knifepoints

So far this blog has devoted the majority of it’s time on supply the knife community with as many positive reviews as possible. KNIFEPOINTS is dedicated to exploring what the budget knife market has to offer, by always staying within a certain price range of $100 or less. I believe that this particular price range is commonly overlooked, yet can and does harbor some of the knife worlds greatest values. Along with a blue-collar budget comes a great responsibility to diligently research the good and bad offerings from various manufacturers. KNIFEPOINTS is here to save you time and more importantly save your hard-earned money by gathering this information in one easy to find location. The facts are always easy to uncover on this vastly growing internet, but by sharing my opinions aswell as specifications with my audience, I can only hope to provide you the reader with something that you can learn from and enjoy simultaneously. So whether it’s a lifestyle or hobby let KNIFEPOINTS be the first site you visit before buying any of your new EDC gear. GET THE KNIFE FACTS BY READING KNIFEPOINTS.

Most of the articles I write are reviews on the knives I carry and on the manufacturers who design/produce them. I also try to share with you the reader my thoughts on just how important a knife can become if carried with you on a daily basis. I am a huge believer that a knife is the single most useful tool you can have with you, adding with a multitude of task throughout ones daily schedule. If you’re reading this I’d say it’s safe to assume that you agree with that last statement. The door is however wide open on the topic of which item is the second most important to one’s personal EDC. Now this question will highly differ depending on a person’s certain way of life or even occupation, but I would like to explore those options for a bit and then I will revile my second item choice and the reasoning behind it. So which is the second best item to make its way into our pockets?

First off I love this topic because there are so many different paths for this discussion to go down. For example off the top of my head a great piece of gear to carry in this secondary role would be something like a multitool. Especially for someone with a very hands on, blue collar type job. The amounts of tasks a multitool can cover are endless, making it an excellent choice for your EDC. Some of you may be carrying a knife for protection, so perhaps a knife dedicated solely to self-defense is a great choice for you. Small fixed blades or knives with quick deployment features such as autos and emerson waves would make amazing tools to add with this self-defense role. Another idea is to go with a less lethal approach by choosing things like pepper spray or tazors to help with protection. An area that is commonly over looked are items that don’t inflict harm, but instead help manage or repair it. Carrying a small medical kit loaded with bandages and gauze can be a lifesaving choice to make for one’s personal EDC. You never know when accidents will occur; medical will allow you to be a step ahead of the game in a troubling situation. If outdoor survival is your thing than making a fire would easily become a priority, so choosing a lighter or fire-steel is a great selection for your gear on the go.

My choice hasn’t been covered yet even though it has a very simple job to do and in certain situations it can be a real game changer. My pick for secondary EDC item is nothing more than a good old flashlight. My review today is on the STREAMLIGHT STYLUS PRO/ MICRO, an amazing little light that has become a staple in my personal EDC for more than 3 years now. My lifestyle is what backs up this choice 100%. I work night crew at a manufacturing plant, which is both an indoor and outdoor facility. Operating the plant in the middle of the night while also keeping surveillance on the property would be nearly impossible without this pocket sized lamp. The type of flashlight my company supplied me with overnight never held up to the beatings that the job sometimes required. So when I went looking for my personally replacement of this important piece of gear, here’s the check list this new light needed to meet.

The STREAMLIGHT STYLUS PRO is a pen style light, very small in size and uses a pocket clip as its main way to be carried. The clip has great retention and is a perfect fit for most shirt and pants pockets. It is constructed out of aluminum and is easily operated with a one click button at the base of the light. So far it seems like something that could withstand the rigors of my sometimes physical job. Here are the points that set this light over the top for me. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries which is both cost effective and more readily available. The majority of lights on the market are choosing to run CR123 batteries which are almost 3 times more expensive. I’ve found that the battery life will hold up for about 2 weeks before needing to be changed when used on a nightly basis. The STREAMLIGHT also uses a LED bulb which has great light clarity and produces nearly 69 lumens a peak performance. This amount of light is far brighter than any of the other choices my work offered all packed inside a very compact package. All of these amazing features were met at an unbelievable price of $25. To me there could be no better pick; this is absolutely the perfect flashlight for my EDC.

