Best value knife?

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Hello, all. I'm new to this forum. I've researched this topic quite extensively and I've recently bought a Kershaw Cryo and am very happy with it. In the past I've always had slip joint knives, usually Barlows. I like the heft of this knife and I consider it an EDC beater. I got it for $29 on eBay with free shipping and I consider this a real value.
 
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Best monetary "value" for me in 2013 and what I received in return was a $27.00 AUS8 Rat II.
Best quality "value" for me in 2013 and what I received in return was a $185.00 SURVIVE! Knives GSO 4.1 M-390

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Nice try my friends. Lots of pretty good answers. You all certainly were in the race. Unfortunately for you, no cigar. Uh uh.

There is a definitive answer to the OP's question of best value. Brace yourselves: Scissors.

Yes scissors. Two knives in one device joined by a pivot. 2fer. Slip-n-snips can be had for less than $5. Made in Oregon btw. :)

Regular for ordinary folk:

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And then there is the model that won't give away your position when you deploy them on a mission for tactical types, you know who you are:

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Im stunned that the Enlan el01 is as cheap as it is, the thing is massively overbuilt, heck the liners are thicker than the blades of most knives. The Condor Golok rates highly with me.

And my Khukuri House Mukti is insanely cheap for as big as it is and how handmade it is
 
o4tg said:
Just ordered an Ontario Utilitac II. Same quality as the RAT1 but beefier.

Also considered a Kershaw Cryo and Clash but I like AUS8 better than Chinese alphabet steel.
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I have all three and would choose the Cryo as the best option.
 
Just got a Cryo 2 and I absolutely love it, I almost don't want to carry it. I also edc a Kershaw volt 2. I will be getting a volt 2 ss also. Any 8cr13mov knives from Kershaw and spyderco are great values. I think the best value for me would be the Sanrenmu 939. I'm gonna order probably 3 of them for around $40 shipped.
 
I gotta say that right now is a great time to be into knife collecting.
There are tons of quality sub 50 dollar blades out there.

ATM my best bang for the buck knife would be the Kershaw Thermite, it is one solid, good looking, and ergo friendly knife.
I do want to check out the Cryo2 from all I have heard so far.
 
I dont consider the cheapest knife equals value. My 0550 is probably the best value knife I own, for what you get in materials and workmanship I can say it's probably one of my best value knives.
 
Well I have a few pricier knives but I don't consider them great values. The first day I got my volt 2 I dropped it on the cement and messed up the tip. I was like meh, not a big deal. If I dropped my zt 0200 or paramilitary 2 like that I would have been devisated. Value for me is how I can use my knife and not care about it. That and the fact that all my cheaper knives are actually good quality so far.
 
That will vary depending on what peoples focal points are and what their opinions tend to be on what value might be.

In general that would be production knives that are around the $125 - $225 range as that will be were the best balance of materials, workmanship and price tend to balance out.

Going too much below that is compromising materials that go into making the knives and could affect workmanship also.

Going over that we are getting into the exotic materials and or very high levels of F&F.

The reason why I choice that range is if we look at what is available there is a very long list of excellent models, but one has to be careful as with anything they buy. Buying form a reputable company and sticking with a model from a reputable company are the best bets here.

All the reputable companies will have models in the varying price/quality ranges so shopping price alone really doesn't tell the whole story, but the general rule still is one will get what they pay for. On the lower end of the price range they ARE on the lower end for a reason so that's something to think about.

Gold just isn't available in the Lead price range so being realistic is also important as it just won't happen in the real world.

There are no magic knives and NONE of them will move mountains so again being realistic in ones expectations is very important or they could be subject to buyers remorse.

Only buy what one can really afford, if one can literally burn the money and not miss it then it's much more likely they will enjoy their purchase a lot more so that's something to think about.
 
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Jeff white fixed blades

i sound like a broken record with this stuff, but i really can't believe what you get for 30 bucks. and its handmade in america by a friggin american.
 
Ankerson said:
if one can literally burn the money and not miss it then it's much more likely they will enjoy their purchase a lot more so that's something to think about.
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I've found the exact opposite to be true in my personal experience. Now I don't have any trouble affording mid level production knives (around $200) but the most I've ever enjoyed a purchase was my mini griptilian. I scrimped and saved the 70-80 bucks over a couple of months at college, and even then I went back and forth with myself about buying it. It was the first knife I ever bought over $35 so that was a big percentage jump for me. I still carry the mini grip more than any other knife, and it's great to think that I worked hard to earn it.

Also, I believe the mini grip is the best value knife I've ever had :)
 
bpeezer said:
I've found the exact opposite to be true in my personal experience. Now I don't have any trouble affording mid level production knives (around $200) but the most I've ever enjoyed a purchase was my mini griptilian. I scrimped and saved the 70-80 bucks over a couple of months at college, and even then I went back and forth with myself about buying it. It was the first knife I ever bought over $35 so that was a big percentage jump for me. I still carry the mini grip more than any other knife, and it's great to think that I worked hard to earn it.

Also, I believe the mini grip is the best value knife I've ever had :)
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You saved up for it.. ;)

That really goes along with what I posted....
 
bpeezer said:
I've found the exact opposite to be true in my personal experience. Now I don't have any trouble affording mid level production knives (around $200) but the most I've ever enjoyed a purchase was my mini griptilian. I scrimped and saved the 70-80 bucks over a couple of months at college, and even then I went back and forth with myself about buying it. It was the first knife I ever bought over $35 so that was a big percentage jump for me. I still carry the mini grip more than any other knife, and it's great to think that I worked hard to earn it.

Also, I believe the mini grip is the best value knife I've ever had :)
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ever have any problems with the axis lock/omega springs?
 
cards94 said:
ever have any problems with the axis lock/omega springs?
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No, I use the axis lock more than any other locking mechanism and I prefer it. Never any problems, even with knives that I play with and flick open and closed repeatedly when I'm bored.
 
Ankerson said:
You saved up for it.. ;)

That really goes along with what I posted....
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If I would have burned the money, I would have missed it very much. I skipped many meals to "afford" that knife. I had to sacrifice to get it. With something more recent, like my Domino, if I flushed the $200 down the toilet I would have spent $200 more to get the knife without thinking twice about it.
 
folding: Ontario Rat 1; Cold Steel Voyager; Victorinox SAK
fixed: Mora; Becker BK7
 
Great value knives:
Spyderco endura/delica
Spyderco tenacious
Ontario Rat
Victorinox

Best value knife:
Hultafors - maybe the only one knife from aus-8 steel with proper heat treatment for under 10$, its made in Sweden.
 
I think there are so many knives that offer tremendous value, it is hard to pick one. The Spyderco Tenacious, Delica, Endura, Manix. The Kershaw Blur and many of Kershaws value folders and spring assisted knives under $40. The Clash has a great spring assist action. But there are also more expensive knives that offer just as good of value to me.
 
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