Any GREAT knives for 50 bucks or less?

It's so subjective a term...

"Great" as in how?
"Great" for what purpose?
"Great" as in comparison to what?

There are zero "great" $50 Knives if compared to $500+ super steel, hand crafted, finest craftsmanship and highest quality available working parts Knives...

There are litterally thousands of "great" $50 and less Knives if you're looking for an affordable, functional, easy to sharpen, no frills, job specific, production knife.
 
I second the Ontario RAT 1. I think this is the best knife money can buy with respect to price! I find it as, perhaps even more ergonomic than my PM2, and just as sturdy. Aus-8 steel, for me at least, is easier to sharpen quicker (though it doesn't hold its edge nearly as long--trade offs), and the lockup is rock solid. I got mine in coyote brown and dig the color. Perhaps somebody can clarify why my knife only says "Ontario Knife Co." on the blade and not RAT with the upside down triangle logo--guessing its an update.
 
I got lucky and scored my crkt foresight for 50. Best deal I've ever gotten on any blade
 
strategy9 said:
It's so subjective a term...

"Great" as in how?
"Great" for what purpose?
"Great" as in comparison to what?

There are zero "great" $50 Knives if compared to $500+ super steel, hand crafted, finest craftsmanship and highest quality available working parts Knives...

There are litterally thousands of "great" $50 and less Knives if you're looking for an affordable, functional, easy to sharpen, no frills, job specific, production knife.
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I'm glad you mentioned these considerations because they help support some of my suggestion, in particular the Becker BK-15 and the RAT-1.

To me, "Great" implies not only value and functionality, not mutually exclusive not inextricably intertwined but also a knife that I feel happy owning, like holding and smile when using.

These may seem like simple criteria, but they are not - if you are looking to satisfy all in one knife. A cheap junky knife that can't do anything is not functional. A functional knife that is too expensive to use (this varied from person to person) hardly provides value - as a knife; as a piece of art or cherished "thing" it may excel, but not as a knife. A quality knife with great materials, craftsmanship and overall execution, may not be functional - doesn't seem to make sense, but it happens. A knife that never gets any fresh air, never leaves the house (or even the safe) for fear of loss doesn't provide much in the way of functionality or value - at least not as a knife, but perhaps only as art or a cherished "thing."

Finally, when you consider all of the criteria together, including price, warranty, ability to readily replace if need be, etc. - does the knife make you smile when you use it may not be "great" at least not as a knife.

Though I own (too many) more expensive knives, the Becker BK-15 (as well as other Beckers, but this thread is about <$50) as well as the RAT-1 (and others, to include a Buck 110) are "great" for me.
 
I don't own a rat, bit I hear great things about them constantly... I do own a bk15, and I do think it is a great knife... Every crkt I own I think is great-for-the-price; free range folder, lake 111z, Pazoda, heiho I recently got in a GAW; and none are "nev-R-sharp", all hold up quite well... I think my Kilimanjaro Vertice and Schrade sch220 are great $10-15 Knives... (FAR better then "gas station/flea market" Knives of equal price).
 
Fixed Blades:
ESEE Izula
Any Becker Knife

Folders:
Anything Kerhsaw
Ontario RAT I or II (Probably my number one recommendation)
Spyderco Delica
Spyderco UKPK
Buck Vantage Pro
 
Fixed blade:

Condor mini bushlore $30

Kabar bk 14 $40

Crkt minimalist $20

Esee izula $40

Boker pocket Bowie $30

Schrade schf16 $25


Folders:

Crkt m16 edc $20

Esee zancudo $25

Kershaw leek, skyline,'chill, oso sweet $20-40

Spyderco byrd cara cara 2 $20

Crkt drifter $20
 
Ditto on what 06 said because you just have to own at least "1" Mora & "1" Opinel #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 ~~~ you would not
believe how much you would use them and really like then..!!**
 
Opinels have already been mentioned several times but I've got to mention them again. They're really great. The handles are comfortable, the blades are thin and ground well, the locking mechanism is simple yet secure, and the knife is overall very classy looking to me. The number six is, in my opinion, a perfect size for EDC and cuts as well as just about anything. The steel doesn't hold its edge all that long but it sharpens up quickly and easily and holds it long enough for me.

Opinels are the first thing that come to mind if someone mentions knives around me. They're everything I find best in knives distilled down into their essence, $20 for a seriously exceptional cutting tool.
 
Why don't we make a huge list? I'll take Marylandrefugee's list and add some. Whatcha think?

Fixed blade:
Condor mini bushlore $30
Kabar bk 14 $40
Crkt minimalist $20
Esee izula $40
Glock 81/78 $40
Boker pocket Bowie $30
Mora(s) $20
Hultafors $15
Many Cold Steel $20 (Bushman, Roach Belly, Canadian Belt, Spike Series, Outdoorsman, etc.)
Schrade schf16 $25
Many Schrades $20-$40
Many CRKT $20-$40 (Folts Minimalist, Dragon, SPEW, KISS, etc.)
Many Bokers $20-$50 (Nano, etc.)

Folders:
Crkt m16, drifter $20
Esee zancudo $25
Kershaw leek, skyline,'chill, oso sweet $20-$40 (Volt, Link, Scallion, Burst, many here)
Spyderco byrd cara cara 2 $20 (and other Byrds, Meadowhawk etc.)
Ontario RAT 1/2, Utilitacs $20-$30
Ka-Bar folders $20-$30 (Mule, Dozier, Piggyback, etc.)
Spyderco 8Cr13Mov's $30-50 (Tenacious, Ambitious, Persistence, Resilience)
Many Schrades $20-50
Enlan, Ganzo, Sanrenmu and HARNDS $10-40 (EL01, 02, G720, G7014, SRM 710, Nyx and Viper, etc.)
Opinels, Higonokamis, DoukDouks, $15
Victorinox SAKs $15-50 (Camper, Classic, Rambler, Cadet, Hunstman, Tinker, infinity of them)
Leatherman $20-50 (Micra, Squirt, Wingman, Sidekick, Blast, Rebar, etc.)

Keep them coming please!
 
miltmaldo said:
Just got one and EDC it for a couple of days great value . Sweet lookin knife .
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I've bought a lot of Buck Vantages, given some away as gifts. I bought my Vantage Select for $24.95 and my Vantage Avid for $35.95. Amazing values.

I even got my Vantage Pro, with S30V steel and G10 grips, for $54.95, which almost meets the thread criteria.

Maybe these come under the category of "great value knives" rather than "great knives," but value is what I look for.
 
you can find some aus8 cold steel knives under $50 right now since they just upgraded to a different steel. you can find knives like the rajah 3, small g10 espada, hold out, etc...
 
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