Great Inexpensive knives

In my world, inexpensive means under $25. There are about a dozen Kershaws that meet this criteria, plus several others including the Ontario Utilitac (what Raz said), Ontario Rat 1 and Rat 2, and Rough Rider traditional knives (many under $12). The Opinel folders, and Mora fixed blades with sheath are awesome, and under $15. Even Gerber Bear Grylls fixed blades with sheath under $21 on Amazon Prime. And don't forget Swiss Army Knives, like the Super Tinker (maybe $30?). I get more fun and usage out of these knives than I do the $400+ CRKs, etc.
 
This is by far the best knife I have ever owned (beat the hell out of) and I find it incredibly inexpensive (relatively)

If I think about what I have spent on knives just in the past 5 years, the 21 is a crazy value budget knife.

1477250823.7257.jpg
 
JR88FAN said:
This is by far the best knife I have ever owned (beat the hell out of) and I find it incredibly inexpensive (relatively)

If I think about what I have spent on knives just in the past 5 years, the 21 is a crazy value budget knife.
Click to expand...

Okay, lets take off our Disney hats and come back to reality for a second. $410 may be many things, but it is not "incredibly inexpensive" - even if you have spent more than that on other things in the past five years.

You may like the CRK. It may make you feel good. You might even cut stuff with it. But its not an inexpensive knife. An $65 Endura objectively performs just like the Sebenza. Better in some respects, with its FFG blade. At 15% of the cost of a CRK. And unless we lose them, they'll both outlive us.

Come on now. Reality still matters here on planet earth. You love your CRK. That's a good thing. I get it. But they sure as heck are not inexpensive knives. They don't objectively do anything better than knives costing one-tenth as much - except make their owners feel good.
 
powernoodle said:
Come on now. Reality still matters here on planet earth. You love your CRK. That's a good thing. I get it. But they sure as heck are not inexpensive knives. They don't objectively do anything better than knives costing one-tenth as much - except make their owners feel good.
Click to expand...

I think I'm going to have to agree with JR88FAN. "Inexpensive" is a relative term. To me the 940 is "inexpensive". I can spend $20-$2000 on a knife but I still find myself throwing a 940 in my pocket everyday. In the long run when the 940 lasts my whole life insted of buying a new $25 knife every year or 2, the 940 seems fairly cheap. Customer service/repair aside, 1 or 2 940s for a lifetime. Most likely 1 Sebenza for a lifetime.


As for "reality", I don't believe in it :D
 
At less than $30 the Ontario Pardue Utilitac is a huge value. Great grind and centering, liner is a little scrawny but the lock-up is early and tight, probably the best inexpensive knife I've
seen since the K-bar Dozier.
 
I've only ever had inexpensive knives until recently. I acquired a Trestle Pines w/ CPM 154 recently. It's great but a chore to sharpen. It's spending more time on the shelf. I like a knife that can sharpen easily. With my Case and Victorinox,a couple quick swipes on my steel and they've a razor's edge. i've never had problems with their edge holding. If I'm cutting cardboard or twine all day I use a razor knife anyway whatever I'm carrying. There are a lot of sub $30 knives that are possibly as well built as the over hundred dollar knives. They may not have a super steel but they hold an edge well enough for the daily chores of life and you don't need to schedule time to sharpen them.
 
The new ka-bar jarosz folders for 50 bucks or less are a real value. I've been using the drop point version for a couple months now and I really like it. Also the kershaw link.

Mike
 
he isn't having them made anymore, but the little Taiwan made Volcan Coronado assisted flipper that Matt Diskin was selling a while back was about the best $25-30 that you could spend on a knife of that type at that time IMO.
 
powernoodle said:
In my world, inexpensive means under $25. There are about a dozen Kershaws that meet this criteria, plus several others including the Ontario Utilitac (what Raz said), Ontario Rat 1 and Rat 2, and Rough Rider traditional knives (many under $12). The Opinel folders, and Mora fixed blades with sheath are awesome, and under $15. Even Gerber Bear Grylls fixed blades with sheath under $21 on Amazon Prime. And don't forget Swiss Army Knives, like the Super Tinker (maybe $30?). I get more fun and usage out of these knives than I do the $400+ CRKs, etc.
Click to expand...

