most inexpensive knife in better steel

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davek14

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May 30, 2009
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Like the title says. What would be the most inexpensive knife you could find in a higher end steel? Let's call higher end a decently heat treated 440C or thereabouts at least, the cheapest way to enter the land of carbides.
 
What would you consider to be inexpensive?
 
The Boker Vintage series (made in China) uses 440C, rc57-59, and cost about $15 at AG Russell. I have no experience with these, so don't consider this a recommendation.
 
fq55 said:
What would you consider to be inexpensive?
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The most inexpensive.

I guess I should have specified a great heat treat more strongly as well. I've seen "440C" which didn't feel so hard to me or hold and edge anywhere near something like Queen D2. Anyone know anything about the Boker steel?

I hope I don't come across like a real schmoe here. I'm just shopping around for future reference and it is a subject I'm probably dumb on.
 
It's probably going to be a Chinese-made knife in S30V, but who knows about the heat treat or if the steel is really S30V.

If you want the assurance of a decent heat treat and decent blade geometry, you'll want to stick with respected makers. The Spyderco Gayle Bradley in M4 is an incredibly well-made knife with excellent blade geometry for slicing and a super steel. I think you could get one used or on sale for somewhere around $100. They're $122 new on Amazon.

If you need tough, the ZT 550 is being discontinued and I've seem them go for a bit over $100. The knife is super solid, and the S35VN steel is a tougher version of S30V. The blade geometry is robust. It will take a beating, both the blade and the frame.
 
The Lite Hunters from Queen are made with D2. Well under $100. Beautiful knives too. I don't know what the hardness is though - should be close to 60rc.
There are also some small Queen D2 folders for $50-ish. Don't get much steel in those though. ;)

Have you seen the AG Russell fixed blade hunting knives like the Bird and Trout? Really nice knives. Available in ATS-34 or D2 for $45.
The smaller Hunter Scalpel is only $20 for AUS10. I think AUS10 is on par with 440C. The old version was available with ATS-34 as a choice, discontinued but sometimes found up for auction.
There used to be a larger model, the Deer Hunter, with similar steel choices. Doesn't seem to be available right now.
 
The Gerber Decree has flaws (side-to-side flex, annoying glass breaker, thin liner lock), but it has a grippy (and easy on your jeans) handle and a sharp, polished edge S30v blade for $60...Made in the USA too!
 
Gerber also has the USA made Edict...same handle as the Decree, with a 154cm Tanto and a lockback for under $50.
 
It's unlikely that the OP is going to know whether a cheap knife has a decent heat treat. So it's almost impossible to meet that requirement. To find the cheapest knife with a good heat treat and a good steel, you'd have to start with a list of steels that have a good heat treat. I've never seen a list like that.

These middle-range steels that people are suggesting are good steels -- and they do have carbides -- but it would be difficult to find a knife these days with a steel absent of carbides. And those steels are not going to give anyone a meaningful experience of what carbides can do for steel performance, especially in the cheapest knife that anyone can find.

The OP has not listed any uses for this steel. Unless we know what the steel is going to be used for, it's pretty difficult to make any recommendation.

If you really want to find out what carbides can do, you have to go to the high-carbide steels, which are going to be powder steels. And if you want a decent heat treat on those powder-steel blades, you'll have to take it on trust. Sure, you can buy a cheap Chinese knife for a few bucks -- or a cheap brand like Gerber. But do you really, really trust that heat treat?

Steels like 440C, 154CM, D2, etc., are good steels, but they are not in the league with the high-carbide steels for edge wear, which is typically what someone wants in a high-carbide steel. Look at where Dozier D2 -- which is likely to have a much, much, much better heat treat and better performance than anything the OP is going to buy -- ranks on Ankerson's list.

Just bite the bullet and buy a decent knife from a well-respected maker in a powder steel. It will cost $100 give or take.
 
What size knife? Fixed or Folder?

KarBar Mini Dozier AUS8 $13

KaBar Becker BK11 1095CV $35

KaBar Becker BK24 D2 $45
 
Twindog said:
It's unlikely that the OP is going to know whether a cheap knife has a decent heat treat. So it's almost impossible to meet that requirement. To find the cheapest knife with a good heat treat and a good steel, you'd have to start with a list of steels that have a good heat treat. I've never seen a list like that.

These middle-range steels that people are suggesting are good steels -- and they do have carbides -- but it would be difficult to find a knife these days with a steel absent of carbides. And those steels are not going to give anyone a meaningful experience of what carbides can do for steel performance, especially in the cheapest knife that anyone can find.

