The next one around $200

RealVendetta

RealVendetta

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I own a handful of Spydercos (Manix 2, Manix 2 XL, Amalgam, Smock, Native, and Battlestation otw), a Kizer T1, and a handful of other more budget minded knives. I am scouting out my next knife around the $200 mark. What would you guys or should I be looking at?

I have a few that I am considering... a Spydiechef, a Protech Tr3, Shaman... but I am open to any and all suggestions. Maybe try something other than Spyderco? I don't know!
 
Check out three rivers manufacturing. Been hunting for an atom or neutron and finally scored one last night on the exchange. Excited to get it in hand. Give them a look. Around 2 bills
 
TRM Neutron or Atom is worth a look for that $$, may have to wait a couple months for delivery but I feel it's worth it.

CS AD15 should be on the short list.

FF Gent is one of those knives that uses bigger than it looks and carries easy, IMO one of the better bargains for a solid EDC knife.

MBK EZC is also like the gent but has a little more mass and falls into that price range. It doesn't deploy as well as the Gent for me.

There are really a sh*t ton of knives in that price range, you'll probably need to decide which way you're leaning and IMO, yeah, move off the Spidy tit for a while. Great knives but..... like I said that are a lot of great knives out there. Personally I'm kinda over most Spidies these days except for some of the specialty offerings.
 
Freeman Outdoor Gear? The 451 Button Lock is $25 over your price point, but there seems to be some "give" in that price point. It's a very "tactical" knife, what with the thumb ramp and all, but from what I've heard, it competes with some knives that are $100+ more expensive.
 
Shorttime said:
Freeman Outdoor Gear? The 451 Button Lock is $25 over your price point, but there seems to be some "give" in that price point. It's a very "tactical" knife, what with the thumb ramp and all, but from what I've heard, it competes with some knives that are $100+ more expensive.
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That is a pretty interesting piece. I've never heard anything about them. May have to do some research on that.
 
The massdrop x Tashi Bharucha “Prism” and “Heat Seeker” are both on sale for $200 right now
 
sharp_edge said:
Don't waste money on the sub-$200 range as you already have quite a few. Time to go up to Hinderer and Chris Reeve.
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Easy now, turbo! This is a journey, not a goal. You gotta take your time stepping up to the Reeve/Hinderer platform. I shouldn't speak for other people (I'm gonna anyway), but $200 to $400/$500 is a big jump.

More important, there's something intangible about Mr. Reeve's knives. I've seen people who go straight from Winchester/Gerber to CRK, and they're not impressed. It seems to take a fair bit of experience with what other knives aren't, to appreciate what Sebenzas are.
 
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I don't know if you've ever tried the Gayle Bradley ? If you want a high quality rock solid cutting tool under $200 that's my suggestion. Sorry for the poor impromptu photo, pulled it out of my pocket just now to show you. Happy New Year All !
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Some great suggestions here. I dont want to step up to a CRK or Hinderer quite yet. I ruined sub $100 knives for myself early on in collecting (been collecting since September) I would like to enjoy the sub $250 range for awhile before I step up.
 
I have been for years on the $120-240 range and IMO I have lost money
I don’t regret it because it gave me the time to better understand knives but definitively I should have pick a CRK (or another mid-high end brand) before

in the under $200, I have on my list:
Para 3 (got one in December)
Spydiechef (should be my first knife of the year)
A Yojimbo and an Emerson CQC-7 (not a recommandation here but we all have our weaknesses and the tacticool ninja into myself is begging for those :) )


mother interesting knives to try
BM Bugout

You should find some ZT like 0450
 
See what all the fuss is about that Paramilitary 2. Maybe even the Military if you're ballsy ;)
 
lieferung said:
See what all the fuss is about that Paramilitary 2. Maybe even the Military if you're ballsy ;)
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You rang.

I love how we describe stepping up in knife prices like it’s some form of graduation for appreciating our folders.

I can easily appreciate the $500 CRK as much as my $50 CRKT.
I say buy what sings to you and budget allows, regardless of high or low end.
 
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Balsquat said:
You rang.

I love how we describe stepping up in knife prices like it’s some form of graduation for appreciating our folders.

I can easily appreciate the $500 CRK as much as my $50 CRKT.
I say buy what sings to you and budget allows, regardless of high or low end.
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It is for some people. Obviously, each person's experience is going to be different, but if you "zoom out", there are similarities. I think it would be interesting to have a discussion some time about knife enthusiast archetypes, but that's my INTJ showing, again.

I started with $20 flea market specials, and I would not have noticed a 25 or a 31 as anything special, because it wasn't tactical black, or recurved. As I learned more about knives, I learned that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was right. Now, I understand what Mr. Reeve is trying to do. In part because people here have done a good job of explaining it.

It can be a matter of personal economics, too. Five Benjamins is the entry fee for some people, and for others, it's far more than they're comfortable paying for something which can still get lost, stolen, or broken, if used and carried on a regular basis.

I salute your good taste and sensibility, but I'm still kind of a knuckle-dragger, and I would look for something different from CRK's offerings, if I was willing to play in that arena.
 
All good. Makes perfect sense to me.

Shorttime said:
It is for some people. Obviously, each person's experience is going to be different, but if you "zoom out", there are similarities. I think it would be interesting to have a discussion some time about knife enthusiast archetypes, but that's my INTJ showing, again.

I started with $20 flea market specials, and I would not have noticed a 25 or a 31 as anything special, because it wasn't tactical black, or recurved. As I learned more about knives, I learned that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was right. Now, I understand what Mr. Reeve is trying to do. In part because people here have done a good job of explaining it.

It can be a matter of personal economics, too. Five Benjamins is the entry fee for some people, and for others, it's far more than they're comfortable paying for something which can still get lost, stolen, or broken, if used and carried on a regular basis.

I salute your good taste and sensibility, but I'm still kind of a knuckle-dragger, and I would look for something different from CRK's offerings, if I was willing to play in that arena.
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The money is in but the decision sure isnt. Im also kinda eyeing the Hogue Ritter rsk. I dont have z clue what I want.
 
RealVendetta said:
That is a pretty interesting piece. I've never heard anything about them. May have to do some research on that.
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Freeman 451 is a great knife, I've been using mine as my weekend\woods folder for about a year now. Very smooth, very sturdy. I do think the grind is a bit thick, but I've not encountered any major issues because of it.
 
Well you don’t seem to mind larger knives. In that case, before you „leave“ Spyderco, you need to get a Military and/or a Police 4.
 
2nd the CS AD15, and they have an all black one coming out this year if you don't like the green/gray
 
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