What price range do you consider the "budget knife" range?

[sabre cat]

We are talking street price, right? Not MSRP.

Normally, I will not buy a knife under $30 and I start to get critical of the product at $50 bucks. I guess that means $30-50 is my "budget knife" price range.

Don't forget, you can get great knives at budget prices if you are willing to purchase something used. The folder I reach for many times

is a Benchmade 551 grip I purchased at a REI used gear sale for the high price of twenty dollars.

I have to agree with the comment above, "Start dropping below $20 and that 's in the throw away range...".

 

[AntDog]

I personally consider a budget knife in the range of $30 - $50 or less. However, "budget knife" is an extremely relative term.

I know guys who consider a $50,000 custom chopper a "budget ride".... Just because their nicer ones are $80,000 plus. See what I mean? It's an extremely relative term.

 

[HwangJino]

From what I've handled, anything goes under 200 seems budget to me. But I did get spoiled from this site.

 

[leghog]

I used to consider $20 to be budget. Now I'm a bit more educated in what you can buy and how quickly it becomes ~200+, and I consider up to $50 or even $70 to be budget.

Another old fart here, but make no mistake about it, excellent knives can still be easily had for $20 or less each. Just go vintage, watch, and be patient. That discovery is from my becoming more informed.

Start dropping below $20 and that's in the throw away range...

On that, we will just have to agree to disagree.

Over the last year each of these cost me less than $20, yet I don't consider them throw aways.

 

[Blade Junky]

I think there has to be another classification, Junker/Crapper/Useless Knives and these knives have no monetary limit. Budget knives should be knives that are useable but just don't cost much. Budget knives for me have various values depending on the type of knife. Budget folders - $300 or less, budget bali's - $250 or less, budget fb's - $100 or less, budget slipjoints - $50 or less

 

[Kels73]

When I hear the term "budget knife", I think of a knife of respectable quality that can be purchased at a relatively low cost when compared to other similar knives on the market. So to me, an Ontario Rat 1 is a budget knife because it offers a respectable degree of quality, yet it costs less than many other knives in its design-category on the market at this time. A few of the factors that keep the cost down are: it's mass produced in Taiwan, it has an AUS8 blade, it has Zytel handle scales, etc. These factors create a sacrifice for some people who wish they could afford a knife that's made in the USA with a S30V blade and G-10 handle scales (as an example), but can't because they're "on a "budget". However, others will buy a Rat 1 simply because they like it or because they aren't overly concerned about factors like blade steel. They just want a good solid knife that will get some work done.

So to figure out the current budget-range of the knife market in a given design-category, I feel that you have to educate yourself on things like blade steel, handle material, manufacturer, track record, etc. That will allow you to identify the respectable-quality/low-cost knives, while weeding out the knives that are just junk. This is what makes it difficult to offer an actual dollar-range. I could tell you that I think $25-45 is the current budget-range for folders, but the problem is that 75% of the folders in that price range might be total junk.

It's better to educate yourself. In the meantime, you can ask knowledgeable people for specific recommendations. The good news is that you've come to the right forum for both.

 

[dewildeman]

While it's a relative term, for me budget knives would be around $30-50. Tenacious, RAT, Leek and Zancudo would fit in this range. And all great knives for the money. $20-30 more gets you better steels and handle material.

 

[Andrew Carlson]

I guess my definition of a budget knife is something that I would trust enough to carry but could easily replace if I was to lose or damage it. As others have pointed out, price ranges tend to vary as you collect more blades. If you're just starting out, spending $50 on a knife might seem kinda ridiculous. However, once you've spent $400 for a Sebenza or Busse, a $50 knife would probably fall into your personal definition of "budget." My all time favorite budget knife has to be the Opinel No. 8 Carbon. It's a nice solid knife and the carbon steel gets absolutely wicked sharp. The best part though, you can pick one up for less than $15.

 

[not2sharp]

There is little point in attempting to establish a dollar price for budget knives. That is not how it works. There are many makers who produce market entry (no frills) versions of their popular lines, but the price points would be all over the place. The only significant thing is that the price for the economy line is less than the price for their upscale lines .

n2s

 

[mrknife]

If you live in Europe there are not many knives under 50$ so i would say around 100$...
Few examples (webshop Netherlands):

Kershaw Chill : 32$

Kershaw Cryo : 67 $

Crkt Drifter stainless : 105 $

Cold Steel Code 4 : 113 $

Benchmade Mini Griptilian : 147 $

Spyderco Delica 4 : 125 $

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 : 200 $

And ordering from Ebay (US) is practically the same, we have to pay customs import and labour costs :grumpy:

You mean 15 for that drifter right?

 

[Alnamvet68]

"Budget" street price, high tech and a +50 on a scale of 1 to 10 for uber upscale folders.....