Inexpensive knives everyone should try?

The paring knife from Suncraft made in Seki City is pretty handy!

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AG Russell- Rancher or the larger Cowboy model. Great price and excellent quality! The AG Russell Woodswalker is pretty sweet as well!:)
 
billsch8 said:
AG Russell- Rancher or the larger Cowboy model. Great price and excellent quality! The AG Russell Woodswalker is pretty sweet as well!:)
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Had a Woodswalker for ages. Just sent it and the leather pocket sheaf (the kydex wasn't even available when I bought it) off to an old Army buddy in Washington. Handy little knife. Would serve anyone well.
 
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Not sure what one would call inexpensive, but if you are looking for a super single blade traditional, I'll second the Case Slimline Trapper in the yellow delrin. These can be found online and in shops for $30 or so and while you can get a lesser priced trapper, for a little more you get a Case knife. I have two of the slimlines and they are among my favorites, one in yellow, one in black G10. Super knives.
 
Single blade only?

Buck 302 Solitaire
Case Slimline Trapper (also called Utility knife) in one of the synthetic handle options
Opinel of some sort
Queen Country Cousin
 
Definately something like the Vic Recruit, my first knife. But also a dang good knife none the less for pretty cheap. I think a thin 2 layer SAK should be in everyone's knife collection personally.
 
I picked up this Taylors Eye Witness a couple of months back for under $30 new. It was a bit rough and gritty but after a good clean up and sharpening I have really come to like it a lot and use it most days.




 
I'll second (or third) the Rough Rider line. Great value, good fit & finish, and a LOT of popular patterns. I don't think you can go wrong.
 
The Italian, Robert Klaas, Brown Mule branded Sodbusters are pretty stout knives, given the price. Carbon steel blades, and springs, the fit and finish is on the rougher side though.
 
I'm a sucker for Sunfishes and Elephant Toes. GEC makes three very stupid and unusable knives with Sunfish blades and useless add-on blades... and three immensely useful single-blade variations on same.

1) #36 EZ Open
2) #45 Lumberjack Single Blade
3) #45 Roughneck Single Blade (Not identical as above! The blade is half an inch longer.)

None of these are cheap, unless comparing to Italian export prices.

For cheap, go here...

1) Opinel no. 8 Garden Knife - good stainless steel, beautiful knife, really cheap.

2) Opinel no. 10 Carbon - A true Chef's knife "to go," but it will require some maintenance.

3) R. Murphy Nessmuk - Neck knife with sheath, in carbon steel.
 
2manyknives said:
I picked up this Taylors Eye Witness a couple of months back for under $30 new. It was a bit rough and gritty but after a good clean up and sharpening I have really come to like it a lot and use it most days.



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This looks sorta like a poor man's Lanny's Clip...!
 
Even as a kid, I remember seeing the German made mercator k55k, and thinking what junk it appeared to be. The stamped steel frame, it's gold colored embossed cat/k55k logo... the whole thing looking so mickey mousey! Since that time, I have seen them here and there... and it still gave me no emotion, except that I still thought it to be about the junkiest looking knife ever! Okay, fast forward a bit more, now my reading so much about pocket knives, and discovering the long history of these k55k knives. Hmm.... looking at all the info one can google about them... the videos... and all of the sudden, this ugly duckling (in my eyes), becomes desirable. No more twisting my arm.... I want one! It seems to have such a cool history, and has such a decent reputation for being a decent knife in function... that I would have to give it a top rating for an inexpensive knife we should give a try. I think for collecting (because of it's history), and for a user (because of it's decent rep of being one, and it's overall slimness)... it seems to offer knife people a great value :-)
Nice to have Otter Messer pick up the trademarks and design almost 20 years ago when the original German manufacturer went belly up. It allows us one final chance to pick up a brand new specimen. I highly doubt that if Otter Messer ever goes under, that this knife will continue being made in Germany. More likely, some company, German or otherwise, would pick up the trademark/name and have it made in an Asian country, where it can be made with much less expenses. That would kill it for me... I guess I better get one before the German made K55K goes way of the DoDo. Another reason, for some, to get one soon :-)

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If I may add, these knives in open blade position, have a very weapon like appearance to them... or at least that is my take on them... Their price, and that certain look, may be why so many German military personel had them.... along with supposedly so many American city gang youths in the Bronx and such. Coolness factor has now replaced my previous view of them as being junk :-)
 
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Jack Black said:
Aitor Castor.

Douk-Douk.

Mercator K55.
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Listen to this man, he knows that of which he speaks! I really like my Castor and Douk-Douk. The Douk-Douk is so thin it disappears in the pocket, and the Castor is a slicing machine. The Douk-Douk is also a good conversation starter. Boker makes some decent single blade lock backs in the "Plus" line. The AG Russell Cowboy and Rancher series in the black or yellow are inexpensive. I will throw in the Buck Prince/Squire/Knight as well.
 
glennbad said:
+1 on Jerry's recommendation, especially the Imperial shell handles. Some of the best carbon steel out there.
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I second glennbad: I have a box of these old Imperial/Colonial/Hammer Brand/etc. knives, and for being such inexpensive knives, they're very nice for what you get. Many of them were chisel-ground, some without an edge. I can put a razor edge on them and turn them into awesome little carvers. I used them on several occasions to carve utensils for cooking while on Scout camp outs.

You can always find them in good shape on auction sites, and occasionally here on the forum in then exchange too.

I'm kinda glad most folks write them off as "cheap throw-ways": more for me!

-Chris
 
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