Any GREAT knives for 50 bucks or less?

I've not seen any GREAT knives for under $50, even on the used market - but there are some good ones.
 
OKC Rat 1 and Utilitac are both nice sub $50 folders. I would pick up a bk15 for around $40 while you still can. A large firearms accessory website has leatherman sidekicks or wingman on sale for $29 shipped. One of those and a Mora would come in under $50
 
jpm2 said:
I've not seen any GREAT knives for under $50, even on the used market - but there are some good ones.
Click to expand...

The BK15 comes to mind. I would consider any knife designed by Jerry Fisk and Ethan Becker AND sold under $50 to be great.
 
The Boker Trance and Subcom have yet to be mentioned here. I also have yet to see the Cold Steel Tuff Lite or Mini Tuff. If AG Russell knives are in the picture, you need to include the Woodswalker fixed blade, the Hunter's Scalpel, and the Bird and Trout, and the 3.5" titanium lockback. For Buck knives, the 303, 305, 309, or 310 Whittler (Google that one--it's my favorite of that bunch). For Buck fixed, there's the Smidgen and Hartsook. Many Victorinox SAKs, Alox or not, from the Explorer on down are at or under $50, and are excellent. Lots of people are big fans of the Case Peanut, although I find the pulls to be ridiculously stiff, but many variants are under $50. The Byrd Meadowlark and Robin are also very good, and far more affordable than the Delica or Dragonfly.

Slacker180 said:
CRKT Ripple is actually a really nice slim and light flipper for $30 bucks. Bought mine yesterday and I'm going to use the heck out of it so I can learn sharpening techniques on a cheap knife.
Click to expand...

If CRKT's proprietary Nev-R-Sharp heat treatment is still in use, you'll have daily if not hourly opportunities for that. I don't recommend any CRKT folders at all. The Minimalists are light, ergonomic, and cheap, and one of the few factory knives that have decent sheaths, although I still wouldn't trust them to hold an edge for very long.
 
- Kershaw Leek
- Spyderco Tenacious, persistence, ambitious, or resiliance.
- Ontario Rat model 1 or 2
- Mora Companion fixed blade
- Victorinox alox cadet, pioneer, or farmer
 
My wife and I frequently fly from Seattle to San Diego to visit her mother. To avoid hassle and knife loss to TSA from forgetting to take my knife out of my pocket I purchased a CRKT Heiho with the Veff serrations ( under $40 on Amazon).

I leave it down there.... and I am surprised by how much I miss it!! I will either bring it home next time or get another one.

Someone said, "If CRKT's proprietary Nev-R-Sharp heat treatment is still in use, you'll have daily if not hourly opportunities for that (sharpening). I don't recommend any CRKT folders at all. "

I can't testify either way to "Nev-R-Sharp"..... So far, for me, so good.

That said, I don't use it for cutting open tin cans or batoning hardwood or prying open car doors.

The blade shape (CRKT says, "The distinctive blade shape is classical Samurai ") and Veff serrations are new to me and I'm enjoying using them on boxes, slivers, rope, garden stakes, etc.

I'm enjoying the thread... lots of excellent suggestions.
 
I like the Cold Steel Tuff Lite. I don't know if one would call a knife under $50 "great" by any means, but certainly you can find very functional knives in that price range these days.
 
Although many may call me old fashioned (which I have heard before and liked it) I am a big fan of the Buck 110.
 
Great knives for <=$50?

Rat 1 or 2. Best bang for the buck in knives imo.

Very good knives for <=$50

Boker Trance is also underrated and I prefer the Wharcom (discontinued but you can still find them) to the Subcom myself.

I'll add SOG Flash 1 and the Flash 2 pushes the $50 limit in addition to the others mentioned.
 
I'd recommend the Gerber Strongarm. Right at the $50 limit being about $50.95 as the lowest price I've seen it. Made in USA, excellent sheath and very good ergonomics.

 
How about the Kershaw Nura..?
[video=youtube;nHa3_O-BVsg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHa3_O-BVsg[/video]



VermontEdge said:
I've been buying too many knives lately (or, at least, I've bought two expensive knives, haha) and really want to go for one more without spending too much. Open to folders or fixed blades, preferably something on the smaller side. Any recommendations are appreciated!
Click to expand...
 
jpm2 said:
I've not seen any GREAT knives for under $50, even on the used market - but there are some good ones.
Click to expand...

I dunno man, the opinel imo truly is a great knife all things considered. It's the only other knife I would say is on the same level as a SAK on the every knife knut "must have"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top