how low can you go... your favorite, cheapest, high value folder?

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Apr 14, 2011
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alright, so recently i noticed that along with my hinderer, and the sebenzas and striders ive owned in the past, the types of knives that dominate my pocket the most are cheaper, high value knives. its sort of a guilty pleasure for me. i love the fact that something can be of mild quality, but still be cheap enough for me to not care whether or not i break it, lose it, or beat the hell out of it. ive got so many favorites, but ill just list a few

Browning Ice storm (originally around $30, aluminum annodized handles, VG10 blade, deep pocket clip, made in japan by mcusta)

Buck vantage ($35 -$40. mabie even cheaper in some places. Charcoal Dymondwood handle scales, 13C26 Sandvik steel, made in here in the USA)

SOG filder XL ($20. 7cr13 blade, mirror polish, little to no blade play)

Sanrenmu 710 ($8 shipped in some places! 8Cr14MoV blade, lightwieght)

these are by far my favorite, cheapest knives. let me konw what yours are, as im realy curious to see what else is out there. i konw the spyderco tenacious is gonna pop up in this thread sooner or later.
 
Ontario Rat 1 ~$29

Thick, heavy, takes a razor edge, well built with a variety of choices.
 
Kershaw Compound - I paid $ 16 for it. It's a perfect EDC and when you use it, it doesn't feel like an inexpensive knife.
The runner up is the Tremor, but that was $22
 
Enlan el-o1, SRM 710, Kershaw Cryo, Buck Vantage. I could go on and on, and I'm also like you, I love my CRK's but I admit I love my cheap yet, :thumbup:very good knives also
 
Kershaw Skyline (About $35):
[video=youtube;Djfoqqe3Cos]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djfoqqe3Cos[/video]

I also like my Kershaw Zing...
 
I really like my Schrade Cliphanger, kinda wish the whole cliphanger retention system caught on better but ive used it as my EDC for about 14 years now.
 
Vic SAKs will always be my favorite folders under $30. Use blade, saw, and screwdrivers almost every day.

Cheaper than them I have a couple chinese slipjoints that were gifts so they have sentimental value but really work just fine for what they are. Even 440A on a sub $20 folder keeps its edge for a while doing wood whittling and package opening. Funny thing is they have a better "lock up" than some locking folders from big names that were used less.

Good design and decent materials always trumps dumb design with good materials.
 
all my knives are cheap. but the best one i got is the Svord Peasant knife imho. i also have an Eskabar which is pretty good, but i prefer my Peasant :P
 
- Ontario Rat-1
- Buck 110
- any Byrd
- Tenacious and siblings
- any of the low end Kershaws, like the Chill, Tremor, etc.
- Chris Reeve Umnumzaan. Not really.

I guess one should distinguish between budget (for me that might be <$35), and ultra cheapskate (<$20). I really like the ultra cheapskate blades, though there aren't that many.

20120924_140803_zps79f8629f.jpg

I have a Sanrenmu 710 ($8), and its better than a handful of nothing. But I would rather come up with the extra $8 for a Kershaw Chill ($16), above.
 
Cold Steel Rajah lll is a beast for the price point, $30.00 shipped at auction. I enjoy the $5.00 knives at the flea market. I got an assisted karambit that locks up like a vault and took a wicked edge.
 
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