Looking for some knife advice

[diabolicturtle]

Hi all first time poster, long time lurker anyway I have kunundrum and am hoping for some help.

After 7 years of service and abuse from my Sog flash 2 I must sadly admit that it is time for an upgrade as I am in need of a new more durable edc knife to be used and abused. I know a little about steel and can fix an edge with a coffee mug but I've been out of the knife world for the past few years and have no idea what has happened in the industry so... I figured I's ask the nice folks here

My flash has been a great knife but I do have a few gripes about it, the lock will sometimes engage when you grip the knife, it never used to but after years of hard use it’s gotten a bit loose, the knife is not fully ambidextrous the lock release can only be used by righties, and the plane edge can get tedious to sharpen especially after extreme use. It’s been a good friend but now I need something a bit beefier.

My basic Requirements

• Fully Ambidextrous Folder, Can open and Close with Both hands
• Thumb studs not opening holes, because of the gloves, tried it didn’t work out to well
• Low Profile Clip, preferably point up carry, I often have to go to a Hospital/Collage/School/Church and carrying a knife in those places though required and permitted ( at least I am) tends to cause some less than desirable reactions from people
• Assisted opening again I often wear gloves and this helps a boat load when opening a knife
• Budget of  ~ 80$

So far I’ve only thing I’ve only been looking at sog and it looks like the x ray might fit the bill, but like I said I’ve been gone for a while so any suggestions would be more than welcome

[GraysonK]

Welcome to MT.O!
Do you prefer liner lock? 

[diabolicturtle]

why thank you.
Don't have a preference as long as i can get it open with either hand 

[GraysonK]

You might want to look at some Kershaws.  I don't have a lot of experience with them and I'm not sure of prices, but you might want to check out some of the Kershaws.  I had a couple of the smaller AO's and loved them.  Also, I have a Buck Rush.  Not the most sophisticated steel, but wicked fast opening, beefy thumb stud and less than $80.  I love it. It's pretty low profile too.  It's a skeletonized frame, but still really cool.  I'm sure those who know way better than I will be along shortly.  What kind of work are you looking to put it through?

[diabolicturtle]

cool I'll look into those, I've been looking into kershaw and i think I'll have to expand my price range, but as far as use, Officially I'm a lab tech, but now I'm the resident handy man and I've had to do everything from electrical wiring, door installation, you name it I've been doing it, but as for wear the worst thing I've had to do to a knife so far was cut some steel straps to unload some lumber, (yeah i know but no one had strap cutters and we were in the middle of nowhere) So i guess for the most part I'm looking for an upgrade in the steel so i don't have to sharpen it as often, and the ability to open and close it with both hands.

[John]

Kershaw shallot or kershaw leek may fit your needs 

[Zack]

I was going to suggest the Benchmade Mini Grip.  It is truly an ambidextrous folder.  You can open with either hand and close with either hand with the axis lock.  Good quality steel (154CM) and there is no need for assisted opening since it is so smooth.  I can open a grip faster than an assisted opener takes to fire, in fact my wife can as well, and she is not a knife person.  Its tip down only though.  I know you said no hole opener, but what about a "Waved" knife, like a Waved Delica or Endura?  They open very fast, but there is a hook that will grab your pocket as you pull it out, opening and locking the knife open.

[jim guy]

Im with Zack on the benchmade. I have a minigrip and 2 fullsize griptillians. Some of the models have a thumbstud insted of the hole. All of mine are tip up only carry?

[Zack]

Jim is right...they are tip up only...I was thinking about my former Kershaw Blackout...which I was also going to recommend.

[jim guy]

the blackout and blurs are also great knives!

[GMArthur]

 With the list you posted I would go with a Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage. It's an axis lock with thumbstuds so it can be opened and closed with either hand, plus it has the assisted opening you want. Tip up carry as well.  Street prices are around $100 USD. I will add that with the axis lock there really is no need for assisted opening, all it really does is make the knife harder to close. I'd try a mini-grip Benchmade model 556 first and if you find that you just can't live without the assisted opening then flip it here on the forums and pick up a 585.

[David Bowen]

I vote for the Mini Grip, it's totally ambidextrous and it's tip up and....at your price point. BM makes awesome knives and this one would be sure to give you what your looking for.

[Benner]

The Grips are great suggestions, but are not AO's as requested.

I'd second the Barrage suggestion.  AO and a lot of Griptilian goodness.

[Styerman]

Since you want AO , and given your budget , I would go with one of the Kershaws ( they basically invented AO and are a super well crafted knife at a good pricepoint . I would rate them far above SOG , so you should be very happy . If you could stand a non AO , te Benchmade Mini Grip is a superb user , with a very positive lock .

Chris

PS welcome

[diabolicturtle]

thanks for the advice  I'll be swinging by a knife shop later this week and hopefully handle some of your suggestions,  
I'll have to wait a pay check or two before I buy one, but at least i have an idea about what to look at.  

[jim guy]

cant really go wrong with any of those models suggested