Collecting knives on a small budget

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weezer919

Joined
Apr 7, 2018
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I have started collecting knives. I am not a wealthy person. I would like some feedback as to which knives I should include in my collection that are not expensive.
Under $100 is good. Under $50 is better.

Some of the knives I already have are:
Old Timer Sharpfinger (My favorite so far)
Buck 110 Classic Folding Hunter
SOG Traction
A small Buck fixed blade with a synthetic handle
A folding Gerber that feels like it's built like a tank

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have been studying the various metal compositions used in knife manufacturing. (1095, s30v, 420hc, etc.) However, I would like to know real life experience information. Which knives are built really well, but are not too expensive.
 
I see a Kershaw Link in your future...

Kershaw-Link-DP-Blue-Aluminum-1776NBBW-BHQ-52152-jr-2.jpg


Under $50 for an American made Kershaw, 420hc steel, anodized handles... tough to beat.

The Byrd line from Spyderco also makes great, budget knives.
 
You need:
A Victorinox recruit $17
A Victorinox Classic $13
A Case sodbuster jr or Sr $25-$30
Probably an opinel No8 $12
And probably a KA-BAR Dozier lockback $25

Now i would say that you don't have to spend big money to collect knives, just go for the " budget " classics.
Those very popular well known inexpensive knives, those that every knife lover should probably experience at some point.
 
Ontario Rat 1 and 2 also fit within the budget. I also agree with Chris though, if you have to worry too much about the cost and budget, hold off a bit. Set a few dollars aside every week and save up to something a bit pricier. I know how it can feel of wanting to spend a bit on yourself, but if you have to worry too much about being able to spend it you might enjoy it less.
 
Coming from a fellow collector of limited knife funds, I can promise you that there will be excellent deals on the Exchange part of the forum, if you don't mind buying used. I've managed to turn an extremely limited collection into a handful of awesome knives that I'm not afraid to use. Most of them 25-50% off new retail price, and most of them only used by the original owner to cut paper and fondle.
Aside from buying used, take in the suggestions offered here. There are some great budget blades out there, but don't settle for any old knife just to get a new knife. Here are my suggestions:
Ontario RAT 1 or RAT 2, or Esee Zancudo in D2 steel and carbon fiber scales all 3 under $50 and feel way better.
Spyderco Endura and Delica in VG-10 for about $70 new. Great users with lots of color options.
Swiss Army Knives - low priced, super useful, and has a certain cool factor IMO. Can be bought in used lots on the Bay for under $10.
As will be mentioned a million times for good reason - Mora fixed blades and Opinel knives are some of the highest value budget blades you can get.
Holding off to save up for higher end stuff seems odd at first, but it's worth it in the long run. Also, try not to settle for a substitute. If you want a particular knife, save for it. Getting a substitute will be a waste because you'll still want the original blade anyway.
 
GermanyChris said:
Don't collect if you can't really afford it without thinking about the cost you can't afford it.

Just pick a couple good knives and roll with it until you can collect without thinking about the money
Click to expand...

This.

Collecting knives and a small budget are difficult if not impossible to co-exist. Soon you will lose interest in collecting sub $50 knives, then $100, then $200, $400, custom, etc etc.
 
weezer919 said:
I have started collecting knives. I am not a wealthy person. I would like some feedback as to which knives I should include in my collection that are not expensive.
Under $100 is good. Under $50 is better.

Some of the knives I already have are:
Old Timer Sharpfinger (My favorite so far)
Buck 110 Classic Folding Hunter
SOG Traction
A small Buck fixed blade with a synthetic handle
A folding Gerber that feels like it's built like a tank

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have been studying the various metal compositions used in knife manufacturing. (1095, s30v, 420hc, etc.) However, I would like to know real life experience information. Which knives are built really well, but are not too expensive.
Click to expand...

I was going to say the Buck 110! haha. Buck 112 then. ^_~ I also love my Victorinox Swiss Army Knife; it is the Explorer and has everything I would ever need, including a very nice little magnifying glass. I think it runs about $60 - my boyfriend got it for me at REI, and actually I'm not finding it new on the web. Weird. But anyways, it's a great little EDC, quality is unmatched to other small Multi-tools.

PS: It's got some REALLY TINY little tools; I literally threw out my eye glasses screwdriver because I thought it was wrapping LOL. I also lost my pin immediately, once I realized I even had it (It's almost impossible to see in there). So be careful, haha. They sell replacements, which was lucky for me. ;]
 
sharp_edge said:
This.

Collecting knives and a small budget are difficult if not impossible to co-exist. Soon you will lose interest in collecting sub $50 knives, then $100, then $200, $400, custom, etc etc.
Click to expand...
You better be wrong Sharp!! ^_~ I just started collecting, and let's just say... I'm flat broke. But hey, I like sub $50 knives! You can actually get some real quality if you do your research, which is most of the fun for me anyways. :] <3
 
b00n said:
Ontario Rat 1 and 2 also fit within the budget. I also agree with Chris though, if you have to worry too much about the cost and budget, hold off a bit. Set a few dollars aside every week and save up to something a bit pricier. I know how it can feel of wanting to spend a bit on yourself, but if you have to worry too much about being able to spend it you might enjoy it less.
Click to expand...


