Have a pic? What do you like about the Rough Rider knives? I've never heard of them.
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What are your favorite high-value low-cost knives?
- Thread starter maximus83
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Have a pic? What do you like about the Rough Rider knives? I've never heard of them.
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I'd say that we're lucky to have as many choices as we do in low cost but high value knives. All the brands repeatedly mentioned provide a great knife for less than similar knives and the quality of low cost knives is getting better and better.
It's a great time to be a knife fan with quality, affordable knives from all over the world being available like they are.
I'm going to add one as well.
The bottom of the barrel $4 flipper from Walmart. When you get a good one, the fit and finish are fine, the blade is 3cr and the handles are G10. It locks up well and has an adjustable pivot screw.
If it was $10 it would be a new budget Kershaw but for the price it's a great beater that you can sharpen on the sidewalk if you have to since it's about 1/5 the price if anything else close.
I've even seen them go on clearance for $1 which is a total no brainer. At that point it's cheaper than disposable razor blades.
It's a great time to be a knife fan with quality, affordable knives from all over the world being available like they are.
I'm going to add one as well.
The bottom of the barrel $4 flipper from Walmart. When you get a good one, the fit and finish are fine, the blade is 3cr and the handles are G10. It locks up well and has an adjustable pivot screw.
If it was $10 it would be a new budget Kershaw but for the price it's a great beater that you can sharpen on the sidewalk if you have to since it's about 1/5 the price if anything else close.
I've even seen them go on clearance for $1 which is a total no brainer. At that point it's cheaper than disposable razor blades.
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Agree, we're kind of in a golden age of knife making and knife options. As knife knerds (I include myself in that) we are living in a great time of innovation and incredible range of market options, from low end to high end, and everything in between. Similar for firearms I could add. The level of innovation going on around the standard milspec AR15 is astonishing.
I'm sure there as as many opinions about this as there are knives and knife users so I will offer my opinion. Around 40 years ago I discovered the Buck 303 Cadet and have had one in my pocket almost daily ever since. In the last couple of years I have used other much more expensive knives with better steels, today it's a Spyderco Sage 5, but are they any better than the little Buck? Not necessarily. I used the Buck when I was an electrician for an electric utility company and used the knife to cut everything plus I stripped out countless control cables with it. The Buck stood up through all the abuse over the years. Would one of my Benchmade or Spyderco knives done any better? Maybe, but I can buy 5 Bucks for the price of a Sage 5. There are countless inexpensive knives that work well for certain individuals so if a person buys a $4 Walmart knife and they are happy with it why should I question their purchase. It may not be a great value to me but if they are happy with their purchase who am I to question it?
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I think you can thank the Chinese for this primarily in terms of low cost-high value. Their production results in tremendous competition to knife manufacturers from western nations. Ultimately, on the lower end of things, the price stays pretty flat but the value seems to be increasing.
strategy9
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Rough Rider, when it comes to traditional style patterns, are the best bang for the buck in the industry IMHO. Made in china, but they use 440 steel (C or A), and their form and function is great, with solid snap in their springs.
Colt is another one, but oftentimes a tad more expensive due to the name.
All the rough riders I currently own:
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I think the tire scales is really cool. Rough Riders are a tremendous value at this time.
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So basically any knife is high value and low cost from what's going on here.
Bucks Bos 420hc, 14c28n etc also are very low cost but amazing performance. What would you call that if 8cr13mov is high value? You then call those steel super high value? Lol it's pure comedy here.
I get what you guys are saying it's plain as day. But I don't agree one bit.
Bucks Bos 420hc, 14c28n etc also are very low cost but amazing performance. What would you call that if 8cr13mov is high value? You then call those steel super high value? Lol it's pure comedy here.
I get what you guys are saying it's plain as day. But I don't agree one bit.
I don't have much experience with fixed blades but Ontario rat1 in d2, Steel will cutjack also in d2 are probably my fav high value modern folders. Spyderco Tenacious would be right there with a steel upgrade. And while some models can get pricey, GEC makes a great knife that'll outlast most owners and can likely be passed down a few times over so they are definitely high value imo. (especially if you find a deal on a user or are the recipient of one passed down)
Here's another high value low cost knife for me. This is a perfect example of this, so I'll spell it out in detail why to me, this is a great example of knives of this type. Haven't had this all that long, and only had it out in the outdoors a few times, but super impressed with it so far.
