Solid $20 knife?

[ConBon]

a SAK is something that will be more useful than other knives, and compliment every other knife you buy. I consider a good SAK like the Farmer or Camper (my favs) to be the best to start out with. I still carry mine everyday.

Connor

 

[akhyar]

Anything to say about the Ganzo G732? Looks like a Spyderco rip off. I like Spydercos but they're a bit too pricey for me at the moment

A lot of Ganzo's designs are actually rip-off from other well known knife makers, but Ganzo's knives are quite decently built and most models can be had for less than 20 bucks including slow shipping from mainland China.
If you are not limiting yourself to Ganzo, you can also check out SanRenMu and Enlan, both brands are also from China.
I have few models from Ganzo and SRM, with each cost less than 15 bucks with shipping, and I'm quite please with them.
Of course they don't hold a candle over my more expensive ZTs, but for their prices, hard to fault them if you can get over the blatant rip-off of their designs

 

[Hawgsnawt]

Ontario Rat 1.... how has this not been suggested yet?... perhaps the closest you can get to perfect EDC under 50.00.....and if you look around they can be had delivered for about 24/26 bucks....

 

[abbazaba]

Pay attention to the steel at that price. 8cr13mov from Sanrenmu is not as good as from 8cr13mov Kershaw IMO. Aus-8 is usually better, and Sandvik 14C28N is probably the best you could hope for at that price. Some people like 420HC, but 440C is always a good bet. The Sanrenmu 710 is a well made knife, but it needs a sharpening after every use. CRKT Drifter G10 is a great knife if you want something small and light.

If youre considering the Ganzo G732, PLEASE save up another $15 and get a Tenacious or Resilience. Not only are they an incredible knife for the money, you will be supporting Spyderco rather than the knock-off industry.

 

[Etna]

It's like 420J2, commonly used for blunt dive knives and the un-sharpenable Chicago Cutlery butcher knife that I have only kept for cutting pizza.

420HC, 440A, 440B, Aus-6, Aus-8 and 8Cr13Mov are all reasonable steel choices for knives that you actually expect to keep sharp. 7Cr17Mov is most similar to 440A, but it doesn't seem like it gets a lot of use for finer bladed folders, even though it should be fine, but at the lower end of the scale like 440A.

Taylor uses 7cr17 heavilly in their S&W lineup; the better 8cr13mov and 9cr18mov steels are seemingly reserved for the schrade brand.

If i just want to get a cheap chinese unbranded knife (≤$12) to throw in the toolbox for the occasional box, tape, rope or ziptie cutting, will 3cr13 cut it for such needs? I don't mind sharpening it weekly if required.

 

[Hackenslash]

Yeah, I can't really recommend any Ganzo or SRM because of their participation in the knock-off and counterfeit industry. There are so many other brands that actually support the knife industry.

You didn't really offer any guidelines for what you were looking for, but here are some knives that will work in your price range...

Enlan has both the EL and EM models, depending on the size you want to carry.
The CRKT Drifter comes in Stainless or Nylon handles. It's a nice little knife.
The Ka-Bar Dozier is solid and lightweight. It also can be found in lots of scale colors.
Ontario offers the RAT Model 1 or Model 2, again depending on the size you want to carry. This might be one of the better knives made in the $20 range.
The Byrd knives are all great options. I've never seen any proof that SanRenMu manufactures them for Spyderco. I tend to believe that's an internet myth that gets spread on the interweb...like here.
If you're wanting a traditional slip joint folder, it's hard to beat the quality and variety from Rough Rider.
Again, in a traditional sense check out Opinel, Douk Douk, Svord Peasant or the Mercator Black Cat.
The Buck Bantam or Bucklite series are options, although I've found the cheaper Bucks to be really hit or miss on construction quality.
The brand with probably the most quality options in your price range is Kershaw. Take a look at the Shuffle, Crown, Thistle, Injection, Drone, OSO Sweet, Volt2, Clash, Thermite, Emerson collabs...there are really so many options it's hard to not find a style that will appeal to you.

The point is this. There are many, better choices than those offered by companies that ultimately hurt the knife industry by cloning and copying. If you can, you should try to do business with one of those mentioned above.

What else would you expect from a knife enthusiast forum .

 

[BusyBiryl]

CRK D2 clone? Couldn't resist!
I have a $13 Bucklite Max I use about everyday, just the beater knife but I keep it razor sharp at 20°. Not a bad option if you want American made and cheap

 

[Desertrobot]

I guess I'll see if I can gather up an some extra money for a real Spyderco Tenacious or something like that. Sucks that these things are so pricey but I don't want to support thieves that rob other company's designs.

 

[ThePeacent]

Really complete and great list. I'd add (many can be found for $20-30 or less) some other non chinese branded folders that offer great value, IMO:

Ontario Utilitac II
CS AUS8 offerings that are on sale due to steel change, the Tuff-Lite folder
Kershaw Chill, Freefall, Amplitude
CRKT Squid, Shenanigan, Lake and Crawford Kasper
SOG Fielder and SOGZilla
I love my Byrd Cara Cara 2, amazed by the value on this foldr. I suppose most of the Byrd Line is equally amazing from what I've read.

No real need to go Chinese SRM, Enlan and so if you don't want,
If going chinese, I'd say the best are Ganzo and SRM, Enlan and HARNDS, and Omuda.

 

[onojoe]

Ontario Rat 1.... how has this not been suggested yet?... perhaps the closest you can get to perfect EDC under 50.00.....and if you look around they can be had delivered for about 24/26 bucks....

