One of the best Microtech model – Socom Elite, with machined aluminum handle, bar lock, carbide glass breaker (lost already), and CPM S90V TiN coated blade. I using this knife for only special tasks which require extreme sharpness and low angle tip – semi surgical things, like cutting off splinters without drawing blood. But to fair I tried it out against rough tasks – like cutting roots and digging, cutting notebooks in half, drywall – etc…But just to try, it has unique tip to do delicate jobs. It does not show extreme performance on manila rope tests, better then average but behind CTS-XHP, ZDP-189 etc. However I consider it as good performer, because of excellent design, flowless fit and finish and precise mechanics.

Pending

Weighing in a just 3.8 oz and featuring a fast, perfectly swept AUS8 blade, the SOG Tac Auto is an excellent tactial auto choice. It’s standout features include: reasonable 3.8 oz weight, PERFECT pocket clip, attractive finishing, quality AUS8 swept drop point blade, glow in the dark SOG logo (!), perfect jimping, solid and fast lockup, and thin size. It’s a lot of auto knife for around 0 and I highly recommend it. Downsides would be the slick albeit attractive and thin handle and the …

What cool knives. You’ll first be struck by their super lightweight at 2.6 oz. Few tactical folders can match this weight while providing a decent sized, well designed blade. Fit and finish is top notch as in all Microtech knives. Deployment speed (a bit slower) and the small handle for grasping would be the downsides of this design. However for a knife that enjoys an almost perfect 1 to 1 handle to blade ratio I’ll take it. Sadly this knife is out of production and you’ll have to pursue it …

If your envisioned scenario might need a larger blade for defense and a fixed blade is too big, too heavy, look here. The BM 710 is a near perfectly executed large tactical folder. This model is in 154CM steel, current ones are produced in D2. Either way it will serve you well. Yes it’s over 4 ounces (4.8) in weight but compared to some other fixed blade alternatives, you’ll still come out way ahead. It has a beautifully shaped blade, wicked fast deployment, Benchmade-tight lockup, and …