If you had $500

Leatherman Wave - $65
KA-BAR Folding Hunter - $20
Case G-10 Medium Stockman - $45
Kershaw S30V Blur - $80
Benchmade 42 - $190
SOG Tech Bowie - $95

I think that adds up to $495 and I got pretty much everything I need.
 
Nice intro....:D
Welcome to BF....

For $500 I would by a plain jane Sebenza and nice fixed blade like a good 5-6" camp/utility knife from someone like Dan Koster or Phillip Patton. If you cared for them properly and learned to sharpen them correctly you could theoretically survive with just those 2 forever.

If you could increase your budget slightly a Busse Skinny Ash-1 would be my choice for a fixed blade......but they are around $350-00

Good luck with the search and let us know how you go......:)

Steven
 
This is what you need to cover all of your bases:

First of all, a good sharpener. Maybe a Spyderco Sharmaker. Whether you include this in the budget or not is your choice. I'm assuming no kitchen knives here too.

A hatchet - can count towards budget or not.

A 4-7in fixed blade and maybe a larger chopper like a machete or khukri. Plenty of options here.

A multitool and/or Swiss army knife. Maybe a Vic Manager, Farmer, One-handed Trekker and a Leatherman Wave/Surge/Charge or SOG Powerlock/PowerAssist.

Then spend the rest on maybe 3 or 4 good pocket knives that differ in size, maybe a serrated one, one that is fancier, maybe one made of H1 or ZDP or has an unusual shape.

The big issue here is whether you are going to spend more money on fixed blades which assume more outdoor activities or if you aren't an outdoorsy type more money on EDC stuff. A good flashlight is also a good investment than many people carry alongside a knife. Basically trying to get a lot of capability covered in 5-10 quality knives would be better than lots of garbage or one really fancy one.
 
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2 - Spyderco FFG G10 Endura

2 - Spyderco FFG G10 Delica (for smaller occasions)

Done.

Set for Life.
 
I would go with a CRK Umnumzaan for my edc and I'd find a lightly used Bark River Bravo-1 for my hunting/camping knife.
 
For me, I'd get a few quality EDC folders, probably by Spyderco, since I have a thing for them... Maybe the CF Native, a Tenacious, and another around the $100 mark.

For fixed blades, A Rat Cutlery RC-4, and a bunch of Moras, probably the #711, which I prefer over the Clipper model.

A Victorinox swiss army knife or two, and a good straight razor for shaving....

My problem is I really, really like nice fixed blade knives, and I immediately want to get the craziest customs and stuff. however fixed blade knives see about 0.05% of the use my folders get, so I'd rather have the few quality folders for EDC, and the $100 Spydercos definitely fit that bill. Hell, the $25 spydercos are quality folders that slice like champs...
 
If it was me, i would get the Sierra Scout from NWA, and while I was at it, I would order his large chopper as well. That will take up the $500, and you will be set for small, med, and large chores. I would recommend a Laconico, but he isnt taking orders for a while.
 
As a skinflint, who may not settle for ordinary retail, I'm going to limit myself to the knives I own, priced like I paid for them. Not used, but actual price and not some MSRP fiction.

4 mini-santoku parers, Sabatier branded china clones, 5$ each, 20$ total
3 CRKT M16-13Z folders, total 80$
Analon (brand) Chefs knife, 7.5 in, 20$
Kershaw Outcast ( D2 ) 60$
Ek Cammando#2, D2 dagger, 50$ (I found these as an overrun/closeout @ BRKT and bought several; they should have been 3x the price)
AF Pilots knife, 40$
Granfors Bruks large hatchet, 100$
Ranger RD-9 85$
2x S&W wide boot knife 40$ (total)

< $500 and I actually own 'em, and paid those prices
 
A Leatherman Super tool ST300. It has stronger pliers than any other Leatherman, plus removable/replaceable 154 CM wire cutters (can be sharpened). In black-oxide for $97.

Buck custom shop 110 in S30V steel with sambar stag scales and nickel silver bolsters $240.

A stockman from some company, maybe Case. and enough left over to buy a decent sharpening stone set.
 
I have several knives in the $300-$500 range, but starting from scratch, I wouldn't go there. I'd buy:

  • Buck 110 - on sale at Walmart for $20 - can't get a better knife for the money
  • The Victorinox Swiss Army knife of your choice (One-Handed Trekker of SwissChamp maybe) - $30
  • Kershaw Leek - $35 - gotta have an assisted opener
  • Streamlight Scorpion - $35 'cause you need a good light, too
  • Becker BK7 - $80(?) because everybody needs a fixed blade for those: "That's not a knife. This is a knife." moments.
  • Spyderco Miltary - $130 - perhaps the most loved knife on bladeforums and for good reason
  • Bradley Alias - 66% of a Sebenza at 50% of the price, but still a very nice knife in its own way -$170
 
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