The best quality EDC (folder) for under 40$

I've been using my Gerber Fast 3.0 since 2008 and its never come close to failing me. Its partial serration come in handy a lot around the house or job and I've yet to need to sharpen it. Its assisted opening and has a 3 inch blade so its legal... in my state anyway. It cost me around $30 and I actually found it at wal-mart.
 
Thrash, it might help if you told us what you're going to be doing. I've been to many places on the 'net where knife users from all walks of life and professions spend their time, and this question ALWAYS comes up, and it ALWAYS generates a huge long string of replies. There almost ought to be a series of guidlines for "In your opinion" questions in the FAQ...

Instead of airing my own two cents, I'm going to make your job harder: go to a knife show. Handle some folders, most exhibitors will let you try the pocket clip as long as you ask first. See what you like, and... decide for yourself.

Unless you really just want to watch people discuss their personal EDC choices, in which case: CRKT Stubby Razel, this week. Before, it was a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian, before that a Boker Subcom, sometimes a Buck Nobleman, Gerber Ridge, CRKT Ichi, CRKT Neck Tie, a Timberline Mini-Pitbull... I really like small knives...
 
I'm gonna be the weirdo here and say Case Peanut in CV, it's super tiny, carbon steel, made in the USA, wont scare ANYONE, and it'll handle about 99% of anyones day-to-day cutting needs. It's like a tiny laser beam. Pair it with a SAK and be unstoppable.
 
Don't know if you have one around you, but at Big5, they have the Benchmade Vex's for around $30 at their sale times. I checked one out and it has all the BM warranty info with it, so it seems legit.
 
If you are willing to wait a little while, and aren't super worried about going a little over $40, you can get the Kershaw Echelon. That thing is going to be sweet. It is apparently going to have advanced Speed Safe, and it will have an ambidextrous pocket clip and super awesome transparent handles.
 
watch the for sale section i got a delica for under 40. the vg10 is great. i have both a gen 3 and a 4, i prefer the 3.
 
For true classics, an alox Victorinox, or any Opinel.
These are my first choice.
Just as classic, a Douk douk or a mercator "cat" knife. These would be my second choice.
On the third place, for a more modern design, i would previously have said: Spyderco tenacious or byrd Cara Cara. Nowadays I rather recommend an Enlan El-01 or EL-02, or a Sanrenmu 710, 763 or 738, as they offer similar performance and finish at half the price.

Finally I have one great outsider to recommend: the swedish and very unique Eka 88. One of the handle versions should just be within budget. a very nice, characterful folder that's outside the often boring tacticool styling.

swede-88-oak.jpg
 
Dagon said:
For true classics, an alox Victorinox, or any Opinel.
These are my first choice.
Just as classic, a Douk douk or a mercator "cat" knife. These would be my second choice.
On the third place, for a more modern design, i would previously have said: Spyderco tenacious or byrd Cara Cara. Nowadays I rather recommend an Enlan El-01 or EL-02, or a Sanrenmu 710, 763 or 738, as they offer similar performance and finish at half the price.

Finally I have one great outsider to recommend: the swedish and very unique Eka 88. One of the handle versions should just be within budget. a very nice, characterful folder that's outside the often boring tacticool styling.
Click to expand...

The Mercator Cat was one of just two locking folders that we kids could manage to buy when and where I grew up- I grew to hate them. They rust if you use salty language. We'll agree to disagree there.

I do agree on the Swede 88, though, I have at least two and have had more. It's amazingly lightweight, does just fine so long as it's used for real "knife" tasks, takes and holds an edge, can easily be taken down to a true scandi grind (the factory puts on a slight secondary bevel), and... looks less dorky in person. ;) The seemingly-oversize handle is comfortable and actually lets you put a LOT of pressure on the edge when cutting, which makes it useful for a lot more real work tasks than most knives its size. Underrated.

I stick by my recommendation of the Ontario RAT-1 in this price range for primary/routine EDC, but I think the 88 makes a fine second or third carry knife. It's so weightless you'll hardly know it's there unless you need it, and so inoffensive that it sometimes make sense to carry one just to hand to people when they ask if you have a knife, which can sometimes get awkward.
 
Case makes a lot of nice knives that can be had for under $40.
A Buck 301 will only set you back $30, and will give you a lifetime of hard service.
 
Groove said:
I'm gonna be the weirdo here and say Case Peanut in CV, it's super tiny, carbon steel, made in the USA, wont scare ANYONE, and it'll handle about 99% of anyones day-to-day cutting needs. It's like a tiny laser beam. Pair it with a SAK and be unstoppable.
Click to expand...

Another weirdo here, so +1
 
very standart but spyderco tenacious(or resillience for big,persistence for small) well built knife.
kershaw skyline great edc
ontario rat1
 
Ontario RAT-1 Folder is hard to beat for $30 or less. Taiwan built instead of China, real AUS 8 and if the one I have is representative of a typical RAT-1 folder, the F&F is astounding, blade is dead centered, the lockup is as solid as the best knives I have (a few $400 or more even) and the handle comfort and jimped thumb ramp are perfect for my hands at least.
I was shocked when I received it.
 
I think the Tenacious is a really well designed knife except for the handle. When you open it and the linerlock moves away from the G-10 sides, there is only a thin ridge of G-10 on one side of the bottom of the handle, right where your fingers curl around. Very uncomfortable, it absolutely killed what could of been the perfect budget EDC for me :grumpy:
 
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