Great list. Thanks for that!

I am going to buy my first Cold Steel knife this week.. A Steve Austin Broken Skull. Just need to find a vendor who will check for a centered blade :)
 
powernoodle said:
Okay, lets take off our Disney hats and come back to reality for a second. $410 may be many things, but it is not "incredibly inexpensive" - even if you have spent more than that on other things in the past five years.

You may like the CRK. It may make you feel good. You might even cut stuff with it. But its not an inexpensive knife. An $65 Endura objectively performs just like the Sebenza. Better in some respects, with its FFG blade. At 15% of the cost of a CRK. And unless we lose them, they'll both outlive us.

Come on now. Reality still matters here on planet earth. You love your CRK. That's a good thing. I get it. But they sure as heck are not inexpensive knives. They don't objectively do anything better than knives costing one-tenth as much - except make their owners feel good.
Click to expand...

Inexpensive is relative and so is ones "budget". This is a fun thread please don't start the "a $25 knife can do everything a $500 knife can do" war, that has been beat into the bush so many times.

On topic, picked this up today on sale at Cabelas, great Sunday football watching knife, used it several times today already without even opening the blade :D (bottle opener)
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
Well, I reckon I could invoke the 'holy trinity' of budget king classics (SAK, Opinel, Mora) but, just for flavour, maybe I'll just throw these out there for consideration instead:

Style, surprisingly good quality, and function for less than $35 USD...
climber01_zpsqtyqnkzh.jpg

Nieto Climber in AN-58 stainless steel and curly birch

Classic cool, function, and loads of personality for about $25 USD...
dd01_zps8uiau3f4.jpg

Cognet Douk-Douk in carbon steel and big big juju magic

Cheers! :)

-Brett
 
Deer said:
I think I'm going to have to agree with JR88FAN. "Inexpensive" is a relative term. To me the 940 is "inexpensive". I can spend $20-$2000 on a knife but I still find myself throwing a 940 in my pocket everyday. In the long run when the 940 lasts my whole life insted of buying a new $25 knife every year or 2, the 940 seems fairly cheap. Customer service/repair aside, 1 or 2 940s for a lifetime. Most likely 1 Sebenza for a lifetime.


As for "reality", I don't believe in it :D
Click to expand...
I like the way you think... :D
 
Seneca18 said:
Inexpensive is relative and so is ones "budget". This is a fun thread please don't start the "a $25 knife can do everything a $500 knife can do" war, that has been beat into the bush so many times.

On topic, picked this up today on sale a Cabelas, great Sunday football watching knife, used it several times today already without even opening the blade :D (bottle opener)
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Dude, love mine! My travel knife ☺
 
Inexpensive knives are a state of ones finances. One might see a Sebenza as inexpensive if they're have the kind of on hand cash to make 4-500 dollars seem like pocket change. Maybe they should be called Po'Boy knives or something. Let's face it, one man's Rough Rider is another man's Sebenza.
 
CARRERA50 said:
At less than $30 the Ontario Pardue Utilitac is a huge value. Great grind and centering, liner is a little scrawny but the lock-up is early and tight, probably the best inexpensive knife I've
seen since the K-bar Dozier.
Click to expand...

This.:D

I find that both of these are great budget knives.
 
Seneca18 said:
Inexpensive is relative and so is ones "budget". This is a fun thread please don't start the "a $25 knife can do everything a $500 knife can do" war, that has been beat into the bush so many times.

On topic, picked this up today on sale at Cabelas, great Sunday football watching knife, used it several times today already without even opening the blade :D (bottle opener)
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Now, That, has caught my eye. Think I might be adding one to my next cart :D
 
I just bought 2 code 4 cold steel folders for 45$ plus shipping apiece. These are nice knives, keeping one, giving other to my son who is a lefty. Solid, good steel. Another good budget blade is the svord peasant folder. Great cheap knife.

Russ
 
I actually remembered seeing your post and that's why I decided to pick it up
Click to expand...

Nice! Great little knife huh? Sharp as heck too.

Deer, you'll like it. I got mine for under 20 on ebay 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top