Nice and inexpensive

I picked up a Kershaw Induction when Blade HQ had them on sale for $20 over Black Friday. It was just different and cheap. I honestly didn't expect much from it but it's surprisingly good. Works well in hand and arrived sharper and with a better action than knives a dozen times the price.

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Great thread. As soon as I can get some pics I'll post up some of mine. I've got 3 knife rolls of what most consider "affordable" knives. I think I have 3 that were over $200 and 1 that was over $300. Still waiting to get my first Chris Reeve or Liong Mah or similar.

But a bunch of < $100 knives that I love. Recently got a few Bestech's. Also have some Kershaw's and CRKT's, Boker+, Lionsteel, Spyderco, Buck 110 Auto, yada yada yada.
 
RAT 2 in D2 is tough to beat for under $40. Got one for a back up to my Mini-Grip, but the wife now has it and loves it.
 
dirc said:
Quick warning about the kershaw filter (also the manifold & starter & decoy) - they all use 3cr13 - yes, 0.3% carbon - it's absolute junk which is primarily used in the worst knives these days (like schrade, gerber etc)

Just skip anything with 3cr13 unless you really want to practice sharpening a lot
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I had a Starter. Not sure of the actual specs, but felt like it weighed three pounds in the hand. Solid lead. I quickly gave it away. But almost felt bad for the person I gave it to. :confused:

I'm the king of "inexpensive". :p I've got a lot of knives, but only a few over $200. On the traditional side, the popcorn, just can't stop with one.... or fifty, is Rough Rider. Just keep on popping.
 
I don't really collect. I have a modest accumulation (about 25 pieces) of working tools that fall within my means. None of my knives cost more than $150 and most were well under $50 so I have a few that I think are great knives for the money.
For fixed blades, I think the Skrama and Mini Skrama stand out. They set me back about $70 and $35 respectively. My Kellam Puukko is another terrific knife that came in around $65.
For folders, a Swiss Army Knife is one that everyone should have (even non-knife folks, IMO). Most are well under $100. Opinels are hard to beat at 15 - 25 clams a copy. I also have a Kizer Mini Domin I picked up for around $50 that was surprisingly awesome for the outlay of funds. Finally, the Manly Wasp is one of the best deals out there. Around $70 for S90V or $60 for 14C28N.
 
IMO after some time you start to get use to a level of quality that is satisfying for you

it is less a question of price than a question of the inherent properties of the object

I am more and more in knives in the $300-600 range - I mean I have less knives but some of them cost more , money comes in limited quantity for all of us :)

but if a knife is well done it is well done ./

i like SAKs very much. I have a rambler and a Bantam in my EDC system
I also have an Alox electrician, a climber and a fieldmaster that see some carry
And they can be found <$35

My favoured price range is the $100-200 range, especially in the Spyderco line: para3, paramilitary 2, native 5 frn, GB2, Yojimbo are very good knives I like to carry

I am more sceptical for knives in the 200-300 range... some great stuff but some that are also more about marketing trends and hype that actual quality
But still some gems can be found there

when it comes to >$300 IMO it is a different territory. You pay for the brand but it usually comes with quality
In this range I usually go for CRK , and recently Koenig

but again I see as many good things in a native 5 lightweight than in my small inkosi... just different objects with different purpose, material and quality expectation. You will like more the one you will use more, so depending of you EDC habits it may be either one but 1/3 or x3 the cost...

today carry
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on the less expensive side at the moment I have a Kershaw Emerson CQC-6 or 7 and a spyderco dragonfly wharncliffe on my radar

I am using a cold steel pro lite tanto for construction work in the house but I am not a fan of the steel
 
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Honestly - some of the best and most useful knives I have come in under $35.00. The Vic Cadet/pioneer and anything under $35 from Mora (Bushcrafter, companion HD, companion) are beyond fantastic. The Cadet has kicked the sebenza/$400+ knives out of my pocket and Mora continues to make me grab its models over $200+ fixed blades.
 
So true, for nice & inexpensive you can't go too wrong with a good old SAK. Have plenty of Benchmades, Spydies etc but mostly it's a good old Vic Spartan in my pocket nowadays. Having said that, for nice and inexpensive you also can't go too far wrong with a Rat 1 or Rat 2 in D2 steel too.
 
For a little fixed blade, I have truly been impressed with the Condor Compact Kephart which is done in 1095. It has become one of my edc's and under $50.

Been carrying my Vic Small Tinker and this knife for a couple months now and I don't intend to stop. I am considering getting something about the same size that is fancier, but that is down the road.
 
You can find amazing knives with almost any budget. Mora has a 5 dollar knife that does the job well. Opinel knives are like 14 bucks and are great and look very nice. Ontario rat is legendary in aus 8 for 25ish, or d2 for 40ish. esee has a d2 version in the 40ish. kershaw leek, classic buck folders, saks, etc can all be gotten quite affordably.
 
slyraven said:
Opinel knives are like 14 bucks and are great and look very nice.
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Agreed: great stuff. The minimalists as already mentioned, but also the Pilar (especially the G10/CF etc) are no slouch.

another great option is to buy a decent blade (Helle for example), and make your own handle and sheath.
Severe risk of that becoming your favorite fixed blade/bushcraft in a blink ;)
 
One day I walked in the closet where I keep several drawers full of knives and figured perhaps the hobby had gotten away from me. It's been a few years, but I don't think I've bought anything new. I did get a knife for Christmas, but if you'll read between the lines, "it was the thought that count."
 
I like Buck..The sharpest knife of any kind I have ever owned is a Buck 112 Slim Pro plus in S35VN. I'm a believer in this steel now! I'm waiting for Buck to make a run of 112 auto's in that steel.
 
I probably have most or much of what has been mentioned. What stands out as a decent quick n dirty simple buy ? Rat 1 in D2.
 
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I have been on the Civivi page. I will be buying a few of these as they seem way cheap but appear to be decent build & materials.

Have not seen many reviews yet TBH.

I'm guessing they could be underrated, I will soon find out tho.
 
I think there are a lot of great knives for under 200.00. I think Mora makes phenomenal working knives starting at about 10.00. Kershaw makes some decent pocketknives, I really like there Emerson collaborations. ($25.00) The freefall and OSO sweet have also both been decent. ($35.00ish) The Ontario Rat is a great pocket knife to from what I have heard ($40.00 or so.) Cold steel has some impressive stuff as well, The Broken skull is a 60.00 knife that is about as good as my $150.00 spyderco in my opinion.
 
Another vote for the Kershaw Dividend. Slim, light and plenty of cutting edge. Speedsafe is fine with me and the KAI warranty is great.

Think this one was 35 shipped.

 
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