Best Pocketknife?

[MartyMcFly3]

I'm getting married in exactly a month and want to give my groomsmen the gift of a quality pocketknife (doesn't have to be engraved). What are the best kinds of pocketknives out there? Budget is around $50-$75 per person.

 

[Nik]

Well, if you're giving him WEAPONS because he's getting MARRIED, you should consider getting him an accompanying bag of Lyme instead of a more ornate weapon.

 

[Newbian]

Do you really want to give people who are going to get drunk at your bachelor party something sharp to play with?

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Do you really want to give people who are going to get drunk at your bachelor party something sharp to play with?

God yes.

 

[onza]

I would say get a victornox swiss army knife and get it engraved with their names.

 

[Cheesemoo]

Kershaw 1600. my favorite pocket knife I have ever owned.

http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=41&brand=kershaw

the SpeedSafe® Assisted Opening is very nice.

Its also about 3" closed so it fits in your pocket perfect.

OK, I had to edit just to add that if you don't get them this Kershaw, I will be sad for your groomsmen.

OH, and Congratulations!

 

[Oyeve]

Leatherman or Victronix. I have a nice collection from both.

 

[Texashiker]

Klein tools - This is the model I carry

http://www.service.kleintools.com/T...ves KNIVES-POCKET KN-LTWGTLCKBK/Product/44002

The nylon resin handle makes the knife very lightweight, and the AUS8 blade holds an edge well and is easy to sharpen.

For a price of $20, its going to be difficult to beat. - http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Lockba...D5VO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314897403&sr=8-1

 

[Scarpozzi]

I say go with a swiss army knife....I have one that my dad gave me when he went to switzerland a few years ago. The engraving has held up over years despite being in my pocket with keys, etc...

Here's a reseller site that does engraving...not sure if it's the same quality as what I have.

http://www.swissknivesexpress.com/

 

[silverpig]

Kershaw 1600. my favorite pocket knife I have ever owned.

http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=41&brand=kershaw

the SpeedSafe® Assisted Opening is very nice.

Its also about 3" closed so it fits in your pocket perfect.

OK, I had to edit just to add that if you don't get them this Kershaw, I will be sad for your groomsmen.

OH, and Congratulations!

That one looks nice.

 

[shortylickens]

Finally a thread I can be really helpful in.

I bought a ton of pocket knives over the past couple years. So far my favorite brands are Kershaw, Sog, Spyderco and Columbia river. If you insist on spending exactly 50-75 dollars you will probably get a knife that looks prettier but doesnt perform any better than a sub 50 dollar tool.

Kershaw has a whole Ken Onion line (chive, leek, etc) thats quite nice, and I highly recommend.
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-...4899277&sr=8-3
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-...4899297&sr=1-1

Sog makes nice full size knives but also plenty of good pocket knives.
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-...4899344&sr=1-6
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-...899344&sr=1-13
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-...ef=pd_sim_hi_7
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-...bxgy_hi_text_b

I have the twitch 1 and blink. Blink is OK but doesnt open easily. Twitch 1 is super high quality for such a tiny blade. Opens smooth. Easy to keep in your change pocket, which is actually my preferred knife.

Colombia River is good but all I have of them right now is multitools, which are OK but not special.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...a+tool&x=0&y=0

Spyderco has a whole line of similarly shaped blades in different sizes. Honeybee, bug, ladybug, etc. I have the serrated lady.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ladyb...899517&sr=1-10
Very good for the pocket, the serrated blade cuts anything, even tin cans.

And also the bee.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Honey...4899569&sr=8-1
Almost too small but nice key ring knife if you are in to the sort of thing.

If you look at other Spyderco blades there its easy to scale up, spend a bit more money and get MUCH nicer blades. Also plenty of choices in color and edge.

 

[shortylickens]

If you want something a little more exotic:
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-...4900319&sr=1-1

Or a survival knife can be cool too.
http://www.amazon.com/DAJO-Adventure...4900374&sr=1-1

Or just a short blunt knife, which can be useful sometimes.
http://www.amazon.com/DAJO-Adventure...4900374&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/SUBCOM-Black-B...d=3062NGF9JWQT
http://www.amazon.com/CLB-Keycom-FRN...d=3062NGF9JWQT
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River...d=3062NGF9JWQT

Titanium is nice but usually expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Coast-C08-Knif...d=3062NGF9JWQT
When I see a cheap one it makes me think theres isnt much titanium there. Usually they are closer to a hundred. Nice thing is they resist corrosion a hell of a lot better than any steel.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I got all my groomsmen Leatherman Waves, seemed to be a big hit.

http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-830...4901379&sr=8-1

 

[brblx]

i have a decent leatherman. they're decent utilitarian tools but suck ass for quick access. the only multitool i've ever liked was my slide-open gerber which could be manipulated with one hand.

and yes, for folders, kershaw is FTW. no one touches their assisted open knives for the price. i have a scallion, i think it's between the chive and leek. ~30 bucks online, i paid the same at the snap-on truck...so mine is black and has a special pocketclip! face!

