Cheap and Different EDC?

TripleB67

TripleB67

Joined
Jan 28, 2016
Messages
183
Recently received a Kershaw Cryo from a board member here and am loving it...first 'bigger' and better quality knife I've owned and find myself looking for more and more ways to use each day. After only having it a week I can already tell that the purchase of many more knives is in my future...so many knives out there to choose from and you don't have to spend $500+ to get great quality like I would with my firearms.

One thing I haven't determined with the Cryo yet is if I prefer using thumbstuds, the flipper, or opening it manually...or maybe some other way found on other knives.

Another board member made what seemed like a great point: instead of purchasing a more expensive knife any time soon, why not get a couple less expensive knives just to figure out why type(s) of knife I prefer.

With Valentine's Day coming up and my wife telling me she needs to spend between $25 and $35 more on me, I'm thinking now might be a good time to go ahead and try out another type of knife.

I would like something 'different' from the Cryo, still would like a 3" or less blade, would prefer something a little lighter (Cryo is perfect everywhere except with my work Dockers), and maybe something that allows for deep carry.

Any recommendations on a knife that would fit that criteria (3" or under blade, on the lighter side, possibly deep carry, under $35, and somehow different than the Cryo)?

edit: anything that requires a fingernail to open is out...40 year old habit won't die

Thanks for the input!

TripleB67
 
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My son has a CRKT Nirk Novo. It's a simple and inexpensive design. It's also very unique. It has a thin grind which allows it to get extremely sharp. They have been discontinued, but are still pretty available.

http://www.crkt.com/Nirknovo
 
Ontario Rat 2 - a good choice because it's not assisted like the Cryo. I think many of us liked the assisted when we started out, but eventually come to prefer manual.opening.
 
rje58 said:
Ontario Rat 2 - a good choice because it's not assisted like the Cryo. I think many of us liked the assisted when we started out, but eventually come to prefer manual.opening.
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My first choice as well.

I'll throw a few other options out there and avoid frame locks and another Kershaw. Buck Vantage Small, Swiss Army Knife (if you don't have one, you will at some time...), Spyderco Byrd Robin 2 or Meadowlark 2, CRKT M16.
 
the Buck Vantage is pretty good, but under $35 I would go for a Rat II, the Byrd line has some nice folders too
 
2.9 oz. The Byrd Meadowlark 2 gives you an idea what Spyderco has to offer, with no thumstuds or flipper, in a Lockback design.

If you like the convenience of the framelock,
3.2 oz. the CRKT Pazoda gives you a sharp and gentlemanly looking, thin profiled all steel design, framelock, with a thumb hole and no thumstuds or flipper. Also a deep carry clip. Also available in larger or small;
I really like my 3" (large) model for a $20 knife

If you like quick snap of assisted opening, and want something made in the USA, I just bought a 3.5 oz. Buck Quickfire, and did a first impressions review with pics in the review section. Deep carry clip and mid-lock design, with thumstuds, no flipper.

For what it's worth, the Cryo g10 model is listed at 3.77 oz. So all 3 are going to be a bit lighter.
 
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Opinel! Maybe an 8 or 9 depending in your size preferences.
Easy to get Crazy sharp, pretty good quality on their stainless and carbon steels (for the $).

Should be able to let you know of you don't mind opening something manually on a regular basis.
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For other traditional patterns, for easy money, you can look into rough rider. While they can be hit or miss for f&f, most are pretty good.

Most traditionals will work well as a "Sunday knife", a dress knife, or just a good user.

I usually pair a modern and a traditional. Today is a Large 21 sebenza and a GEC sodbuster in O1.
 
All good suggestions so far, but I can't believe nobody has mentioned the Spyderco Persistence. Tough, lightweight, thin, just under 3", and around $30.00.
 
I'm all for the Rat 2. I'd also suggest a Zancudo. Or a Pardue Utilitac. I have all three and they are all excellent knives.

Stepping up slightly, I can recommend the CRKT Ripple and Eros. Both are flipping machines!

Don't know your size preferences, but Cold Steel makes a couple in that price range. I hear good things about the Finn Wolf, the Voyager, and the Tuff Lite. I don't own any of those, but I want a Tuff Lite at some point. I do own a Hold Out II, and it's a heck of a knife!
 
NeilB said:
Or a Pardue Utilitac
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This looks interesting and hadn't seen them before. The recurve on the non-tanto model is the only downside for me.

JVSMcgA.jpg



The Kabar dozier? I don't have one but would like to have a look at one.
 
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TripleB67 said:
Recently received a Kershaw Cryo from a board member here and am loving it...first 'bigger' and better quality knife I've owned
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Just to be clear, then, are we actually talking about the Cryo II? The Cryo is quite small.

(Edit: Not trying to be pedantic, just making sure we're on the same page.)
 
rje58 said:
Ontario Rat 2 - a good choice because it's not assisted like the Cryo. I think many of us liked the assisted when we started out, but eventually come to prefer manual.opening.
Click to expand...

Ditto that, brother. The Rat 2 ("RAT II" on most of the retail sites) is a great little knife. Around $30.
 
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