UPDATE: "Working knife" recommendation. FOUND ONE.

Buck custom shop 110 with the new optional drop point blade, with wood covers and the standard nylon sheath will come in at just under your limit. For an extra $10 you can get the classic black or brown leather sheath.

For one hand opening, the Ontario RAT 1 seems popular.

They may not be what you had in mind. but a couple other good "working knives" you might want to consider are the stockman (Buck 301 made in Idaho, USA is around $20 - $25 online) a Barlow, Trapper, moose, and canoe are slso a good choice, or the venerable SAK Tinker/Super Tinker/Farmer/Fronteer.
 
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Toughest folders that I own and actually use for tough tasks. My Recon 1 might be tougher, but weights almost twice as the PS and is much less comfortable to carry/use.

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I will go way off the reservation here and say a leatherman wave. Just sayin....blade is not exactly heavy duty, but you have other options with a wave for nastier jobs...... My brother in law is an on-call big rig mechanic, the kind the truckers call when they are stuck on the side of the road in the middle of the night.
He loves his.
 
Rancho5 said:
I enjoy giving knives as gifts, so I'd like a recommendation.

He's a working man, works in a machine shop. Works on cars and drives a motorcycle. I'd like the knife to be sub $100 so I can possibly buy him two different ones. It needs to be tough, preferably NOT a liner lock but rather a frame lock or as strong or stronger, assisted opening would be nice so he can use it with one hand. Lifetime sharpening and service would be a huge plus. He's never expressed a preference so I don't think tanto or clip, etc, matters. I think plain edge would be best.

Maybe some of the higher end American made Kershaws?

Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.
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As a working man that rides motorcycles and all that fun shit I wonder......is your friend a traditional type guy (ie not into all that whiz bang stuff)?

IE.....Id rather carry a 1911 then a Glock, wear leather then textile etc. Classic watches, leather wallet.....yadda yadda.

Maybe he is, maybe he isnt......but if he is thats going to make a huge difference in the type of knife hes likely to prefer.

Most of the time when Im working or on my bike I carry a fixed blade knife on my belt - sturdy, simple and handy.
 
Surfingringo said:
The Spyderco Salt knives are the toughest knives I own. I have hard used them in very harsh work environments (every day) for years now and have never so much as made one squeal. The H1 steel is exceptionally tough and is 100% corrosion proof. In fact, the entire knife is completely rust proof. I often come in and just throw mine in the sink, covered with blood and salt and leave them there all night until I put it in my waistband again the next day. They are also lightweight, and edge retention (on the serrated versions) is outstanding too. These are some of the best work knives being made right now IMO. And for $100 you can almost get a serrated Pacific Salt and a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Sharpening, even on the serrated models, is an absolute breeze with the sharpmaker. There have been some other great suggestions in this thread but this is mine.

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I love hearing this about a knife that's going to be my next purchase.

Additional benefit, for as big as it is the Pacific Salt is really lightweight. One of my reasons for buying it next.
 
If he's going to get grit and dirt in the pivot than I'd stay away from an assisted opening knife. Give him something that he can either take apart and clean or blow out a simple pivot system.
 
TLR said:
If he's going to get grit and dirt in the pivot than I'd stay away from an assisted opening knife. Give him something that he can either take apart and clean or blow out a simple pivot system.
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+1
I would suggest something with a tanto, not for the "cool" factor, but because it works wonders using the flat for scraping. It works like an off-angle chisel
 
How about a Hogue folder. Great under rated knives, but solid as hell. Also have a look at Ontario knives utilitac models.
 
Rancho5 said:
Update: I decided not to cheap out so I got him a Spyderco Pacific Salt, yellow serrated, a Cold Steel Large Voyager Tanto, plain, a Sharpmaker because he says he has a bunch of dull knives, and for a "Sunday go-to-meetings" knife, a Kershaw stainless leek, plain.

Thanks for all your help!
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Wow, all bases covered. I'm impressed. :thumbup:
 
He rebuilt a motor for me in his off time. We agreed upon a price, he got started and then things backed up at work so it took him over a year. I wasn't too concerned because it's a weekend car but he felt horrible. Said he wasn't going to charge me anything. I didn't think that was fair so I bought him a bunch of parts so he can rebuild his old truck, and the knives are just to say thanks.
 
Rancho5 said:
He rebuilt a motor for me in his off time. We agreed upon a price, he got started and then things backed up at work so it took him over a year. I wasn't too concerned because it's a weekend car but he felt horrible. Said he wasn't going to charge me anything. I didn't think that was fair so I bought him a bunch of parts so he can rebuild his old truck, and the knives are just to say thanks.
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Shit happens...I've been there myself on both sides. Super awesome on you being understanding. Sounds like you guys both get it. Kudos.
 
Already up here, but HK 14715 is a great choice. It's a little plain, but D2, axis lock, right around $100. It's my new EDC for a while. Constantly working on motorcycles/cars. Not as easy on my knives as I should be. No problems with that one. Cold Steel anything has also never failed me.
 
knifedude802 said:
Already up here, but HK 14715 is a great choice. It's a little plain, but D2, axis lock, right around $100. It's my new EDC for a while. Constantly working on motorcycles/cars. Not as easy on my knives as I should be. No problems with that one. Cold Steel anything has also never failed me.
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That IS a nice looking knife, I may have to add that to my list.
 
Grab a Benchmade HK Axis from the auction place for $65 for about ten minutes. I don't wanna win it.
 
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