3" bladed folder cheap and tough?

Bandit

Bandit

Joined
Jan 10, 2000
Messages
283
I am looking to buy 30 3" bladed folders for a group going on a hiking trip. The knives will be gifts for everyone going. I need to buy some tough, working knives, that could also double as protection in everyday life. I am also trying to do this as cheap as possible, as the rest of the available money will go towards food for the trip. I am a knife collector and while I have many folders (mosty Benchmades), I am looking for good quality knives for the guys on the trip who think their Buck butterknives are sharp and tough. I look forward to your suggestions.
 
How cheap? $25 US? $40 US?
Several come to mind:

Camillus EDC
CRKT Lightfoot Urban Shark
Spyderco Delica
Cold Steel Voyager (medium)

What price range are you looking at exactly?

The cheapest in price would probably be CRKT line.



[This message has been edited by el cid (edited 05-28-2001).]
 
ouch... that's not alot of money, some of the CRKT offerings might be that low on sale, but the ideal knife for your requirements is the spyderco delica, about 2 times what you want to pay. Maybe some wholesale distributer will help you out? Good luck...

------------------
William Callahan

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without
hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd
never expect it."
-Jack Handey

I'm one of those wierdos who likes Zytel.
 
oh by the way, that delica remark was my opinion and does not reflect the...yada yada yada, you get the idea...
 
Opinel make good and very cheap working knives, I carry a No.8 and find that they take a good edge. They might rust if you don't look after them but hey! at the price who cares. Don't use them as pry-bars and they will do just fine.

[This message has been edited by jacknife (edited 05-28-2001).]
 
$25 US? That doesn't give you many options other than what you referred to as "Buck Butterknives." The only folding knives I can think of in that price range and under 3 inches would be:

Buck Protege
Buck NXT
Gerber Magnum LST
Victorinox Tinker
Gerber EZ-Out (small version)
Schrade Pocket Beast

These knives are very basic, but for under $25 bucks, you can't ask for much.

Perhaps you could consider a neck knife?
For under $25, I would consider the Camillus Arclite. There are other cheaper ones like the Outdoor Edge Wedge and even the Meyerco Buddy System too.




[This message has been edited by el cid (edited 05-28-2001).]
 
take a look at newt livesay's little pecker neck knife: 25 bucks last time I checked, simple design, good steel. not a folder, but not 50 bucks either...



------------------
William Callahan

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without
hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd
never expect it."
-Jack Handey

I'm one of those wierdos who likes Zytel.
 
Don't sell Buck knives short as they provide good bang for the buck. (Pun alert).

If you could somehow get a package price that was attractive enough, the Camillus EDC would probably be my choice in an affordable, rugged, reliable folder in that size range.
 
I appreciate all the help. I am most likely leaning towards a CRKT and am just trying to find the best deal. I wish I could spend more on the knives but even at $25 a piece, with 30 people it comes to $750 + S&H. Thanks for all the suggestions and I will be checking back for more good ideas. Thanks everybody!
 
Bandit,

Check out eknifeworks.com (Smokey Mountain Knifeworks). They have CRKT mirages for $9.99 in medium and large plain edges and medium with serrated edges. From what I hear on the forums they perform very well (as do most CRKT offerings) and at that price they will definately far outperform your expectations and won't break the bank. Good luck.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Nimrod:
Don't sell Buck knives short as they provide good bang for the buck. (Pun alert).

If you could somehow get a package price that was attractive enough, the Camillus EDC would probably be my choice in an affordable, rugged, reliable folder in that size range.</font>
Click to expand...

I have softened my distaste for Buck knives substantially over the past couple months. I was not being fair. Ok, that was a "glass is 1/2 empty" statement.

(Ok ... think Norman Vincent Peale)...

I think Buck does offer very good value at the low price end, and they are smart and conscientious enough to take 420HC up to Rc58. 420HC is very corrosion resistant, better than 440-anything. Rc58 goes a long ways towards being a decent edge holder if you can't get V/Moly/W carbides (which you can't under $25). Buck does still pay Paul Bos to develop their heat treat techniques... then it's up to them to execute consistently (in huge ovens).

I was terribly underwhelmed with the edge holding capability of the Gerber EZ Out I owned, and sold it.

The Camillus CUDA EDC, if heat treated to Rc58 or better, does sound like a good fit here. Blade shape is excellent (Thanks to Darrel). I haven't handled one so will defer to others on frame-lock fit/finish, etc. You are back to 420HC, same as Buck.

http://www.camillusknives.com/camillus-cuda-edc.htm

See if you can talk one of the dealers into giving you a discount based on the volume you are talking on this purchase... it's for a really good cause, right?


[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 05-28-2001).]
 
I will also throw a votein for CRKT.

I would go with either the LUS or the slightly less expensive Mirage. Which one depends on how much you want to impress.
wink.gif


Try looking here at:
1SKS
or
Bayou Lafourche Knife Works

--The Raptor--

 
For around $25 or under

CRKT Urban Shark
SAK - some have locking blades (Victorinox Rucksack or Hunter, for example, Wenger has some smaller locking-blade models also)
Leatherman Micra (not too useful on the hike but great when back home!)

Do you really need the food?
wink.gif


Regards,

David


 
The Gerber Gator Mate in ATS-34 is a knife that shouldn't be overlooked. Depending on where you shop, you might get close to your price target.

Next up, would be a CRK&T knife from the designer series, perhaps a Kit Carson M=16 variant.

There is always the good old Buck 110 lockback which is $30 at Wal-Mart.

How about a SAK (Swiss Army Knife)? The Victornox Spartan may fit the role nicely.

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
You could always try the CRKT Urban Shark. I believe you can get them for around $30.00
 
crkt zytel mirages were going for 12 or 13 bucks a pop at smokey mountain knife works.
 
How about the SOG mini X-42? I believe That they are around $30. They have a 2.9" BG-42 tanto blade and a simple lock. Maybe you can get some sort of discount when you buy a large amount.
Frank Q.

------------------
"The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none."
Thomas Carlyle
 
CRKT Commander series at eknifeworks.com

Solid lockup, sharp, flat ground blades, studs & clips. 3 Sizes range from <3" to 3.5" Prices $10-$15.

I don't know what you have against Buck, but at your prce range, you need to be open minded. The site above has several decent Buck models (BuckLite with or without studs & clips in several colors, NXT in several colors) that come in under $25.
 
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