The OP has not listed any uses for this steel. Unless we know what the steel is going to be used for, it's pretty difficult to make any recommendation.

If you really want to find out what carbides can do, you have to go to the high-carbide steels, which are going to be powder steels. And if you want a decent heat treat on those powder-steel blades, you'll have to take it on trust. Sure, you can buy a cheap Chinese knife for a few bucks -- or a cheap brand like Gerber. But do you really, really trust that heat treat?

Steels like 440C, 154CM, D2, etc., are good steels, but they are not in the league with the high-carbide steels for edge wear, which is typically what someone wants in a high-carbide steel. Look at where Dozier D2 -- which is likely to have a much, much, much better heat treat and better performance than anything the OP is going to buy -- ranks on Ankerson's list.

Just bite the bullet and buy a decent knife from a well-respected maker in a powder steel. It will cost $100 give or take.
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Right, well you're sure right about heat treat being hard to quantify. I do have some experience with AUS8, 1095, and the like, and I've already experienced Chinese knives in 440C which I found to be not much, if all better. So it can be 440C and run soft (or not 440C) for ease of manufacture and that can complicate things.

I already have a Queen Country Cousin and like it a lot. What you're calling the mid range is about what I'm shooting for right now unless you know of a great PM steel which is a good deal. I mean I wanna look at stuff like that as well.

Right now I guess I'm looking for something like the Chinese or Gerbers which someone who knows such things has found to be nicely done. Think I'll go see if Buck still has 440C offerings right now.


edited to add after looking: Boy those counterfeit sites are getting more common. Talk about muddying the waters.

Insipid Moniker: How's the ht/quality/hardness on that Lanksy. That's a bit scary looking for my tastes but hey, it's a tool.
 
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davek14 said:
Right, well you're sure right about heat treat being hard to quantify. I do have some experience with AUS8, 1095, and the like, and I've already experienced Chinese knives in 440C which I found to be not much, if all better. So it can be 440C and run soft (or not 440C) for ease of manufacture and that can complicate things.

I already have a Queen Country Cousin and like it a lot. What you're calling the mid range is about what I'm shooting for right now unless you know of a great PM steel which is a good deal. I mean I wanna look at stuff like that as well.

Right now I guess I'm looking for something like the Chinese or Gerbers which someone who knows such things has found to be nicely done. Think I'll go see if Buck still has 440C offerings right now.


edited to add after looking: Boy those counterfeit sites are getting more common. Talk about muddying the waters.

Insipid Moniker: How's the ht/quality/hardness on that Lanksy. That's a bit scary looking for my tastes but hey, it's a tool.
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Honestly? I haven't a clue. I've seen a few people compliment the initial quality, but I haven't put one to any significant use.
 
Spyderco Delica in VG-10?

Should be a safe bet for a nice steel with a reliable HT. Have seen them under $50 shipped with all the sales and discounts recently.
 
Buck Vantage Pro in S30V. That's about $60-70. Spyderco used to be another option with the Native, but their prices have jumped a lot recently.
 
There are a couple Colt branded folders in D2 that go for about $15.

Seriously, though, "inexpensive" and "better steel" are highly subjective.
 
shecky said:
There are a couple Colt branded folders in D2 that go for about $15.

Seriously, though, "inexpensive" and "better steel" are highly subjective.
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Yeah, this was kind of a quick question and not framed as clearly as it should have been but I have gotten a lot from the answers.

I tried to make it a little more clear on the "better steel" part specifying something that produced some carbides. Still pretty vague and 440C was about the worst example to use since that is probably the most misrepresented steel out there.

As to the cost part. Some suggestions were lower than expected and brought the actual composition or the HT of the steel into question. Many suggestions were higher than I expected them to be. I guess he concept of an "Opinel with carbides" with a quality blade in a budget handle for say, $35 doesn't exist.

Got a few great suggestions for $50 or so, thanks for those. I almost grabbed a Delica even though the intent right now is knowledge and ideas for future purchases.

Bob W - thanks for your posts as well. A big thank you to everyone

So, the gamut was $15-$20 for knives which you can maybe not trust and $50 being where you start. That's what I wanted, some basic ideas.

Although I don't think I'll be rushing to buy it, I still would like to hear of anyone's experience with the low end stuff, good or bad. That's an interesting subject on it's own. Also any other good, solid suggestions like the Spyderco and the Buck.

Even something in the middle of great quality (steel) if it exists.
 
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