What do you want to get from folding knives priced between $100 and $200?

mitchnola said:
I’d recommend buying in that range via the secondary mkt. You can nearly double the return on what you’re getting for your money. Tbh the only knives I buy brand new are ones I can’t get otherwise or at minimum will hold their value. As long as you’re not trying to buy the overhyped overpriced flavor of the month.

So many knives get bought up, never used and then sold less than retail that it almost seems foolish to buy anything new that’s readily available on the secondary.
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Yup, I'm loving the discounted Emersons, Spartans, Hinderers and ZTs. The LGs tend to hold their value pretty well though!
 
Knives in the $100-200 range should be solid users. Some of the sweet spot CS folders fall in line here where you get a solid "premium" steel and a stout lock. Fit and. Finish should be serviceable, but I expect a good walk and talk and a reasonably centered blade.

These are the knives that make up my work heavy use users.
 
That’s the sweet spot for a daily driver edc IMO. High enough price to get lasting quality, good materials, and a design not drawn buy a sci-fi enamored toddler, but affordable enough to use and put some wear on.

I’m a bit different than many in that I’m ok with common steels when done well, anything from 1095, 440C, 154cm, D2, the sandvic alphabet soup steels, etc are all fine with me in that price range. I suppose I expect more than 4116, 420HC, or 8cr though in that price range.
I care more about the design and execution, the quality and thought, than the raw materials.

FRN is ok, so is micarta, g-10, wood, or bone. Don’t care about the lock if it even has one, so long as it’s done well.

Spyderco comes to mind for modern folders in that general price arena. You know they will deliver a very usable knife with intelligent design that will last and just plain work. Benchmade used to be that for me before the prices went through the roof. Spyderco is quickly creeping up there also these days. Once I see over $200, I start thinking about saving more and getting a CRK.

For traditional knives which are a staple for me, that’s GEC territory when you can actually buy one.

Buck and Cold Steel are honorable mentions that I feel fit the lower end of that spectrum price wise, for a more budget friendly option that will still deliver a solid usable knife you can rely on.

In ten more years with the way prices have escalated, $200 will buy you what $100 gets you today. A PM2 or Bugout will probably set you back $300 🤦.
 
I'm not into knives in that price range anymore, but I do still have some that are.

I love my Spartan Talos! It's a SHF in 3 inch blade, which is my sweet spot. The CTS-XHP steel is truly fantastic at the 100 price point!

AG Russell Swayback is another very worthy contender in this price point. Desert Ironwood and M390 in a classic traditional design is absolutely smashing value at under 200!!!

Buck Saunter is a heavyweight in this category for me too.

Kunwu Geezer anyone? Elmax blade in what looks like a mini pirate's cutlass.

The Maxace Albatross is such an outstanding knife! The craziest walk and talk a knife has ever had as far as I'm concerned. M390, long but slender profile. Truly a king on its own right.

Real Steel Luna... you want a small SHF, this is it! They do thumb stud frame locks and slipjoints in the same design and all kinds of crazy scale concoctions. I've already got 4 or 5 different configurations.

Twosun, twosun, twosun! Pick one any one, but my choice in this range is the TS123. Twosun does M390 very well and the Spring on these slippies is epically solid. I'm a gigantic fan of all twosun slippies. Add the TS197 to this grouping as well, because that scrimshaw bone scale is phenomenal!!!
 
19-3ben said:
In that price range, I expect to get a good steel but I dont need anything exotic. Something in the range of S35vn, or pretty much anything comparable is just fine. By the time I get past the lowest parts of that price range, I also expect to get G10 or Micarta scales, and American made.

Considering that for $180 I can get a Hogue Ritter folder from Knifeworks, with G10 scales, Magnacut blade, crossbar lock, and USA made, I consider it to be the standard bearer for what you can get in the $100-$200 range. (As a matter of fact, that same knife but in 20cv is what I have in my pocket right now)
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I have higher end knives, but for me the best $100 I have ever spent on a knife is a Buck Small Pursuit Pro in S35VN. I carry as my work knife as an electrician. Orange scales make it easy to find, and S35VN holds a great edge. My only challenge in your price range is that as a lefty I love Benchmade axis locks and they are expensive. I kind of " settle" up to $100. After that I seem to head to $300 and up to get ambidextrous features I want. Happy hunting.
 
HanseLeung said:
What do you want to get from folding knives priced between $100 and $200?
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1. Sturdy lock.
2. Good steel.
3. Good HT.
4. Good ergos.
5. Smooth opening and closing.
6. Good warranty.

I mean, I don't expect to get a Rockstead or Sebenza at that price, but at that price range - I don't think you should be making compromises.

There's plenty of folding knives below that price range that have all of the things I mentioned earlier, so I don't think there should be any excuses of for 150$ knife that lacks at either of those 6 things I mentioned.
 
I agree like lostcause said However........

1. Sturdy lock.
2. Good steel.
3. Good HT.
4. Good ergos.
5. Smooth opening and closing.

Good warranty is doing the right thing but I don't want you to get your hopes up too high on this. It may depend on if they have a bunch in stock that they can just do an easy swap.

6. Good warranty. Maybe I would leave it at that.

Cold Steel makes some really high end stuff at low prices but if you get a bad one that slipped through the cracks, which by the way does not happen often with Cold Steel, good luck their customer service REALLY sucks these days from what I read.
 
You can't go wrong with the Spyderco Manix 2 in that price range. I picked up a new LW in Rex45 on sale for $110 a couple weeks ago. I don't think you can beat that dollar for dollar. It's still a good value at the regular price. The Tenacious in M4 is also a great deal at around $135. Asher also makes some good knives in that range, but availability is hit or miss.

Other than that, it's not a price range I visit much. I tend to buy either sub-$100 or $300+.
 
kth said:
I have higher end knives, but for me the best $100 I have ever spent on a knife is a Buck Small Pursuit Pro in S35VN. I carry as my work knife as an electrician. Orange scales make it easy to find, and S35VN holds a great edge. My only challenge in your price range is that as a lefty I love Benchmade axis locks and they are expensive. I kind of " settle" up to $100. After that I seem to head to $300 and up to get ambidextrous features I want. Happy hunting.
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Check out the Kershaw lineup
 
I think Kershaw is setting the new standard in this price range. Right now they're making knives with stainless liners, aluminum scales, axis lock, magnacut blade at high hrc, and on bearings, and made in the USA, for 150 dollars. I am hoping for their success to see more and more coming out in their USA made lineup in this price range
 
For me it's simply functionality and enjoyment of ownership. The way I see it, those two factors weighed against cost = value, at any price range.
 
When seeing a specific knife for the first time, the "IT" factor just calls.
 
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