$25 Folder Recommendation

midnight flyer said:
Lots of great suggestions, so I am just tossing my hat in the ring. I have a RAT 1, and use it all the time for work. I have a Tenacious, and do the same with it. I don't know which one I would take over the other in regards to Dear old Dad, so I will offer this as a criteria within your price range. I am sure the Sebbie guys will be here soon....

The Tenacious can be sharpened into a wicked slicer, so it is a great work knife if that is your style. I it good in the hand, great to use and sharpens easily. It is flat enough (although a bit wide) to carry easily in your pocket. The fit and finish on mine is outstanding, and every time I carry and use this knife I really like it.

The RAT 1 fills your hand nicely, and has basically the same steel in it as the Tenacious. With the blade grind profile being more steep, it doesn't seem to be as much of a slicer as the Tenacious, but will get plenty sharp. This knife seems to be built heavier and is a more solid work knife for me. I have used the spine to scrape wood, open bottles, and flake off paint. The blade design is a great utility design, and it holds its edge pretty well. It hasn't rusted in my pocket (except a few dots in the summer) and the handle design makes it almost slip proof in your hand. This knife has received a lot of work time over the last year, an it still locks up tight. no play. The longer, less wide frame makes me able to get in and out of my pocket without taking the knife out. This is handy for accessing change, my peanut, etc.

While I carry both in rotation as work knives, I would have to give the edge to the RAT1.

Robert
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Rat-1 :thumbup: I have both but the question is toughest blade for $25.

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Hard to find a good knife that is also tough at this price point.

RAT 1
I don't care for the looks of the RAT-1, but it looks like a good recommendation for what's a tough question. And I haven't handled one so that's all from an arm chair.

Ka-Bar Dozier
I've got a Kabar Dozier, and for the money, I like it very well. Looks decent, good clean no-frills design, practical, ergonomic within reason (handle is a bit thin, but hey, $25). The AUS-8 is too soft for my tastes at Rc56-58, but easier to sharpen for novice. It comes in several sizes, blade profiles (spearpoint hunter, clip point(y), and two opening options (thumb stud, my preference, but also the oval hole.)

http://www.agrussell.com/search.asp?ss=ka-bar+dozier&x=0&y=0

Kershaw Chill
I have several Kershaws, had others that I sold for no negative reason, and they crank out *very* good knives for the price... that Chill is arguably nicer with the G10 handles than the Zytel of the Kabar Dozier (Zytel is a bit "plastic-y" but harder/stiffer than what "plastic" implies). Plus, it's a flipper (I weight the "guard" aspects of the open flipper higher than the flipper value), it's pointy, an RJ Martin design, and importantly in a low end folder, it's Rc58-60 per AG Russell's site (steel is 8Cr13MoV, which just means 0.8% carbon allowing hardening, 13% chrome which is just barely stainless, and 0.1% vanadium for grain refinement and other benefits, which is fine at $25... hardness is the key here). Hardness... 2 Rc points is a lot.

http://www.agrussell.com/kershaw-chill/p/KE-3410/

Spyderco Tenacious
The Tenacious is also 8Cr13Mo, G10, tip down, flat ground, but you get the Spyderco hole for an opener, a love it or tolerate it kinda thing. I still consider this cheap, but Spyderco quality control over foreign mfg is there, at $28.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=294

This is the "disposable" range, price-wise, so if he doesn't care for the knife, can peddle it quickly and try another.

Bottom Line: I like the Kershaw Chill for design & steel hardness & grippy/quality feel of G10. The RAT for, well, maybe robustness, if you can stand the odd handle and blade lines (like two ovals, joined) and want a flat ground but Rc softer blade. The Dozier if you like the designs best and don't care about hardness. Insist on flat ground for edge strength, and tolerate the hole? ==> Tenacious.

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Sidebar: "Zytel is a thermoplastic material used in molding handles for knives, generally containing 25 to 50% chopped fiberglas or kevlar fiber or carbon fiber." It feels like a very hard, stiff injection molded plastic, and while totally practical for low end knives, the cheaper feel doesn't compare well with G10 in my book. It's molded, whereas G10 on Chill is milled and the small grooves are grippier. G10 tears up pockets over time, but ... you can smooth out G10's sharp edges with sandpaper/file/sharpening stone to tone down the pocket abrading features (under clip especially).
 
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I just talked myself into ordering a Kershaw Chill.

Thanks for the recommendations in this thread. Looks like a real winner for a cheapie. Might give it to my brother for Christmas.

Geez... these are only $16 on Amazon. You can almost get 2 for the price of one Spyderco Tenacious.

In fact, money where my ascii text is ==> I'm ordering 2... brother and Dad.
 
Kershaw "needs work"

I'm gonna recommend that anytime for a reasonable priced, tough knife.
 
That "Needs Work" is a very weird design, IMO. Not sure that'll appeal to the sensibilities of an older giftee.

