Under $600?

[jstn]

I would probably go Hinderer. Or a G&G Hawk Mudd if you can find one.

 

[TRfromMT]

Just for the sake of a quick follow up to my post above. The Olamic arrived today. Man, what a nice knife! Definitely plan to put some miles on this...

AFTER I sharpen it. This may have the most barely-sharp edge of any factory knife I've ever purchased. Not even close to sharp, but certainly not something an hour on the Sharpmaker or the Wicked Edge won't remedy. If you are like me and prefer to put your own edge on a knife, then this is a non issue. If you expect a decently sharp edge out of the box (think Spyderco) then this will disappoint.

Handle ergonomics are a little interesting on this Wayfarer 247. They basically allow for a single hand position. The radically curved back end basically nests into the palm of your hand, but it prevents choking up on the blade at all.

All in all though, it's a high quality knife!

 

[abbazaba]

In the smaller size range, the Half Track was a really nice surprise. Great ergos and a cool little carry. I do actually carry the 3" XM more though. 0392's don't disappoint either! I've been on a bit of a Hinderer kick lately, and if you can find a XM 3.5 Skinny...

 

[jceckrosh]

With that kind of money you should be able to find some one that makes custom stuff and have something made just for you. There are many great makers on here. I am not one of them. But I assure you they are here. Lol

Having a custom made folder where you pick the steel and design and handle ect would be something of a family heirloom after you pass lol

At that price range I would second some of the other recommendations of looking into custom/hand made/Small batch CNC stuff with hand finished products from makers.

Let me start off by saying I have a lot of custom knives.

BUT!

If you are not committed to collecting, or have no idea if you will love the custom you get and want to use it for the rest of your life, there are some "problems" with customs.

The more the knife costs, the more you will (likely) lose on it when/if you sell. If you use a knife and you figure 20% off retail for some light use, 20% off a $500 custom is very different than 20% off a $200 Spyderco.

And that is tied to the other part - some guys make fantastic knives. Really amazinng. But when (or if) one decides they have outgrown it or their tastes have changed, it can sometimes be difficult to sell a really really good knife, because people are unfamiliar with the maker, or the maker is no longer making, or any number of other reasons. To sell some custom knives I have in the past had to come down 40% from what I paid to get a nibble. Maybe it's the materials, or the maker is low output so not well known, but there are some pitfalls to custom knives.

There is a good reason you see such brisk business in Sypdercos and CRK's on the exchange - good knives, the loss factor is not huge at a 10-20% markdown from retail, good CS, been around a while, aren't going anywhere.

So I agree, a custom can be great for getting exactly what you want, but if a time comes when you no longer want it, it may turn out it is not exactly what anyone else wants.

Just wanted to add some advice I would have liked before I bought my first customs.

For me, in the $500ish range right now I would get either a Laconico EZE, Reate Lambert Crossroads, or a CRK. And the more I see that Mini Goblin the more I like it. No idea why though.

 

[Frozen Bear Trading]

Let me start off by saying I have a lot of custom knives.

BUT!

If you are not committed to collecting, or have no idea if you will love the custom you get and want to use it for the rest of your life, there are some "problems" with customs.

The more the knife costs, the more you will (likely) lose on it when/if you sell. If you use a knife and you figure 20% off retail for some light use, 20% off a $500 custom is very different than 20% off a $200 Spyderco.

And that is tied to the other part - some guys make fantastic knives. Really amazinng. But when (or if) one decides they have outgrown it or their tastes have changed, it can sometimes be difficult to sell a really really good knife, because people are unfamiliar with the maker, or the maker is no longer making, or any number of other reasons. To sell some custom knives I have in the past had to come down 40% from what I paid to get a nibble. Maybe it's the materials, or the maker is low output so not well known, but there are some pitfalls to custom knives.

There is a good reason you see such brisk business in Sypdercos and CRK's on the exchange - good knives, the loss factor is not huge at a 10-20% markdown from retail, good CS, been around a while, aren't going anywhere.

So I agree, a custom can be great for getting exactly what you want, but if a time comes when you no longer want it, it may turn out it is not exactly what anyone else wants.

Just wanted to add some advice I would have liked before I bought my first customs.

For me, in the $500ish range right now I would get either a Laconico EZE, Reate Lambert Crossroads, or a CRK. And the more I see that Mini Goblin the more I like it. No idea why though.

He is right. I keep my knives and dont sell them. But a custom made one is one of the hardest to sell to some one if you want to get rid of it. Or people will want it but offer you half what you paid. But if you plan on reselling and keeping it pristine in a box maybe you should get a popular high dollar brand.

