Beefy, overbuilt folder under $100?

craytab said:
They are not made in China. Get your facts right before you slander another person's recommendation.
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Sorry dude. Forgot CS knives are made in Taiwan, as if that's a big difference. I still think they are overpriced. $60-$70 for AUS-8, really? I don't care for the CS market schemes either. Case in point the "American Lawman" is not made in America and it's around $25 too much for something in AUS-8.

If CS made the American Lawman in the USA, or at least upped the steel to VG10 or 154CM, I'd probably have a different opinion. Same goes for the Recon, design looks solid, but materials and pricing turn me off.

Either way, we both have our opinions. Enjoy your CS knife, I'll carry something else.
 
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I have the Utilitac II and I was concerned with the size of the lock bar since I have so many heavy built knives. Not a thing wrong with it. I have used it in my construction job and it is a great size and performs very well. I purchased the tanto blade and it came as sharp as a razor. Smooth to open and close, that knife is a winner.

Got the Cold Steel American Lawman since I wanted another work knife with a 3" blade. I was concerned with the long hollow grind of the blade not being up to snuff, but that was something I didn't need to worry about. The blade holds an edge quite well, surprising well, and is a breeze to sharpen. I think I found that a few months ago for about $50 or so. Excellent work knife. Everything said about the Demko locking system is true. None of my other lockers are in that class.

But if you really want to make all your production knives look like children's toys, you should check out the Bad Blood Harbinger knife:



An in hand shot, in my large mitt:



The blade is almost 4" long, and an astounding 3/16" thick! This thing is a monster. It makes my Kershaw Tyrade, Junkyard Dog II and even my Tremor look small. Not the best slicer since it is saber ground, but has proven to be indestructible. And it's even on sale, backed by AG Russell...

http://www.agrussell.com/bad-blood-harbinger/p/HALhhhBB105K/

Robert
 
aus 8 is sh-t???? really??? sounds like someone is just a knife snob, youre the kind of person who will tell and old guy whos survived out in the woods with his 420HC steel blade for years upon years that his knife is bullsh-t and not worth $20 dollars because of the type of steel it is
 
EDCanAdamas said:
Sorry dude. Forgot CS knives are made in Taiwan, as if that's a big difference. I still think they are overpriced. $60-$70 for AUS-8, really? I don't care for the CS market schemes either. Case in point the "American Lawman" is not made in America and it's around $25 too much for something in AUS-8.

If CS made the American Lawman in the USA, or at least upped the steel to VG10 or 154CM, I'd probably have a different opinion. Same goes for the Recon, design looks solid, but materials and pricing turn me off.

Either way, we both have our opinions. Enjoy your CS knife, I'll carry something else.
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Not only did you offer your opinion on CS, which is fine, you commented on their country of origin, and you were wrong. People like to throw around country of origin comments without knowing exactly which country the item originated.

I have not commented on CS so you don't know my opinion but since you brought it up I will do so now. I currently own only one CS knife, the Zytel Ti-lite 4". It is a strange little blade but I like it. I have owned the Large G10 Espada & the Recon 1 spear point. Both were great fit and finish wise. The Espada was comically large. I never carried it so it was sold. I sort of regret doing that, it was a fun knife to have. The Recon 1 spear point was a great EDC. Nothing wrong with it at all. I just got in to more higher end stuff and it never got carried so I sold it. I think for the price I paid all 3 Cold Steel knives were a good deal. The OP would be well served to look at Lawman and Recon series. Don't pay too much for them though. Some places have them way over priced. Reputable dealers will have them at about what I would be willing to pay for such a product.
 
.Keens said:
I work for a company that sells tons of knives. The latest and greatest bargain folder I have come across that is built like a tank is the boker plus Squail. Nothing compares in the 100$ price range.
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Boker is the word for this dude, but I think he is heading somewhere else.

Good luck!
 
For a Traditional Slip Joint the new GEC #21 Bull Buster is about as big and beefy as they come. 4 5/8" closed, less than $65, 100% American Made.

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GuyWithaFewKnives said:
aus 8 is sh-t???? really??? sounds like someone is just a knife snob, youre the kind of person who will tell and old guy whos survived out in the woods with his 420HC steel blade for years upon years that his knife is bullsh-t and not worth $20 dollars because of the type of steel it is
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The irony in this is that 420HC (Buck 110) is one of my favorite steels. As for AUS-8, I've used it, its okay. I still think CS blades are overpriced for what they are. Does that make me a snob? Really? If I was a snob I'd be so loaded with cash and that I probably would just buy the whole CS line up and not care about the value.

Life's too short to carry cheap knives if you can afford better ones.
 
Kind of ironic. I hear a lot of people saying the same thing about BM.
 
I've personally had cs aus-8 out perform better steels. Their heat treat is phenomenal. And speaking of Taiwan, one of my favorite knives is made there, Spyderco Gayle Bradley. Taiwan is definitely NOT China.
 
And to add more choice, how about a ZT0700 - a beefy tanto and if you search around you can find them for $93.

Under 100, beefy, USA made, Zero Tolerance.....I gave these as gifts a couple of years ago and the guys that got them loved them.

