Budget Knives

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mjolnirman

Joined
Jan 15, 2008
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Hey all, what are some good knives below, lets say 20 dollars? My friend is getting a new knife the replace the old one that he's beaten the hell out of (a S&W that's held together only by the pivot screw now). He's the type that looks at knives as disposable tools, and he'll use it as a prybar and screwdriver.

He was gonna get another S&W, but I suggested that he look at some Boker Magnums as well. How do you guys think they compare? S&W advertises 440C, but I know there's more to it than just the steel type.

Any other good knives in this range to look at?

Thanks everyone
 
Perhaps some CRKT knives? Honestly not an authority of knives around that price range. I cringe at the attitude of knives being "disposable"...hah I would be very sad if a Spyderco was ever considered a "disposable" tool.

Anyways sorry not much help, but I think CRKT is a good brand to look at.
 
haha yeah, I feel the same way. I'm not a high end knife fanatic or anything, but most my knives are in the 70 dollar range that I view as investments. Thanks for the suggestion, but I feel CRKT may even be too pricey...
 
How about just picking up a Victorinox Tinker for him? That way, he has the necessary tools he needs, and the blades hold up well against rust, as well as sharpen up nice and easy. Sure, the blades don't lock open, but they're great to have around.
 
Victorinox. They won't do anything for you if you just can't live without a black, partially serrated tactical tanto blade or something like that, but they work and they do it for cheap.

Besides, if he's going to be using it as a screwdriver, he's in luck! Most swiss army knives have one built right in :P
 
Ah yeah, I love Victorinox as well, but I think he wants a larger locking knife with a clip, though he's not exactly into tactical or anything (He's got a buck ranger, but he doesn't want to abuse that, and it can't clip to his pockets). How do S&W and Boker Magnum compare?
 
mjolnirman said:
Hey all, what are some good knives below, lets say 20 dollars? My friend is getting a new knife the replace the old one that he's beaten the hell out of (a S&W that's held together only by the pivot screw now). He's the type that looks at knives as disposable tools, and he'll use it as a prybar and screwdriver.

He was gonna get another S&W, but I suggested that he look at some Boker Magnums as well. How do you guys think they compare? S&W advertises 440C, but I know there's more to it than just the steel type.

Any other good knives in this range to look at?

Thanks everyone
Click to expand...

tell the moron to go to the nearest convenience store and get one of them $2 pakistani knives.
 
Hm, I havn't posted here in a long time, but I decided to, thinking I'd get good sensible information like I have in the past. I sure hope the rest of the forum members havn't fallen to such snobbery and narrow mindedness. I'm sure anyone with a bit of sense can see the use for the kind of knives I'm asking about.

sorry sidecutter, I say that ^ with my tongue only partially in my cheek. I don't mean to make enemies my first day back in a while, and while I partially agree with your sentiments, they're not exactly too helpful.
 
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my apologies. your friend is lucky to have a friend like you. he needs one. teach him how to handle a knife/tool. AND dont let him hurt hisself. too bad. :D
 
I know it's around 30 dollars, but have you thought of the Buck 730 X-Tract all its tools lock and it has pliers and screwdrivers and a can opener. Or for around 32 dollars online the Leatherman Expanse E33tx has a 154cm blade a Philips Screwdriver and a Flat Screwdriver. Or at the 25 dollar range the Leatherman Crater C33tx has the same tools but with a 420HC blade.
 
Farmers worked this one out long ago. When a knife is a working tool and likely the only tool you have on you, a sodbuster is the way to go. Most companies offer one, and they make them cheap, tough, and of good steel. Case is the American standard and it comes in two sizes and two steels, stainless and CV. You can even get a Queen for around $25. Case and Queen do not currently offer a locking version, but Bokker, Indian Head, and Rough Rider do.

I've found the Rough Riders for around $8 and they are an amazing value at that price. Blade is 440, lock works, scales are really ugly micarta, but almost indestructable. The full size is built a good bit tougher than the 3.5" version so it would be the way to go for really heavy use. The small one is pretty friendly to knife phobics, though.
 
Folders:
Victorinox Cadet
Case Sod Buster Jr
Buck Vantage Small
Buck Canoe
CRKT Drifter

Fixed Blade:
Mora
Buckmax Lite Small
 
:thumbup: +1 on the Sodbusters. Tough, cheap, for sale at Lowes or just about any store in your neighborhood (different brands of course). I'll carry a nicer knife "around town" but a Sodbuster or generic stockman is my companion around the house.
 
You could probably get a Byrd Cara-Cara with FRN handles for about $20, not to mention the rest of the Byrd line. The Ka-Bar Dozier also falls into that range.
 
Spyderco Byrd lines are tough with excellent price point and you can get them usually under $20. Ka-Bar Dozier, CRKT Drifter are all excellent and Opinel #8 / #9 are excellent value all and good users.
 
Look at Klein folders--great value for the $. Hard to find sometimes, but usually electrical contractor supply houses have 'em. Incredible quality for what you pay for them.
 
As already mentioned, The Byrd line and Bucks Vantage Select ar nice for the money. I had the Byrd Raven but sold it. I still have my Buck Vantage Select though and use it often as it is in my toolbox.

Also, Have a look at the Kabar Dozier folders and Ontario RAT folders.
 
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