Best quality user blade for $350 and under?

stretchskeletor

stretchskeletor

Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Messages
43
I'm in the market for a high quality folder or otf to be edc'd my budget is $350 what suggestions do you guys have.
 
There are a lot of very good choices under $350, at a variety of price points.

- Spyderco Domino
- ZT 0562cf
- Spyderco Southard
- ZT 0801S110V

...and so many more.
 
I've heard a lot of knocks on zero tolerance's quality control are they true or just overly picky knife owners.
 
..you're going to have to narrow it down further than that. $350 gives you a lot of choice.

Things you'd want to consider

Overall size, blade length, handle material, and main cutting tasks to name a few.
 
I'm just looking for suggestions from people who have owned a higher end user knife I'm not particular about size or weight I just want a very high quality knife that will handle daily abuse without fail. I have a paramilitary 2 and a griptillian just wanting to step up to the next level in quality.
 
stretchskeletor said:
I'm just looking for suggestions from people who have owned a higher end user knife I'm not particular about size or weight I just want a very high quality knife that will handle daily abuse without fail. I have a paramilitary 2 and a griptillian just wanting to step up to the next level in quality.
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guess i'll take a shot in the dark a little different than the other suggestions since size and weight don't matter, but benchmade adamas. definitely a substantial knife, you know it's there.
 
Microtech Socom Elite. You could probably find one around $250 these days. They come in a variety of steels, all with good HT, and a variety of grinds, colors and blade styles so you have a lot of options. I'm recommending it over the Socom Delta and the ZT 560 series because you say this knife will be a user for you - the washer pivot in the Socom Elite is more user friendly than the bearing pivots in the Socom Delta and the ZT knives.
 
I would look into the metal that you want for your blade. I chose the S110V for my blade and ended up with the ZT0801, I know Spyderco and Strider use this metal also.
 
Small Sebenza, or a used Strider SnG if abuse is more your thing. Also Three Sister's Forge Beast comes to mind.

Honestly the Para 2 is going to be hard to beat.
 
stretchskeletor said:
I've heard a lot of knocks on zero tolerance's quality control are they true or just overly picky knife owners.
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Not true at all. Never had any trouble with any of mine.

If you do have problems they will take care of you 100%.

Zt 0801, 0560 or 0550 all great choices.
 
It depends on what you want to do with it. Slice a lime for a smokin' hot shipping heiress, or pry up a manhole cover? But really the only tangible improvement you will see when you get up above $150 or whatever may be a slight improvements in blade steel, i.e., edge retention. But even that is marginal, and there are many, many very sick knives for less than half of what you are budgeting.

Now, if you are looking for bling, titanium, impressing your homies, making yourself feel like a million bucks, etc., which are very legitimate reasons for owning and enjoying a knife, then the sky is the limit.

There are many sick knives under $350 - dozens and dozens of them - from the small Sebenza to the Spyderco K2. It really depends on which one makes your leg tingle when you play with it. If you are going for pure utility and nothing else, get yourself something like a bulletproof, killer Spyderco Gayle Bradley with CMP M4 steel, and put $190 in a Vanguard mutual fund.
 
Take a look at the Ontario XM Strike Fighter. I carried one everyday for 6 years and it is still in great shape. thing is built like a tank. Also the spyderco Tuff is a great user that stands up to almost anything.
 
powernoodle said:
If you are going for pure utility and nothing else, get yourself something like a bulletproof, killer Spyderco Gayle Bradley with CMP M4 steel
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I would do the same.

stretchskeletor said:
Thanks for all the suggestions keep them coming I'll spend all day researching.
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I'll also throw in a suggestion for a Three Sisters Forge Beast. Let me live vicariously through you, I've been eyeing one for a while.
 
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