A Revealing Questions and Answers Survey with Various Folding Knife Enthusiasts
The last few months saw the release of various folding knives by prestigious knife manufacturers such as Zack Brown’s Southern Grind, Emerson, KutMaster, Cold Steel, Spyderco, Buck Knives, Pohl Force USA, Browning, Microtech Knives, Benchmark, Kershaw, Hand-Tech Made and Boker. So we at BladeSharp decided to conduct a quick Q & A with a handful of folding knife enthusiasts from several states, to find out what are their opinions about a number of products put out by the aforementioned manufacturers.
Stanley Campbell, Age: 33 from Chicago, Illinois
Are you gonna buy a ‘Custom Bad Monkey’ folding knife from Zack Brown’s Southern Grind?
Oh yeah, I am.
What attracts you to the folding knife?
It's cool. It's customizable. It gives you more variety in terms of blade types. The one thing that impresses me is that you can get it made with different handle styles. I like that you can get handles like Desert Tan, Green, and stuff.
So you will really be willing to pay more than $250 for this thing?
Yeah, I'd pay. Most definitely. I've been buying Zack Brown’s Southern Grind knives for a long time.
Kyle Haft, Age: 26 from Chicago, Illinois
Stanley Campbell, Age: 33 from Chicago, Illinois
Are you gonna buy a ‘Custom Bad Monkey’ folding knife from Zack Brown’s Southern Grind?
Oh yeah, I am.
What attracts you to the folding knife?
It's cool. It's customizable. It gives you more variety in terms of blade types. The one thing that impresses me is that you can get it made with different handle styles. I like that you can get handles like Desert Tan, Green, and stuff.
So you will really be willing to pay more than $250 for this thing?
Yeah, I'd pay. Most definitely. I've been buying Zack Brown’s Southern Grind knives for a long time.
Kyle Haft, Age: 26 from Chicago, Illinois
How do you feel about ‘CQC-8’ folding knife’s price?
That’s pretty steep. They should give us a trade-in on the old, junky folding knives, man. Well, some places let you trade in old knives for credit toward a new knife. Yeah, but they’ll rip you off. They’ll get you good, man.
Are there any folding knives you’d get by the company?
Not for $250. Folding knife for $250? Hell no.
Ryan Gonzalez Age: 29 from Union City, New Jersey.
Are you gonna be in line to buy Emerson CQC-8 folding knife?
Definitely.
Why?
It’s a pretty bad-ass knife! Not only the CQC-8, but also the fact that Emerson have been consistently putting out high quality knives. Emerson and Cold Steel have been making some amazing knives over the years. They are two of my favorite knife companies right now.
Is there anything about CQC-8 you can’t get with other knives?
The overall length of the blade which is more than 9 inches. I checked out a catalog on folding knives that have been released so far this year, and apart from the CQC-8, the rest are less than 9 inches.
Timothy Poole Age: 30 from New York, N.Y.
Will you buy the ‘Rock-It’ folding knife by KutMaster?
If they reduce the price a bit. I wanna get the Rock-It knife definitely, but they need to improve the pricing badly.
What do you like about the knife?
The look, its blade length, all the stuff it can do that most folding knives in its class can’t do at this time. KutMaster need to make more folding knives like this. Cold Steel has certain knives like ‘Swift I’ or ‘Ultimate Hunter’, and so many other knives that make Cold Steel a highly sought brand. They can come out with a thousand variations of the Rock-It knife. If they don’t have other folding knives that are actually as good as the Rock-It or better than the Rock-It, then eventually no one’s gonna care – especially me.
If you could buy just one Cold Steel knife?
Probably ‘Tiger Claw Plain Edge’ if I had the cash, whatever…’SAN MAI III GURKHA KUKRI’ or ‘3V Master Tanto’, definitely Tiger Claw Plain Edge’.
Jack Price Age: 35 from St. Petersburg, Florida
Will you buy a ‘Rubicon Clipit folding knife by Spyderco?
That’s pretty steep. They should give us a trade-in on the old, junky folding knives, man. Well, some places let you trade in old knives for credit toward a new knife. Yeah, but they’ll rip you off. They’ll get you good, man.
Are there any folding knives you’d get by the company?
Not for $250. Folding knife for $250? Hell no.
Ryan Gonzalez Age: 29 from Union City, New Jersey.
Are you gonna be in line to buy Emerson CQC-8 folding knife?
Definitely.
Why?
It’s a pretty bad-ass knife! Not only the CQC-8, but also the fact that Emerson have been consistently putting out high quality knives. Emerson and Cold Steel have been making some amazing knives over the years. They are two of my favorite knife companies right now.
Is there anything about CQC-8 you can’t get with other knives?
The overall length of the blade which is more than 9 inches. I checked out a catalog on folding knives that have been released so far this year, and apart from the CQC-8, the rest are less than 9 inches.
