Inexpensive knives that outperform expensive ones

Pete1977

Pete1977

Joined
Apr 15, 2002
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In your experience, which brands of inexpensive knives outperform top of the line or top dollar tactical folders, customs, etc.?

I have found, for most cutting chores, from light duty to hard use, that certain less expensive brands are just as good as the high dollar products on the market today. For example-

The Swiss army knife- mainly victorinox, I've never used a wenger. These little knives hold an edge seemingly forever and are like cake to sharpen.

The Buck 110- A sturdy, well-made folder, that takes whatever I throw at it. The older (10+ years) seem to take and hold a better edge, but my 2 year old one seems just as good.

Schrade- Old Timers and Uncle Henrys, from the small slipjoints, to the folding lockbacks- again lower price range, but good knives. I've had a UH folding hunter for 10 years, and have used it at sea, around the yard, and the knife still is going strong.

Any others?

Cheers
Pete
 
Opinel and Frosts' of Sweden moras out perform darn near anything in any price range and can be had for less than $20.00 for both of them.
 
That's an interesting question, because I have 2 older Bucks, both bought by me over 20 years ago. One is the titanium XLT I believe. Can't remember because I think I just tossed the box last summer! I have never cut a thing with it, but I hate to sell it and probably never will. It just oozes quality and the blade is scary sharp.

The other is a more traditional Buck with a 6" blade, blood groove, and green rubber grip, again over 20 years old. The blade on it also seems to be better than some of today's more expensive knives. Those who use these knives more might be able to shed some light on whether that's true.
 
Bobwhite said:
Opinel and Frosts' of Sweden moras out perform darn near anything in any price range and can be had for less than $20.00 for both of them.
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What he said... :D

Moving up the scale a bit, I find Spydercos (slimmer carry, one hand operation) and Fallknivens (more robust, more size/sheath options) may be more user friendly/durable, although they don't necessarily outperform the Opinels, etc.
 
The calypso Jr isnt as cheap as an opinel or a mora but its one of the best knives under 50$
 
PWork said:
SAKs, Opinels, and Moras.

Paul
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Those are the three I think of when I think of Bang for the Buck. Also consider various fillet knives, Normark, Rappala, etc. These thin, flat ground blades offer exceptional cutting performance. Shorter ones are stiff enough for most general utility chores and they work really well in the kitchen on most tasks.


Fillet knives are very useful, my personal favortie are the old Gerber tool steel (M2 at high RC) with chrome convered blades. These hold an edge much longer than most knives.
 
PWork said:
SAKs, Opinels, and Moras.
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Paul has named some of the best valued and "cutting-est" knives out there.

Victorinox SAK goes to the top of my (biassed) list for performance bang for the buck. The slip joint action is world class leading and very consistent - the envy of even some handmades.

The factory edge is very consistent and way above average - mainly because of the thin flat ground and normal approx 22.5deg per side (45deg overall) plain bevel edge. This can be improved quite simply to spectacular results by getting rid of the hard shoulder between the edge bevel and the blade face and rounding it out to a more convexed shape. Please see this thread (with some ad-hoc testing evidence) -

Convexed Edge

Opinels - look rustic and almost crude - but their convexed edge can be scary sharp. However there does seem a micro-bevel to the more recent ones - it does not detract from their cutting ability - it's just strictly speaking they are no longer true zero bevel convexed edges. Also there have been reports that toward the tip the blade is not that sharp due to distal taper that doesn't quite thin enough toward the tip - please see -

Opinel #8

Moras - from KJ Eriksson and Frosts of Mora (not to be confused with Frost Cutlery importers of cheap knives) - real low priced fixed blades like the Swedish Army Knife -that are sabre ground but with a zero edge bevel to the flat part of the sabre grind - again I have detected a micro edge bevel on some - but that does not take away from the fact they really cut.........

One should own at least one of each sample ...
if not more :D

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT.cjb2005.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
 
Victorinox – Everything from kitchen/butcher knives to SAKs (SAKs with wood saws and the little paring knives are especially good).


Spyderco – Anything FRN, particularly the Calypso Jr. and the Pacific Salt.


Machetes – Barteaux, Martindale, Ontario, and Tramontina all make very good ones.


Frost Moras – I like the Clippers and the Swedish Army versions the best.


Camillus ArcLite – Hard to beat for the price.


Cold Steel Bushman – also hard to beat for the price.






- Frank
 
I have a low-end Marttiini puukka from Finland with a red plastic handle and super-flat grind that can stand up in sharpness & durability to much more expensive blades. Another cheapy I love is the CS Bushman, which is big, sturdy, and good for camp chores as well as the uselful ability of easily converting into a large spear in a pinch (something we all need on a daily basis).

Others: Delica-Calypso-Jester et al, Camillus pilot survival knife (modified), Taylor Cutlery boot/belt tanto, and the Stanley Box Cutter, my best inexpensive blade 'cause it keeps all my other knives happy, pretty and ATR.
 
Endura/Delica
Opinel
SAK
Rapella filet knives
Scharade slipjoints
 
From my single example (a Meadowlark), Spyderco's new-ish Byrd line offers a damn good knife for seventeen bucks. It's just about the cheapest all-the-fixins knife I've seen that really brings the quality. And honestly, how could we live without a loking mechanism, a pocket clip, and one-handed opening? :D
 
Grover_Cephas said:
... how could we live without a loking mechanism, a pocket clip, and one-handed opening? :D
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One-handed opening and a pocket clip - sure, wouldn't want to do without them. But ever since I got a Spydie UK Penknife I'm not really sure I need a locking mechanism in my EDC anymore. Ergonomics appear me to be far more important than a locking mechanism now.

Funny how your priorities can change. For almost two decades I wouldn't even have considered carrying a slipjoint. Even with the SAKs I only ever carried one of the locking versions, and now ... :confused:

Hans
 
As mentioned, Opinel and Frosts of Sweden are hard to beat. I especially like the user friendly handles in nearly all models. They have enough shape to provide control without limiting you a single grip, and don’t cause hot spots. Another good choice is Eriksson, now renamed Mora of Sweden. The quality is the same as Frosts, and the models are similar. Eriksson actually owns a controlling interest in Frosts, but is still building the two brands separately. The Eriksson 511 was the starting point for the Field and Stream article last spring based on Mors Kochanski’s book. It’s about all the knife you need, if you can stomach plastic handles. It retails for all of $8.
Another choice I haven’t heard much about recently is the Okapi. These are the Opinel equivalent of South Africa. Steve Dick did an article on them in Knives 2000. They come with carbon steel blades, either sliplock or locking construction, and are even cheaper than Opinel. I carried one for a while and the blade steel seemed to be about the same quality and hardness as the carbon steel Opinels. It held an edge fairly well and resharpened in a flash. I liked it because even in the larger sizes it’s thinner and lighter in the pocket. The flat shape of the pressed wood handle gives a better index of blade position than the nearly round Opinel handles. The larger ones come with horrible edges but it’s not a big deal for anyone here to sharpen a knife. Overall quality is not up to Opinel standards, but they are probably a lot more common in the poorer parts of the world. Has anybody else tried them?

R
Ragweed Forge
www.ragweedforge.com

"A knifeless man is a lifeless man." -old Nordic proverb
 
Just got a Helle# 75 and it is SHARP. It cuts paper with less drag than a stright razor. I tried carving a point on an old broom stick and it sort of glided through the wood. Very impresive for a $60 knife. :)
 
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