Schrade Schf52 frontier knife ($36)
Description: 1095 carbon steel, 7" blade, 13" OAL, weight 16oz with sheath, very comfortable handle about 0.83" width and well designed for a variety of holds and tasks including light chopping (TPE or you can get a micarta version for a little more), blade grind high sabre plus hollow, beefy thick blade at about 0.23" on the spine, removable scales and exposed pommel, medium aggressive jimping on the spine, nice finger choil for choking up and detail cutting. All it really needs is a better sheath, and I like mine so much I'd consider getting a custom kydex built for it, then buying a couple more of these and keeping them in various places for convenience. I really like my ESEE Junglas better in every way, except for 2 things: it's big and harder to carry, and it costs a lot more. This knife is more portable, and because it's so cheap, you could buy several of them.
Why: $36 is very reasonable to me, for a knife with all these features and its proven cutting performance. It's a very rugged, tough slab of steel for camp knife purposes. It sharpens extremely easily, yet still retains an edge pretty well for 1095. And most important of all: it just performs. For a $36 camp knife, I'm surprised at all the things it does well. It batons wood as well as an ESEE 6 I used to own. I've limbed larger branches that I had cut with my folding saw. And then for fun, did some chopping. It can clear brush, though it is limited by its own short length for that type of work, where a machete would be preferred. Also knives of this size are really too light for chopping, but in its size class, this knife chops very well and if you are trying to pack light, this is next best option I have compared to my ESEE Junglas. I've dug in the dirt with it like a makeshift shovel, and pounded tent stakes. I've done fine tasks choking up and using the choil, opened food packages, chopped vegetables, fine-sliced tomatoes/apples/bananas/mushrooms, sliced sandwiches, etc. Because I think of the hollow grind, which ordinarily is not a grind I'd prefer and definitely would not buy it on a high-end knife, this knife actually seems to be a fairly good slicer and good at food prep, despite its length and massive thickness.
Here's a pic where I just used this knife to prep my entire lunch. Split carrots and chopped peppers. Fine-sliced mushrooms and banana And cut a sandwich. It handled all this easily, obviously not a chef knife, but it didn't mangle or crush anything, and quite effective considering it's a large outdoor oriented blade.
Schrade Schf52 frontier knife ($36)
Description: 1095 carbon steel, 7" blade, 13" OAL, weight 16oz with sheath, very comfortable handle about 0.83" width and well designed for a variety of holds and tasks including light chopping (TPE or you can get a micarta version for a little more), blade grind high sabre plus hollow, beefy thick blade at about 0.23" on the spine, removable scales and exposed pommel, medium aggressive jimping on the spine, nice finger choil for choking up and detail cutting. All it really needs is a better sheath, and I like mine so much I'd consider getting a custom kydex built for it, then buying a couple more of these and keeping them in various places for convenience. I really like my ESEE Junglas better in every way, except for 2 things: it's big and harder to carry, and it costs a lot more. This knife is more portable, and because it's so cheap, you could buy several of them.
Why: $36 is very reasonable to me, for a knife with all these features and its proven cutting performance. It's a very rugged, tough slab of steel for camp knife purposes. It sharpens extremely easily, yet still retains an edge pretty well for 1095. And most important of all: it just performs. For a $36 camp knife, I'm surprised at all the things it does well. It batons wood as well as an ESEE 6 I used to own. I've limbed larger branches that I had cut with my folding saw. And then for fun, did some chopping. It can clear brush, though it is limited by its own short length for that type of work, where a machete would be preferred. Also knives of this size are really too light for chopping, but in its size class, this knife chops very well and if you are trying to pack light, this is next best option I have compared to my ESEE Junglas. I've dug in the dirt with it like a makeshift shovel, and pounded tent stakes. I've done fine tasks choking up and using the choil, opened food packages, chopped vegetables, fine-sliced tomatoes/apples/bananas/mushrooms, sliced sandwiches, etc. Because I think of the hollow grind, which ordinarily is not a grind I'd prefer and definitely would not buy it on a high-end knife, this knife actually seems to be a fairly good slicer and good at food prep, despite its length and massive thickness.
