Best Budget Blades

D

DebX36

Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Messages
41
Just wondering what everyone's top choices for budget blades are! Whatever "budget" means to you, that is. Your cheapies may very well be someone else's high end. I'd like to see your thoughts on:

Fixed Blade:
Folder:
Machete:
Hatchet/Axe:
Click to expand...

Personally, I'm gonna go with

Fixed Blade: Mora Robust Pro ($15) or Ontario SP
Folder: Kershaw 1302BW (Main reason going with this model, albeit chinese, is the tanto blade, as well as the speed assist) ($20)
Machete: Ontario 18" Machete ($20) or any of Cold Steel's black class (I mainly go with Ontario for its USA madeness)
Hatchet/Axe: Estwing 24A ($30) (Im more a fan of wood handled axes and hatchets, for rehandling purposes, but this is amazing for its price)

For less than $100, you can get all the blades you need, and maintain a good quality as well. This is the set up I usually give my new prepper and woodsy buddies. Let's see what you all pick!
 
Fixed: Svord Kiwi General Outdoors. Criminally underrated budget blade.
Folder: Byrd Cara Cara 2.
Machete: Tramontina, pick a model.
Hatchet/Axe: Fiskars. I know people hate on 'em, but they work really well for the money. Just be prepared to sharpen.
 
All less than $38
Folder: Lone Wolf (Benchmade) Mini Landslide (will not likely rust)
Fixed: Cold Steel Mini Pendleton Hunter or Bucklite Max
Hatchet: Gerber Bear Grylls (I know, but it is good) survival hatchet
Neck: Outdoor Edge Wedge or Cold Steel Super Edge
 
For budget machetes, Imacasa cleans house--absolutely no question.
 
Fixed: Boker Colubris
Foder: Opinel No.6 carbone
Machete: Imacasa
Hatchet: There is no good "cheap" option, but a fiskars fits the bill best for the price
 
Fixed Blade: Mora Companion (or Robust for a few extra bucks)
Folder: Byrd Cara Cara 2
Machete: Anything by Tramontina
Hatchet/Axe: As others have alluded to, there's no such thing as a good cheap axe, but Fiskers is the closest thing
 
Fixed Blade: Cold Steel Bushman
Folder: Kershaw CQC 5
Machete: E-Toh (Thai coconut machete)
Hatchet/Axe: Cold Steel Rifleman's Hawk
 
Fixed: Ahti Finnman, Mora 711
Folder: SRM 710, Victorinox Walker, Opinel anything (best used deal - Victorinox Huntsman)
Machete: Old Hickory 1095 Butcher (controversy!)
 
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Folder - buck 482
Pocket - cv case soddy Jr
Fixed - old hickory project
Machete - marbles ( take your pic )
Hatchet - Vaughan sub zero
Axe - CT boys axe
( I just stuck with current production items, but restoring vintage axes and hatchets is always priority, and vintage carbon kitchen knives are usually found for only a buck or two )
 
Fixed Blade: Schrade Schf36($27) or Condor Bushlore($32)

Folder: Ontario Rat 1 or 2($26)

Machete: Ontario 18" machete($25)

Hatchet/Axe: Fiskars x7($30)
 
Folder: Smith & Wesson - $47.99

fire-store-online-sw-knife__1_
 
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Im in the mood to type a bit.

Fixed EDC - Benchmark Backpacker. (awesome little slab of steel and nice sheath with 2 clips) $15
Fixed General outdoor tasks- Mora $15
Fixed Chopper - Condor or Ontario SP (lots of SP variations to choose from)
Fixed Fishing - Mora Stainless combo edge in bright Orange. $15 (The serrations actually taper off for a smooth transition.) Amazing boat knife
Fixed Hunting - Cold Steel Pentleton Light $20
Machete - Tramontina $15-20
Hatchet - Eastwing or Fiskars

Folder Mini EDC -Blade Tech Mouse or Ratel $20 (the wegner mouse is the spitting image of the old spyderco wegner mouse. Fit and finish is great.
Folder EDC - Kabar Dozier Hunter FRN $20
Folder Gentlemen EDC - Kershaw Crown $10-$12 (Real micarta, stainless bolsters, and smooth action)
Folder Self Defense - There are a lot of big, inexpensive "Tactical" blades out there. I say a Kershaw/Emerson cqc8k for $30. (Wave dominates in self defense IMO)
Folder Fishing - Kabar Dozier Hunter High Vis $20
Folder Hunting - Kabar Dozier Hunter $20
Folding Saw. Bahco Laplander. $25 (There is an insane deal on that big online auction site for a Bacho folding saw and Bahco/Mora stainless knife for $26.50)
 
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Fixed: Mora 612 (or Condor Bushlore, Condor Kephart).
Folder: Opinel No. 7 or 8.
Machete: Condor Golok
 
Fixed: Mora Classic
Folder: Opinel No. 9, Kershaw Chill, Byrd Cara Cara 2, Mercator K55K, Ontario RAT 1, Cold Steel Tuff Lite, KA-BAR Dozier
Machete: Condor Bolo, Imacasa, Tramontina
Axes: Don't know enough about axes to make a recommendation. Heard good things about Estwing.
 
Folder: Kershaw CQC6, Victorinox Pioneer
Fixed: Mora Robust
Machette: Tramontina 18"
Hatchet/axe: Marbles camp axe, or find an old Plumb at a yard sale....
 
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