What EDC folder knife under 150$

I have "a few" folders, but I've been carrying this Buck 112 Slim for the last couple months. It's not made with the latest materials, or the super steel of the week, but it's under $40, lightweight, made in the USA, has a lifetime warranty, and it cuts stuff.
 
I’d take a look at the Spyderco Manix 2 LW in Rex45 with the satin finish. Check those out as there are still some available for $130. You get a get platform, from a great company with a great steel. Hard to beat IMO.
 
I would go to the exchange on this very forum and buy a used Spyderco Gayke Bradley 2, a Hogue Ritter or Benchmade Bailout in M4.
 
T timothy1 If you like carbon steel over stainless for its performance properties, but don't mind stainless steels for their corrosion resistance, then you might consider a Spyderco Tenacious or Resilience lightweight in 8Cr13MoV. It's a low alloy stainless steel that has good toughness, takes a screaming edge and sharpens easily, like a simple carbon steel. I carry a Resilience that I reground from plainedge to serrated in that same steel, and it is a cutting monster for me.
 
So many good choices fit within your budget.

There are show horse and there are work horses - both can be very capable but it would seem that you are looking for a work horse.

With some careful shopping, you could get two knives that cover hard use - strong tip, thick stock and strong lock ALONG WITH a thinner stock, higher grind slicer. Just off the top of my head comes idead of a Cold Steel SR-1 Lite in your coice of blade shape AND something like a Buck 110 Slim or Obtario RAT-1 or RAT-2, dependijng on your size/weight preferences. Then again, a plain edge and a sister knife in serrated is also an option.

Then again there are plenty of good choices for a reliable user knife for <$150 but two very decent knives suiting separate (and competing) mission profiles could be had for yoru budget.

Happy Hunting.
 
timothy1 said:
Not really, but I do prefer carbon steel over stainless
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Corton93 said:
I know multiple Spydie models have been reccomended at this point,..
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Then I'd stop and figure out what blade length would be most suitable for your daily needs and go look at one of the Spyderco models in K390. If you go to almost any knife purveyor web site and use their search function to search for K390. you should end up with a nice list of options.
 
If you like non stainless, and want an excellent folding knife that actually cuts well, I would look at Spyderco and give something in CPM-M4, K390, or even CTS-XHP (considered stainless but behaves more like carbon steels IMO) a try. Options like Dragonfly, Delica, Endela, Endura, Stretch, Leaf Jumper, Chaparral, and probably some others I’m forgetting. That’s what I would do if I were in your shoes.
 
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You can pick up a Demko AD20.5 in D2 for $120 if you look around the 'Net. I think it's the perfect edc size and it has some serious fidget factor. I bought one and was impressed enough to buy another in the other blade shape. (And then, I bought the 20CV blade steel version with textured titanium scales.)

Another knife I recently purchased that became a real favorite edc is the Cold Steel Air Lite. It's a bargain and, if you like to tinker a bit, some polishing of the internals will result in a buttery smooth action. I rate this knife far above its price point.
 
timothy1 said:
Not really, but I do prefer carbon steel over stainless
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I think you should go back and update your original post with this info and frankly a lot more specifics would help. Given your taste for carbon, it would eliminate every single option I could recommend. And, honestly, most recommendation from most. Carbon blades aren't popular at all.
 
DocJD said:
Shop around for Cold Steel , Taiwan made , Tri-ad Lock folders . Lots of different models to choose from .

IMO , absolute best built , best buy , most reliable , hard working folders available . :cool: :thumbsup::thumbsup:
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I m surprised there haven’t been more recommendations for Cold Steel folders.

3 inch blade, the Holdout. 3.5 inch blade, the American Lawman. 4 inch blade, the Recon1.

Don t mind a bit of weight in your work knife? The AD10. A lighter well built alternative, the Ultimate Hunter.

These Cold Steels, among others, are the best value for the money. IMO, as a former Spyderco and Benchmade fan boy.
 
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I like the Buck 112 slim, standard 420Hc is good or even an upgrade to the other steel still get s a good knife. I have used mine a few times for EDc and does the job just fine. Now, since you have a little more funds, I say cannot go wrong with a Lionsteel Round head Barlow, mine in rams horn is traditional looking but with a good steel.
 
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A JAPANESE MADE Spyderco knife that uses K390. I get the impression they really know how to bring the best qualities (heat treat etc..) out of K390 in Japan.
 
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