $140.00. I've got the sharpmaker, would not be without it. I'm getting the dragonfly 2 for Christmas. (update) FedEx just dropped the dragonfly off. Wife said i could carry it for a day, then I have to give it back to her for wrapping. All I can say is, awesome knife.

[BDNX]

I'd agree about getting a Sharpmaker...still need to get one myself for that matter...and maybe go with a Salt I since its a great EDC size in H1

[SolidState]

Welcome to the forum!

I agree that either H-1 or VG-10 are best bets for a new user. The dragonfly or delica-sized models are great introductory knives as well. They would also leave money in the budget for a sharpmaker which will be necessary with H-1 and useful for any other steel.

[Tdog]

You could get a Delica in VG-10 and a sharpmaker for less than 150. This is similar in size to the SAK with the blade being slightly larger. I would recommend the full flat grind. Whatever you decide, you can't go wrong with Spyderco. If you really want the H-1 the Pacific salt is great though a little larger. Plain edge might be best to start. Good luck with your choice. Merry Christmas