Impressive low cost knives $15-$30

S

Shiny Bolster

Joined
Jan 23, 2013
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Been evaluating my first Kershaws, a Chill and a Skyline Blem. Also a Buck Vantage Select small. These three knives cost $62.99 for all three including shipping. They are all worth more than I paid IMO. What else are you guys hiding that I should know about?
 
You need to check out a byrd Meadowlark2. It's practically a choiled Delica. $20 for FRN, $30 for G10. There are PLENTY of high value blades at that price range. A lot of them are very nice indeed, but this is what I recommend. Especially at $20.
 
Ontario Rat 1 can be had brand new for 28 bucks, its a great knife!

also the Spyderco Tenacious can be had brand new for 30 bucks.
 
Scheels has the 3 byrd Spyderco knives for around 35 bucks. but i think it is just in store. I havnt checked online.
 
patyouknow said:
Ontario Rat 1 can be had brand new for 28 bucks, its a great knife!

also the Spyderco Tenacious can be had brand new for 30 bucks.
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i have had my RAT 1 now for 2 years and love it!! can be a little big at times but OKC is about to release the smaller RAT- Model 2!! I WILL OWN ONE!!
 
Gotta give some love to Kershaw's budget line (which you're already somewhat acquainted with). They are well designed, well built, and are only going to get better!
 
If you're looking at Kershaw blems, you might also check out the Leek, OD-1, and Zing. All are in the $25-30 range. The Cryo also typically runs around $30. If you like the Chill, also check out the Volt II or OSO Sweet. Many Victorinox SAKs are also below $30. They're well made and provide a lot of utility. Hard to beat the value you get from a SAK.

The Ontario RAT-1 mentioned before is also a great knife. CRKT has a few that may be worth looking at in this price range too: M16, Drifter, and Ripple. The SOG Flash I is right around that price as well and is practically invisible in pocket (very lightweight, compact, and deep carry clip). The KaBar Dozier Folding Hunter is also a nice, lightweight knife for around $20. The Opinels are a bit different style, but they are great performing knives as well. The Chinese knives (Sanrenmu and Enlan) are also surprisingly well made. The SRM-763 is a pretty neat design, and a lot of people like the SRM-710. The EL-01 is a beast of a folder for under $20.
 
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I am prepared for the flak incoming, but I recently got a Umnumzaan copy on trade and love it. It sits a hair outside the $30 mark but is easily worth it if you can choke down the fact that it is a fake and a ripoff design.
If you strictly want something inside the $30 mark, I have a few things. First is my SRM 763, which to my knowledge is an original design. Excellent fit and finish, and a wonderfully small design. Another is the CRKT Ripple aluminum. Hard to find at or inside $30, but doable and worth every penny. That thing just flies out of the handle. Lastly I can suggest the Kershaw Leek. Excellent steel for the dirt cheap price point, and it has a near perfect utilitarian blade design.
 
Kershaw Cryo and blem Leek, each $25-30. They're not perfect, but they're darn fantastic for the price.
 
Benchmade has their own value line, not down to $20 but I've seen a few recently close to $30.

The Byrds, Tenacious, Kershaws have been mentioned. I have a $20 Byrd and I think it is a good knife, but I think a $35 Tenacious is probably the best bang for the buck. I have been interested in trying the cheap Chinese knives- the Inlans, SanRenMu's, etc. I've also seen some CRKT's that look good but are inexpensive.

If you really want a cheap but good knife the thing to do is to check the online sellers and online auctions and see what models have been discontinued are are being sold off at a discount, or what models are not in fad right now.

I have some low priced knives but my problem is that for my EDC I prefer a slightly more expensive knife even it if won't perform better in my use. I know it's more expensive, so I respect it more and I get more enjoyment from carrying it.
 
Byrd Tern, Byrd Cara Cara 2, Byrd Meadowlark 2, Spyderco Ambitious, Spyderco Persistence, Spyderco Tenacious.
Kershaw Leek(Blem or otherwise), Kershaw OD-1 Blem.

If you can go up the $8 on the Leek Blem you can get the Composite Blem and that's definitely bang for your buck.
 
Spyderco tenacious & ambitious excellent value for money. My Ambitious us a little work horse. Excellent build quality. Just ordered the Cryo, reviews are raving about it. Frame lock and speed assisted for under 30$, you can't go wrong.
 
A Syderco Persistence was my first value knife, you can find these at or below your upper price limit if you do some hunting. Sporting blue G-10 it's an attractive knife and the 8Cr13MoV stainless blade arrived very sharp. It's a smallish lightweight knife but the 2.75" blade is big enough for most cutting/slicing tasks. I added a few drops of Nano oil to the pivot and mine deploys like greased lightning now that it has broken in. I was happy to find that the fit and finish is what I've come to expect from Spyderco, even in their value line it is outstanding. It felt a little chintzy in my hand when I first got it but I think that was because I was used to handling more substantial folders that cost 4x or more. Now that I've had this little guy for awhile I'm impressed with it, great value for the price and definitely a keeper.
 
It sits a hair outside the $30 mark but is easily worth it if you can choke down the fact that it is a fake and a ripoff design.
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Ok, I'm going to be the one. For 30 bucks, there are many other options for a collector than buying a fake/ripoff. Why even suggest it?


What else are you guys hiding that I should know about? .
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Get the full size Vantage, just a sweet blade. Another folder I've abused is the S & W SWAT II. I've never put another knife through what I put that SWAT through, and you can usually find around 15 bucks. I really love it, so many memories.
Also, Becker Remora for a nice fixed blade that is often overlooked.
 
Ontario RAT-1
Outdoor Edge Pocket-Lite
CRKT Cruiser
SOG Fusion Salute
SOG Magnadot
Ka Bar Dozier series
Buck Bantam series
Buck Ecolite 112 or 110
Gerber Profile folder
Bad Blood Kendrick series
Buck Vantage select models
 
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