Really cheap knife ends up being really great

I got my Rat 1 the same day as my ZT0801 and was very pleased with them both. First thing I did was cut up an apple for my kids trying both knives...and I liked that Rat 1 even more! :thumbup:
 
Almost all my knives cost under $25 so yes I have quite a few cheap knives I love. My favorite is my Rough Rider Canoe. My top 3 favorites are the Canoe $10, Wenger Patriot $7, and Kershaw Skyline Damascus $52. The skyline being the 2nd most expensive knife I own (after the Spyderco Mule Team 18)

Canoe is my all around favorite, Patriot is my favorite knife when I want something slim and disappears in the pocket, and the Skyline is my favorite one handed opener.
 
My fake CS Trail Master $20.00 copy that I ordered and had to send back to MTech twice to exchange for one that wasn't complete garbage. 3rd time was the charm. I stripped the black coating off, recurved it, lengthened the choil and reshaped the blade.

I then sharpened it with a file and it took on a scary, razor edge, one of the easiest to sharpen and sharpest blades I own. I figured it couldn't stand up to the real thing long though and took it behind the cabin and started chopping through a cedar brake. I expected the razor edge to come off in chunks or roll back on itself but by the time I cut through some major limbs, some dead it was still shaving sharp. I've been in love ever since. I'm getting ready to have a Randal C model leather sheath made for it as this is serous shtf blade.
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I feel like a lot of you guys are cheating in this thread when giving examples
of cheap knives you mention knives that cost $25, $35 or more dollars.
I'm telling you I have found some knives from China whose "delivered" cost
is less than $12.99 ! You will be blown away with the Enlan F710 or the
Enlan Bee L-05. I admit that nicer knives exist but I am afraid to subject any of
them to abuse or generally carry them in situations that I may lose them etc.
I can only comfortably "use" a knife that I wont worry if I lose or break it because
it is so cheap.
Especially my tool box knives. I have resorted to buying steak knives at goodwill
stores and pawn shops for 50 cents or less and sharpening them with files and
beating the crap out of them without worry.
Here is an EBAY overview of some recent chinese super bargain knives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uh14QOqVx0
 
bdmicarta said:
In general the more expensive knife will be better in one or more ways. In general the less expensive knife can certainly have more bang for the buck. A Paramilitary2 is not 3 times as good as a Tenacious. A CRK is not 3 times as good as a Paramilitary 2. So the Tenacious is more bang for the buck even though probably no single aspect of it is better than the more expensive knives.
Click to expand...

That's an excellent way to look at it
 
I just unpacked a Ganzo G716 that I bought from a fellow BFCer, and if not for a couple of very minor fit-and-finish flaws, it would easily be a "five star" knife, at least based on my initial impression. Its blade is 440C rather than a premium steel, but it otherwise compares favorably with more expensive Boker Plus, CRKT and SOG knives that I own, among others. In fact, it pains me a little to say that in every aspect of functionality that means anything, it rivals my Benchmades. That's not to say that the Benchmades are lacking - the Ganzo is just extremely well made for a Chinese knife that was under $20: effortless (unassisted) opening, smooth unlocking, centered blade and excellent ergonomics. Whether it holds up remains to be seen, but that could be said of any knife.
 
A few years ago, prior to my knife enlightenment, I bought a gerber at walmart. Useless POS of a knife except...to learn how to sharpen! What I learned was that I don't do well with freehand sharpening on a stone. That led to my recent epiphany...BUY A SHARPMAKER!

So I did, and started buying quality knives. Regardless of the price, I buy quality, value is not dependent on price, it is quality for the money.
 
KaBar Dozier design folder exceeded expectations. Near perfect "bang for the buck" except for a too smooth thumbstud. Three minutes with a needle file solves that.
 
I don't have any really expensive knives to compare my inexpensive knives to. I carry a Victorinox Alox Cadet that cost me less than $25. It hasn't failed me yet for the modest needs I have for a pocket knife.
 
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