Over the years I’ve added and subtracted so many tools to my EDC that I’ve lost count. In a short amount of time you will realize only the essentials stick around and the items that are BS slowly fade themselves out of the picture. I’ve carried survival tins, para cord, fire-steels and multitools, I’ve even carried a full bugout bag for over 3 months straight lol. None of it stuck around. I have become very stream line with my EDC choices and the STYLUS PRO is always one of those items chosen. I love it so much that at work my carry is an Ontario RAT 1 and STYLUS PRO. At home I like to down size to a STREAMLIGHT MICROSTREAM and a BENCHMADE MINI GRIPTILIAN. The MICROSTREAM is just a smaller version of the same light running on only one AAA battery it’s still the same great quality as its bigger brother. I also found that my maxpedition wallet has room in it for medical bandages, which as a father of two small children has come in handy far too many times. The EDC community loves to over complicate things, when all you really need are the things you actually use. Don’t give yourself any room for overkill, just the basics. And if you can stick with those same items for at least 3 months you’re allowing the right amount of time to see if the gear really works. So if you are someone who really does need to add a flashlight to their EDC please take my suggestion and try the STREAMLIGHT STYLUS PRO. This light hasn’t left me in the dark yet.

What is a knife? Definition: an instrument composed of a blade fixed into a handle, used for cutting or as a weapon, (synonym) cutting tool.
Definition of TOOL: a device or implement, especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function.
Definition of CARRY: Transporting something from one place to another.

I carry a knife every day. I use it as a tool to help me with various tasks throughout my daily life. In my opinion it is the most useful thing I could leave the house with, second only to my phone and wallet. As it serves as a cutting device, protection, and is one of my favorite things in the world to collect. I use and abuse them, but they are mostly there to get the job done.

Urban Dictionary definition of SAFE QUEEN: something of value kept locked away in a safe place, not used often as to not devalue the item.
I hate this with a passion. It’s a knife use it
My concept CARRY QUEEN definition: a knife that never leaves the pocket, carried all the time, always with me, always working. This concept has three variables price, function, and ease of carry. All under $100, here is my list of top 10 edc knives, A.K.A CARRY QUEEN. Specs and opinions are as followed

1. KERSHAW BLUR) $45-$70 specs: ken onion design with a 3.75 inch drop point blade. Speed safe assisted opening. Blade steel 14c28n. Handle made out of aluminum with tread tec inserts for grip. This knife has a cult following. Every knife guy or girl has owned it at one time or another. It’s the flagship. A symbol of Kershaw’s ability to bring the knife community a product that delivers style, value, and usability. It is a great working knife and is an awesome way to start off your collection. You really can’t go wrong with a blur. It has been proven countless times in the knife world.

2. SPYDERCO TENACIOUS) $30-$45 specs: China made 3.38 inch drop point blade. G10 handle scales outside liner lock construction and a spydie hole for easy opening. What I would consider the gateway drug into the Spyderco world. A little taste at what Spyderco is all about even at a budget price. It will lead you down the path of owning more and more of them. With their great color selection giving you a sense of individuality I would describe them as the sexy knife company. Style combined with taste perfectly is the Tenacious.

3. VICTORINOX CADET ALOX) $35-$50 specs: Swiss army style knife. Main blade is 3.25 inch made out of 440c stainless. Other tools include screwdriver, bottle opener, wire strippers, can opener, and file. Victorinox is as gentlemanly as I like to get with my knives. Most feel a little too small to get any real hard use tasks done but, that may be countered by the other tools available. Slip joints aren’t my favorite either, I prefer my blades to lock in place. If you’re someone who needs more than a knife on a daily basis then a Swiss army cadet is right up your ally offering much more in a compact package.

4. ONTARIO RAT 1) $25-$35 specs: AUS 8 steel with a 3.625 inch drop point blade. GFN handle scales. Liner lock construction. Made in Taiwan. This may be the front runner for best knife on this list. The RAT offers great size, comfort, and usability. Built like a tank and with a quality that no $25 dollar knife can touch. Not to mention the world smoothest blade deployment out of the box. I love the RAT 1.

