Favorite Budget Knives of the Past Year?

R

RedLynx

Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
11,445
Hi guys,

I checked through 5 pages of the forum before posting. Granted, that only takes you back to the beginning of the week, though. There is a thread about surprising budget knives but it isn't quite the same thing.

I haven't bought anything knife-related in about a year. Just got a little burnt out or nothing spoke to me, I guess. I have a small number of favorites that I like to carry, so I haven't felt the need to add anything new in a while.

Over the past 12 months, what are some <$50 knives that have come on the market that you really like, and why? I am looking for something to add, but to be honest, I haven't even window shopped in a long time. Would like to put the spark back in my interest. Thanks guys.
 
Steel Will knives. If you like flippers, I’d highly suggest checking them out. I have the Cutjack. ~$40 gets you D2 steel, phosphor bronze washers and FRN scales. Very smooth, great action, came very sharp. The Modus is also an excellent choice.
 
Victorinox recruit.

I consider it high value though, you won't find anything better for $17.
For a compact lightweight knife with a great deal of utility packed in , the recruit is affordable and accessable and is just so darn useful.
 
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Ruike p801.
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Steel will cutjack.
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Both are great budget knives. The ruike is $30 with 14c28n and the steel will at $40-$45 with d2.
Steel will also make the modus and the intrigue which I would consider in the same family as the cutjack. Their all flippers with textured frn and d2 steel. Just pick the size and blade style you like.
 
Two lightweight Kershaw imports are among the folders I carry when wearing running shorts or pants:
Kershaw Fraxion;
And Kershaw Atmos.

They are decent, under 3-inch folders. They are manual for those who don't want one of Kershaw's many assisted models. At their prices, they are disposable if I need to use them in an emergency when walking the dogs.

At a slightly higher price, and with a better blade steel, I recently acquired the Steel Will Modus.

Impressive quality. I may try a Steel Will Intrigue next. I wish both had blades under 3 inches.

As always, I recommend giving your business to a dealer with a good return policy, in case you get a lemon.
 
The 3” rat2 just came out in d2 steel for about $33. It’s not really a new knife, just a new steel for the smaller OKC folder.
 
Fire Beard said:
Steel Will knives. If you like flippers, I’d highly suggest checking them out. I have the Cutjack. ~$40 gets you D2 steel, phosphor bronze washers and FRN scales. Very smooth, great action, came very sharp. The Modus is also an excellent choice.
Click to expand...
This.

The D2 Cutjack is a great knife for the $$$. Even their $200-ish made in Italy Gekkos are amazing.

Also, I just picked up a couple of Steel Will Roamer fixed blades and I am very happy with the quality of these big knives. Both were around $50 with quality sheaths.

My favourite budget knife maker.

Also check out Ontario RAT (1 and 2).

Lastly, the USA made Kershaw Leek is a great little knife. Under $50 and available even at the big box stores.

Lots of quality knives out there for <$50 including more traditional Buck and Case folders.
 
I should add that there is a leek for sale for $30 now on KW, though they’re often sold out; otw their prices have gone up a bit in last year or two.
 
I like the looks of this sub-$40 manual flipper on bearings from Kershaw, but haven't gotten mine yet:

Kershaw 4020 Dmitry Sinkevich Concierge Flipper
timthumb.php
 
Hickory n steel said:
Victorinox recruit.

I consider it high value though, you won't find anything better for $17.
For a compact lightweight knife with a great deal of utility packed in , the recruit is affordable and accessable and is just so darn useful.
Click to expand...

It certainly is a great knife. Did it just come on the market in the last 12 months?
 
evilgreg said:
I like the looks of this sub-$40 manual flipper on bearings from Kershaw, but haven't gotten mine yet:

Kershaw 4020 Dmitry Sinkevich Concierge Flipper
timthumb.php
Click to expand...
It looks like a home run. I just wish it had a longer blade. Let us know how you like it.
 
Kbrasmodeler said:
Actually, I am sure. I don't know the exact age, but the recruit is somewhere around a 50 year old pattern.
Click to expand...

I was joking, lol. I prefer the climber, I think it’s called, but can’t remember. It has the phillips screwdriver and the woodsaw, but no corkscrew. But it isn’t new either, so I won’t ask(or recommend.)
 
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marcinek said:
Thanks! Because I thought the OP was looking for knives he may have missed in the last year or so.

And Hi R RedLynx !
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions so far, I will look through them more thoroughly after work.

Marcinek is correct, though, I was just looking for stuff I missed over the past 12 months or so. Like many of you, I appreciate a good SAK.
 
RedLynx said:
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions so far, I will look through them more thoroughly after work.

Marcinek is correct, though, I was just looking for stuff I missed over the past 12 months or so. Like many of you, I appreciate a good SAK.
Click to expand...

I missed that in your op.
I don't think I own a single knife that debuted this year, hell I probably only have 1 knife that debuted in the past 10 years.
Just how it has worked out.
 
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