Looking for first knife

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rawketman

Joined
May 29, 2013
Messages
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Hello, just joined the forum, and have been learning a lot about knives the past few days from this site and I decided to join.

Anyway, I've received an amazon gift card, and am thinking about purchasing a cheap knife just to carry around. I currently have a Victorinox swiss army knife but am looking for something a little bigger with a heftier blade. (It looks like my knife addiction has begun).

So can anyone recommed a cheap knife around $25-$30 that isn't too 'cheap'? I've also read a little about Opinel's, and might just pick one up in addition.

Here's what I'm kind of looking at so far:

Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter + Opinel no 8
Ka-Bar K2 Agama + Opinel no 8
Wenger Ranger 51
One of the Kershaws in the $20-$25 range

I do a lot of cycling so I would like something to carry with me (size isn't really an issue, though I would like more of an EDC knife.)

Now I know most of you are probably thinking these are complete junk knives, which they probably are, so I'm open to suggestions. I just really don't need a nice knife, I probably won't use it much. I want to start my collection though!

Thanks in advance!
 
Kershaw leek, I have a silver one, all metal, assisted opening and I believe sandvik steel, cost me $40 and very light.
 
I think you'd be on your way with a Ka-Bar Bob Dozier, and Opinel. That's a very proven, and venerable folder with a good traditional flair, and a practical, utilitarian, FRN handled folder, with serviceable blade steel. I don't care how outdated it is, AUS-8 can get scary sharp, and display good edge retention. The Opinel is a slicer of the highest order.
 
Any Kershaw in your price range, Rat-1, Spyderco tenacious, persistence, ambitious. I'm particularly fond of the spyderco's but the kershaw clash was my EDC for about a year until I bought a ZT0350.
 
I go cycling as well and have carried the Kershaw Skyline; a little bit more than
your initial asking price but it's nice and compact.
 
Ok guys, I've narrowed it down. I think I'll just put in a few more dollars if needed:

Ontario Rat I
Buck Vantage Avid (small version)
Kershaw Skyline

Which of these are best? Thoughts? Is the Vantage a good value?

Thanks
 
I'm gonna throw in a vote for the Kershaw Cryo. Every time I handle it I love it a little more
 
rawketman said:
Ok guys, I've narrowed it down. I think I'll just put in a few more dollars if needed:

Ontario Rat I
Buck Vantage Avid (small version)
Kershaw Skyline

Which of these are best? Thoughts? Is the Vantage a good value?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I would go for the RAT-1, as possibly the best value for the dollar. It is well made, tough and easy to maintain the edge.
 
I own the Ka-Bar Dozier and love the thing and carry it every day. Though from the list I probably go with the Kershaw Skyline I hear good things about it and it's on my list of knives to get after the Kershaw Cryo, Mini Dozier, some type of spyderco, Kershaw Blur, than maybe the Kershaw Skyline. Dang I need a good paying job most of these knives are under $30 and it's getting expensive (and will continue to get worse) and these are just the knives leading to the skyline and not after, as I have a Opinel, Higonokami, buck 110 (I feel I must own one to call myself a knife enthusiast), etc. I probably listed close to $300 worth of knives to buy, get out while you still can.
 
rawketman said:
Ok guys, I've narrowed it down. I think I'll just put in a few more dollars if needed:

Ontario Rat I
Buck Vantage Avid (small version)
Kershaw Skyline

Which of these are best? Thoughts? Is the Vantage a good value?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I wouldnt put the buck on the same level as the rat 1 or the skyline and even the skyline falls just a hair behind the rat1 IMO
 
Of the three on your shortlist I would go with the Rat-1, but looking at your original brief I would take the Spyderco Tenacious or more likely my new fave EDC, the Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark 2. I can't keep that thing out of my pocket. Same steel as the Tenacious but the ergos of the much more expensive Delica, except it has a choil so it's even better than the Delica in the hand.

From the top:

Meadowlark 2, Tenacious, Opinel no. 9, Rat-1

budget_babies.jpg
 
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