Looking for a good edc knife for about 50$

Mini recon 1 falls in that range and is one of my knives I actually carry frequently, best bang for the buck though has to be the Tenacious by Spyderco, bit more to carry then the Recon but a great knife overall.
 
How's about a Spyderco Delica 4? :thumbup:

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Or perhaps something a little more heavy-duty like an Ontario RAT-1?

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Good luck, OP! :)
 
Ontario Rat-1: A little big, but still a good knife. Cheap too.

Spyderco Tenacious: Excellent little knife. Can be a little gritty when you first get it though.

CRKT M16: Some models are better than others. I have the M16-01Z; it is a useful knife, but the fit and finish is a little off. Not to mention that the chisel edge on it is a PITA to sharpen. Try to get one of the higher end models if you really want one.

CRKT Shenanigan: I've heard good things about them.
 
I would say if you want something smaller try out the Kershaw Skyline or Leek, but if your looking for something a bit bigger the Spyderco Endura is awesome or the smaller Delca for that matter.
 
For something smaller that really does disappear in pocket: Kershaw Chive or Scallion, Spyderco Dragonfly, SOG Flash I
If you prefer slim, lightweight knives that are fairly unobtrusive in pocket: Kershaw Leek or Skyline, Spyderco Delica, Buck Vantage, CRKT M16
For something a little larger, but still not terribly cumbersome to carry: Kershaw Blur or Shallot, Spyderco Stretch, SOG Flash II or Aegis, CRKT M21
For a somewhat larger, beefier knife: Kershaw JYD II, Spyderco Endura, Ontario RAT-1

My EDC preference are the second category. The Leek, Skyline, and Delica are some of my favorite EDC knives. I don't know of any Benchmades I would recommend in your price range. The Mini-Griptilian is a great knife too, but it's a ways above your target range.

For the Kershaws, you might also consider looking into kershawguy's blem offerings. Usually the "blem" is a minor cosmetic issue (mis-printed text, slight discoloration, etc.), but it does come with a healthy discount. You can also look at some higher-end steels (eg. S30V Blur or CPM-D2 composite blade Leek or JYD) on blems that might otherwise be outside your price range.
 
Some that come to mind are the Kershaw Cryo, Spyderco Endura and Delica, Kershaw Skyline, Tenacious, Rat 1, check out all of the kershaws.
 
Kershaw Skyline. G-10 handles provide a very nice grip. They come in different colors, like black, orange, brown, and if they're still available, red from BladeHQ. The clip doesn't have any "funky" issues with it, and it rides pretty nicely in tip-down as tip-up has a little more hanging out then I'd like. It only weighs 2.3 ounces and has a blade length of 3.125".
 
+1 for Spyderco Delica 4.. I've carried it for about 1.5 years and it's still as amazing as the day I got it. I've had a Kershaw Leek and Zing but wouldn't recommend them to anyone (both had issues with opening and lock-up). I also got the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 for Christmas...it cuts like a much larger knife because of the ergos and handle design, and it really does "disappear" in your pocket (thanks to the 1.2 oz weight). The VG-10 steel Spyderco has great edge retention but also takes little effort or practice to maintain a hair-shaving edge.
 
Even though you didn t mention Buck in your preferred brand list , look at the Vantage Pro. Great stee,l and handle materials for the price. Good ergonomics. if ordering on line, request one with a tight lockup and good blade centering. Then you ll have a great value for the money.
 
If I could have only one, had $50 to spend, and had a decent way to sharpen a recurve (sticks or belt), I'd go with a Blur blem.
If I only had a stone, I'd probably pick up a CRKT Ripple or Ka-Bar Dozier AND a RAT-1. But there's a lot of great stuff out there.
 
Kershaw Skyline is an awesome EDC if you want a Kershaw. :)

Spyderco is my brand of choice lol. Other good EDC's from Spyderco in that range with good steels and fit and finish would be:
Delica
Endura
Dragonfly - You can even get the ZDP-189 version for a few more dollars.
Native - Best bang for your buck in my opinion.

And if you don't mind not having a lock:
Squeak
UKPK
Pingo
 
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