Opinion on budget EDC

afishhunter said:
Of your list, get both the Buck 110 and Ontario RAT 1. (This will take about half your budget) Then, get a SAK Recruit or Tinker, and maybe a Rough Rider stockman.
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you are not serious are you? look at what the op already has (but not satisfactory to him)..
 
Billy516 said:
What about a Delica or Endura in ZDP-189? I would think even with your heavy usage, you should be able to get close to a week without touching up.
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As a prior owner of a Delica and Stretch both in ZDP steel, and using them for breaking down lots of cardboard and the like, that steel lasts for a LONG time without needing to be touched up.

But when it does need it, it takes quite a bit of effort to sharpen.
 
I think it's hilarious that you refer to a $100+ USD knife, the PM2, as a "budget EDC". I think most who are new to this hobby would vehemently disagree. At the $180 CAD I paid shipped for mine, I still wouldn't consider it a budget knife. To me, a budget blade is $50 tops, and I think that number will vary depending on who you ask.

The Spyderco Tenacious and Cold Steel Voyager are some budget blades I wouldn't hesitate to recommend for EDC. Now those are some sweet knives for a reasonable price! Then there's Douk Douk, Opinel, Victorinox, Mora...
 
To directly answer the need, as others have already said, if S30V and the like are not "cutting it" for you, you need something in S90V or S110V. You will not do better for the money than one of spyderco's LWs in S110V. Manix or Native. No budget steel will hold an edge even close as long as these two steels, and only one is available in lower cost knives (that I am aware of).
 
How about the Cold Steel Code 4 or the Kershaw Knockout? I think they would bot do nicely for you!
[video=youtube;i3kFBSvfjus]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3kFBSvfjus[/video]

[video=youtube;tCgzdhJWBsU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCgzdhJWBsU[/video]

JDX said:
Budget being less than $100 including shipping and/or tax.

3.5 inches of less

Not ready to buy just yet, just trying to weigh out my options and gather information.

I'm not extremely choosy when it comes to handle material or steel. As long as it's not super cheap feeling. I'd consider Aus 8, but would prefer something with a little better edge retention. Same with FRN in terms of handle material, I'd prefer g-10 or better.

I'm pretty open to everything else, except NO SLIPJOINTS. I need one handed opening.

It will be used for more abrasive edc tasks, such as breaking down cardboard, cutting through various material and fabrics from tough plastics to burlap, to denim. I cut tons of cordage daily, mostly commercial grade rope and cordage (used to tie items to pallets at my job)

I own several knives already and none really last the day for me. And id like to have something that lasts the week and maybe only requires a quick strop or touch up (I use a spyderco sharp maker)

So far my rotation includes:
-Spyderco Paramilitary 2
-Zero Tolerance 0350
-Spyderco Delica 4 FFG
-Buck 110
-Cold Steel Recon 1
-Kershaw Blur S30V
-Ontario Rat 1


Also, it can be folder or fixed but if it's a fixed blade, I'd prefer te sheathe to have the belt clip, I don't use MOLLE, and I'm not a fan of the loop for the belt. I'd prefer the clip. Maybe an izula or candiru?

Open to suggestions, thank you
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I would probably do the Native LW in S110v also, and buy a decent boxcutter with higher quality blades. Save the real abrasive stuff for the box cutter.
 
for <$20 with 8Cr13MoV steel (China's equivalent of AUS-8) and 3.5" blade length you can chose from:

- all the 7xxx and 9xxx series of Sanrenmu's catalogue,
- all the M and L series of Enlan's catalogue
- Real Steel's entire catalogue (more expensive, starts from $30 and uses either 12C27 or 8Cr14Mov steel)
 
JDX said:
Just a clarification: it's not that s30v isn't lasting the week. I mean it still cuts, but sometimes I need my to rely on my blade being near hair shaving sharp for some tasks. Perhaps I'll just carry a back up or even a box cutter for this (cutting through carpet with a dull knife is ridiculous) but for the other tasks it would no problem. Thanks for all the information.
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Pick up a Swedish Mora Robust for $15 shipped on AMZN. It's the perfect work knife and clips to your belt. Save your PM2 as your backup. It'll shave hair and just a light strop to bring it back.
 
+1 for the Manix2 S110v LW, or Native5 S110v LW. Best edge retention you can get around $100. The Manix2 s110v drops below 100 on the Zon quite often and is one of my favorite knives. The ergos and comfort are great for all day long cutting IMO.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
I think it's hilarious that you refer to a $100+ USD knife, the PM2, as a "budget EDC". I think most who are new to this hobby would vehemently disagree. At the $180 CAD I paid shipped for mine, I still wouldn't consider it a budget knife. To me, a budget blade is $50 tops, and I think that number will vary depending on who you ask.

The Spyderco Tenacious and Cold Steel Voyager are some budget blades I wouldn't hesitate to recommend for EDC. Now those are some sweet knives for a reasonable price! Then there's Douk Douk, Opinel, Victorinox, Mora...
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you misread. I said I was looking for a budget edc under $100. Budget is subjective. If you're a millionaire, a budget edc could easily be Emerson and sebenzas.

So for me, and my financial state, under $100 would be budget for me. As for my pm2, that is a knife I own. Not a knife I am currently looking for information on
 
fanucman said:
What your criteria should mainly be focused on is the steel, many of these suggestions are a joke, get s110v something or other, or something similar if you expect better edge holding than your pm2.
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I agree, the OP's question is really more about the steel than the knife. 3V, S90V, S110V, M390, and ZDP189 (all mentioned above) come to mind.
 
I think that budget is not realistic. For another $40 you can get a Gayle Bradley in m4
 
cchu518 said:
I think that budget is not realistic. For another $40 you can get a Gayle Bradley in m4
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The GB2 is a cardboard eating machine (almost as good as the GB1 ;)), and can be had for just under 130. The lack of the 50/50 choil might be a benefit as well, but my vote is still for the Manix2 LW S110v.
 
Given your heavy usage and variety of tasks, maybe you should be thinking about 2 knives instead of one that does it all and lasts a week.

JDX said:
I'm not extremely choosy when it comes to handle material or steel. As long as it's not super cheap feeling. I'd consider Aus 8, but would prefer something with a little better edge retention. Same with FRN in terms of handle material, I'd prefer g-10 or better.

I'm pretty open to everything else, except NO SLIPJOINTS. I need one handed opening.

It will be used for more abrasive edc tasks, such as breaking down cardboard, cutting through various material and fabrics from tough plastics to burlap, to denim. I cut tons of cordage daily, mostly commercial grade rope and cordage (used to tie items to pallets at my job)
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Given those uses - have you thought about serrated knives, such as Spyderco Tenacious (G10 handle), Spyderco Native S35VN, FRN handles; Spyderco Salt I (has a little plain edge) or Saver Salt (both with softer H1)?

C41BK5_L.jpg
 
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