Don’t hold off on the rat1 or 2 in d2 steel, as they are $30-37 and the best D2 steel at almost any price! Made in Taiwan, though, by a US company. 3.5” blade on the 1, 3” blade on the 2.
If you buy a kershaw, try to get one made with 14c28n, as it’s a proprietary steel, unlike 420hc.
Spyderco delica, endura, or stretch with frn handles and vg-10 steel or one of the laminated blades for a few dollars more.
You can often find unused spyderco pm2’s here on the exchange for a couple bucks over $100.
Good luck, and happy hunting!
 
sharp_edge said:
This.

Collecting knives and a small budget are difficult if not impossible to co-exist. Soon you will lose interest in collecting sub $50 knives, then $100, then $200, $400, custom, etc etc.
Click to expand...


I respectfully beg to differ. I have been taking an active interest in knives for the last eight or nine years, and stepped it up when I joined this forum about four years ago. My interest has always been in less expensive knives. I have never bought a $200 knife, and have broken the $100 barrier only a very few times. My ten and twenty dollar knives have given me a lot of joy and provided a lot of interest.

It is not at all difficult to accumulate interesting, high-quality knives without spending a lot of money, without saving up to buy the object of your desire, and without having to sell your knives in order to buy more.
 
I see a lot of folder rec. And remember like people saidnthe Exchamge is great. $80 full size grips show up...Stuff like that. Notnto.mention plenty of knoves discontinued, like the ritters. I'm just a Case fan ill admit it and still buy them despite owning full cuatom folders. I like yhe Rat recs too. Def dont overlook GEC often in at 100 or just underm. Northwoods if u act fast.

I agree with.savin.up.and gettin.some nicer ones. U get into this collecting rmemeber the peoplenyoure deal8n with.is very important along with factory or maker warranties honored should problems arise.

For sub 50 fixed blades check out some CS, ESEE, Ontario, Becker, SOG, Marbles, Camillus, Kershaw, SAK, Japanese slipjoints, LEathermen (please buy urself a Silky saw and change your whole perspective on what a one handed saw oughta be lol). Avoid the new Gerber (orange Bear) knives. I've seen.makers offer sub 50 chisel grinds in aebl. Believe me nows not the time to ask me. Certain steels, like AEB-L can help keep costs down. Or ground railroad spikes lol!

If you want a good deal on some mild users lemme know I got emmlayin around (CS Bushman - this beast can take down drift logs, CS OSS, Gerber LMF II COYOAte blacj, etc.)
 
You picked the best time to get into knives, when it comes to budget knives of high quality now is the best it's ever been. You can get D2 knives for $50 or less, and they provide excellent performance. You can also get a ton of Ruike and Real Steel knives for under $50 in 14c28n and it nearly matches VG-10 in performance. Tons of options. You can also get a Buck Vantage Pro in S30V for around $60 and it's not really beatable in performance for the price. I would suggest getting diamond stones and a diamond lapping paste equal or finer than your finest diamond stone.
 
The Steel Will cutjack is one of the best cheaper knives for the money on the market right now. You get d2 which is an excellent steel imho and a great smooth flipper tab action.

What more can you ask for?

Steel-Will-Cutjack-OD-Green-FRN-Satin-C221OD-BHQ-71662-jr-large.jpg


Or check out the Ruike 801 for under 30$. Also has an amazing flipping action and is a very well built framelock knife. Comes with sandvick 14c28n steel which is an excellent steel to learn how to sharpen imho, much easier than d2. This knife is one of the best budget knives on the market if you want a very well built flipper framelock.
RUIKE-P801-FL-SS-SW-RKEP801SF-BHQ-60856-jr-large.jpg
 
weezer919 said:
I have started collecting knives. I am not a wealthy person. I would like some feedback as to which knives I should include in my collection that are not expensive.
Under $100 is good. Under $50 is better.
Click to expand...
Soo... my two cents. You are talking about a collection, not needing a knife of a certain suitability for a certain task. So don't look at specific budget knives. Be on the lookout for good deals. You'll build out an interesting collection and won't break the bank. Plus you could likely sell things off without losing any money (assuming you haven't used them much).

As an example of new knives I've bought or seen over the last 2 years:
I bought an S110V PM2 for $112
Buck Marksman for $75
I've seen the Kershaw Link as low as $17, but it was a serrated blade. I've seen the plain blade tanto at $22
I've seen the Spyderco Vrango as low as $109, but I bit at $135
I've seen the Spyderco Delica for $40
Morakniv Companion for $9
Morakniv Bushcraft for $20
Spyderco UKPK for $43
Camillus BushCraft $38
Ontario XR-1 $37
The ZT 0450CF was frequently reduced to $140-150
Cold Steel StoneCold Creamery exclusive Skull Pile for $47.

These are all almost within your budget, and would be a good addition to any collection. But they are just examples. Set some price watches, follow some deal sites, and buy stuff you find somewhat interesting even if it's not your dream knife. You'll get to find out what you actually like/dislike about it, and you can likely sell it on without much impact if you don't like it.
 
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