Whats the best fit and finish folder for around $200.00 -$300.00

D

d762nato

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I know alot of you members here on Blade Forum buy,sell and trade knives like the stock market moves. So my question is in the title who makes the best fit and finish with the least amount of flaws for around $200.00 to 300.00.
I've recently bought a few folders around said price and it seems like they stopped just shy of making it almost perfect. I mean does a person have to go full custom to get a knife thats not lacking. It just kind of irks me you know.
I use my folder some for light duty cutting and such, but its mostly there for just in case something bad happens you know life of death type situations. Heck if i'm going to carry a folder to tear up a its going to be a $10.00 folder.
 
I like the hinderer zero tolerance collaboration the ZT 0550 and 0551

Or you could get a used Strider.
 
something from Mike Alsdorf, Hogue EX-01 is pretty good for less than your range, and most of what Klotzli and Moki makes.
 
I think it's pretty much general consensus that a Chris Reeve Sebenza is about the most perfect construction quality in a production knife, and even exceeds some customs.
However, you'll need to find one slightly used, if the limit is $300.

I haven't tried the ZT0551 yet, but anything with Hinderer''s name on it has a good shot. I'm waiting for the 560.

What I currently have, and think is an excellent value, is a Bradley Alias II. They can be found for well under $200 still, but they are getting scarce. The Alias 1 is a little bigger, and a bit over $200. They have superb fit and finish, made to a high standard for Bradley Cutlery by Benchmade, and have the requisite titanium framelock with S30v blade, and are really nice. Perfect EDC size, very reminiscent of the Sebenza, but not a copy.
For a lot less, the Spyderco Sage II is a great little titanium framelock with S30v blade. Built way beyond what you would expect for the price. I have seen them for as low as $120-$130 on the secondary market, still new in box.
 
BBQ BOY said:
Chris Reeve Small Sebenza.
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More and more i just hear good things about Chris Reeve knives. I'd really like to have the zaan the bigger one but they are more money. I've been looking at ther ZT's also. The 301 looks kind of big and fat, what about the other ZT's.
Thanks guys for all your help much appreciated.
 
The new ZTs are the Hinderer collaborations.
I think these are going to be the new hot ticket in folders.
The 550/551 are the 3.5" versions, and the 560/561 are the 3.75" versions.
Titanium framelocks with Hinderer design and Hinderer lockbar stabilizers.
I'm personally waiting for the 560 to come out, because that has the Elmax blade steel, and the ball-bearing system, the flipper, and the 3D-machined titanium framelock, along with the 3.75" length.

The current 300/301/302 ZT models are stout as hell, but heavy.
Some don't like the recurved blades, but I think they are fine.
The ZT200 is often thought of as a great value buy for the money.
All really good knives, but I think the new Hinderer collaborations are going to set the new standard.
Just my opinion.
 
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Any of Spyderco's Taiwan-made models will get you spectacular F&F for less than your "floor" of $200 (and often closer to $100). In addition to those, I'd add another vote for any of Zero Tolerance's higher-end models (ZT 030X, 0550/0551, 0560/0561).
 
take a look at the spyderco vallatton (and some of the other taiwan made models).

p.s. neuron beat me to it.
 
Sometimes customs can be hit or miss. If they come from a well known maker, you'll usually get a near perfect knife. In my experience, some pieces from lesser known makers had a few flaws, but I won't complain at the price I paid - they're users.
 
Apec said:
Sometimes customs can be hit or miss. If they come from a well known maker, you'll usually get a near perfect knife. In my experience, some pieces from lesser known makers had a few flaws, but I won't complain at the price I paid - they're users.
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This is exactly my experience as well (including the last part, lest anyone think I'm complaining). I think that the oft-repeated claim that customs have significantly better F&F than nearly all production knives may be a relic of the days when there were far fewer good production knives to choose from (as well as fewer custom makers, likely due to the fact that pre-internet it was more difficult for an aspiring maker to build a customer base), at which time customs really were the best bet to get a higher-quality knife.
 
neuron said:
Any of Spyderco's Taiwan-made models will get you spectacular F&F for less than your "floor" of $200 (and often closer to $100).
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+1

I just purchased a Spyderco Taiwanese made Gayle Bradley with carbon fiber scales and CPM-M4 steel for @ $150 and it is flawless. No blade play, it's centered perfectly and the lock-up is bank vault like rock solid. Simply awesome!
 
As a few have mentioned, Spyderco has excellent examples coming in way under your $300 ceiling, namely the Gayle Bradley and Sage 2. I'd also throw in there the M4 Military and Manix 2. ZT's 5-series collaborations with Rick Hinderer will also give you a lot of high-end components with good F&F, more than what you would get in higher-end production knives. I feel that if you are going to spend more than $300 on a production knife, you had better be getting more than just S30V, and you had better be able to use it hard.
 
You can get some terrific Benchmades, Kershaws, and Spydercos under your limit. Used Busses, Chris Reeve, Randall & Striders are the best I've owned under $300.
 
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