Best Folder for under $30

Tenacious would be where my money would go. I have no experience with Boker, but some of the knifes definitely fit the "tacticool" look so prevalent these days.
 
Dagon, I've been eyeing the Ice Storms (Mcusta's) for awhile now, but I'm wondering about the pocket clip. Apparently, it can't be moved to another position, but can it be removed entirely, without affecting the functioning of the knife? I'm not crazy about the colors, but the red in your photo looks more muted than the colors I've seen online. Is that photo an accurate representation of the color? Have you held the straight body variety of the Ice Storm? Impressions? I remember reading a review of this knife somewhere online (in this forum?), but I can't seem to find it now. Can anyone direct me to it? Thanks.
 
All my favorites have been mentioned.

Boker Trance
Kabar Doziers (I also have the spearpoint)
Spyderco Byrds, Tenacious

If you have a Walmart close to you, you can buy off their website and have it sent free to your store. I got my Cara Cara for about $24 from there.


I admit the Ice storm is new to me. I'll have to check it out.
 
archieblue said:
spend a little less on yourself and spend a little more for your brother. If your budget is THAT tight, bring a tuna salad sandwich to work instead of eating fast food for a few days, and shazam!... you have the extra $10 it'll cost to buy a nice Spyderco Native that is made in Golden, CO, USA, Earth. .... Go down to Walmart, and do it now, or you might not get one before they sell out for X-mas.
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+1 :thumbup:

For the extra $10 you will get a very good knife that you will not have to replace next year.
 
bladelust said:
Dagon, I've been eyeing the Ice Storms (Mcusta's) for awhile now, but I'm wondering about the pocket clip. Apparently, it can't be moved to another position, but can it be removed entirely, without affecting the functioning of the knife? I'm not crazy about the colors, but the red in your photo looks more muted than the colors I've seen online. Is that photo an accurate representation of the color? Have you held the straight body variety of the Ice Storm? Impressions? I remember reading a review of this knife somewhere online (in this forum?), but I can't seem to find it now. Can anyone direct me to it? Thanks.
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I can speak to that as I have two of the curved (gold and maroon) and two straight greens as well as several Mcustas.

I've disassembled all four of my Ice Storms so I know what's inside.

The clip is indeed integral to the liner and can't be rearranged. It could be removed by cutting it off at the top of the liner and filing the liner smooth again and I can't see how that would have any effect on function.

Between the two handle styles I prefer the straight body to the curved. Either way, they are great knives for the money. Japanese VG-10 for $30 plus shipping? Can't beat it. I would guess the HT is in the 58-61 range rc like Mcusta's standard VG-10.

I disassembled them and applied Militec-1 with a hair dryer. They take apart and go back together very easily. The pivot adjust works really well. These knives are SMOOTH and can be adjusted to flick open with barely any thumb effort and with zero blade play. They lock up tight and work really well one handed for both opening and closing. If you're a righty who appreciates a smooth scaled knife that is designed well and very well put together they are a fantastic value. They came EXTREMELY sharp and were a virtual razor after a couple passes on my strop.

Here are some pictures, a couple that may help illustrate how the clip is designed and a couple that demonstrate it's size next to a few other knives:

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Reeek said:
I can speak to that as I have two of the curved (gold and maroon) and two straight greens as well as several Mcustas.

I've disassembled all four of my Ice Storms so I know what's inside.

The clip is indeed integral to the liner and can't be rearranged. It could be removed by cutting it off at the top of the liner and filing the liner smooth again and I can't see how that would have any effect on function.

Between the two handle styles I prefer the straight body to the curved. Either way, they are great knives for the money. Japanese D2 for $30 plus shipping? Can't beat it. I would guess the HT is in the 58-61 range rc like Mcusta's standard D2.
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Thanks, Reeek. Everything I've read says the blades are VG10...are some of them made with D2? I prefer the aesthetics of the curved body...does the straight body just fit your hand better? Also, are these blades hollow ground? I read somewhere that they weigh about three ounces...sound right to you?
 
Sorry, I meant VG-10. I corrected that . . . My Seki-Cuts are D2. Again I apologize.

I haven't looked at the edge close enough to see if it's hollow ground or not but it sure feels that sharp.

Actually I like how the thumb stud sits up on that hump on the straight handle. Either design is a great knife!

