recommendation on the toughest inexpensive folder out there

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Furious_Toast

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Jul 28, 2014
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Hi everyone, so going through my collection today I realized that I have a folder for every occasion besides really hard use. So now that I have that thought brewing in my mind, what would be your choice for an extremely hard use knife? And to add to that, feel free to recommend one to me as well. Just a quick background about me, I work as a landscaper and also as a machinist/maintenance guy at a machine shop so my knives see the hardest of hard use. I've broken and damaged plenty of knives in my past and I want to find a folder that can really stand up to abuse. My only criteria is for it to be fairly inexpensive (It would break my heart to use a zt at work) and no bigger then a buck 110. So let's hear your heavy use blades and any recommendations as well!
 
Buck Vantage Pro. It's about $65 but it's S30V.

Cold Steel folders are very strong, but AUS8 may require regular attention if you're using it for a lot of cutting harsh material.
 
Rat-1? It may be bigger than you're looking for, but for the price you could get a bunch and just wail on them
 
Kershaw Cryo, CQC6, Crkt Drifter, Byrd knives, Spyderco Ambitious, Persistence, Tenacious, Ontario Rat, Utilitac, Buck, Cold Steel, Esee Zancudo...
 
Furious_Toast said:
Just a quick background about me, I work as a landscaper and also as a machinist/maintenance guy at a machine shop so my knives see the hardest of hard use. I've broken and damaged plenty of knives in my past and I want to find a folder that can really stand up to abuse. My only criteria is for it to be fairly inexpensive (It would break my heart to use a zt at work) and no bigger then a buck 110. So let's hear your heavy use blades and any recommendations as well!
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Opinel #9 in Carbone (next to a Buck 110). About $15.
image by Pinnah, on Flickr


DO NOT EVER RELY ON THE LOCK RING TO KEEP THE KNIFE OPEN!! This caveat stated, one of the nice things about the Opinel lock is that it tolerates being mucked with dirt and sand. The ring will grind a bit but it will not damage the knife and the knife will still work and lock up tight. Add to this, the convex blade out cuts both flat and hollow ground blades when cutting wood and brush. Lastly, the 1086ish carbon will stand up to very hard use without breaking or chipping. If you like razor sharp all day long, you may want to carry something like a DMT credit card pocket stone. Goes from dull to hair popping in less than 10 strokes (or close). The edge on Inox will last a bit longer and is nearly as tough. It won't chip but it is possible to dent it.

I don't work in the trades. Here's a post from Stitch posted in the Traditional forum a few years about his experience using the Opinel #9 doing HVAC work. You'll note that a) the blade shows significant material loss from being sharpened, as it should. It's meant to be used up and replaced. Not an heirloom. b) Stitch sanded out an easy-open notch in the handle for better one hand open.

Stich2442 said:
I can't speak for a #6, but used a #9 hard everyday for over 6 years in construction and HVAC, used it to cut insulation, cut/score Sheetrock, cement board, scrape mortar off bricks, started holes in 30g & 26g metal in a pinch, cut heavy duty 36" zip ties,used as a scribe, cut cedar shingles, cut flex duct, 1&1/2 closed cell insulation, scrape PVC and copper fittings, light prying to seat duct work, etc. my Opinel #9 has been put to work pretty hard, much harder than I think any other knife I own without fail. I trust my Opinel #9 more than any other knives I own because I know what I have done with it.
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I was on my way to a fishing trip and actually didn't have a knife on me, I had left it on my pool table. So I stopped at a Walmart on my way and picked up one of these for like $7. I've beaten the crap out it for a few years since. I don't carry it, but it's the knife I reach for when I don't want to beat on my usual Benchmade. It's been a pry bar, a screw driver, a can opener. And it sort of holds an ok edge.
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Have you considered a Sodbuster? When I think of a inexpensive beater knife for landscaping that is the first thing that comes to mind followed by the Opinel #8 Garden Knife.
 
Anything from Cold Steel. AUS8 is a great all-round cutlery steel, tough, stain-resistant, and the pinch of vanadium adds to its edge-holding properties.
 
Byrd Cara Cara with G10 handles is what I use. The blade steel is soft enough that you can re-profile it fairly easy if you damage it.
 
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