The knife I chose.

[Benner]

Some of you may remember that a few weeks ago I was looking into getting a new folder http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,6282.0.html and listed the following as criteria that I thought was important;

A 3"-4" blade,
Clip or drop point,
Plain edge,
Thumb stud opening,
Locking (preferably not a liner lock),
At a price of under £100 (approx $200) including shipping,
and that was overbuilt for strength.

Well after 2 weeks I finally decided on a folder and I went ahead and ordered one of these;









Not exactly what I asked for  , but after spending a LONG time reading reviews, watching youtube videos, speaking to manufacturers and even PMing other members (thanks for all the help guys) I discovered that some of the points I originally wanted probably didn't actually suit my needs.

The first of these was the overbuilt element.  I was originally put off of knives with FRN handles as I saw them as being weak.  This I soon discovered was not the case at all and that infact FRN and similar products were actually incredibly strong.

Secondly was my reasoning behind wanting a thumb stud, which quickly changed once I had seen many different reviews on youtube.

I had a great time watching all these videos and reading all the reviews and I learnt a lot about knives as well.  In the end, I decided that the only way to chose a knife was to go through all of the popular manufacturers and eliminate each knife one by one.  In the end, I had pretty much eliminated every manufacturer for one reason or another apart from Spyderco.  Spyderco offered a great selection of knives and I was also impressed by their very good warranty.  After looking at their selection more closely, I narrowed it down to the Endura 4 and the Pacific Salt and in the end settled on the Salt because of the following;

1- The blade was of a good length and thickness.
2- I liked the yellow FRN.
3- I liked the H1 steel that meant the knife needed very little maintenance.  I also liked how the edge would tend to fold rather than chip like some other steels.
4- The blade had a slightly stronger tip due to it being more rounded.
5- It was very lightweight.
6- It had a large pocket clip that was secured not by screws directly into the handle (I don't like the idea of the threads stripping) but by a large bolt instead.

So far I am very pleased with my choice  .  It is everything and more that I was hoping for.  I will be sure to report back after it has seen some more use.

Ben

[Roadie]

Very nice Ben

[jzmtl]

I would've gone for either full serrated H1 or endura personally, but I'm sure you'll like it regardless. Plain edge H1 doesn't hold edge as well as others but still a step up from SAK steel I believe.

[Benner]

I would've gone for either full serrated H1 or endura personally, but I'm sure you'll like it regardless. Plain edge H1 doesn't hold edge as well as others but still a step up from SAK steel I believe.

H1 apparently work hardens.  I have read reports of it being similar to that of AUS-6 with regards to its edge holding.

[jzmtl]

And the weird thing is serrated edge work harden more than plain edge, gets to ~65 HRC and comparable with serrated VG10 in edge holding.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well you certainly dragged your choice out mate

Glad you liked the spydie mate, of course your on a slippery slop now

[Benner]

And the weird thing is serrated edge work harden more than plain edge, gets to ~65 HRC and comparable with serrated VG10 in edge holding.

Many recommended the serrated, but I am more of a PE guy. 

[Benner]

Well you certainly dragged your choice out mate

Glad you liked the spydie mate, of course your on a slippery slop now

I have it all under control. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well you certainly dragged your choice out mate

Glad you liked the spydie mate, of course your on a slippery slop now

I have it all under control. 

Hmm what's that 8 letter word that start's with B and ends in S

[jzmtl]

Many recommended the serrated, but I am more of a PE guy. 

Same here, but my only H1 blade is the tasman salt, since it's already a hawkbill, might as well make it full serrated.

[kwakster]

This is what Ed Schemmp has to say about the work hardening properties of H1

''H-1 is an austenitic, precipitation work hardened steel.
It is a totally different animal than found in cutlery.
Generally martensitic steel is used in knives.
Ferro Nitride is the "hard" component in the steel and is technically a ceramic.
The Nitrogen bonds to the Iron not only intra-crystal, but extra-crystal as well.
Bonds can actually shift iron atoms and create a stronger structure.
That is why it work hardens with use...

Take Care...Ed"

I talked to the man in person a few times, and i can tell you this guy really knows his steel,

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

It really sounds as though he does

[Benner]

This is what Ed Schemmp has to say about the work hardening properties of H1

''H-1 is an austenitic, precipitation work hardened steel.
It is a totally different animal than found in cutlery.
Generally martensitic steel is used in knives.
Ferro Nitride is the "hard" component in the steel and is technically a ceramic.
The Nitrogen bonds to the Iron not only intra-crystal, but extra-crystal as well.
Bonds can actually shift iron atoms and create a stronger structure.
That is why it work hardens with use...

