Knife suggestions

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Kw4

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Jul 2, 2018
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I’m wanting to get more quality knives. My budget is around $120. I would love to hear your favorites/suggestions.
 
Learn to use the search function - it's clearly marked in the top right corner of this website. There are about 200 threads asking the exact same thing with pages & pages of answers
 
Hello Kw4. It's helpful to add some more info, like what you will use it for, some styles you like, maybe steel preference, fixed blade or folder, etc. For example, for a little more than $120, you could get a Spyderco Paramilitary 2, which is a modern folder, or for a little less you could get a Buck 119 with cocobolo wood handles, which is a very traditional fixed blade, and there are literally a million other options.
 
Sorry, I would like a modern folder. I was more looking for your favorite knives.
 
There may be a few S30V, D2 and 1095 quality knives that can be had for under $150. Knife Center has a "Find It" search function that would allow you to quickly search for knives under $150.

I just checked and my average knife is around $250. Don't be put off by this fact, but if you are looking at S90V, 20CV, M390, 204P, 80CrV2 you may need to almost double what you are looking at spending to get in to the higher premium steels. There are a few good knives to be had though!!!

These are some of the knives on my short list:

- Bark River Knives Bravo EDC Fixed 3.375" M4 Tool Steel Blade, Black Canvas Micarta Handles, Leather Sheath - BA07077MBC ($189 at Knife Center)
- Bastinelli PiKa Picoeur Karambit Fixed Blade Neck Knife, 1 Inch Blade, Bohler N690, Black ($135 at Blade HQ)
- Bastinelli Creations Picoeur Fixed 1.625" Black Cerakote N690CO Blade, Pinky Ring, Kydex Sheath ($125 at Knife Center)
- Benchmade 133 Fixed Infidel 4.52" D2 Satin Double Edge Dagger Blade, Black Aluminum Handles, Boltaron Sheath ($200 at Knife Center)
- Benchmade Griptillian 20CV ($179 at Knife Center)
- Bradford Guardian 3 M390 - Black G-10 - False Edge - Stonewashed ($160 at DLT)
- Cold Steel 52100 Boot Knife
- CRKT S.P.E.W. (SMALL. POCKET. EVERYDAY. WHARNCLIFFE) Fixed Blade ($24 at SMKW; $29 at Knife Center)
- CRKT 2389 Folts Keramin Neck Knife 2.31" Blade, Polished Resin Infused Fiber Handles ($26 at Knife Center)
- CRKT 9750 Trencher Folding Shovel 27.188" Overall, Steel & Polypropylene Handle, Nylon Sheath ($100 at CRKT, $58 at Knife Center)
- CRKT, M16-03KS Carson Classic Flipper 3.55" Spear Point Blade ($35 at Knife Center)
- CRKT, M16-03S, Carson Classic Flipper 3.46" Spear Point Blade, Gray Aluminum Handles ($58 at Knife Center)
- CRKT, 2709, Clever Girl, Fixed 4.6" SK5 Black Blade, G10 Handles, Glass Reinforced Nylon Sheath ($80 at Knife Center)
- CRKT 2852 OC3 Fixed 6.072" SK5 Black Blade, Resin Infused Fiber Handles, Glass Reinforced Nylon Sheath ($80 at Knife Center)
- KA-BAR and Jesse Jarosz Deluxe Hunter w 5.5 inch S35VN blade ($200 at KA-BAR)
- Spyderco FB30GP Southfork Hunting Fixed in S90V ($201.47 at The Cutlery Shoppe.)
- SOG Pillar in S35VN ($190 at Knife Center)
- Spyderco Manix 2 Lightweight Knife Gray (3.375" Maxamet Stonewash) C101GPGY2 ($182 at Blade HQ)
- TOPS Yacare 10.0 ($175 at DLT; $170 at Blade HQ)
- Spyderco Para 3, Blue G-10 Scales, M390 blade ($156 at Bento Box Shop)
 
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My favorite carry lately, the one I carry around the most nowadays, is the Benchmade Bugout.

Light as a feather, Axis lock, deep carry clip, excellent steel, superb warranty. Priced in your wheelhouse.

You won't be disappointed.
 
Kw4 said:
Thanks, what do you find you carry the most?
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I have abt 10 to 15 knives in my EDC rotation. It depends on where I am going as to what I carry and the time of the year.

