Top EDC manufacturers

Sticking with your budget, I'd be OK looking at Buck, Ontario, or the Dozier models from Ka-Bar (these are actually very good knives at the price point). I'd pass on the other common hardware store brands.
 
Buck 110
Cold Steel Mini Recon1 or large Voyager
Ontario RAT 1/2

Civivi or Kizer if you are OK with knife being Chinese made...


ESEE Izula/Candiru or CRKT Minimalist for fixed blade.
 
One of the EDC knives in my rotation is a Kershaw. Ask the store clerk if you can check out the knife and see how it feels in your pocket. Check how snug the blade is when open and if there is any play in the mechanism.
 
The Hawk said:
One of the EDC knives in my rotation is a Kershaw. Ask the store clerk if you can check out the knife and see how it feels in your pocket. Check how snug the blade is when open and if there is any play in the mechanism.
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I like Kershaw as well. However I only have USA models. There's maybe 4 domestic models available. The rest are imports. So that's over the op budget. Kai will not service any imported models. Last I heard. If you get one with xxxx marked on the blade, it failed quality control.
 
I have 2 recommendations for you. I'd go to Kershawguy's website and look at his Kershaw "blems". As said above, they failed quality control due to a cosmetic issue or two. I've owned probably 20 or more kershaw blems and it's always been very hard to find the blemish, and I can be pretty particular. They have the Leek 2660CB for $50. I think you'd really like that knife. I'm playing with mine right now in fact. Or choose a different one there. Looks like all his blems are the American made models so that's an amazing deal. The other recommendation I have is a Kizer Begleiter 2.
 
This is the Kershaw Leek I was talking about for 50 bucks through KershawGuy. It is a really nice little knife. This picture shows the edge steel is D2, however it's actually CPM-D2 which I like. That's probably why it is being sold as a "blem", because it's miss-marked. But like I said, I've have many Kershaw blems and they've always been in really good condition.
Leek.jpeg
 
Etched1 said:
I’m looking to purchase a few new EDC knives. Most likely folders but maybe a fixed blade. So, let’s say I happen to run into some hardware store and I see 40 knives in one of those rotating cases. The heavy yellow lights are directed into the case and making me woozy. What name brands should be catching my attention at $20-$50?
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Harbor Freight has a surprisingly nice EDC knife with 8CR13mov steel and a flipper with bearings for only 10 bucks
 
LimpCroissant said:
This is the Kershaw Leek I was talking about for 50 bucks through KershawGuy. It is a really nice little knife. This picture shows the edge steel is D2, however it's actually CPM-D2 which I like. That's probably why it is being sold as a "blem", because it's miss-marked. But like I said, I've have many Kershaw blems and they've always been in really good condition.
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I do believe that's one of the most carried edcs that Kershaw has ever produced. It's a fine little blade. And that's in really good condition because mine is all scratched up. I gifted one to my son-in-law. He still carries it to this day. The Kershaw guy has been around for a long time. I think he was one of the co-founders of the Kershaw Mafia.
 
Bastler said:
Another vote for Buck 110 or 112 Slim Select.
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I'd go a little more money and get a buck 110 with the finger grooved scales. But if the Op does buy a buck 110, it's everything that he said he wanted in his original post. He wanted wood handles the buck 110 comes in ebony wood he wanted a 3.5 inch blade the buck is 3.75. it's a decent steel I think it fits the bill I agree if that's what the op wanted the buck 110 will satisfy him. And they're not that much money.
 
Etched1 said:
I’m looking to purchase a few new EDC knives. Most likely folders but maybe a fixed blade. So, let’s say I happen to run into some hardware store and I see 40 knives in one of those rotating cases. The heavy yellow lights are directed into the case and making me woozy. What name brands should be catching my attention at $20-$50?
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Honestly, rather than getting 'a few' knives in the $20-$50 range, I'd buy one knife in the $100-$150 range. This will open up a lot more better quality options.
 
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