My Best Knives under 30 bucks!

Add another for Ontario Rat 1. Better then many of my 100 dollar folders

I have an Opinal in the mail, should be interesting to try.
 
I started buying knives about a year ago and most purchases were based on what I read on this forum. All my knives are under $30(just an arbitrary amount I set so I could sample a larger number of knives given my funding abilities)

Below is a list of all the knives I purchased, divided into my "favorites" and other "good-just not favorites":

"BEST"-

KaBar Dozier folder
Byrd Meadowlark
Ontario RAT 1
Mora
Buck Paklite
several Vic SAKs
Trramontina machetes-the best bargain-five for less than $30!
Ontario machete
Cold Steel Bushman-say what you will-i like that knife

Good knives just not my "best"-

KaBar Warthog
Buck Smidgen
Condor Rodan
CS Folding Bushman
CS Canadian belt Knife
Rough Rider trapper

I am contemplating buying something a little more expensive but in all honesty, I don't know what I would buy that I don't already have something just as good(in my opinion) to cover that need.
 
Seals said:
More great cheapies.Case large Sodbuster,Sanrenmu (i cant get over how good this one is for < $10 bucks),Rough Rider stockman with a locking main clip,small Victorinox,but many of these are well under $30.
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Where can the Case be had for that price or was that a long time ago? :-)
 
Best knife I've ever bought for $30 or under was my Condor Rodan. O've beaten the tar out of it over the years and it keeps coming back for more!
 
+1 on Mora, Opinel, Sanrenmu and Victorinox.

The Buck Vantage Pro can almost fit the category with BOS S30V and G10.
 
The kershaw skyline is amazing. i picked up one at the hallowed kershaw sale, and it was alright, until i started working with it. now it is rolling with a partially completed mirror finish and smooth G10.
 
These two folders (KaBar Dozier Folding Hunter and Vic Huntsman) are outstanding and each under $30. Ignore the BK11 because it's *just* outside the stipulated range though it certainly rocks (even if my *temporary* wrap job looks weird).

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Beckerhead #42
 
Spydie Tenacious, 34 bucks incl. shipping, popular auction site. Spyderco knows how to get the most out of thier overseas production. Totally impressed. Giving them out as gifts to everyone I know. At that price point I feel good beating the crap out of it, but the fit and finish is so nice, I had a pang of guilt!
Side note, the Tencacious is currently my edc working knife and it just won't quit. Prior to the Tenacious, I used a Gerber AR 3.0 variant with FRN handle and rubber overlay. I'd say, for the same money, the Spydie is miles ahead. Great ergos and traction on the Gerber (discontinued) but I'll NEVER buy another low end Gerber stainless folder because they simply don't hold an edge, and certainly not now that Spyderco is making value priced hard use folders.
 
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Spending over $30 on a knife is something that we do because we want to, there isn't actually a NEED to do so. I've got plenty of good knives that cost less than $30.

My Ontario RAT-1 Satin finish, plain edge locking folder - I paid $26 and I really love this knife, it is a great folder and would be worth paying $60 to have. At $26 it is a true bargain.

I have 5 Mora knives: Bushcraft Triflex ($20), HighQ Allround Stainless ($11), HighQ Allround Carbon ($10), Craftsman Triflex ($12.95), Clipper Stainless ($11.25). These were all well under $30 and are so totally worth what they cost. They are great for the lighter bushcraft tasks & food prep, everything apart from chopping and batoning is easily handled by any one of these Mora knives.

I have 4 Opinel folders: #4, #6, #8 Stainless with walnut handle & #9. These are all really good and I think the dearest one cost $12.95. They are FFG and take a really sharp edge. I've used my #6 to eat steak and it sliced that meat so well - way better than a cheap serrated steak knife!

Several of my Victorinox SAKs were under $30 like my Alox Cadet, Alox Farmer, Ranger & Trekker (locking blade). These are great quality tools and for the genuine Victorinox brand they really don't cost much at all - excellent value!

If you are going into the bush and want a big knife for chopping and/or batoning then that is no problem - for under $20 you can get a really good Condor machete that will handle damned near anything. You can also get Imacasa machetes even cheaper and they are still very good.


There's nothing wrong with paying more than $30 if you really want the knife and are willing to pay for it, but you just need to recognise that for whatever task you can think of there is certain to be a good knife available that costs less than $30 (and in many cases less than $20).
 
Gadgetaholic said:
Spending over $30 on a knife is something that we do because we want to, there isn't actually a NEED to do so. I've got plenty of good knives that cost less than $30.

My Ontario RAT-1 Satin finish, plain edge locking folder - I paid $26 and I really love this knife, it is a great folder and would be worth paying $60 to have. At $26 it is a true bargain.

I have 5 Mora knives: Bushcraft Triflex ($20), HighQ Allround Stainless ($11), HighQ Allround Carbon ($10), Craftsman Triflex ($12.95), Clipper Stainless ($11.25). These were all well under $30 and are so totally worth what they cost. They are great for the lighter bushcraft tasks & food prep, everything apart from chopping and batoning is easily handled by any one of these Mora knives.

I have 4 Opinel folders: #4, #6, #8 Stainless with walnut handle & #9. These are all really good and I think the dearest one cost $12.95. They are FFG and take a really sharp edge. I've used my #6 to eat steak and it sliced that meat so well - way better than a cheap serrated steak knife!

Several of my Victorinox SAKs were under $30 like my Alox Cadet, Alox Farmer, Ranger & Trekker (locking blade). These are great quality tools and for the genuine Victorinox brand they really don't cost much at all - excellent value!

If you are going into the bush and want a big knife for chopping and/or batoning then that is no problem - for under $20 you can get a really good Condor machete that will handle damned near anything. You can also get Imacasa machetes even cheaper and they are still very good.


There's nothing wrong with paying more than $30 if you really want the knife and are willing to pay for it, but you just need to recognise that for whatever task you can think of there is certain to be a good knife available that costs less than $30 (and in many cases less than $20).
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I'm really digging the 30 buck value price limit. It's a fun exercise to find a quality blade that suits the task at hand at that price point. When one succeeds, which thankfully isn't too difficlult, the reward is very satisfying. This is the epitome of value.
Cudos to the originator of this thread. It rocks.
 
Spyderco Tenancious. Also the Ka Bar Dozier folders, Mora Clipper, SAK Alox Soldier & Pioneer, Vintage Old Timer slippies in the carbon 1095.
 
Arakiel said:
I'm really digging the 30 buck value price limit. It's a fun exercise to find a quality blade that suits the task at hand at that price point. When one succeeds, which thankfully isn't too difficlult, the reward is very satisfying. This is the epitome of value.
Cudos to the originator of this thread. It rocks.
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It isn't too difficult to get a good knife for under $30 if you check with the great guys on this forum, but if you just walk into a shop and buy a knife for under $30 you are quite likely to get a cheap knife. A little knowledge of the brands like Mora & Opinel really helps to get great value as well as a realisation of how good Victorinox SAK really are.

Before I read these forums I had no idea of what a RAT-1 was, but thanks to suggestions here I bought one and I am so glad I did. This is a knife that every one here should own - the fit & finish, the quality, the performance; for under $30 you'll have trouble finding better!

Threads like this can provide some great info for someone on a tight budget that wants to get into knives & bushcraft but doesn't want to spend too much. For under $100 you can buy a machete & Mora & Opinel & SAK - then you are well equipped for camping/bushcraft and the SAK can be a great EDC tool too.

+1 on the kudos to the thread originator!
 
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