What are your favorite high-value low-cost knives?

I think opinel is the king though.

A decent size good looking well designed locking blade for like 10€.

And you pretty much never hear people getting a bad Opinel because of the design and how the lock works.
 
19-3ben said:
And as long as 22-rimfire posted, I might as well just throw out that he and i are going to agree on Condor knives generally being good bang for the buck.
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Yeah. We pretty much agree on that. The cost of the Condor blades is rising and the value is being slowly eroded. But in general, I really like them.

FortyTwoBlades said:
Low-cost high-value is pretty much what I'm all about. There's SO many good options out there to even make a dent on listing them all.
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That's pretty much where I'm headed in the knife hobby although I will get an occasional custom or handmade knife from time to time. I don't mind sharpening a knife. I just don't like to re-sharpen in the middle of a cutting task. I pretty much ignore most of the mid-techs.
 
22-rimfire said:
Yeah. We pretty much agree on that. The cost of the Condor blades is rising and the value is being slowly eroded. But in general, I really like them.
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It's true. I've noticed in the last 6 months that their prices are putting them in a bad spot. A Bushlore, when i got it, was priced in in the low-mid $30s range. Now it's up around $50. Same deal with some of the other similar knives like the Kephart, and Nessmuk.

I dunno what the deal is.

Maybe i should say that Condor USED to be an unbelievable deal. Now they are just a good deal.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Low-cost high-value is pretty much what I'm all about. There's SO many good options out there to even make a dent on listing them all.
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That's exactly what I'm all about too.
I can appreciate a knife being fancy and high tech, but I just don't need my knives to be either if those 2 things to cut stuff daily.
 
I picked up my first 2 SAKs recently and have to agree they are an excellent value!
I'd also put the CRKT Swindle on the list. One of my best flippers, no blade play, perfectly centered....for less than $40. Really cool little knife.
Joe
 
19-3ben said:
It's true. I've noticed in the last 6 months that their prices are putting them in a bad spot. A Bushlore, when i got it, was priced in in the low-mid $30s range. Now it's up around $50. Same deal with some of the other similar knives like the Kephart, and Nessmuk.

I dunno what the deal is.

Maybe i should say that Condor USED to be an unbelievable deal. Now they are just a good deal.
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Maybe they're paying Joe Flowers too much. :D He was instrumental in turning that company around along with the good reviews by users. Of course, paying attention to the quality of their product was really important too.
 
Dozens of them, we live in good times to be a knife nut in a budget

1st: Traditionals and timeless designs
(SAK, Opinels, Okapi,m Mercator, Higonokami, etc.) all for less than $20 mostly

2nd: OHO folders that are well made
(Ontario RAT, KaBar Dozier, Byrd Cara Cara, SRM 7010, ESEE Zancudo, Kershaw OSO Sweet, Ontario Utilitac, Kershaw Chill, Cold STeel Tuff Lite, ENLAN EL01, Ontario Utilitac, Byrd Tern) under $20-30

3rd: Mid tier production with excellent designs
(Spyderco Delica 4, BM Mini Grip, Spyderco DF2, Cold Steel Voyager, Kershaw Skyline, Boker Plus USA, CRKT Ripple, BM H&K Line, Cold Steel American Lawman) under $100

4th: Knife nut classies under midtech knives' prices (Military, BM Adamas, Cold Steel Recon, PM 2, BM 940, ZT 900, CS SR1, etc.) that have been staples in the knife industry for long

I think that, at their different price levels, all these can be considered high value knives, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend all of them
 
Just got a brand new Victorinox Side Chef serrated yesterday for 25 bucks shipped.
Exactly what I needed for work.
Sort reminds me a little of the partially serrated Spyderco Stretch that I lost 2 years ago.
Had to rework the tip to make it pointier, took 5 minutes on my KO Worksharp.
 
Buck small vanguard pro - good ergos, good steel, good design, opens slow/controlled (thumb-hole) or fast (flick&flip)
 
The Harnds Talisman is a great value at $30. It has a bigger blade than the RAT1 in the same handle size as a PM2, ball bearing flipper and AUS8 blade. Really comfortable in the hand.
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Tough to vote against any of the ~$25 SAKs.

Love my Byrd Rescue 2. Got it for $19.

And that Old Timer with the buckled stag scales that are about to fall out sure spends more than its share of time on the coffee table.

This thread makes me want to go clean my fingernails with my Randall.
 
Oddly most of the very good value knives mentioned here are made in China.
There are tons of posts that down grade all the China knives on BF.

As a newbie, I like these brands like Rough Rider, Ganzo, (I know), Kershaw, and there is currently a seller on Flea that is out of Alaska, and selling some very solid Damascus knives (folders, skinners) made in Pakistan.

I know I hit all the key words...

I'm new, and searching for low cost / quality knives that I can retail locally (ie: NOT HERE):(
On the other end of retail I am collecting vintage knives/folders to keep the REAL American knife market as healthy as I can. Old steel is usually good steel.

The only conflict I see in my approach is buying counterfeits/clones. That won't happen (again). I did buy a Ganzo auto that I liked, and found it was a clone of another. Learning curve.
 
I was surprised by the Esse Avispa and Zacudo. They aren't all that attractive to look at but for $30 are a steal. I use the Zacudo to open/break down boxes all the time. Both lock up well, no blade play, perfect detents and sharpen up well.
 
Aldebaran said:
The Harnds Talisman is a great value at $30. It has a bigger blade than the RAT1 in the same handle size as a PM2, ball bearing flipper and AUS8 blade. Really comfortable in the hand.
147738425405.jpg
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Don't like flippers, but that's actually a nice simple looking knife that I might want if it wasn't a flipper
 
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