-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Spendy knives are all well and good, but my favorites are inexpensive!
- Thread starter ZDHart
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 471
Ray - I ordered mine from Amazon... just over $19 and free shipping. Fit and finish of scales and blade is virtually perfect. Mine is just used for light applications - opening packages, mostly.
My primary attraction to the knife is the WHARNCLIFFE blade shape. This blade shape has become a preferred shape for my needs.
It's a low cost steel, but for light use, it works just fine for me. The steel takes a good sharp edge and sharpens easily. This isn't a survival knife, nor a knife that is intended for hard use. If you expect to use for harder use, you may prefer something else. I bought it for light use - and I like it.
Last edited:
Chronovore
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 11,636
As I said in Post 50 of this thread:
It's "hard to argue that 5Cr15Mov is anything but junk steel by today's standards... 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."
Seriously, 5Cr15Mov is common on Chinese knives retailing around ten bucks. It's a steel we sometimes see in clones, counterfeits, and knives with fake steel stamps.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2014
- Messages
- 6,176
I am curious what your hundred dollar folders are that they are too big to carry in your pocket comfortably.
When I started to carry a full size Griptilian, I felt it was to big. It did not take long to get past that.
One of my friends carries a full size Grip all the time. Work clothes, dress clothes, suits, etc. No problem.
I also have to ask about the pocket clip issue, you know, where having a knife clipped in your pocket keeps the pocket from being used for anything else?
Why is that even an issue? I love having my keys and my knife in the same pocket and normally have my knife clipped to my trousers, FRP. No issues with it at all. I find that I having my knife at the same level as the keys is much more problematic.
Except yesterday... I dropped by the Social Security office to ask a retirement question and the guard told me that I could not have my knife with me. Apparently part of their no weapons policy. Yet, their guard was armed to the teeth.
I hate double standards and political correctness.
Last edited:
Henry Beige
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2015
- Messages
- 3,757
Griptilian, Mini Barrage, even a leek. I used to carry all of them, but got tired of reaching past them to get stuff. I bought a Laconico Keen last year, because I liked it, but I knew I would never carry it. It is a wonderful fidget toy on my desk.
I drive a school bus. Kids have eagle eyes. They are all over a clip. The knives I carry, they never have to know. I am happy to flout the rules to a point, but I don’t need to advertise it. I guess I just got tired of carrying one-handed openers as a regular thing. The clips hook on chair arms, or they find some other way to work out of my pocket depending on how I sit, or they rake across the back of my hand if I am reaching for something else.
I am not interested in self-defense applications. If I need self-defense, I’ll carry a gun. Short of that, situational antenna and interpersonal skills have gotten me by pretty well. Once, I had to resort to fisticuffs, but I wouldn’t want to rely on that.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2014
- Messages
- 6,176
If I was a school bus driver, I wouldn’t use a clip either.
And you’re right, kids do have eagle eyes and they talk. That can be a dangerous combination.
Personally, I like using a clip. I can reach for my knife and my keys stay in my pocket. Plus, I can normally get to my keys without having to fight with my knife.
I do understand where you’re coming from now that it has been explained. Makes perfect sense too.
And you’re right, kids do have eagle eyes and they talk. That can be a dangerous combination.
Personally, I like using a clip. I can reach for my knife and my keys stay in my pocket. Plus, I can normally get to my keys without having to fight with my knife.
I do understand where you’re coming from now that it has been explained. Makes perfect sense too.
Last edited:
Chronovore
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 11,636
There are certainly situations in which you do not want a clip showing. I've had family members ask why I have a bunch of different pocket knives. It's because our situation isn't always the same. Sometimes we might be wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, maybe coveralls, a winter coat, maybe a suit and tie, etc. We also might be doing different things. Having the right knife for the situation is priceless.
That's why "budget gems" matter. They help people with limited resources to have a great EDC rotation.
That's why "budget gems" matter. They help people with limited resources to have a great EDC rotation.
afishhunter
Basic Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2014
- Messages
- 14,539
"Low Cost" knives are all I have.
Even $40 a month for a knife is "expensive" taking my income into consideration, especially since I was forced to retire 3 years ago.
Mind, I'm not complaining about the quality of my knives, or any lack of being able to use them successfully for whatever knife tasks that may present themselves.
Most of my knives are Rough Rider and Buck traditionals, with a few Old Timer's, Imperial's (domestic and offshore production), a few (new production) Marbles, a "Demo" knife made by Western that the Army Reserves issued to me in 1975, and even a couple Case for "good measure".
