Recommendation? Need knife recommendations $800-$1200

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ThisIsMrX

ThisIsMrX

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Hey there fellow knife enthusiasts, I am new to the forum but not so new to the knife world (100+ knife collection) but I have been out of the loop for over 5 years so dont know much about anything recent. I am doing something special for family and need a knife in the range of $800-$1200 ($1,500 if it's an absolute legend) less than $800 ok to if its something special. My own collector biases are tripping me out as to what i should buy so im asking for mass public opinion. I will be giving it to a person who is not a knife collector and could possibly use it for EDC or other uses (probably won't). Microtech, Benchmade, Mass production, low production, semi-custom/production "custom" like Morfione/Borka, underpriced, overpriced, etc. Preferably something I can buy right now, new, that's relatively easy to get. Something unique a plus. Throw anything and everything you got at me, no wrong suggestions. Pics and links a plus (if allowed).

Knife can be/prefer:
Manual or Auto
OTF (single and double action ok)
Folder
Out the side
3"-4.5" blade (flexible on the size)
Modern steel/materials

Do not want a:
Fixed Knife
Overly small (big ok)
Too custom
Pre order or waitlist knives
Used/abused (pre owned in new condition ok)

EDIT Thank you everyone for your suggestions, alot of beautiful knives but remember this has to be relatively easy to acquire

EDIT #2 Didn't mean to say this will be for a "non knife person", they will definitely appreciate it. And this isn't just a simple BDay gift, its for family, very personal and needs to be special.
EDIT #3 I will be buying more than just one knife and would like for each one to be somewhat unique and different than the other knives. (Cant just buy 14 Umnumzaans and call it a day lol)
 
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Grimsmo Rask $800 like new secondary, $1200 or more new. I EDC mine. Here on the forum for sale regularly. Slim and lightweight

Gareth Bull Shamwari, only if he can enjoy front flippers $1500 plus or minus. Here for sale on the forum regularly. Slim and lightweight

Jason Guthrie Scout Drop Point, $1700 new but $1200 or so on the secondary in like new condition.

Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 Unique Graphic, or CGG, $700-$1200 depending on what you get. You can get one with Damascus if you want something really special. Older CRKs would be an amazing gift as well but they can be hard to find.

Any Shirogorov, Keonig, Holt, A2 knives, BPU Hinderer or Special Assembly models, Rockstead are amazing and have one of the most incredible DLC mirror finishes on the market, Oz Roosevelts, Thys Meades Flipper, Custom Marfione Automatic OTF, Kevin Foster, NL Knives, Herman Knives (Incredible)…
 
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SharpBits said:
That budget is well above mine, but if I had that money to spend I would looks at Koenig Arius, Arno Bernard Orca in a special inlay, or for a little less, the Arno Bernard Brothers iMamba with a special inlay. A starting point, at least.
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Koenig Arius with Titanium handles and blue hardware is beautiful! Definitely along the lines of what I'm looking for. iMamba with damascus blade is also amazing.
Thank you for the suggestions, the Koenig definitely caught my eye
 
John Phillips said:
Grimsmo Rask $800 like new secondary, $1200 or more new. I EDC mine. Here on the forum for sale regularly. Slim and lightweight

Gareth Bull Shamwari, only if he can can front flippers $1500 plus or minus. Here for sale on the forum regularly. Slim and lightweight

Jason Guthrie Scout Drop Point, $1700 new but $1200 or so on the secondary in like new condition.

Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 Unique Graphic, or CGG, $700-$1200 depending on what you get. You can get one with Damascus if you want something really special. Older CRKs would be an amazing gift as well but they can be hard to find.

Any Shirogorov, Keonig, Holt, A2 knives, BPU Hinderer or Special Assembly models, Rockstead are amazing and have one of the most incredible DLC mirror finishes on the market, Oz Roosevelts, Thys Meades Flipper, Custom Marfione Automatic OTF, Kevin Foster, NL Knives, Herman Knives (Incredible)…
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That is alot beautiful knives! The grimsmo Rask in purple with a black blade is definitely something unique. Thank you for all the suggestions, it took me a good minute to go through all of them, definitely along my alley of what I'm looking for, thanks again.
I am lucky to say I own a Damasteel Full Dress Slim but something like that only a true collector would appreciate.
 
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ThisIsVickx said:
That is alot beautiful knives! The grimsmo Rask in purple with a black blade is definitely something unique. Thank you for all the suggestions, it took me a good minute to go through all of them, definitely along my alley of what I'm looking for, thanks again.
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That’s a special Rask if you’re referring to the one on their site right now, especially with the purple Dragon Scales and DLC blade. I haven’t seen many with the DLC blade. Very very cool.
 
John Phillips said:
That’s a special Rask if you’re referring to the one on their site right now, especially with the purple Dragon Scales and DLC blade. I haven’t seen many with the DLC blade. Very very cool.
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Yuuuup, that's the one I was talking about. So far, that's one of my top 5 and it's within price range
 
I'd second the Arno Bernard iMamba or Orca recommendation. I believe there's a lot more hand finishing and detail on these than most others, and they're pretty undervalued at the moment. The Arius is great but it's hyped up a lot, you could get one of these in mammoth molar for around the same price:

1000009309.jpg

You could also look at the special edition CKF's, the regular ones even tend to be really well executed.
 
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