Best bang for the buck traditional folder

colubrid

colubrid

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I am new to folders. Tell me what to get.

Price range anything from $50-$200. I don't want junk. I just don't know if there is a comparable Para 2 or Benchmade 710 in the traditional folder world ?
 
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GEC, Tidioute, Northfield, Schatt & Morgan, Queen, Canal Street, Case/Bose collaborations, there are many in your price range with comparable quality to those moderns.

They compare favorably with my Sebenza, Mnandi, William Henry, higher end Spyderco's and Benchmades with no problem. As for patterns, they're nearly limitless!
 
That's a tough one outside of an opinel, lagouile or XL sodbuster there's not a whole lot of big traditionals to use the pm example. I would just get what pleases you. An opinel is a must its inexpensive and you might end up reaching for iit more ththan you would ever think you would. Its essentially a super sharp butter knife sized knife in strong carbon.

The 2 blade trapper and 3 blade stockman traditionals are your very standard and most popular slippies. If you really want to spend the upper range and own a piece of usable art there are some really cool makers in the custom for sale section that sometimes turn up in the private for sale as well. Slippies cut really well in general so how much you pay for one is moot on that point. You will get different levels of fit, finish and materials though in different price range. I've been jonesing for a case g10 peanut lately just because the scale material is likely to be highly durable over the years like the schrade old timer scales.
 
GEC makes two lines of traditional folders. Tidioute makes excellent and well built models in a huge selection and with lots of variety. The Northfield line by GEC is the same line of knives with a bit better finish (polishing, small detail "bells n whistles" to dress them up a nothch - a Deluxe line).

I find GEC's folders to be of outstanding quality in function, fit and finish. They typically run in the $60 to $150 price range. For a non-custom knife they're very difficult to beat. I'm very impressed by them and proud to own and carry them. GEC strives to be true to the old original classics in the materials and construction methods of the 1800's - early 1900's (the hey-day of pocket-knife craftsmanship).

There are certainly some others and folks will discuss them here also, but you simply cannot go wrong with GEC's Tidioute or Northfield lines.

Case, Buck, Schrade are time-tested classic pocket knives also if you're looking to stay in the $30-$70 price range.

There are many others so if I've neglected to mention them all it's 4:40 am here and my brain is still a little fuzzy at this hour!
 
colubrid said:
I am new to folders. Tell me what to get.

Price range anything from $50-$200. I don't want junk. I just don't know if there is a comparable Para 2 or Benchmade 710 in the traditional folder world ?
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In that price range, just find the Great Eastern Cutlery model that suits your fancy. You're done! :thumbup: Please be sure to let us know what you decide on, and how it works out for you.

-- Mark
 
Maybe the OP can clarify his criteria?

Cutting performance?

Durability?

Craftsmanship/aesthetics?

Ease of maintenance?

Opinel wins on the first two.

The third is a matter of taste by a long shot.
 
Some of the best "bang for the buck" comes in the under $50 range. There is such a wide range of options that until you define what your "bang" is, then trying to answer your question is a futile exercise.

For example - is it looks, fit, finish that floats your boat? Or are you looking for functionality, durability, ease of maintenance? Or some combination of those features? What weighting do you apply to each of your desired features?

For example - Great Eastern Cutlery makes some very attractive well made knives, but most are made with 1095 carbon steel blades. So if you need or prefer stainless steel, your choices are very limited and they haven't made any in stainless recently. If you like or just don't mind carbon steel, then there are plenty of knives from GEC in your price range.
 
I think some of the best bang for the buck pocket knives out there are the U.S. made 300 series by Buck. The 303 cadet and 301 stockman are very reasonably priced, give you a choice of three blades in one package, and are built on a toughness level with a WW2 Sherman tank. And you can get them in yella, a really traditional color.
 
jackknife said:
I think some of the best bang for the buck pocket knives out there are the U.S. made 300 series by Buck. The 303 cadet and 301 stockman are very reasonably priced, give you a choice of three blades in one package, and are built on a toughness level with a WW2 Sherman tank. And you can get them in yella, a really traditional color.
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I just ordered a 301 yesterday myself.
It will go nicely with it's 110,373 and other siblings.
 
I've got the Buck 301 and 303 in yellow Delrin myself. Sturdy workhorses. If your requirement is for a strong, well built user then the Buck 30x line is really hard to beat.
 
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