Best folder under $400 ?????

JRB said:
I'll throw in a vote for the Fallkniven PXL. It definitely fits all of your criteria and the fit and finish is as good or better than knives costing twice as much.

Available in ivory or maroon micarta scales.
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That's a great looking Fallkniven, that's just it, at $400 you can have your pick of so many great folders.
Good luck!
 
For $400, I would suggest these in no particular order (I have an order in my mind, but you may disagree):

  • Chris Reeve Sebenza
  • Chris Reeve Umnumzaan
  • Strider SNG (used)
  • Hinderer XM-18 (probably can't get one for under $400, even though that is close to the list price)
  • Todd Begg Glimpse - haven't handled one yet, hear good things
  • Galyean Pro Series Junkyard Dog - haven't handled that one yet either, hear good things
 
Lots of excellent knives mentioned so far -- XM-18, Sebenza, Strider, etc. but these are all framelocks. The OP said they wanted a liner lock.

My vote is for custom. Once you are talking custom all bets are off, design your own.
 
al mar sere 2000 or a microtech LCC m/a.

Both are classic liner locks. LCCs are hard to find under 400 dollars for a new knife though, especially since they havent been made in a while. You can get some of Greg Lightfoot's knives for about 4 bills though. The sere is a great value at 160 bucks.

Or get an Emerson if you like those. I recommend the full sized 8.
 
You've got quite a few options in that price-range, but if you want something at the upper-end of your price limit, CRK would be a good place to look. They are absolutley on par with most customs, but are easily available. Easy to purchase and replace with a reputation well deserved. Good luck:thumbup:
 
Check out the Lionsteel SR-1. Titanium monolithic framelock with a replaceable lock bar tip and a device that locks the lock in place effectively making it a fixed blade. The pocket clip bolt is conical to make a glass breaker and it is a deep carry clip. The knife body is machined out of one piece of titanium so should be very strong.

The first run is just being finished up and should be shipping in the next couple weeks. Very unique and innovative and a lot of knife for the money.

There are some 'mid tech' knives made in groups by a lot of popular makers. They aren't hand made but they are high quality and popular designs. I'm not up to date on all the different makers but someone will probably mention some.

You could try to track down a 950-1001 Benchmade Rift with M4 steel. I know you said no Benchmade but there were only 50 made so they are rare. It is an amazing design with the best lock (IMO), some of the best (super) steel, has a unique and useful blade shape, has a great handle shape with 3D grooves machined into the G10 giving it lots of grip while being smooth and pocket friendly. I wouldn't trade mine for any knife listed in this thread. It is my perfect knife. As much as I praise this knife I should start getting paychecks from Benchmade. If you really want it to be unique buy a 950-801 and swap scales and put carbon fiber scales on it.
 
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Sebenza, Strider, or if you want even more exclusive a Gold Class Benchmade (limited production).
 
Fallkniven or Wilson Tactical: different as night and day, one is eloquent and the other is all business and both are build like tanks.
 
sorry for the confusion...but i did mean frame lock...and i really like the A.G. Russell!! the hinderer is kinda ugly to me..
 
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I haven't held the Fallkniven but have read it is heavy and bulky just FYI.

Lionsteel SR-1

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wheelspeed said:
sorry for the confusion...but i did mean frame lock...and i really like the A.G. Russell!! the hinderer is kinda ugly to me..
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Hi wheelspeed -

Here are all of the pictures I took of my Acies if you want to see different angles etc -

http://www.iammoon.com/albums/knives/A.G. Russell/Acies/index.html

I love mine - it has silky smooth action, and the lock bar slides off of the tang very smoothly after it broke in a little bit.

I had to re-tighten my pocket clip, and I plan on having a custom pocket clip made by STR, just so it is not the factory polished stainless - but the clip that comes on the knife is 100% functional and really works well. I think the holes are a little large and that allows the clip to pivot around a little if it is not very tight. The screws had blue loc-tite on them from the factory.

A.G. Russell will stand by this knife 100% with no quibbles.

You might be interested to know that Mr. Russell himself designed this knife, and then had Kershaw make it right here in the USA.

Like others have said, you have a lot of choices in this price range, but I think you can do no better than the Acies.

best regards -

mqqn
 
Oh yeah I forgot earlier. If you want some no one else has or just not as common and are willing to dish out $450-$485 you could get a unique graphic Sebenza which are one of a kind (just got mine a few days ago) or one with those exotic wood inlays.
 
For a production knife you described the Fallkniven PXL to a T.

It runs around $250 give or take, and rivals more expensive knives for fit, finish, and overall quality. High quality 3G (SGPS) convexed blade that deployes smooth and slick.

I have been EDC'ing my Ivory Micarta PXL for just over a year now and am nothing but impressed. Very solid knife.

If you want something unique, check out the Fallkniven site. They are currently offering a very limited run of about 25 PXL's with camel bone scales and CoS (Cobalt Special Steel) blades. http://www.fallkniven.com/en/shop/category/29/limited-edition

Here is a link to an "out of box" comparo I did a while back. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=635342&highlight=Fallkniven+PXL+Mercworx

My vote goes to the PXL, along with the others who made this recommendation.

Customs are always nice to consider as well.

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Kevin
 
I keep hearing a lot of people suggest to the op to have a custom made and design your own. Have any of you ever actually done this because I have approached several reputable makers such as Pat Crawford and Allen Elishiewitz (spelling) as well as a few other makers of high caliber and been told to forget it. It is either buy one of their knives on hand are out of there offerings or forget, they don't do custom orders.

So if you have found a good custom maker that actually takes custom folder orders please let me know.

Here are a few not yet suggested. Buck Mayo TNT can be had for $185.00 and will blow your mind in terms of quality, design, fit and finish plust it is Paul Bos heat treated s30v also the James Burke Production Rockstar new for less than 400 and is SOLID, can be found here on forums for 250 to 275 used or should I say pre owned
 
I have never purchased a custom Folder, however I have purchased a few custom fixed blades and you raise a good point that should have been clarified earlier. Customs are nice if a) you can find one to your liking the maker has in stock, or, b) in many cases be prepared to wait 1-3 years for your knife.

Kevin
 
Hi Guys -

The Fallkniven knives are beautiful, as well as the Chris Reeve knives.

I would love to put my hands on either of those two makes as both are beautiful and appear well-crafted.

For the OP, I suppose all he has to do is decide what he really desires in a knife, and now he is seeing all the decision points that he may not have considered before.

Here is where technology and the free market system really shine. ;^)

best regards -

mqqn
 
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