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I just got the Kershaw Chill in the mail from Amazon. This is the nicest $16 knife I've ever seen. A few thoughts:

  1. RJ Martin design is very sleek, and thin, pointy.
  2. Knife is very light weight (estimate 2.5oz), and both the blade stock and handle are quite thin, with handle at 5/16" (not including the clip).
  3. would not call this knife "robust", it is purposely designed to be light, thin, and a sharp, thinly ground, pointy slicer. If the OP wants a tough knife, the RAT or the SAK might be in order.
  4. G10 feels like G10... it's thin on this knife, but mildly grippy in that "machined grooves" kind of way.
  5. This one shaves out of the box, but just barely on fine hairs. It's hair scraping sharp. A quick job to get it very sharp.
  6. Made in China. For the price, the fit and finish are surprisingly good. Most edges have been broken/rounded. The only place I found a sort of burr was one edge of the tang. I don't think it was dragging, due to washer spacing, but it needs to be fixed. Even the clip edges are "ok", which is a common place for stamped parts to still have a burr.
  7. The flipper is small, and doesn't provide enough leverage to flip this open on it's bronze washers without a flick of the wrist. There is no thumb stud. I would like to have both. The flipper provides a nice little "guard" for index finger should you have to thrust this little guy into ... uh ... something of your choice.
  8. Blade length is 3-3/8". So when you look at the the OAL, and know the blade is only 3-3/8", you can then see how thin/sleek this knife is.
  9. Pocket clip is a bit narrow, but ok in thickness, so it's stiff, sleek, and might hold up Ok.
  10. Blade is hollow ground, but isn't very tall so could've been flat ground to same effect. It is bead blasted, which makes sense at $16. Tip down carry.
  11. Lock is a liner, and it locks up ok. A bit early. Should wear in ok. Since the blade is targeted to be Rc58-60, tang should hold up. Liner appears to be titanium, but is probably just bead blasted steel for this price. It feels light like titanium would, but a quick peek reveals that the liner has several lightening holes drilled to remove metal, helping to make this a very light folder. The thin G10 scales keep it stiff. Good design.

I really like this Kershaw Chill a LOT at $16. This is my favorite knife under $20 for someone who wants a cheap, thin, pointy slicer that is lightweight, and has a reasonably hard blade steel, and has a quality feel that belies it's cost. I like it as well or better than the Kabar Dozier in this price range, if for no other reason than the blade should be Rc 2 points harder, and it's the "familiar to me" liner lock I'm so used to for one handed operation.

My brother is not a knife guy. He likes it. I'm going to clean up the action for him, sharpen it, and it's his for a Thanksgiving present. My Dad likes it too so he gets the other one. Will probably order one for myself just to have a benchmark in-hand at this price point.
 
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OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
If he is really rough on knives (and even if he wasn't) maybe one of the Victorinox one-hand opening models - One-Hand Trekker, Soldier, Fireman, etc.. He can use the screwdrivers, pry with the bottle opener/larger flathead, punch holes in things with the awl/reamer, use the saw on really tough things and actual wood.

You can find them for $30 or less and often with a free gift
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Actually, Bubba's idea is a good one. He would almost certainly get more use and longevity from an OHT than anything else in that price range, IMO. Worth looking at.
 
Picking up on the above point... The Victorinox one handers fall within close range of the multitools... in fact, they were the original multitools.

I've not handled the current one-handers from Victorinox, but unless they substantially beefed up the construction, the main blade pivot won't be particularly robust compared to the RAT.

However, because there are multiple tools, there is a greater chance the user will pick something more suited to the task and not ask the blade to do something it wasn't designed to do (reeming, prying, as a screwdriver, bottle opener, etc).

These start to get heavy as you add tools, so choose carefully as they have plenty of variety. They don't have pocket clips in the pics I can see, so they will carry "heavy" in bottom of pocket. Some people don't mind this, but it bothers me, so I carry a little bitty SAK or little bitty Leatherman and a real folder clipped to pocket.

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I ordered a Tenacious, so will see how that low end model shakes out compared with the Chill and my other small Spydie the Walker CF ZDP189.
 
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That "Needs Work" is a very weird design, IMO. Not sure that'll appeal to the sensibilities of an older giftee.
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I'm on the downhill side of my 40's. Not exactly sure what your definition of "older giftee" is, or what exactly the sensibilities of said person would be.:confused: I agree that the "Needs Work" has a weird design, but IMO it's an extremely handy knife. The handle feels good and sturdy and I really like the straight edge on the blade. It's like having a utility knife, and it's easy to sharpen. It definitely appeals to my sensibilities :D

'course, that's just my opinion...
 
You can get a Kershaw Junkyard Dog for around that price online. It is a heck of a tough folder. But it does have one of the oddest pocket clips out there.
 
Kershaw "Needs Work". No offense to anyone, but to me, this design needs work... weird handle imprints, weird angle (I get it, just don't want a Japanese kitchen knife angle on my folders), flat wharnie with no belly, etc.

 
Rob- Probably for the exact same reasons that you dislike the knife is the reasons that I like it. :D

I can see where you're coming from, and definitely respect your opinion!
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions and pictures. I think the Rat 1 is gonna be a winner for him :thumbup: the Tenacious was a close runner up but due to my Dads history and previous knives I think he would rather prefer the humb stud. Thanks again for all you're help. Happy holidays!!
 
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