Newbie looking for recommendations on a very low cost 3" folder.

S

ShirraWhitefur

Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
8
Greetings all!

I stumbled on this forum shortly after I broke another knife. That makes a total of six in the past year. We've got one that the tip snapped off, two with warped/bent blades, two plastic handles that snapped apart, and one metal handled one where the securing bolts have shorn through, and it unfolded like a kinda pretty, pointy flower as it came out of my pocket, heh.

Why so many horrible knives? Because I haven't bought a knife in years, not since my $100 spyderco was stolen from me. Aaand I'll admit, aside from that knife, I always bought 'neat looking' junk knives. The ones I've gone through in the past several years are all gifts from people with even less understanding of knives than I have.. and I'll admit, my understanding is pretty darn poor on the whole.

So I said enough is enough, and got shuffled off to looking at the only knife selling spot I could remember the name of after so many years.. BudK. After browsing for a bit and going, "Most of this stuff is.. kinda dubious quality look'n.", I went hunting for reviews, and wound up here, and seeing the warnings to avoid the place. Not for bad service, but for bad descriptions and selling awful quality in the low end cost knives.

So, as a place of people far more experienced than I.. I'm hoping folks can help me find a -decent- knife, at a low price. I express again, decent.. not good, not great, not awesome. I've only got $20-25 that I can afford to spend, and I know not to expect miracles.

On to what I'm after.. Bear with my lack of 'lingo' and bad tendency to ramble, please. I'm looking for a folding knife with a three inch blade (as while Michigan doesn't disallow knives bigger than 3 inches specifically, it's against the law to carry one if you plan to hurt someone. It's a legal hole just waiting for bad luck, I think, and I abide the whole 'don't go looking for trouble'. That said, I'm not going to worry much about going a bit over.). I very heavily favor thumbroller's for opening, instead of a hole to try to catch, or an extended notch. It just 'feels right' for my hand. I would prefer something with a blade shape that's under the heading of 'The village idiot could sharpen this', -except- I won't carry a knife without a serrated section. And I need a belt clip, as I don't do a sheath/holster setup (at least, at the moment), nor do I have any urge to fish it out of the depths of a pocket. The latter is also real uncomfortable while I'm doing my daily bicycling sets. (You really notice whatever is in your pockets after the
To my, my knife is a tool, and I treat it as one to use for many things. It's my box cutter, what I use to cut rope, to cut apart old mountain bike tires, and to strip bark and whittle on branches for walking sticks. When cleaned in between, it's even used occasionally on food products, and I'll even admit to being a bad bad person and using it to pick and pry lil' bits out of my bike chain before. (Amazingly, that's now what bent any of the junk knives. Those bent on heavy cardboard!) Part of it being a tool first and foremost is why I have been considering if I want to look more at ones with a glass breaker on them.

The only concession I make to non-tool use is that I don't want a SAK setup, I want a blade, and one I can access real fast. (Hence thumbrollers, and the fact that I spent my time on BudK specifically eyeballing the 'assisted opening' knives.)

As it is, I've glanced at a few bits, having heard Kershaw and Boker bandied about as good brands through and through, as well as my military friend swearing by his CRKT's and Gerbers, and have a few 'at a glance' ideas.

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/Kershaw/Kershaw®+Vapor+III-+Serrated/KS1655ST.html
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...Magnum®+Fire+Chief+Rescue+Folder/BKLL313.html
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...#153;+Framelock+with+Black+Finish/BU3595.html
http://www.gerberknivesdirect.com/evo_22-01493.html
http://www.gerberknivesdirect.com/evo_30-000202

CRKT's I've seen with what I want, unfortunately, are in the $45-50 range, and thusly very much outside of my reach.
I realize that I probably won't have an easy time of sharpening the Boker 'rescue' there .. especially considering that I've never done -any- sharpening myself. I handed things off to relatives who enjoyed doing it, but that's not much of an option anymore (distance). However, the Kershaw does not look comfortable to hold. I'm not sure how I feel about the Buck, aside from always having been dubious of the 'framework' handles, at least on cheap stuff. The Evo's from Gerber are probably my best bet of what I've personally tracked down so far, unless there's a good reason not to, or unless someone can recommend decidedly better. I favor the second, the tanto blade-shaped knife, it just 'looks better'.. even if the blade is a smidge over the 3" set.

