My favorite EDC knife was as cheap as they come.

L

leghog

Joined
Aug 10, 2013
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Bought here on BF a couple of months ago for $15 shipped. Quality is still available inexpensively.

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To be fair, buying a quality USA made traditional for $15.00 on the forum may very well be the only way you're going spend that little amount of money; though I have heard some "rumblings" in other circles praising the value, fit, and finish of some traditionals of Chinese origin that can be had new for less than $20.00...I'm not so sure I want to find that out for myself.

Nice find, btw.:thumbup:
 
Alnamvet68 said:
To be fair, buying a quality USA made traditional for $15.00 on the forum may very well be the only way you're going spend that little amount of money;....
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Such deals can also be found on the big online auction site if you wait and watch.
 
leghog said:
Such deals can also be found on the big online auction site if you wait and watch.
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Yes, I know, and I have tried that without success. I've watched knives up for auction have perhaps 1 or 2 bids over a 7 day period, and with 3 to 5 minutes left, I'll bid, an lo and behold, there's that mystery bidder who will upbid me each time, right up to the price that the so called "no reserve" auction reaches the price the seller really wants. Too many schills operating in these online auction sites...just like in real live in person auctions.;)
 
Watch and wait. I strike on extremely few I watch, but there are deals to be had. Only rarely do I spend more than $20 on a knife.
 
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I recently bought this little Rough Rider Peanut for $14 shipped and i have to say it is an impressive little knife, not a Case of course but i think it ideal for a young relative who keeps asking if he is old enough for a proper knife yet ( he will be seven in June )..
 
Meh...when I was a kid I had my share of inexpensive knives. Now that I'm older and able, I have no qualms about spending the money for nicer specimens.

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
Meh...when I was a kid I had my share of inexpensive knives. Now that I'm older and able, I have no qualms about spending the money for nicer specimens.
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Nicer? That craftsman has great steel. It's a great knife. Much better than many that would cost much more. When I was a kid, I'd spend more and get less. Now in my 50s, I've learned better.
 
Yup. Some of us like cover materials other than jigged delrin. And while I don't doubt that your Craftsman is a good knife it is far from the pinnacle of the cutler's craft.

Whatever floats your boat. That's the cool thing about this hobby. There's something for everyone.
 
kamagong said:
Yup. Some of us like cover materials other than jigged delrin. And while I don't doubt that your Craftsman is a good knife it is far from the pinnacle of the cutler's craft.

Whatever floats your boat. That's the cool thing about this hobby. There's something for everyone.
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The pinnacle of the cutler's craft is a one off hand made knife custom made for a specific individual. I have one such knife (and even it is utilitarian and not fancy). More than that I have no desire.

Dollar for dollar you'd be hard pressed to find better quality than these old Schrades.
 
leghog said:
Dollar for dollar you'd be hard pressed to find better quality than these old Schrades.
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You're getting into value now. I never mentioned anything about that. I said nicer.

Glad that Craftsman works for you.
 
kamagong said:
You're getting into value now. I never mentioned anything about that. I said nicer.

Glad that Craftsman works for you.
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For me, nice is a subset of value vs value a subset of nice or value and nice not being interrelated. Regardless I mostly value value. To each his own.
 
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leghog said:
The pinnacle of the cutler's craft is a one off hand made knife custom made for a specific individual. I have one such knife (and even it is utilitarian and not fancy). More than that I have no desire.

Dollar for dollar you'd be hard pressed to find better quality than these old Schrades.
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Well said!:thumbup:
 
I love old Schrades. I used to blow them off when the USA ones were available. Now I look for them.

A few of the ones I've found have flaws, broken tips now fixed, etc. They see a lot of pocket time used "vigorously" at work since I paid around a buck for each of those.

I have good swiss made calipers 'cause that's what I wanted for that. Whatever blows up your skirt.
 
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One need not go back many years prior to this knife to find nice old bone on a Craftsman knife if that is to your liking. And as mentioned, one can find Camillus, Ulster and Schrade among their earlier offerings. Sometimes they retain their maker tang marks, but usually not. It depended largely on the whims of the Sears cutlery buyer.

Want a nice bone large trapper folder by Camillus? Find one of their 1986 100th anniversary knives, #95113. Same 4 3/8" pattern, frame and blades as the Remington Camillus made at that time. And while some go for higher prices to Sears collectors, quite often they sell at very reasonable prices. Often $50 or less.

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