Favorite "Entry Level" Manufacturer

Jedi Knife

Jedi Knife

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What would you consider the best, "entry level" knife manufacturer? And why? For the sake of discussion, let's define "entry level manufacturer" as a company that offers a (current production model, no discontinued models apply) quality, durable knife (or different models of knives) that can be obtained new, at knife shops, for under $55.00 US.
I personally think Spyderco is hard to beat.
Does anyone like a differnt manufacturer better? CKRT maybe? I'm mainly searching for personal preferences, more than a "better than" discussion.

JK
 
Id have to go with CRK&T. I can't believe the Quality vs. Price.

Take the KFF for example. This "tactical" retails for $60. I've seen it sell for as low as $30!.

At the Blade show, Pat Crawford was selling the CRK&T knives right next to his $450 to $600 customs.

Calaberating with custom makers is all the rage right now. CRK&T has designs by Jim Hammond, Ed Halligan, Kit Carson, Ross Kommer, Pat & Wes Crawford and Greg Lightfoot. They also had prototypes on hand at the Blade Show of new knives by Steve Ryan, Howard Viele and Brian Tighe.

I can't believe they can do it for the price point they have.

John Hollister
 
Spyderco

Native 440 V under $50.00 IRL lower on the internet. Keep going from there. . . Delica, Endura, Ladybug, Dragonfly . . .
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Mike
 
So far, all the suggestions (except camillus maybe) have been for folders. For fixed blades under 55$, I don't think you can beat a good old Ka-Bar. Around 40$ counting shipping. With a kydex sheath, around 50$.

For under 100$ you can get a nice custom knife!
I'm into Greco knives (at
Hammerheadknives.com and KnifeArt.com)at the moment. At mostly under 100$ a piece and some great looking fighters, for the price, you can't beat Greco. You might want to search this forum for "Opinions on Greco Knives?". There have been a few posts on them. Good luck deciding. Sorry, 100$ is over, but couldn't stop myself from adding Greco knives!
 
CRKT Rules the low level entry knives.Hands down.Nice stuff and great prices.

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have a"knife"day
 
There are several quite good "entry level" producers. I've been quite happy with my Gerbers. The Gators, for example, are pretty solid lockbacks. My old Magnum Hunter, which is at least 26 years old and has seen a lot of use, is still in reasonable shape, without a hint of corrosion. On the other hand, my Applegate-Fairburn is a POS. I have many "entry level" knives, including Spyderco, SOG and Rickartz on my keychains and elsewhere. And, of course, the two Swiss Army makes. For the most part they're all pretty decent for what they are. At that level it's probably mostly a matter of taste and functionality. Just avoid the really cheap garbage, The majors do a pretty good job.
 
Just forget "el cheapo".
There are many: Buck, CKRT, Gerber, Spydies, SAKs, more...
They are all decent "bang to buck"

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D.T. UTZINGER
 
So far, all the suggestions (except camillus maybe) have been for folders. For fixed blades under 55$, I don't think you can beat a good old Ka-Bar. Around 40$ counting shipping. With a kydex sheath, around 50$.
Click to expand...

I agree. As a matter of fact, my father taught me to throw a knife with an Ka-Bar I bought at a flea market as a child. It held up admirably, and it would keep a keen edge.
Where can I buy one with a Kydex sheath for around $50? That is a good value!

JK
 
Jedi Knife,
For Ka-Bars with kydex for around 50 bucks, go to
www.countryboy-frm-rch.com/combatknives.html

There you can get the old style Ka-Bar with new Kraton handles plus a kydex sheath for 48 dollars.

You also might want to try starknives.com, where you can buy any of the old style Ka-Bars with a leather sheath for about 31$. Then, you can get a kydex sheath (seperately) for those knives for about 13$ at starknives as well. Altogether, you can get your choice (there are a few different styles) of the old Ka-Bars and a kydex sheath plus a leather sheath for about 44$. A good, if not great buy if you ask me.

 
Depends where you live. For me:
Fixed: Marttiini. I just saw a new puukko with forged cardonsteel blade and curly birch handle with 35$.
Folder Spyderco. Calypso jr ltwt, new Native and Endura are hard to beat. Here 80-100$ but sometimes internetorders from USA come through border without customs.
 
If you know where to shop, you can find some pretty nifty Cold Steel blades, too. Major ditto on CRKT.I own many of them and have yet to be disappointed.Also look at Outdoor Edge Impulse (street price). Spyderco is always at the top of many value lists,as yu can see!

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AKTI Member #A000934
"Always just one knife short of perfection!"
 
Tommi, you're a lucky man if you can pick up a Martiini puuko for $35! How much are KP's up your way?
 
CRKT is pretty good, but Schrade still would be hard to beat in this catagory. Kershaw has a few that would be great also for around $50.00.
 
CRK&T is extremely hard to beat in this dept.
Hard to top their "BIG bang for the buck" collaberation folders with makers like Kit Carson, Pat Crawford and Ed Halligan lending their best selling designs to CRK&T. And CRK&T's renditions of these best sellers is nothing short of killer. Wow...

Spyderco also has a great selection of under $55.00 knives. Endura, Delica, Goddard lightweight, Calypso Jr. ltwt. in VG10 are just a few. Too many to list. All are a great value for the dollar. Sal has done an amazing job at bringing high quality affordable knives to the users and collectors like us.

Buck would be my third choice as you can still get a 110 for under $40.00. Plus their Odyssey line looks good. I saw a 110 with BG-42 blade steel at Ruff's for under $60.00. I feel like a complete idiot for not getting one while they were in stock.
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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
CRKT. Looks like they stole the niche from Spyderco. (Thank heavens...I can't stand those hole humps!)

Steve-O
 
For low-cost street defense pieces, Cold Steel dominates.

Jim
 
HJK,

Yes, Marttiini is here a good buy compared to USA
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I asked about KP's last winter and increase in prices had been so big that the store that had sold them in Helsinki sopped to carry them. Kellam bought or bought a part of the Kainuun puukko and now prices are almost the same here as in USA. Foreign market must be so good that they don't need home market??? KP's used to be about 1000-1200 FIM (200$) now several hudreds more. James Mattis actually had some at cheaper price than here.
 
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