$50 is burning a hole in my pocket- what locking folder to get?

S

Seminarian

Joined
Aug 12, 2006
Messages
11
I could go a little higher than $50. I am a beginner. I have a pretty decent $20 liner locking Leatherman. I have a rapidly tarnishing Henckels jack-knife. And not much else. It's time to branch out. What should be on my list?
 
Spyderco Delica.
Becmamde 551 Grip or 556 mini Grip.
Kershaw Blur.

All great choices and very affordable. Each has a different style and one is bound to appeal to you. I've got all three (actually 4 if you count both sizes of Grips) and prefer the Benchmade because of the axis lock. If you want something with an assisted opener go with the Kershaw.
 
I'd say if you are new to quality knives and want to get the most bang for your buck I would go spyderco, or the byrd line produced by spyderco.

What size of knife are you looking for? potential uses? style preference? lock preference? there are just too many good knives out there to ask a generic question and get a good answer.

I would start with the spyderco delica, its available in many different variations (PE, SE, CE, waved, VG-10, ZDP-189, frn, stainless) and will run you right around $50. the delica is a 3" blade, about 7" overall. If you want bigger the endura is its big brother.

Start there and look at all of the other spyderco models, there are TONS. The byrds are cheaper and use cheaper steel (which is actually d*** good) but are basically up to spyderco standards in build quality. The byrd meadowlark is a good choice and is available with g-10 scales for around $30, its fairly similar to the delica.

Other than that, the benchmade red class fits in your price range and offers some good values. The mini-griptillian is not a red class knife but can be found for around $50-60 and is a favorite of many.

There are also quite a few kershaw knives that would fit the bill if you like assisted opening (i.e.-nearly auto), the leek stands out in that crowd, particularly the s30v/g-10 version and the zdp-189/ti version. good luck searching!! A little more specificity may get you some more replys;)


~MK

p.s.-can you tell I'm a fan of spyderco.......?:cool:
 
I think I want the blade to be at least 2.5 inches long. I am leaning away from a liner lock because it takes me two hands to unlock it.

What does "red class" mean?
 
All the below are great knives in both features, materials, quality of mfg, and aesthetics (my personal taste) that fall in the 50ish range or well below (my favorites are in bold):

Boker Trance $24
Boker Armed Forces I $20
Kershaw Mini-Cyclone $45
Kershaw Speed Bump with Aluminum scales $60 ebay (there's a plastic handle version too, but I like the Al)
Kershaw Leek $30-$50 (depends on scales (FRN, aluminum, SS), not my favorite design, but others like it)
Kershaw JYD and JYDII $35-$50 (both are amazing knives, especially the JYDII!)
Kershaw Blur $50-$60 (currently has 440A steel, wait for the 13C26 version coming out soon)
Benchmade Mini-Grip $60 (great blade steel, cheap feeling handle, great AXIS lock)
Benchmade HK30 $40 (I really like the design, low-priced HK)
Benchmade Vex $40
Benchmade Ambush and Mini-Ambus $40-$50
Spyderco Native $40-$50 (great blade steel and shape, cheap feeling handle)
Spyderco Delica4 and Endura4 $40-$50 (great blade steel, cheap feeling handle)
Spyderco Calypso Jr w/ ZDP-189 $70 (get it while it's available!!!, cheap feeling handle tho)
Spyderco Byrds with G10 scales $25 (there's 2 models, one small, one large, both are nice, especially with the G10 scales)
CRKT My Tighe and Mini My Tighe $50-$60 (very attractive, almost exact replica of Brian Tighe's customs)
CRKT M4 $60 (not out yet, almost...really nice looking, very close to Kit Carson's custom M4)
 
I would highly suggest either the Benchmade Mini-Grip series or the delica series. I personally recommend the Delica WAVE. Once you play with those 2 knives, youll get hooked into it. The Benchmade 556/Spyderco Delica are the gateway knives to the Knife world!
 
Kershaw JDII:

Kershav-JDII-001.jpg


It has excellent steel which outperforms many more expensive steels (like VG10) - see test results
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=464355
No any other knife offers G10 handle for price less then $50 (usually it is over $100)
It looks great (as you may notice) and pretty comfortable.
This is currently best choice for this price.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Not sure what you are looking for in a knife. Some info on how you plan to use it would help. Also if you object to foreign made knives. Finding a good $50 American knife is getting hard. The knives below are either on my want list or are owned by me already.

$50 will get you a Native (S30V, US made, flattened handle easier to carry) or Native III (VG10, Japanese made, fuller handle nice in the hand). They have 3" blades and are lockbacks. The handles are FRN. Some people object to FRN. Some don't. I EDC a III these days. I highly recommend it.

Kershaw Junkyard Dog has a 3 1/2 " blade of 13C26 stainless. There's a nice review of it in the Knife testing and review section. Pictures too. It runs 40 - 55 depending on whether you get a stainless steel handle or G10. Both are linerlocks. Made in US by a Japanese company.

Kabar makes the mule. It's a large tough lockback knife with ~4" blade of AUS8 that is probably best carried in a sheath. Runs about $40. Not sure where it is made.

Buck makes the famous 110, the lockback knife that started it for a lot of us. Needs to be carried in a pouch (at least by me). Has about a 3 3/4" blade of 420HC steel. Can be had in other steels if you pay more. Runs about $45 but can sometimes be found for less. Still US made.

Benchmade has the ambush. Made in Taiwan. ~4" blade of AUS8. Aluminum handles. Runs in the 45 realm. Rolling lock.

Benchmade has the Vex. Made in China with Chinese steel blade that is similar to AUS8 in composition. 3 1/4" blade. liner lock. G10 handle.
 
Spyderco Centofante III - very lightweight, slim knife that cuts beautifully.

Spyderco Salt series -- almost a no-maintenance knife
 
I have to agree with other posts here on the Spyderco Delica and the Benchmade Griptillian being the gateway to the knife world. It is hard to go wrong with either Benchmade or Spyderco. Also the Kabar Bob Dozier line of folders can be had for around $20 each.
 
Delica or Mini Grip are my top choices too. Both are significantly different, but are both well made. Personally, I would go for the 556 Grip first. If you go for the Delica, I would recommend the 3 series plain edge with FRN, I didn't care for the 4 series Endura I had with FRN, liked my 3 series plain edge Endura better.
 
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