Knife under $100 with some specific needs

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Brutus013

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I'm looking for a knife to use for light EDC work for under $100, but I don't want the standard recommendations of Mini-Griptilians, Spyderco Manix 2s, and Kershaw Composite Blade folders. Instead, I want a knife with somewhat more traditional looks.

The handles need to be wood, bone, or micarta. The blade needs to be between 2" and 3", and the steel needs to be either S30V, D2, CPM154, VG10, or another relatively high performance stainless, although if it's a carbon blade it can be 1095, 1075, what have you. A folder would be what I'd prefer, but I'm also open to fixed blade as long as they are small enough to be carried using a pocket sheath, and the sheath the knife comes with (or another sheath you know of that will work for whatever knife you suggest) must be suitable for pocket carry (which means no belt loops, tek-lok, etc.). I know there must be some fixed blades that fit that criteria out there. And no partially serrated blades. Also, no convex edges, and the edges should be somewhere near 30 degrees or 40 degrees inclusive in order to work on my sharpmaker

Those are the only things I really care about. I'm open to any locks (including slipjoints and friction folders), pocket clip/no pocket clip, thumb studs/no thumbstuds, etc.

Here are the knives I've found so far, feel free to comment on my choices and suggest your own:

Lone Wolf Harsey T1 w/ Rosewood scales
Fallkniven U2
Various GECs
EKA Nordic T8
Mcusta MC-1 series (any other Mcustas besides the money clip in my price range?)
Citadel Aizo
A.G. Russell 4" folder
 
Get yourself a Kerhsaw RAM and have Firebert make you some of his awesome custom scales for it
 
Finally somebody that knows what they want! A welcome change from the "Whats the best knife under $500" threads that crop up every other day.

I'll have to give this one some thought, but the above Kershaw Ram + Firebert scales is an excellent suggestion. In fact he makes scales for various Kershaws, he recently posted a very cool pic in another thread…

EDIT:
3818623176_565a6bd699_o.jpg
 
I changed my account name when I switched to Knifemaker. Sorry for the confusion.

Phillip Dobson (Firebert)
 
Firebert's, or Phillip Dobson's, or whatever he is calling himself these days, scales rock! You will not be disappointed!
 
Some wood scales for a Kershaw or two seems like a very good idea, I'll have to get a some made. The Benchmade Mini-Dejavoo was one I had forgotten about, due to some hit and miss reviews, but it is somewhat close to what I'm looking for except for the G10 handles.

Any other suggestions?
 
A small fixed blade that can fit in the pocket easily with its sheath and is under 3 inches of blade...

The RAT Cutlery Izula.

Cost is around $50. Steel is specialy treated 1095. Warrantee is undefeatable -you can melt it into two pieces and they will replace it free of charge. The sheath really rocks. you can carry it in a number of ways, plus the sheath fits into the pocket perfectly with the knife encased.

Check it out:
http://www.fototime.com/0E1420601C070E3/standard.jpg
http://www.ratcutlery.com/izula_sheet_back.pdf

you can wrap the handle with paracord a number of ways.
 
blackfeetmageet said:
A small fixed blade that can fit in the pocket easily with its sheath and is under 3 inches of blade...

The RAT Cutlery Izula.

Cost is around $50. Steel is specialy treated 1095. Warrantee is undefeatable -you can melt it into two pieces and they will replace it free of charge. The sheath really rocks. you can carry it in a number of ways, plus the sheath fits into the pocket perfectly with the knife encased.

Check it out:
http://www.fototime.com/0E1420601C070E3/standard.jpg
http://www.ratcutlery.com/izula_sheet_back.pdf

you can wrap the handle with paracord a number of ways.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd been planning on getting one of those, but it doesn't really fit the aesthetic I'm looking for in this thread.
 
I've recently gotten my first Queen slipjoint (apart from a SAK my first slipjoint period.) and I find that I'm loving it above all my other knives at the moment.

They're not that expensive (especially in the states) you should have a look at them. The current models are in either MOP, Birdseye Maple or Amber Jigged bone.

I got mine in Bone and it's awesome. Feels WAY more solid than I'd expected it to.
 
Queen looks good, and I like the blade steel as well. However, I don't like how their edges come from the factory, and I don't have the tools to do much with D2. However, I had been planning on getting a Queen in D2 and then having Tom Krein work his magic with it, thin it down and sharpen it up for me, and that would put a lot of the models up to the $100 range. However, as I experiment a bit more with slipjoints, I'd have to go with a GEC in 1095 first, as the edges come a bit sharper, and if they aren't as sharp I'll have a better chance of getting it sharp.
 
I've recently got a Fallkniven U2 and I love it. Sharp as all hell and very non-threatening for a work environment.

But it is a plastic handle (zytel). Works fine but doesn't look as classy as some of the other options being discussed.
 
Asura said:
I've recently got a Fallkniven U2 and I love it. Sharp as all hell and very non-threatening for a work environment.

But it is a plastic handle (zytel). Works fine but doesn't look as classy as some of the other options being discussed.
Click to expand...

I have that in my original list, and it's the only knife with a plastic handle I'm really considering at this point due to it's overwhelmingly traditional looks when everything is considered.
 
To me, the closest thing to a decent 'Gent's knife' that I have is the Kershaw #1993-2 'Gentleman's Folder'. Sadly, you'll have to look for available stock as it was dropped again this year (It's in and out of production!). It is made in Seki, Japan - easily determined due to it's use of VG-10 upgrade steel. It includes a decent leather sheath with a cheesy plastic belt hook. The knife is a sort-of drop point with brass liners and pins (Steel pivot.) and nice Micarta scales. They are delivered with steep but evenly ground and centered bevels - but shaving sharp. Sorry for the poor picture.

IMG_3353.jpg


Mine was ~$70 shipped last year, although I have seen them at $120 in a store. Very nicely made knife for either price. Definitely not a prybar.

Stainz
 
Kershaw also has a Shun Higo folding "personal steak knife" that's up around $100 that somewhat fits this style. It's a friction folder instead of a lock back, and I think it also uses micarta scales.
 
Brutus013 said:
Kershaw also has a Shun Higo folding "personal steak knife" that's up around $100 that somewhat fits this style. It's a friction folder instead of a lock back, and I think it also uses micarta scales.
Click to expand...

I just saw one at A. G. Russell's store in Arkansas, and it's a fine instrument with a VG-10 blade @ Rc around 60-62, according to A. G.

It's actually a liner lock, and very sturdy, at that. I like the mosaic pin in the handle.

It comes with a slip sheath, no clip.

Daniel
 
Daniel Dorn said:
I just saw one at A. G. Russell's store in Arkansas, and it's a fine instrument with a VG-10 blade @ Rc around 60-62, according to A. G.

It's actually a liner lock, and very sturdy, at that. I like the mosaic pin in the handle.

It comes with a slip sheath, no clip.

Daniel
Click to expand...

Huh, I didn't know it was a liner lock. I haven't seen it in any videos, and there are sparse pictures online. Good to know.
 
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