Good EDC knife for ~$50 and under

U

Urdnot Wrex

Joined
Sep 15, 2012
Messages
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Hey guys, I know that this question has probably been asked literally millions of times, but what are your recommendations for a good EDC knife for ~$50 and under. I've currently been carrying around a Sheffield multitool with a 2" blade and it got very rusty after I forgot to take it out of my boardshorts and went into the ocean. So what are you recommendations? I have gone onto /k/ and they've recommended the Kershaw Leek and Cold Steel Voyager. Any other recommendations?
 
Wow... There are so many answers to this question from so many great mfgs.

Could you tell us a little more about your needs?

Right from the hip, since you write about going into the ocean. If you want to go into the ocean with it, and NEVER worry about rust... Spyderco Dragonfly 2 salt can be found for less than $50 if you shop around.

If you are going to take it out of your pocket before going into the ocean (or at least clean it afterwards) and want something nice with a sub 3" blade a Spyderco Delica 4 can be found for less than $50 if you shop around.
 
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Ontario Rat 1 and Spyderco Tenacious are highly recommended. I have a Tenacious and it seems very well made to me.
 
Creaky Cactus said:
Well... If you want to go into the ocean with it, and NEVER worry about rust...

Spyderco Dragonfly 2 salt can be found for less than $50 if you shop around.
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Well I don't really want to go into the ocean with a knife, could fall out of my pocket if I have a hole or something, but for EDC how is it?
 
Like I said... could you tell us a little more about your needs? Or what is important to you?

Size?
Weight?
Clip?
One hand opening?
Office use vs. wilderness use?
Blade shape preference?
Handle material preference?
big hands or small?
Stainless or non?
Are you around non-knife people a lot of the time?
 
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This is a Buck Nobleman.
I purchased one of these a few years ago and I don't think I could have paid more than $25 for it. It hasn't done any heavy duty work but for every day use it's pretty good. Boxes, tape, rope, those annoying clear plastic packages, it keeps an edge pretty well too. I alternate between that and an aftermarket Smith and Wesson Swat II.

41h%2B2G6B5oL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


I usually don't spend all that much on folders, whatever is on the shelf at Walmart is usually what I end up with. If you are looking for another multitool you can't go wrong with anything from Leatherman. Walmart/Target/Meijer usually have decent deals on them in store.
 
Creaky Cactus said:
Like I said... could you tell us a little more about your needs? Or what is important to you?

Size?
Weight?
Clip?
One hand opening?
Office use vs. wilderness use?
Blade shape preference?
Handle material preference?
big hands or small?
Stainless or non?
Are you around non-knife people a lot of the time?
Click to expand...
Size?Blade under 5 inches (I'm a minor and live in the glorious People's Republic of Jersey) probably even blade size 4" and under
Weight?Doesn't matter to me.
Clip?Preferably yes.
One hand opening?Yes, I'd like a spring-assisted preferably.
Office use vs. wilderness use? In between both.
Blade shape preference? Not sure, I am new to knives. I know tantos are mostly for fighting and plain blades for everday use. What are your opinions on partially serrated blades?
Handle material preference? Doesn't matter.
big hands or small?I'm 14, so probably medium.
Stainless or non? Probably stainless
Are you around non-knife people a lot of the time? Yes, most of my friends don't care, but again I'm 14 so you never know with people my age.
Also I would never think about carrying one into school, that's just asking for an expulsion, and possible charges or something because I "threatened my little snowflake with a large ASSAULT STYLE KNIFE"
 
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If you are fourteen I'd be careful with what you carry, considering I don't think most places would even sell to you at that age, I know I always had to have an adult pay the cashier. A multitool or a swiss army knife would probably raise the least eyebrows if someone saw you with it, which is always an important factor to consider.
 
What is EDC for you, it's used too often and really doesn't mean anything. Where you live, work, play, and what you do there matters a lot. EDC for some people is a few hours at home after work/school is done and the tasks could be handled by cheap scissors for others it's every waking hour carrying knife/knives and using often so handle design and blade geometry really make more of a difference.

