In praise of the JUNK knife.

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
2,301
I gotta admit that I ....REALLY... like my few ....JUNK.... knives. I have one in the garden for digging out weeds and I took out another... (gee, why do I own junk knives).... last night to use as a knife to clamp a One Arm Bandit on that I am filing down for the knife I intend to USE it on.
Just don't want to slip with a file and wreck the ...good... knife.

These junk beaters are dang handy.

Time they got some respeck!

:D
 
I keep about 4 of them in my(s@w) to use at work for beaters and carry my benchmades for weekend carry.Cheap knifes have a roll in life just like the expensive ones and that is to work with them just as long as they dont hurt yourself or others.It feels better when you bang a cheap one up compared to something more expensive:)
 
I don't like the junk knives. They're too cheap for real cutting, which generally gives them work that knives aren't really designed for. And ironically because of the cheapo quality and the fact that they're not meant to be used as a real knife OR a non-knife, they're dangerous to use. But maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're talking about. There are a lot of "cheap" knives that get the job done, but I don't call them "junk" knives. A junk knife to me will be something like Frost Cutlery or no name fragile China-made knives.
 
Yep. Both of my "beaters" are China knives. (pronounced CHEE-na to give them some cachet)

The one for stabbing into weeds is PERFECT for the use. Same on the other one that I used as a mandrel. (I got it just for the sheath which I used on another knife and the knife (?) with sheath was less than a sheath alone.)

Its "sheath" is now 2 pieces of cardboard wrapped in duct tape.

:D :D
 
"junk" and "cheap" can be different things. moras are a good example. you can also get a classic victorinox for a low price. that said, i have some total junk $1/$2 folders that are fine for opening letters or packages when i would prefer not to get sticky tape residue on a nicer blade. i'm never going to rely on "junk" though for much more than that. i agree with 9050 who said they have their role like everything else.
 
I can agree with you on this: there's nothing like having a knife on you that you feel like you can do anything with, without worrying about it. As long as I'm not concerned about my safety and if the knife breaks, it can be pretty fun.

It's kind of how I look at my Busse Mud Warden :).
 
I dunno, since I discovered the $10 Swedish Mora and the $7 French Opinel, I'm not so enthused about the ultra-cheapies.

I've tried using a $4 Chinese Spyderco ripoff for ripping up grout, and foud the Opinel does it better.

I about lost an eye once when cutting an onion with a $3 Chinese paring knife (which had about .025" of tang super-glued into a plastic handle).

The Mora or Opinel cost slightly over the new hourly minimum wage, so unless you're stirring cement with your knives, I'd say there's not much reason to go cheaper.

-MV
 
MatthewVanitas said:
I dunno, since I discovered the $10 Swedish Mora and the $7 French Opinel, I'm not so enthused about the ultra-cheapies.

I've tried using a $4 Chinese Spyderco ripoff for ripping up grout, and foud the Opinel does it better.

I about lost an eye once when cutting an onion with a $3 Chinese paring knife (which had about .025" of tang super-glued into a plastic handle).

The Mora or Opinel cost slightly over the new hourly minimum wage, so unless you're stirring cement with your knives, I'd say there's not much reason to go cheaper.

-MV
Click to expand...

I'm pretty much with you on this Matthew. Cheapo knives- okay. Junko knives- don't like 'em.
 
I have a 440.... (I'm guessing 440A but it doesn't say )
butterfly knife that is duller then a butter knife and has some sort
of chrome plated handles .... that I use to clean my bird's cage.

Sure wouldn't want to use my 710 :(
 
I have a made in cheena clear green lock back that i bought for $1.95 at a fishing store cause I like green, it reminded me of clear dice. Spent $300.00 worth of man hours to get it to shave hair (wire bead) every body said wow that 2 buck junker is pretty good...I sent 'em all to the fishing store so they could get a real steal steel deal too!!! LMAO
 
years ago at a friends motor shop a guy bought a new china crank for his small block cheby-it was made of steal,to this day i have always wondered if it would have lasted longer if it was made of steel instead-

a kid on the job this week had a china junk he paid 20 bucks for-so i had to be a jerk and tell him that he is a union worker and buying that stuff costs american jobs,and for 20 bucks more he could have had a spyderco native that was 10 times the knife
 
Yea cheap (as in inexpensive)knives have there purpose,but junks not a bargane at any price imo.

Realy most of the knives I use arn't all that expensive,mostly saks moras ,case, buck etc.

But from experiance stear clear of no name china lockbacks....please:thumbdn:
 
I buy inexpensive knives on occasion, but never junk knives. There are a lot of quality knives out there that will fit into anyone's budget. Moras, Opinels and SAKs are hard to beat for the price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top