The light, tough, sharp, cheap folder that's won a place here

Boattale

Boattale

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Nov 27, 2019
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I bought the top one in the AG Russell Store in 2018. Turned out to be one of the best knife buys I ever made. Carried it a lot, flew with it in checked bags and relied on it on trips. The D2 comes along now. Lost the original on the way to the garden, bought several more, including the D-2 version and then somehow spotted the dropped one in the grass one day weeks after losing it. The AUS-8 blade has been totally serviceable, the D2 blade is also, though D2 is better with edge holding. Used the D2 version to cut up a living room worth of carpet and pad. That was a little rough on the cerakote but the edge was easy to get back to very very sharp.

I have multi locking folders, BM, Spyderco, Buck and CRK. Honestly, these will do anything any of the other "better" folders will do - except weigh you down. I recommend them often and have given them to several friends and they like them too.

Glad I found these when I did.

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They're legit. For the price of a couple of Starbucks drinks you get light, tough, sharp and easy to maintain.

The mini version is nice too. Insanely light and with a bit of a pointier tip.

I also like the Case Caliber and Gerber LST for little lockbacks of this ilk. Extremely handy and made in the USA for right around a $20 bill.
 
I agree 100% I know this isn't popular to say here on a knife enthusiasts forum, but as time go on I really find myself being drawn to affordable options such as the Dozier, the Buck Bantam, Case Caliber, Gerber LST, etc.
There are some really excellent options available that you do not have to drop hundreds of dollars on that work extremely well for their intended purposes.
I really don't care as much about super steels, premium materials, etc.
I like cheaper options because I can carry them, use them, abuse them, I don't have to worry about keeping them in a slip or being guarded with it because I am afraid of them being scratched, lost, etc.
I just use them for their intended purpose as a knife and cutting tool. If they get lost or messed up, no worries as they are inexpensive and readily available to replace if needed.
To me, inexpensive and readily available = good and desirable
I'm really not out to impress anyone
 
chevyrulez1 said:
I agree 100% I know this isn't popular to say here on a knife enthusiasts forum, but as time go on I really find myself being drawn to affordable options such as the Dozier, the Buck Bantam, Case Caliber, Gerber LST, etc.
There are some really excellent options available that you do not have to drop hundreds of dollars on that work extremely well for their intended purposes.
I really don't care as much about super steels, premium materials, etc.
I like cheaper options because I can carry them, use them, abuse them, I don't have to worry about keeping them in a slip or being guarded with it because I am afraid of them being scratched, lost, etc.
I just use them for their intended purpose as a knife and cutting tool. If they get lost or messed up, no worries as they are inexpensive and readily available to replace if needed.
To me, inexpensive and readily available = good and desirable
I'm really not out to impress anyone
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They're the Mora Companion of folding knives.
 
I only buy American Made, but can't stop myself from mentioning Opinel. I'm sure a lot of owners will post pics of theirs. I can't. I lost mine decades ago.

[It was a gift, so it was a combination punch.]
 
I too love a good cheap knife. The Kabar Dozier is one of my most used knives that cleaned up nicely with some sandpaper and a Dremel abrasive buff. I don't miss the worn coating... The AUS-8 blade has been very serviceable and easy to keep sharp with a small sharpening choil modification.



KBDozier.jpg
 
I bought two AUS8 at the same time. One for me, another one for my daugther. I gifted mine to a friend, who (during a trip) broke the pivot on his El Cheapo Special.

Which turned to be the perfect excuse to buy the D2 version as soon as I made another knife purchase!

It is cheap, but it works flawlessly. It is somewhat of the much cheaper and sligthly heavier interpretation of the BM Bugout (I know I know....)

Mikel
 
One of the best knives available at any price, if you are honest with yourself there is nothing to complain about. Light weight, comfortable, good blade shape, holds a very decent edge, thin, large enough for most tasks but small enough to not be concerning to others, good edge geometry, sturdy, decent pocket clip, lanyard hole, easy to unlock one handed and extremely affordable!
 
I have a Gerber LST that I got for free with the purchase of a pair of Danner boots many, many years ago. It has had its own place in my saltwater fly fishing chest pack (where I wouldn't want any of my "good" knives to be) since 1995 and is still going strong. It has earned my respect.
 
desmobob said:
I have a Gerber LST that I got for free with the purchase of a pair of Danner boots many, many years ago. It has had its own place in my saltwater fly fishing chest pack (where I wouldn't want any of my "good" knives to be) since 1995 and is still going strong. It has earned my respect.
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They were great little knives. I still have this one.smalls.jpg
 
Velitrius said:
They're legit. For the price of a couple of Starbucks drinks you get light, tough, sharp and easy to maintain.

The mini version is nice too. Insanely light and with a bit of a pointier tip.

I also like the Case Caliber and Gerber LST for little lockbacks of this ilk. Extremely handy and made in the USA for right around a $20 bill.
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The Gerber LST Magnum Jr. was the knife that started this for me. 👍

Another $20 lockback that I could never pass up when I found one at the big brick & mortar stores was the Buck Bantam 285.

onuiiwi.jpeg
 
Zornhau said:
I have 2 Slim Select 112s and I just checked them before writing this. The lock up is solid on both with no play. I recommend these to anyone who needs a work knife, because I like Buck and I prefer American made products.
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I only ask because if blade play was an evil spirit, it's been following me around from knife to knife 🤪
Especially with the Buck slim selects, but I'm glad it's just me that sucks!
 
DMG said:
I prefer to buy American but I will also buy from our allies.
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This is also how I roll nowadays. If I can support the survival and continuation of democracy with my dollars, even a little bit, I'll try.

That said, here in Canada we unfortunately don't seem to have any mass knife production or even semicustom knife production, so I'll usually buy American, Japanese or Taiwanese.
 
here are three inexpensive, yet very impressive folders. Top is the Ontario Rat 2 with carbon fiber scales and D2 steel. Middle is the BRK (Blue Ridge Knives) Zancudo. It's a frame lock with D2 steel. The third is a Buck 112 Slim with S30V steel.
Py48zJ7l.jpg
 
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