Looking for something similar to a bench made bugout without the price tag. Need a decent work/beater knife that i won’t miss if I lose or break it. Something I can buy 3 or 4 of to kick around. Must be small, ambidextrous and less than $50. I’m extremely lefty so left hand friendly is an absolute must. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Looking for ambidextrous beater knife
- Thread starter MStew23
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I'm an electrician who is very hard on work knives and after reprofiling my Spyderco one too many I picked up a SOG Terminus for price point "Cheap". I have had great luck with SOG knives in the past and this one has all the bells and whistle's I need plus it has that Bugout feel in the hand with the G10 Scales and the Axis style Lock. It sits very deep in the pocket and stays put with a well designed pocket clip. https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SO...clip-point-blade-od-green-g10-handles-xr-lock
Shorttime
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CJRB Hectare?
Meets most of your requirements, don't know if country of origin is a consideration.
View attachment 2518760
Meets most of your requirements, don't know if country of origin is a consideration.
View attachment 2518760
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Why not look for a used Benchmade? Pure Ambi Heaven!
Fixedwing
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This^^^ SOG has perfected the axis lock.
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Hougue Deka in Magnacut or 20cv. If I ever branch back out and buy another axis lock, it will definitely be that one instead of benchmade. I like the wharncliffe blade shape alot too but they also make it in a drop point
Byrd Meadowlark, Harrier 2, or Cara Cara fit your criteria. Crossbar locks in your price range are largely the province of cheap Chinese clones and thus best avoided. Lockbacks are fully ambidextrous if the clip mounts to both sides, which the Byrds do.
ETA: Kershaw has some China-made "D2" crossbar locks, but the cheapest of those runs roughly $60-ish, but I have no experience of them. There are also China-made Bucks and Gerbers well under your ceiling; I have no experience with Chinese Bucks, but I know that Chinese Gerbers are best avoided.
You should consider button locks as well. They're fairly ambidextrous (again, depending on clip) and can be had in better quality nearer your budget. Sencut, while Chinese, appears to have an enthusiastic fanbase (companies such as Gerber, Cold Steel, and CRAP--excuse me--CRKT tend to cheap out on the Chinese contractors they use).
ETA: Kershaw has some China-made "D2" crossbar locks, but the cheapest of those runs roughly $60-ish, but I have no experience of them. There are also China-made Bucks and Gerbers well under your ceiling; I have no experience with Chinese Bucks, but I know that Chinese Gerbers are best avoided.
You should consider button locks as well. They're fairly ambidextrous (again, depending on clip) and can be had in better quality nearer your budget. Sencut, while Chinese, appears to have an enthusiastic fanbase (companies such as Gerber, Cold Steel, and CRAP--excuse me--CRKT tend to cheap out on the Chinese contractors they use).
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CVamberbonehead
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I would suggest a Buck 110 or 112, or a small fixed blade like a Buck 102.
Stringjam7
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$30. Small, 4-finger comfortable grip with the choil, and great for precise, accurate cutting tasks.
I worked construction for about 7 years, and if I was doing that again, this is what I would carry - it has a lot of characteristics of a utility knife. It has a thick spine so you can comfortably put a lot of pressure on the blade, and really good cutting performance with the hollow-grind. I like a Wharncliffe design for most of the tasks I had (cutting drywall, straps, stripping wire, and lots and lots of general package / container cutting where you don't really want something with a long blade.
I worked construction for about 7 years, and if I was doing that again, this is what I would carry - it has a lot of characteristics of a utility knife. It has a thick spine so you can comfortably put a lot of pressure on the blade, and really good cutting performance with the hollow-grind. I like a Wharncliffe design for most of the tasks I had (cutting drywall, straps, stripping wire, and lots and lots of general package / container cutting where you don't really want something with a long blade.
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For lefties you need to Dremel out the hole a bit$30. Small, 4-finger comfortable grip with the choil, and great for precise, accurate cutting tasks.
I worked construction for about 7 years, and if I was doing that again, this is what I would carry - it has a lot of characteristics of a utility knife. It has a thick spine so you can comfortably put a lot of pressure on the blade, and really good cutting performance with the hollow-grind. I like a Wharncliffe design for most of the tasks I had (cutting drywall, straps, stripping wire, and lots and lots of general package / container cutting where you don't really want something with a long blade.
It is only smooth on one side.
Ended up going with 2 knives because I just couldn’t help myself. SOG Terminus XR and a Kershaw Iridium. SOG is $45 on Amazon but I gladly paid $55 from a small local shop. The Kershaw was $62 at the same shop and more at other online retailers. Both feel good but the action on the Kershaw feels better. Will update when both have had some time to be carried. Thanks for all the recommendations.