Deciding on a cheap folding knife.

Buck Bantam, I have the BBW and its a fantastic blade. I find its all I need to prosess the little black tail deer where I live.
 
I own a cryo, tenacious, persistence, zancudo, kabar dozier, chill, and a drifter. My favorites are the tenacious, persistence, and dozier in no particular order. I like the tenacious and persistence because of the ergos and build quality, however I do think they are a bit too thick. I like the dozier because it is light, thin, has great ergos in any grip, and has a great blade shape that cuts well. It also might be the cheapest out of these knives. The dozier may not be the flashiest knife but I think it's one of the most practical. In my opinion, the dozier is under rated. The cryo is also a great knife but have had the torsion bar break twice. I would like it much better if it were a manual folder.
 
I'm mainly a collector of knives, so I don't have much experience with usage -- so, I was wondering how well the washers on sub 50$ folders tend to hold up? Most of the sub 50$ folders seem to have some sort of nylon or plastic type of washer, with the exception of the Kershaw's, which have copper washers.
 
I would never, ever, buy a 'cheap' knife. I will, however, buy an inexpensive knife!. The BRK Zancudo sure fits in that category. Good steel, frame lock, great value. I have been carrying one for several months now, and I like it more every day. I have another on the way, orange handle this time.

 
jac_solar said:
I'm mainly a collector of knives, so I don't have much experience with usage -- so, I was wondering how well the washers on sub 50$ folders tend to hold up? Most of the sub 50$ folders seem to have some sort of nylon or plastic type of washer, with the exception of the Kershaw's, which have copper washers.
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well, not to be snotty, but if you don't use your knives, what difference does it make about the washers? :D
 
jac_solar said:
I'm mainly a collector of knives, so I don't have much experience with usage -- so, I was wondering how well the washers on sub 50$ folders tend to hold up? Most of the sub 50$ folders seem to have some sort of nylon or plastic type of washer, with the exception of the Kershaw's, which have copper washers.
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Mannlicher is correct. All washers hold up just fine to not being used.

I'm a bit confused, and maybe you can clarify some stuff so we can help you better. You collect knives but dont use them, and you have no folders in your collection, correct? What is in your collection? Do you ever do anything with your knives? Do you own any quality (not necessarily expensive) knives?

As it stands, it sounds like you are not that into knives, and you are not terribly interested in using them. Nothing wrong with that. So just get what looks coolest to you. :thumbup: No point in having a boring looking knife with excellent washers sitting around on a shelf. Especially a 20 buck one. What's the point in that?!?

"See that plain looking knife on the shelf? If I was using it the ergos would be great and the washers would be smooth." :D Silly!
 
I will make this real easy for you....Kabar Dozier folding hunter which runs $18-$20. It's the one without the "hole".

My other suggestion would be a Victorinox swiss army knife which are quite useful in the medium and large sizes. Get a one or two layer one versus the thicker heavier ones.
 
22-rimfire said:
I will make this real easy for you....Kabar Dozier folding hunter which runs $18-$20. It's the one without the "hole".
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I love using that knife. Great deal on a great user. But, in my opinion, it would be a deathly boring part of a collection! :D
 
The Kershaw Chill would be my pick, I kind of prefer Kershaw over crkt so that is my biased, but I also really enjoy my Chill. My chill flips with no wrist action after I put some oil on it and adjusted the pivot. I always love a good manual flipper and it makes a nice thin edc knife.
 
I had both. Both are made of the same steel but the drifter has a thicker sturdier blade. I've whittled green wood with the drifter while hiking I wouldn't do that with the chill. The grind on the chill is better for slicing and very light EDC use it will also be easier to sharpen due to the blade shape. These are roughly $15 knives. You could do better with some of the Chinese SRM and Enlan knives. Also could do better with a Rat2 and the Kershaw OD2 is in the same class as the chill and Drifter as its a light duty knife. It's also the most fun. For a thicker more heavy duty knife you could also get a Cryo. I've also had a Lake 2, CRKT Tribute 2 (nice think pocket carry), Alox SAK, Ambitious etc...etc...realistically they are all about the same if we are talking about light use. How big your hand is, comfort of the knife in your pocket or clipped to your jeans are very personal measurements and that's how you should make a determination for something that you will carry around everyday. The smaller ones like the chill and drifter have no difference in feel for pocket carry.
 
