Dilemma: I like a crap knife

I am no expert but I agree, all that matters is it performs the way you want it. for almost 10 years I have been carring a 25. dollar buck lock blade, it is a good knife. I also have another lock blade I got on ebay for under 10 dollars also a good knife. so it is good if you decide it is. Mike
 
Think of it this way; the average kitchen knife probably sells for a couple of dollars and provides a lifetime of service. Outside of the tiny world of knife collectors, few would spend much on a knife, and many of those are in the trades, farming, cooking and other fields where heavy knife use is required. The only time you will go wrong with a cheap knife is when you pay way too much for it.

n2s
 
killgar said:
Different people will have different opinions of what is "crap" or "low quality". I judge the quality of a knife in a very simple way- 1. Does it perform the tasks I need/want it to perform. 2. Does it perform these tasks without being damaged. 3. Will it last long enough for me to get my money's worth and be worth the purchase.

Most of my knives range in price from $100 to $300, and some of the steels are more modern than others, but I don't judge the quality of a knife purely by how much it costs or the steel it's made of, I judge it by how it performs.

Inexpensive knives with less-than-super steels often perform quite well and serve their owners throughout their lifetime. My 30+ year old Buck 110 is still one of my favorite knives (and users) and it's made of 420 steel and cost a mere $25. 30+ years and still going strong.

I say, never be ashamed of what you like, and to hell with anyone who would criticize you for what you like.
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Exactly. Well said.
 
I want to get a lightning otf.....I'm scared of the quality of a $30 automatic otf so I haven't gotten one yet
 
o4tg said:
This crap knifes has been making my hidden inner mall ninja itch. I was hoping it was a direct knock off being Mtech, but I haven't found anything.

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Looks like a knockoff of the Kershaw brawler to me
 
I used to own that CRKT back when I was beginner hobbyist. Good memories. It has been in production for a while. It doesn't do anything for me now though. Times and tastes change. :)
 
If you dig it, buy it. :thumbup: I bought a CRKT Hole In One a couple years back just because I was intrigued by the novelty of its design. It soon became one of my favorite folders. I find it ergonomic, easy to open and close, totally ambidextrous, and it has a very useful blade shape. That it cost me less than $30 and has a 420J2 blade bothers me not a bit. I still love it, and it's served me very well. I just wish I'd bought 10 of them before they were discontinued. :(
 
I love cold steels knives, especially budgets like the roach belly etc, but for some strange reason I have always had problems getting the kudu to take and hold a good edge. No idea why.
 
If you get it, satisfy the itch and then dislike the steel, there are uses for beaters.
 
My girlfriend bought me the crkt crawford triumph and everything told me i shouldnt get it, but being presented with a knife i didnt have and the guy behind the counter saying it was on sale was what pushed me over the edge and i got it. I still have yet to use it and i dont really like it as much as when i seen it in store. Get it if you want it, it will scratch that itch or it will eat at you until you buy it or amother knife.
 
killgar said:
I say, never be ashamed of what you like, and to hell with anyone who would criticize you for what you like.
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Here, here bravo on that! I happen to own the Alan Folts Minimalist Bowie and S.P.E.W. and I bought a bowie for my son last XMas...

DomC
 
To answer your question, personally no, I wouldn't buy it.
But what YOU spend YOUR money on is completely up to you.
There is nothing wrong with this knife, and if YOU like it, then buy it! :)
 
CRKT's are one of my most used go-to knives... As many others already said - nothing wrong with inexpensive blades, as long as they have good design and you have use for it...
The blade in question is basically SD blade, you don't care if it's going to be Chinese 13Mov steel or M390, punching flesh can be done very successfully with both of them...
It's getting interesting when you want a SD knife by design and in the same time you don't want to spend much on it and use it for most edc tasks... This is what I'm trying to implement when I carry a knife.
I found that most of the $30-$60 price range good designs will do it even done with bottom shelf materials, my favorite knives in EDC rotation are CRKT Heiho, the two ESEE knives - Avispa and the small Zancudo, the two rat folders Rat1 and 2...
I care for strong lock, one hand opening and closing design, thick enough blade so I can pry if I need to, I also need sort of long pointy tip so I can scrape some stuff from holes and shape them, as the one Heiho have, I don't care about slisers, cutting boards and zip-ties can be done with grind with bigger angle than the one good slicers have, even the Rats and ESEEs are all flat grind and very good slicers...
I also rotate much more expensive blades as my 553 and CQ7, my custom Frankenrat and Manix LX but this is not because I need those for the tasks, I just like the variety, inexpensive knives are fine with me...

Someone mentioned earlier M-Tech... I have a Tops knock off from M-Tech that cost me $12 about 8 years ago and I used the #!7 out of it... The blade holds fine edge but the lockup and washers are gone... It's all in the design of the tool for me, if you have a good design, even if it's produced with low end materials, it'll still do it...

mtech04.jpg
 
I buy inexpensive knives usually after reading people's reviews here and liking the ergos. The Cold Steel Tuff Lite is a good example. It's good to have some inexpensive knives around just in case. Sometimes giving away a knife to a relative makes quite a good impression when you know they don't have one.
 
I have a Winchester knife that is damn near perfect. It is easily one of the smoothest knives I own and the detent it perfect. The lockup is early and there's no bladeplay.
If it wasn't partially serrated I would carry it no doubt. Back in my ignorance days I put some pretty rough chips in the edge too. I don't even remember how. Probably as a screwdriver.
 
Nothing wrong with cheaper knives at all, in fact most of my knives are in the <100€ range.
Just felt that 3Cr13 was a little too low in the food chain, at least for the 50€ price they charge over here.
If I find a good deal though, I'll buy that little CRKT, 3Cr be damned lol

Heres a quick pic of some of my cheaper knives. The Rat-1 is one of my favourite knives period and gets used quite a bit.
The CRKT M16 has some great ergos and flips great, one of my earliest knives. Nothing wrong with it just the AUS4 needs sharpening quite often.
Even that 13€ Boker Magnum has some qualities, I'd like to see that honey-comb G10 on other knives, it gives a nice grip
IMG_20140901_210137.jpg
 
"If you carry a $100 knife you will lose it or it will get stolen in a day. If you throw a $25 knife out your car window in traffic it will be on your dresser when you get home."
 
davek14 said:
"If you carry a $100 knife you will lose it or it will get stolen in a day. If you throw a $25 knife out your car window in traffic it will be on your dresser when you get home."
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LOL, So true.

Sometimes, if I really like a knife( or it is no longer made), I will purchase two knives. You know, second one just in case I loose the first one.

However, I have never lost a knife that I own two of. But if it is out of production or I only buy one....
 
A ugly but superior Necker is the Scrapavore from Scrap Yard Knives. I use mine in black kydex on a tek lok cross draw on my belt. You don't even notice it on my belt.
Cuts like a liar committing a sin!!
 
^ hey now! They aren't ugly!

+ I don't think anything Scrapyard makes would deserve to be in a thread entitled "I like a crap knife" ever!
 
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