Cheap European Folders-

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BenHarris

Joined
Apr 30, 2014
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Recently I have loved carrying my Opinel and even the Douk-Douk I bought as an experiment. I currently have my sights set on a smaller Mercator... I guess that I am asking what small, affordable European working knives do I need to check out?
 
I'm also a fan of Opinel and Douk-Douk. Also take a look at other knives from MC Cognet (maker of Douk-Douk), Otter Messer, MAM, Mercator K55, old German Herder sodbusters, etc.
 
Check out the Pallares Solsona from Spain. You can find them for about $15 shipped from Spain.
 
Aitor and Joker of Spain also do some nice, inexpensive working folders.
 
The MAM Tipica is a favorite of mine. A liner lock with a big sheepsfoot blade, it doesn't just cut the bagel, it spreads the cream cheese or butter very well, a simple little knife that gets a lot of use. There is also a version that is purely a friction folder.

While you are investigating these knives, you will probably come across the higo no kami, a Japanese friction folder, and the Svord peasant knives.
 
I love the look of the Pallares, but I cant find any in the USA. The only Ottermesser I can find here are the Anchormesser and the K55K. Thanks guys, hopefully I can get a few of these soon!
 
BenHarris said:
I love the look of the Pallares, but I cant find any in the USA. The only Ottermesser I can find here are the Anchormesser and the K55K. Thanks guys, hopefully I can get a few of these soon!
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Go search a "big auction site" that's how I found mine.
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another vote for MAM (sheepfoot or spearpoint), Svord (regular or mini), and Higonokami (which comes with black, silver, and brass colored handles)
 
I don't believe Svord is European but NZ. Eka from Sweden. Nontron from France. Hubertus from Germany.
 
something called Maserin just came to mind, some one posted it in the on orders thread. i saw it awhile back on the bay was very curious on the brand, any one have any experience?
 
mrknife said:
something called Maserin just came to mind, some one posted it in the on orders thread. i saw it awhile back on the bay was very curious on the brand, any one have any experience?
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I just have the one as you can see it compares to the Case small Sodbuster, it is called the Marinera i bought it to go into my small collection of European ( mainly French knives ) it cost the equivalent of $17.80 and has a 420 stainless steel blade with olive wood handles. Maserin do make an extensive range of nice knives,they are based in Maniago Italy.

MxnBHHTl.jpg
 
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Quite a few cheap European folders never really get much distribution in the US. Maserin's low end traditionals are around. Antonini and Mac Coltellerie offer cheap traditionals, though many of them are on the unorthodox end of traditional. Some Mikov knives, aside from the fish knife, seem to have turned up in the last year or so. Aitor's wares seem sparse here. It's a pity there are no Taramundi type knives distributed in the US, afaik. Low end Spanish folders don't seem to turn up outside a few ebay sellers. And it's hard for those not familiar to distinguish China made knives in traditional styles. especially when country of origin may not be displayed anywhere.
 
mrknife said:
something called Maserin just came to mind, some one posted it in the on orders thread. i saw it awhile back on the bay was very curious on the brand, any one have any experience?
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I wouldn't consider them "cheap" since most models are a hundred dollar or more, but I have four from this brand including two modern patterns and two small semi-traditional folders. The build quality is excellent on 3 of them; one of the smalls folder was bought on closeout sale and has a bit of blade wobble.
 
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