Timothy Poole Age: 30 from New York, N.Y.
Will you buy the ‘Rock-It’ folding knife by KutMaster?
If they reduce the price a bit. I wanna get the Rock-It knife definitely, but they need to improve the pricing badly.
What do you like about the knife?
The look, its blade length, all the stuff it can do that most folding knives in its class can’t do at this time. KutMaster need to make more folding knives like this. Cold Steel has certain knives like ‘Swift I’ or ‘Ultimate Hunter’, and so many other knives that make Cold Steel a highly sought brand. They can come out with a thousand variations of the Rock-It knife. If they don’t have other folding knives that are actually as good as the Rock-It or better than the Rock-It, then eventually no one’s gonna care – especially me.
If you could buy just one Cold Steel knife?
Probably ‘Tiger Claw Plain Edge’ if I had the cash, whatever…’SAN MAI III GURKHA KUKRI’ or ‘3V Master Tanto’, definitely Tiger Claw Plain Edge’.
Jack Price Age: 35 from St. Petersburg, Florida
Will you buy a ‘Rubicon Clipit folding knife by Spyderco?
Yeah. I’m thinking about getting one and then selling it on eBay later on.
What other Spyderco knives will you get?
‘Spyderco Proficient’, ‘Southard Folder Brown’ and probably the Manix 2 XL Black Blade. I wanna get Spyderco Street Beat, Para Military 2, Yojimbo2 and Native 5 when I have the budget for them.
What impresses you most about the Rubicon Clipit?
A lot of things. I like the shape. I’m not a fan of long folding knife so the overall length is OK. I like the fact that it comes with a convenient steel pocket clip. I always wanted to get a folding knife with textured spacer carbon fiber handle. The price isn’t that steep to me considering the quality and all. I’ve been burned by other knife companies with their Chinese knockoffs, but Spyderco never disappointed me with their products.
Alec and Dylan Ross (father and son) Ages 50 and 25 from Gulfport, Florida
Will you be getting the ‘898 Impact’ folding knife by Buck Knives?
Yeah, we want one, we’ll probably get it.
What other knives by the company will you buy?
‘TOPS/BUCK CSAR-T Responder Knife’ and ‘113 Ranger Skinner Knife.’
What do you like least about the 898 Impact knife?
The price. I wish it was a little lower. That’s my gripe with Pohl Force USA – the knives are so expensive. I would buy a folding knife for $150 and not really think about it. But when the knives cost over $200, I kinda balk at that.
Robert Lee Age: 29 from San Francisco, California
Are you going to buy the ‘Damascus Folder, Mammoth Tooth’ knife by Browning?
No.
What other Spyderco knives will you get?
‘Spyderco Proficient’, ‘Southard Folder Brown’ and probably the Manix 2 XL Black Blade. I wanna get Spyderco Street Beat, Para Military 2, Yojimbo2 and Native 5 when I have the budget for them.
What impresses you most about the Rubicon Clipit?
A lot of things. I like the shape. I’m not a fan of long folding knife so the overall length is OK. I like the fact that it comes with a convenient steel pocket clip. I always wanted to get a folding knife with textured spacer carbon fiber handle. The price isn’t that steep to me considering the quality and all. I’ve been burned by other knife companies with their Chinese knockoffs, but Spyderco never disappointed me with their products.
Alec and Dylan Ross (father and son) Ages 50 and 25 from Gulfport, Florida
Will you be getting the ‘898 Impact’ folding knife by Buck Knives?
Yeah, we want one, we’ll probably get it.
What other knives by the company will you buy?
‘TOPS/BUCK CSAR-T Responder Knife’ and ‘113 Ranger Skinner Knife.’
What do you like least about the 898 Impact knife?
The price. I wish it was a little lower. That’s my gripe with Pohl Force USA – the knives are so expensive. I would buy a folding knife for $150 and not really think about it. But when the knives cost over $200, I kinda balk at that.
Robert Lee Age: 29 from San Francisco, California
Are you going to buy the ‘Damascus Folder, Mammoth Tooth’ knife by Browning?
No.
Why not?
It’s way too pricey.
Do you like any folding knife made by Browning?
I really like the Vortex, Bird & Trout knife.
Toshiro Oshima Age:38 from San Francisco, California
Will you buy the ‘LUDT Standard’ folding knife by Microtech Knives?
No.
Why not?
I like my current folding knife just fine.
What don’t you like about the LUDT Standard knife?
I think it’s too expensive and doesn’t look much different than a $50 folding knife.
Tyler Hutchinson Age: 30 from Santa Monica, California
Are you going to buy a folding knife manufactured by Benchmark?
Yes.
What is the folding knife you’ll buy from this company?
Pagan. It looks awesome.
What do you like or dislike about the knife?
