Cheap knives

[Halbrust]

I've been reading a lot before making a purchase or 3.

I'm cheap, and the thought of spending $50 on a knife makes me cringe.

The best looking knife (outside of multi-hundred dollar customs) I've ever seen is the "Smith & Wesson 3rd Gen Black Ops MAGIC Small Assisted 2.5" Plain Drop Point Blade, Pink Aluminum Handles".

I know it's a cheap knife. I know that S&W and Taylor as a whole are disliked by almost everyone here. I wonder if the lack of quality noted by everyone will be something I even notice.

I want something to edc that I think looks cool. Something that I will be proud to pull out if needed. It will probably only get used a few times a week cutting cardboard, twine, plastic straps, or plastic packaging. Is there a reason for me (at this time) to get a better knife than the one above?

 

[lock1888]

Well. It all depends. Pick the tight tool for the right job. The question is how much will you spend replacing cheap knives that break vs. A well made product back by a killer warranty. Benchmade for instance.

 

[DAVE_M]

I've been reading a lot before making a purchase or 3.

I'm cheap, and the thought of spending $50 on a knife makes me cringe.

The best looking knife (outside of multi-hundred dollar customs) I've ever seen is the "Smith & Wesson 3rd Gen Black Ops MAGIC Small Assisted 2.5" Plain Drop Point Blade, Pink Aluminum Handles".

I know it's a cheap knife. I know that S&W and Taylor as a whole are disliked by almost everyone here. I wonder if the lack of quality noted by everyone will be something I even notice.

I want something to edc that I think looks cool. Something that I will be proud to pull out if needed. It will probably only get used a few times a week cutting cardboard, twine, plastic straps, or plastic packaging. Is there a reason for me (at this time) to get a better knife than the one above?

For sub-$50 knives, stick with Kershaw or CRKT if you want an assisted opening knife. If you can pass on the assisted opening, there are useful knives under $50. My true EDC (that never leaves my pocket) is a $24 Victorinox Alox Cadet. It's a whole lot of knife for $20-30. Hell, you can even get the budget Spyderco knives for under $50.

I know you just want something that looks cool, but you will get over the aesthetics once you realize you wasted money on a junk knife.

You want cool for under $50?

And keeping the same color scheme:

 

[KingMC]

The only reason I see would be if you wanted some better knife steel so you don't have to sharpen it as often. The Ontario Utilitac and Rat 1/2 are both priced reasonably and have a lot of supporters.

 

[marcinek]

The knife is garbage. AND I would notice that its garbage. AND I think its ugly.

You think it looks cool?

And you don't care what anyone here thinks about it?

Then buy it. Why even ask? I don't get it.

 

[Monofletch]

When those plastic bushing crap out and it makes the knife even more dangerous you'll wish you would have spent a bit more. Stick with the cheap knives that have been given the 'seal of approval' by thru BF gang.....

Spyderco Byrd series....
Rat model 1.....
Opinal.....
Sanremnu....

 

[Halbrust]

I have never carried a knife
I own two cheap knives currently. A Pakistan "buck" knife that is too big to edc, and an old 2" 'bar knife' that was my grandfathers.
That's why I ask if I'll even notice that it is a cheap knife.

The aesthetics matter. I don't like the same knives that most here do. I'm not asking if you think it is a good looking knife. I'm asking how quickly the knife will break.
I said what I'll be using it for. Will I have to sharpen it daily? Weekly? Will it break, like snap or fall apart, within a year?

 

[DAVE_M]

I'm not asking if you think it is a good looking knife. I'm asking how quickly the knife will break.

Smith & Wesson knives are junk. They will break on you. How soon they break, is dependent on how you use the knife. Take our advice for what it's worth, or don't. Just don't be another person that asks for opinions and gets upset when we disagree with you.

Kershaw, CRKT, Spyderco, and a few other brands have a good reputation. Perhaps you should take a look at the subforums, here, and that will give you an idea of reputable companies.

 

[bleedingfinger]

i have kids who want to be like dad ,so i've bought some cheap knives.the best i've found is the ka-bar dozier.
i feel you would have to spend twice as much (can be found under $30) for anything better.that knife you are showing us looks like a catastrophe waiting to happen.the last thing id want on what is known as a junk brand is a bunch of aditional moving parts and a fancier handle..ka-bar dozier will put that knife to sleep

 

[marcinek]

I have never carried a knife
I own two cheap knives currently. A Pakistan "buck" knife that is too big to edc, and an old 2" 'bar knife' that was my grandfathers.
That's why I ask if I'll even notice that it is a cheap knife.

