What are the best folding knives in each price range?

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kgriggs8

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What are some of the best bargins for the different price ranges? For ex., $20-50 range, $50-100, $100-200? Lets call these the low, medium and high price ranges for our purposes. I know that many of you own knives costing more than $200 but much more than $200 and I would be afraid to carry it and use it.

What are some of the favorites in these price ranges. I am no up to date on the best deals going right now but I plan on buying serveral knives in the near future (Al Mar Shrike is on the way) and I want to get ones that people have grown to love and see as good value for the price.
 
Spyderco Military $105.00, this would put it in the low-High Cat or lower part of your high cat.
 
Those price ranges are not firm, I just gave them dollar amounts so that it was clear what I considered low, med and high. That should be taken as good sales prices also and not MSRP or top dollar. For ex., I saw a Benchmade 960 at the mall knife store for $220 +tax and I can get the same thing online for about $110. I would consider the BM 960 a $110 knife not a $220 knife so it would not be out of my price range.

$200 is just about my limit because I feel that you are not really getting much more in terms of performance beyond that. A good $200 knife can probably do 99% of what a custom $1000 knife can do. What you get with the custom are things like, unique design, extra perfect fit and finish, better materials and better looks. In terms of function, there is not much difference.
 
What is a Queen D2? I have never heard of that one before. I am not really up-to-date on my knives anymore.
 
Moving up through the prices... Opinel, SAK, Various Spyderco's & BM Grippy, BM AFCK & other high end BM's, Sebenza. Yes, I know I jumped a couple hundred bucks there.
 
Queen makes various slipjoint, or traditional pattern, folders some of which use D2 steel. I am not sure if they all use D2, but I know many do use it. D2 is a tool steel that makes a really nice knife blade. I just got myself a Queen Canoe pattern with D2 blades and stag scales. Very nice, came fairly dull, but since I sharpened it up it has been tearing through cardboard like butter. I have been using it at work to cut up boxes and haven't stopped to touch up the main blade yet.

As for my picks, well I tend to like tactical styles more than traditional. I just got the Queen knife to try something different, and as stated they are fairly cheap. Or at least can be, depending on what options are picked. For $50 I would get a Camillus EDC, 154-CM steel and a frame lock. Cost is about $50 from internet dealers, so with shipping it should still be under $60. For a midprice I would probably go with an EDC in D2 from AG Russell ($70-$80) or a Spyderco Para-Military. Going into the high end of that at $200 really there are lots of great folders to choose from. It is more a matter of picking what things you like, and making a choice based on that. To me that would be something from Microtech probably, or possibly a Combat Elite folder such as the RRF.

I do disagree with you on one point though, and that is that going over $200 won't get you much more. I think that many members here would agree that a CRK Sebenza is just about one of the best knives money can buy. Once you start getting into customs that cost more than that you are paying more for having things your way, and being able to have an input in the design of the knife.
 
I am not getting the replys I was hoping for. Is it because this has been talked about before? If it has, can someone post a link to the thread?

What I am after is, the general opinions of what knives are best buys in each catagory. If the subject was about guns, I could provide a nice list of the guns I thought were best buys. I could tell you what guns were stinkers and what were sleepers. I could tell you what to look for and what to avoid. I could name good models from bad companies and bad models from good companies. SO how about being a little more helpful? :D
 
kgriggs8 said:
I am not getting the replys I was hoping for. Is it because this has been talked about before? If it has,can someone post a link to the thread?

What I am after is, the general opinions of what knives are best buys in each catagory. If the subject was about guns, I could provide a nice list of the guns I thought were best buys. I could tell you what guns were stinkers and what were sleepers. I could tell you what to look for and what to avoid. I could name good models from bad companies and bad models from good companies. SO how about being a little more helpful? :D
Click to expand...