 

[shortylickens]

i have a decent leatherman. they're decent utilitarian tools but suck ass for quick access. the only multitool i've ever liked was my slide-open gerber which could be manipulated with one hand.

and yes, for folders, kershaw is FTW. no one touches their assisted open knives for the price.

The above posted Wave has all its tools on the outside. As do the Squirt and Juice only older models and the Micra have their tools inside.

 

[2Dead]

Without knowing more, I'd go with engraved Victorinox Pioneers or Cadets. Great useful knives. You should also check out your local knife laws to make sure you/they don't get into trouble. I think the Chicago limit is 2.5" which makes for a small knife. Here's a list with most of the knife laws/restrictions.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife.pdf

 

[deadlyapp]

I got all my groomsmen Leatherman Waves, seemed to be a big hit.

http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-830...4901379&sr=8-1

+1 for the wave, I was coming in here to post this actually. I've had my wave for 10 years now and it's still like new. I use it for virtually everything I do. They MSRP at somewhere around $80 but you can get them for sub $50 if you look.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I own many folding knives at many price points. In general I keep returning to Spyderco as my favorite maker. The knives are not always pretty but they're highly functional, beautifully made of high-quality materials, always ship blazing sharp, and are consistently a great value.

I would think you would want fairly small knives as groomsman's gifts. I would also think you'd want to give something that looks elegant so I am leaving out Spyderco's many great nylon-handled knives. My favorite folding knife under $100 is the Spyderco Sage I (the carbon fiber Sage), but it's just slightly less than $100, as is the new Chaparral (the Chaparral looks very promising but I haven't handled one). The G-10 Dragonfly is another great knife that is right in your price range. The Tenacious and Persistence are almost unbelievably good deals - they are less than your price range but you'd never know it by handling them. The new Cat is also a nice little knife.

In terms of other makers, the Buck Vantage Avid and Vantage Pro are strong knives at a great price. I also really like the Boker Plus Exskelibur, particularly for the money - it's a really clean, elegant design and very light even in the larger size - http://bladereviews.com/412/boker-01bo001-exskelibur-i-knife-review/.

On further review, I have what I think may be THE best choice for you in your price range as a groomsman's gift - the Boker Plus Exskelimoor. It’s a beautiful bog oak-handled version of the Exskelibur - supremely elegant yet only around $50-60. Available in two sizes – I would probably go with the smaller one as a groomsman’s gift but that’s your call. I think this is the knife for you. I have not handled the wood version but I own an Exskelibur and it's a lovely piece.

 

[brblx]

The above posted Wave has all its tools on the outside. As do the Squirt and Juice only older models and the Micra have their tools inside.

just the knives are on the outside....which i didn't notice, though. one-handed knife operation is the big thing for me, which is why i like kershaw's safe but blindingly fast 'one finger' mechanism.

all i can say is this-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230554470416&hlp=false#ht_524wt_1298

kicks the shit out of this-
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=bdtfTtSSFMi1twflvL2lCw&ved=0CGUQ8wIwAA

models are not exact, but same style. you can barely even use the pliars on the leatherman with one hand, and they're stiff as shit and lack a spring, so you end up ripping skin off your fingers as you PULL then open and the handles collapse. engineering that poor is enough that i would never buy anything from leatherman again.

 

[shortylickens]

If you NEED one handed knife operation, spend a couple bucks and get something good.
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty-Knives-S66-N-PowerAssist/dp/B001MYYO28

 

[Sluggo]

Kershaw has a whole Ken Onion line (chive, leek, etc) thats quite nice, and I highly recommend.
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-...4899277&sr=8-3
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-...4899297&sr=1-1

this

 

[schneiderguy]

Spyderco Manix 2

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Manix.../dp/B002ECY7XI

Made in USA, good steel, comes sharp as hell out of the box, and the ball lock is fun to play with.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

this

Hmmm - I dunno. I actually have a few SpeedSafe knives (a Leek, a titanium Bump and two G10 Tyrades), but I'm not convinced a Leek or Chive would be a good groomsman's gift. I have some misgivings about the safety of Speedsafe, particularly on a knife with a tip as sharp as those have. Also the stainless-handled Leek and Chive look and feel a little ratty to me - God knows they are not elegant.

I still think the Boker Exskelimoor would be my first choice. Actually the Benchmade Nagara would have been another good choice before they made it part of their Harley-Davidson line - to me that just makes it tacky (though to Harley fans I'm sure it's an upgrade).

 

[Gibsons]

God yes.

This.

Demand that they all do two shots of jaeger and two shots of tequila immediately before they open the gift. post vids.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Spyderco Manix 2

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Manix.../dp/B002ECY7XI

Made in USA, good steel, comes sharp as hell out of the box, and the ball lock is fun to play with.

Those are great knives - I have the blue S30V and green Carpenter steel sprint run models. To me they're too big for everyday carry, but I work in an office and your mileage may vary. Certainly a solid pick in any case.