Spendy knives are all well and good, but my favorites are inexpensive!

Chronovore said:
What are your other two primary EDC blades?
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The Griptilian gets a huge amount of pocket time but sometimes it is just to much for the environment that I am in or the clothes I am wearing. I am not going to church with a full size Griptilian in my pocket. Something a little less bulky is called for.

That is where my US made Kershaw Zing comes in. I like the blade steel and the ergonomics are spot on for my needs. Unfortunately Kershaw shifted to overseas production and ruined that knife.

The third knife that has been seeing a lot of pocket time lately is a piece of garbage Cutco 1891 folder. For some reason I like that knife. Not really sure why, it’s blade geometry is wrong and the one piece handle is cheap plastic.
It’s only 440A steel and the heat treatment is not the best.

I tell myself that I reach for it because I don’t have to worry about a junk knife but, I know that I would stress if I lost it.

Right now those are my three most common carried folders.
I also have a Benchmade 531 as a dress knife and a SAK Cadet for formal attire and travel.

Like I stated before, there is also a SAK that stays in my coat pocket. Someone in the PIF thread gave it to me. I wish I could remember who it was. I owe them a big thank you. The knife has come in handy quite a few times. So many times in fact that I purchased a Vic Spartan to carry in the bug out bag.
 
You want to keep your expensive knives nice so your wife can sell them at a yard sell. I am also guilty as anyone because I done take my expensive knives when I go motorcycle riding or shooting or where they might get stolen such as on trips.
 
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My carry this year hasn't cost much more than $50. With some Christmas cash in hand, I picked up two new designs for 2020: a Civivi Chronic and a Bestech Bobcat. I've been carrying one or the other since.

The Chronic is small so it carries easily, even in pajamas around the house. I've used it for all sorts of stuff, from opening packages to trimming Gorilla glue from seams on a project. I'm mostly happy with it but there are a few ergonomic issues. Like a lot of knives, it has points and corners where it should be round.

The Bobcat is interesting. I've cut lots of cardboard with it. The scales are pretty and actually rounded nicely in a lot of places. It just doesn't mate up well with my hand. Finger grooves are always a gamble that way.
 
ZDHart said:
Yes, I've got a number of "high-quality" knives, with more expensive steels and such... and they're all well and good!

But the knives I seem to have the most fun with, and purchase without any hesitation... are inexpensive, but of good quality!

Some of my faves, among fixed blades, are the CRKT S.P.E.W.
49632730263_7e2c6fe09f_b.jpg


and CRKT Minimalist Wharncliffe
49046772222_f80c456fb2_h.jpg



For folders, I like Spyderco's Persistence and others in that line. And Kershaw offer quite a few inexpensive knives, a few that I have and enjoy quite a bit.

All of these knives are inexpensive, expendable, and I don't worry about needing to baby them or what might happen if I should happen to damage one or lose it. Yes, I really enjoy inexpensive knives! (My expensive knives tend to get babied or see little use.). Weird, I guess. But, I have a feeling that I'm not alone in this.
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I agree with your thesis , but your examples fall a little short for me , just on a functional basis .

I like the Folts designs but CRKT ,as usual , fails to deliver a quality product .

My "SPEW" sheath came with poor retention , inexcusable for a necker, and heating the plastic with a hair dryer didn't work to reform it . Had to wrap with some silicone tape to get a working sheath .

The steel would be OK for a backup SD knife , but bent pretty easy when I tried some mild prying so I wouldn't count on it for emergency / survival use or even long term rough EDC chores .

For about the same $ or not much more , you can do better from Cold Steel etc . , IMO .

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...t-be-ok-or-will-i-spew.1675627/#post-19180587
 
DocJD said:
I agree with your thesis , but your examples fall a little short for me , just on a functional basis .

I like the Folts designs but CRKT ,as usual , fails to deliver a quality product .

My "SPEW" sheath came with poor retention , inexcusable for a necker, and heating the plastic with a hair dryer didn't work to reform it . Had to wrap with some silicone tape to get a working sheath .

The steel would be OK for a backup SD knife , but bent pretty easy when I tried some mild prying so I wouldn't count on it for emergency / survival use or even long term rough EDC chores .

For about the same $ or not much more , you can do better from Cold Steel etc . , IMO .

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...t-be-ok-or-will-i-spew.1675627/#post-19180587
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It all depends on your application! My CRKT Minimalist Wharncliffe and CRKT SPEW are light-duty knives, which I use around the house - mostly to open packages and such. For light duty, they're awesome knives! I love them. Fit finish and sharpness on the SPEW that I just got are excellent! (I don't use knives as neck-knives.)

I've got some knives that I've never cut anything with (as I'm sure most folks here have, as well). And I enjoy them too. :eek:
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Of course I have other knives which are well-suited to heavier-duty chores. Thing is, I don't have a lot in the way of heavy-duty chores to tend to! :D So, light duty knives are the ones that see the most use for me.

