Best EDC Knife for under $200?

O

ORANGEm0ney

Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
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Hi, I'm looking for an EDC knife for under $200. I want it to be non-assisted. 3" blade max, and preferably a thumb-stud open.
Hopefully you guys know what's good out there!
Thanks! :D
 
I know this suggestion goes beyond your specifications slightly in 2 different categories but seriously take a good hard look at the spyderco southard flipper. They run $220-250 depending on where you can find one and have a 3.4" blade, but honestly, the southard is probably the best edc type production knife on the market right now. It really is THAT good. Ti frame lock, ti lined g10 front scale, spectacular cts-204p blade steel, ball bearing pivot system, and fit and finish rivaling knives costing several times more (the build quality and fit and finish have been compared (albeit in the spyderco section...)to hinderer...blasphemy I know...). Either way, I have been carrying mine for a week or so now and seriously can't put it down. This knife is a game changer to be sure.

Within your specifications though, its hard to to go wrong with a Ritter mini grip with a nice set of custom scales. The griptilian platform is excellent to begin with, add the awesome ritter blade profile and some upgraded custom scales and you have a world class edc knife that rivals anything out there.

Heres my cpm-m4 ritter mini with custom cuscadi carbon fiber micarta scales:
IMG_20120829_130801.jpg
 
In that size/price range I'd look at the Spyderco Techno. It's not a thumb stud opener, but Spyderco's spyder hole works great. The Techno has a 2.55" blade and Ti handles with a frame lock. It's seriously overbuilt and will stand up to alot. Street prices are well withn your target. Or, if you were able to stretch your budget just a SLIGHT amount, I'd look at the Benchmade 755 MPR. It's got thumb studs and a 2.9" blade. It's also a SERIOUSLY over built knife.
 
A Spyderco Sage 2 might be worth considering. Of course it has a hole instead of thumb studs.
 
if it was best knife period i would say the spyderco military. after owning sebenza's, hinderer's and strider's. i can say i love the $130 plain jane military the most. if you must follow a 3 inch law i would say a spyderco native 5, benchmade mini ritter griptilian, spyderco techno, benchmade 707...... those are my favorite 3 inch folders.
 
Spyderco Manix II would fit nicely. I was going to say the ZT 0550, but the blade is a bit longer than three inches.
 
If you are willing to go a little longer in blade length (3.44") the Para Military2 is an excellent choice (the best IMO). It's only 3.75oz... amazing for what it packs. Something to consider.
 
I would get a small Sebenza, but it's just too expensive. lol. So I guess I'm really looking for a titanium frame lock.

I am even considering a Sage 2, even though I got a Sage 1.. Even though that would not be ideal because they will feel like the same knife probably.
 
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another vote for the para 2... it honestly is just an amazing knife. I have high end benchmades, cold steel's, zt's, kershaw's, spyderco's and for some reason, I'm always giddy when I deploy the old para 2.
 
Might be hard to find for a few days. It just came out last week.

300SN.jpg


Benchmade 300SN. If you like serrations (like me) there is a partially serrated version too (300SSN)

It's about $112 at online dealers.
 
if you were willing to go up a little in size, the Blade Tech magnum hunter is awesome! Great steel and a super liner lock...I'd put it up against a spyderco Military (which I love by the way) any day of the week and twice on Sunday :D
 
Love my alias I, so i'm going to go with the alias II vote....Smooth, fast, sharp, very good edge retention, lock up is solid, and is a slim titanium framelock.
 
Alias. Techno....way more positives than the Sage 2. Flawless tank of a knife. It's a baby had from a small Sebenza and a VECP or Strider. For the price.....you can compare it to something $100-200 more! Honest. I like CTS-XHP better also. Great steel
 
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