The aesthetics matter. I don't like the same knives that most here do. I'm not asking if you think it is a good looking knife. I'm asking how quickly the knife will break.
I said what I'll be using it for. Will I have to sharpen it daily? Weekly? Will it break, like snap or fall apart, within a year?

Everyone in this thread said its junk. Everything you have read here said its junk.

You know what? Yes, its junk. And, no. You won't notice.

What you wanted to hear? Happy?

Buy it. Enjoy. :thumbup:

 

[Kiteman72]

The fact that that knife says Smith & Wesson on it makes me sad. I'm a big S&W revolver fan and hate that they have put their name on this garbage.

But like marcinek says, if you like it, then buy it and see how it holds up. In a year, maybe you'll think it's the greatest knife ever made, full of fantastic memories!

 

[bld522]

To quote Phillip Patton, "the bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has gone."

 

[chambelona59]

To quote Phillip Patton, "the bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has gone."

Amen!

 

[bleedingfinger]

i think the plastic straps you mentioned would be its demise

 

[Rey HRH]

Use it until it's no longer usable.

You ask if there's "a reason for me (at this time) to get a better knife than the one above?"

The answer is none because you're cheap (I don't see that as a negative, you owned up to being one). If you bought a better knife now then you won't be cheap anymore but instead will be foolish. Why spend money on a cheap knife because you're cheap only to turn around and spend additional money to buy another knife?

Measure twice and cut once. Or think twice and buy once.

 

[brancron]

Will I have to sharpen it daily? Weekly? Will it break, like snap or fall apart, within a year?

Do you know how to sharpen? Do you have sharpening tools? The blade steel is of the lowest quality out there and will dull very quickly. If you don't know how to sharpen and/or you don't have proper sharpening tools you'll be left with useless object in about 2 days. I don't know if it will break or fall apart, it depends on how you're using it.

But more importantly, why are you planning on spending $30 on a complete piece of junk? Are you aware that for the same price or lower, you could get an ESEE Avispa, a Kershaw-Emerson Collab, a CRKT Ripple/M-16/Drifter/Squid, an Ontario RAT 2, a Victorinox Sentinel, a Cold Steel Tuff-Lite, a Byrd Meadowlark, a Ka-Bar Baconmaker, an H&K Pika, or a Buck Vantage, just to name a few? (And some of the aforementioned come in pink too.) These would be actual quality knives that you could be proud to own.

 

[Bob W]

I'm cheap, and the thought of spending $50 on a knife makes me cringe.

I understand completely, and there's no reason to spend a fortune on a knife just to cut things. But take care not to confuse inexpensive with cheap, and don't brush off knowledgeable advice about which low-cost knives are actually worth the price. To me, not wasting money on junk is more important than being frugal or saving a few dollars.

I want something to edc that I think looks cool. Something that I will be proud to pull out if needed. It will probably only get used a few times a week cutting cardboard, twine, plastic straps, or plastic packaging. Is there a reason for me (at this time) to get a better knife than the one above?

That knife will last for a while with light use. How long is a crapshoot. Would I get tired of sharpening the soft steel before the mechanism broke?
At $30, I don't think it's much of a bargain either.

I'd rather have a good $10 knife than a low quality $30 knife. Opinel knives are excellent cutters and cost less than half as much as that S&W. Did you know that Smith and Wesson knives have no affiliation whatsoever to the firearms manufacturer? Meanwhile Opinel is a family-owned business that has made their own knives since 1890. I enjoy a certain pride of ownership when carrying a tool with such a long and respected history.

Also if given the choice, I'd rather have a cheap fixed blade than a cheap folder. The steel might not be any better but at least you won't have to worry about rattly or wobbly parts, gimmicky mechanisms falling apart, or lock failures. And you can save money too. For instance, the Pendleton Lite Hunter from Cold Steel costs half as much as that Taylor S&W folder.

--------------

That's my view. If you do buy the S&W, use it for a while and then write a review of your experience and satisfaction. You'll be the expert at that point.

BTW, welcome to Bladeforums!

 

[RichardBay]

Good advice here.
Its just poor quality. I too am sad smith and wesson put a label on it.
To answer you questions the steel will most likely not hold an edge well due to cheap steel and heat treatment. And the parts inside will break sooner than later. If you do buy it please be careful, the locks can fail.
Looks are not everything try a byrd cara cara 2 on flEa bay, 20 bucks
Good luck & happy cutting
Rich

 

[Jake-n-Bake]

There are plenty of good knives for $30, but that's not one of them.

 

[Halbrust]

Marcinek - You're a douche!

Thank you to everyone else.
I will keep looking for a better knife that catches my eye. It's really the scales on that S&W I like. Anymore suggestions would be welcome, but not necessary.