As for Cold Steel, I have been carrying the Tuff Lite Wharncliffe for a while now - I like it! Cool little knife; not expensive. And, Wharncliffe blades have become my favorite.
 
I'm just an average blue collar working man, and I've got my fair share of debt, so I have a hard time spending big $$$ for knives, watches, guns, toys.
But, like all of you folks, I enjoy and appreciate nice things.
And while I can't always buy "top shelf" stuff, I do enjoy better than average things.
And better than average does cost more than just average.

Can I enjoy a $20.00 dollars plastic scaled lockback as much as I enjoy my Buck custom shop 110?
No.
No, I can't.

Having said that...
Victorinox Swiss Army Knives are always the exception.
Very affordable (for most working men and women) and so darn useful and handy and dependable.
 
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DocJD said:
... CRKT ,as usual , fails to deliver a quality product .

My "SPEW" sheath came with poor retention , inexcusable for a necker, and heating the plastic with a hair dryer didn't work to reform it . Had to wrap with some silicone tape to get a working sheath .

The steel would be OK for a backup SD knife , but bent pretty easy when I tried some mild prying so I wouldn't count on it for emergency / survival use or even long term rough EDC chores ...
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I'm guessing you caught my earlier riff about 5Cr15Mov on a $25 knife. I stand by that. Even down around ten bucks, 5Cr15Mov isn't great. The minimum I'd expect at $25 is 8Cr13Mov, which isn't great either. There are just too many other Chinese-made knives in D2, 12C27, or even 14C28N for $20-something. I mentioned the Tangram Brevis, which is a $20 "neck knife" in Acuto 440, which is more resistant to corrosion and holds a much better edge.

While hard to argue that 5Cr15Mov is anything but junk steel by today's standards, my point isn't academic. I had a SPEW. Yes, it was easy to sharpen and could be field-sharpened on rocks, a coffee cup, etc. However, the frequency at which it had to be touched up was annoying. It just wouldn't hold an edge. Fit and finish left a lot to be desired too. These experiences were mirrored in the Minimalist I owned.

I know, this thread isn't for dumping on CRKT. It's for celebrating the surprisingly good cheap knives out there. So let's think about some quality alternatives to these. I mentioned the Brevis at $20 in the much better Acuto 440. For a tiny knife with good ergonomics and a great sheath, the Tonife Squirrel can often be found around $15 or less in the slightly better 7Cr17Mov.
 
I carry inexpensive knives because I don’t have any expensive knives to carry. I have a couple folders that cost over $100 but I don’t carry them because they are too big to be comfortable in my pocket. Pocket clips let everybody know you have a knife, strengst verboten in a school environment. A knife clipped to the pocket also pretty much rules out the pocket for any other use.

The three knives I carry come to less than $50 all told and ride nicely together in my right front pocket. None of them is junk, none uses cheap Chinese stainless, and together they offer about twice as much cutting power as I need.
 
Chronovore said:
I'm guessing you caught my earlier riff about 5Cr15Mov on a $25 knife. I stand by that. Even down around ten bucks, 5Cr15Mov isn't great. The minimum I'd expect at $25 is 8Cr13Mov, which isn't great either. There are just too many other Chinese-made knives in D2, 12C27, or even 14C28N for $20-something. I mentioned the Tangram Brevis, which is a $20 "neck knife" in Acuto 440, which is more resistant to corrosion and holds a much better edge.

While hard to argue that 5Cr15Mov is anything but junk steel by today's standards, my point isn't academic. I had a SPEW. Yes, it was easy to sharpen and could be field-sharpened on rocks, a coffee cup, etc. However, the frequency at which it had to be touched up was annoying. It just wouldn't hold an edge. Fit and finish left a lot to be desired too. These experiences were mirrored in the Minimalist I owned.

I know, this thread isn't for dumping on CRKT. It's for celebrating the surprisingly good cheap knives out there. So let's think about some quality alternatives to these. I mentioned the Brevis at $20 in the much better Acuto 440. For a tiny knife with good ergonomics and a great sheath, the Tonife Squirrel can often be found around $15 or less in the slightly better 7Cr17Mov.
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Yes , but , heat treatment is just as important as steel formula . Lots of hype out there for super steel knives with less than optimal HT that will not perform as hoped .

Conversely , lots of fairly "outdated" steel with excellent HT can be surprisingly good .
 
DocJD said:
Yes , but , heat treatment is just as important as steel formula . Lots of hype out there for super steel knives with less than optimal HT that will not perform as hoped .

Conversely , lots of fairly "outdated" steel with excellent HT can be surprisingly good .
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This is certainly true. However, I have to ask. Have you ever seen 5Cr15Mov with a good heat treatment? o_O This is just a guess but I think low cost is a primary reason that 5Cr15Mov gets used in the first place. Imagine the cost-benefit consideration of pursuing a really good HT on 5Cr15Mov versus just using run-of-the-mill 7Cr17Mov or 8Cr13Mov.

