Best Folding Knife Recommendations

I've been on the lookout for a new folding knife and would love to hear what everyone else is using. What do you carry for everyday tasks? I'd appreciate any recommendations and feel free to share some pics if you have them!

Doesn't have to be complex, doesn't have to be expensive to be good. About ten bucks at Lowe's five years ago. Good quality stainless steel, holds an edge longer than most I have, 2-1/2" lock-blade. thin enough to be of a weight you never notice in your pocket until you need it, and not bad looking, either. (The photo does not do the color of the scales well). All-in-all a well designed and well made tool.

Still have a little Buck folder with 2-inch blade that I bought with my first paycheck at 15, some 40 years ago. Knives by Case are reasonable prices, good quality and a Pennsylvania company. Certainly doesn't need to be fancy or expensive to handle most daily tasks.

Protec BR-1 with the Whiskers sliding scale deployment. They are around $300 for base model up to $1k for the fancy.
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My everyday knife is a Browning 478. I believe its a 3 1/2" drop point blade. I can open and close it with one hand and it holds an edge fairly well. Not as good as a Buck but not bad. I carried a Buck 501 Squire for years and lost it somehow.

You can't really beat a Buck 110, 112, or a 114.

For the past few years, I have carried a Buck 112 Slim Select. I think they are around $40 now, but when I got mine in 2019-ish I think they were like $30. I did change the factory pocket clip with a generic black aftermarket one that I got on ebay.

You can spend well over a $100 on Buck's "Pro" versions of this knife, but honestly, for everyday practical use the basic version is fine. It holds and edge, its lightweight, made in the USA, and if you did happen to lose it or break it you can always get another one. If I was working in an office or going anywhere that a pocket clip knife might be off-putting for some, I'd probably carry one of my smaller Case or old English-made penknives.

Long story short: some kind of utilitarian pocket clipped mid-sized lockback for all around outdoor carry, and a two bladed penknife in the pocket for "dressier" occasions.

I used to carry a SOG I don’t remember the model but my EDC for the past few years has been a Cobratec D2 in fact now that I’m thinking about it I might try to see if they are still available at my local dealer to get another one in case I ever wear this one out this thing is so nice I don’t want to be without one.

Since PA has changed the law to make automatics legal, I now carry the Kershaw livewire OTF or the Benchmade Shootout OTF. they never open in my pocket and the slide switch keeps my fingers away from the blade at all times. Just my 2cents.

casey36 said:

You can't really beat a Buck 110, 112, or a 114.

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Carry a belt worn, sheathed 110 most of the time. Little heavy, holds an edge, stout enough to fill 'non cutting' tasks.

I've used Old Timers for many,many decades. Carry one ion my pocket all the time. Seem to keep thier egde for a long time, unless you hit some steel. Don't ask me how I know.

TLDR:
Victorinox Signature Lite - small, lightweight, very handy & useful, doesn't scare the timid

Spyderco Delica with half-serrated blade - tough & durable, easy to carry, easy to open and shut. (FWIW, I do not like the liner locks)

Long version:
I carry two. For about 20 years I've been carrying a small Victorinox Signature Lite on my keychain. It has a very nice (and small) blade, scissors (which I rarely use), a nail file with a flat-tip screwdriver on the end, a little LED flashlight, and an ink pen (both of which I use often). It has been very useful. Some of my relatives, both men and women, have seen it and now have their own.
I've also carried a Spyderco Delica since about 1990, so 35 years or so. I lost the first one around 20-25 years ago so this is my second one. When I got my first Delica I decided to really abuse it and test it out.
I cut down several big, thick multi-ply cardboard boxes (150hp outboard engines shipped in them). It was a chore due to the knife's small size but it cut all of them up. I didn't sharpen it and the next week I butchered a muledeer with it. Gutted it (including breaking open the pelvis by using the serrated edge AND pounding the knife through with a ROCK), skinned it and butchered it with that knife. The knife needed sharpened (touched up) about half way through the butchering job. BTW, I haven't abused my second one as hard but it still gets hard use. I love my Spyderco.

Sometimes carry the Buck
Folding hunter I got as an XMas gift about 45 yrs ago.

For an ECD knife, I prefer fixed blade loop handle carried on the off hand side for emergency stabby-stabby work.

And have a small old Schrade keychain sized mini Bear Cub knife. Looks like a mini folding hunter.

I have Two favorite among a few hundred. A Schrade - 'OLD GRAND DAD" lock back 1973, and a Barlow 'Boy Scout' pocket knife from 1959. These are the two I carry on hunts.