What makes the best folder for the buck?

J

JDBraddy

Joined
Sep 20, 2002
Messages
217
I know, I know, it's a matter of opinion, but I'd like to hear other points of view. Before me, I have a $3 chineese copy of the S&W SWAT tactical folder, 420 Stainless clip point, plastic/rubber scales, pretty sloppy at the pivot point, and the lock is weak but for $3 not a bad beater knife. Also before me, a $30 Taiwaneese made CRKT Apache, bead blasted ATS-34 clip point blade, with black anodized aluminum scales, a smooth pivot with teflon bearings, a tight, very strong liner lock that enguages posatively every time. Finally I'm looking at a $190 Microtech Socom-A folder, ATS-34 black clip point blade, S-10 scales, very smooth pivot joint, increadibly strong pin lock, but because it's an auto, I don't dare carry it, as doing so is a crime in my state. So it's strictly a show/tell then put it back in the drawer knife. All three knives are set up for the tip down cary style I prefer, and large 3"-4" blades. Lately, I've been looking at pretty custom folders, all so far seem to be too small to me, with beautifull custom tempered blades that unfortunately are well under three inches, extravigent filework, engraving, and such exotic handle materials as fossilized mastadon ivory. Lavishly georgeous, but not big enough to be usfull tools, pure artwork, with fine art prices to match!

These knives are in completely diffrent quality and price categories, but I think they're all great knives! The $3 Chineese folder is a great beater, makes a great utility knife/prybar/screwdriver/wire-stripper! The CKRT has become my favorite carry knife, the Microtech might be a pampered cary knife if it was a manual action, but being an auto, it's resigned to being a showpiece, and finally the customs are pure art. I can't imagine using one to cut a heavy rope, open a box, or skin a squirrel! What about production knives, that have been altered with fancy engraving or filework? Humm? A CKRT with a vine pattern fileworked spine, and fancy hardwood scales, for under $100? What do you think makes a folder the best knife for the buck?
 
I'm a real penny pinching mofo and I just ordered a SOG Flash II. These guy make great knives. The Flash is 3.5" and is damn near automatic. The clip makes it inconspicous and it comes in many different configurations. For less that $50 you can't beat that. It is all the knives you discribed rolled into one.
 
If you're just looking for a great knife for the least bucks, CRKT and Kershaw (especially the Vapor) is the usual answer.
I regard that most Spyderco folders are best for the buck because it has great steel and good ergonomics, carries like it wasn't there until you need it, and they continue to innovate.
 
and get rid of that cheap Chinese POS before you hurt yourself.
I'm not kidding, the only knife that ever failed me lock-wise was a cheapo Chinese POS. Get rid of it now!
 
Another vote for Spyderco - nobody packs more value into a knife. Superior steels, excellent ergonomics, reliable locks and materials, at remarkably low cost.

I would have no problem with a Spyderco as my only knife - can't say the same about CRKT, Camillus or Kershaw, or any other price point competitor.
 
I don't know about the <i>most</i> bang for the buck, but Victorinox certainly makes some GREAT pocketknives for not too much money. I'd reckon that, with minmal care, their <a href="http://www.swissarmy.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&User_ID=2207488&st=9877&st2=-75996900&st3=59219562&Product_ID=488&PartNumber=53929&CATID=4&CurrentPage=1&pcount=13">Soldier</a> would last forever (or damn near).
 
Perhapse I didn't express myself well enough, I wasn't looking for specific reccomendations, but for what features you guys like in your knives. What steel is good enough but not too expensive? Tip up or tip down pocket clip? What locks do you like best? Is a good $30 knife a better value than an excellent $300 knife, and why or why not? Favorite handle material? Etc... What charictaristic do you think makes a knife the best bang for the buck? Thanks, JDBraddy
 
For me, a knife has to cut, cut well, and not cause me physical pain while cutting things other than myself. It should also not cut me when it's not really my fault.
 
Ditto the Victorinox Soldier, or any Victorinox for that matter.
However,Opinel just very well may be the best bang for the buck out there.

