Good first knife for $50 and under

T

The_Knife_Man

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May 30, 2014
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Some co-workers have taken notice of my pocket knifes; and asked my recommendation of a knife for their soon to be 15 year old son. My initial thought was kershaw leek... But I want to pick your brain for recommendations.

To the meat and bones:
Not into camping/ hiking type stuff
Strict budget of $50
For birthday present
I assume light work
No blade shape preference
Blade length less than 5"
 
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Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K

Should be able to find one +/- $40
2 big names in Kershaw & Emerson
Frame lock
Wave feature
Decent steel
Build quality feels great. Lots of knife for the money.
Comes very sharp
Not too tactical, not to docile
Not too big, not too small 3.25" blade is likely to be legal (check local laws!)
 
SAK for sure. If a 15 year old is not interested in camping and hiking they should not need more than a SAK. Based on not being into camping and hiking I would also guess they have no experience with knives. A SAK can do very little damage. Probably the most important thing is for them to learn how to properly use a knife. I sure as heck wouldn't get a 15 year old with no knife experience something with a wave feature....
 
Just an FYI, you can edit the title of your thread by going into the advanced level of the edit options.
 
SAK Farmer

bluefarmerSAK.jpg
 
mmmmm.......blue alox..:D

good recommendations by all for sure...although I, like everyone else on this site, promote knife ownership/usage and the like...does this person really want a blade? What will it be used for? (camping/hiking being out of the question of course). Just trying to narrow the search......
 
I second Ontario rat folders they're a beast and don't seem to treating for a 15 yr old to have
 
Title edited. Lol "First" not "Fist".

Awesome; I forgot about the Rat 2. Not 100% sure of the usage; I assume around the house type stuff, maybe at the park? The kid didn't ask for one; his mom stated that when he visits family he is about the only one without a knife. :rolleyes:

She wanted to get him a knife he could use. I originally suggested a paramilitary 2; happen to be the knife I was carrying at the time. She held it and what not, followed by satisfying head nod, then "how much?". I Informed her of the cost :eek: Then the budget was $50.

Good suggestions; keep em coming.


That blue SAK is nice, I might have to pick one up,
 
To those recommending a SAK, while it is an excellent knife and probably the best suited to his needs, it is not the most "impressive" or "sexy" knife one can have. I think that the kid would like a really cool looking knife, being a 15 year old who i assume is not a knife snob. Maybe a kershaw skyline or a cryo as someone said before would be good. They are good knifes and the flipper seems like it would appeal to a 15 year old.
 
When I was a kid I was given a SAK. I had to purchase anything else myself. They usually ended up being confiscated. They weren't the type of knives a 15 year should carry.
 
Cold Steel Recon 1, its a tad over budget but you get so much in value, well worth the extra $. I have seen it on occasion for $50 on sale. Of course there is the american lawman for $50...but where is the fun that?
 
I'd definitely go with a rat 2. I'm 16 yrs old and for the price it suits me perfectly. Like mentioned an SAK is extremely capable but probably won't get him into knives the way other blades can.
 
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