My daily carry is a Rough Rider or Buck or (BTI) Old Timer large stockman, a Rough Rider canoe, and a Rough Rider moose in my pocket, and a Buck 110 and a (offshore production) Marbles MR417 two blade slipjoint Folding Hunter on my belt.
I've never felt "under knived" when I need to use a knife, nor have I ever wished I had such and such brand instead.
What I have may not be "top of the line" brands, and they don't have the "latest and greatest" flavor "super steel" blades, but they do everything I need a knife for.
My most expensive knife cost around $80, and I bought it after a high mileage week at work, before I retired.
(I drove an over the road expedited straight truck. I visited all of the 48 lower states, plus DC, picking up and delivering cargo.
"Home" was wherever the truck was parked.)
Even $40 a month for a knife is "expensive" taking my income into consideration, especially since I was forced to retire 3 years ago.
Mind, I'm not complaining about the quality of my knives, or any lack of being able to use them successfully for whatever knife tasks that may present themselves.
Most of my knives are Rough Rider and Buck traditionals, with a few Old Timer's, Imperial's (domestic and offshore production), a few (new production) Marbles, a "Demo" knife made by Western that the Army Reserves issued to me in 1975, and even a couple Case for "good measure".
My daily carry is a Rough Rider or Buck or (BTI) Old Timer large stockman, a Rough Rider canoe, and a Rough Rider moose in my pocket, and a Buck 110 and a (offshore production) Marbles MR417 two blade slipjoint Folding Hunter on my belt.
I've never felt "under knived" when I need to use a knife, nor have I ever wished I had such and such brand instead.
What I have may not be "top of the line" brands, and they don't have the "latest and greatest" flavor "super steel" blades, but they do everything I need a knife for.
My most expensive knife cost around $80, and I bought it after a high mileage week at work, before I retired.
(I drove an over the road expedited straight truck. I visited all of the 48 lower states, plus DC, picking up and delivering cargo.
"Home" was wherever the truck was parked.)
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2014
- Messages
- 6,176
Those all metal Demo knives always caught my eye. I never got issued one but there was one in the platoon demo box that I had to inventory as a private.
To this day, I keep my eye out for one in decent shape at gun shows.
I carry my folder clipped IWB behind my belt. It has always been secure, out of the way of my keys and change, and not noticeable. Except with a metal detector!!
When using it at work, I do re clip it to my R front pocket one handed.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 471
And, as I said in Post 61 of this thread, regarding the CRKT S.P.E.W.
I ordered mine from Amazon... just over $19 and free shipping. Fit and finish of scales and blade is virtually perfect.
Mine is just used for light applications - opening packages, mostly.My primary attraction to the knife is the WHARNCLIFFE blade shape. This blade shape has become a preferred shape for my needs.
It's a low cost steel, but for light use, it works just fine for me. The steel takes a good sharp edge and sharpens easily. This isn't a survival knife, nor a knife that is intended for hard use. If you expect to use for harder use, you may prefer something else. I bought it for light use - and I like it.
And, let me add this
(From knarfeng, moderator on BladeForums)
re: 5Cr15MoV
“There is no "good steel" there is no "crappy steel". There is only steel that is appropriate for the usage. So the question of whether you would like the performance of this steel in your EDC blade will much depend on how you use your EDC."
For a $19 light-duty knife, it serves just fine I use mine for opening packages and quick, light cuts of materials on my workbench. Quite suitable for some applications and not so much for others. And I love the Wharncliffe blade.
Last edited:
Chronovore
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 11,636
And, as I said in Post 61 of this thread, regarding the CRKT S.P.E.W.
I ordered mine from Amazon... just over $19 and free shipping. Fit and finish of scales and blade is virtually perfect.
My primary attraction to the knife is the WHARNCLIFFE blade shape. This blade shape has become a preferred shape for my needs.
It's a low cost steel, but for light use, it works just fine for me. The steel takes a good sharp edge and sharpens easily. This isn't a survival knife, nor a knife that is intended for hard use. If you expect to use for harder use, you may prefer something else. I bought it for light use - and I like it.
And, let me add this
(From knarfeng, moderator on BladeForums)
re: 5Cr15MoV
“There is no "good steel" there is no "crappy steel". There is only steel that is appropriate for the usage. So the question of whether you would like the performance of this steel in your EDC blade will much depend on how you use your EDC."
For a $19 light-duty knife, it serves just fine I use mine for opening packages and quick, light cuts of materials on my workbench. Quite suitable for some applications and not so much for others. And I love the Wharncliffe blade.
