help?

S

Shane Walker

Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
15
Hi im shane i am fairly new to knife collecting and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where i could get some cheap decent quality knives. its tough to collect when your 16 and broke. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Shane
 
Well Shane, as you are young and new to knives, you should probably start by buying what you like. Don't wory about having the best now. Knife collecting is a learning process. knifeworks.com and smkw.com have many low cost quality knives for your liking. I suggest a cheap spyderco or kershaw to start. Welcome to the madness.
 
Welcome to BF!

Some cheap knives are just cheap, but there are some that are really outstanding. The Ka-Bar Dozier is one of the good ones. It's lightweight, carries well and has good blade steel, AUS-8, for around $20.

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A couple more to consider would be the Spyderco Tenacious at around $35 and the Ontario Rat 1 Folder around $22.

Welcome to the fun and addictive world of knife buying/collecting.:)
 
If you're into slipjoints I've herd good things about rough rider (tried to post a link to past threads but haveing proublems) an for "tactical" theres spyderco byrd knives or a delica , ka-bar doziers,rat 1 folder,just to name a few
 
Insomniac1122 said:
save up and get a strider. No sense in buying crap just cause your a beginner (IMO)
Click to expand...

There's a lot of middle ground between $5 flea market crap and a $400 Strider.

For locking folders:
Byrd
Kershaw
Boker
Buck


For traditional slipjoints:
Rough Rider

For fixed blades:
Mora
Buck
 
Buck has a few that are great for the money, they have all different styles for less than $30 Bantam, Vantage, Bucklite, and a good selection of slipjoints just to name a few. For what they cost, they're great, I've never had any problems with mine. For $35ish you can get a Buck 110 which, at least in my opinion, an essential for any collection. Most Swiss Army Knives are pretty cheap, I like the Victorinox cadet and the Soldiers knife. Kershaw has a bunch around the $50 range that are well worth checking out. KaBar has a few cheaper, decent quality, knives, the leather handle hunting fixed blades are pretty nice for the money. Gerbers are pretty much junk, once in a while you'll find a good one. If you like traditionals, check out, Case. Also, check antique stores, you can usually find some old Imperial slipjoints for around $10 that, as long as the blade is still intact, clean up very nicely. I've gotten some good knives for $10 that just needed the crud scrubbed off of them, maybe a good turn in the vise to tighten up the blade, and a sharpening; good as new.
 
Insomniac1122 said:
save up and get a strider. No sense in buying crap just cause your a beginner (IMO)
Click to expand...

He did not ask for crap knives. He asked for a cheaper quality knife.

Some debate the quality of a strider knives anyway :rolleyes:

You didn't even back up your statement. Their are hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of quality knives in between the $10-$400 margin.

That said what kind of knife are you looking for? Folding/fixed? What is it going to be used for?
 
Insomniac1122 said:
save up and get a strider. No sense in buying crap just cause your a beginner (IMO)
Click to expand...

A $20 CRKT Drifter in the pocket today is much more functional than a $400 Strider SNG you don't have until 3 months later.
 
Shane Walker said:
Hi im shane i am fairly new to knife collecting and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where i could get some cheap decent quality knives. its tough to collect when your 16 and broke. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Shane
Click to expand...

Hey man, welcome to BF! It's a great place with great guys and gals who sometimes know what they're talking about.

I feel your pain. I'm 17, and I have to make my decisions carefully. I have a job, lifeguarding, so I do have some income. How about the Buck Bantams? Get the biggest one. One of my first knives, and they're great. Also, the CRKT Drifter, though I've never had one.

I can't wait to graduate college, get a real job, and have some disposable $$$.
 
Avoid flea market knockoffs that resemble products from quality manufacturers. Construction and materials make a good knife -- the knockoffs are barely usable and you would be disappointed. They might LOOK cool, but they are junk and no bargain.

I'd advise you to consider a Byrd lockblade for a first folder. They are cheap and good.

For a fixed blade, start frequenting the Maker's forum. You can often get very good deals on a new custom knife. I've seen nice carbon steel neckers and skinners for about $65 there.
 
I'm 17 myself, had a job for a bit, but haven't had one in a long while.

Having been in your shoes, I would splurge a bit, maybe $40. Either for a Buck Vantage Pro, S30V, G10, USA made, so all things we here love, and what would likely be a satisfying knife for you for a decent bit longer than a Byrd or Tenacious or whatever (IMO). Or look at slightly used Spydercos, or Spydercos that are recently discontinued, might be some available at good prices.
 
There are alot of good knives out there, Buck, Spyderco, CRKT, Benchmade (make some nice balisong or butterfly knives) Gerber, Case, Rough Rider has decent slipjoints, Older USA made Schrade knives were pretty good. alot of people like victorinox swiss army knives, Leatherman makes really good multi-tools. Alot of these knives can get really expensive. Alot of people don't like China made knives, usually USA made knives have better quality so they cost more (in some cases) Which is why if possible getting USA made knives is better because if for some reason in the future if that knife company moves their company over seas, the original USA made knives are more collectable. Thats what Schrade knife company did.
 
My advice would to get a cheaper spyderco. A delica in FRN or the tenacious. I would use this knife for a good long time and save your cash for a while. During the time saving, you could learn about knives and invest in a good sharpening set of your choice. This way you have a great knife and the ability to keep it sharp.

Now, once you know how to sharpen your blade and are armed with lots of knowledge, I think you can choose to either get a higher end blade, or maybe you would like to get cheaper knives. Have the fun of collecting is to learn about the knives you want to buy. Perhaps folders are for you, or maybe fixed blades float your boat. Are you a tactical or traditional kind of guy. Custom or production?

In anycase, I think a spyderco is a great taste of a good quality blade at a great price.

Just because your young and poot doesnt mean you need to buy lots of cheap knives. Knife collecting isnt about quantity IMO, its about having the knives that define you in some way.

For me, collecting is about getting knives that function in some way. All the knives I keep are users. Sometimes I pick up a blade I dont use and it gets sold pretty quick :)

G'luck!
 
Check out the Spyderco Tenacious/Persistence, Byrd knives, Buck (Vantage Select), KA BAR Doziers. Those will get ya going :)
 
I was where you are a few months ago...now ive got a sebenza in my pocket...but the knife that really got me into the good stuff was my friends spyderco tenacious...i would highly recommend one :D

welcome to bladeforums!
 
If I were you and in MD I'd spend my cash taking a weekend trip to Smokey Mountain Knife Works and New Graham Knives. Look a lot before you buy anything and ask the sales people to recommend something to start with. Money well spent.
 
A LOT of good advice has been given, well, except for saving up for a Strider that is:rolleyes:. What Severtecher said is a great idea. I don't know your location in MD, but www.knifecenter.com is located in MD also. Don't know if they have a storefront, but it wouldn't hurt to ask! Go to your local Walmart's sporting goods and check out what they have, usually kershaw, Victorinox, Buck, and maybe some Spyderco, and rest assured these are NOT crap knives!:)
 
howdy shane i ca'nt recommend a better inexpensive brand than the byrds in 8/ 13 mov. these are great users & certainly are'nt cheap construcyion.
 
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