Under 4 ounces sounds about right
 
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Dagon, I've been eyeing the Ice Storms (Mcusta's) for awhile now, but I'm wondering about the pocket clip. Apparently, it can't be moved to another position, but can it be removed entirely, without affecting the functioning of the knife? I'm not crazy about the colors, but the red in your photo looks more muted than the colors I've seen online. Is that photo an accurate representation of the color? Have you held the straight body variety of the Ice Storm? Impressions? I remember reading a review of this knife somewhere online (in this forum?), but I can't seem to find it now. Can anyone direct me to it? Thanks.
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Not really a review (can't find that one back either) but several comments can be read here.

The clip is mounted for tip-down carry and at first sight it cannot be easily taken off. It seems to be connected to the liner. I write "at first sight" as this is one of the rare knives in this price segment that is neatly screwed together, so it's doable to take it apart to see if the clip can be taken off.
Indeed, the red of the aluminum handle is in reality deeper and darker than on many computer screens (all depending on screen brightness and white balance of course). It's closer to the colour of wine than the "in your face" red which you can see on many pics. The golden one is similarly more subdued in reality. These are matte/satin colours.
I only have experience with the curved models as these were the ones that are evidently clones of certain Mcustas. Hence they interested me most. In fact I could directly compare: the blade is exactly the same as the one on the Mcusta Stingray. And in fact the handle side with the clip is the same as well. The other handle side is different: it features stingray inlay in the Mcusta and the "carved" surface on the Browning.
 
I know that the Ice storm may be the best knife mentioned so far, but with a budget of $30 you cannot get one from CDNN when you factor in the shipping and handling. Like always when someone mentions a price limit that they can spend, most posters will always try to get the original poster to spend a few more dollars.
 
To anyone recommending a Tenacious to the OP who wants to spend no more than 30 dollars, where are you getting one for under $30?
 
timsclips said:
I know that the Ice storm may be the best knife mentioned so far, but with a budget of $30 you cannot get one from CDNN when you factor in the shipping and handling. Like always when someone mentions a price limit that they can spend, most posters will always try to get the original poster to spend a few more dollars.
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True but eBay has some for a little bit better price than CDNN when you include shipping. Under $40 shipped is certainly easy to achieve.

I see your point though based on the OP's request.
 
Dagon said:
Not really a review (can't find that one back either) but several comments can be read here.

The clip is mounted for tip-down carry and at first sight it cannot be easily taken off. It seems to be connected to the liner. I write "at first sight" as this is one of the rare knives in this price segment that is neatly screwed together, so it's doable to take it apart to see if the clip can be taken off.
Indeed, the red of the aluminum handle is in reality deeper and darker than on many computer screens (all depending on screen brightness and white balance of course). It's closer to the colour of wine than the "in your face" red which you can see on many pics. The golden one is similarly more subdued in reality. These are matte/satin colours.
I only have experience with the curved models as these were the ones that are evidently clones of certain Mcustas. Hence they interested me most. In fact I could directly compare: the blade is exactly the same as the one on the Mcusta Stingray. And in fact the handle side with the clip is the same as well. The other handle side is different: it features stingray inlay in the Mcusta and the "carved" surface on the Browning.
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Thanks, Dagon!
 
Robinsteele,


The Catbyrd is a very good choice, but maybe you shold take a look at the Benchmade Monocrome and the Kershaw JYD models too.

archieblue said:
spend a little less on yourself and spend a little more for your brother. If your budget is THAT tight, bring a tuna salad sandwich to work instead of eating fast food for a few days, and shazam!... you have the extra $10 it'll cost to buy a nice Spyderco Native that is made in Golden, CO, USA, Earth. He'll dig it 10 times more than something that says "Taiwan" on the blade, and you'll have 10 times more pride in your gift. Go down to Walmart, and do it now, or you might not get one before they sell out for X-mas.
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Let's see... robinsteele, Location: Espoo, Finland. Even the closest Walmart is a few thousand miles from him. It would be quite a long trip for a few dollars now, right? :p

dip_n_ride said:
And, as a side note, how are you going to encourage him not to buy something that's imported, but then suggest he buys his non-imported product from Walmart?
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Once again, the guy who wanted your recommendation is Finnish. It's in Europe. You know, in this side of the Pond American products are just as imported as Chinese or Taiwanese items. :rolleyes:
 
Redguy said:
Once again, the guy who wanted your recommendation is Finnish. It's in Europe. You know, in this side of the Pond American products are just as imported as Chinese or Taiwanese items. :rolleyes:
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Thank you for the quick lesson in geography, however, you proved my point. My argument was that certain imported products, in this case, the Spyderco Tenacious, can be just as good if not better quality than some American made knives. The OP's location in Finland is irrelevant. I was implying that he should buy the knife from a locally owned knife shop, as opposed to a huge, cost-cutting corporate retailer (i.e. Walmart).
 
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