Best folder under $200

I hadn't considered reate yet. I'm not very familiar with them. I'm really digging the looks. Kizer stands out as well.
 
These two offer lot for your money and come in well under $200


 
Many options... Benchmade 940-1, 710 (710 comes in many steels, and much less than $200 for most of them)

Spyderco Farid K2

just over your price range is the ZT 0770 CFM4
 
I own a ZT 0562CF, and it's a spectacular folder, and $200 NIB is a great price. BUT - The 0562 isn't easy to open slowly unless you start it with the flipper, and it's also a bit on the large side for a gentleman's folder. The best EDC and gentleman's in one dual role folder I've found under $200 is my recently purchased Viper Vox Kyomi with carbon fiber front scale.
 
940 seems to be winning and I'll give an additional vote for it.

Also my kizer has impressed me a lot.
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I had a benchmade mini grip and just wasn't a fan. Mostly because of size but I didn't like the play In the blade either. Is this common With their higher end knives?
 
I agree the 0562cf is fantastic. I also love the Spyderco Positron and Lionsteel TRE
 
You shouldn't have any blade play in a mini Grip, or any Axis Lock knife from Benchmade. That's an issue that should be fixed under warranty.
 
For the $ I've struggled to beat ZT. I recently picked up a Spyderco Military as my first wander into the larger Spydies, and to be honest I was pretty disappointed when I finally got it. This is personal preference, but for larger folders (3in blade +) I appreciate some heft to the build. The Military, while made from quality stuff and I'm sure it would go to hell & back, just doesn't have enough beef for me. I'd pocket my ZT0200KW over the Millie every time, and the 0200 is on the more budget end of ZT.

Overall the ZT 0620CF is the one found in my pocket most often. I love M390.
 
Save a little money and get a Spyderco Kiwi 4. It is a very gentlemanly knife and pretty much disappears in your pocket. But very handy.
 
I've had all manner of Spydercos, a couple Benchmades, and a couple ZTs. I want to like the ZTs; and I do like the 0452 that I used to own, but it's not of a reasonable size for me to carry and not scare the people in my realm. I briefly had a 0566CF, but it was too heavy and felt bruitish to me. Both of them were unfathomably sharp. I think what I really wanted from that experience was a Hinderer, but didn't want to pay Hinderer money. Maybe in the future.

I definitely prefer Spydercos to Benchmades, but that's just me. I've had Spydercos with whacky grinds that made the blade look bent, and I've had some that were as fine as jewelry. If I were you, I might hang on to the 200 bucks, or spend 100 on a GEC (I'm a newly converted traditional guy, and they make outstanding fondling knives), and take the "opposite style carry for 1 month challenge" they have running on here. Meanwhile, wait for the Para 3 and Sage 5 to come out. Maybe your money will grow by then, and you'll be able to afford both.
 
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