I'm glad that the fit and finish is good on your SPEW. It wasn't on mine. It also wasn't on my Minimalist. That could just be really bad luck on my part. However, that's my personal experience. Have other people experienced spotty QC on inexpensive knives from CRKT?
As far as Knarfeng's comment, good and bad are certainly relative. They are relative to your usage. They are also relative to the market and what else is available to you within a particular price range. I mean, you could file an edge onto a hunk of raw iron. That might be good for some tasks in some survival scenarios with scarce alternatives. However, that would probably be bad for your average EDC on an average day. It would be bad versus the cost (time and effort to make it) and versus most widely available budget knives in 3Cr13Mov, let alone 5Cr15Mov.
That's my point. 5Cr15Mov is bad versus widely available budget steels within the same price range, at $25 or $19, and some of the better ones are themselves considered mediocre by the same measurement. Consider all the similarly priced knives in 7Cr17Mov, 8Cr13Mov, 8Cr14Mov, etc. None of those steels generate a lot of excitement but given the same HT, QC, workmanship, etc.; they'll be a solid step up for most users. Stepping up from there, we've got AUS-8, the rather nice 12C27, Chinese D2, or the vastly superior Acuto 440 on that samey-priced neck knife from Tangram. All else being equal, 5Cr15Mov is a bad knife steel for $20 in 2020. Don't give companies like CRKT a reason to keep using it.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 471
The S.P.E.W. that I just bought is beautifully made, with great fit and finish. And Wharncliffe is the blade shape I want.
And the same is true of the three Minimalists that I've bought (one Bowie and two Wharncliffes). My wife uses one of the Minimalists and absolutely loves it. I do too.
These are sweet little knives and I'll bet their sales are in very good numbers. They may not be your cup of tea, which is fine, but no doubt there are a lot of users out there who use and like the knives.
If a knife is pleasing in design and manufacturing quality, cuts as desired, has the blade shape that one likes best, and is priced at a pleasing point - most knife users could not care less what the steel type is - they just use the knife and get on with their lives - they aren't out to finely nit-pick the nuances of different types of steel. No one trumpets these knives as being of premium steel; they are not masquerading about trying to make people think that they're anything fancy or special - they're just simple, nicely made, inexpensive knives suited to light-duty tasks. That's all that most buyers would expect from them.
You may not like it, but I fully agree with what Knarfeng says: “There is no "good steel" there is no "crappy steel". There is only steel that is appropriate for the usage. So the question of whether you would like the performance of this steel in your EDC blade will much depend on how you use your EDC."
I have no doubt that there are hundreds of thousands of knives out there, made with 5Cr15MoV, satisfactorily cutting away for those who are enjoying them. Most of those users probably could not even tell you what the name is for the type of steel they are using.
For the kind of light duty use that I use these knives for, the steel is most certainly not "bad" - it's fine for the task. Could CRKT use higher grades of steel? Of course they could. At present, however, these are the knives that they are making and people are buying and enjoying them without a fuss. Simple as that. If you want something different, fine, go buy something else.
Last edited:
Chronovore
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 11,636
I get it. You like these knives. They are certainly attractive. You got ones with good fit and finish. I'm happy for you.
Somebody asked about the steel. I answered. I dealt with the comment you shared from Knarfeng in detail but for the TLDR crowd: 5Cr15Mov is an indisputably subpar steel relative to many other budget steels being used in similarly priced knives and by a considerable margin in some cases.
That's the steel CRKT used here. You didn't buy it for the steel. You bought it for the design. I actually think it's a cool design. That's why I care. It's a cool design let down by a notably subpar steel. It's a knife that could be serving you better in one of those more reasonable steels. It's a knife I'd like to own, if I could get one with good QC and a more reasonable steel. I'm just some rando on a knife forum but I think this is a sad state of affairs. I'd love to see CRKT change it up to one of those more reasonable steels, and the reality is that they could with little to no impact on the price tag. I understand why they haven't and that's what I'm digging at here.
cbach8tw
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
- 12,329
I would like to hear some of your on the road stories......I am sure that you have seen a lot and some can't believe it happens kind of stuff. I am sure a good knife was always near by in your travels. Any one area caught your eye and really surprised you how beautiful or different our country could be? We were in South Dakota for a mission trip, Mt. Rushmore was cool. We were going to go through the Badlands but the timing did not work out. After all the travels, did you just want to move to one spot and just stay there? Have you found that retirement place / Happy Place? You can PM me or start another thread describing some of those trips, sort of a "Knives in the Road" where others can describe their travels. What a great idea!!! I give you the credit if it turns out well!
