Lightweight Inexpensive US made knife ?

Pointshoot777

Pointshoot777

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Hello everyone - - I've been searching but haven't had any luck, so thought I'd post here for your suggestions. I'm looking for a knife with the following specs - - lockback, blade about 2 3/4" or so, handle that allows a full 4 finger hold (for me that seems to be a handle of at least 3 3/4" - a little shorter if there is a finger choil on the blade), lightweight 1.5 oz or less, price of around $ 20 or less, good quality/value at that price point, and (here's the tough one) - in current production in the USA.
I'm looking to replace a Buck that I got a few years ago & which I use for little common tasks. (Nice to use because I don't worry too much about what happens to it.) I've gone through the specs on a ton of knives, but all of them in this general price range have been made in China. Thanks in advance if any of you are able to point me in the right direction. - - Best regards, - -
 
You might look at the Gerber Ez-Out line...US made, lightweight, an close to the price you quoted.
 
I was going to recommend the Spyderco Native until I read your budget. If you can stretch a little to $40, it would meet your other criteria.
 
Pretty slim pickin's in those parameters. Along with the possible Gerber, there may be a Bear & Son in that range. But I really haven't been impressed with their wares.

Just a few dollars more, however, will get you a Buck 110 at Walmart. $26 something last time I saw them, about a month ago. And beyond your weight limit, too. Expanding to framelock/linerlocks will get you a few more choices.
 
Lurker said:
I was going to recommend the Spyderco Native until I read your budget. If you can stretch a little to $40, it would meet your other criteria.
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+1. The Spyderco Native is worth the exta couple of bucks. I think the EZ Out is an OK knife ( I own one of the first production runs), but the Native is much, much nier. In fact the Native is comparable to knives costing twice as much.
 
I was going to recommend a Benchmade 530 at under $60 until I read your lock preference and budget.
 
I picked up a KaBar Dozier for $20.00 recently. Heck of a knife for $20.00, and light as a feather. made in Taiwan, though, now I think about it.
 
Thanks guys for your suggestions.
I have a Spyderco Native - - IMO a fantastic bargain in a S30V blade knife at $ 40 from Walmart. :) Gonna definitely get me a couple more for myself and to give as gifts.
I was curious because I've got a few Buck Lite lockback knives. (Picked them up at the factory in Idaho a few years ago.) They're discontinued. Nothing special - but a good solid little knife that was cheap. Weighs in at 1.2 oz so you don't even notice it in your pocket. This isn't something to use as your primary blade. I just use it for lots of everyday light duty tasks; helps me keep my main blade sharp for when I really need it. - - When I checked Bucks website all I came up with on the low end of the price scale were imports at about the same price as the domestic knives were selling for just a few years ago. (I could have missed some models though.)
shecky - - I'll have to check out that Case, and see if there might be others they make along those lines.
Thank you everyone, - -
 
Not the answer you are looking for, but....

Get a Byrd Meadowlark.
Solid, sharp, four finger grip, owned by an American company, $15 at knifetrek.com
IMO best knife in its class.
 
Pointshoot777 said:
Thanks guys for your suggestions.
I have a Spyderco Native - - IMO a fantastic bargain in a S30V blade knife at $ 40 from Walmart. :) Gonna definitely get me a couple more for myself and to give as gifts.
I was curious because I've got a few Buck Lite lockback knives. (Picked them up at the factory in Idaho a few years ago.) They're discontinued. Nothing special - but a good solid little knife that was cheap. Weighs in at 1.2 oz so you don't even notice it in your pocket. This isn't something to use as your primary blade. I just use it for lots of everyday light duty tasks; helps me keep my main blade sharp for when I really need it. - - When I checked Bucks website all I came up with on the low end of the price scale were imports at about the same price as the domestic knives were selling for just a few years ago. (I could have missed some models though.)
shecky - - I'll have to check out that Case, and see if there might be others they make along those lines.
Thank you everyone, - -
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An interesting question. I also lament the loss of the Bucklite and of most decent US made knives in the $20 range. The closest I found was the Buck Gent knife. It's online price is $20 and it is US-made, but it only has a 2" blade.

It never ceases to amaze me that there are quality Japanese made knives that sell for less than the equivalent quality US knives. Japan is no longer a land of cheap labor. Darn it! We ought to be able to match the quality and price of a Japanese knife.
 
A couple Bear & Son offerings, BC105 and BC705. Unfortunately, the couple Bear & Son knives I've handled kinda resembled more Pakistani gas station knives than something presumed to be "American quality". Not completely bad, but crudely designed and sloppily manufactured.

I think the plain Buck Protege is still US made and in production.
 
knarfeng said:
An interesting question. I also lament the loss of the Bucklite and of most decent US made knives in the $20 range.
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Exactly ! I find it curious that they could hit that price point with the Bucklite a couple or three years ago (I don't recall exactly when I bought them) and make 'em in the US, but now they sell an import at the same price ? Guess they make a bigger spread by contracting out the manufacturing on the low priced stuff to China. - - No thanks, I'm not buying. - - -
But I'll have to check out that Buck Protege.

P.S. - - to the corporate types shipping manufacturing overseas - you Can compete on price and still produce high quality. Ever hear of a little Swiss company called Victorinox making Swiss Army Knives ?
 
The old BuckLites pop up on EBAY from time to time :thumbup:
I got a couple different 442's in great last month for about 10-16 bucks....
 
Victorinox is both smart, and moves LOTS of knives. I mean LOTS. I don't think they even consider production runs unless they can be counted in the hundreds of thousands. And of course, they reuse all their designs.

Buck's most comparable knife is the 110. Sheer volume and product maturity allows them to be very competitively priced. If every Buck used the same handle, liners, lock, etc, they'd be just as inexpensive as Swiss Army knives.
 
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