Comments on: Gateway Knives for Each Brand

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 19:13:21 +0000

In reply to HandyDan. Not eclectic, just a bit shoddy on the quality side...

By: MN

MN — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 17:07:42 +0000

The problem is once you buy a gateway knife you set yourself up for a very expensive hobby, each of the knives below were the beginning of extensive collections.

1st Benchmade was Mini Barrage in 154 CM and M390, not really a Grip fan.
1st Spyderco was Native line in CPM S110V, original collection was stolen, had to start again…😩
1st Zero Tolerance was 0566 in S35 VN
1st Cold Steel was Master Hunter in San Mai III
1st KaBar was BK 2 in 1095…and so off to the races.

Non US Knives
1st Steel Will was Roamer 300 series in D2
1st Kizer was T2 in CPM S35VN
1st Boker was Plus Masada in D2.

Alas, so many knives not enough money…

By: 10 Best Spyderco Knives | Knife Depot

10 Best Spyderco Knives | Knife Depot — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 16:05:51 +0000

[…] hard to beat the budget Tenacious and its brethren. The Tenacious also often acts as a “gateway knife” for the brand because it is cheap enough to get into Spyderco and leaves you itching for […]

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 04:29:18 +0000

In reply to Frank.

Thanks for your thoughtful response, Frank. This article could have been a lot of things but I wanted to confine it more to the most common starter knives for 20 of the most popular brands (Mora unfortunately didn’t make the cut but the Mora Companion would have been the clear choice).

I didn’t just pick these out of the air but I did ask others for theirs and made some educated guesses. This isn’t an introduction for knives in general or necessarily for people new to knives but for those who may be interested in getting into a certain brand. For Benchmade, while that already is a commitment to a more expensive product, most aren’t going to start with the Benchmade Anthem. 90% will get the “cheaper” Griptilian before they make the jump.

At some point in the future, I may do a gateway knife for different types of knives like fixed and folders, steels, etc.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 00:04:38 +0000

While I understand the reasoning behind your choices, I find it odd to almost indirectly compare the Ka-Bar to the Dozier (fixed vs folder). And I have a hard time looking at those high priced brands like Benchmade or Zero Tolerance as a “gateway” knife to other higher priced models. Those are for serious buyers/collectors. Spending $100 – $200 plus is a lot for a knife unless you’re already into them. I think you should split the knives into fixed or folding. I do appreciate that you mentioned and considered prices. Many of my purchases are based on finding items on clearance. I’m not cheap, just low on funds at times.

I carry a Gerber Scout everyday and use it almost daily. I think it’s a good first knife. I like the Gator, I just don’t own one. I also own a Kershaw Leek with serrations, CRKT Hammond Cruiser and SpecialOps, Schrade SCHF503, SCHF311, and a SCHF221. And the Gerber EVO (CRKT M-16 clone). I just use what I feel like for the task at hand.

I also own the SOG SEAL Pup (And 2 Voodoo Hawks). Imight buy a Force or Tech Bowie someday. More money and more knife, but I love the Pup. So it really does serve as a budget minded person’s fixed blade knife and a gateway model.

One of my favorite blades is the now out of production Kershaw Antelope Hunter II. It’s led me to look at a Mora Companion Heavy Duty. Funny to me you did not mention any Mora knives. They seem to interchangeably serve as their own “gateway”. People become hooked and buy several.

My point is, The choices are mind boggling. And there is a transition of consideration for the buyer from folder to fixed, or belt to neck, stainless steels to carbon steels, etc. A low price point encourages buyers on a budget to try different brands and models. Otherwise perceived value can sway a buyer from a $40 folding knife in 440C to a compact fixed blade in 9Cr18Mov priced at $36 or a massive chopper constructed with SK-5 steel at $60. And while I have decided to try and upgrade when I make future purchases, I am attracted to bargain buys and I buy the “better stuff” less often. There are so many models and the design, materials, metal, type (Bushcraft, Utility, Survival, camping,etc.) are all factors. I agree with your choices, but I feel you could have actually added more models even for some of the brands you covered and that would be totally understandable and relevant to the article.

By: HandyDan

HandyDan — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 12:56:10 +0000

Benchmade – Nope, my first was the 940
Boker – Yep, I own 26 AK-74s (yeah, it is a little bit of a problem…)
Buck – Nope, 616 was my first
Case – Nope, I bought their version of the Texas Toothpick
Cold Steel – Don’t own a Cold Steel, don’t plan to.
Condor – Don’t own a Condor, don’t plan to.
CRKT – Nope, first was a Fulcrum 2
Emerson – Don’t own an Emerson, don’t plan to.
Esee – Nope, first was the 6.
Gerber – Nope, first was the 06 Auto
KA-BAR – Yep, it was my first “expensive” knife.
Kershaw – Nope, first was the Launch 4
Leatherman – Don’t own a Leatherman, don’t plan to.
Ontario – Nope, first was the RTAK II
Old Timer – Haven’t even heard of them before.
Schrade – Don’t own a Schrade, don’t plan to.
SOG – Possibly. I’m not sure if I picked up the Fielder, the Blink, or the Flash 2 fist.
Spyderco – Yep, the first and only Spyderco I plan to buy.
Victorinox – Don’t own a SAK, don’t plan to.
3 (or 4) out of 19. I guess my taste in knives is a little eclectic.