Help me decide which AFFORDABLE knife to buy please!

[Seneca18]

fire away man! i'm interested in anything you can recommend

I'm in the States right now for work and am an American but I actually live in Germany and have many knives that meet Germany's strict knife laws (similar to the UK). All those knives are in my apartment in Germany but i'll try to do this from memory. Some of these will be above your price range but not by much.
-Spyderco UKPK
-Boker Plus Subcom 42
-Boker Plus Subcom 42 Titan
-Boker Plus Trance 42
-Boker Plus XS 42
I won't list the Boker Solingen made ones as they get pricy. I like most of the Boker plus 42 series of knives, they are all slip joint and make great EDCs.

 

[Boris74]

A discusion of this which is not appropriate here depends greatly on which "Chinese Sebenza style rip off" you are talking about which you do not know. If it is a SRM 710 then I agree to a certain degree. It is an okay $7 knife. Not even close to a sebenza though and branded SRM so it gets a pass on the rip off thing. But to compare it in anyway to the real deal is completely idiotic. The Sebenza has much beter everything. No argument can be made otherwise. "exact same"? Please...

Now, if it is a higher end rip off made to be more close to a Sebenza than who ever owns one is supporting counterfeits and has no place here or in this hobby. There opinion on knives matters not to me.



I, nor anyone else in this thread ever said this. You are defending against something that was never said. Why is that? I own knives from every spectrum of the price continuum. I like some of my inexpensive knives as much as my fancy knives. I am not delusional enough though to think a $7 SRM is the "exact same" as a CRK.



It will not cut as long. Sorry, thems the facts kid. Also, actual can openers are very inexpensive and are in nearly every grocery store. I would suggest that for opening a can of beans. If you must carry a can opener with you at all times, might I suggest a SAK or a good MT.

The Sebenza is not a much better everything. I'm not talking about most tiny detail. I'm talking about unfolding it and getting to work with it. Both suck if your hands are wet or working around water. No grip feature designed into the Sebenza, the 710 at least has functional jimping where the thumb rests when you need to really dig in, the spine can also be used to scrape paint, rust and so on while working with it. The Sebenza has one up in the fit and finish though and the Ti lock bar has zero wear so far. I might grind down the useless rounded spine so it has more function for me as well. The 710 blade steel, not bad, loses the super sharp edge just as quick as the vastly superior S35V Does and holds a working edge as well as the other steel.

I'm not talking brand name or price paid or minor detail finish qualities. I'm talking working qualities, the only qualities I look at in a knife. I use every single one I own. I just don't admire the fit and finish and open knife packages with it.

You said it will not cut as long. Based on what? I have used mine side by side with a 710 and I can tell you the functional jimping and square spine makes the 710 more useful. Blades on both have zero play side to side or front to back. That is what you base facts off of. If you have put them side by side and used them as sharp edge cutting tools you'd recognize the extreme similarities in actual use as I did.

Like I said, not everyone has $300.00 to spend on a bean can opener, not even me, mine was a gift. I was about 100 miles from my SAK that I keep in the motorcycles tool bag on the bike and brother brought some beans to eat around the fire that day. My big hiking knife is too big and the Kellam puukko I have would have sustained a damaged edge opening it. So I used the pocket folder on me. I was hungry. If anyone wants to know, a small Sebenza opens cans quite well, so does a Sanrenmu 710.

 

[Kozified]

I'm in the States right now for work and am an American but I actually live in Germany and have many knives that meet Germany's strict knife laws (similar to the UK). All those knives are in my apartment in Germany but i'll try to do this from memory. Some of these will be above your price range but not by much.
-Spyderco UKPK
-Boker Plus Subcom 42
-Boker Plus Subcom 42 Titan
-Boker Plus Trance 42
-Boker Plus XS 42
I won't list the Boker Solingen made ones as they get pricy. I like most of the Boker plus 42 series of knives, they are all slip joint and make great EDCs.

as much as they seem pretty sweet they look a bit small, even though I don't have any specific use for wanting to buy a knife I just feel as if i'd want something a bit bigger, maybe it was just the picture though i'll have a look at blade length and stuff in a min

 

[Seneca18]

as much as they seem pretty sweet they look a bit small, even though I don't have any specific use for wanting to buy a knife I just feel as if i'd want something a bit bigger, maybe it was just the picture though i'll have a look at blade length and stuff in a min

The Subcoms are rather small, look at the others though, they are a bit larger.

