Best (new) knives - $20 and under

I would go with my favorite of whatever 8cr Kershaws were recently discontinued. There is almost always one on sale somewhere for between $12-$20.
Remember when the Injection was going for around $10 bucks after it was discontinued? It wound up being one of the top selling knives that year.
After a quick check, right now BHQ has the Thistle for $13.99. So I guess today that would be my choice.
 
polecrafts said:
may i ask, how do you keep your knives to maintain its quality and when do you use your knives ?
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In the kitchen - I use a knife daily. Sometimes several times a day. In the computer room, two or three sit on the desk all the time. I use one of them to slit open a plastic bag of Albuterol Sulfate & one of Ipratropium Bromide once a day & to separate the ampules from each other. I carry a large Lenox assisted opener made of mystery steel by some Chinese mystery company I picked up at Menards on sale for about $10. That gets carried a lot & used little (since it's probably junk - I carry it for whenever something might need cut/stabbed/pried apart - whatever).

For maintaining them - I use either a Sharpmaker - or - an ancient (given to me by my grandfather 50+ years ago & old at that time - Norton India Oil Stone). That's on the better knives - my Boker, Benchmade, Microtech, Buck.
I also use a destructive AccuSharp #014C on the super cheap ($ store) kitchen knives. Those spend 50% of their lives in the sink & the other 50% in the drawer or being used.

For storage - either just laying around the house, stuck in a drawer, hanging on the wall (I have a 2' x 2' glass display case - with one each of all the S&W Scrimshaw - First Production Run knives mounted in it. I find it pleasing even though they are low end knives).
My Darrel Ralph Krait - the one used on the cover of Blade Magazine some 20+ years ago is locked in the gun safe- along with my Buck fixed blade. Both of those have great sentimental value to me and will never be used. The Krait I saved up for by giving up smoking for 4 months to pay for it - and only went back to the cigarettes the night I got word my mom had died. I had quit smoking mainly for her. I had planned to surprise her by not telling her I quit for a year. The Buck belonged to my best friend when we were growing up. He bought it just before he got killed in a motorcycle accident in 1976.

Quite a few of the $50 and under knives, I carry for a while & seldom use - then give them away to someone. They are given the "gift of a blade" speech when they get the knife & I hope it sinks in.
 
polecrafts said:
wher

where do you buy that one? any feedback with regards the 8cr kershaws? i saw it on google and its really cute but i just want to hear from you the performance of this knife :)
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I assume you are asking about the Thistle. BladeHQ currently has it at that price. Click on the pic below to see.


It's a pretty decent EDC. Personally I've only used it briefly before gifting it away. The lock is great for keeping your fingers out of the blade path.
Regarding Kershaw's 8cr steel. I have given quite a few away as gifts to non-knife friends & family. and they love them. I think most 8cr Kershaws are a great introduction into "real" knives for those that have only had the gas station crap that falls apart. To me, as long as the price stays under $25, You can't really go wrong with a well built 8cr13mov or aus8 blade steel. It will hold a functioning edge long enough to get you through most daily tasks, and it's a breeze to touch up at the end of the day to get sharp again.
That being said. Once passed that $30 threshold you start getting into better steel choices like D2 and Sanvik.
 
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