what is the best OTF blade for a $50 range

[creedc]

Every where i look i find cool OTF blades but they are $200+ i need help finding a good one for 50 bucks or less

[RevDevil]

Good engineering and execution costs money, that would be my guess why you can't find anything. I'd also venture to guess that the restrictive nature of most automatic knives throughout the states also contributes to their high price.
Save your money, or look for a side opening automatic. Pro-tech makes a bunch of more affordable autos. Remember, you don't want to waste your money on a piece of junk, quality costs money.
Have a look in the automatics subforum.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/fo...e-Switchblades

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

have to save up to $130-150

[Karda]

Please Take time to post topics in the proper forums. Thanks.

[robcelani]

have to save up to $130-150

I agree, you will be happier with the knife. If you spend a little time and effort there are great deals to be found for example: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...ranha-exalibur


Also you would support those that spent the time, effort, energy, money to produce the knives not those that stole the design and made cheap clones.

[Brian_R170]

The Taiwan-made Lightning is, in my opinion, the best OTF for under $50. It is by no means a great knife, just the best one for under $50. Cost is around $30 depending on who is selling. You used to be able to identify the Taiwan version by the silver (bare aluminum) button whereas the lower quality China version had a black painted button, but this may no longer be true.

Good luck. I'm probably in the minority, but I do believe that purchasing a cheapie frequently leads to appreciation for finer quality knives and there's a high probability that you'll be buying an Ultratech, Tumult, UT-X85, etc. soon enough.

[Blais]

If you buy a Lightning OTF, please do not consider any of it's numerous shortcomings 'normal' for good OTF knives. Good OTFs do not have cast pot-metal handles, mystery stainless blades, excessive bladeplay, painted handles, and shoddy fit and finish. The Lightning OTF is a very entertaining and cool toy but it is an extremely poor knife.


Save for a few weeks and buy an HK Tumult.

[Chipped Karambit]

shrade viper. its an otf but legally assisted open. But works well I like takes a bit to get used to

[SilentJohn]

can I ask what would be the best OTF for under $200

[SVTFreak]

can I ask what would be the best OTF for under $200

HK tumult or epidemic. Pretty much your only option.

[SilentJohn]

ok I would also like to ask how good is the benchmade infidel. I own a couple of there knives but no auto or assisted benchmade's but if it's the same quality as my 275 its probably fantastic

[Blais]

Infidel is very nice. Good snap and tight lockup, typical Benchmade quality.

[SilentJohn]

Any bladeplay

[1badcj_7]

Every otf knife will have some degree of bladeplay purely because of the way theyre built. An OTF with zero bladeplay would mean tolerances so tight it would not fire realiably if you so much as put too much oil or got any dirt inside it... If you're willing to save for an Infidel, I'd suggest checking out Microtech OTF's I'm pretty sure they're better. At least thats what i've heard and read. I was in the market for an Infidel a while back but changed my mind after I started reading and asking around..

Anyhow,I decided that if I do get an OTF knife it will be a cheapie just to play with when i'm bored. The good ones are way too expensive for "normal" people and for what you're getting, (a cool toy, with an ugly handle, and a skinny non-practical blade) in my opinion, is not enough.. I'd rather buy a Sebenza or a Hinderer XM-18 with that kind of money. My vote is for the lightning otf for sure.
1badcj_7

[Ukyo]

I abused a Lightning pretty good the other day.
Picked it up for $30 to use as a cool beater/utility blade.
My only beef with it is that it came dull out of the box and the blade is hard to get sharp.

It fires decently hard and doesn't have excessive blade play.
The handle is pot metal but who cares for the price? I threw it HARD onto concrete twice.
After the second throw, the blade would not fire. I opened it up to find that the blade tang had
slipped off the spring carrier. I slipped it back on, screwed it back together and it works perfect now.
No misfires ever, even before abuse.

I am keeping mine to practice sharpening tools/techniques.

To the OP I say get one.

[SilentJohn]

i had a lightning myself until my cousin stole it ( hes a shady character at best but still hes blood )

i never had a problem with my lighting until my dad dropped it in some water but a little WD40 took care of that

[Blais]

"The Lightning OTF doesn't function very well as a knife but it sure is kewl to make it go 'plink-plink' ".
Derp.


The Lightning is garbage, pure and simple. Why buy a knife that functions better as a toy than a knife?
Because some people have an overwhelming urge to buy things that look 'cool' but don't want to spend the money on the real thing . Ever see those spinning hub-caps at Wal-Mart? Perfect equivalent to the lightning OTF.

[SVTFreak]

Disclaimer. This is my opinion only. I just handled an infidel today while playing with my MT Ut and could I ally compare them side by side.

Infidel handle is bigger. Physically large in pocket compared to UT. The button feels like pushing on a sponge compared to the solid feel of the UT. Some people don't like the effort required in UT, however I do now that I'm used to it. The button being on the side of the handle on the infidel requires you to deploy, then turn the knife to be able to use. The UT button placement in spine allows deployment and use without changing grip. The infidel isnt nearly as fast as the UT, and lockup isnt as tight (neither are play-free, as required by OTF design). And its quite a chunk more money.

It is a nice blade, much much better than the imports, but doesn't feel quite up to par with my other benchmade auto's and assisted knives. However, it's quite possible that getting any warranty work done will be easier on the infidel.

You should handle both and make your own decision, but personally, I'll stick with my UT's.