 

[Sonnydaze]

For not a lot more $ you can get an ontario rat1/2 or utilitac 2, either are much better knives than any of those unless you really want an axis lock.

Exactly my choice also...

 

[Kozified]

The Subcoms are rather small, look at the others though, they are a bit larger.

English sites seem to expensive man, I can find the Boker Plus XS for like $22 on an american store which is like £15, but then on UK sites I found it for £35+.. this is going to be frustrating. lol.

 

[ocnLogan]

I wasn't thinking about that either. We may have switch this over to a slip-joint discussion. In which case I have many recommendations also.

Re. The crkt drifter: to small for my preference and I very much don't like tip down carry. I think there are much better handle options than the stainless steel handles of the drifter. Mind you, I do like the crkt ripple design. In general other than a ripple, I have stayed away from crkt products mainly because there are so many better offerings out there IMO.

Good points on the preferences thing. As this is his first knife though, I don't know if he'd much know if he prefers tip up vs tip down, etc. My preferences are actually for tip down (because I rear pocket carry). So maybe the OP should buy a knife that is drilled for all clip locations, so he can learn his preference for the future? In that case, the ESEE Zancudo/Ontario RAT 2 are looking like good contenders.

Also, FWIW, there is non-stainless version of the CRKT drifter (can't recall if its plastic, or G10), which helps with the grip.

Also, actual can openers are very inexpensive and are in nearly every grocery store. I would suggest that for opening a can of beans. If you must carry a can opener with you at all times, might I suggest a SAK or a good MT.

Ha, I was thinking the same thing . I'd hate to see what a $300 can opener would look like (as a dedicated device, not a knife).

And you know what, I've never opened a can of anything with a knife. When I'm at home, I use the ones we have there, when I'm camping... so far I've always had my multi-tool or a SAK with me, so I've just never tried it. Maybe I should some time, just to figure out how.

I'm in the States right now for work and am an American but I actually live in Germany and have many knives that meet Germany's strict knife laws (similar to the UK). All those knives are in my apartment in Germany but i'll try to do this from memory. Some of these will be above your price range but not by much.
-Spyderco UKPK
-Boker Plus Subcom 42
-Boker Plus Subcom 42 Titan
-Boker Plus Trance 42
-Boker Plus XS 42
I won't list the Boker Solingen made ones as they get pricy. I like most of the Boker plus 42 series of knives, they are all slip joint and make great EDCs.

These are all excellent options. I almost got the Boker Trance a while back. And the UKPK is the first one I think of when I think of a more typical clipped folding knife without a lock.

Also, I had no idea they made a subcom without a lock, great find . And yes, subcoms are small, thats kind of the point really.

Kabar makes a Dozier model with no lock (somewhat hilariously called the "Big Easy") that easily fits in the price range of the OP (quick looks shows its ~$23). I have no experience with it though.

Also, Svord Peasants are great little knives, if you're ok with the somewhat less than stellar blade finish when you get them.

 

[Seneca18]

English sites seem to expensive man, I can find the Boker Plus XS for like $22 on an american store which is like £15, but then on UK sites I found it for £35+.. this is going to be frustrating. lol.

Yea it's frustrating, same thing in Germany which is funny since Boker is a German brand.

 

[Kozified]

Good points on the preferences thing. As this is his first knife though, I don't know if he'd much know if he prefers tip up vs tip down, etc. My preferences are actually for tip down (because I rear pocket carry). So maybe the OP should buy a knife that is drilled for all clip locations, so he can learn his preference for the future? In that case, the ESEE Zancudo/Ontario RAT 2 are looking like good contenders.

Also, FWIW, there is non-stainless version of the CRKT drifter (can't recall if its plastic, or G10), which helps with the grip.