So.. yeah. I'm hoping folks can help me figure out a passable 'workhorse' of a knife in the $15-25 range. I don't care too much where I'm buying from at this point, just being able to afford it and knowing (if I don't abuse it stupidly) that I'll not need another knife this year. I'll likely be checking local hunting shops to see if I can find anything recommended without needing to shell out on shipping.

Thanks for the time, folks!

- Shirra
 
Shirra, please send me an email at: theoneandonlyepb AT gmail.com, I've got an offer for ya.

Czech
 
There are plenty of good knives in your price range that will make you wonder why you've been carrying the junk you have for so long.

As for the partially serrated blades - maybe you'll reconsider? No serrations makes the blade much easier to sharpen. It also gives you more of a working usable edge. When a knife is half serrated you really don't have enough of the plain or serrated edge to actually be useful. Especially on such a small blade.
A plain edge can also handle anything a serrated edge can.

So that's what I would go with. It just seems it may fit your needs the best.

Here's a few knives I can think of:
Of you can do thumb holes - does not have a notch for quick opening, you just open it with your thumb, like you would with a stud:
Spyderco Ambitious - Great little knife that is extremely well built - This would probably be my choice of what I'm suggesting. They are just really good for the money.
Spyderco Persistence - Same as Ambitious just a little bigger.
Byrd Meadowlark 2 - Made by Spyderco, small, lightweight, and is great for anything. You can get it in FRN, Stainless Steel, Or G-10.

Kershaw Cryo - Small yet thick knife. Is assisted but this can be taken out if so desired. Good for regular EDC used.
Kershaw Stainless Steel Zing - Small frame lock. Assisted.
Kershaw Nerve - Just over a three inch blade. Nice think textured G-10 scales. Thumb disk. Good little knife.

There are more I can't think of off the top of my head.
 
BladeChick777 said:
As for the partially serrated blades - maybe you'll reconsider? No serrations makes the blade much easier to sharpen. It also gives you more of a working usable edge. When a knife is half serrated you really don't have enough of the plain or serrated edge to actually be useful. Especially on such a small blade.
A plain edge can also handle anything a serrated edge can.
Click to expand...
Well, consider that I've used junk knives.. the serration tended to hang around after the rest of the knife was dull, and help me rip-saw rope and rubber when needed. Still, it's worth thinking on, as I've seen what our better kitchen knives can do after my aunt gets done sharpening them. (Heck, I've seen the 'to the bone' wounds she's pulled from slipping with one. Eeek.)
I'll give it consideration, but I will still favor one with a small serration section over one without.

BladeChick777 said:
Of you can do thumb holes - does not have a notch for quick opening, you just open it with your thumb, like you would with a stud:
Click to expand...
I've experimented with them, and the ones with just extending from the blade base, and they just don't 'feel right'. I'm usually fumbling them around and just not getting the knife open smoothly. I'm a firm believer in, 'try different types.. and stick with what works for you'. ;)

Looked at the Spyderco's.. and yeah, I just don't work well with that opening method. Now, the Cryo and Zing, those both look nice indeed.
 
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If you don't care for Spyderco's round opening hole (and why not? You used to own a pricey one -- can't be all bad!), you're definitely gonna be fumbling trying to close an assisted opener like the Cryo. There is a strong spring that must be overcome when closing the knife one-handed. Most knife enthusiasts are used to it and don't give it a second thought, but it's not for everyone, especially if you want a fast opening and closing knife.

