Best Folder/steel options under $200

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cm_bushman

Joined
Oct 22, 2012
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Hello all, I'm looking for just what the title suggests. I carried a BM Mini-Grip for a few years and as my first "real" knife, it served me well. Unfortunately, that knife is now lost, but with Christmas coming, I can look forward to a new knife and I think at this point I would prefer another folder.

I loved the Mini-Grip, and now I'm looking for something close to it's size and quality. In fact, I'll likely just get a Mini-RSK or Mini-Grip in s30v if I don't happen upon anything better soon! I really like the ease of the Axis lock, but I haven't seen anything from BM that has stood out over the mini-Grip, so that isn't a huge factor. I would like something around 7" open, just because it fits my hand and pocket best while still being useful for anything I want to do around the homestead. Good steel is very important to me, but steels beyond s30v (ELMAX or s90v for example) seems to ratchet the price up out of my means. Of course, s30v is A-OK and will be my choice in a new Grip if I can't find anything else, so I'm absolutely open to s30v suggestions. $200 is the limit on my budget, and so it's been hard to find anything in that range. I'm no Spyderco fan, mostly due to aesthetic reasons, so I may be biased against those suggestions.

So, can anyone suggest me a good stainless folder about 7" or so long open with steel at or above s30v levels of wear resistance for under the $200 mark?
 
That's certainly a contender, as I said, Spyderco's are hard for me to stomach aesthetically, but I won't deny their quality. Sal's commitment to finding and using the best steels available in production knives really resonates with me. If only I didn't hate those holes and such wide triangular blade shapes! I've also never dealt with Bento Box Shop.

Thanks for the recommendation besides.:thumbup:
 
The M390 710 is a really good buy at $150 of you're
willing to upsize a little. I'd also recommend the para 2 in any flavour or the gayle Bradley if you can stomach the spyderco shape. If you want titanium check out the Bradley alias.

Otherwise, there's nothing really wrong with the ritter grip :)
 
If you are looking for the best price on a folder with an Elmax blade, I think it will be the Kershaw Speedform II, at under $90.
Not sure if you like the style, but for a quality folder with an Elmax blade, I don't think you can beat it at the price.
You could buy two of them for your budget, and have money left to take the wife out to dinner.

If you are looking to run your budget to the limit, you can get a like-new ZT 560 on the blade exchange from someone who didn't like it for $200 shipped, if you watch closely and snag the right deal. I have seen them go for that recently.

I'm not really a big Spyderco fan either, but there's no denying that they are good slicers and they have great steel selections to choose from.
 
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You can get a S30V Kershaw Blur, A S30V Kershaw Leek.. You can also find a ZT0550 S35VN and a ZT0560 ELMAX under $200 ( I know they are bigger then you want but I EDC them and once in pocket they aren't that bad and are light for there size)
 
Benchmade 525BK-1101 Mini Presidio.. Essentially the same size as a Mini Grip but with anodized aluminum handle scales and CPM-M4 blade steel.
 
cm_bushman said:
That's certainly a contender, as I said, Spyderco's are hard for me to stomach aesthetically, but I won't deny their quality. Sal's commitment to finding and using the best steels available in production knives really resonates with me. If only I didn't hate those holes and such wide triangular blade shapes! I've also never dealt with Bento Box Shop.

Thanks for the recommendation besides.:thumbup:
Click to expand...


If you want to cut stuff then Spyderco would be the 1st choice as they are all about performance.

Another Para 2 recommendation, in any steel.

The ZT models are on the thick side, I know because I have a few of them here.
 
I like Spyderco, and I'd consider the Native 5 (S35V) or Caly 3 (ZDP189). Both are well within your price range. For a slightly smaller knife, comfortable in the pocket and a great slicer - check out the Chaparral in carbon fiber. I have on in my pocket right now.

If you want to stay with Benchmade, the Sequel 707 is small and compact, with a blade (154CM) the style and size of the MiniGrips. For pure functionality around the house, there is nothing wrong with the MiniGrip, and they are available now in special runs in S30V and M4.
 
Listen, I shared your reservations about Spyderco's design aesthetics, but you really, really need to hold one and try it out before you decide.

Until just a few days ago, I was on your exact same quest, looking for a new reliable, high-quality EDC folder under $200. I looked and looked and looked, obsessively, which is in fact what led me to this forum. It turns out if you start googling increasingly specific questions about knives and knife steels, more and more of your results will be BFC!

Anyway, I absolutely understand what you mean about Spyderco knives, and it took me a lot of reading and a lot of shopping around before I came around to the idea. I had to kinda reconfigure my ideas of what made up good blade geometry and what was useful, and to reprioritize quality of craftsmanship over my traditional ideas of what a knife "should" look like. And you know what? After making a list of two dozen or so knives that met my needs, I ended up with a Spyderco Native5 in S35VN, purchased right here on the forums, and I could not be happier with it. It's a hell of a knife. Solid as a rock, great factory edge, not a single complaint. And now that it's in my hands, it's beautiful, no two ways about it.

There are a lot of great knives out there. I liked the Benchmade 550HG I handled at a local shop. Heck, I like a lot of the relatively affordable Kershaws! The Leek still appeals to me. I'm just begging you not to rule out Spyderco until you actually try out a couple models. You really have to hold them to understand.

I know the Para2 in M390 seems like a lot of money, and if you shop around you can definitely get a great knife for a lot less than $180; I did. But do consider it. I haven't handled that model specifically but what my experience buying my most recent knife has taught me is that Spyderco blades get so many happy testimonials for a good reason. Two friends of mine swear, respectively, by the Benchmade 940 and the Spyderco Sage2, and I doubt you could go wrong by either of those, just to start.

A final note: don't set your price range based on MSRP. If you put together a list of knives you'd like, then keep an eye on the Exchange, you can probably get something you want for a lot less than you might think.
 
I am not exactly sure but I think I saw somewhere selling a Griptillian with M4 steel all blacked out.

I think it was gpknives
 
Thanks for all the responses guys, I've made it a point to check out Spydie knives in-hand the next chance I get, hopefully later this week. I've always hated the looks of them, but again, they get plenty of love and the commitment to the exotic steels is the best around, production company or no. For this reason, the Para2 in m390 has made my list among a few others like the Native 5 in S35V or a Gayle Bradley.

I've not explored the exchange yet, so I can't comment on it, but I see no reason used knives shouldn't be a great option, after all, if the knife itself is any good, it should hold up against multiple owners no sweat. I wouldn't mind spending right up to $200 if I though it was worth it, I believe in having just a few knives that I really love and that I think are the top specimens in their class rather than a dozen I feel better or worse about. Of course, my finances also have a bearing on these things, otherwise I'd just go for an XM-18 or VECP 2.0.

Right now, the mini-RSK is on top of the list, I wish I could have snagged an m390 or M4 (even though I'd much prefer stainless) Mini-Grip a couple years ago for retail. The ZT0560 may just be too far off in both size and price for me to look much harder at it, though I've seen the 0550 for less, and it looks thinner, so I still have some deciding to do.
 
Have you taken a look at the BM 950 Rift? The 154CM is around S30V edge retention and I find it takes a very fine edge VERY easily. The grind is nice and thin and it is a very attractive blade. The reverse tanto is also a bit more robust.

Now if they only made a sprint run in M390 in that...are any of the knife retailers out there :rolleyes:?
 
I've yet to use a knife in 154CM that can cut as long as one made from S30V without significant resharpening required.
 
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