Paul
 
The best bang for the buck might just be the Spyderco FRN Delica or Endura with the VG-10 steel. The SOG Flash is also a great knife for the money, with a couple very nice features. In a fixed blade, it would be hard to beat the Buck Nighthawk as a GREAT knife-value.
 
What steel is good enough but not too expensive?

This can vary depending on use, but I have had everything from 420HC to BG-42 beyond, and in the end it matters to me that the steel will hold an edge for awhile and resharpen without much trouble. So I am comfortable with 420HC, ATS-34 and the like. Still get knives that have better steel though.

Tip up or tip down pocket clip?

I usually have tip down, though I myself have never had a problem with it. Some have.

What locks do you like best?

I will either have a lockback or a Framelock. Just seem to me to be a good bit more sturdy.


Just some of the stuff I look for in knives. And then there is always the gadget factor, the fit of the knife, and last but not least the impulse buy:D .
 
Originally posted by glockman99
The best bang for the buck might just be the Spyderco FRN Delica or Endura with the VG-10 steel.
Click to expand...

I highly agree with the glockman on this one. These two Spydies are inexpensive, but serious and dependable, workhorses with great steel and excellent ergonomics. Not to mention that they are backed by Spyderco's EXCELLENT Warranty. :D ;)
 
Since 95% of my knives are custom I have to say that the Spyderco Chinook and Police are at the top of my list. I have had many many custom an production folders and Spyderco consistently makes a great product.

Both knives can be had for $60 to $125 and I feel thy can compete with customs on many levels.

The Chinook has a lock that will compete/beat any folder and one of the best steels on the market (440v/s90v). If you want a bullet proof folder that will hold it's own against anything the Chinook is the one.

The Police excels at being a great cutter with a long and precise blade, it has come in steels ranging the full spectrum from decent to great.

The Spyderhole is still one of my favorite opening methods. Tip up or tip down does not matter to me but I lean toward liking tip up better.
 
It seems that just about every company makes a few knives with alot of bang for the buck. Those that I use the most I consider to have the best bang. If I don't use a knife much, then I am not getting alot for my money, regardless of price.
The three brands of folding knives and tools that I use the most and consider to offer the best values are: Leatherman, Spyderco and Victorinox.
Spyderco's knives (especially the lower cost FRN models) have a combination of great blade steels, ergonomics and smoothness of opening that is hard to beat. They are also very light and reasonably priced.
Victorinox SAKs are arguably the best knife bang for the buck there is. If you have a very limited budget, they are nearly without competition. I also very much like the Swisstool.
If you have a few more bucks to spend, I think you may get even more "bang" out of a good multitool then a SAK, and Leatherman seems to by the Brand that sets the standards for multitools.

-Frank
 
Originally posted by frank k
...If you have a few more bucks to spend, I think you may get even more "bang" out of a good multitool then a SAK, and Leatherman seems to by the Brand that sets the standards for multitools.

-Frank
Click to expand...
I guess that you have never seen or handled a SOG PowerLock?...I think it beats the hell out of the Leatherman multi-tool.:).
 
What steel is good enough but not too expensive?
Click to expand...

AUS8A is probably one of the best steels you'll find on lower end knives. It gets superbly sharp with a little work and holds it's edge reasonably well. 440c is also showing up on some great lower priced knives like the Benchmade Griptilian and Smith and Wesson's collab models with Darrel Ralph, the HRT series. 440c is a great blade steel when heat treated and cryo'd correctly and can go toe to toe with some of the higher performance stainless's found on cutlery today. It's still a favorite of many custom knifemakers.

Tip up or tip down pocket clip?
Click to expand...

This is purely a matter of personal taste and no pat answer can be had. You just have to try each and decide for yourself. As for myself, I prefer tip down because it just seems easier to retrieve out of the pocket for me.

What locks do you like best?
Click to expand...

I personally like the Axis Lock and the Frame Lock for their sheer brute strength.

Favorite handle material?
Click to expand...

I like exotic woods myself. But for a folder, G-10 is the current standard as it is tough as nails stuff and doesn't show wear and damage really easily.

