Do you buy cheap knives anymore?

CrimsonTideShooter said:
Just to answer your question of if there are good knives under $50:

Kershaw OD-2
Spyderco Tenacious
Kershaw Skyline

Many more. I have high end knives but I don't turn my nose up at the more economical selections.
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shecky said:
Oh, yes. I'll put it this way: I don't buy expensive knives anymore. These days, $50 is about my upper limit unless I find something really special.
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I agree with these guys, I like to focus on the low end knives they work good enough for me and I like that you can get some low dollar high value options...the Rat-1 is pretty nice too, that's like $30 and it has everything I want.
 
I dont pay much attention to the price. I do however pay more attention to the quality of materials used than I used to.
 
I find the word 'cheap' to be derogatory in nature. If you mean 'cheap' as in POS, then no, I don't have any cheap knives. If you mean 'cheap' as in a good value, then I have many knives that would fit the description.
 
I don't buy cheap knives. I buy inexpensive knives. And when the knife I buy isn't inexpensive, it's still a good value for the money. I like stuff that gives you more marginal utility per dollar.
 
I have to say I ve bought a bunch of knives lately! Including some high end stuff like an Umnum, Strider, Will Henry, Spydies, ZT Hinderer! And a Kershaw Skyline! Im blown away by this knife!! $30 at walmart!! It feels great in the hand and shaved hair off my arm!! If you are in need of a great buy on the cheap side you cant go wrong with the Skyline!!! And before this I was not a big fan of Kershaw for some reason! Think that has changed!
 
The last year or two I've been waking up to the fact that I can get damn good user knives for a decent price from Cold Steel. Yes I enjoy the quality and precision of a higher end Spyderco. But do I use them ?, not really. Unless it's an Endura I tend to molly coddle those knives. I doubt that a lot of sprint run knives are getting covered in blood and fish snot. I actualy USE the less pricey practical tough, day to day blades like a Ka- Bar Mule. I've gone through Kershaw, Spyderco, Ka-Bar, Becker fazes and likely others. Some I've kept, many are gone. Cold Steel with the triad lock has me Jonesing for the new Voyagers at the moment. And my panties are in a knot waiting for the Becker Tweeners to come out. I don't give a crap anymore about trying to dazzle anyone with a prestige knife. I primarily buy them to use outdoors. So if a blade is functional, tough, well designed, pleasing to handle\look at AND is a decent price, why wouldn't I buy it ?
 
I have more than a few SAKs that were less than $50. It doesn't have to be expensive to be good. I have a Buck Pac-Lite that was much less than that. No fancy steel, but functional and well made. Shabby sheath though. I might have to find someone to make a Kydex one for me.

SP
 
My problem is twofold, first, I've got small hands and it can be tough finding a knife that "fits" my hand comfortably for long periods of time. Secondly, I'm an engineering junky which means that I really enjoy using something with tight tolerances, high end materials and practical design (this also includes watches and flashlights). Combining these two considerations, most of my folders are customs in the $300 to $600 range with my least expensive knife, an old school MT Vector. All of my keeper knives get used at work on a daily basis and that consists of constant hard core use and they all show it. Are my needs/likes/dislikes the same as everyone else, no, of course not. Will Mora's/SAKs/Bucks/Kershaws or other comparatively inexpensive knives work extremely well and be enjoyable effective users, for most people, of course. I've tried the collaberations between production companies and custom makers and most of the time there were enough minor differences that I didn't like that I'd end up either giving them away or selling them. There is no right or wrong response to this question, thats what keeps all of the knife companies/makers and knife forums in business and helps keep this crappy economy from totally going down the toilet.

By the way, the only under $100 knives that I really like are a Kershaw Spec Bump and a Kershaw Ram but even with those I usually end up selling or giving them away.
 
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I bought a Mora Craftline 511 from Cecil Clark Knives (the storefront for Bladematrix) and I think he charged me $6 for it. As you can tell this knife is GROOVY!

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This is an inexpensive knife, but it's not a cheap one.
 
I am very Tempted to, but I find myself never using them, and eventually I dump them on the exchange or give them to a friend, so I try to resist.
 
These Mora Scouts in Sandvik Steel are like 13 bucks. Mine has been very tough and holds a good edge. I will be buying another one if I can ever wear this one out!:D

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Yup, still do.... I find it ironic that I spend $200 to $500+ for a tactical "hard use" knife but instead of beating that one up I'll use one of my "gun show" $10 - $15 specials. I'll take it apart, loctite it and give a nice shaving sharp 30 deg edge. I chuckle to myself if i even cut something with one of my more expensive blades, I'm quick to touch up the edge. I have no idea what edge retention is.... the minute it gets used, i touch it up.

I'm finding that once you take a knife apart and see how it goes back together, you get a pretty good idea if its a quality knife or not. (up to a point) I find it amazing how not flimsy some of these lower end knives are. I mean, you don't get the exotic steel but if the blade centers and the lock up is solid, i'm a happy camper! I recently picked up a CRKT m16-01 for around $15 at Big 5 and it sits happily opposite my Sebenza....... locks up every bit as solid as my Sebbie with that delightful "snap" that i love hearing when i hit the flipper... Guess which one gets the hard use chores lol.
 
Most of my knives cost less than $50. I love to look at those hi end jobs but I have a bad habit of losing knives so I don't dare spend to much on them
 
I have a couple $300 knives...a couple $200 knives... and several $100 knives... and although I don't mind carrying them and actually using them if the need arises, I usually find myself reaching in my other pocket and pulling out one of my sub $40 slip joints. I have reached the point where my personal needs no longer require the "wow" factor and I no longer feel the need to ask myself "what if" or "it must be nice" because to me, I have the higher end knives that satisfy my curiosity.

I recently ordered a yellow Buck 309 and while I was at it, I went ahead and had them throw a $12 Mora in the box as well. Two knives for less than $40.

The least expensive knife I have...a SRM 710 that cost me $5. I ordered one just to see what all the gripe was about. It's a decent knife for a measly 5 bucks.
 
Just recently I have bought two inexpensive knives. One was Buck Vantage from Walmart. I was not really impressed - certainly will not buy more expensive versions. It is good for under 30 bucks that I have paid. But do not think that there would be any sense to pay for premium steel for that knife - it is not its main issue.
Then I have bought Spiderco Stretch VG-10 comboedge from Warriors&Wonders for special August price. Very happy with this one! Though I am in no way serration man - that is one of three or four knives with serration on blade which I have ever owned. But with the price tag - I am happy getting half the blade! :D And who knows - may go one day for the plain edge Stretch with ZDP - I am quite impressed with the knife, it is everything I expected it to be. ;)
 
I buy good value knives a few times a year just to whet my appetite , sometimes I gift them and sometimes I suprise myself by loving them and they end up in the ol' EDC pile , but usually do not get carried much.

A good example would be the ever lovin' Skyline , I have yet to hear someone not just loving this incredible value of a knife.

Tostig
 
Tostig said:
I buy good value knives a few times a year just to whet my appetite , sometimes I gift them and sometimes I suprise myself by loving them and they end up in the ol' EDC pile , but usually do not get carried much.

A good example would be the ever lovin' Skyline , I have yet to hear someone not just loving this incredible value of a knife.

Tostig
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You missed a thread last week in which several of us comented on it's overall weakness and chintzy construction. I (we) hated it and I returned mine for a refund.

You know that I mean you no ill will brother - just didn't like the Skyline one bit. I can't think of one good thing it had going for it, in all honesty. :(
 
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