folding knives will ball bearings

nevertakeadayoff said:
Civivi made in china... that just thwarted my impulse buy.

And I'm thinking I know a reason why I haven't seen these ball bearing knives... they're all liner/frame locks. Those locks don't suit me too well unless it's a box cutter...

Requirements:

<= $100
not made in china
flipper
high edge retention steel like S30V or M4 (on 2nd thought, this req probablly isn't compatible with #1 on this list)
< 3" blade


Thank you everyone!
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Kershaw Bare Knuckle. Fits all your Reqs. Even #1 and #3.
 
There are basically two ways that a typical modern folding knife will go, washers or bearings, and since bearings are now probably more common than washers, it makes sense to consider what market the knife is intended for. Basically every knife from many manufacturers will be made with bearings, but sometimes they will use washers for more working-type knives. Kizer used washers for the Rogue and the Wanderer (which also has a T10 pivot), and those are both really nice and comfortable users. The kinds of knives that get washers will be ones that are either cheaper or more clearly designed to go to gritty worksites. Or knives that have no specific need for a free-swinging pivot, those also tend to get washers. Like anything with a backlock, there are a couple of odd bearing+lockback knives in the world but they are the rare exception.
 
Chronovore said:
I wouldn't get hung up on knives being made in China. It's a fact of life. Lots of Chinese companies have gotten very good at it too. With a sub-$100 requirement, most of your better options are going to come from China. Civivi is an obvious recommendation precisely because they tend to deliver high quality for the price. I'd also say that about their parent company in the next tier up. WE Knives really impressed me in 2021.

If economic patriotism is going to be a factor in purchases, I prefer to do it at tiers where Americans or Westerners are more competitive and the dollars I spend will make a bigger difference. Effectively, that's custom knife makers and smaller companies like TRM.

As far as liner or frame locks, I like them. I've carried knives with various locks over the years, from back locks to Axis locks. I carried a Spyderco with a compression lock just the other day. Following basic folding knife safety and using quality knives, any difference in strength is negligible to me. Since my favorite action involves flippers and caged bearings, I mostly carry liner or frame locks and I've gotten very used to it.

BTW, which Civivi did you get?
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Yep, trying to think of an American-made sub-$100 knife that's really deserving of a recommendation with basically no other considerations has me coming up empty-handed. I can't think of one that I would call a compelling purchase. My Vapor that I picked up on clearance? It bought itself at a glance. Or the micarta T1 from Kizer, I need to rotate some old things out of the collection before I buy one, but it's obviously going to be a keeper and a fun user.

But with a $250 budget I'm considering if I want to get something from WE or put it towards an order from TRM or North Arm.
 
NG VI said:
Yep, trying to think of an American-made sub-$100 knife that's really deserving of a recommendation with basically no other considerations has me coming up empty-handed. I can't think of one that I would call a compelling purchase. My Vapor that I picked up on clearance? It bought itself at a glance. Or the micarta T1 from Kizer, I need to rotate some old things out of the collection before I buy one, but it's obviously going to be a keeper and a fun user.

But with a $250 budget I'm considering if I want to get something from WE or put it towards an order from TRM or North Arm.
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Just this week I've bought several WEs on impulse. Wanted a Kizer Dukes, because I really like my Sovereign (washers on it), but they seem to be pretty hard to find.
 
Leo Greer said:
Just this week I've bought several WEs on impulse. Wanted a Kizer Dukes, because I really like my Sovereign (washers on it), but they seem to be pretty hard to find.
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The Dukes was very popular when it first came out. A friend of mine had one. I only spent a few minutes with it but I can see why it was so popular. I almost pulled the trigger on one this past summer when remaining stock went on sale. I didn't because but only because I don't love the clip and I already have a surplus of great knives that do the same sort of thing for me.

While I think WE (incluing Civivi) is a little better on quality, Kizer has some great knives. My Mini Domin and Mini Begleiter have both seen serious pocket time over the last couple of years. (It was already a joy to thumb-flick those with the washers. Newer versions run on bearings.) I also have a limited edition Micarta Gemini from them that has seen significant pocket time.
 
Leo Greer said:
Just this week I've bought several WEs on impulse. Wanted a Kizer Dukes, because I really like my Sovereign (washers on it), but they seem to be pretty hard to find.
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I've got good news if you are still looking for a Dukes. I was poking around Kizer's website and noticed that they had some in stock.

Black and Red: https://www.kizerknives.com/collections/kizershop/products/kizer-dukes-g10-black-v3466n1-3-stain-的副本

Just Black: https://www.kizerknives.com/collections/kizershop/products/kizer-dukes-g10-black-v3466n1-3-stain

I should really check over there more often. They sometimes have interesting exclusives.
 
Chronovore said:
I've got good news if you are still looking for a Dukes. I was poking around Kizer's website and noticed that they had some in stock.

Black and Red: https://www.kizerknives.com/collections/kizershop/products/kizer-dukes-g10-black-v3466n1-3-stain-的副本

Just Black: https://www.kizerknives.com/collections/kizershop/products/kizer-dukes-g10-black-v3466n1-3-stain

I should really check over there more often. They sometimes have interesting exclusives.
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Ah--I should've clarified. I meant the Bladesmith Dukes. The ones with s35vn and milled titanium. The Vanguard Dukes doesn't attract me the same way.
 
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