- Winter: carry almost any reasonable length knife b/c I wear a Winter coat that hides the knife.
- Spring, Summer, Fall: carry what is 100% legal b/c it can be seen. In Chicago that means a 2.5 inch or smaller, and the rest of Illinois a 3 inch or smaller. The rules are kind of vague for areas outside of Chicago, but staying under or around 3 inch mark is important if you are pressed in to using knife b/c over 3 inches in length you get a felony not a misdemeanor for anything they want to charge you with.

I'm buying more and more fixed and folders in the 1 inch to 3 inch range b/c of these laws.

My 2 fav knives to EDC right know are a pair of ZT 0095TANBLK in S90V.
 
Some of my favorite edc folders :
- Spyderco Military ($175)
- Spyderco Manix2 ($105)
- Benchmade 757 Vicar ($183)

For a bit more than your budget , you can get a Paramilitary2 or Yojimbo2. Both @ $136 each. Great knives.
 
I find in that price range I mostly carry Spyderco, most bang for the buck IMO
Short list of other brands I like according to price range
$20 to ~$250 Spyderco, and Kershaw/ Zero Tolerance are my favorite. Lots of good knives in the price range. Check 'em all out and take your pic!
$250+ customs, Busse fixed blades, Chris Reeve folders, be very careful to buy true quality once you soar above $250 knife budget

Closer to $20 you deal with more quality control issues and cheaper blade steel, but can still get a proper functioning knife from respectable manufacturers like Kershaw and Spyderco. NEVER buy gas station/ Flea Market
The closer you get to $250 the more you're paying for looks and name; in my mind ~$250 is the cap where spending more won't make the knife cut better or longer in most cases.

Every day at work (HVAC tech) I'm carrying a $60-$200 Spyderco (serrated hawk bills from the salt series, Endura, Delica, Manix,) and/ or Chris Reeve Sebenza, Inkosi, Umnumzaan ($500 range) and the Spydercos see 95% of the action.
Hope this helps and welcome to Blade Forums!
 
Kw4 said:
Sorry, I would like a modern folder. I was more looking for your favorite knives.
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One of my favorites is the Steel Will Mini Cutjack in G10 handles and M390 steel. Runs a little more than your budget.

Another that I have grown to like is the Boker Urban Trapper. G10 and VG10 steel. Been carrying this one pretty much everyday for the last couple of weeks.
 
I carry my benchmark mini grip with g10 and s30v a lot. I am squarely in the budget end compared to most people on this forum I think, so that's one of my higher end knives. I really like my spyderco dragonfly 2 as well. Very small, very light, but very useable.
 
Kw4 said:
I’m wanting to get more quality knives. My budget is around $120. I would love to hear your favorites/suggestions.
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Massdrop ferrum forge Crux is probably one of the best values on the market. Titanium framelock flipper with s35vn steel. Excellent design and build quality.

By all rights a knife like this should be closer to 200$ minimum. Somehow they are being sold for around 125$.

This is the answer you are looking for.

FF_Falcon_Progression-01_20170607191816.png
 
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Kw4 said:
Nice, the Manix 2 g-10 or the lightweight?
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I'd go with the G10 Manix2. It has a much more solid feel due to full stainless steel liners between the G10. And the S30V is a lot easier to sharpen (than s110v) while still holding a nice edge for a good while.

To me , the light weight Manix , and any FRN handle knife , just feels too cheap and FisherPrice-ish.
 
I carry my native 5 lightweight most everyday. I think they are about 95 dollars at blade hq. It is s35vn steel which from the Super steels I've used , seems to be the most well rounded in toughness edge retention and ease to sharpen. It's just my opinion but if u want a little smaller knife this or the spyderco chapparell would be a great one. You can get a kershaw blur in s30v usually around 70 bucks. Great knife if you don't mind the open assist.
I think my favorite modern folder out of all I've owned is the benchmade griptillian. The standard version has 154 cm steel which I really like. The axis lock is a great lock as well as a ball to fidget with.
 
Earl1 said:
I carry my native 5 lightweight most everyday. I think they are about 95 dollars at blade hq. It is s35vn steel which from the Super steels I've used , seems to be the most well rounded in toughness edge retention and ease to sharpen. It's just my opinion but if u want a little smaller knife this or the spyderco chapparell would be a great one. You can get a kershaw blur in s30v usually around 70 bucks. Great knife if you don't mind the open assist.
I think my favorite modern folder out of all I've owned is the benchmade griptillian. The standard version has 154 cm steel which I really like. The axis lock is a great lock as well as a ball to fidget with.
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Have you had the Bugout? If so do you like the Griptillian or the bugout better.
 
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