Best Folder Under $400?

Rennd

Rennd

Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
709
I'm looking to get a new folding knife, and my budget it capped at 400 bucks. What would you guys recommend with...

A blade around 3.5 inches

No Blade Play!!!

Snobby steel!

Ability to have tip-up carry!

Either very smooth, or assisted?

Thanks, guys.

I can go a few bucks over my price range, if absolutely needed.

Also, I'm heading over to Moscow tomorrow. Any knives to look for there?
 
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I already have a zt 0560, by the way, and I really like it. I'm also looking for steels that reflect the price, too. Something a little better than s30v, if you can.
 
Probably a Hinderer XM18 at retail ($385). Or, if you're willing to go slightly above $400 a Strider SnG with S110V for $425.
 
$400 opens up SO MANY OPTIONS. You'll need to narrow it down even more than that, because the list of folders that meets that criteria is staggering and "best" is too relative.

So, what we need to know to make any kind of helpful suggestions:
- Blade shape requirements
- Weight limit
- Features that have to or cannot be on the knife
- Things that are dealbreakers (other than blade play and pivot smoothness)
- Material preferences
- Manufacturers that you dislike

My go-to suggestions follow along my personal preferences:
- Sebenza, Umnumzaan (check the exchange and you'll find one for under $400 most days)
- Hogue EX-01, EX-02, EX-04
- Spyderco Southard, Lionspy, Vallotton
- Benchmade 581 (assisted, can be de-assisted and is better that way IMO)
- Kingdom Armory Mini Samaritan
- Strider SNG, SMF
- William Henry knives - there are a number in the $200-$400 price range. Mostly gentlemanly but amazingly well made.
- Zero Tolerance. They're pretty much all fantastic.

EDIT: I see that you want steel that reflects the price, and, as such, I think that narrows down what I have suggested to the Southard, Lionspy, 581, SNG/SMF, William Henry, and Zero Tolerance knives.
 
A Chris Reeve folder or if you can find a reliable custom made folder for the price.
 
You sound like you know what your looking for already. If your heading to Moscow save your money and find a shigorogov in the motherland.
 
dr_fosg8 said:
You sound like you know what your looking for already. If your heading to Moscow save your money and find a shigorogov in the motherland.
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I'm only going to be there for a week, and I'm leaving tomorrow. Not much chance to bunch up a grand, but I wish!
 
Good luck getting a Hinderer at retail. A Strider SnG Lego model will be $400 on the nose. I just got one and love it. CRK Sebenza is another winner but you will probably need to get a small to stay within your budget and that is 3in blade length.

JP Chestnut said:
Probably a Hinderer XM18 at retail ($385). Or, if you're willing to go slightly above $400 a Strider SnG with S110V for $425.
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You simply can't go wrong with a Strider SnG or a CRK Sebenza. The Sebenza would have to be a small to stay within your budget but it is a great knife.

A ZT 0560, Elmax steel, ball bearing flipper, although it has a 3.75" blade, is worth looking at too.
 
Kreyzhorse said:
You simply can't go wrong with a Strider SnG or a CRK Sebenza. The Sebenza would have to be a small to stay within your budget but it is a great knife.



A ZT 0560, Elmax steel, ball bearing flipper, although it has a 3.75" blade, is worth looking at too.
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I actually have an 0560, so it's definitely up my alley!
 
mmarkh said:
Good luck getting a Hinderer at retail. A Strider SnG Lego model will be $400 on the nose. I just got one and love it. CRK Sebenza is another winner but you will probably need to get a small to stay within your budget and that is 3in blade length.
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I'm a lucky dude I guess.
 
I second the lionsteel SR1. Strider sng is my favorite knife
 
A Three Sisters Forge has a 3" blade with a larger handle. The one I have has M390 and is 300.00. You can email Jim Allen and your email will be answered for the steel he is currently using. He's used Elmax and CPM154.
 
Rennd said:
I'm only going to be there for a week, and I'm leaving tomorrow. Not much chance to bunch up a grand, but I wish!
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Just because a dealer here sells them for $800-1000 because he's the only one and then people try to flip them immediately to make an extra $200-300 bucks, doesn't mean they are expensive knives.

I think if can get one from Shirogorov direct, they are pretty close to your price range. They were only $600 a year ago..
 
Three sisters beast for the heavy duty option. Great knife.

ZT 0801 for best bang for the buck. Get 2 for $400.

IMO the 0801 can run with any knife in the $400 range and is half the cost.
 
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