Budget Beauties

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
So, yeah, sure, you can spend a lot of cash and get a nice-looking knife.



It might have fancy materials and finishes, too.




You really don't have to spend that much to get something handsome and functional, though. For example, a long-time grail of mine arrived not long ago - the Byrd Cara Cara Rescue Plain Edge. Long discontinued and near-impossible to find.




The Böker Squail, coming in shy of $100 and looking like $600:



Another Böker, the Urban Trapper. These can be found for as little as $65 if you look around, and it's a bearing Ti Framelock flipper with VG-10. Absurd. Absurdly handsome, too:


The simple and clean lines of the Kershaw Injection 3.5 reflect a perfect balance between simplicity, utility, and aesthetics:



Lansky's X9 Responder is, perhaps, untouchable for the price range.




What was that about damascus being expensive? I paid $45 for each of these.



And, hey, if it isn't particularly eye-catching when you get it, just take a blowtorch to it!






I'm sure others have found gorgeous-yet-functional budget-priced knives. Please, share some pictures and/or some experiences!
 
wow, that plain edge cara cara looks cool!
i'll have to take pictures of a small fixed edc i got. steel is plain 440c with a decent heat treat, guy from who i got it buys the blades in bulk (probably china) and attaches custom scales, very nice.
 
I rather like that Boker Urban Trapper.


There is nothing remotely attractive at all about that Lansky though. Yuck.
 
Tripton said:
I rather like that Boker Urban Trapper.


There is nothing remotely attractive at all about that Lansky though. Yuck.
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I like the dual-tone and the functionality of it. I suppose how impressive it is in person just doesn't translate through pictures, though... It really is very nice in the hand, and the dual-tone is striking in good lighting.
 
Well put, Comeuppance. No need to go to the poorhouse in order to get some quality steel in your pocket.

Lots of fine looking, quality stuff there and really that's just the tip of the iceberg for stuff in this range.
 
I got this guy for $150. Now I'm not a huge fan of traditional knives but GEC is pumping out some insane quality knives for a very affordable price. This knife is a beauty up close and the fit n finish is great.



 
Comeuppance said:
I like the dual-tone and the functionality of it. I suppose how impressive it is in person just doesn't translate through pictures, though... It really is very nice in the hand, and the dual-tone is striking in good lighting.
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I have one. Just a heavy ugly gas station knife to me.
 
It's funny the different responses different knives get. I think the Lansky Responder is one of the best bargains out there. The large one is one he'll of a flipper.

Mike

Tripton said:
I have one. Just a heavy ugly gas station knife to me.
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My current favorite bargain knife is the Kershaw Link. Feels great in the hand and pocket and so far is holding up great.

Mike
 
I ordered an Urban Trapper after seeing one and reading multiple threads. For $65 it seems like too good of a deal to pass up, Ti, VG10 and bearings in a small package is worth $150 easy.
 
I've been doing a bit of exploring in the lower cost, higher value space. I've come to have a lot of respect for the Rat 1 and Rat 2. Beautiful, flow through designs with pillar construction. Decent blade steel in a useful form and size.

Same for the Zancudo. Frame lock instead of liner lock, but otherwise a very well crafted EDC blade.

Does the Elmax version of Kershaw's Knock Out count? Just over a hundo, but it feels like a lightweight ZT in the hand.

+1 on the Boker Urban Trapper.
 
It wouldn't be considered beautiful by most, but I love my Groove. One of my cheapest and most carried knives.

IMG_0785.JPG
 
NeverMore1701 said:
It wouldn't be considered beautiful by most, but I love my Groove. One of my cheapest and most carried knives.

IMG_0785.JPG
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I forgot about the Groove! The neither version is particularly cheap to acquire these days, but I loved the few that I had picked up. Great flippers, too.
 
Comeuppance said:
I forgot about the Groove! The neither version is particularly cheap to acquire these days, but I loved the few that I had picked up. Great flippers, too.
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I got it used, here on the exchange. Great flipper, no blade play, perfectly centered, excellent lockup. Think it was about $35.
 
here we go with the pic:


top is a claude dozorme cappucine available in different woods, this one is olive, a very nice alternative to an opinel, and you can adjust the pivot screw.
second one is the chinese knife with custom scales. it's from wood from the bottom of a flooded reservoir.
 
One that I found for a great price on sale, and turns heads wherever I take it: Timberline Wall Street Tactical by Tim Herman. It has no clip, but comes with a pocket sheath. Smooth, sophisticated and sexy.
 


I originally wasn't impressed when I got it a while back, but it came in a package with a handful of knives, all of which were more impressive in one way or another...

The other day I pulled it out of "the drawer", almost completely forgotten, on its own I actually am quite pleased... Like the " avg" girl hanging with supermodels who's actually kinda cute when you get her by herself; granted the blade, it's "only" 8cr13mov, it was made in China, but the overall design, integrity, quality, sturdy (tip down) clip, a the lock switch for both open or closed, it's all there...
(And it even came with a denim sheath that would look great if I ever go back to the '80's and wear a jean jacket)

It cost me less then $20
 
Don't have pics, but the "regal flipper" cheap butterfly knife? SS handles with wood or synthetic pearl inserts (I got black wood), Teflon washers in the pivots for smoothness, it's supposed to hold a decent edge... And it's $20.
 
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