Take Care...Ed"

I talked to the man in person a few times, and i can tell you this guy really knows his steel,

Thanks for that Kwakster.

[DaveK]

So what is it then? It looks funky - which is a good thing in my book!

[Benner]

So what is it then? It looks funky - which is a good thing in my book!

I did say above    .

It's a Spyderco Pacific Salt. 

[DaveK]

So what is it then? It looks funky - which is a good thing in my book!

I did say above    .

It's a Spyderco Pacific Salt. 

  I read that twice and couldn't see the name - ah well it's been a long day.....

Glad you found one you're happy with though mate, when are we going to see pics of that Kershaw E.T. that I know so intimately?

[crls1]

Nice knife Ben, now we need pics of it in use 

Carlos

[Benner]

So what is it then? It looks funky - which is a good thing in my book!

I did say above    .

It's a Spyderco Pacific Salt. 

  I read that twice and couldn't see the name - ah well it's been a long day.....

Glad you found one you're happy with though mate, when are we going to see pics of that Kershaw E.T. that I know so intimately?

I'm going to have to come clean here.  Me and Flash started that thread as we knew you wanted one and would be pretty peed off that Flash traded it to me and not you.  But you didn't take the bait did you!!!

Didn't you think it was odd that I apparently traded a Surge sheath for it?  

I am more than happy with it.    It's seen a lot of use already.

[Tarrodemierda]

so you got it fianlly,looks better than in those links,but better i mean.
fine catch.Ben.

[DaveK]

So what is it then? It looks funky - which is a good thing in my book!

I did say above    .

It's a Spyderco Pacific Salt. 

  I read that twice and couldn't see the name - ah well it's been a long day.....

Glad you found one you're happy with though mate, when are we going to see pics of that Kershaw E.T. that I know so intimately?

I'm going to have to come clean here.  Me and Flash started that thread as we knew you wanted one and would be pretty peed off that Flash traded it to me and not you.  But you didn't take the bait did you!!!

Didn't you think it was odd that I apparently traded a Surge sheath for it?  

I am more than happy with it.    It's seen a lot of use already.

Am I being a bit fick? Why would I be pee'd off? 

I didn't pickup that you'd traded a sheath for it either - hey I've been totally upfront more than once on here about my attention span. It ain't what you'd call long..... Who are you again?

[Benner]

Because ever since it bit you you have been on a quest to get one. 

[Benner]

Anyone else have one of these BTW?

[DaveK]

Because ever since it bit you you have been on a quest to get one. 

Aaaah I seeeeee. I'll definitely pick one up at some point I think - I've nearly hit the button on ebay a few times, but in the end, I'd rather spend it on an LM - I'm sooo close to having one of every model now that I'll be concentrating on that I think.

Problem is I always seem to find a good deal on a colour variation of tools I already have and never have the cash when the 2 tools I need crop up 

[Benner]

You will have to do an up to date LM collection pic. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You will have to do an up to date LM collection pic. 

I think he'll need a kitchen extension first

[jzmtl]

(Image removed from quote.)

And if that was your pic and the knife is endura sized, man you got little hands.  

[Benner]

You sure that's not a Delica?  I'm small but not that small. 

[DaveK]

You will have to do an up to date LM collection pic. 

Funny that - I nearly did one yesterday, but you know how it is. I've some stuff still on the way, so I thought I'd wait, but then they'll be other stuff on the way ad infinitum.

If someone gives me a Charge Ti and an SLV - I'll do one - deal?

EDIT: @Micky D - Sad git that I am, I was actually thinking yesterday how to get a decent pic of them all together. I remembered Bob (J-Sews)'s pic on the stairs, but our staircase is curved

[Roadie]

EDIT: @Micky D - Sad git that I am, I was actually thinking yesterday how to get a decent pic of them all together. I remembered Bob (J-Sews)'s pic on the stairs, but our staircase is curved

Maybe you could find a really big fence post.....

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You will have to do an up to date LM collection pic. 

Funny that - I nearly did one yesterday, but you know how it is. I've some stuff still on the way, so I thought I'd wait, but then they'll be other stuff on the way ad infinitum.

If someone gives me a Charge Ti and an SLV - I'll do one - deal?

EDIT: @Micky D - Sad git that I am, I was actually thinking yesterday how to get a decent pic of them all together. I remembered Bob (J-Sews)'s pic on the stairs, but our staircase is curved

Yeah a curved staircase would prove a bit tricky