Suggestions for a gift knife under $200.00

[David Mary]

My son needs a pick-me-up, I want to send him a no occasion knife. About the only qualification is American Made. I have been searching all of the regular sites and come up with Benchmade Bug-out for my first choice unless someone comes up with a better solution. Help is appreciated.

You can get a nice custom made knife for under $200. Nothing says pick me up more than a knife you hired someone to make just for your son and nobody else. There are many makers on the forum who can help you with that. Not me though, I'm Canadian eh.

 

[hhmoore]

If we're including Japan made Spydercos, I'll throw in the Delica 4 in K390.
View attachment 1915794
(Fancy scales not included)

 

[Elgatodeacero]

Custom, Great Eastern Cutlery, Custom Buck 110 or 119, or a Mora Bushcraft Desert Survival (seriously, everyone loves a Morakniv)

 

[mmyron1]

Feel like the Presidio doesn't get near enough attention, especially for the price.. Hell of a knife for $140ish bucks. Both the mini and the large are good to go. Love my 2020 Shot Show M4 Mini..
View attachment 1915708

I would love the Presidio more if I could get a plain edge non serrated version with those scales. The knife is slick and well worth the money in any form but those aluminum scales and gray blade are the cats ass.

 

[Cattaraugus225]

You can get a nice custom made knife for under $200. Nothing says pick me up more than a knife you hired someone to make just for your son and nobody else. There are many makers on the forum who can help you with that. Not me though, I'm Canadian eh.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have to tell you though, that you don't have to admit, in public, that you are from the 51st state.

 

[ac3boyz]

My first knife I ever paid over $100 for was a Benchmade Mini-Barrage. Have bought and sold many knives since but I still have this one.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BM585/benchmade-585-mini-barrage-axis-assisted-folding-knife-satin-plain-blade-black-valox-handles

 

[Cattaraugus225]

My thanks to everyone who replied. I do appreciate the input.

I was rather surprised about all of the Spyderco knife suggestions, I did not realize that they had such a following. Without hurting anyone's feelings (I hope) I have never liked the blade drilling gimmicks on the knives and I have always avoided the brand because of that. Perhaps I will have to rethink my aversion.

I have made my decision on what my son will get in the mail. It was one of the suggestions above.

 

[Cattaraugus225]

My first knife I ever paid over $100 for was a Benchmade Mini-Barrage. Have bought and sold many knives since but I still have this one.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BM585/benchmade-585-mini-barrage-axis-assisted-folding-knife-satin-plain-blade-black-valox-handles

I am the same way, my carrying is boring, I either carry the full-sized Griptillion or the mini.

 

[David Mary]

It was one of the suggestions above.

 

[Cattaraugus225]

If you are reading this post, it was your suggestion that I took!

 

[David Mary]

Excellent! Glad to bring some business to one of our esteemed members!

 

[Brawny]

My son needs a pick-me-up, I want to send him a no occasion knife. About the only qualification is American Made. I have been searching all of the regular sites and come up with Benchmade Bug-out for my first choice unless someone comes up with a better solution. Help is appreciated.

Spyderco PM2 or Sage 5 lightweight if he likes something more compact. Wait, Sage 5 not ‘murican.

 

[awesome14]

If you want him to use it daily, Victorinox is probably the best. S557 is about the biggest anyone would want for EDC. AND, it fits the budget, even though it's a bit underwhelming. I use mine every day. In fact, I just recased a Motorola radio using nothing but my pocket knife.

 

[jjg6319]

Spyderco Stretch

great knife with a great steel https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...knife-k390-satin-plain-blade-blue-frn-handles

 

[Chronovore]

My thanks to everyone who replied. I do appreciate the input.

I was rather surprised about all of the Spyderco knife suggestions, I did not realize that they had such a following. Without hurting anyone's feelings (I hope) I have never liked the blade drilling gimmicks on the knives and I have always avoided the brand because of that. Perhaps I will have to rethink my aversion.

I have made my decision on what my son will get in the mail. It was one of the suggestions above.

I ignored Spyderco for decades. I thought the FRN models were ugly and I just didn't see the appeal. Then after messing around with a cheap imitation that I ran into the ground, I felt inclined to try the real deal. Now I get it!

While I still prefer flipper tabs and thumb studs for opening, the hole has grown on me. The FRN models have become a default for hard or dirty work. I've also come to appreciate Spyderco's innovation and promotion of different steels.

BTW, the little Wharncliffe Dragonfly is an EDC MVP and I recommend one to anyone I can. Heck, get one for yourself. I'm happy with VG-10 but if you don't need stainless, it is also available in K390.

 

[strategy9]

Especially being a "no occasion" knife, why not get him a gift card to a local knife store or one of the online ones like knifeworks or bladehq, so he can pick his own?

If that isn't an option I'll throw the Doug Ritter MK1 in as a suggestion. Knifeworks exclusive, they have new red handled and blue handled mini's with American flag etchings on the blade currently in stock that look pretty sweet!