Ha, I was thinking the same thing . I'd hate to see what a $300 can opener would look like (as a dedicated device, not a knife).

And you know what, I've never opened a can of anything with a knife. When I'm at home, I use the ones we have there, when I'm camping... so far I've always had my multi-tool or a SAK with me, so I've just never tried it. Maybe I should some time, just to figure out how.



These are all excellent options. I almost got the Boker Trance a while back. And the UKPK is the first one I think of when I think of a more typical clipped folding knife without a lock.

Also, I had no idea they made a subcom without a lock, great find . And yes, subcoms are small, thats kind of the point really.

Kabar makes a Dozier model with no lock (somewhat hilariously called the "Big Easy") that easily fits in the price range of the OP (quick looks shows its ~$23). I have no experience with it though.

Also, Svord Peasants are great little knives, if you're ok with the somewhat less than stellar blade finish when you get them.

Yeah I had a look there's a stainless version and a G10 version, surprisingly the places i've looked the stainless version has been cheaper which I find very odd. Thanks for reading all the posts are really trying to find the right knife for me rather than just telling me to get a set one. I totally agree with you about me not knowing my preferences and I hope that will come after experimenting with a few knives. I noticed that the Ontario Utilitac II has changeable pocket clip for ambidextrous use and also has the option to put the clip tip up / tip down.. my only issue is for some reason here in the UK the cheapest I can find this is for around £50 whereas on the US sites it's about $25..

 

[Kozified]

Yea it's frustrating, same thing in Germany which is funny since Boker is a German brand.

haha, very ironic dude

 

[Seneca18]

Good points on the preferences thing. As this is his first knife though, I don't know if he'd much know if he prefers tip up vs tip down, etc. My preferences are actually for tip down (because I rear pocket carry). So maybe the OP should buy a knife that is drilled for all clip locations, so he can learn his preference for the future? In that case, the ESEE Zancudo/Ontario RAT 2 are looking like good contenders.

Also, FWIW, there is non-stainless version of the CRKT drifter (can't recall if its plastic, or G10), which helps with the grip.



Ha, I was thinking the same thing . I'd hate to see what a $300 can opener would look like (as a dedicated device, not a knife).

And you know what, I've never opened a can of anything with a knife. When I'm at home, I use the ones we have there, when I'm camping... so far I've always had my multi-tool or a SAK with me, so I've just never tried it. Maybe I should some time, just to figure out how.



These are all excellent options. I almost got the Boker Trance a while back. And the UKPK is the first one I think of when I think of a more typical clipped folding knife without a lock.

Also, I had no idea they made a subcom without a lock, great find . And yes, subcoms are small, thats kind of the point really.

Kabar makes a Dozier model with no lock (somewhat hilariously called the "Big Easy") that easily fits in the price range of the OP (quick looks shows its ~$23). I have no experience with it though.

Also, Svord Peasants are great little knives, if you're ok with the somewhat less than stellar blade finish when you get them.

Yea, any Boker with a 42 after it is the non locking version. That is because it is German weapons code article 42 or something like that that prohibits carrying knives that can be opened one handed and also have a locking design.

 

[strategy9]

Kilimanjaro 3" Vertice is the best $10 knife I ever bought.

I don't know much about them, can't really speak in depth about the company or the product lines, but they gotten decent reviews, and the one I bought, (the only one I ever handled), is a rock solid great little knife!

 

[Kozified]

that sounds like the same over here, you guys restricted to < 3 inches too?

 

[Seneca18]

that sounds like the same over here, you guys restricted to < 3 inches too?

Not quite as bad in Germany I guess, I don't know the length restriction but I know it is legal to carry a Buck 110 which has a 3 3/4 blade on it. The law is really dumb in my opinion, you can carry a buck 110 but if you have a Spyderco Dragonfly on you, you are breaking the law.

