You can easily get 90% of the quality for 25% of the price.
A great knife for sure, but well past the point of diminishing returns. Not a very good example of bang for buck IMO.
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Best bang for buck quality folders
- Thread starter Thrustus
- Start date
You can easily get 90% of the quality for 25% of the price.
A great knife for sure, but well past the point of diminishing returns. Not a very good example of bang for buck IMO.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2009
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- 11,409
I'm tempted to get one, but the lack of choice on the blade steel is somewhat of a letdown. I like to have all the different flavors.
The venerable Buck 110 should get top honors. Oddly, the pricey, but now canned, Buck 172 Mayo TNT was a 'bargain' for it's type of knife, even if the Vantage Pro did usurp that position with the same blade at a fraction of the price. Another now long gone goodie - the Japaneese made Kershaw 1993-2 'Gentleman's Folder' - in VG-10. Bargain!!
I wanted to bring up the mainstay Benchmade 710 as a choice, but my recent 15020-1 'Bone Collector' really is 'da bomb' for fewer denaros. Beautiful beast of a knife - both with D2 steel and the infamous AXIS lock. Forget the graphics.
For a slippie, I think the German-made Boker Tree Brand Classics, pick your style, is a hard act to beat - carbon steel and all. For something with more functions, a Victorinox SAK is tough to beat - the 'Farmer' being my choice there.
The ultimate value is that easily found Buck 110.
Stainz
I wanted to bring up the mainstay Benchmade 710 as a choice, but my recent 15020-1 'Bone Collector' really is 'da bomb' for fewer denaros. Beautiful beast of a knife - both with D2 steel and the infamous AXIS lock. Forget the graphics.
For a slippie, I think the German-made Boker Tree Brand Classics, pick your style, is a hard act to beat - carbon steel and all. For something with more functions, a Victorinox SAK is tough to beat - the 'Farmer' being my choice there.
The ultimate value is that easily found Buck 110.
Stainz
Agreed, I know the Sebenza is fantastic, but to date, haven't found anything it can do that, for example, my American Lawman cannot.
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2010
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- 740
Great choice on the Vantage Pro. The build quality on the pro version is so good that it actually makes the less expensive versions obsolete.
Having said that, I do realize that spending an extra 20 bucks for some is a waste of money.
The Vantage line is great, no matter what your wallet can handle.
There, I just spent 2 cents!
Having said that, I do realize that spending an extra 20 bucks for some is a waste of money.
The Vantage line is great, no matter what your wallet can handle.
There, I just spent 2 cents!
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- Jun 14, 2010
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- 740
Forgot to quote this reply.
- Joined
- May 5, 2007
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- 470
Wow those ZT 301/302's are frickin awesome!!
But they seem HUGE!
I checked out the ZT 350's and they seem more manageable and a great price @ $112, but they don't seem to have the titanium lock on them...
Does having the hinge/lock titanium make it much less likely to break the blade off the handle?
Also, what's so special about this G10 material? Is it just super hard and indestructable?
I'd also have to say that I've seen some Hogues that are pretty badass. But how do they compare to ZT?
I do love the valley finger groove they have to catch the thumb release - great idea!
But they seem HUGE!
I checked out the ZT 350's and they seem more manageable and a great price @ $112, but they don't seem to have the titanium lock on them...
Does having the hinge/lock titanium make it much less likely to break the blade off the handle?
Also, what's so special about this G10 material? Is it just super hard and indestructable?
I'd also have to say that I've seen some Hogues that are pretty badass. But how do they compare to ZT?
I do love the valley finger groove they have to catch the thumb release - great idea!
- Joined
- May 5, 2007
- Messages
- 470
My retirement gift from me to me arrived last Thursday - a Wilson Combat 'StarTac' version of the CRK Umnumzaan. This has skewed my reasoning - I feel it is a bargain! How can a $430 knife be a 'bargain'? You are through buying knives when you get one. I could have saved myself a bunch of moola this year alone had I learned this earlier. However nice you think it is - it's nicer.
And... what blade steel could you use that is better than properly heat-treated S30V? It is a fine blade steel designed for cutlery use - not a ball bearing steel like BG-42 - or a tool steel, like A2, D2, M2, M4, etc. The designed ergonomics are near perfect for my medium+ hands. The fit and finish are flawless - as is the even bevel - and sharp edge.
Think about it - what have you spent searching for the 'best' EDC folder in the last year or two?
Stainz
And... what blade steel could you use that is better than properly heat-treated S30V? It is a fine blade steel designed for cutlery use - not a ball bearing steel like BG-42 - or a tool steel, like A2, D2, M2, M4, etc. The designed ergonomics are near perfect for my medium+ hands. The fit and finish are flawless - as is the even bevel - and sharp edge.
Think about it - what have you spent searching for the 'best' EDC folder in the last year or two?
Stainz
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2010
- Messages
- 1,300
Congrats on the new Buck. I've been looking at these too. Seems like a good one. Esp. for the $50 area.
I just got an Ontario RAT 1. Was going to throw it in for a good "bang for the buck" knife. ($25 range)
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2009
- Messages
- 1,679
Agreed. There's no question that it's an outstanding knife, but it's also priced like one.
My vote is for Zero Tolerance. They are some of the finest quality production knives you can buy (period)! The fact that they are relatively affordable is a bonus.
I have a few and just bought a 0350 for a EDC. Its a incredible knife that is every bit as tough as its bigger brother the 0300 line. The 0350 has got to be the biggest quality knife bargain anywhere. I highly recomend the 0350 and its street price is ridiculously low. Its like buying a Porsche 911 turbo for $15k.
I have a few and just bought a 0350 for a EDC. Its a incredible knife that is every bit as tough as its bigger brother the 0300 line. The 0350 has got to be the biggest quality knife bargain anywhere. I highly recomend the 0350 and its street price is ridiculously low. Its like buying a Porsche 911 turbo for $15k.
- Joined
- May 5, 2007
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- 470
My vote is for Zero Tolerance. They are some of the finest quality production knives you can buy (period)! The fact that they are relatively affordable is a bonus.
I have a few and just bought a 0350 for a EDC. Its a incredible knife that is every bit as tough as its bigger brother the 0300 line. The 0350 has got to be the biggest quality knife bargain anywhere. I highly recomend the 0350 and its street price is ridiculously low. Its like buying a Porsche 911 turbo for $15k.
The ZT350 doesn't have a Ti framelock like the 300 series though does it?
No, but it has the biggest/thickest liner lock you have ever seen. ZT says they have tested their liner locks and never could make one fail. After using it, I tend to believe them.
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- Oct 1, 2002
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Good list. I was thinking about the same thing.