A serious lightweight blade

Haven't used this model, but I have a Benchmade Pardue 530S at 1.9 ounces and it is crazy sharp and strong for the weight.

After looking around it looks like benchmade misprinted the weight on their site. Everywhere else its over 3oz. Oh well, I can dream.

Ken, looks like your 530 is the lightweight choice from benchmade. Do you feel you need to baby it at all? I never use my knife for prying and try to baby it. But I also want to be able to use it if i need to. Just wondering your opinions on the 530? Im thinking about picking one up.

A

http://www.opinel.com/fiche-A|OPINEL|000981-010101050000.html

a bit on the heavy side : 0,92oz
but a decent blade, that locks for 9€ so i dont mind doing things that may damage it.

Better yet, they have a *weightless* knife:

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=55X-PNK

Special antigravity pink finish.

This will likely start a new trend of ultralight-ers using exclusively pink gear…

Jesus, $90 for a blade that you probably won't use that much? I guess if you use a blade lots to shred up tinder, etc then it's worth it. I know I don't use my Swiss Army knife nearly enough on thru-hikes to even consider dropping that much cash. Plus, you'd be missing the scissors, fingernail file, and tweezers. To each his own though. It looks like a really nice knife though.

I tried an Opinel with a 3.5-4" blade about 15-20 years ago. It quickly got loose at the pivot when making sticks into piles of shavings for fire starting, etc. I assume it's because the wood handle compresses. Has this changed over the years ? How does the Opinel's sturdiness compare to the standard sized (91mm) Victorinox Swiss Army Knives with plastic red handles ?

Thanks.

I have been using the same Opinel knife for almost 30 years. If anything, the locking ring gets tighter over time after repeated washing (the wood swells). I can't recommend this knife enough. As long as you don't get the stainless steel version you can easily resharpen it forever on almost any rough surface. Yeah it goes rusty pretty quickly but thats just a cosmetic issue. Nothing a little steel wool doesn't fix…

i like this little fixed blade from A.G.Russell

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/a_through_d/a_g_russell_knives/straight_knives/a_g_russell_woodswalker_in_leather_hip_pocket_sheath.html

my lanyard knife is this little guy:

http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/564/236

Jeff:

the 530S is certainly not as robust as a fixed-blade knife, and less robust than other heavier folding blade knives that could be considered. However, based on my experience, the 530S is a high-quality knife that I personally have had no problems with in terms of durability. I know the knife's limits and do not push beyond them. It depends on what you will do with the knife and what your expectations are. I own a "heavy" fixed blade survival knive that weighs 7 ounces and do things with it that I would not with the Benchmade. I do not baby the 530S, but don't use it beyond its limits.

-Ken

A

@ 1.6 ounces:
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=3676

or what about
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=3676

@ 3.2 oz

Sharp looking knife…

this be it (fallkniven tk4): http://www.builderdepot.com/FALLKN_15/prodimg/FK-TK4.jpg

this is my current folder (buck bantam nano): http://www.replinkonline.com/replink/images/products/BUCKKNIVES/283BK.jpg

also kinda like these beauties:
http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/MCUSTA.html

I carry a Swedish Mora.

A 4 ounce fixed blade Swedish military knife. About $12 and plenty tough.

Yep, the Mora's are great knives. I carry one on a lot of my trips.

I always carry this one though:

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/a_through_d/a_g_russell_knives/folding_knives/a_g_russell_featherliteclip_point_blade_with_aus8_steel__1.html

The Featherlite is yet to be beaten in my experience. The locking mechanism is tough enough that you can actually baton small kindling for Bushbuddy use. I've never had another folder that could do that, much less one that only weighed 1.5 oz. It's also just frighteningly sharp right out of the box.

Also, I know that there's nothing ultralight about it, but the Skookum Carver is a great bushcraft knife. Just superb.

Gerber LST: 1.3oz, cheap, made in USA.

http://www.bestglide.com/utility_razor_knife.html

For those satisfied with a razor blade type knife, someone recently recommended the Derma Safe folding utility knife at 8 grams. The saw is 6 gms on my scales. I ordered both recently and am impressed. They have replaced my Spyderco. They can be bought in bulk for 50 cents each or for $2/each at various sites. Would be a good item for BPL to carry at 75 cents each!

I could have gotten 45 of them!!!

What are the lightest fixed blade combo blades (serrated/smooth) you've seen?

This thread always comes up every so often, always new info. The 530SBK looks like a very light and strong folder for the size at 1.8-9 ounces. Even lighter than the Mini-Griptilian.

i have used benchmade folders extensively and would have no problem using them for anything that i would use a fixed blade for. i have never had a problem with them. i have split wood, dug out fire pits, cut metal, etc. etc.(survival school) very good knifes, they've spent alot of time perfecting the folder. i currently use the 550 hg griptilian ( 3.25 oz) great knife.

Unfortunately Gerber quit production on the Microlite LST (.4oz, 1.75" blade) I rarely need a larger knife in the backcountry.
Fortunately the Ultralight LST (.6oz, slightly longer blade) is still available from gerberstore.com

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. After looking at a lot of knives on-line, I went to a store to get my hands on a few.

After looking at a few I'm leaning towards the cold steel recon 1. Yes it weighs in at 5.6 ounces but to me that is a few ounces shy of other options I was looking at. If anyone else knows of a folder that can do what this review shows then please post it. http://funditor.110mb.com/Cold%20Steel%20Recon%201%20Review.html

I held this knife in person before I ever read that review on-line. I can tell you it feels great and It honestly felt light to me. It is very solid and the blade does not move when looked open(very very sturdy). I can not say the same for a few of the benchmades I handled.

I think for a fixed blade alternative this knife is top notch. Unless someone has any other folder options they would like to share I think I'm sold.