What dirt cheap knife has surprised you

A

Armenate

Joined
Oct 1, 2014
Messages
672
I am not looking for a knife to carry (My PM2 is fitting the bill just great) but was wondering what inexpensive (I mean like less than $20 for sure and maybe even less than $10) knife has surprised you the most. Can be in design, steel, feel, lock etc. This doesnt have to even be a usable knife, if it looks cool, or opens cleverly that is good enough. If you want, put down a knife(s) with a rough price and explain why you like it.

Here is a inexpensive knife I really think is cool. The bottom portion of the hand is attached to the blade with several pivots in the handle. When you open the blade, the handle bends allowing it to open. When you grip the handle, the blade cannot shut because you are not allowing the pivot points to bend outward, thus it acts as a locking mechanism. I got it for around $8.
IMG_1195.jpg
 
A little Guidesman folder that I bought at Menard's on Black Friday for $1.99 has been my most used (and abused) knife for the past 3+ years, and has needed nothing but a bit of sharpening.
 
Schrade 304 - Rock solid, amazingly smooth, perfectly centered... I've never gotten so much knife for $20.

schrade-304-heavy-duty-tactical.jpg


United Cutlery Willumsen Blondie. UC! I know, right? But, this is a 440C tip-up framelock with a great blade shape. I've been carrying this for a while and love it.

UC2869_Willumsen_51fb9ec66a8b0.jpg


Most of the SanRenMu and Enlan knives are going to be tops in that price range. SanRenMu has expanded CONSIDERABLY compared to Ganzo/Enlan, with dozens of slipjoint and locking models that come in many different handle materials and finishes. My only gripe with SRM is that I'm not the variety of knife owner they market towards - all of their knives, with just a handful of exceptions, have (typically less than) 3" blades.

Schrade's newer knives made with 9Cr18MoV have gotten very good reviews. I have two more coming in tomorrow that I'm pretty amped about.

Cold Steel's Tuff Lite is probably the best utility knife I have ever held. The Kudu is quite an interesting knife as well.
 
The Kershaw Freefall. Picked it up at Wal-Mart. Great centering, typical Kershaw quality. Designated beater knife in my EDC
 
A Navy K610 that I purchased online. Its basically a Manix 2 liner-lock with cheaper steel used.
 
Bump to $30 and I'll play.

Ka-Bar Dozier folders.
ESEE Avispa and Zancudo folders.
Mora knives.
Any number of Swiss Army knives.
 
I've been very impressed with the Byrd hawkbills, that often sell online at right around 20 bucks. Excellent knives. Cheaper than 20 bucks? You will need to get on eBay and look at older Frost Cutlery knives made in Japan, some of which were quite good. Even some of their later knives (1990s) made in China was pretty good. But you need to know what to look for and expect it to need a good sharpening. I have found a few great deals, and a couple of my favorite pocketknives are Frosts. I bought a dozen Frost hawkbills based on the discontinued Spyderco Merlin and have been handing them out to friends . . . cost me a little over 5 bucks each.
 
Never been disappointed by an Opinel and every Rough Rider I've gotten for the price (under $20) for most part don't disappoint. The real bargain blades for me, where I get the best bang for my buck are the treasures I find at flea markets and yard sales. Mostly knives from before the 70s are the ones I look for, I've even found knives over 100 years old for under $20.
 
Victorinox Tinker can be found under $20. It one of my favorite models.

Mora no 1 and Companion are both excellent knives and can be had $20.

Years and years ago I carried a Gerber EZ out for quite some time. It was a $20 knife and served me well.
 
Mora
Opinel
Kershaw OD2
and
Gerber Microlight 200 and Ultralight 300 LST

At the time, you could get the Gerber LSTs in 420HC for $6~$8 and made for a great disappear-in-the-pocket Office EDC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top