This Cold Steel knife sliced the heater-core hose and cardboard tube with ease. And as its name implies, the Ultimate Hunter could skin big game animals and still whittle wood without fail or fatigue.
Last but definitely not least is Halligan's Ultimate Gadget 5580, or the HUG, from CRKT.
We must admit it was almost unfair to pit this personal carry knife against the other folders, which fall in the hunting and utility categories. CRKT's illustrated instructional brochure even emphasized that this folder is for light-duty tasks - such as opening boxes or cutting fruit - and not for any job that involves torquing the handle. But we were pleasantly surprised to find its 2.3-inch blade performed admirably in our cutting tests.
Although the heater-core hose proved a bit of a task for the HUG, some continuous sawing severed the rubber. Similarly, after the folder's modified spear point smoothly punctured the cardboard tube, we just had to pull back and forth several times before cutting off a section of the tube. Meanwhile, the HUG's single-sided semiserrated blade made splinters out of the tree branches.
While it had a nick or two on its edge after our punishment, the HUG's 420J2 steel blade can easily be sharpened and is good at resisting stains.
Get A Grip
Having a super-sharp folder knife with a subpar handle is like tackling the trail in your 4x4 rig with the hubs unlocked - it just doesn't make sense.
But there were no worries here with these four folders.
The Presidio's machined aluminum handle can take a beating while supporting its blade and has bidirectional treads to prevent slippage in greasy or sweaty hands. Though its 5.62oz frame might seem a bit beefy for some four-wheelers, it felt comfortable in our palms - like holding a favorite pair of pliers.
Another knife with a great feel was the Ultimate Hunter. Its 5-inch frame is made of Thermorun, a synthetic material that's used in numerous applications, such as car bumpers, roofing sheets, and gaskets. Why such varied use? Because Thermorun is lightweight but durable, hard, and resistant to heat, water, and chemicals - making it ideal for knife handles. The Ultimate Hunter's frame can absorb shocks and is ergonomically molded with grooves for an assured grip.
Perhaps the slickest handle belongs to the Delica. Made completely of stainless steel, the 4.25-inch handle provides a stouter feel than the typical fiberglass-reinforced nylon handles. Spyderco's lack of antislip grooves or treads is actually a nice aesthetic touch - keeping the handle surface flat and smooth allows for personalized engraving. And best of all, its removable clip can be positioned tip up or tip down and for left- or right-handers.
With the HUG, less is more. Like its blade, the HUG's 3.65-inch frame is made of bead-blast high-carbon stainless steel and is compact and lightweight. There's a finger choil on the bottom and friction grooves at the thumb area to prevent slipping. Also, a single Zytel-nylon scale offers a better grip and prevents the knife from accidentally opening.
But the real attraction of the HUG's handle is the stainless steel pocket clip, which also acts as a very cool and convenient money clip and makes this folder a versatile personal carry knife.