The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Reate Hills. Just buy it. Better than any other knife mentioned yet in this thread, so long as you're good with a frame lock flipper.
I'd drop the mic but folks downstairs keep complaining.
If you hurry, you can get a ZT0801 first gen. for your budget. Lotta knife for the money, lotta knife in your pocket.
IMHO, nothing beats the CH Knives CH 3504 in S35VN with your choice of handle design, $85 more or less. The only thing I can comment on is that it is a bit heavy. No more heavier than a ZT but heavier than a PM2 for sure. I would not recommend a PM2. It is not a bad knife but it is certainly not for everyone.
http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/ch-knives-ch-3504-wow.1510700/
Now that (ZT0801) is what I'm talking about. This one definitely catches my eye. .....