Here's a pic where I just used this knife to prep my entire lunch. Split carrots and chopped peppers. Fine-sliced mushrooms and banana And cut a sandwich. It handled all this easily, obviously not a chef knife, but it didn't mangle or crush anything, and quite effective considering it's a large outdoor oriented blade.
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But GEC's are not low cost overall for a traditional. It took me a good year after they went into production to consider buying one of their knives regardless of how long it would likely last. I like GEC knives a lot.
A high value-low cost should be a knife non-knife folks would consider buying. Most think spending $50 is a heck of a lot of money for a pocket knife.
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Here's a pic where I just used this knife to prep my entire lunch. Split carrots and chopped peppers. Fine-sliced mushrooms and banana And cut a sandwich. It handled all this easily, obviously not a chef knife, but it didn't mangle or crush anything, and quite effective considering it's a large outdoor oriented blade.
Not trying to derail the thread here but, I was just curious. What's the salad riding shotgun to the sandwich called and what's all in it? It looks yummy!!!
Not trying to derail the thread here but, I was just curious. What's the salad riding shotgun to the sandwich called and what's all in it? It looks yummy!!!
Haha, it's called "slop a bunch of veggies together and call it a salad."
Here's all the stuff I put in it:* Kale
* Peppers
* Carrots
* Mushrooms
* Sunflower seeds
* Craisins
* Dressing is a home mix: Canola oil, red vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Haha, it's called "slop a bunch of veggies together and call it a salad."
* Kale
* Peppers
* Carrots
* Mushrooms
* Sunflower seeds
* Craisins
* Dressing is a home mix: Canola oil, red vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Right on, thanks!!!
Here's another high value low cost knife for me. This is a perfect example of this, so I'll spell it out in detail why to me, this is a great example of knives of this type. Haven't had this all that long, and only had it out in the outdoors a few times, but super impressed with it so far.
Schrade Schf52 frontier knife ($36)
Description: 1095 carbon steel, 7" blade, 13" OAL, weight 16oz with sheath, very comfortable handle about 0.83" width and well designed for a variety of holds and tasks including light chopping (TPE or you can get a micarta version for a little more), blade grind high sabre plus hollow, beefy thick blade at about 0.23" on the spine, removable scales and exposed pommel, medium aggressive jimping on the spine, nice finger choil for choking up and detail cutting. All it really needs is a better sheath, and I like mine so much I'd consider getting a custom kydex built for it, then buying a couple more of these and keeping them in various places for convenience. I really like my ESEE Junglas better in every way, except for 2 things: it's big and harder to carry, and it costs a lot more. This knife is more portable, and because it's so cheap, you could buy several of them.
Why: $36 is very reasonable to me, for a knife with all these features and its proven cutting performance. It's a very rugged, tough slab of steel for camp knife purposes. It sharpens extremely easily, yet still retains an edge pretty well for 1095. And most important of all: it just performs. For a $36 camp knife, I'm surprised at all the things it does well. It batons wood as well as an ESEE 6 I used to own. I've limbed larger branches that I had cut with my folding saw. And then for fun, did some chopping. It can clear brush, though it is limited by its own short length for that type of work, where a machete would be preferred. Also knives of this size are really too light for chopping, but in its size class, this knife chops very well and if you are trying to pack light, this is next best option I have compared to my ESEE Junglas. I've dug in the dirt with it like a makeshift shovel, and pounded tent stakes. I've done fine tasks choking up and using the choil, opened food packages, chopped vegetables, fine-sliced tomatoes/apples/bananas/mushrooms, sliced sandwiches, etc. Because I think of the hollow grind, which ordinarily is not a grind I'd prefer and definitely would not buy it on a high-end knife, this knife actually seems to be a fairly good slicer and good at food prep, despite its length and massive thickness.
Here's a pic where I just used this knife to prep my entire lunch. Split carrots and chopped peppers. Fine-sliced mushrooms and banana And cut a sandwich. It handled all this easily, obviously not a chef knife, but it didn't mangle or crush anything, and quite effective considering it's a large outdoor oriented blade.
This is a very convincing post. I think you really hit all the high points and presented a good argument for having one.
It kind of motivated me to go and get one for myself.
I just have to find a local store that carries Kale...