I cant ever keep anything in the box. Any way his post is accurate

 

[jceckrosh]

He is right. I keep my knives and dont sell them. But a custom made one is one of the hardest to sell to some one if you want to get rid of it. Or people will want it but offer you half what you paid. But if you plan on reselling and keeping it pristine in a box maybe you should get a popular high dollar brand.

I cant ever keep anything in the box. Any way his post is accurate

Yeah, I wasn't even really saying used or unused or that kind of thing. It's just harder to sell some customs if you ever outgrow them or your tastes change or you want to just put the money towards something new. Of course, there are customs that are easy to sell, but usually we are talking about name brand makers. Some customs can be hard to move, and the loss makes you want to pound your head on a table.

 

[Frozen Bear Trading]

Yeah, I wasn't even really saying used or unused or that kind of thing. It's just harder to sell some customs if you ever outgrow them or your tastes change or you want to just put the money towards something new. Of course, there are customs that are easy to sell, but usually we are talking about name brand makers. Some customs can be hard to move, and the loss makes you want to pound your head on a table.

I could see customs being hard to sale. Turn back time to 2008 ish when the economy went to crap it was really hard to see custom made stuff people just didnt have the money

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

Speaking of customs.....
Jesse Jarosz just posted some M75s up for sale on his website. Just a tick above 3" and right in your price range.
Quality stuff.

 

[evilgreg]

Anything that's been recommended so far, though were it me I'd skip Hinderer and Shiro. Olamic or Koenig maybe.

 

[Sonnydaze]

For under $200 I'd check out the Massdrop/Laconico Keen collaboration.

Agreed...it's one of my favorites. But my all-time favorite model...other than my large CRK Sebenza...is the Spyderco Slysz Bowie...a GREAT folder...

 

[Lapedog]

If you want something different that is good quality but not everyone has check out the Prometheus Design Worx Invictus.

It starts at around 660$ but quality is excellent.

I know its a bit above your price range at 660$

 

[sharp_edge]

Just for the sake of a quick follow up to my post above. The Olamic arrived today. Man, what a nice knife! Definitely plan to put some miles on this...

AFTER I sharpen it. This may have the most barely-sharp edge of any factory knife I've ever purchased. Not even close to sharp, but certainly not something an hour on the Sharpmaker or the Wicked Edge won't remedy. If you are like me and prefer to put your own edge on a knife, then this is a non issue. If you expect a decently sharp edge out of the box (think Spyderco) then this will disappoint.

Handle ergonomics are a little interesting on this Wayfarer 247. They basically allow for a single hand position. The radically curved back end basically nests into the palm of your hand, but it prevents choking up on the blade at all.

All in all though, it's a high quality knife!

The big butt on Olamic handle is what makes me hesitate to pull the trigger. It looks like very ergo for one grip but not for other grips, although I could be wrong as I have not tried one.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I would say look at the new Gen 6 Hinderers ... DLT has an Exclusive Swedged Spearpoint which is one of my new favorites ... but not alot left in stock ... the Sheepsfoot is a great slicer but hard to find at the moment it seems.

I have been looking at and considering the Koenig Arius ... and the Hinderer Halftracks.

 

[nwmetalbug]

Either one of these....

 

[evilgreg]

The big butt on Olamic handle is what makes me hesitate to pull the trigger. It looks like very ergo for one grip but not for other grips, although I could be wrong as I have not tried one.

I have seven Olamics and the one model I don't own is the Wayfarer/247, mostly because I find the handle shape off-putting.

 

[skwave]

I agree with the previous comments about Hinderer. I've had several pass through my hands over the last few years, and the 6th Gen XM's and half-tracks are worth it.

I'm less impressed with Olamic than many others here; mostly due to bad experiences with one of their first gen wayfarers, and a extremely condescending meeting with the dealer at Blade Show West. But, they are well received.

I would like to add in Curtiss knives. A medium or large F3 can be found for well within your budget, and they are very well made, with great action!

 

[jhynds]

Find yourself a Millit Torrrent.

 

[Alsharif]

..
I'm less impressed with Olamic than many others here; mostly due to bad experiences with one of their first gen wayfarers, and a extremely condescending meeting with the dealer at Blade Show West. But, they are well received.

..

Interesting. I had a short chat with them on instagram and got the condescending vibe, decided they weren't for me.

 

[Pharmagator]

Don't forget ... For that amount of $$$ you could get nearly fifty 'Bear Grylls' survival knives!