EDC recommendations by budget level

[larrybar]

I was asked to make a non-SAK recommendation the other day and I realized how just a few dollars more to spend can really change what you might recommend to people as far as the best knife available for their budget. Here is what I came up with after a few minutes of looking at my own collection (and checking current prices on Amazon).

<$20 Ka-Bar Mini-Dozer
<$30 CRKT Drifter G-10
<$40 Kershaw Skyline
<$55 Spyderco Delica4 FFG
<$80 Benchmade Mini-Griptillian
<$110 Spyderco Sage1
<$150 Spyderco Caly3 CF ZDP-189
<$175 Spyderco Techno

Disagreements? Thought for knives between $55-$79 and $85-100?

 

[EDCanAdamas]

Heres my list based on your price points:

<$20 Ka-Bar Mini-Dozer
<$35 Kershaw Thermite
<$40 Kershaw Skyline
<$55 Spyderco Delica4 FFG
<$80 Spyderco Manix 2 LW
<$110 Spyderco Manix 2
<$130 to $150 ZT 566
<$175 Spyderco Military or Benchmade Adamas

 

[bpeezer]

<$20 Kershaw Chill
<$30 CRKT Ripple
<$40 Spyderco Dragonfly 2
<$55 Kershaw RAM (if you can find one)
<$80 Benchmade Mini Griptillian
<$110 Still a Benchmade Mini Griptilian
<$150 Zero Tolerance 770
<$175 Benchmade 940 (at this point, I think they can swing another 3 bucks)

 

[Bigfatts]

For the $85-100 I would suggest the Boker Kwaiken.

 

[Stays Sharp]

<$20 Byrd Meadowlark2
<$30 Spyderco Tenacious
<$40 Cold Steel Voyager
<$55 Spyderco Centofante3
<$80 Spyderco Stretch
<$110 Benchmade 710 (when they had coupons jeezus)
<$150 Spyderco Military
<$175 Spyderco Military again...Perhaps a sprint.

 

[K.O.D.]

Spyderco Gayle Bradley ~$150
LionSteel SR-1A you can find for $160-$175

 

[rajincagin]

You can still get a full size grip for under a $100, for the cheaper ones, I'm inclined to recommend gerber

So what did you recommend for your friend?

 

[B.F.U]

-20 Rough rider anything (i want to try a dozier)
-30 rat 1
-40 skyline
-60 endura or cs voyager
-80 native
-110 caly 3.5, manix xl
I don't know about anything higher. Some of you guys aren't taking benchmade new pricing into account.

 

[larrybar]

So what did you recommend for your friend?

He had $50 so I told him a Skyline is a great knife for that amount.

 

[rajincagin]

He had $50 so I told him a Skyline is a great knife for that amount.

That's a good choice, my cricket supplier swears by them, I've handled them but never owned one.

 

[CJZ]

Under $50- Kershaw Cryo
Between $50 and $100- Kershaw JYD
Between $100 and $150- ZT 0200
Higher than $150- S35VN Paramilitary 2

 

[brancron]

<$30: Ontario Rat II

 

[fsatsil]

For less then $50 you can't do much better then the Skyline its slim, lightweight, US made, great steel...etc I guess there a reason why its so popular.