What Is The Quintessential Affordable (Under $100) Knife Every Collector Should Have?

Zuluninja · Feb 27, 2012

if it's fixed blades, pretty much the majority of forumites here agree on ESEE and Beckers, including me, and with just some exceptions most of their blades fall under $100. I can't think of any other maker that offers as much bang for the buck as those 2. +1 on the ontario RAT-1 folder, but when it comes to folders under a 100, there's plenty to choose from.

Ogien · Feb 27, 2012

singularity35 said:
Ok well your question is a quintessential question for noobs too.

Meh, so be it. I'm not too worried if someone thinks I'm a noob or not but going by the amount of replies in this thread I would guess that this thread could help guide some folks towards quality knives. So it's win/win any way you look at it. Right?

MikeH said:
$100?

Two Spyderco Natives, one plain edge and one serrated.

I don't know why but I could never get into the serated knives. Maybe it's the half and half ones that soured me on serrations in general. Actually that is exactly what it is, I really dislike the 50/50 half serrated and half plain edge knives. I don't know if I'm in the minority or not but that's just my preference.

BladeChick777 · Feb 27, 2012

Oh Boy.. Here's My List On "Under $100":
Byrd Meadowlark 2
Byrd Cara Cara 2
Byrd Raven
Spyderco UKPK
Spyderco Dragonfly
Spyderco Para2
Spyderco Delica
Spyderco Endura
Spyderco Native
Spyderco Stretch
Spyderco Manix 2
Spyderco Ambitious, Persistence, Tenacious, And Resilience.
Spyderco Kiwi
Spyderco Sage 1
Spyderco Cat
Kershaw Leek
Kershaw JYD II
Kershaw Rake
Kershaw Shallot
Kershaw Skyline
Kershaw Scamp
Kershaw Storm 2
Benchmade Griptilian
Benchmade Mini Griptilian
Benchmade 530
Cold Steel Recon 1
Cold Steel American Lawman
And Many Many Many MORE.

rachet197 · Feb 27, 2012

I would say a Ka-Bar USMC knife.....
But, I love Condor T&K so the bushcraft basic 5 inch

Ogien · Feb 28, 2012

BladeChick777 said:
Oh Boy.. Here's My List On "Under $100":
Byrd Meadowlark 2
Byrd Cara Cara 2
Byrd Raven
Spyderco UKPK
Spyderco Dragonfly
Spyderco Para2
Spyderco Delica
Spyderco Endura
Spyderco Native
Spyderco Stretch
Spyderco Manix 2
Spyderco Ambitious, Persistence, Tenacious, And Resilience.
Spyderco Kiwi
Spyderco Sage 1
Spyderco Cat
Kershaw Leek
Kershaw JYD II
Kershaw Rake
Kershaw Shallot
Kershaw Skyline
Kershaw Scamp
Kershaw Storm 2
Benchmade Griptilian
Benchmade Mini Griptilian
Benchmade 530
Cold Steel Recon 1
Cold Steel American Lawman
And Many Many Many MORE.

Now that's quite a list you got there but I agree with you that those are some quality knives you've got listed and they are hard to beat for the money. Actually, many of them are just great knives irrelevant of money.

@rachet197

I've got a few fixed blades, I think 8-10 of various types so I don't consider myself a true fixed blade collector but I gotta tell you, the Ka-Bar USMC has intrigued me and they are priced quite well so I might just pick one up cause I really dig the knife. Unless I'm confusing the USMC Ka-Bar for something else Ka-Bar makes but I'm pretty sure I've got the right knife in mind.

singularity35 · Feb 28, 2012

Ogien said:
Meh, so be it. I'm not too worried if someone thinks I'm a noob or not but going by the amount of replies in this thread I would guess that this thread could help guide some folks towards quality knives. So it's win/win any way you look at it. Right?

If you say so....

mwhich50 · Feb 28, 2012

I love the PE Native too.

Shorttime · Feb 28, 2012

Hmmm....

Hard to resist jamming my oar in on these "knife philosophy" questions.

A push dagger.
A neck knife, although it's difficult to define "neck knife" as it's own genre. My personal choice would be a Simonich Bitter Root, although I don't know if they can be had for under $100.
A "tactical" folder. Feed your inner Mall Ninja.
A boot knife.
A slipjoint. My personal choice would be a Case Swayback Gent. The Kiwi and Squeak are appealing alternatives, but last I saw, the Kiwi was getting pretty scarce, especially with the black handle inlay. Say what you want, I love my black knives.
Can't think of any more right now...

Shorttime · Feb 28, 2012

Pseudonym said:
Hey eisman, what's the one with the thumbstud?

Eisman's thumbstud knife is a William Henry, possibly a Pikatti, or B-10. I forget, exactly.

Either way, it's MSRP is probably equal to the combined original prices of all the other knives in that photo, and maybe then some!

A beautiful knife to be sure, but if you get one for under $100, either

A) Somebody did something very right

or

B) Somebody did something very wrong....