newbie, need advices regarding a 50-70$ durable and nice folding knife !

[SPXTrader]

radu, the business end of a knife is the blade steel. You have selected AUS8, 154CM, and 13C26.

From my personal experience, AUS8 is a decent steel. It will take a good edge. It will not hold that edge as long as the other 2 will. So more touch-ups with a sharpener will be needed.

The top two steels in your list are the 13C26 and the 154CM. Both have excellent edge retention and will take a great edge.

So the question becomes: Is the 154CM worth an additional $ 19 over the 13C26? In my experience, for a knife that will see general EDC use, no, it isn't. Save the $ 19 and use it toward another knife!

Both the BM and the Kershaw are made in the USA. Offering a lifetime warranty, I'd go with the Blur.

 

[carrot]

Whatever you do stay away from the sub-$10 knives unless they're Moras or SAKs or Opinels. They are not well constructed and are potentially dangerous.

Instead, try some of these penny-wise models/product lines at about $20-30:
Spyderco Byrd products
Spyderco Tenacious
Ka-Bar Dozier folders
Boker Subcom
Boker Trance
Kershaw Vapor

Generally speaking I would rather have one $100 folder vs. two $50 folders. It's an incremental improvement but you do get a nicer knife. It is like Fenix vs. Surefire. Nice vs. nicer. But don't overlook favorites like the Spyderco Dragonfly/Delica/Endura, Benchmade Mini-Griptilian/Griptilian, Kershaw Onions (Chive/Scallion/Leek/Shallot) either, as they are all fantastic knives, even for those of us who have an expensive taste in toys.

I carry a Sebenza most days ($300+) but lately I have been carrying a Dragonfly ($30), Delica ($50), or Shallot ($50) for a change of pace. The Delica and Endura are usually my top pick under wet or slippery conditions too, as I find thumbstud knives harder to open when wet and flipper knives hard to hold onto when flipping open, whereas thumbhole knives are easy under any condition. Plus the textured FRN (the polymer handles) is very grippy.

 

[elkins45]

...

I guess I will choose between those 3 :

KERSHAW RED/BLACK BLUR 52$ shipped 13C26 steel
BENCHMADE GRIPTILIAN green 81$ shipped 154CM steel
CRKT M-16 65$ shipped AUS8 steel

Which one would worth better the its price in your opinion ?
The BENCHMADE has the best steel and the CRKT the worst from all 3 ???
Also, I like a lot the straight - sleek - simply - blade shape of CRKT , but is the COLUMBIA making its knives in China ? I would definetely preffer something made in US ...

Of those three I would definitely choose the Benchmade. The Griptilian is a well-designed and well-executed knife that feels great in your hand.

 

[karnavor]

50-70 dollar range, in my opinion, screams Kershaw. You have the Cyclone, Speed Bump, Leek, R.A.M, Blur, E.T., and Shallot.

 

[radu1976]

I have pretty much made my decisions :
THE FIRST will be a KERSHAW BLUR - I have seen a RED/BLACK one in a hunting shop here in Red Deer, AB - and I liked it a lot. Also I have tried at WALMART a KERSHAW STORM and that has a great feeling . I am assuming that the BLUR is not too different. The BLUR was here 100$ + taxes but I can get it from e-bay for 55$ shipped.
I hope the GRIPTILIAN fans won't be too dissapointed.

The other 2 I might buy will be :
CRKT M16 13T probably : http://www.crkt.com/m16titan.html
SPYDERCO NATIVE fully serrated

The M16 13T was here, in Canada almost 150$ with taxes while on e-bay it can be buy for 60-70$ + a modest shipping fee !!!
I have seen it too in the same shop and I really liked it , very nice shape of the blade

So I am looking for 3 quite different knives and 3 different brands too.
But first I would have to see if I will get the first one with no problems from the customs - honestly I don't know the rules from here - so I hope it won't be confiscated or sent back to the seller

I have seen at Canadian Tyre 2 GERBERs LST and STL 30$ and 20$. I liked even those but I would preffer to spend more money for something serious.
I guess a 20$ GERBER is like an ULTRAFIRE/ SPIDERFIRE/ SMARTFIRE flashlight of 20$ ...
Knives are very attractive, I hope I won't fall too deeply in love with them for the sake of my wallet
Many thanks for all your kind suggestions , I did appreciate all the advices and I guess it was finally a matter of personal taste but some technical opinions - regarding the quality of steel - have been more than welcome .

 

[hwpaintballer]

a good 20 - 30 dollar knife would be the spyderco tenacious, for a good 100 dollar knife i would go with the spyderco para-military. Also I would recommend buy from an online knife store and not the manufacturer, its usually cheaper from a store, try knifecenter.com, knifesupply.com, or thebladeshop. :thumbup: good luck and welcome to BF.

 

[kgd]

Hello Radu, and fellow Canuk...

Don't dismiss the little victorinox SAK (Swiss Army Knife). Many of us who hang out at wilderness survival skills lamnent the SAK. A particulary favorite among woodsy folks is the Vic Farmer which will run you about $40 ordering from one of the CDN on-line distributors. If you haven't handled the Alox SAKs before, I assure you that you will be impressed!

Then again, my passion is for semi-custom fixed blade knives for use in the woods. There just isn't anything as convenient as a belt knife IMO. Here is a Breeden kat knife that I recently had custom made - O1 steel, 3.5" blade (3/32" thick) and 4" handle of osage wood. For hiking and outdoors it works excellent!

(btw <$110 shipped with duty taxes)

 

[No_b00st]

I guess I will choose between those 3 :

KERSHAW RED/BLACK BLUR 52$ shipped 13C26 steel
BENCHMADE GRIPTILIAN green 81$ shipped 154CM steel
CRKT M-16 65$ shipped AUS8 steel...

i would skip the M16, that is a pretty bad price for one I think. I would get the red/black blur out of those.

Also check out a Byrd Cara Cara with the G10 or Zytel scales. They are basically Spydercos made in China, still extremely high quality and fit 'n finish but with a more reasonable price. The Cara Cara is roughly the same as the Spyderco Endura but with some advantages and disadvantages.

i agree with other posts as far as EDC - you want something less than 3" blade length, one hand open (check with your state/country regulations about assisted opening - it's neat but if it's illegal you don't realllly want it) but you should really handle a knife before you buy it. That's my belief - because what a bunch of people say online is the greatest knife since sliced bread just might not feel "right" in your hand. I've tried a BM Griptillian and it's just too danged small for my hand.

So really, go to your local knife or gun/knife store (if you have those in Canuckistan!) and handle a few! Pick what you like. You can't go wrong with Benchmade/Spyderco/Kershaw quality, honestly.