At the $20-25 range, I've been happy with almost every Kershaw I've bought; I usually carry a Vapor III at work or an RJI if I'm out running errands. If you're looking at the Chinese models (most are at that price) then you may have noticed by now that Kershaw uses 8CR13MOV steel on most of them. Other manufacturers might use AUS-8 or 440, but again, those manufacturers will probably be consistent with materials across their product lines.

As far as other brands, I'm another Ontario fan, not only of the Utilitac but also the Black Tac made under Ontario's King Cutlery brand. In fact, I was so impressed with my first Black Tac that I bought another. Same with the SOG Salute, although I don't think I've seen one of those for under $28 new.
 
I was looking at the Vapor III, but I was wondering if it is easy to hold on to? It looks like the handle might be a bit slick...?

Inazone said:
I usually carry a Vapor III at work or an RJI if I'm out running errands.
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Think the chill is out. Decided really would rather have the thumb studs for opening. So that puts the RAT 2 in the lead. Kind of liking the look of the Utilitac too. The Dozier is still barely in, though it's handle shape is putting me off a bit.
 
sonar87 said:
Think the chill is out. Decided really would rather have the thumb studs for opening. So that puts the RAT 2 in the lead. Kind of liking the look of the Utilitac too. The Dozier is still barely in, though it's handle shape is putting me off a bit.
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I was on the bay yesterday eyeballing one of the Utilitac 2's. The tanto blade shape really tickles my fancy.

Also, o4tg's testimony is very convincing. Look up his thread on the Utilitac 2 and tell me it's not a user!
 
BUY THE COAST FX350 FRAME LOCK IN 9CR18MV. I think that is the steel used, 9CR something. Has .9% carbon, 18%chrome, and a goodly portion of vanadium. Uses g10 handle slab, s.s. liner, and a s.s. frame lock. Look on You Tube at the reviews of it. Just an extremely well made folder, made in Taiwan, with very decent steel as is my experience, and very well made. Thick g10 handle slab that is very nicely textured and lock up is spot on. Good all around blade shape and extremely sharp out of the package. Don't like the pivot adjustment they use but that is the only thing I don't like about it. You can buy spanner tools I am sure for it. Anyways 26 bucks and shipping. Kind of making me re-think my folding criteria, in the sense of how much better does a folder have to be that is made to be used as an edc it is that well made. keepem sharp
 
marcinek said:
Mannlicher is correct. All washers hold up just fine to not being used.

I'm a bit confused, and maybe you can clarify some stuff so we can help you better. You collect knives but dont use them, and you have no folders in your collection, correct? What is in your collection? Do you ever do anything with your knives? Do you own any quality (not necessarily expensive) knives?

As it stands, it sounds like you are not that into knives, and you are not terribly interested in using them. Nothing wrong with that. So just get what looks coolest to you. :thumbup: No point in having a boring looking knife with excellent washers sitting around on a shelf. Especially a 20 buck one. What's the point in that?!?

"See that plain looking knife on the shelf? If I was using it the ergos would be great and the washers would be smooth." :D Silly!
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I've mostly got folders. And what kind of collector would want something with subpar materials when it comes to knives?
 
marcinek said:
Mannlicher is correct. All washers hold up just fine to not being used.

I'm a bit confused, and maybe you can clarify some stuff so we can help you better. You collect knives but dont use them, and you have no folders in your collection, correct? What is in your collection? Do you ever do anything with your knives? Do you own any quality (not necessarily expensive) knives?

As it stands, it sounds like you are not that into knives, and you are not terribly interested in using them. Nothing wrong with that. So just get what looks coolest to you. :thumbup: No point in having a boring looking knife with excellent washers sitting around on a shelf. Especially a 20 buck one. What's the point in that?!?

"See that plain looking knife on the shelf? If I was using it the ergos would be great and the washers would be smooth." :D Silly!
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Collecting for the sake of fine craftsmanship and good quality over just nice looks...? One of the best things about collecting knives over most of the hundreds of other things people collect is that you have something that's a functional tool, not just eye candy. There are other things about them that matter just as much or more, other things to appreciate. Why not collect for something other than how nice it looks? If I was just going to collect them, not be using anything I got much, I'd still pick them out based on everything else. It may be the other way around for some people, but to me it's one of the main reasons to collect knives over anything else. Besides, maybe he will use them more some day. And if so he'll have a decent set to choose from because he didn't just puck out the pretty ones. I know, this one is a probably very small thing to worry about, even with that case, but the basic point remains. There's nothing wrong or silly about caring about the quality of even the smallest details as the main point of the collection, even if they are just going to be displayed. Maybe not the best to show off, but hey, that's not the only value a collection can have.
 
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