I'm looking at buying a relatively nice pocket folder (<$300) and have started to narrow things down. I like the reputation and looks of Benchmade and have found a couple models that look nice (Kulgera and Rift). Any suggestions from those of you who carry/collect knives?

I don't understand - less than 300 bucks for a folding knife?

If you are a fur trapper or a hunter field-stripping guts and glands, you want a nice blade but there is no need for a folding item. You want a gutting hook blade, and a small blade to remove anal glands before they leak and spoil hindquarter meat. That small, sharp blade serves the trapper if they are working a lengthy trap line and so have to remove pelts as a matter of convenience. And if you do that, have a camp shovel to bury the carcass and keep vermin infestation down.

A folding knife is IMO a weapon to brandish against human threats. That can be needed, but for that, any piece of steel with a point on the end fills that bill...

I think my putter would work quite nicely:

http://shop.callawaygolf.com/images/produc...abertooth/1.jpg

Yes...far superior to a folding knife...

My cane is an old one of hefty laminated maple construction. You can still buy them for ten bucks or so.
There is no doubt that when well swung, it will shatter collarbones, knees, ribs, skulls and the like. It's a 3rd class lever same as your golf club...no mechanical advantage, but delivers deadly, concentrated force.

Be sure to arm yourself with one of these babies when you start to creak.

Awesome

I haven't had to use mine in quite a while - years of gout attacks having subsided.

Side benefit: I found that if there were police around when strolling out of a gin mill, they ignored me...I guess thinking a cripple wouldn't be smashed.

You could say that any $5 watch will tell time too, but sometimes it is nice to have something better even if it is not really necessary. I appreciate the quality metals and workmanship. I am looking for something that can be used for any misc task that requires a knife along with personal defense if need be. I have a .40 H&K for anything serious, but sometimes you can't carry a firearm discretely.

Until I develop a limp or get me some ho's, a cane is probably out of the question. I've actually seen canes that fire a bullet out the end and ones that are swords. Probably not legal though.

Right you are! I also appreciate workmanship.

Will any of the Leatherman tool (and knife) line fit the bill? You might have to use some discretion if you carry a belt yet encased knife, depending on where you reside. Here in OH, you can by law carry both a firearm or a blade if it is not concealed - but if another takes exception, you get charged with inducing panic. Go figure.

Consider a 2" hammerless revolver. Reliability assured.

.44 Special is a neglected cartridge - a controllable kick combined with wide bore, bullet heft, and modern bullet designs such as Winchester's OTC Silvertips.

Yes - very much illegal.

Make no mistake, though - a blow from one of these 10 dollar laminated hardwood canes is a cosh or blackjack times ten. They will shatter a knee or crush a windpipe in an instant.

I'm leaning toward a Benchmade at this point. Leatherman really burned some bridges when the owner made some anti-gun remarks in an interview. I own one of their multi-tools, but would not buy from them again. Don't have a link, but read it on a gun forum.

My father just bought a hammerless S&W snub nosed airwieght in 38 spcl. Very nice gun and not bad for pocket carry. I have a NAA .32 for times when I can't wear enough to conceal the H&K. It's underpowered, but better than nothing. Never shot a .44 Special, sounds like a good excuse to add to the collection.


Update: found a link to the Leatherman issue. http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2008/03/...big_solicit.php

Thanks for the info re Leatherman. They are off my list. S&W's British owner at the time bought into that implied liability garbage - the boycott killed them. I heard that S&W was sold off for 4 million dollars - the tooling, foundry, and finishing works are worth more that that - and that the new owners are doing well.

I love reminders like these that there is a lot in the world that I have absolutely no concept of.

Your Dad never took you fishing when you were a wee lad? Sad, man. Sad.

Since you are willing to learn...

The International Ground Signals to transmit information to aircraft:

(can't reproduce them with text, exactly...)

I -serious injury need doctor (a straight vertical bar)

A - yes.

N - no.

K - indicate direction to proceed.

"up" arrow - am going this way.

L L - all is well.

F - need food and water.

Backward L next to regular L - do not understand.

A flattened triangle - believed safe to land here.

Gerber Mult-Tool.

Gerber

I love this knife and it's under 100 bucks
SOG