Looking for a budget unicorn

[dkb45]

Ceramic bearings, steel over AUS-8, flipper, reversible pocket clip, blade around or under 3.5". Max price I'm looking for is $85. Does this unicorn exist?

 

[Otto Carpenter]

Why AUS-8, specifically? Plenty to choose from otherwise.

 

[jill jackson]

He said over AUS8. Which I believe means better.

 

[dkb45]

Why AUS-8, specifically? Plenty to choose from otherwise.

440C and up. I cut a lot of cardboard, so AUS-8 won't stand a chance. I've at least gotten 440C to not be a butter knife by the end of the night.

 

[Otto Carpenter]

Ah, gotcha. How about the Kizer Tangram Progression? Some sorta Japanese steel that's probably superior to Aus8.

 

[dirc]

Tuya Knives - Talisman has ceramic bearings and aus10 steel... and it's under budget. I just don't know if they are any good really.

 

[cchu518]

Real steel Gerfalcon? It uses sandvik which is close to 440c but not quite. Sharpens in two seconds though.

 

[ScooterG]

I saw the title and was like “I got this!”.



The closest I can find is a $100 WE 617...other than the above mentioned Tuya which I know knotting about either. The ceramic bearings is the hard part to find.

 

[gazz98]

These two check most of the boxes. Looks like pocket clips aren't reversible.

Kizer Vanguard Laconico.

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kizer-Vanguard-Laconico-Gemini--34152

Boker Plus Kihon.

https://www.gpknives.com/boker-kihon-g10-burnley-d2-flipper-01bo774-stonewash-blade.html

Will you accept a budget donkey with a plastic horn taped to its head instead?

 

[abbazaba]

+1 on the G10 Gemini. Check out the G10 Intrepid as well.

 

[spyderg]

Steel will cutjack.

 

[Comeuppance]

If they've stayed true to their other models, the newer Stedemon BG01 will have ceramic bearings and a ceramic detent ball, 3.25" 12c27 blade, and a street price of about $55.

 

[TBedeezy]

Ruike p801 minus pocket clip.

 

[dirc]

Ruike p801 minus pocket clip.

I didn't know ruike used ceramic balls on that knife... it's very good in that case, steel is 14c28n which I'm a big fan of for tough stainless

 

[TBedeezy]

I didn't know ruike used ceramic balls on that knife... it's very good in that case, steel is 14c28n which I'm a big fan of for tough stainless

It definitely offers good value IMO.

 

[strategy9]

Kershaw Link in m390 or Stretch your budget to $90 And head over to Houseofblades and grab one of their s35v exclusive Kershaw links (3.25") or dividends (3"), a Kershaw knockout in Sandvik or if you can find one, a Kershaw dash in n690...

Not sure if any use ceramic bearings though ?

 

[dkb45]

The reason of this thread is that everything goes suggested so far doesn't have a lefty clip or isn't bearings, aside from the Tangram knives which I have all of the currently available models that I like. Not ceramic, but I can handle that.

 

[cchu518]

Real Steel Gerfalcon! Reversible clip, flipper for lefties, ceramic bearings, under $85!!!

 

[Dfunk1210]

Boker Plus Caracal. The bearings aren’t ceramic though. Left right tip up reversable clip. D2 steel

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Artisan Cutlery offers some inexpensive models that have reversible clips, ceramic bearing pivots and D2 blades. The Littoral model is around the size you want and under budget.