Our OP gave us a price range with features desired and asked for suggestions for a new acquisition. My reading of these few pages of posts has given rise to a few thoughts regarding likes and dislikes, personal preference for makers, and how value is viewed with relation to various price-points.
Kelama's points about personal preference are well-taken, though he seems both adamant and somewhat defensive of his own. What's really cool about the hobby at this point in time is the great variety of availability in features and styles within various price ranges. We have flippers, thumb studs, Spydie holes; frame, liner, AXIS locks; G10, Micarta, Ti; and all manner and types of blade steels, types, and grinds to choose from. Truly something for everyone.
I really like the picture threads here at BF as one can see all manner of knives displayed. There's lots to like, some that seem kinda meh to me, and a few that really wrinkle up my nose. I'd just as soon keep my own counsel regarding the latter two as their posters certainly enjoy and are proud of their knives and don't need to know that their choices leave me cold at best.
As to price range, most all of us here seem willing to spend all of our OP's budget (welcome to BF, Owen!). When thinking of various brands/makers mentioned it strikes me that the "production" and "mid-tech" knives fall into fairly distinct categories. I happen to have quite a few in the production category--about two dozen BMs, a few less Spydies, not-so-many ZTs, and several others. I also have budget knives. I have quite a few mid-techs as well, including CRKs, Hinderers, serial Shiros (over-priced, though still mid-techs), a Les George, and an Olamic. Some of what separates these two categories in my mind is the more thoughtful design of not only the knife but the production process; a more careful and detailed execution of that process; and an ample amount of hand assembly and fitting of the finished product.
The production knives fall roughly into the $75-250 range while the mid-techs start around $400 new, though most of mine came off the Exchange and started around $300. I don't like my production models any less than my mid-techs, I just have different expectations for their level of F&F, action, and materials. I don't expect that my M390 production knife will be "better" than an S30V or S30VN mid-tech just because it has "better" blade steel. I also don't expect that buying an LE model of a production knife will raise it to the level of a mid-tech simply because of "better" materials, anodizing, or special finishing, regardless of its increased price point.
I would rather spend my $500 on an inlayed CRK than any Blue Class Benchmade, for example. I think this may have been at the heart of
Hackenslash
's comment regarding the F&F of the 247 over any ZT--not a disdain of one brand in the face of another, but his feeling that one is just a very different thing than the other. I'm sure that
KELAMA
's ZT LE's are fine knives and I wouldn't disparage them--at that price-point, though, I'm happy with my Olamic 247 which doesn't feel anything like a toy to me.
