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

Okapi Biltong. A really cheap sheepsfoot slipjoint with an external backspring. @Forty-two Blades used to carry them along with a few other non-ratcheting Okapis. Quite a few of his stock he deemed unfit for sale, many of those because the halves of the handle did not match up. I got one (not from Baryonyx) that I had to sand the edges of the handle halves just to make it presentable.

Still a favorite of mine, I carry one every day, and have laid in a small stash do that if I lose or damage one, I won’t have to go without.
 
David Mary said:
Seconded, both the "not junk" point, and the knife itself. Of course you've never really experienced the true potential of this knife until you've reground it thinner, and smoothed out the pointy transition on the thumb ramp. I've done a lot more to it than just that, as you can see, but the two changes I mentioned are game changers for this knife.

But the rest is also great to elevate this "value" knife to a truly comparable level to something like the military. I increased the liner skeletonization, and reprofiled the blade shape, bringing the weight down to 4.0 oz. Replaced the factory pocket clip with a deep carry clip, and radiused all the edges of the scales, making the knife three times as comfortable in my bare hand, yet every bit as usable in my winter gloves. You can bet I will be doing the same modifications one I get the FRN/S35VN plain edge version. Of course, I expect with that one, no handle scale mods will be required. I'll still increase skeletonization and no doubt be amazed at how super light weight it will feel.

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Yeah, Spyderco’s budget knives have great potential if they up the steel quality. Sandvik steel would be a nice improvement.
 
I guess the Victorinox Explorer living by my bed is one. Mass produced with plastic scales and cheap "inox" (X55CrMo14) steel. But I use it daily.
 
I got this little cheapo Maxam brand folder back in the 80's when I was a teen. I don't know how much it cost, it belonged to a friend who was a bit of a porn addict and I traded him a few Playboys for it. I was drawn to the size of the handle which was larger and thicker than any other folder of that size that I had ever seen. I liked how the larger handle felt in my hand. I carried that knife quite a bit and it's seen a fair amount of use. It's a nice little knife, takes a hair-popping edge.

It's old enough that it says "JAPAN" on the back of the blade. Ahh the knives of the 80's . What fond memories. Wish I had bought (and kept) more of them. :)

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I'm glad that most members of this forum have never had the unpleasant sensation of getting close to a junk knife.

In a world flooded with bad Chinese stuff (although financed, as you already know, by the USA), I must confess I have (at least) one junk knife; and worse, a junk knife that I love.

It's called "Coleman Campmaster II". It lies in my bedside table, over a thick book, and it's my first call whenever I decide to kill myself with unhealthy snacks and things like that. It never fails at the task and, yes, I love the little poor thing.
 
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