I was going to say the same thing, except Rat 2, one of the best values in knives I have found

 

[DocT]

If I were buying an EDC knife for $20 I would look at a Byrd (Spyderco) Meadowlark with a 3" blade for about $19,

a Byrd Robin with 2.5" blade for about $18,

or a Victorinox of some kind. You can get a very good pocket knife for between $15 and $19 from Victorinox.

 

[ebidis]

Sanrenmu is nice but they outright steal other peoples deaigns which is NOT okay.

A lot of Ganzo's designs are actually rip-off from other well known knife makers...

Yeah, I can't really recommend any Ganzo or SRM because of their participation in the knock-off and counterfeit industry. There are so many other brands that actually support the knife industry.

...

The brand with probably the most quality options in your price range is Kershaw. Take a look at the Shuffle, Crown, Thistle, Injection, Drone, OSO Sweet, Volt2, Clash, Thermite, Emerson collabs...there are really so many options it's hard to not find a style that will appeal to you.

The point is this. There are many, better choices than those offered by companies that ultimately hurt the knife industry by cloning and copying. If you can, you should try to do business with one of those mentioned above.

What else would you expect from a knife enthusiast forum .

All of the above. SRM does not have permission from Benchmade to use their patented Axis lock design.

 

[ebidis]

I guess I'll see if I can gather up an some extra money for a real Spyderco Tenacious or something like that. Sucks that these things are so pricey but I don't want to support thieves that rob other company's designs.

I would suggest that you check out The Knife Exchange here on these forums. You may be able to find someone selling a Tenacious or other good knife used for around $20.

 

[Hackenslash]

I would suggest that you check out The Knife Exchange here on these forums. You may be able to find someone selling a Tenacious or other good knife used for around $20.

Yup, I've had a great experience with the BF exchange. Even better, look at all the suggestions from this thread, even if they break your budget a little, and let us know what you like best. We might be able to help locate one on the Exchange for you.

 

[RX-79G]

Taylor uses 7cr17 heavilly in their S&W lineup; the better 8cr13mov and 9cr18mov steels are seemingly reserved for the schrade brand.

If i just want to get a cheap chinese unbranded knife (≤$12) to throw in the toolbox for the occasional box, tape, rope or ziptie cutting, will 3cr13 cut it for such needs? I don't mind sharpening it weekly if required.

I would say "no". 3Cr13 and 420J2 don't really "sharpen". You can buy a Sanrenmu with 8Cr for $6.



The whole copying thing with SRM and Ganzo are certainly legit when we talk about patented features like Axis locks. SRM has gotten away from Axis locks. But let's put the copying thing in perspective:

HK knives are made by Benchmade, and SRM. You'd think Benchmade would be more put out by that.
Schrade copied the iconic Buck 110 decades ago, and people just love that copy.
Schrade recently copied a Chris Reeve design.
Microtech copies other US companies, but charges 40x what a SRM or Ganzo do.

So I get the issue, but I don't get why $10 knives are so upsetting when SRM and Ganzo represent the least profitable examples of this behavior. Why is Microtech even in business when their products are sold pretty much to knife collectors who actually care about these distinction.


I realize I'm bordering on fanboy with the SRM products, but after growing up with Gerber and Buck plastic lockbacks, dealing with quality issues on SOG and owning too many Spydercos and Cold Steel knives that aren't made of anything nicer than AUS-6, the four SRM knives I've owned have been such a pleasure. Good steel, centered well, mechanism works well and looks good. Most of the ones I've bought are completely original SRM designs.

There seems to be a real bias on this forum that seems to be based on "truisms" like "you get what you pay for" that are no longer true. Buying a quality product directly from the source country is a culmination of the US consumer behavior that destroyed the US manufacturing base and emptied rural America of small retail. We have screwed ourselves in our desire for cheaper and cheaper consumer goods - so we might as well enjoy our $10 knives. We've earned it.

 

[pathwinder14]

SOG Salute Mini

 

[sharp_edge]

The answer is no - it is less likely for you to find SOLID $10-20 knives, genuine or knock-off, if by solid you mean extended cutting. If it is to cut paper once or twice or open envelopes occasionally, then yes - any $2 gas station knife is solid.

People bragging Ganzo and Sanrenmu are on par with $100+ spyderco obviously focus only on looking and f&f. I seriously doubt they ever compared the cutting performance.

Actually even for only appearance anf fit and finish, I don't think these brands are on par with Spyderco.

 

[RX-79G]

The answer is no - it is less likely for you to find SOLID $10-20 knives, genuine or knock-off, if by solid you mean extended cutting. If it is to cut paper once or twice or open envelopes occasionally, then yes - any $2 gas station knife is solid.

People bragging Ganzo and Sanrenmu are on par with $100+ spyderco obviously focus only on looking and f&f. I seriously doubt they ever compared the cutting performance.

Actually even for only appearance anf fit and finish, I don't think these brands are on par with Spyderco.

Spyderco makes a wide range of products, including two $10 MSRP knives out of 3Cr13. I'm not sure what you're comparing, or if you've ever had an actual SRM to base your opinion. I would certainly hope a $100 S30V Spyderco would out-cut an SRM. But I don't see why a $35 8Cr13MoV Spyderco should out-cut a nicely shaped blade of the same material by SRM. I have two SRMs that have very thin grinds and are great for slicing and carving.

 

[sharp_edge]

I specifically said $100+ spyderco, referring to one of the earlier posts.

And you hope?

Yes - it is possible that $30 spydies and $20 sanrenmu are in the same catogery. After all, the price difference is not that huge.

And thinner does not always mean better. For one thing, thinner blades are easier to break.

 

[RX-79G]

I specifically said $100+ spyderco, referring to one of the earlier posts.

Which post was that?