Is a good $30 knife a better value than an excellent $300 knife, and why or why not?
Click to expand...

IMO, yes.
It used to be that you get what you pay for in the knife world. It still is to a certain extent. Pay less and ya get a piece of crap for a knife. However, a current trend seems to be that higher quality knives are getting lower in price. With the exception of the :barf: coming over from India, Pakistan and such(however, some of that stuff seems to be getting better too).
Take the Kershaw Vapor for example. Here is a very reliable blade locking system(Frame Lock) put onto a knife that retails at Walmart for around $20.00. The blade steel is AUS-6A and isn't the best, but it works. It holds a working edge fairly well for me.
For about 16 times that amount($20.00) I could get a Sebenza which has a Frame Lock also, but it has superior fit and blade steel and has tolerances so tight it makes NASA envious.
Which is better?
It all depends on what you can reasonably afford and what is important to you in a folder. Are you willing to pay the price for a Tom Mayo TNT or a Sebenza and use it every day as an EDC knowing it will show signs of wear and tear like nicks and scratches and such? Or is it more feasable to pay less for an EDC without the flashy good looks of a TNT and tight-as-a-gnat's-ass-tolerances of a Sebbie that cuts the same stuff? The tolerances on my Vapor II are workably sufficient but it still isn't a Sebenza and never will be as far as fit and edge retention type performance are concerned. I have to sharpen my Vapor more often than a Sebenza owner. But I still feel like I came away with more folder than what I paid for with my Vapor. I honestly couldn't say that if I stepped up to the plate and laid out that $300.00+ for a Sebenza. I just got what I paid for there. Now, if the Sebenza costs only 2/3 of it's current going rate and I bought one, I'd feel that I got a little more folder than I paid for but not to the extent of my Vapor. I guess what I'm trying to say is my Vapor gives me a better value than a Sebbie or a TNT because I feel like I got more knife than what I paid for. This is strictly my opinion and individual mileages will inevitably vary according to taste and means.
FWIW,
Now, Smith and Wesson has come out with a new Frame Lock on the Darrell Ralph HRT collaboration series and it's called the model FL-1. It has a 3 3/4" 440c blade which is a decent step up from the Kershaw Vapor's AUS-6A steel and it costs around $50.00. I got one of these recently and it is a really nice piece for the money. I'm very surprised at the overall high quality of this folder. Again, I feel like I got more knife than what I paid for. Is it a Sebenza? Nope, and again it never will be.

One thing I should point out is the fact that both the Vapor and the FL-1 have nicely thinned out edges on their blades and are really good cutters and slicers, so as working folders they are stand outs IMO.

What charictaristic do you think makes a knife the best bang for the buck?
Click to expand...

If I feel like I got more knife than what I paid for it, I got the best bang for my buck.


PS,
I hope my post makes sense as it is really late now and my head is swimming from the pain killers I'm taking.
Earlier today I dropped one of my own handmade knives on my right foot and cut a 3/4" wide gash. It hit bone and bounced right back outta me foot and pumped about a cup of blood. A little super glue after the bleeding finally stopped sealed it up nicely though. Man my foot is sore as Hell now.:grumpy:

WAH!! :rolleyes:


All the best,
Mike U.
 
My recommendations, in order of preference, would be:

Kershaw
Buck
Spyderco
CRKT
Boker lockbacks
Gerber
 
As with many others here, I would vote for Spyderco as the maker of the best knife for the money, whether you buy one of their premier knives such as the Military, my favorite, the late and much lamented StarMate, the Chinook, the Li'l Temperance, or the Gunting or you choose one of the bargain lines such as the Endura, the Delica,, the Lightweight Native with its CPM440V blade(best buy anywhere, anytime, IMNSHO), the MeerKat, or the great little Salsa. They may cost a bit more than others out there, but they offer SO much more in the way of design, quality of materials and construction, and general usefulness that I find little comparisn on a general basis. Yes, there are specific models made by other companies that attract me, and I have posted about them and recommended them, but for a whole line of blades, I cannot think of a company that gives you more for your money than Spyderco.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top