Best EDC folding knife for around $200 to $250.

Z

Zerolessmusic

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Apr 24, 2014
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Hello everyone,long time reader and decided to start posting! Was just wondering what everyone's favorite EDC folding knife around the price point of $200 or $250. Thanks for the time,pictures would be much appreciated!
 
I like Benchmade. I'm sure you'll here them as well as Spyderco and Zero Tolerance.
 
Tell us a bit more about how you will be using it. Are you looking for hard-use or something for suit/office wear? Any preferred length?
 
addylo said:
Tell us a bit more about how you will be using it. Are you looking for hard-use or something for suit/office wear? Any preferred length?
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I am looking for a blade length of about 3 inches can be a bit smaller or a bit bigger but not by to much, I am going to be using it for stuff like opening boxes,packaging and stuff like that,not anything super abusive. And as far as carry i would be using it as a casual concealed carry,nothing like a suit something like shorts and a T-shirt or normal jeans. Thanks for the response and hope the details help! (sorry for not being more specific)
 
For that type of use you don't necessarily need to spend $200+. A Spyderco Paramilitary 2 or Sage 1 would be a great fit and save you a few bucks.

Moving up the price scale a Spyderco Gayle Bradley or Southard would also work. And there are several ZTs in the $200 range to look at.
 
A folder that has a 3.10" blade and i am extremely happy i bought is the Lionsteel SR2a. Lock up is best i've seen (but is my first framelock knife) and just all around as smooth as can be. Smooth functioning,very comfortable,absolute zero blade play,great steel. Very,very happy with it. Only change wish there would be it some G10 on the opposite side of the lock like ZT's and DPX's have. It's a excellent 3" blade folder.
 
addylo said:
For that type of use you don't necessarily need to spend $200+. A Spyderco Paramilitary 2 or Sage 1 would be a great fit and save you a few bucks.

Moving up the price scale a Spyderco Gayle Bradley or Southard would also work. And there are several ZTs in the $200 range to look at.
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Okay,i figured as much,just wanted to give a price range up to, as i have a few kershaw knives (and dont get me wrong they are nice) but i wanted to move up into a better quality or knife. Anyways thanks for the response, I appreciate it!
 
I'd have to recommend Spyderco as well. Benchmades are great, but I feel they're overpriced ever since they stopped letting dealers sell below certain prices. Zero Tolerance are also nice, but too big and bulky for my taste, as I'm not a hard use kind of guy.

So the reason I vote Spyderco is that I use my knife for things like you described and I find the Spyderhole much preferable to a thumbstud, don't have a preference as far as flippers go, and love that Spydercos typically have flat ground blades, which are wonderful for opening boxes, cutting tape and so on. I also love knives with a forward choil like the Paramilitary 2 or the Persian 75mm, so you can really choke up on the blade.

Maybe try a Spyderco Caly 3 in ZDP with carbon fiber handles?
 
Spyderco makes some great knives in that size and price range. Like others have said, the PM2 is great though it's quite a bit cheaper. If you like flippers, the Spyderco Southard flipper is great. If you are OK with something a little bigger, the ZT hinderer collabs are great. I'm partial to the 0561 (those bearings are nothing short of incredible), but it's a 3.75 inch blade which may be bigger than you're looking for.
 
If large isn't an issue, you can't go wrong with a Zero Tolerance 0560 or 0561, or perhaps either a Spyderco Military or Gayle Bradley. These are all superb in the way of production folders. The Gayle Bradley will need to be maintained more often because the blade is M4, but the edge retention and wear resistance more than make up for taking a minute to clean and lightly oil it periodically. Just my two cents.
 
I've had a lot of folders over the last few yrs. I'm a Spyderco freak.
My favorites in that brand and price range would be the Sage 2 (titanium slabs are standard) and the Caly 3 in either ZDP-189 or in SuperBlue steel if you can find one. These are great knives with 3" blades (or very slightly less than 3" for legal reasons in some localities) for casual EDC. I carried a Caly 3 for several yrs at work and loved it. I'm thinking of carrying a Caly or a Sage 2 again very soon now. I also use these two knives as favorites for gifting. They are also in your price range. Good luck.
Sonnydaze
 
A Spyderco Manix lightweight with S110V steel and a Spyderco Chaparral for "Gentleman" occasions would be nice and in your price range for both.
 
You can pick up a Southard Flipper for $180 something if you buy two from Unitedoutdoors on Ebay. Sell one and get a little extra off of yours.
 
I've carried a Microtech mini SOCOM since March or so, it's a very tough little knife and I really want to get a full size SOCOM one of these days, too. I recently bought a Benchmade 710, which is pretty close in size to the full size SOCOM and I really like it. The full size SOCOMs (manual and automatic) are around $250-300, so that's well below your upper limit.
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Do you have a preference in terms of handle or blade material? How about opening and locking mechanisms? I mean, my main EDC knives are all cheap Kershaws, and only one - an RJI that is my "off the clock" EDC - is one that I would consider a favorite when compared to more expensive knives. If it was available in a USA-made version with better steel, I'd be even happier, but that's all it lacks for my purposes. Now, there are a couple of Kershaws that I consider to be of superior quality to the rest of the line, specifically the excellent 1750 Lahar, but that's still as much a matter of preference as anything. There are a couple of Blur models with upgraded steel that might meet your needs, before cracking into the Zero Tolerance line.

If you do take a look at ZT, the 0770 might be to your liking. It's appropriately sized for EDC but is otherwise (in my opinion) as capable as any other ZT of being a real workhorse.
 
Spyderco Techno. Perfect smaller folder and doesn't scare most people... Southard or Domino would also be good choices from Spyderco
 
Inazone said:
Do you have a preference in terms of handle or blade material? How about opening and locking mechanisms? I mean, my main EDC knives are all cheap Kershaws, and only one - an RJI that is my "off the clock" EDC - is one that I would consider a favorite when compared to more expensive knives. If it was available in a USA-made version with better steel, I'd be even happier, but that's all it lacks for my purposes. Now, there are a couple of Kershaws that I consider to be of superior quality to the rest of the line, specifically the excellent 1750 Lahar, but that's still as much a matter of preference as anything. There are a couple of Blur models with upgraded steel that might meet your needs, before cracking into the Zero Tolerance line.

If you do take a look at ZT, the 0770 might be to your liking. It's appropriately sized for EDC but is otherwise (in my opinion) as capable as any other ZT of being a real workhorse.
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i dont have a preference for blade material or handle but i would love to have a usa made (although i know they can be more expensive)
 
Zerolessmusic said:
i dont have a preference for blade material or handle but i would love to have a usa made (although i know they can be more expensive)
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Although you can certainly get into the more exotic (and expensive) super steels as you spend more money, steels such as S30V, VG-10 and Elmax become more and more common once you spend upwards of $100. If you don't have a preference, the playing field is wide open. Handle/grip/scale materials vary too, but the choices there depend mostly on looks and comfort. Aluminum and G10 are abundant, but your stated price point includes titanium and carbon fiber, among others. I personally like a slightly heavier knife than a lot of people, so if I get a knife with a G10 handle, I prefer steel liners underneath.

If you don't have your mind made up on materials, design aesthetics can be your focus. If I can control myself for a little while and stay away from the Exchange, my next folder will hopefully be something from the Hogue EX line. I don't need one, but their aluminum-handled tanto is something I've lusted after for several months.
 
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