Reddit reviews Spyderco Delica 4 Signature 7.15" Folding Knife with 2.9" Flat-Ground Steel Blade and Durable Handle

The safest lock in terms of "bias towards closure" is the back lock.

I'd suggest a Spyderco Delica. Fantastic knife suitable for nearly anything, and very safe. It's available in a variety of colors, I'm partial to the Grey:
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B0052HQPWS

Newest items first

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Spyderco Delica 4 Sky Blue: https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B0052HQPWS

MCPocket Wallet: https://mcpocket.com/en/mcpocket.html

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I normally don't like making recommendations without more information, including what state you live in, however the way your question is asked makes me believe you may not have extensive experience. First if your state law allows this size carry I recommend Spyderco Endura. If that size is not allowed, then Spyderco Delica. These are both primo knives for the price. They are underwhelming at first look but after a few weeks of carry, you will feel like you have fallen in love with the most stable happy partner of your life.

Spyderco delica 4 http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B0052HQPWS

Spyderco Delica is my edc blade.

I got my ex a pink spyderco ladybug http://www.cutleryshoppe.com/spydercolpnp3ladybug-ffgvg-10blade-neonpinkhandle-sprintrun.aspx

and and purple delica http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B0052HQPWS?th=1&psc=1

my current girlfriend just got a leatherman style cs http://www.cabelas.com/product/Leatherman-reg-Pink-Style-reg-CS-Multitool/1439349.uts

and a pink mini tuff lite http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-20MTP-Mini-Knife/dp/B00F5EUNDU

My ex still carries one of those every day and brags about using them and my girlfriend uses the leatherman way more than the knife but she still carries it.

Edit: links also sorry for shitty format.. mobile+ lazy=garbage format

Alright, sounds good. A very basic recommendation would be a Spyderco Endura, which is a great knife in VG-10 stainless steel. In this steel you should occasionally oil your blade, but that's really it. If that looks too big, the Spyderco Delica is the same knife, essentially, but smaller. Another good Spyderco would be the Spyderco Stretch, also in VG-10. All three of these have strong back locks.

For a slightly more expensive knife, the Spyderco Manix 2 comes in 154CM stainless steel and a hard-use ball bearing lock.

The Benchmade Griptilian comes in 154CM stainless steel and has the second strongest lock on the market on it- the axis lock. There's also a version with a thumb hole instead of a thumb stud.

The Buck TM Vantage Pro comes in S30V stainless steel- one of the better steels available up until the $150 mark- but only costs about $60, and is by far the cheapest knife of its size available in S30V.

The Kershaw Blur in S30V is an amazing assisted knife in good steel. The Kershaw Junk Yard Dog is a great folder in a composite of a couple of good steels.


The Zero Tolerance 0700 is kind of funny looking but a solid knife in S30V.

So far, all of these are within your price range. Now, I'll move up just a bit and double it- you're now looking at a $200 range.


The Manix 2 XL in S30V is one of the strongest folders out there. It's definitely a hard-use knife and will survive a hell of a lot.

The Benchmade 275 Adamas is probably the strongest folder in existence. It's in D2 tool steel and has an incredibly robust axis lock that was beefed up to take more damage.

The Spyderco Caly 3.5 in ZDP-189 steel is an incredible knife in fantastic blade steel. I wish they made more things in it, I really do.

The Spyderco Techno is a bit smaller but will certainty last nonetheless.

The Spyderco Sage in S30V will do it for ya, that's for sure.

I'd love me some Benchmade Emissary in S30V.

The ZT 0350 is a folding tank.

All of these knives will last for whatever you want to do with them. Some are too heavy to reasonably EDC, like the BM Adamas and the ZT 0350, but others, like the BM Griptilian, are perfect EDC knives.

If you have questions on any of the knives I've linked or about their care and maintenance, feel free to ask.

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B0052HQPWSc

$15: [Kershaw Shuffle II] (https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-8750TBLKBW-Shuffle-Folding-BlackWash/dp/B00TUCPWZM)

$40: [Kershaw Leek] (https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Leek-Knife/dp/B00P2LAQ4W)

$65: [Spyderco Delica] (https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B0052HQPWS)

The knives I linked are all folding locking knives. The shuffle would be harder to sharpen because of the tanto style blade.

For sharpening, most people either get the [Spyderco Sharpmaker] (https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tri-Angle-Sharpmaker/dp/B004HIZKHE) or the [Lansky Diamond Stone System] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000B8L6LS/ref=sxts2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483915806&sr=2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65). If you get the Lansky system, get the pedestal to go with it else your hands will be cramping.

Honestly I suggest getting a knife under $100. Once you get over $100 you start getting into supersteels. Supersteels are hard to sharpen for beginners and if you don't know what you're doing, you're likely to ruin the edge.

You don't need a serrated edge. Most folks here would recommend against it even if you did want to cut rope.

For cleaning and caring, I just put a drop of gun oil on the blade and mechanism. You don't really need to do this though. Unless you see rust or your knife is having trouble opening, you could skip it.

Everyone needs a good knife.

• Case knives
  
• Victorinox Cadet
  
• A bit out of your price range, but check out the Spyderco Delica.

RAT II or Delica4. I know that delica is slightly over the 4 inches you would like but I own both the delica and dragonfly and the difference in size and weight compared to usefulness of the blade definitely worth the little extra.