 

[ocnLogan]

Yeah I had a look there's a stainless version and a G10 version, surprisingly the places i've looked the stainless version has been cheaper which I find very odd. Thanks for reading all the posts are really trying to find the right knife for me rather than just telling me to get a set one. I totally agree with you about me not knowing my preferences and I hope that will come after experimenting with a few knives. I noticed that the Ontario Utilitac II has changeable pocket clip for ambidextrous use and also has the option to put the clip tip up / tip down.. my only issue is for some reason here in the UK the cheapest I can find this is for around £50 whereas on the US sites it's about $25..

No problem. I had many of these types of threads when I was trying to find my first office EDC, I get it .

The stainless version of the Drifter is typically cheaper I thought. It could be different in the UK though. And actually, that will be a big problem for you most likely, as the UK has higher prices on many items than the US, but not all of them (for instance, things made in the UK/EU. I hear the GB Axes are quite a bit cheaper for you guys over there than they are for us in the US).

And I keep forgetting the Utilitac II (not on purpose), but its good to hear that its drilled for tip up/down and left right carry. That should give you a lot of options, and will help you learn your preferences easier than a knife with only tip up or down, etc. But it sounds like it might be out of your price range.

Maybe we should try this differently.

What is in your price range over there that looks interesting?

Yea, any Boker with a 42 after it is the non locking version. That is because it is German weapons code article 42 or something like that that prohibits carrying knives that can be opened one handed and also have a locking design.

Good to know. My Boker Eskellimoor II is built to get around that law I think. It locks, but "can't be opened with one hand", which is what keeps it legal for Germany.

 

[craytab]

The Sebenza is not a much better everything.

Okay Boris. Good for you :thumbup:

Young guy from the UK. Be careful who you listen to. You are getting some really good options from myself and other people.

 

[Kozified]

Okay Boris. Good for you :thumbup:

Young guy from the UK. Be careful who you listen to. You are getting some really good options from myself and other people.

Your recommendation for the Utilitac II seems perfect for me man, seeming as it has options to switch the pocket clip for left and right use, and also tip up and tip down. Only problem is i'm struggling to find it for a reasonable price over here.

 

[Kozified]

No problem. I had many of these types of threads when I was trying to find my first office EDC, I get it .

The stainless version of the Drifter is typically cheaper I thought. It could be different in the UK though. And actually, that will be a big problem for you most likely, as the UK has higher prices on many items than the US, but not all of them (for instance, things made in the UK/EU. I hear the GB Axes are quite a bit cheaper for you guys over there than they are for us in the US).

And I keep forgetting the Utilitac II (not on purpose), but its good to hear that its drilled for tip up/down and left right carry. That should give you a lot of options, and will help you learn your preferences easier than a knife with only tip up or down, etc. But it sounds like it might be out of your price range.

Maybe we should try this differently.

What is in your price range over there that looks interesting?



Good to know. My Boker Eskellimoor II is built to get around that law I think. It locks, but "can't be opened with one hand", which is what keeps it legal for Germany.

I'm feeling attached to the Utilitac II already man! It feels a shame to just bail on it now as it seems to be the perfect knife for me as it has the customizable pocket clip and also seems like a great knife overall.. maybe i'll try look around a bit more, then if worse comes to worst i'll have to start looking for a UK knife and ask you guys for some advice

 

[Boris74]

Okay Boris. Good for you :thumbup:

Young guy from the UK. Be careful who you listen to. You are getting some really good options from myself and other people.

Lol. I'm telling the OP that the sanrenmu he is looking at will be 99% of the knife a similarly designed $300.00+ more knife is. The OP don't need options, he needs to hear the knife he is looking at is darn good for the price.

The OP did ask for opinions, but the way it's worded looks like opinions based on experience. Well, I've seen the sanrenmu and small Sebenza do work side by side. Sounds like experience to me. Just sayin'.

 

[craytab]

Lol. I'm telling the OP that the sanrenmu he is looking at will be 99% of the knife a similarly designed $300.00+ more knife is.

Right boris. You go on keep thinking that. Just sayin' :thumbup:

Like I said before, there are a lot of good options given to the OP by other people. I would listen to them.

Kozified, have you looked at US places that will ship these knives to you?

Edit to add: I am seeing some Utilitac IIs on the bay that say they ship international. I am not international so I don't know why that wouldn't be an option for you.