Help me decide which AFFORDABLE knife to buy please!

[craytab]

yeah man that's the one, it's a rip off of the Sabenza but i've heard it's not from far the quality of a Sabenza, whether this is true or not I really don't know.

It isn't even close to being true.

 

[suedeface]

I'm a fan of the Ka-bar Dozier folding hunters. Only about $3-$5 more than the knives you listed, and they have 2 sizes and several different handle colors. Simple lockback mechanism. Also, you can switch them to left hand carry if needs be. Seriously, take a look at these. I've owned hundreds of different knives through the years, and these are some of the best all around knives you can buy.

 

[Kozified]

Check out the Lansky Responder. It's a collaboration with Mikkel Willumsen and is priced right around the same as the knives you're looking at, but it will have better customer service and warranty support available to you. It will also likely be more readily available and easier to return should you get a lemon.

Edit: Scratch that, just saw you were a lefty, and the Responder is set up for right hand only. You might look into the Bucklite series. Very affordable and comes with Buck's Forever Warranty.

sweet! thanks pal i'll be sure you have a browse, i've seen a few knives with ambidextrous thumb studs but the button release is on the wrong side, do you still think that will be a good buy or do you think i'm going to need to find a with both thumbstuds and release buttons on both sides?

 

[Kozified]

I'm a fan of the Ka-bar Dozier folding hunters. Only about $3-$5 more than the knives you listed, and they have 2 sizes and several different handle colors. Simple lockback mechanism. Also, you can switch them to left hand carry if needs be. Seriously, take a look at these. I've owned hundreds of different knives through the years, and these are some of the best all around knives you can buy.

thanks so much, I really appreciate all the help you and the other people are giving, as a newbie it's really hard to find advice, i'm very glad I signed up to this forum!

 

[Kozified]

Since it looks like you are not in the USA you might not care about this but you should know it anyway. The two knives that use the axis lock are stealing a patented design from Benchmade. This sort of theft would not be tolerated in the US but since these all come from China there is nothing Benchmade can really do. I would not recommend this type of counterfeiting. Your morals and values may be different though.

If you must go with one of the Chinese knives from SRM I would second the recommendation of the Enlan EL-01. I have one and it is a good knife for what you pay.

I would agree with others above that you should spend a tad more and buy from a company that stands behind their product with a warranty. I love the Ontario Utilitac II.

wow that looks like a very nice knife! and yeah i'm from the UK, being new to the knife community I can't really say the chinese rip off copy steers me away, maybe that will come in time when I truly learn to respect each company and the time and effort put into their knives. Hope this doesn't offend anyone or make me look bad, it's just I feel I should start low and work up to a decent branded knife after getting the feel of some other cheaper models. Thanks though!

 

[inkynate]

I have an Enlan el-02b and think it's a very solid knife for the $$$.

When I got it I didn't even realize it was an "Axis" lock infringement b/c I wasn't familiar Benchmade or their proprietary lock at the time. Anyway, not gonna make me throw the knife away or say it isn't any good.

 

[Kozified]

I have an Enlan el-02b and think it's a very solid knife for the $$$.

When I got it I didn't even realize it was an "Axis" lock infringement b/c I wasn't familiar Benchmade or their proprietary lock at the time. Anyway, not gonna make me throw the knife away or say it isn't any good.

sounds cool, heard good things about that knife from reviews and things

 

[Kozified]

I don't know if I can tag you guys in this or whether you get a notification when I post without replying to you but because you lot seem to be very knowledgeable I was wondering what you thought about this:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgfctrIRsI1_dERmZ1JQYXhZTUswaEd6ZlZkOUdTemc#gid=0

It has a 2 of the knives I mentioned and a few of the knives you guys also mentioned.. the ganzo and the enlan seemed to be very high rated even compared to knives worth £100+.. what you guys think?!

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

I have gone through many of SRM & Enlans. None of them has clip for leftie. I usually carry clipless, but that might matter for you.

Their quality is decent for 8Cr13MoV from SRM & Enlans I tested. Never tried Ganzo. Avoid Navy. There's an old thread where you can find more info: www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/866583-SRM-Bee-Enlan-Navy-and-knives-Fan-post

I have, however, grown out of them. Now I carry and recommend Byrd Cara Cara 2 FRN.
Or Byrd Tern (slip joint) since you're from UK. You can sign up to Britishblades forum to meet more people from UK.
With byrd, you'll get Spyderco's warranty. SRM, etc. doesn't carry the same. Plus Spyderco's one of the most customer friendly company.

 

[Kozified]

Cheers dude! Thanks for linking that thread i'm sure i'll find it very useful. Sorry to sound silly or stupid but what did you mean by "avoid navy" ??

 

[Kozified]

Cheers dude! Thanks for linking that thread i'm sure i'll find it very useful. Sorry to sound silly or stupid but what did you mean by "avoid navy" ??

oops ignore that, just had a look on that thread and realized 'Navy' is a brand

 

[ocnLogan]

oh sugar! I didn't take that into consideration.. i'm a lefty, so maybe I need to make sure the knife I buy has an ambidextrous function! thanks for bringing my attention to that

I have no problem using liner lock knives one handed with either hand (I'm right handed, but they're are times when you had to cut with your left). Some have problems with that, others don't. Just know that its possible.

Personally I like to stay with established brands, because I expect more reasonably consistent quality control and warranty support.

With that in mind.

Ontario RAT 1/2
Ontario utilitac
Kabar dozier folder
Spyderco Byrd meadowlark
Svörd peasant
Opinel #8
Many models of Kershaw

Must of those knives are in the $15-25 range, and are all good choices.

