What's the cheapest knife that stopped your search for the ideal EDC?

My most carried EDC knife is my mini-grip 555, I love it, its without a doubt my favorite knife. After getting it my buying habit changed, before I would never buy a double of a knife, even if some of the specs (blade steel/handle material) were different because I was searching for the perfect EDC knife so every knife I bought had to be something new to try. Once I got the mini-grip (tho not all-of-the-sudden) my knife buying was able to change cause I already had my EDC, I could buy knives that I liked/wanted that wouldnt necessarily be good to EDC. I also bought a few multiples of knives I already had and wanted another with different options.

Since then I've gotten more expensive knives that I love, they're just not good for EDC. I like a 3" knife in my front pocket for my EDC knife (I also carry other knives every day, but the knife riding in my front right pocket is my go-to "EDC"). The real difference is that now when I buy a knife I don't have to try to justify it as beig EDC'able so it opened up my options to buy what I thought was interesting, not just ~3", one hand opening, tip-up, locking knives that's what I require for EDC.

I guess to answer your question directly, no I haven't bought a more expensive knife than my mini-grip for EDC use only to still like the mini-grip more, but I also haven't bought a knife just for EDC use since then either, because for me, the 555 does EDC so well that I'm not looking to replace it, just carry in addition to it and I have bought knives in that catagorey more expensive than the 555...
 
that would be a victorinox pioneer, the most expensive i own was 100 euro + shipping and 25% tax(perceval le francais).
 
Most I spent on a folder would have to be about 150ish on the spyderco gayle bradley that I gave to my dad. Cheapest is probably my SAK Champ that's almost always with me, kinda bulky but has everything, got it for about 30 bucks on amazon. Great deal if you ask me, but my most carried is the zdp Endura, if I ever lost it I wouldn't hesitate to replace it, I love zdp it's very impressive especially when it's a super thin edge like I did to mine.
 
Kershaw Leek

I've spent $200 + on knives but the leek is just a handy knife and gets a lot of use.

However, I doubt that any knife will stop my search for the ideal knife. I just like 'em so dang much.
 
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My favorite EDC knife right now for the money is the Kershaw Thermite for about 40$......i love this knife
 
Most I ever spent was $900 for a Dozier Workhorse. The one I carry now, actually 2 I switch between are the ZT0801@ $190, and the ZT0600@ $340. So far I have not really seen anything else out there that would replace either of these, with one exception, my preorder for a ZT0801CF.

I've never been this content with my folders before. I do have a couple of fixed blade knives I would like to get but they would not be a daily carry knife.
 
in my mind, there is no better edc than the ZT 0560. ive carried it 99% of the time since i bought it over a year ago. it has the perfect handle size and blade length. its relatively light, thin and very sturdy. and it has a flow through design which makes it easier to clean. that being said, i just got a Spyderco Military in the mail 2 days ago and its going to give the 0560 a run for its money.
 
A Victorinox Pioneer stopped me for a year, and I haven't bought a knife since July because of my Adamas, and newfound love for my Sodbuster Jr.
 
Benchmade Contego, just over $100, large blade, slices well and M4 ROCKs.

The Contego bumped the Rift out of my pocket.

I still carry a Microtech, ZT or strider at times, but I use the Contego LOTS more. I've lost knifes Dirt biking, and the Contego's cost doesn't hurt as bad as a high dollar knife.
 
Used to EDC an Mcusta basic damascus for food cutting. Then I realized I wanted an even thinner blade for better slicing. Now the Mcusta is replaced by an Opinel No.8.
 
I haven't had very many expensive blades, my most expensive being a Manix 2 light weight, but one of my favorite knives is the Buck Bantam Large. I always use them till they break and buy a new one from walmarts limited Christmas editions each year. All though recently I got a custom done friction folder to my specs.. so my carry may change :D
 
I found 3 right here in the exchange, 1 from Tobin Smith, another from Matt Markell, and one from Doug (DPKnives). All of them were under $200, and I rotate them as best I can (today Dougs knife is by my side).
 
Benchmade 710 D2... I don't remember what it cost; less than $175? <$150?

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
For years it was a Victorionox alox Soldier, maybe $30. then I lost it....:( Now its an Alox Pioneer, $29. and a Spydeco Sage Carbon Fiber..$125
 
For me, it's split between work/dress clothes and after work/ weekend carry. For work it's either the BM 530 or minigrip, otherwise the Lion Steel Sr1-a gets the rest for the most part. Sometimes if I wear khakis to work instead of slacks I'll carry my Gayle Bradley or Kershaw Blur. I spent $160 on the Lion Steel and it has ended the search thus far.
 
There have been some milestones that at the time seemed like the end of the search but, I don't think I'm done searching....

I used to carry cheap traditional folders I got as gifts before I had a job and a couple of them got carried daily.
Eventually I got a Sog Flash II and was content with it for many years.
After that came a Kershaw over drive and it was my daily for a couple years.
Then I got a real job (mechanical engineer) found blade forums the search went into high gear...
I bought a large and small Bradley Alias and was happy for a while but they are currently on Craigslist for sale and are being replace with Sebenzas.
My pockets are already dreading the next milestone....
 
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