I still have to pick one up for me....

best

mqqn
 
Tyronethepro said:
Hey all, I'm on the hunt for a new knife again, but a beefy and overbuilt folder. I like heavier knives so 5oz and up would be nice, pocket clip, tip up carry would be nice, but not a deal breaker, about a 3.5" blade length. I'd like the knife to be equally at home on the construction site and in the woods. It would be used for dressing game, making fires and fuzz sticks, general cutting...and I've even found myself using my CRKT M1 as a shim in between a wall and a piece of pipe at work. It wont be abused, but it'll be treated a bit rougher than my prettier blades like my 890. I wouldn't mind a premium steel, but the typical AUS-8, 440C and the like would do. Something I could touch up easily with my pocket stone.
Overall, what I'm looking for:
About a 3.5" blade length
One handed opening (flipper, studs, wave)
Decent blade steel (154CM, Aus-8, 440C, ETC.)
Heavy 5oz +
I don't really know where to start in the regard to a overbuilt folder, but I'd love to hear what you all think, so any suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you everybody!
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I apologize if I repeat any other answers—I didn't feel like reading through them all. Anyways, if you're looking for beefy, cold steel is incredible. Aus 8 steel, 3.5 inches give or take .5in, and you can abuse these knives if you need to. The American lawman has great ergos, the spear point recon 1 is a bit larger. Both great.

Spyderco uses 8cr13mov which some think is lower quality, but it's basically aus 8, except its a bit softer. I personally don't think it's noticeable. i own the spyderco resilience which is the larger version of the tenacious. I Personally use it for food prep, but I've seen people on YouTube post videos where they truly abuse the thing (batoning, feathersticking, cutting rope/cardboard) then touch it up a bit with a whetstone and get it shaving sharp. The main wow factor is the handle. The grip is better than most knives in my opinion.

I highly suggest the Ontario Rat 1 as well. It's my EDC and its a tank. The lock up is super strong, no blade play at all, and the blade shape is great. It's got a nice long belly, and the tip is strong and can be used for drilling applications.the g-10 (or frn??) handles don't have as grippy of a texture as spydercos, but it still works well. I'm not sure of the weight, but it feels heavy duty. When you hold it, you feel like you can a yse it. (You might have to loosen it up, when I got mine, it was difficult to flick it open, prompting me to loosen the screw just a bit)

There are all sorts of knives out there, but these are under $50 and are TANKS. Highly recommended. I use the rat1 for everything. I carry it on me for when I'm like oh shit I need a knife. And it never lets me down. For instance, I would prefer to baton with an axe or at least a fixed blade, but the ontario rat 1 can do it if you need it too without failing or becoming "damaged" after. ive used it to pry nails out of the wall without failure. It's seriously a great blade. But if you're skinning game is suggest the spyderco. The blade shape is better for it. The Ontario is better for more heavy duty tasks.

P.s. While both the spyderco tenacious and the ontario rat 1 both have a thumb ramp with jimping, the spydercos jimping is much more effective. Imo the rats jimping isn't that aggressive. It works, but side by side, the spyderco triumphs
 
Sosa said:
Kind of ironic. I hear a lot of people saying the same thing about BM.
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BM was a good value until MAP... so your point is what? If we are going to compare apples to apples here, than contrast OKC and CS. Same country of origin, same steel. The Rat is $30 and the Utilitac is $26, so why is it that CS gets away with $70 for the Recon 1? For the price of one CS, the OP could buy three Utilitacs.
 
My point is
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Not arguing just thought I'd throw this out there.
 
Well I made my decisions I do believe. I have a Rat 1 on order, and next week I will be picking up a ZT0200. I couldn't decide on just 1, so I picked 2 with high recommendations. I own a couple more expensive folders, but it will be my first ZT, and my first Ontario folder, I'm actually remarkably excited. I got the chance to play around with my buddies CS Recon Tanto today for a bit, and a Recon is definitely on the list now. Thank you everybody for the wonderful comments and for turning me on to some new knives to add to my collection. I'm going to have to pick up a Resurrection and a Harbinger with my Christmas bonus though.
 
Tyronethepro said:
Well I made my decisions I do believe. I have a Rat 1 on order, and next week I will be picking up a ZT0200. I couldn't decide on just 1, so I picked 2 with high recommendations. I own a couple more expensive folders, but it will be my first ZT, and my first Ontario folder, I'm actually remarkably excited. I got the chance to play around with my buddies CS Recon Tanto today for a bit, and a Recon is definitely on the list now. Thank you everybody for the wonderful comments and for turning me on to some new knives to add to my collection. I'm going to have to pick up a Resurrection and a Harbinger with my Christmas bonus though.
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Great choices. Let us know how you like them when they get to you!

EDCanAdamas said:
The irony in this is that 420HC (Buck 110) is one of my favorite steels. As for AUS-8, I've used it, its okay. I still think CS blades are overpriced for what they are. Does that make me a snob? Really? If I was a snob I'd be so loaded with cash and that I probably would just buy the whole CS line up and not care about the value.

Life's too short to carry cheap knives if you can afford better ones.
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Thinking CS is over priced does not make you a snob but statements like the one above just might ;)

EDCanAdamas said:
BM was a good value until MAP... so your point is what? If we are going to compare apples to apples here, than contrast OKC and CS. Same country of origin, same steel. The Rat is $30 and the Utilitac is $26, so why is it that CS gets away with $70 for the Recon 1? For the price of one CS, the OP could buy three Utilitacs.
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The knives you are trying to compare are vastly different. The Recon 1 is much larger. The Recon 1 features a full G10 handle. The Recon 1 has a unique lock designed by one of the best custom makers/designers on the market today. All of these things cost more money than a RAT 1 or a Utilitac II which are smaller, have plastic handles, and have a run of the mill liner lock.
 
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