5. BEANCHMADE MINI GRIPTILIAN) $75-$100 specs: USA made. 154cm steel on a 2.91 inch drop point or sheep’s foot blade. Axis lock with nylon GTX handle material. In my opinion the best knife $100 budget can buy. Reliable in every shape of the word, also has enough personality to carry every day and not get bored. Just a solid design and is the perfect intro into the world of what Benchmade has to offer as a brand. No going wrong with a griptilian.

6. ESEE IZULA 2) $70-$85 specs: Small fixed blade. Made in the USA out of 1095 steel. Micarta handle scales with a blade length of 3.75 inch and comes with plastic sheath. I had to throw a fixed blade into the top 10 list. Nothing more freeing than carrying a gun on your hip, but a knife can be a close second. Fixed blades get straight to the point and this one in particular carry’s well in wilderness also. Not too many knives can cross over like that. The Izula does flawlessly.

7. KA BAR TDI) $45-$60 specs: Law enforcement self-defense knife. AUS 8 steel with an angled drop point blade. Comes in a sheath and is meant to be carried concealed. This is my tactical take on a fixed blade knife. I love my knives for cutting tasks, but let’s not forget their job as a weapon. Peace of mind can be a great feeling and the TDI is a perfect design and concept to give its carrier that little extra advantage. It would be perfect to pair with a pistol for anyone who has their CCW.

8. KERSHAW EMERSON CQC-6K) $30-$35 specs: Collaboration between two companies to make a budget Emerson design. Comes with wave feature on the 3.25 inch blade. Made from 8cr13mov steel. Clip point made in China. G10 frame lock handles. This knife is also one of my favorites because it truly covers all bases, as a weapon as a cutting tool. Making you feel safe and prepared. It offers a little something extra that you can feel when you carry it. Plus the wave feature was built for protection making deployment as fast as possible in a life and death situation.

9. SPYDERCO DELICA 4) $55-$70 specs: Lock back design with a 2.88 inch drop point blade. Made from vg10 steel with FRN handles. No liners. Ultra-light Japan construction. Honestly an extremely great edc knife and a fan favorite, always getting the job done. It disappears in the pocket, but to be frank a little boring to carry. Could easily be your one and only spyderco and you wouldn’t be missing out. My opinion is just that I find myself looking for reasons not to carry it as weird as that might sound, because it’s too good not to. It is almost too simple to keep my attention even though I’d probably trust my life with it.

10. LEATHERMAN JUICE S2) $40-$65 specs: Multitool USA made that comes with a blade, plyers, 4 screwdrivers, and a pair of scissors. Not many things can replace this small tool box. Having access to that many tools in such a small package would give anyone a great reason to have this on the list. It’s one of the lighter multitools on the market and can handle the same tasks as is larger competition. Carrying a juice makes you ready for anything you may encounter throughout you day.

These days it’s all about progress. Moving forward seems to be in-bedded into our DNA, causing things to expand at an exponential rate. 2015 has us on the fore front of innovation always improving our technology, education, and art. Showing growth as each idea gets pushed further and further, inevitably causing products to become that much more superior to the last. Most of us in the knife community have become beneficiaries of this concept. Receiving new products year after year from our favorite knife manufactures. Some of them in my opinion have started to drop the ball.

In some cases companies have become stagnate, repackaging the same played out designs as something new and never testing their creative potential. Others seem to try and control the market place with prices points and inferior materials. Mostly over saturating the community with jaded opinions and blade designs collectors are basically forced into buying. Today’s article is on a company who is far too often over looked. Who in the past few years has made amazing improvements to their products, sales, and over all brand. They have started working with great new designers and this year alone has launched 23 new projects to the market. That company is none other than CRKT. (Columbia River Knife and Tool)

CRKT’s days of playing seconded fiddle are in the past. They have put in the time and the work to give the customer what they really want and it shows. This is just me shedding some light on those efforts and to show my appreciation. My love for knives started when I was pretty young around 13 or 14 years old. Budget in those days was usually the driving force behind any new knife purchase, so to me brands like CRKT made buying new knives a possibility. The rate in which I bought them back then was only about 1 new knife a year, so I had one shot to get it right. One chance to purchase a blade that looked good was reliable and was a great value. No changing my mind and no switching carry blades for each day of the week like we have become accustom to from Frame lock Friday to Tanto Tuesday. That meant that CRKT was more than likely going to get my money and there is a part of me misses those days.