Opinel is a good inexpensive blade, notice I did not say cheap and they are not gas station fodder. My other knives I like to carry are my Manly Wasps in Sandvik.
Last edited:
cbach8tw
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
- 12,329
Another one that is growing on me is the AG Russell FeatherLite second in VG 10 steel. The general purpose blade, just have to get used to the top lock a little, but very light and sharp. My Alox SA Pioneer is not far from my duffle bag.
To me, inexpensive is 50.00 and under. There are some good examples of getting more bang for your buck.
To me, inexpensive is 50.00 and under. There are some good examples of getting more bang for your buck.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 13,423
I've been from one end of the spectrum to the other. From a 8.95 Opinel to the small collection of Randall's. What I found out was, in the end it didn't;t make any difference what you cut with. That piece of rope, box, package to open, won't know if its a 10 dollar blade or a 200 dollar blade.
Rulingout bragging rights and snob factor, I found a point of diminishing return about 25 or 30 dollars. My Buck 102 woodsman field dressed a deer as well as my Randall small hunter. My Victorinox SAK opened a package as well as my Jay Hendrickson unfolder pocket knife that was 250 dollars in 1988. Att hat time Jay was a journeyman smith with the American Bladesmith Society. The SAK was a 12.95 tinker.
As knife nuts, we like to feel that we're getting something 'special' if we spent more money on highly hyped knives that are as over priced as over hyped. The truth is, we're the blind obsessed fan boys of the cult worship object. It has very little to do with reality. The whole rest of the world gets by doing work like construction, meat processing, stock clerking, warehouse working and a hundred other trades that the office cubicle suburban dwelling knife nut will never do, with replaceable blade utility knives, low cost stamped out kitchen knives, Douk-Douls and Opinels. Theres been more ranchers, farmers, and construction workers getting it done with an old beat up Old Timer stockman than any other three wonder knives of the month that were on the cover of the knife magazines.
After I sold off my knife collection many years ago, I haven't carried any pocket knife that cost more than a lunch at a chain restaurant, and this in a retirement where I'm doing more fishing and traveling than ever. Looking back on my knife nut days, it was just nuts. My most used knives now are my two Victorinox serrated edge paring knives that do the bulk of work in the kitchen. They cut everything so well, no matter fruit, vegetable or meat. All of 6.95.
I've come to love low cost effective cutlery. Victoriox SAK's, Buck 303 cadet, Ontario machetes, and Rappala fishing knives.
Rulingout bragging rights and snob factor, I found a point of diminishing return about 25 or 30 dollars. My Buck 102 woodsman field dressed a deer as well as my Randall small hunter. My Victorinox SAK opened a package as well as my Jay Hendrickson unfolder pocket knife that was 250 dollars in 1988. Att hat time Jay was a journeyman smith with the American Bladesmith Society. The SAK was a 12.95 tinker.
As knife nuts, we like to feel that we're getting something 'special' if we spent more money on highly hyped knives that are as over priced as over hyped. The truth is, we're the blind obsessed fan boys of the cult worship object. It has very little to do with reality. The whole rest of the world gets by doing work like construction, meat processing, stock clerking, warehouse working and a hundred other trades that the office cubicle suburban dwelling knife nut will never do, with replaceable blade utility knives, low cost stamped out kitchen knives, Douk-Douls and Opinels. Theres been more ranchers, farmers, and construction workers getting it done with an old beat up Old Timer stockman than any other three wonder knives of the month that were on the cover of the knife magazines.
After I sold off my knife collection many years ago, I haven't carried any pocket knife that cost more than a lunch at a chain restaurant, and this in a retirement where I'm doing more fishing and traveling than ever. Looking back on my knife nut days, it was just nuts. My most used knives now are my two Victorinox serrated edge paring knives that do the bulk of work in the kitchen. They cut everything so well, no matter fruit, vegetable or meat. All of 6.95.
I've come to love low cost effective cutlery. Victoriox SAK's, Buck 303 cadet, Ontario machetes, and Rappala fishing knives.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2019
- Messages
- 105
I carry a Kershaw Dividend at work. It’s been great for opening stock, slicing plastic bags opened, and cutting straps from pallets, etc. my other favorite is my Ruike p-801 at just under $30. I do love my more expensive knives too, but kind of baby them.
