What Budget Knife Suprised You?

No real surprises here...

Lansky Responder



Utilitac II



Right now I am really liking the Cold Steel Code 4 although it cost a tad bit more.
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
I'm not the only one! Truly is an addiction ain't it. :)
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I am usually a Kershaw fan. And they have never disappointed me with their knives, be they budget (Injection, Scamp, Leek) or higher end (ZT0566).

However, I picked up a RAT 2 a couple of months ago from KC and it has completely taken over my pocket. The 1 would have been too big at almost 4 inches but the 2 fits in my (formal & suit) pockets almost as easily as the Leek. I have sharpened it literally once and stropped it maybe 5 times. Admittedly my use is limited to packages and food prep but still, Ontario AUS8 is significantly better than Kershaw's 8Cr13MoV. The other thing about this knife I discovered was that the build quality and tolerances are spectacular for the price. Even with my Leek and 0566 I had to make minor adjustments to get the blade centered after reassembly. Its not a complaint; it took all of a few seconds of playing around with the pivot and lockbars based on instructions from here. The RAT, on the other hand assembled to dead center with no adjustment required. It deploys smoothly, locks at a little over 50% and stays dead center without any blade play. For a $25 knife I think that is impressive as hell.
 
I'd have to say the Condor Crotalus. A little bit higher than $50 but its close. Awesome knife for the money. Even the sheath is decent now that they've worked out the kinks.
 
Just received Kershaw Nura 3.5 today. For 40 bucks seems like a winner to me.

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Also a Spyderco Dragonfly2 for 45 pretty awesome little EDC.

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For the fixed I do love my Izula

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This knife has delighted and impressed me over the last week . I got this to be a standby until my Delica Titanium Damascus arrives and was to be then relegated to the dark recesses of my knife drawer but I suspect it will continue to be used for a long time to come .

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Ken
 
Actually, several. But I'll mention this Rough Rider as it sees quite a bit of pocket time as one of the knives that I carry while working on my property.

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I am diggin' the Kershaw Nura 3.0 I just got this morning.

[video=youtube_share;nHa3_O-BVsg]http://youtu.be/nHa3_O-BVsg[/video]
 
The Kershaw Cryo is a great little folder. Love the weight, build, and look. For under $40, it is an absolute winner.
 
CRKT Keramin. Very cool knife. Has a wicked fine tip on it. Not very utilitarian but still awesome and it doesn't break the bank.

:D
 
Opinel and Mora. They still do surprise me, and I've had a Opinel for ~40 years. They each remain great slicers and simply an incredible value for a few bucks.
 
Ontario RAT 1 Awesome knife! I think I paid $25.00 for it. Solid lock up easily deployed with a thumb flick.
Mora knives, very sharp out of the box and easy to sharpen.
Victorinox Farmer, Cadet, and Pioneer. Quality ALOX scales, useful tools without being obnoxious.
 
DedRok said:
Morakniv Companion

15 dollars for a 4.1" fixed blade knife with a awesome sheath, made in Sweden. These things scream to get used.

Reviews on Amazon, and YouTube prove that its an amazing "bang for buck" knife.
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Very Nice Knife!

[video=youtube_share;ovp6_im68a8]http://youtu.be/ovp6_im68a8[/video]
 
Rat-1.

Shouldn't have liked the steel as much as I did, opened like lightening, cheap, big enough blade, good blade and handle shape.

My only bitch about that knife was the weight. It's a lot heavier than many knives in it's size class, but I never had misgivings about stoutness.
 
Not my picture, but I cannot stop recommending this knife.

http://www.armyport.cz/catalog_images/d9b869733d718c7fe90be8e3f2a24183.JPG

Mine is poorly sanded to look dirty and grey, but you get the idea.

It is light, has good serrations, stabs jolly good, works as a regular folder or small knife on the belly side, full (hidden) tang, steel is very acceptable, It is cheap, Sheath is improvable but it's not at all bad for the price etc...

I paid about 48€ and they go for more (around 60 where I live), but I think it still qualifies for this thread.

I have paid 27€ for a TOPS Steel Eagle, but the Kizlyar Strazh is the one that surprised me the most.
 
Easily the Ontario Rat 1. I hate to admit it since I'm a giant Spyderco fan, but it blew my Tenacious away in terms of ergos and smoothness
 
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