Hopefully all guys and gals new to the forum start to share more details.

Edit: my post took too long so you already shared more details..

Even though I carry a Large Voyager I would recommend a Spyderco Native FRN for you. Then add obligatory SAK later and go larger blade, heavier, more expensive folder if you feel like it after a while with the Native.
 
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SpencerCE89 said:
If you are fourteen I'd be careful with what you carry, considering I don't think most places would even sell to you at that age, I know I always had to have an adult pay the cashier. A multitool or a swiss army knife would probably raise the least eyebrows if someone saw you with it, which is always an important factor to consider.
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I would probably go with my dad to get the knife, and I honestly don't care about what people think of me if they saw me using it. If they said something I would just say "I just have it in case someone confronts me and for everyday tasks." I am an Explorer for my local fire department so I thought it would probably be a good idea to get an EDC knife because it might come in handy one day during drill or at call.

OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
What is EDC for you, it's used too often and really doesn't mean anything. Where you live, work, play, and what you do there matters a lot. EDC for some people is a few hours at home after work/school is done and the tasks could be handled by cheap scissors for others it's every waking hour carrying knife/knives and using often so handle design and blade geometry really make more of a difference.

Hopefully all guys and gals new to the forum start to share more details.
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For me EDC would be opening boxes, a small chance of self-defense if the situation arises, probably something during a drill or a fire call (as I said I am an Explorer for my local fire department), being able to cut through rubber like on bike tires and grips (No, I'm slashing tires, I like doing BMX so I customize and do maintenance to my bike a lot.) I live in NJ so we get all the seasons.
 
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Ah! Now we are getting somewhere! For you, I would recommend a plain edge blade. (1) easier to maintain and (2) friendlier to those around you.

Kershaw Leek.

3 inch blade
Assisted opening
Clip
friendly blade shape
Stainless
easily inside your price range.


SOG Twitch
Assisted opening
Clip
friendly blade shape
Stainless
easily inside your price range.
 
Ah... the world is a much different place than when I was a kid. I've been carrying since I was in grade school, and teachers used to borrow my knife for in-classroom tasks. I've been carrying so long that I honestly do not know when I started. Now, I would get thrown out of school.
 
Creaky Cactus said:
Ah... the world is a much different place than when I was a kid. I've been carrying since I was in grade school, and teachers used to borrow my knife for in-classroom tasks. I've been carrying so long that I honestly do not know when I started. Now, I would get thrown out of school.
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Yeah, I think all those laws started after Columbine because it was to protect everyone's little snowflake. My school also has had some kids that have been arrested during school for various things (we get kids from 3 different towns so there are many "good" and "bad" kids). Also SOG Twitch I or Twitch II so that I can compare one with the Leek. Also I've been considering getting an EDC knife because around a year or two ago a lot of lurings/attempted lurings had starting happening in my town and in towns close by. One even happened at my old school which I hung out at a lot.
 
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Urdnot Wrex said:
I would probably go with my dad to get the knife, and I honestly don't care about what people think of me if they saw me using it. If they said something I would just say "I just have it in case someone confronts me and for everyday tasks." I am an Explorer for my local fire department so I thought it would probably be a good idea to get an EDC knife because it might come in handy one day during drill or at call.
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Yeah, I know what you mean, and those are perfectly legitimate reasons for having one. It was always rare for someone to comment on my knife when I was actually using it for something, but when someone would see it clipped to my pocket they'd act appalled that I carried a knife. It was always somebodies busy body mom that was afraid I'd knife their little snowflake, too. :D
 
SpencerCE89 said:
Yeah, I know what you mean, and those are perfectly legitimate reasons for having one. It was always rare for someone to comment on my knife when I was actually using it for something, but when someone would see it clipped to my pocket they'd act appalled that I carried a knife. It was always somebodies busy body mom that was afraid I'd knife their little snowflake, too. :D
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It's even worse for CC'ers that reveal a little portion of their holster or gun. There's always the one person that makes a huge ordeal over it and calls the police and they end up getting in trouble for wasting resources because they don't know what the 2nd Amendment is or that you can legally CC.
 
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