Best Budget Blades

[DebX36]

For a "purebred" machete the Speed Machete is a heck of a model as well. Doesn't get nearly enough press time.

I've been looking into it. Also the eco El Salvador and the normal El Salvador as a combo

 

[TSmith2016]

Why not?

 

[22-rimfire]

The only Condor that I had to do a lot of sanding (which is why I prefer wood handles) on the handles is the discontinued 14" Puerto Rican which is now the Swamp Master at 16". Good machete too. The hooked end is useful for pulling brush out of your way or moving a log on the ground where you might not want to reach down because of creatures (scorpians and snakes) until you know it's safe. The El Salvador is 18" and about the longest I would go unless you are very accustomed using a machete (safety ya know).

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I know some people are very pushed for money but is there reallyyy a reason to buy a $25 knife when a $50 knife is far superior and only $25 more?

Better in what way? As enthusiasts, we overbuy all the time. I would posit that the vast majority of us would be absolutely fine using $25 knives for the rest of our lives and, after a bit of adjustment, most of us would stop feeling like anything was lacking.

There are a select few for whom the features found on more expensive knives are necessary, or at least very, very desirable, but they're honestly the minority.

If I handed you a Byrd folder, Mora fixed blade, Tramontina machete and Fiskars axe what task would you fall short on that you'd succeed if you had a budget of $25 more for each?

I'm all about spending more money on knives than I need to, and I'm not gonna judge you, but don't kid yourself. For the majority of the population a quality $25 knife makes a lot more sense than a $50 one. We buy what we want, not what we need.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

Better in what way? As enthusiasts, we overbuy all the time. I would posit that the vast majority of us would be absolutely fine using $25 knives for the rest of our lives and, after a bit of adjustment, most of us would stop feeling like anything was lacking.

There are a select few for whom the features found on more expensive knives are necessary, or at least very, very desirable, but they're honestly the minority.

If I handed you a Byrd folder, Mora fixed blade, Tramontina machete and Fiskars axe what task would you fall short on that you'd succeed if you had a budget of $25 more for each?

I'm all about spending more money on knives than I need to, and I'm not gonna judge you, but don't kid yourself. For the majority of the population a quality $25 knife makes a lot more sense than a $50 one. We buy what we want, not what we need.

+1. Most of my knives are now $100 or more, but I'd be lying to myself to say I NEED them. My Byrd Robin and cara cara are unbelievable, but I spent more cuz I wanted cooler knives. But they don't cut better or take a better edge. Need to be sharpened more frequently, but sharpen easy.

 

[Niddler1]

The problem is, you can keep moving that needle.....

I would save up.
If you have $25 you'll eventually have $50, and then $100.

Buy the knife you really want, not the price you want to pay.

Patience is not an easy thing to practice though.

Is it though? If you are on a tight budget then you likely want a knife exclusively as a tool... As a tool $50 knives are hard to beat! Maybe a $200 knife performs a little better (maybe) but replacement cost is so high!

 

[Henry Beige]

Is it though? If you are on a tight budget then you likely want a knife exclusively as a tool... As a tool $50 knives are hard to beat! Maybe a $200 knife performs a little better (maybe) but replacement cost is so high!

As a tool, $12-15 knives are hard to beat.

 

[MidnightSun]

Budget knives I've come to love...
Folders: $35 CRKT Endorser, $35 Spydie Persistance, $39 Kershaw Link (USA), $30 Ontario Rat 1
Fixed blade skinners: $22 Buck 673 MAX (USA), $20 Kershaw Antelope Hunter II
Large woods blades: $58 Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie

 

[Niddler1]

+1. Most of my knives are now $100 or more, but I'd be lying to myself to say I NEED them. My Byrd Robin and cara cara are unbelievable, but I spent more cuz I wanted cooler knives. But they don't cut better or take a better edge. Need to be sharpened more frequently, but sharpen easy.

Just be happy i'm not the guy who says around 4-500 is a good amount for a beater! I guess you guys are right but I much prefer the feel of a $50 cold steel to a $20 ontario

 

[Spartan00]

Folders : cold steel any of the folders is aus8 can be found pretty cheap if you shop around. Ontario rat 1 is another one .

