Cheap knives

L

longbow

Basic Member
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Jan 9, 1999
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Yep, cheap knives. Gonna pick up a couple of the cheaper prod. folders and maybe some f.b's just to see what the deal is with them. Been concentrating on better hand made stuff the past year or two and frankly don't use them much. I always say to myself geez I paid 400 bucks for this thing and I don't want to scratch it up. Weird but true. So I've ordered the UC Willumsen Blondie in 440c, and have rec. a Hallmark Kendrick prod. Fire something. Breather, spitter, or something along those lines. Gotta tell ya the Kendrick design kicks ass for a sub 40 buck folder. So the Willumsen was ordered and we'll see about that one. keepem sharp
 
Looks like a very cool framelock for $40.

I won't hardly use a specifically made kitchen knife and have not for years.
I prefer cheaper made hunting and folding knives for kitchen duty, not sure why, but gives me another reason to buy a knife.

I save all my good knives for hunting and outdoor, and just plain safe fillers.

CRKT, Meyerco, Bark River, Gerber, Western, and Smith & Wesson get used almost everyday in my kitchen.
Just more fun than a kitchen knife!

Just some excellent deals on the market today for the money.
 
I can kinda agree.
I cant tell myself that "It's a beater" because then I get stupid and break it intentionally to see what it can take.
I just use some rougher than others.
 
Though I'm not reluctant to use the expensive knives that I've bought over the past eleven years (I got back into buying knives eleven years ago), and as much as I like some of them, I can't help but regret their purchase. In better times I bought knives just to buy them (prices ranging from $100-$300), but now during harder times I wish I had kept the money and invested it. I've done a lot of cutting over the past eleven years with my expensive knives and they have served me well, but the old Buck 110 I got as a kid would have served me just as well, and I would have saved thousands of dollars on all those expensive knives, many of which I've never had a need to use.

Oh well, live and learn.
 
killgar said:
Though I'm not reluctant to use the expensive knives that I've bought over the past eleven years (I got back into buying knives eleven years ago), and as much as I like some of them, I can't help but regret their purchase. In better times I bought knives just to buy them (prices ranging from $100-$300), but now during harder times I wish I had kept the money and invested it. I've done a lot of cutting over the past eleven years with my expensive knives and they have served me well, but the old Buck 110 I got as a kid would have served me just as well, and I would have saved thousands of dollars on all those expensive knives, many of which I've never had a need to use.

Oh well, live and learn.
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It's kind of like doing a 360 and realizing that even a cheap knife can perform pretty much the same as an expensive one costing exponentially more. (eg. Moras, Opinels etc...)

I've been pretty disenchanted with high end knives, even customs after owning and handling quite a few pricey blades but fearing damage or loss, leaving them behind in favor of using something that's more easily replaced.

I'm totally with you killgar. :thumbup: Not that customs and pricey mid tech/production blades aren't awesome if you've got mad cash to ape on em with. :D
 
I bought a "cheap knife" several months ago. It was a Kershaw Crown $14 at Walmart. Although it has absolutely no blade play and can take an edge, the grinds are pretty bad, and it doesn't see much if any pocket time. Even if the grinds were perfect, I still wouldn't EDC it, as it's just not a knife that I care for too much. That said, it's a great knife for the tackle box. I do think cheaper knives have their place.
 
Life is too short to carry a cheap knife. I don't need an expensive knife but want quality design and materials. There are few sub $100 I will carry because they all seem like I'm sacrificing something I like. Above around $100 you can have good design, materials, blade steel, lock, fit & finish, and warranty. Or at least what I consider good. Just my opinion.
 
Yup, the best knife you have is your pocket, not the $400 knife sitting back at the house, collecting dust.
 
killgar said:
Though I'm not reluctant to use the expensive knives that I've bought over the past eleven years (I got back into buying knives eleven years ago), and as much as I like some of them, I can't help but regret their purchase. In better times I bought knives just to buy them (prices ranging from $100-$300), but now during harder times I wish I had kept the money and invested it. I've done a lot of cutting over the past eleven years with my expensive knives and they have served me well, but the old Buck 110 I got as a kid would have served me just as well, and I would have saved thousands of dollars on all those expensive knives, many of which I've never had a need to use.

Oh well, live and learn.
Click to expand...

I know this feeling very well! Some people, like me, have the collecting bug and really appreciate high quality, however, one of the great things about the time in which we live is that we can buy very well constructed things for small amounts of money. I love Kershaw's Chinese knives, and I love the American knives made with 14c28n steel too.

Family responsibilities and other changes keep me from splurging on expensive knives anymore, but I can still buy a few pieces that are much cheaper, but the design and finish is so nice that I am still very happy with them.
 
I love my Smith and Wesson Oasis, even after getting into high end knives. It opens boxes just as well as my Griptilian or BM530 could, and I really didn't care about using really hard. I was working as summer help for the water department of Wheaton, IL; so I often found myself using my knife in somewhat creative ways. I have cleared brush with my crappy $15 dollar knife, as well as using it to probe and dig for things. It doesn't see any pocket time now since I'm back in school, but when I start working again it will probably see some action.
 
