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I'm with Syntyr and mrvmax. My Zero Tolerance 0350 is an awesome knife and I love their customer service. I am one of those that I bounce my knife between pockets and I contacted ZT about another clip to help that endeavor. They sent it and the appropriate screws for free. Mind you, the #6 (I believe) torx wrench was tough to find.
On the knife side, I have had mine for over a year now and it has traveled everywhere with me and has survived a lot of abuse between the National Training Center, work and everyday cutting. The only downside some see with it, is its size. If you want the same thing but a little smaller look at SKD Tactical's version, the 0360. That one even has a tungsten glass breaker on it.
http://www.skdtac.com/Zero-Tolerance-03 ... to.117.htm

Otherwise, the SOG Trident, Kershaw Leek or Shallot or the Benchmade Griptillian (normal and mini) are all really good choices as well.

I'm a big fan of Rick Hinderer's design, so I started with a Kershaw Cryo2 blackwash, for $40 it's the best for the money knife I've ever had and I carry it at work. I wanted to jump into a higher end knife and still stay with the Hinderer design so I went with a Zero Tolerance 0560 ($200)and was blown away by it. The Elmax steel was awesome and held a great edge. I still had the need for more Hinderer products so I saved some money and sold some stuff and finally got a real Hinderer 3" wharnie ($400) and wow, no other knife I've ever had compares to the quality of it. Spending that much is not for everyone but I still highly recommend the ZT, it's a great compromise between the 3 knives. But again this is just my recommendations, I would say you need to go to a big knife store and fondle as many as you can (just like a new pistol) to see which one you like best

Benchmade.

/thread

Jnsey wrote: I would say you need to go to a big knife store and fondle as many as you can (just like a new pistol) to see which one you like best

Well, I've been perusing online a lot of knives while reading this discussion. However, this suggestion makes great sense.

Anyone have recommendations for the best knife store with widest selection in the northern half of Houston?

Knives that are purpose-built are cool. I sail, when I can, and found the Boye folding sailing knife to be a philosophically perfect sailor's knife.

The metal is dendritic cobalt steel. You always have microscopic serrations, and it melts through a line under tension. Cutting a line in an emergency can save a life, and the line will almost always be under tension when it has to be cut.

The knife is blunt-tipped, so you won't stab yourself on a heaving deck. The blade is mostly serrated, a little plain (and all nano-serrated with cobalt). The blade locks, it can be opened and closed one-handed, it's got a lanyard loop. On one side is a pocket clip, on the other a marlin spike with a tapered slot to open stubborn shackles. The handle is bright yellow so you can find it in bad conditions.

The features of that knife are a one-to-one fit for my list of what a proper sailing knife should have. It's not a knife for repelling boarders, but for general work and thwarting Davy Jones, it's a perfect knife.

I saw CRKT Knives mentioned.

http://www.woot.com/plus/crkt-knives-4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Been carrying a Benchmade 154CM for the last year.

The clip is reversible and though not spring assisted nor a switch blade, I can open it with one hand by a flick of the wrist. Something I practice a few times a month.

I have benchmades, spyderco's and a kershaw and I like my benchmade assisted opener the most of all of them but its slightly on the thick side.

For defensive carry, i go to the spyderco civilian (really big though) or the endura wave. I think the delica wave might be the ideal smaller sized carry blade, the endura is great but can be a little long in some pockets.

The wave features great for a fast draw.

C-dub wrote:A little Kershaw Shuffle, with me all the time.

That's a nice utility knife, especially with the bottle opener, but I wouldn't recommend it as a self defense knife. On the other hand, I don't really like folders as self defense knifes after doing some practical HTH training.

My EDC is a Spyderco SALT I for reasons treadlightly will understand, but it's a tool first and foremost.

Captain Matt wrote:

C-dub wrote:A little Kershaw Shuffle, with me all the time.

That's a nice utility knife, especially with the bottle opener, but I wouldn't recommend it as a self defense knife. On the other hand, I don't really like folders as self defense knifes after doing some practical HTH training.

My EDC is a Spyderco SALT I for reasons treadlightly will understand, but it's a tool first and foremost.

Someone here recommended it and I've been toying with the idea of getting a K-Bar TDI like this.

AndyC wrote: Otherwise, my best personal defense against someone else's knife is to beat feet and get distance before throwing feces, trashcan-lids or bullets. Toe-to-toe isn't fun, and I ain't doing that again :)

totally! Truerer words have never been speaked, spoked, spoken.

Ugly, messy, and awfully chancy....unless you've had specific knife fighting training, which very few have.

C-dub wrote:

Captain Matt wrote:

C-dub wrote:A little Kershaw Shuffle, with me all the time.

That's a nice utility knife, especially with the bottle opener, but I wouldn't recommend it as a self defense knife. On the other hand, I don't really like folders as self defense knifes after doing some practical HTH training.

My EDC is a Spyderco SALT I for reasons treadlightly will understand, but it's a tool first and foremost.

Someone here recommended it and I've been toying with the idea of getting a K-Bar TDI like this.
[ Image ]

I have the regular TDI....great knife for pocket & belt carry. Never cared for the tanto point on any knife, though...

Jason K wrote:

C-dub wrote:

Captain Matt wrote:

C-dub wrote:A little Kershaw Shuffle, with me all the time.

That's a nice utility knife, especially with the bottle opener, but I wouldn't recommend it as a self defense knife. On the other hand, I don't really like folders as self defense knifes after doing some practical HTH training.

My EDC is a Spyderco SALT I for reasons treadlightly will understand, but it's a tool first and foremost.

Someone here recommended it and I've been toying with the idea of getting a K-Bar TDI like this.
[ Image ]

I have the regular TDI....great knife for pocket & belt carry. Never cared for the tanto point on any knife, though...

[ Image ]

How does it feel in your hand? I keep looking to see if I can spot one in a store somewhere, but to no avail. I am partial to the tantos and also like serrated blades.