Fixed blade: Moras, seriously if you don't have a mora I almost want to send you one just to expierence what a 10 dollar knife that will out cut a knife 10x more expensive. Seriously they are that good. Bought 1 just for kicks for 10 bucks . Cut a box down with it ,went back to ebay and bought 5-6 more just to stash around the house or in the cars ,in the garage ,in a tool bag. 10 bucks if you shop around . Now I'm speaking of the carbon blades. No idea how the stainless performs.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

Just be happy i'm not the guy who says around 4-500 is a good amount for a beater! I guess you guys are right but I much prefer the feel of a $50 cold steel to a $20 ontario

Lol, yeah beat that budget sebenza![emoji12]

 

[midnight flyer]

Better in what way? As enthusiasts, we overbuy all the time. I would posit that the vast majority of us would be absolutely fine using $25 knives for the rest of our lives and, after a bit of adjustment, most of us would stop feeling like anything was lacking.

There are a select few for whom the features found on more expensive knives are necessary, or at least very, very desirable, but they're honestly the minority.

If I handed you a Byrd folder, Mora fixed blade, Tramontina machete and Fiskars axe what task would you fall short on that you'd succeed if you had a budget of $25 more for each?

I'm all about spending more money on knives than I need to, and I'm not gonna judge you, but don't kid yourself. For the majority of the population a quality $25 knife makes a lot more sense than a $50 one. We buy what we want, not what we need.

I am a big fan if snipping quotes, but I agree so wholeheartedly with the whole thing there wasn't any excess to cut.

In my world any "safe" knife (decently made, no safety issues, decent materials and useful design) has a place. I have expensive folders and not so expensive. Unlike most folks on this forum I use my knives daily and sometimes constantly in my construction work. I have a Kershaw with S110V (a limited run Shallot), a couple of Benchmades with 154CM (one ridiculously hardened), a Spyderco with S30V promised to be hardened to 60 on the Rockwell scale. All of these are excellent knives.

After 40 years of construction work as a hands on tradesman I carry a couple of knives on a routine basis that serve well. I use a Kershaw Tremor a lot as its wicked hollow grind makes it easy to sharpen (steel is 8CrMoV) after cutting fiberglass strapping, an occasional sheetrock trim, carving on moldings, opening heavy shipping boxes, cutting glass insulation, even sharpening my carpenter's pencils all day long. I like that knife enough I bought three of them! I have a RAT1 that I have used for about 5 years that was bought when they first came out. It has done everything asked of it. I had a lot of roofing work for a couple of years and used it to cut felt paper (when my utility knife was MIA), cut the heavy plastic from commercial adhesives, and on an on. It was frequently COVERED with tar and adhesives so I cleaned it with a brush and charcoal lighter fluid. After cleaning, a few passes on the finest sandpaper I have in the truck and a drop of oil on the joint and I am back in business. The knife looks like hell, but it still locks up tight as a bank vault after years on the job. The steel is soft enough I can re-edge with 600 gr sandpaper for a jobsite edge. No need to go on about my other carries.

I love my "upper end knives" and certainly feel like my Valloton is better built than most customs. But I buy more expensive knives because I want them, not because I need them. I get a lot of enjoyment out of carrying my more expensive knives, but can't afford to wreck something like my Valloton by accidently dripping solvent on it or having it slip from my hand an fall off a roof. Strangely, no matter what I do to my less expensive equipment it just doesn't seem to hurt them. The scales on my RAT are smooth to the point of being shiny they are so polished. I have had to bend the pocket clip back twice to get it to clamp on my jeans better. I have had to grind (lightly) a couple of small chips out of the blade. But even after all of that, I would bet that knife has another 10 years of work in it.

There are a lot of selections out there that will cover the needs of the average user. We on this forum certainly over buy, and rarely use the knives we buy to their potential.

Robert

 

[Niddler1]

Lol, yeah beat that budget sebenza![emoji12]

If you regularly collect knives in the $800-1500 range then low end Ferum Forges, basic Sebenzas, Striders, and Hinderers CERTAINLY seem like user knives lol!!

Too the guys for whom price isn't an issue the only thing needed in a user is there being other ones in the world!!!!
(I say this while my avg knife is around $150 and my most expensive is a $425 inlay small Sebenza)
Like everyone else has said, buy what makes you happy and you're comfortable using