My suggestion would be the Kabar Dozier folding hunter. Can be had for $20, and can be purchased in a number of colors with your choice of opening hole or thumb studs. 3 inches in length, too. Its not partially serrated, but that's a small sacrifice for a great blade steel that's easy to sharpen.
 
If you're worried about it breaking get a Svord Peasant. Doesn't have the serrations, but it's cheap, easy to sharpen, holds a decent edge and will prove difficult to break.
 
Another possibility, if you can scrape together $5 more you can get a Boker Plus Trance. It's a really nicely designed little framelock and Boker's Plus division is far more consistent and reliable than their Magnum line. Check it out.
 
In this case, I'm going to suggest Gerber.

Yeah, I know.

We're snobs here, and Gerber has a reputation for underwhelming knives. But there are people who go their whole lives using a Gerber knife, and swear by them. They're better than gas station knives, both in terms of build quality and steel quality, and for someone who has firmly stated that twenty five dollars is the top of the price range, Gerber is probably the best option.

They also sell a lot of combination edge patterns, so that's a match.

I can understand not wanting to spend a lot if you are pretty sure you're going to end up wrecking a knife.

Look for something called the Gerber Torch I. In your price range, partially serrated, and with a well designed handle.

I'm also the unofficial, unpaid, CRKT advocate, so I'm going to suggest two older designs.

The Crawford/Kasper folder:

CR-6783K.jpg



And the Hammond Cruiser:

31ELXlrEh7L.jpg


These are older patterns, so they're available at deep discounts.
 
I will second the Ka-Bar Dozier, great little knives at great little prices. Also look at a Buck Bantam (there are three different sizes, so pay attention to the one you are looking for), Buck Bucklite Max, Kershaw Vapor, and any other of Kershaws knives in that price range. All of them are better quality than anything made by Gerber, the only Gerber product I would purchase are a couple of the fixed blades.

Boker has some nice offerings in that price range as well.
 
My first thought, given that you want a low-cost but sturdy folder was the Kershaw Cryo. It's a tank, and a killer deal if you don't mind the weight or the annoying assisted open mechanism and accompanying difficult closing and trademarked Speedsafe rattling noise. That said, you go on to say that serrations are a must, so the Cryo is out.

How about a CRKT Drifter? That comes in a combo blade, just under 3", can be found in your price range, and is a great little knife for the money.

Alternately, if you're looking for a deal and were willing to go a bit larger, you can easily source a Bee/Enlan EL01 that would meet your requirements, assuming you're willing to wait an extra week or two for your order to arrive from China.
 
Check out the Kershaw Chill. Available in PE and half-serrated. Flipper. Decent build quality and fit and finish. Great little knife.
 
Kershaw skylines are only 35 or 40 dollars they come in just over 3" and are absolutely amazing.
 
I saw a Youtube video recently that was named "don't buy junk." I thought it was good advice, because we all have bought a low end knives, and the outcomes are typically the same. The allure is cool to have a couple new knives, and with nothing else, you are stuck with those knives forever because you can't sell them. They will break, bend, chip and don't even mention to ware eye protection lol.

My advice is to add another 7 or $8 dollars and get a Spyderco Persistence, Then you will have a better experience even though it was like $10 more, but at $25 adding $10 is a huge percent in quality. Here's a picture.

sp_C136GP.jpg
 
Just saw the orange skyline at one of the largest outdoor retailers website for $29! I am going to pick one up myself, gifted my only skyline to a buddy last week. I am converting my buddies one at a time to knife edc peeps. (My neighbor religiously carries a delica FCG that I gave himafter never carrying a knife).
 
As mentioned earlier in this thread, Kershawguy.com has some great deals on 'blems' which may have a minor cosmetic defect but are otherwise functional. I have bought two knives from him (Chive and Skyline) and both are perfectly good knives. I can't even spot the blemish on the Skyline.

He also sells new non-blemished knives, some at a pretty good discount. Check out the link on his main page for "Low priced imported items" for some good prices.

Lots of stuff within your price range at his web site, and several of the combo-type blades that you like.
 
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