One of my favorite designs was always the M-16. This year as a call back to the original knife and as a tribute to the passing of its inventor Kit Carson, CRKT has produced 3 new versions of that very same knife. The M-16 04S, 03S and 02S. This will no doubt carry on as instant classics. R.I.P Kit Carson. Other makers like Ken Onion who are royalty with in the knife world have also worked steadily with CRKT, building one legendary knife after another. Products like the ripple, the foresight and this year’s hunter style knife called the hootenanny. Knife fans can never get enough Ken Onion. It seems CRKT knows about its past and present, but what about its future? Now to me this is where they start to bring the brand to a whole new level. Working with Phenom knife makers like Lucus Burnley and Liong Mah who are cutting edge designers, pun intended.

Now Lucus Burnley is a younger maker with great style. He seems to have an eye for the subtle details, small features that really bring his knives together while keeping true to his roots with a sort of youthful vitality with each prototype. Even with what appear to be straight forward models like the squid and akari everything he creates pops with personality. Case in point he also machines his own slingshots and bottle openers. Liong Mah is a mad scientist and is quickly becoming one of my favorite makers. If you don’t recognize the name you will recognize this first offering with CRKT the eatin tool. He also works with a Chinese manufacturer known as Reate knives, which are a little more on the high end, but it shows his willingness to think outside the box, making him one of the first with a big name in the knife community to give the Chinese brands a chance. Both he and Reate are doing their part so far to deliver quality products. What he has done recently with CRKT and his model the G.S.D is the real mind blower. This knife is insane. Flawless in every sense of the word all at a price point of only $70. Please after your done reading this google image search Liong Mah’s G.S.D, it’s a must have.

Last but not least and quite possibly CRKT’s biggest move towards building its brand was the hiring of Ben formerly of BladeHQ. This YouTube favorite has a huge following and is a great front man to spread the hype of the new and improved CRKT line up. His likeable personality gained the company more fans than any other advertisement dollar could have done. I’m telling you this shows me that CRKT has the right people in place making the right calls that are best for business. So give the Spydercos a rest, save a few bucks by giving the ZT’s a brake and see what CRKT has to offer. I assure you it’s not what you remember. This company has done the R and D it takes to place its mark on the knife community. And in my opinion its one of the few brands left out there listening to its customers. It may have taken awhile to get here, but I believe it was worth the wait and you will too. CRKT CONFIDENCE IN HAND.

Sorry boys and girls, but the search is over. It’s time for the bloggers to silence their chatter and to tell the Youtuber’s to put away their cameras. Let Instagram know that the hashtagging is done and that the forums have no more comparisions to make. Put your wallets to rest and empty all your online shopping carts. I’m simply stating that the hunt is over. This article is going to drastically reduce your so-called budget knife collection down to one specific blade, all the while bringing true stability to your every day carry. Today’s review is on the Ontario Rat 1.

Now first things first to me there is no formal category to which this knife belongs. It’s more than a budget folder and yet it’s limits far exceed those of most $100 blades. While combining credibility, quality, and price I honestly believe that within this article a true CARRY QUEEN will emerge. So it’s with contrast and comparision that I plan to show this knife’s ability to stand on its own. Seperating itself from the rest of the pack and ending any debate on whether or not it is the ultimate EDC knife.

I would also like to let the specifications of the Rat 1 precede my opinion of it. On paper this knife will never win any awards and it’s only with personal experience that its appeal really begins to sink in. In my opinion inevitably setting the bar on which most knive will now be measured. Budget minded or not.