Good luck finding something you like .

 

[Kozified]

I have no problem using liner lock knives one handed with either hand (I'm right handed, but they're are times when you had to cut with your left). Some have problems with that, others don't. Just know that its possible.

Personally I like to stay with established brands, because I expect more reasonably consistent quality control and warranty support.

With that in mind.

Ontario RAT 1/2
Ontario utilitac
Kabar dozier folder
Spyderco Byrd meadowlark
Svörd peasant
Opinel #8
Many models of Kershaw

Must of those knives are in the $15-25 range, and are all good choices.

Good luck finding something you like .

Thanks for the suggestions, are all of the ones you listed possible with left handed use in your opinion?

 

[craytab]

wow that looks like a very nice knife! and yeah i'm from the UK, being new to the knife community I can't really say the chinese rip off copy steers me away, maybe that will come in time when I truly learn to respect each company and the time and effort put into their knives. Hope this doesn't offend anyone or make me look bad, it's just I feel I should start low and work up to a decent branded knife after getting the feel of some other cheaper models. Thanks though!

Well, I can tell you that just because you are just starting out there is no reason to start off at the bottom of the barrel or to buy knives that rip off other companies. Why not spend a few bucks more and get a knife from a respected company that stands behind their product. I am assuming you will be buying off of ebay. There are plenty of Chinese produced Kershaws that are inexpensive and you can feel good about owning them. Utilitac II, RAT I/II, Esee Avispa/Zancudo, lots of Buck knives, many more that I am forgetting. Look around, buy from a reputable company. No need to start with knock offs.

 

[Seneca18]

yeah man that's the one, it's a rip off of the Sabenza but i've heard it's not from far the quality of a Sabenza, whether this is true or not I really don't know. However as it will be my first ever knife i'm fairly positive i'm going to be impressed either way as I won't be able to compare it too anything other than my rip off victorinox which can't even cut a piece of paper after being sharpened.. thanks for the recommendations i'll defo look into them!

The quality isn't even close to a Sebenza but that is for another discussion as one is $15 and the other is $350 and up. Like others have said, go with what you like but I would also check out some Kershaws, Ontarios, or CRKT. The CRKT Drifter can be had new for around $20, not sure how much they would sell for over there. Even look at the used market for a Spyderco Tenacious or similar.

 

[ocnLogan]

Thanks for the suggestions, are all of the ones you listed possible with left handed use in your opinion?

Yep, absolutely. But like I said, I don't find it difficult at all to close a liner/frame lock knife with my left hand (and I'm not ambidextrous in anything else). From the sound of it, others do. So, I'd say for sure you COULD learn to do it, but based on the fact that not everyone feels comfortable with that means I don't know if you WILL be ok with it (aka, there is no guarantee, but I'm quite sure you could figure it out).

Well, I can tell you that just because you are just starting out there is no reason to start off at the bottom of the barrel or to buy knives that rip off other companies. Why not spend a few bucks more and get a knife from a respected company that stands behind their product. I am assuming you will be buying off of ebay. There are plenty of Chinese produced Kershaws that are inexpensive and you can feel good about owning them. Utilitac II, RAT I/II, Esee Avispa/Zancudo, lots of Buck knives, many more that I am forgetting. Look around, buy from a reputable company. No need to start with knock offs.

Gah, I knew I was forgetting some . The ESEE knives mentioned are very similar to the Ontario RAT 1/2 knives (made in the same factory), but the ESEE knives are frame locks, while the ontarios are liner locks (and have a slightly different blade shape). And I think the normal version of the Buck Vantage is ~$20.

The quality isn't even close to a Sebenza but that is for another discussion as one is $15 and the other is $350 and up. Like others have said, go with what you like but I would also check out some Kershaws, Ontarios, or CRKT. The CRKT Drifter can be had new for around $20, not sure how much they would sell for over there. Even look at the used market for a Spyderco Tenacious or similar.

Good call on the CRKT drifter, that was another one I considered a while back and had forgotten about.

 

[Seneca18]

CRKT Drifter is the best $20 knife I have owned. Comes extremely sharp out of the box and is well made for the price.

 

[Kozified]

Well, I can tell you that just because you are just starting out there is no reason to start off at the bottom of the barrel or to buy knives that rip off other companies. Why not spend a few bucks more and get a knife from a respected company that stands behind their product. I am assuming you will be buying off of ebay. There are plenty of Chinese produced Kershaws that are inexpensive and you can feel good about owning them. Utilitac II, RAT I/II, Esee Avispa/Zancudo, lots of Buck knives, many more that I am forgetting. Look around, buy from a reputable company. No need to start with knock offs.

The Ontario Utilitac II has really caught my eye, for the price it looks very nice and seems to be a decent knife from looking at the reviews, I think it might be the one I want!

 

[Kozified]

The quality isn't even close to a Sebenza but that is for another discussion as one is $15 and the other is $350 and up. Like others have said, go with what you like but I would also check out some Kershaws, Ontarios, or CRKT. The CRKT Drifter can be had new for around $20, not sure how much they would sell for over there. Even look at the used market for a Spyderco Tenacious or similar.

You think the Ontario Utilitac II is any good? seems to fit my needs, just want to get a few of your guys approval so I know it's a good buy

 

[Kozified]

CRKT Drifter is the best $20 knife I have owned. Comes extremely sharp out of the box and is well made for the price.

I know it's probably a hard question to answer as some of it will come down to preference, but what do you think is a better buy the CRKT Drifter or the Ontario Utilitac II?