As far as HT and quality on the $20-40 Chinese knife front; the D2, 12C27, 14C28N, and Acuto 440 I've tried over the last few years have been fairly decent. I haven't done precise edge testing but they've all seemed to outlast 8Cr13Mov on my weekly cardboard and random EDC stuff. I've been very happy with 9Cr18Mov from both Civivi and Real Steel but that's creeping up towards $50.

Speaking of 9Cr18Mov, this is a budget steel where I have seen a big difference. Having it from companies like Schrade in the past, I was not impressed. When Civivi first came out, I was reluctant based on those experiences. Hearing all the praise, I said "what the heck". Now I'm glad I did. The difference was night and day. Between an apparently good HT and obviously good cutting geometry, Civivi's 9Cr18Mov has been great. That inspired me to try a Real Steel Receptor for when I carry a fixed blade. That's been great too. :)
 
Chronovore said:
This is certainly true. However, I have to ask. Have you ever seen 5Cr15Mov with a good heat treatment? o_O This is just a guess but I think low cost is a primary reason that 5Cr15Mov gets used in the first place. Imagine the cost-benefit consideration of pursuing a really good HT on 5Cr15Mov versus just using run-of-the-mill 7Cr17Mov or 8Cr13Mov.

As far as HT and quality on the $20-40 Chinese knife front; the D2, 12C27, 14C28N, and Acuto 440 I've tried over the last few years have been fairly decent. I haven't done precise edge testing but they've all seemed to outlast 8Cr13Mov on my weekly cardboard and random EDC stuff. I've been very happy with 9Cr18Mov from both Civivi and Real Steel but that's creeping up towards $50.

Speaking of 9Cr18Mov, this is a budget steel where I have seen a big difference. Having it from companies like Schrade in the past, I was not impressed. When Civivi first came out, I was reluctant based on those experiences. Hearing all the praise, I said "what the heck". Now I'm glad I did. The difference was night and day. Between an apparently good HT and obviously good cutting geometry, Civivi's 9Cr18Mov has been great. That inspired me to try a Real Steel Receptor for when I carry a fixed blade. That's been great too. :)
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Well , makes sense to expect a bad cheap HT to be associated with the cheapest available steel .

My strategy is mostly to trust certain brands to have a decent combination of steel/ HT along with everything else that makes a complete knife perform well for a given function .
 
SavageSick said:


should just take the average of the two and carry a single all-work
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I've got my designated work knife...outside of work right now I'm carrying a shaman in Rex 45 and a buck 110...I baby the limited edition fancy schmancy knife and let the buck do the ugly work...then the rotation changes again
 
I carry and use custom knives, and inexpensive knives. My work is not one that requires cutting. I carry anyway.

Today, I'm carying a double handful of cheap knives. Two inexpensive custom knives.

3FyLCm6.jpg


I broke out some CS knives today (by broke out...I mean did not put away, and just tossed them In my work bag).

Often, I have a handful of GEC slipjoints, a modern folder and 2 or 3 custom knives.
 
I'm with you, I love cheap stuff, so long as it's not going to collapse on my hand or break and cause injury. It doesn't have to have perfect edge holding ability, so long as it's not terrible I can always sharpen it, it also helps me keep my sharpening skills on-point.

To be honest I've learned to put action and build quality ahead of steel.
 
Some of my very favourite knives (at *any* price-point) are considered inexpensive or 'budget' class.

You can pair an alox SAK with any high-roller custom any day of the week and twice on Sunday and it would not seem out of place. I also think that Ontario RAT folders can hold their own next to knives worth three times their price. Buck, Case, Ka-Bar, Opinel, Boker, Spyderco, Mora, Svord, and many more reputable manufacturers... we knife-nuts are truly spoiled for choice! :cool::thumbsup:

Imma still keep my CRK's though... :p
 
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ZDHart said:
Yes, I've got a number of "high-quality" knives, with more expensive steels and such... and they're all well and good!

But the knives I seem to have the most fun with, and purchase without any hesitation... are inexpensive, but of good quality!

Some of my faves, among fixed blades, are the CRKT S.P.E.W.
49632730263_7e2c6fe09f_b.jpg


and CRKT Minimalist Wharncliffe
49046772222_f80c456fb2_h.jpg



For folders, I like Spyderco's Persistence and others in that line. And Kershaw offer quite a few inexpensive knives, a few that I have and enjoy quite a bit.

All of these knives are inexpensive, expendable, and I don't worry about needing to baby them or what might happen if I should happen to damage one or lose it. Yes, I really enjoy inexpensive knives! (My expensive knives tend to get babied or see little use.). Weird, I guess. But, I have a feeling that I'm not alone in this.
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