recommendation on the toughest inexpensive folder out there

[extrastout]

Ontario Rat-1, under 30 bucks and razor sharp out of the box! :thumbup::thumbup:

[video=youtube_share;Nn4zLpd_Cks]http://youtu.be/Nn4zLpd_Cks[/video]

 

[robin11]

cold steel bushman....costs next to nothing and i gave it quite a beating...its almost indestructible....sharpen regularly and it will last forever

 

[cha0s13]

Kershaw Cryo 1 or 2.

 

[eschwebach]

The Cold Steel knives with the Triad lock are pretty much indestructible and affordable. The Recon1 series, the Amer. Lawman, and the Voyager series would all serve you well. If you don't like the tactical look, the Mackinac would work as well. I beat the crap out of my Amer. Lawman and it still locks up like a vault. Ontario Utilitac II is another good option, as is the Rat 1. If you don't mind a slip joint, the Sod Buster is great knife as well as the GEC 71 Bullnose. You have lots of good options!

 

[upnorth]

Original Ka-Bar Mule.

 

[hellvenger]

my choice would be an utilitac ! :thumbup:

i personnaly use a enlan el01 at work

really strong manual flipper

 

[fuzzynuk]

I have to go with what a lot of people are saying..the triad lock on cold steel knives is strong and the folders from Ontario (rat1/2 and utilitac 2) are cheap and strong and can take some abuse

 

[FFK]

Spyderco Endura or Buck 110.

 

[rpn]

Cold Steel American Lawman should be plenty tough enough.

^^^ This...had one for a bit and what a beast! Wasn't the smoothest knife I ever owned and wish they had some other grinds.

I keep getting tempted by the recon 1 and Code 4, but again, wish for a different grind.

 

[brownshoe]

Endura/delica or the cold steel voyager that fits you best.

 

[jimh0220]

The KABAR Mule. Great knife built like a tank. Very reasonably price. I went Toxic Green, because, well, why the hell not?

 

[Goosey]

Cold Steel, very hard to find tougher for cheaper... they are also apparently coming out with updated knives in CTS-BD1 and CTS-XHP next year... CTS-XHP Recon 1 combo-edge tanto is on sale now for $100... strongest for cheapest is probably the Voyager tanto or Vaquero (clip point version has thinner tip).

 

[Chris Larrikin]

Have a look at the Svord Peasant Knife. Svord is a New Zealand company (but we won't hold that against them) and uses L6 steel in their knives. L6 is very tough, takes a great edge and has good edge retention. The Svord Peasant is a friction folder and is about as basic as it gets; it consists of a good sized blade, a couple of screws, a stopping pin and two scales (your choice of plastic, wood or aluminium). It's very robust, easy to take apart to clean and very inexpensive. Well worth the money, especially if you're looking for a knife to handle a bit of hard use.

 

[extrastout]

The Ontario rat 1 has an open design which is easy to clean (landscaping is dirty), also easy to take apart and put back together, just remember which side the larger washer came from. If you don't get the best action when put back together, loosen the handle screws slightly. Solid knife with no blade play in either direction and the blade effortlessly flies out (for under 30 bucks)!!!!!

 

[ZeroTurnDude]

Buck 110, buck 112, buck vantage/vantage force, buck spiltfire and buck marksman "lil higher in price"

ZTD.

 

[Neo]

DOUK DOUK

MERCATOR

 

[fishface5]

Enlan EL-02B has an axis lock if you like such locks

 

[o4tg]

Do not ever rely on a folder that uses pinned construction for hard use. Disregard the Opinel guys unless you want to carry a few on you at a time.

The Buck Vantage uses a soft liner and a super thin internal stop pin. I have no strength respect for any frame/liner lock that uses an internal stop pin.

The Delica is good, but not tough. Mine became a rattle snake when doing chores my other knives didn't even flinch at.

I would recommend the Utilitac II. I don't have any recent pictures, but I assure you it's plenty tough. I would advise the coffin handle model as the liner is much thicker than the palm swell model.

 

[pinnah]

O4TG, have you broken or loosened an Opinel or just speculating from experience based on other pinned knives?

If you've actually busted or loosened one, could you tell us which size and what you were doing?

 

[o4tg]

O4TG, have you broken or loosened an Opinel or just speculating from experience based on other pinned knives?

If you've actually busted or loosened one, could you tell us which size and what you were doing?

Don't remember the model as it was many years back. The pivot became loose doing normal stuff a kid does with a knife. Pikes, notching, shaving walking sticks, etcetera. The knife actually got ruined fishing when the knife sat in water for a bit and the wood swelled to the point the knife wouldn't open all the way. In addition to that, the handle sucked hard when wet, muddy, or if my hands were sweaty. Might as well have been a bar of soap. I also hated that I couldn't open it in the winter wearing gloves. That's one of those things I didn't realize til years later when flippers and thumbstuds exposed how truly terrible nail notch opening is.