How about under-rated?

Opinel folders have to be the most under-rated knives I know.

There's a great range of sizes, they cut well enough, sharpen easily, last forever and take some serious abuse.

I've never worried about the lock failing, I've cleaned up Opinels which have been lost in the garden for a year and I've been able to sharpen up blades which have been used for cutting metal staples in parcels.

Did I say I think Opinels are good?
smile.gif


Roger
 
I'm not sure if they qualify as "under-rated", but they definitely put out a superior product for reasonable $$...
Running Dog Knife Co.
Good design, good prices and pleasant people.

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Buck Collectors Club Member # 572
Dedicated ELU
Talonite fan
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)
 
Buck Odyssey 420HC ($29)
Opinel (a few $)
CRKT KISS

BTW, I don't think they are underrated, they just aren't overrated.
 
Any Busse.

See "A Busse--what's it really worth?" thread in Busse Combat forum.

Underrated only because one cannot begin to estimate the value, IMO.
 
Okay, now, don't flame me, but I think that some of United Cultery's stuff is underated.

I'm not talking the cheap 420J2 stuff, but I have a Rigid G10 handled folder with ATS34 blade that has held up remarkably well. It "takes a lickin' and keeps on cuttin'" And for $31.20, on sale, that's a pretty darn good deal.

I'd also have to agree about Opinel. They make a stainless version that lasts forever. I like that they are so thinly flat ground, making them excellent slicers.

Daniel D.

Daniel D.
 
Dashunde,

I am continually impressed with my Spyderco Delica, the blade seems to take and hold an edge to the point of almost defying physics. I cannot comment on CRKT yet, but hopefully I will acquire one soon.


JK
 
My Schrade LB7 has never let me down and it cost me less than I would have paid for a Buck 110. I also have an old-style Buck-Lite that has held up great (I did carve and sand the finger-grooves off and it now opens with a flick).
 
Originally posted by allenC:
My Schrade LB7 has never let me down and it cost me less than I would have paid for a Buck 110. I also have an old-style Buck-Lite that has held up great (I did carve and sand the finger-grooves off and it now opens with a flick).
Click to expand...

I have both of these knives and they really are outstanding. Don't know if the LB7 is a good as when it first came out but I do know the old ones were outstanding and I'd put mine up against a 110 any day. I love the buck-lite because..well..because it's so LIGHT.
smile.gif
It was a coat-pocket knife for me for years until all the new-fangled locks came out. Now I carry an el cheapo knife I bought at a gunshow (I liked it so much I bought a half dozen of them). The price was 10-$15, I can't remember.

It's a made-in-Taiwan Master knife. Blade is AUS-8. This is a solid, beefy, tough knife. The scales are aluminum. The blade flys open like silk and stays open with a solid lockup. It normally sells for 30-$40 but some lil' ol' lady was dumping 'em.

Here's a pic of the beasty.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/master.htm



------------------
Hoodoo

And so, to all outdoor folks, the knife is
the most important item of equipment.

Ellsworth Jaeger - Wildwood Wisdom
 
Hi !

I hate cheap knockoffs. Here in Poland every kid have cheap thailand auto or balisong.
I have some sentiment to these knives ( years ago i carry cheap bali ).
Now i prefer better quality knives. But my favourite steel is still 420J2.
Bye folks.


------------------
Dont get mad,
get EVEN
 
Originally posted by Supressor:
Hi !
I hate cheap knockoffs. Here in Poland every kid have cheap thailand auto or balisong.
I have some sentiment to these knives ( years ago i carry cheap bali ).
Now i prefer better quality knives. But my favourite steel is still 420J2.
Bye folks.
Click to expand...

Don't hold back. Tell us what you really think.
wink.gif


420J2?????? mon Dieu!

------------------
Hoodoo

And so, to all outdoor folks, the knife is the most important item of equipment.

Ellsworth Jaeger - Wildwood Wisdom
 
My experience with cheaper steels, and I think AUS-8 isn't so great on the Spyderco's I've had, leads me to elevate cheap up to the $50 range.

I like the Benchmade Ascent series for what they are, good entry level knives. They RETAIL for $55 to $85 depending on size and finish (and are of course found cheaper via mailorder), but dernit, for that price you get a clone of the Caracci/AFCK with a great ATS-34 heat treat! And the heat treat is the key here ... you get a real blade steel from Benchmade for this price!

Yeah, it's zytel. And yeah, it's a spine/rocker lock. But you did say "cheap". And this gets my vote for an acceptably useable, reasonably satisfying entry level knife. Some compromises, but good steel...

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rdangerer@home.com
 
Everything from SOG (except their much ballihooed SEAL knife 2000). They hardly get any mention in these forums.

Same goes with some of Kershaw's knives.

As for CRK&T, they are in a class by themselves IMO. Their "budget" knives may not be made in the U.S., or Seki, Japan, and lack ATS-34 steel and G-10 handles. However, I find CRK&T products to be more innovative and take better quality control than many of their more "higher-end" competitors.

For example, the single edge on my cheap CRKT K.I.S.S. has a more even bevel than my Benchmade 710 Axis!

CRK&T are, by far, my favorite production knife manufacturers.
 
Royo, I'm with you. I've got hundreds of knives and several dozen Spydercos. The Goddard lightweight is my favorite large carry folder. After I got my first, I snagged two more when I heard they were being discontinued. I recently traded for a large micarta Goddard. Ilike Micarta but I wish the blade was ATS 55 instead of GIN-1.

phantom4

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who dares, wins


 
I just found another grossly under-rated knife. The Al Mar SERE 2000. This is one of the best production knives I have seen in awhile. I cant understand why such a quality product doesn't get more press.

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Dennis Bible
 
I think a used (but not ab-used) BM AFCK 800 or 812 is the best buy going.

[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 08-01-2000).]
 
I agree with the comments about United Cutlery, but only with the G10 handled ones with ATS34 blades. The rest are junk. Those few with the ATS34 blades are pretty good knives. I have the one with the sheepsfoot blade, and am looking for the bigger one. One of my favorite underrated knives is just about anything made by MOKI. They make a little slim folder called the Silver Feather that is a perfect dailey carry knife. Airports dont give it a second look(so far). Razor sharp out of the box, with fit and finish close to a custom folder. When its open, you can barely see the line where the blade meets the spring. I have seen many of these folders, and the quality is the same on all of them. When they first came out, they sold for about $70-80, but now you can find them for about $30. Great knife!

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
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