I don’t like the blade’s thickness. I like blade that’s slightly thicker so I can cut up stuff quicker and easier.
Leonard B. Age: 34 from Santa Monica, California
Are you going to buy a Kershaw ‘Camber ‘folding knife?
Yes, I’ve ordered it.
Why?
I like the look of it and the size. Because it’s so compact you can move around well with it. It has an aluminum handle, so it feels good to grip. The blade thickness is 0.12 inches, very sharp and can cut things up easily. The only thing I don’t like is the price. It’s over $100.
Which features impress you the most?
It has a stonewash finish blade, and the handle is good because it’s comfortable.
Logan Smith Age: 26 from Houston, Texas
Will you buy a ‘Foxtrot Three’ folding knife by Pohl Force USA?
Oh yeah.
Do you think it will sell well?
Until an upgrade comes out, it’s gonna dominate, because other knife makers aren’t making folding knives that are as good, so they might as well hang it up. It will give ‘TKXM’ (folding knife by Hand-Tech Made) a good run for its money.
How do you think it’ll do against the TKXM?
I see them being the two major folding knives. I think they are gonna share the spot equally. I don’t think either one will dominate.
Kevin Harp Age: 37 from Houston, Texas
Are you planning to buy a Boker’s ‘Stingray VG-10’ folding knife?
It’s way too pricey.
Do you like any folding knife made by Browning?
I really like the Vortex, Bird & Trout knife.
Toshiro Oshima Age:38 from San Francisco, California
Will you buy the ‘LUDT Standard’ folding knife by Microtech Knives?
No.
Why not?
I like my current folding knife just fine.
What don’t you like about the LUDT Standard knife?
I think it’s too expensive and doesn’t look much different than a $50 folding knife.
Tyler Hutchinson Age: 30 from Santa Monica, California
Are you going to buy a folding knife manufactured by Benchmark?
Yes.
What is the folding knife you’ll buy from this company?
Pagan. It looks awesome.
What do you like or dislike about the knife?
I don’t like the blade’s thickness. I like blade that’s slightly thicker so I can cut up stuff quicker and easier.
Leonard B. Age: 34 from Santa Monica, California
Are you going to buy a Kershaw ‘Camber ‘folding knife?
Yes, I’ve ordered it.
Why?
I like the look of it and the size. Because it’s so compact you can move around well with it. It has an aluminum handle, so it feels good to grip. The blade thickness is 0.12 inches, very sharp and can cut things up easily. The only thing I don’t like is the price. It’s over $100.
Which features impress you the most?
It has a stonewash finish blade, and the handle is good because it’s comfortable.
Logan Smith Age: 26 from Houston, Texas
Will you buy a ‘Foxtrot Three’ folding knife by Pohl Force USA?
Oh yeah.
Do you think it will sell well?
Until an upgrade comes out, it’s gonna dominate, because other knife makers aren’t making folding knives that are as good, so they might as well hang it up. It will give ‘TKXM’ (folding knife by Hand-Tech Made) a good run for its money.
How do you think it’ll do against the TKXM?
I see them being the two major folding knives. I think they are gonna share the spot equally. I don’t think either one will dominate.
Kevin Harp Age: 37 from Houston, Texas
Are you planning to buy a Boker’s ‘Stingray VG-10’ folding knife?
Yes I am. I have already ordered mine already.
How do you think it’ll fare against the current folding knives?
I think Spyderco which is one of my favorite knife manufacturers, will keep coming out with hit products like the ‘Roadie’ folding knife and stuff like that, but I think the Stingray will be so powerful it will drown the Roadie. Other knife manufacturers, I mean, they don’t have enough hit products out for real hardcore knife enthusiasts, and I think they are gonna die.
How do you think the Stingray VG-10 will compare to other folding knives in its class?
I think the Rubicon by Spyderco is an amazing knife. Sharpness-wise, it should be better, but most of the time people can’t really tell the difference between what is actually sharper. I think it will be up to other features, how good the knife’s handle is, how good the blade material is, blade thickness, overall length of the knife, not just the sharpness of the knife.
How do you think it’ll fare against the current folding knives?
I think Spyderco which is one of my favorite knife manufacturers, will keep coming out with hit products like the ‘Roadie’ folding knife and stuff like that, but I think the Stingray will be so powerful it will drown the Roadie. Other knife manufacturers, I mean, they don’t have enough hit products out for real hardcore knife enthusiasts, and I think they are gonna die.
How do you think the Stingray VG-10 will compare to other folding knives in its class?
I think the Rubicon by Spyderco is an amazing knife. Sharpness-wise, it should be better, but most of the time people can’t really tell the difference between what is actually sharper. I think it will be up to other features, how good the knife’s handle is, how good the blade material is, blade thickness, overall length of the knife, not just the sharpness of the knife.