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Have you ever had a "cheap" knife kick nicer knives out of your pocket?

M

mdsmith

Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
1,495
So, I recently got an Ontario RAT 2 in a trade. It's the blade handle/ black blade version. I stripped the paint from the blade, which revealed a nice stonewash finish. This thing is super smooth, locks up solid, and came super sharp. I just can't seem to stop carrying it. It's kicked all of my nicer Benchmades and Case knives from my pocket, and I don't see that changing any time soon. So have any of you had a less expensive knife force your nicer knives into a drawer?
 
The utilitac 2 kicked my (edc at the time) CRKT M16 SF14 out of my pocket for a few days. If the blade length was a bit longer, I might carry it more.
 
maybe for a day or two I will carry one of my more affordable knives, but not for long periods of time. I have Kershaws, Boker, CRKT in the rotation, but after I carry those a day or two I look at all my nice BM and spyderco and go back to those for a while. I can't stand the though of having a drawer full of nice knives and just have them sit around.
 
BladeCommander said:
maybe for a day or two I will carry one of my more affordable knives, but not for long periods of time. I have Kershaws, Boker, CRKT in the rotation, but after I carry those a day or two I look at all my nice BM and spyderco and go back to those for a while. I can't stand the though of having a drawer full of nice knives and just have them sit around.
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Not surprisingly, an Ontario RAT 1 kicked nicer Spydercos and ZTs I have out of regular rotation when I got my first one. Nowadays I'll still occasionally carry my RAT 1, but am back to other knives also for the same reason you mention. I see them all lined up in my box and they're all "Wait, you're taking what?? TAKE ME INSTEAD!!!!!" Knives can be really pushy jerks sometimes. :D

It was just such a revelation, that such a great knife could be had for that price point.
 
Quiet said:
I see them all lined up in my box and they're all "Wait, you're taking what?? TAKE ME INSTEAD!!!!!" Knives can be really pushy jerks sometimes. :D .
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How true that is, it can be difficult deciding when you hear that coming from every knife in the box. Like little children they are, wanting to go out and see the world. :p
 
mdsmith said:
So, I recently got an Ontario RAT 2 in a trade. It's the blade handle/ black blade version. I stripped the paint from the blade, which revealed a nice stonewash finish. This thing is super smooth, locks up solid, and came super sharp. I just can't seem to stop carrying it. It's kicked all of my nicer Benchmades and Case knives from my pocket, and I don't see that changing any time soon. So have any of you had a less expensive knife force your nicer knives into a drawer?
Click to expand...

Same thing here, my Rat II is one of my favorites. It replaced several different Spydercos I had collected, but now it contends with the mini Ritter grip for most pocket time.

Still, I love the heck out of the Rat II.
 
+1 on the Rat 2. Today is my 2nd day carrying an OD green/satin version. Not as fun to "play" with, but ergos are outstanding, and I really like the knife for what it is. Came super sharp out of box and even better after a minute of stropping. This week was BM 940 week until the Rat 2 came in. I like to give all my new friends a week in pocket or so as soon as I get them.
 
Nope...I've found, over decades, that you generally always get what you pay for...up to a point as far as being useful, depending on your definition of useful that is.
 
For an office EDC yes. CRKT Razel is perfect for office/light work. The blade shape works great for letters, boxes and the flat tip will remove any sticker or glue off your desk.
I have also found that a Microtech Ultratech is the ultimate office knife. Also the m16kz works well

BUt for manual labor or outdoors no. You get what you pay for. I work on the docks of a water sports facility and also do odd jobs. My carry rotation for work looks like this.IMG_20140109_191811.jpg
 
CS American Lawman. I started carrying it again recently and started thinking how I could sell some of these others off.
 
I have a Spyderco Delica 4 getting a lot of pocket time lately. I'm a big fan of the Benchmade AXIS lock (lefty), but it's hard to argue with how well this Delica cuts and how light it is to carry.
 
My stupid Vic Classic with the flag of Spain on it has kicked everything else out of my pocket. Its ugly, I'm not from Spain, its not anywhere near as cool as the knives it kicked out....but it's not cheap. Just inexpensive. And so handy. It cannot be denied.
 
As someone else on the forum said "life is too short to carry cheap knives". However, when I am doing something or going somewhere where I might lose a knife or have one "borrowed" from me, I carry a cheaper one. By cheap, I mean $20-$40 knives such as the Gerber Air Ranger (actually an ok knife), a SAK, and the Kershaw Thermite.

Also, I sometimes like to beat on cheaper knives for the fun of it. :)
 
EDCanAdamas said:
As someone else on the forum said "life is too short to carry cheap knives". However, when I am doing something or going somewhere where I might lose a knife or have one "borrowed" from me, I carry a cheaper one. By cheap, I mean $20-$40 knives such as the Gerber Air Ranger (actually an ok knife), a SAK, and the Kershaw Thermite.

Also, I sometimes like to beat on cheaper knives for the fun of it. :)
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What about when the inexpensive knife is greatly more useful then your spendy ones?;)

I get your point though. That's why a modern folder will ride shotgun with my sak every once and again. Never gets used but it's nice to carry it. If that makes any sense.
 
I used to carry a Sebenza. Now I carry SAKs, a Kershaw Chill (great ergos, super knife for $17), a Kershaw Skyline, an Opinel 6 Olive, and a GEC Bullnose.
 
A knife may get kicked out of my pocket, but nothing is permanent.

Some days I just feel like carrying the ole Sebenza.

Some days I'm just as content to grab the Kershaw Skyline or one of my favorite knives of all time: the 0350

Really it just depends on how I'm feeling that day. If I find I've been carrying the same thing for too long, I make a mental note to start mixing it up.

In a way, it's sort of my own brand of knife testing. I wanna see how these things hold up to everyday use.
 
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