Try using the search box :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
I think your parameters are restrictive. What kind of gun could you get for $200? Many production knives MSRP for near the $200 mark. I think in the $300-$500 is where you see the best quality. Beyond that you're paying for a name and or fancy materials. Knives are a lot simpler than a gun. With a folding knife you are dealing with handle material, lock type, blade shape/length and type of steel. I like a frame lock and S30V steel. Between $400 and $500 you can get a large variety of custom knives. I think if you want a nice folder you need to go to the higher dollar knives. Also an important consideration is what you intend to do with the knife.
 
uner $20....Kabar folding hunter dozier style

under $50....Spyderco endura or delica

under $100......ritter BM griptillian

under $200 buck/mayo TNT

over $200....don't know much about this price range.... :)
 
I like your question, kgriggs, it's a good one. Here are my picks for your categories:
under $20 - Opinel or a BM mini-Pika
under $50 - CRKT M1. cheaperthandirt.com once had it for $38! Wish I would've snagged one :(
under $100 - the Benchmade Griptillian, any style. I have the D2 version.
under $200 - this is a price-point that I have yet to venture into. I like framelocks and the BM axis lock. The 806 feels nice, but I prefer a thicker blade. The Camillus Maxx knives are large, which is cool. The Swamp Rat folder is probably pretty great. Hmmm... I suppose I need more money to comment on this price range more knowledgeably :cool:

By the way, kgriggs, i'd love to hear your gun list... I'm just starting to get into guns and am looking for all the info I can get :)
 
My favourites that I own in two of your price ranges are:

Low Price Area - Spyderco Goddard, VG10 blade, bought new for $43 recently on ebay.
Middle Price Area - Benchmade Ritter Griptilian, S30V blade, $104 and the Cuda Maxx, D2 blade, bought new recently on ebay for $109.

Another great low price blade is the Spyderco Delica. Another great medium price blade is the Spyderco Military.
 
under $20....Kabar folding hunter dozier style
under $50....Spyderco endura or delica
under $100......ritter BM griptillian
under $200 buck/mayo TNT
over $200.... [sebenza]

I totally agree with Bill_G!
 
Hmm... just generally speaking (and including some fixed blades as well as folders), the best deals, IMO, are:

Under $25 - Opinel and Mora knives.

Under $75 - Spyderco FRN and some SS handled knives. Plus, inexpensive puukkos.

Under $150 - Who knows? :p LOL! Too many knives fit into this category!

Under $250 - Custom fixed blades, if you can find them in this price range.

Under $450 - Sebenzas, including the decorated variety.

Over that? I really don't have any experience. :( :)
 
Under $25- Kabar Dozier folders
Under $50- Spyderco Delica
Under $75- BM Griptillian
Under $125- BM 710, Spyderco Military
Under $200- Buck/Mayo ???? (never owned a knife in this range)
Under $350 production- Sebenza
Under $375 custom- Hinderer, Obenauf, JL Williams
 
$20-$50 Buck 110
$50-$100 Buck 110 with ATS-34 or BG-42 blade
$100-$200 Buck 110 with ATS-34 or BG-42 Blades with Elk scales.

:)
 
Excellent replies.
I mostly choose based on blade material, shape, type of lock, mfg. and let price be last to consider. I then shop the internet for prices and order from the lowest price dealer that has it in stock. Many good internet knife dealers and all have given me great service. I buy mostly folders so your choices may be different.
Now, if I want a low cost knife just for utility I go to WalMart and look in their display case in the sporting goods area. Lots of choices but most are blades made in Taiwan, China, etc. using lower quality steels like 420SS, etc.
I've also ordered from Cabela's, but they don't have a great selection of brands.
You get what you pay for this day and time.
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Under $50: Calypso Jr./Dragonfly
Under $100: Native II
Under $150: Lil'T/Manix
Under $200: Same as under $150
Over $200: A whole bunch of customs, which would like to have but can not afford :(

Edit: Of course all prices are retail not list.
 
Great replys so far! Thanks, it is helping me see some knives are favorites. I see that Spydercos are a best buy from what others seem to think. I have never owned a Spyderco so I guess it is time to give one a try. The Benchmade Griptilian seems to have a loyal following as well.

This is the kind of info that really helps one sort of some of the better knives without having to buy every knife to see which is best first hand. It is kind of like a head start.

Keep em comming. If this topic has been talked about before, excuse me but I couldn't find any info with the search function. I guess I don't know what to search for.
 
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