Best bang for buck quality folders

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Jun 16, 2010
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Having collected over 40 folders over the years of most of the quality brands except Sebenza the Zero Tolerance 301 and 302 seem to have most of the bases covered.Eg Titanium frame lock, G10 scale, Hinderer lock stop, Coated S30V blade and Assisted opening. All of this for at least half the price of anything that comes close and it's not made in China. The Kershaw Junkyard Dog also needs a mention for bang for buck and this comes from some one who owns many more Benchmades and considers Spyderco their favourite brand.
 
Don't forget the Buck 110, the daddy of 'em all. Robust, tough knife of good steel, and can be had for under $30.00.
 
Kershaw Storm is on that list as well. Good steel, quick, feels good and very stable in the hand. Good design and well built knife for not a lot of money.
 
Anything from the Byrd line.

Blades from 20 to 40 from Buck. Especially the 110, 112

Endura 4.

Condor Rodan

Victorinox (pick a flavor)

All out do the prices they sell for.
 
Value is my favorite subject. I define "value" as relative suitability to the task at a certain price point vs. all other obtainable offerings tested for the same criteria.

I agree that the ZT's are good value.

The manufacturer that tops my list currently is ESEE. They are priced right, and perform beyond expectation. They also offer something for every occasion including the model 1 folder, an awesome value IMO.
 
Spydero Persistence/Tenacious. They have better F&F than many $100+ knives with perfectly centered blades, zero blade play. Nothing is even close when it comes to value than these two outstanding knives. All for less than 30 bucks.
 
I agree about the ZT 0300/1/2 being a great value. Just reading about it and looking at pictures online, it can seem a bit on the expensive side, but once you get it in hand and see the quantities of titanium, G10, and S30V used, as well as the stellar build quality, you're likely to change your mind.

It was a limited run rather than a regular production model, but I'd also put the Kershaw Volt near the top of any "best value higher-end folders" list.
 
Old designs:
My favorite hard users are the old U.S. Schrade lockbacks. I have six, in various configurations, and they're all lifetime knives. All were bought for under $35., and four of those were under $20.

Folks look down on the old U.S. Schrade stainless, but it's served me well since my high school days.

For EDC pocket knives, any of the Victorinox offerings.

New designs:
Spydero Persistence/Tenacious.
*
All for less than 30 bucks.

Definitely these two, and the Resilience when it's [finally] released.

Another would be the Delica/Endura lines. Great variety of handle style, blade and edge types, and steel types, for the cost. With Spyderco's constant upgrades, they just keep getting better.

(I didn't realize it 'til just recently, but I've started collecting Enduras. :p )

~Chris
 
Boker Trance, a few of the newer Cold Steel folders utilizing Demko's Triad system, and Spyderco's VG10 Endura. Definitely bang for the bucks there.
 
Sanrenmu, Buck 300 series, Case Yellow Handle series, Victorinox Swiss Army Knives, Byrd, Rough Rider, Opinel...

Those are my particular favorites.
 
I think the CRK small sebenza is the best bang for the buck. Maybe if you had one, you wouldn't have got so many others? I know that in my case, it stopped me from buying anything else.
 
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Gayle Bradley by Spyderco! A great knife with a lot of premium materials

for a very reasonable price. :thumbup:
 
I think the CRK small sebenza is the best bang for the buck. Maybe if you had one, you wouldn't have got so many others? I know that in my case, it stopped me from buying anything else.

IMHO, i don't see any sebenza's as "bang for the buck" knives, im sure they're absolutely brilliant knives (never had the funds to get one), but to me, if i'm paying that much for a knife i expect it to be pretty good. Although to me a sebenza is an expensive knife, i know some people see it as a not too expenise knife especially when compared to some >$1000 knives.
 
I think the CRK small sebenza is the best bang for the buck. Maybe if you had one, you wouldn't have got so many others? I know that in my case, it stopped me from buying anything else.

:thumbup: I agree to get a knife similar to the quality of a Sebenza you will have pay at least a thousand bucks and possibly have to sit on a makers waiting list for a couple years!
 
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