Best EDC (in your opinion) for under $50

Just a few ideas
Ontario RAT 1 D2
Buck 110, maybe in D2 too
always CS Voyager size and characteristics of your choice
many othes
 
While it doesn’t fit all your criteria, take a look at the K55K
 
Check out the Civivi knives in 9Cr18Mov. It's a decent budget steel and WE seems to have perfected the heat treatment for it. Performance can meet or exceed Chinese D2 depending on various factors. It also has good corrosion resistance. The Baklash still stands out and there are different versions available. The Naja is great as a larger knife but it has been discontinued.

The Harnds Talisman in 14C28N is worth a look too. It has some of the best manual action in this price range. It feels very comfortable in my hand. It's a good user. It's a full-sized pocket knife that looks classy and carries deeply in the pocket too.
 
Don't know if it's best, but it working well for me. Cold Steel Grik. It's an apt name for an unusual knife with an unusual blade shape, unusual handle and an absolutely unique clip.
--But the steel is AUS 8, and Cold Steel orders up a very good heat treat for it. IMO, AUS8 run at 59HRC is underrated. So many companies cheap out and run it at 56, that people have a bad opinion of it.
---The blade shape is extremely robust and looks kind of funky, yet it cuts and slices well.
--The blade length hits my sweet spot of 3", yet the handle is fills my hand. It's comfortable, too. A lot of knives with 3" blades have short handles that don't allow a full grip.
--The clip is plastic. It doesn't scratch things, yet holds well in my pocket.
--I'm not a big proponent of the need for super strong locks. But the triad lock does lock up like a bank vault, and I do like that.

rqXxqEi.jpg
 
Hard to beat a Cold Steel Voyager , IMO . :cool: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Large size has 4" blade , The Tri-ad lock is very strong and reliable . Handle is ergonomic .

Great work knife , very durable , Comes in several different blade patterns .
 
various swiss army knives
Ontorio RAT
Enlan knives
some cold steels (like voyager), crkt and kershaw
 
sharp_edge said:
At this point of my knife hobby, the only knives that I consider for under $50 are SAKs. Not trying to be snobby but I think up your budget to the $50-$100 range you have much more and better options, like Cold Steel Recon 1 and Code 4, Spyderco Delica 4 and Manix 2 LW.
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Im not saying that I wouldn't spend more on a good work knife, until now I just had no reason to really, but I have bought a few micro techs and a ZT but I don't want to use them for work and Id love to replace some of the cheaper knives I have, they work but the blade steel is crap.
 
So far I am seeing Ontario Knife Company Rat and SAK quite a bit, also considering the Spyderco Delica in 20CV, yes I know going off budget!
 
knarfeng said:
Don't know if it's best, but it working well for me. Cold Steel Grik. It's an apt name for an unusual knife with an unusual blade shape, unusual handle and an absolutely unique clip.
--But the steel is AUS 8, and Cold Steel orders up a very good heat treat for it. IMO, AUS8 run at 59HRC is underrated. So many companies cheap out and run it at 56, that people have a bad opinion of it.
---The blade shape is extremely robust and looks kind of funky, yet it cuts and slices well.
--The blade length hits my sweet spot of 3", yet the handle is fills my hand. It's comfortable, too. A lot of knives with 3" blades have short handles that don't allow a full grip.
--The clip is plastic. It doesn't scratch things, yet holds well in my pocket.
--I'm not a big proponent of the need for super strong locks. But the triad lock does lock up like a bank vault, and I do like that.

rqXxqEi.jpg
Click to expand...

Compared to the lock on that Pocket Bushman, the Triad lock is a marvel of ease and convenience.
 
Another vote for an Ontario Rat 1 (or 2) in D2. Still a great bargain imo for around $40 or a tad under.

The Ruike P801 is another great option at $30.

As a welder/fabricator, do you think you'd get more use out of a multi-tool (MT). Leatherman has a few right at your price range or $10 more.
 
gazz98 said:
Another vote for an Ontario Rat 1 (or 2) in D2. Still a great bargain imo for around $40 or a tad under.

The Ruike P801 is another great option at $30.

As a welder/fabricator, do you think you'd get more use out of a multi-tool (MT). Leatherman has a few right at your price range or $10 more.
Click to expand...
This. Wire cutter for dealing with TIG and MIG rolls, plies for bending rods, screwdriver and knife for re-terminating your stinger. Well, 1/8" rods at least. 5/32 or more and you should resort to something a lot more skookum than the pliers on your MT.
 
Buck 110 or 112
Cold Steel Voyager
Civivi Praxis
Ontario RAT 1
Opinel No. 9 or No. 10
 
I say use your ZT at work. Why not? I carry and use this Arno Bernard iMamba folder for work. I’m in construction so it gets dirty and worked hard. Not a cheap knife, with RWL-34 steel and warthog tusk inlays, but holds up to the job. So so much satisfaction.
21CB4453-A72C-4A96-9922-69676D633426.jpeg
 
Only sub-$50 knife I own is a Victorinox Super Tinker. I keep it in my medicine bag, which accompanies me everywhere.

Otherwise, my "budget" folders would be two Civivi's, the Exarch CF/Damascus, and McKenna Damascus.
 
Shorttime said:
This. Wire cutter for dealing with TIG and MIG rolls, plies for bending rods, screwdriver and knife for re-terminating your stinger. Well, 1/8" rods at least. 5/32 or more and you should resort to something a lot more skookum than the pliers on your MT.
Click to expand...
I keep a Gerber multitool at work, it is extremely handy. But I love to have a pocket knife on hand, its just a comfort thing for me since I have always carried one.
 
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