Junk knives you can't stop loving (and using).

I EDC two $5.00 Ozark Trail (walmart) knives which I can't help but love, somehow.
These two cheapo knives perform way better than one would expect for $5.00 each.
A third EDC is my $20.00 CRKT SPEW.
The SPEW gets the most use, gets stropped every 3 or 4 days, and is simply a wicked knife.
There's also a $10.00 Rampage folding pocket frame-locking cleaver, with a flipper which gives a very satisfying ka-chunk when deployed....I use the cleaver for shaving kindling and light batoning of kindling. It lives on the mantle over my fireplace and is the best $10.00 I ever spent....

Mark
 
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I left a carbon Opinel at work. Staff already have the tip snapped off, that was good for a chuckle. I've quietly touched the edge up for them a few times. I left it ring turned/blade locked. No one has changed that or stolen it in over a month. I guess that it isn't overly appealing to them. But it sure slices.
 
Working Edge said:
I EDC two $5.00 Ozark Trail (walmart) knives which I can't help but love, somehow.
These two cheapo knives perform way better than one would expect for $5.00 each.
A third EDC is my $20.00 CRKT SPEW.
The SPEW gets the most use, gets stropped every 3 or 4 days, and is simply a wicked knife.
There's also a $10.00 Rampage folding pocket frame-locking cleaver, with a flipper which gives a very satisfying ka-chunk when deployed....I use the cleaver for shaving kindling and light batoning of kindling. Best $10.00 I ever spent....

Mark
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The CRKT SPEW is a real bargain. I got it in January and it always seems to be with me.
 
Chapp said:
Imagine being a carpenters. Those crafting men break tools all the time. They'd have no tears left.
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I watched the movie Overboard (1987) last night. Kurt Russel (the carpenter) sure did get upset when the blonde threw all of his tools into the bay. :D
 
I keep a Kershaw OSO Sweet around for dirty jobs and abuse. I try to leave it in a convenient place so that when my wife needs a knife she grabs it instead of one of my nicer knives. I would say it's the junkiest knife I have. I can't say that I love it, but if there was a larger version with better materials/fit and finish it would be on the right track.
 
jideta said:
not really junk but really cheap
I grab the Vickies more than those not cheap knives

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btw them fixed blades on the ends were just there for fun
I don't really keep them there
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LOL- I've had one of those fixed blades Victorinox kitchen knives for years and curse everytime I use it. But I keep on using it (and my wife as well) because it's so light and so handy, even if you have to sharpen it after every use. Yea we have better knives but this one logs a lot more mileage than the others, and it'll slice a banana like nobody's business!
 
Great thread; I love "junky" knives as long as they have enough quality to be safe. There is a certain quality to some knives which I call the "I don't care" factor meaning that you can use it without worry or care. Though some may curl their nose at me for saying this, but my user/beater knives sometimes give me more joy and satisfaction of ownership than knives I have costing 5X or 10X the price.
 
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My first "modern" assisted knife was actually gifted to me because a friend was worried about pit bulls roaming my neighborhood. I won't go into that story again but the SOG Flash ll more than earned a forever spot in my rotation. I really had no good reason for replacing it outside of weight and an excuse to buy knives.
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Mainerd said:
My first "modern" assisted knife was actually gifted to me because a friend was worried about pit bulls roaming my neighborhood. I won't go into that story again but the SOG Flash ll more than earned a forever spot in my rotation. I really had no good reason for replacing it outside of weight and an excuse to buy knives.
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I have a love/hate relationship with the Flash 2. The safety hits my nail every time I put my hand in my pocket.

I owned three at one time but now I am down to one. I got it on my honeymoon. Only carry it around my anniversary.

The best folding steak knife I have ever seen.
 
sabre cat said:
I have a love/hate relationship with the Flash 2. The safety hits my nail every time I put my hand in my pocket.

I owned three at one time but now I am down to one. I got it on my honeymoon. Only carry it around my anniversary.

The best folding steak knife I have ever seen.
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That safety is a little agravating. It's the only SOG I've owned but probably the toughest knife I own. Ive been looking at the Terminus and a couple of the newer models.
 
Mainerd said:
That safety is a little agravating. It's the only SOG I've owned but probably the toughest knife I own. Ive been looking at the Terminus and a couple of the newer models.
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Yeah, it's surprisingly tough. I won't lie, I've abused the SOG Aegis like a madman and it never broke. I lost it before I could break it, which is a sign of a sturdy knife.
 
I
eveled said:
If you are using a junk knife because you are afraid to loose or break a valuable knife. Know this.

The knife you carry everyday and use for everything will become extremely valuable sentimentaly. It will still hurt when you loose or break it.

So why not carry a high quality knife from the start?

Also know if something catastrophic happens while you are away from home. The one in your pocket will become your only one. So choose wisely.
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Interesting post. I have a history of catastrophes at home but none have hurt my knives. The one I carry has a habit of escaping my pocket or my memory should I lay it down. I must admit however, the latest junk knife has been lost and found several times and means more than it should.

I have enough good knives to last a lifetime so why not enjoy them? If they escape, so be it. I might even care enough not to misplace them.

Maybe I should say thanks.
 
Well, if you want cheap but useful, I put up the Cinder.Just me, though.
 
My carry knives....yeah, I don't actually have any "junk knives" unless you count my spyderco enduras.

Kitchen knives....I'd describe the henkels and the *i cant remember the brand* we picked up at Costco as "junk we cant stop using."

My wife isn't the most cognizant knife user, so the softer steel and cheaper plastic handles are actual benefits as she refuses to stop running them through the dishwasher. They sharpen easily, and she'd dull a better steel just as fast and i'd have to spend longer maintaining them.
 
I have a genuine Ginsu that I bought for a dollar at an estate sale. It was so dull, I had to grind the serrations off just to make it useable. It's a right piece of drek and I seldom use it, but I still enjoy having it.
 
eveled said:
If you are using a junk knife because you are afraid to loose or break a valuable knife. Know this.

The knife you carry everyday and use for everything will become extremely valuable sentimentaly. It will still hurt when you loose or break it...
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Great advice. I have budget knives that I am attached to for that very reason.
 
I was about to say that I don't have any junk knives but... I do have one (sort of). I bought it while I was an exchange student in the US arround 22 years ago. It is a Colt AR15
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(not my picture, just found it on Google)

I consider it junk because the backlock does not lock the blade securely. Not talking about spine whacks... just some moderate pressure on the lock (on the table or something) is enough to make the lock fail.

Surprisingly, once I reprofiled the edge (tedious task as I used an auxiliary military surpluss field sharpener with a stone about 10mm wide and 60mm long), it cut well and hold an edge for a fair amount of time. The action is good also..

Again, just rendering the knife as junk due to lock failure.

Mikel
 
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