What do most consider to be cheap knives? For me, a cheap knife is under $40. Realistically, there are not any knives much under $20 that I want. KaBar, Kershaw, Boker, CKR&T, and a few others make a lot of really nice stuff between $21-$35. At this point, a treat would be a knife in the $40-$75 range, and a $100+ knife is a very, very special purchase.:thumbup:
 
Nothin wrong with some cheap folders bro!!! In the last year Ive scored so many $40 or less of the ex that its silly. I esp love them when I travel into non knife friendly environments so if It comes to pitchin it no sweat :D
 
I admit to liking knives that are expensive. Well, expensive to most lol.
Okay, they're expensive to me as well, but I really figure in what I'm getting with the price and it doesn't seem expensive(to me) anymore.

But, while being someone pretty poor, with expensive taste, I use my knives like it's my job(even the $400+ Sebenza). I use them because if I'm paying for them I might as well enjoy them. I take all of the precautions necessary not to lose them, and I take good care of them so there's no fear of ruining them. But I use them, for everything.

While I love my expensive knives, I've started to regress a little and am starting to get a few more cheaper knives. I carry them and use them just as I do my expensive ones. I still take precautions not to lose them and take good care of them.
I'm a little anal when it comes to my knives.

But I have to admit, I enjoy my Spyderco Squeak($40) as much as my Paramilitary 2($110). So I'm enjoying all ends of the spectrum and don't see anything wrong with a cheap knife. A cheap knife can do what most of us use them for just as well as the more expensive knives. I just love the choice of materials, steels, the craftsmanship, fit and finish, and quality. Though I'm still blown away with the quality of some of the cheaper knives. =]
 
Haha!
BladeChick, you should pick up some of the CRKT Kiss FB (neckers) knives if you run across one for $20 or cheaper.
I have a WharnCliff and Tanto, I use alot in the kitchen.
Plain and PS.
Killer in the kitchen, as is a BRKT Woodland.
Just hard to go back to a so called "parring knife".

I won't go any further but will tell you I LOVE the cheap knives for kitchen duty, and it is plain fun having all those knives doing duty as opposed to some cheap kitchen knives from Wally World.
 
All I buy are knives under $40. I don't have any modern designs besides my Buck Vantage. There are plenty of time tested classics that are less than $40: Opinel, SAKs, Buck 300s, 110, Mercator k55k, Higonokami, Svord Peasant, Moras, Douk-Douks, Sodbusters, and more. I don't think I'll run out of knives to try.
 
Speaking of "cheap" knives for the kitchen. I have an excellent set of Soligen steel kitchen knives complete with a large wooden knife block to hold them. They are quality knives that I paid a few hundred bucks for several years ago.

Since my fairly recent foray into "pocket" knives again, and really more into sharpening them as a hobby (I'm retired). I bought several knives at the local thrift stores for about $1 each. All stainless except for a set of Old Hickory kitchen knives. I have sharpened all of them where they will easily push cut phone book paper, and have some of them in the kitchen for use as an experiment, on how long they will stay sharp, before needing a touch up.

I also have several old pocket knives I have gathered over the years, and some I have inherited from relatives. None of which cost more than $30 new. I am not a hard use knife person, and take pride in keeping my knives sharp and in excellent condition. My favorite EDC is a Chinese Buck 112 knock-off from my father-in law. It is hair popping sharp, and he probably paid less than $10 for it new. I said all this reiterate that you do not have to spend lots of money to have a good collection of knives that you can use and enjoy. I would like to own some higher priced knives for my collection, but they would probably end up being "safe queens" and get no real use from me. Of course that is just me. Your thoughts and desires are probably different. Not better or worse, just different.

Omar
 
OHALLUM said:
Speaking of "cheap" knives for the kitchen. I have an excellent set of Soligen steel kitchen knives complete with a large wooden knife block to hold them. They are quality knives that I paid a few hundred bucks for several years ago.

Since my fairly recent foray into "pocket" knives again, and really more into sharpening them as a hobby (I'm retired). I bought several knives at the local thrift stores for about $1 each. All stainless except for a set of Old Hickory kitchen knives. I have sharpened all of them where they will easily push cut phone book paper, and have some of them in the kitchen for use as an experiment, on how long they will stay sharp, before needing a touch up.

I also have several old pocket knives I have gathered over the years, and some I have inherited from relatives. None of which cost more than $30 new. I am not a hard use knife person, and take pride in keeping my knives sharp and in excellent condition. My favorite EDC is a Chinese Buck 112 knock-off from my father-in law. It is hair popping sharp, and he probably paid less than $10 for it new. I said all this reiterate that you do not have to spend lots of money to have a good collection of knives that you can use and enjoy. I would like to own some higher priced knives for my collection, but they would probably end up being "safe queens" and get no real use from me. Of course that is just me. Your thoughts and desires are probably different. Not better or worse, just different.

Omar
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Sounds like you are enjoying the sharpening ect.
That might well be the thing you enjoy!

That is what makes this hobby fun is enjoying it!
Period!
Pure enjoyment!
Snobs with $1Million dollar collections prolly don't enjoy their knives like you obviously do!
Awesome man, have not seen a post with such passion in a while!
That is WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!
Congrats!
 
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I just don't have the $$$ to buy expensive knves. I own 2 knives worth over $100. 1 of wich has never been used. Sad isn't it.
 
There's no shortage of high quality , low cost knives out there. I own quite a few low priced Kershaw, Buck and Rough Rider knives.
If it's a quality knife I get satisfaction using it.

There's also plenty of low and mediocre qualty knives at both ends of the price spectrum. A high price doesn't always equal high quality.
 
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