Cheap knives that continue to beat out more expensive knives for pocket time.

[Bugout Bill]

I carry alot of cheaper (or downright cheap knives), either because they outperform more expensive knives or simply fulfill a role.

As for knives that fulfill a role:

-CRKT Stockman. A very nice $15 pocket knife for PC situations. It holds a ok edge and sharpens trivially on a coffee mug.

-Rough Rider Trapper. Pretty much the same reasons as the stockman; it's cheap, non-threatening, and does its job.

High Performance knives

-Opinel. Hands down the highest cutting performance knife that I own. Hard to beat that for $15.

-Spyderco Tenacious. Good ergos and decent cutting performance.

-Enlan EL-02B. Ergonomics, IMO, rival the Spyderco Military and Benchmade Griptillian. Fits like a glove, very functional jimping. It also has a very functional blade shape and holds a decent edge. The 8cr13mov resharpens trivially.

 

[kingston73]

Kershaw Scallion:
This is the cheapest knife that I carry regularly, it does everything I want and I forget it's in my pocket when I don't need it:

 

[cchu518]

I have a couple of titanium lightweight knives I carry frequently.

1. Columbia River CRKT S-2, a poor man's Sebenza.






2. And I carry the Gerber Harsey Air Ranger. Both about the same size at about 3".

How do you like both of these knives and how do they perform? I've actually researched both of the knives quite a lot and havn't seen much feedback of the knives in use.

 

[Mingecutter]

Ontario Rat II and silver alox SAK Cadet

The Cadet rides in my back pocket daily. Awesome knife. But the Rat II has kicked out my PM2 and Sage 2 for the last several weeks. I just love its blade shape and length, they're perfect for my EDC purposes. I've been carrying it more than my Spydies, I think, because it's not nearly as wide riding in my RFP. It's very slim and almost disappears during carry.

It seems like my more expensive mid techs, especially my CRKs, get carried the least. I'm always worried about marring up the titanium scales on my CRKs, LOL.

 

[HwangJino]

Dont be afraid to use your sebenza, they look better rugged.

 

[Whetstone39]

Ontario Rat 1 and a Leatherman Micra. For the longest time these have been my EDC combo, i have simply found no daily task these 2 can't accomplish. And i am not afraid to use the hell out of them either, which is why (i think) i carry them so often.

Lately i have been forcing myself to carry my more expensive folders, to get some use out of them and really enjoy them for what they are. So i am having almost the reverse effect of Cereal_killers original post going on. Or i have a decision making disorder

 

[Cereal_killer]

...because it's not nearly as wide riding in my RFP. It's very slim and almost disappears during carry...

Does anyone know the handle thickness of both the Rat-2 and the Esee Zancudo? I'm trying to decide on one of the two. I have a rat-1 which I really like (I've added a swedge) but at .5" wide its to thick that I can't really RFP carry it.

 

[SOLEIL]

How do you like both of these knives and how do they perform? I've actually researched both of the knives quite a lot and havn't seen much feedback of the knives in use.

Take good care of the S2 as they are discontinued and hard to find for under $100, especially the full size one. I have taken mine into the Gulf numerous times while wade fishing. The blade is treated with Marine Tuff-Glide and does not rust. If any part of the blade is not treated the salt water forms surface rust pretty quick but it is easily buffed out with a little polish and paper towel. Great knife, just wish I could get my hands on a few more for a reasonable price.

 

[sunandsteel]

It really depends on what you're using your knife for. How many of us are doing more than cutting apples, string, or opening mail? If you're not you could get by with a $25 folder and not miss a beat.

 

[basetta70]

It really depends on what you're using your knife for. How many of us are doing more than cutting apples, string, or opening mail? If you're not you could get by with a $25 folder and not miss a beat.

True! Buck Vantage small pro for me, a nice S30V by BOS not too hard so you can resharp it in short time.

 

[moonwilson]

I have thousands or maybe even tens of thousands of dollars worth of knives. I've been at it for a while. My most used knives lately are a medium Case stockman and a basic Mora. You really don't need much else.

 

[PHP87]

The Cold Steel Voyager Vaquero 4" Serrated folder. I bought it on (( not a paid BF Dealer )) for $17.00 and it came out to $25.00 after tax and shipping.

Great knife at a great price. It's my EDC knife. It's light, feels like it was made for my hand has great balance and ergonomics and a nasty serrated blade made of AUS-8

The kid next door came by to show me his Benchmade Bedlam knockoff - a Chinese made "Ganzo 712" that he bought for $20.00 shipped from China. I was ready to tell him he got ripped off, but the knife was surprisingly well-built and it has a "440C" imprint on the 3.75" inch blade.

It easily cut thin paper like phone book paper, store receipts, etc...

The Chinese can probably make really good knives for a good price if they wanted to instead of making knock-offs, although this one didn't claim to be a Benchmade, but is very similar to it in appearance and function.

Yes, I'm actually thinking of buying one to beat the heck out of it to see how it holds up.

(( not a paid BF Dealer ))


Ti-Lite 4" Zytel
Vaquero 4" Serrated
Vaquero 4" Plain Edge
Vaquero 5.5" Serrated
Vaquero Grande 6" VG-1 Serrated

 

[K.O.D.]

My Spydie Dragonfly ZDP-189 has been kickin some of my other knives out of my pocket, namely my BM Mini-grip and 530.

 

[o4tg]

O4tg, what brand mags are those?

Troy Battlemags. I recommend not buying them and going with Magpul PMAG's or Lancer AWM's instead if you're an AR15 shooter.

Back on knives, I've cut up coffee cans and pried steel doors open with this knife. I need to buy a couple extra. I'd like to have tan G10 made for one and have the Blade Cerakoted as I feel the grips and blade coating are the biggest weakness of the Utilitac series.

 

[99cuts]

Thanks Pinnah! I'm going to order the micra. I was installing ram today for a coworker and could have used a Phillips. I ended up using the tip of a sodnuster to do the install! Looks like the scissors could supplant the knife too out in public in some cases.

For working with computers I like the sak cybertool.

 

[jleephoto]

Spyderco Delica & Enduras & a BM Mini-Grip get as much pocket time as my other knives that are 3-5X as expensive. I don't mind putting the more expensive knives to use but if my activities mean I might be rough on one or even lose it, I don't want it to be a Sebenza.

 

[Simple Man]

A while back, I thought I needed to move on past my Endura I had carried for some time. I tried out several knives hoping to find one I liked better, including a Sebenza (twice), several other high end Spyderco, and several I have forgotten. None fit better than what I had. Now it may not fall quite into the "cheap" knife catagory, especially at time goes by, but my G-10 Endura 4 has all but ruined me for most any other knife.

 

[Cutty73]

This CB Leek get's way more use and carry time than my other much more expensive knives. It's just so darn handy and easy to pocket carry:thumbup:

 

[sodak]

In town, a SAK Climber. In the woods, either a SAK Huntsman or Farmer. Incredibly useful tools. Still, nothing has managed yet to kick out my Spyderco Calypso Jr.'s in ZDP 189 out of my pocket. I don't know if that's an expensive or cheap knife by your standards, but I haven't found anything that will outcut that Calypso Jr.

 

[Cereal_killer]

I don't know if that's an expensive or cheap knife by your standards.

I didnt out any values because the all subjective to the individual.

To me a calypso is expensive with "cheap" being the $30-50 range, but I realize to other people ~$100 knives are their "cheap"