So what does the Ontario Rat 1 bring to the table? At first nothing more than a laundry list of unimpressive features. AUS 8 steel, FRN handle scales, and liner lock construction. Sure it has a repositional pocket clip and lanyard hole, but those aren’t details to brag or write home about. I do enjoy tip up carry though, but to me there shouldn’t be any other option. That being said when you finally do get this knife in your hands… thats when the true epiphany starts to take place.

Now the style that I’m trying to establish within my articles is always passion based. Features and specifications are all well and fine, but they don’t really speak to the knife lover inside of me. ‘ the fanboy’. That part of the brain that only speaks to the hobbies. I’m looking for sensory overload or atleast to give you an honest opinion about a knife that facts can’t really measure against. I believe that if we play to the five senses that life will be that much more enjoyable. So can that translate to the importance I put on a knife collection? I say ” why not?”

The Ontario Rat 1 has amazing ergonomics. In hand it feels more than stable for hard use and also offers a great level of comfort at a full four finger grip. Budget plays a big role in the knives I review. Yet here it is only one of the bullet points in the list of pros, not the crowning achievement. The lock up is sturdy  in utility and gratifying audibly. I do love the solid click of the lock up. It reassures me that the Rat is built like a tank and there is no reason it can’t perform at a large list of tasks.

Now the sole reason you already do own or will own this knife is for its blade deployment, the speed and smoothness that you experience when opening this knife is uncanny. I kid you not, it will put most high end flippers to shame and blades that are assisted opening out to pasture. Out of the box the Rat 1 has no such rivals. It’s that damn smooth. Two more pros to teeter the scale are that the Rat is very easy to find for purchase and it can be had for no more that $30. The bonus is that is you have read any of my other article’s you’ll already know I’m a small knife guy. Heres the kicker. The Ontario Rat 1 has a little brother…The Rat 2 which is a scaled down version of the exact same knife, which in my personal preference fits the concept of EDC just a tad bit better.

This next part is my attempt to speak to the knife community in a language only it understands, the language of knife to knife comparisions. A straight forward approach into which is the better of the two blades based mostly on price, quality, and overall feel. This will be my opinion on which knives the Ontario Rat 1 stacks up against. Here is my comparable list:

Is the Rat better than:

Spyderco Tenacious/ Yes

Kershaw Blur/ Yes

Boker Nano/ Yes

SOG Twitch/ Yes

Spyderco Delica 4/ No , but the rat is more fun to carry.

Spyderco manix 2/ No

Leek or Skyline/ Yes and Yes

Benchmade Griptilian/ it’s a push for me. Grips cost a grip

Paramilitary 2/ No

Sage or Techno/ No

Any ZT/ Not a chance

but it does in my opinion hold up well against some knives that are staples in the knife community.

I feel confident in the way I shared this knife with you today. I love hearing about specs on review on Youtube, but knives are tools I enjoy far too much to bore the readers with. I’d rather try to explain their cool factor and get as many people interested in knives as possible.That’s why I shared my heads up comprisons, try to tempt you with opinions not facts aswell as share with you the true reasons you must experience this knife for your self. Like i said there has to be passion to the hobbies we spend our time on pursuing. I’m trying to help you find a real reason to carry and use this cutting tool every day. The Ontario Rat 1 or 2 easily pushes those ideas further and is truley a joy of a pocket knife. It has set the benchmark and is more than just a brilliant budget blade.

I’m not sure who deserves the credit. Is it the peanut butter or jelly that makes the sandwich complete? Is it the spaghetti or meatball to which the praise belongs? Does the recipe of collaboration have only one crucial ingredient? Or is it the yin and yang that brings both ideas together? Creating one evenly constructed piece of art. In the case of the Kershaw Emerson cqc-k series I believe it’s both.

I figured there was no way to successfully pull this marriage off. Building a quality Emerson design on a Kershaw budget seemed like a long shot. I’d be lying if i said that the original idea didn’t have me chomping at the bit. However the purchase came with a handful of hesitation, especially when the first knife in the line I experienced was the cqc-4k. Which to be frank was right on par with the disappointment I figured I’d be in for. That’s why this review is on the model cqc6 and 7k.

The difference between these two knives that happen to be from the same production line is night and day. The cqc-4k left me wanting a whole lot more, while the 6k I cant stop raving about. I have my own personal concept I’m trying to develop through these reviews that I’m calling CARRY QUEENS. This knife is just that idea, opposite of safe queen never leaving my pocket. Always with me always working. If you believe knives are tools then you will appreciate this concept. stay tuned for more articles on this idea.

In my opinion the cqc-6k is $100+ in hand, while the reality being it’s mrsp barely tips $35. The cqc-6k comes equipped with all the Emerson tradmarks. With a 3 inch satin and stone washed blade, thumb disk and patented wave feature. This Kershaw is no Kershaw. G10 handle scales and robust frame lock are also coupled with a buttery smooth action you’d swear was assisted. This budget CARRY QUEEN reigns supreme.

I applaud the effort from both brands. It took a lot of compromise and focus to make this collaboration work. It’s not every day the knife community gets an affordable gem like this sent it’s way. That truly gives you your money’s worth. This knife really offers you the best of both worlds.

I’m starting to believe that the appeal to Kershaw lies in it’s simplicity. Building fan’s loyalty with clean lines and a clear concept of what a pocket knife is supposed to be. With a minimalistic approach to the modern-day knife carriers wants and needs. Kershaw covers all the bases with what appears to be a seamless transition between fuction and style, all the while dominating the budget blade market with one flawless design after another.

I once listened to a buddy of mine describe to me his favorite EDC blade for the past 5 years. He explained that he had become so comfortable with this cutting tool that it had somewhat become an extension of his body. And now that it had broken he wondered if he could trust another brand to replace it with. That knife … was a Kershaw Leek. Mankind’s first and favorite tool is a knife. Second to none, not even wrenches or guns.

List of 5 popular Kershaw models:

Skyline $40

Blur $40

Leek $40

Shuffle 1 or 2 $20

Cryo $25

With great reviews flooding the internet the 2015 Kershaw Link is already ordered and in the mail. Also please don’t overlook Kershaw’s brilliant collaboration with Emerson and the cqc-k series knives. Especially the cqc 6k which is slowly climbing up any Kershaw collectors must have list. And I haven’t even mentioned ZT (Zero Tolerance) which is Kershaw’s big brother company. They take knife architecture to a whole new level.

So please save the glitz and glam for the things that need it. Pocket knives in my opinion are off limits. I assure you I work on my EDC constantly and if you want a knife to become a staple in your pockets tool box pick up a Kershaw. Where, ” less is more ”

P.S. my friend replaced the broken leek with a ZT 0450. Talk about an upgrade.

 That’s the sensation every Spyderco fan knows all too well. * Goosebumps* for what most in the knife community know as one of the top production knife manufacturers. Fan favorite is an understatement. This brand has new and old collectors dangling from its web on a consistent basis, as its popularity continues to gain a respectable edge over its competitors butterflies included. ( Benchmade)

Syderco is the knife novice gateway drug. With great shapes, colors, and downright sex appeal, you will be left guessing just how deep the spidey hole actually spirals. They will gain complements from non-knife guys left and right when you carry them, because they just look that damn good. That being said they may also be the biggest bang for your buck.

Her’s a list of 5 great Spydrco knives with prices:

Delica 4 $60

Dragonfly $65

Tenacious $40

Manix 2 $70

Paramilitary 2 $125

That is just to name a few of the more popular choices. With my favorite being the Techno, a short and stocky titanium frame lock that has great function and design all rolled into a compact package. While Spyderco’s best kept budget secret might just be the Tenacious’ little brother the Persistence. It’s a bit smaller in size and It comes in under $35. In my opinion a better EDC, as I am a small knife guy. Following the mantra of THE LATE BOY SCOUT edc or edc plus on knife sizes. What a great concept. Check out his channel on Youtube.

So it may sound bad, but looks do and will always matter. Function, utility, price are all great points, but if the knife isn’t aesthetically pleasing then you’re not buying it. That’s why we collect and carry them honestly. The cool factor has to be there to enjoy and share with our knife friends. So if you get a chance do yourself a favor and get bit by the Spyderco bug your Instagram will thank you for it.