Worthy Slip Joint Under $70

GumFuddy Case Sodbuster Jr., SA Alox Pioneer, or I have been enjoying some of the French blades from Le Sabot, good fit and finish ( not excellent ) in Sandvik. They do make some of these models in carbon steel, usually C75 (?).7EDDD386-CD3D-496E-A867-B7E9CDF53C5A.jpegF2DD4B20-781C-43A7-82A4-2F8E446063B0.jpegB00F1207-F576-4ADC-8D92-E098C96CEF6C.jpegD2083E2C-3BB7-4618-91BD-98E6C82D4EFB.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I really appreciate the suggestions. Maserin, Artisan Biome, and the Case Sodbuster are at the top of my list. Gonna wait until after the St. Louis Knife Show before pulling the trigger. I may find something there that satisfies my itch.
 
This was around $70, in M390

52067211574_0dd7b4ff76_c.jpg
 
Checkout the MKM Root. It's on sale right now for 80 bucks plus or minus a few depending on the option. It's full Ti with an inlay of your choice and an M390 blade. I've had it in my car for two days now trying to resist the urge to buy it.

By the way, today is national knife day so there should be some decent deals all over the net.
 
The Kershaw Platform is a modernized slip joint, but it also has some nail clippers and a file. Not sure if that would appeal to you.

Another modern looking slipjoint is the Spyderco UK Penknife at $75.
 
Hen & Rooster are an old knife company from Solingen, Germany and make a lot of knives similar to the older style knives of Case.

Otter-Messer, another German knife company make some decent carbon steel slipjoint folders, with an old timey feel about them.

The slipjoint I use the most these days, which is very inexpensive but well made, is the Luna Lite by Realsteel.
 
Hen & Rooster are an old knife company from Solingen, Germany and make a lot of knives similar to the older style knives of Case.

Otter-Messer, another German knife company make some decent carbon steel slipjoint folders, with an old timey feel about them.

The slipjoint I use the most these days, which is very inexpensive but well made, is the Luna Lite by Realsteel.
I have added the Luna Lite to my finalist list. For now:

1. Case Sodbuster
2. Maserin Plow Sodbuster
3. AC Biome
4. Real Steel Luna Lite

OR, something I find at the St. Louis Knife Show this weekend. Thanks so much and keep 'em coming.
 
The Böker Plus Caracal 42 is a bit above your $70 mark (I think around $85 now) but it is big, comfortable in hand, made of D2 and G10, and even has a locking pin and a pointed pommel spacer. By far the sturdiest and most modern slipjoint that I own.
 
I have really been impressed with my Brother Cowfish. It runs about $40 if you look for it. Really nice usable blade shape, VG10 steel, steel liners, shield appears to be pinned, some sort of CF scale.

(Picture ripped off the net)
51-Ahls-Gdk-FL-AC.jpg



Walk a little slow, talk is a little mumbled, but it locks up tight with blade play comparable to what Case feels is acceptable.

It's made in China, if that matters. I bought one because I feel like Case quality is garbage these days. I like RR knives, but I wanted something a step in steel quality. I would pay GEC prices IF it meant I paid the inflated price and got the knife. I'm not putting effort into chasing down a traditional.

So for less than a fiddy-spot, I feel like I got a decent knife. I'll probably pick up another at some point.
 
I have really been impressed with my Brother Cowfish. It runs about $40 if you look for it. Really nice usable blade shape, VG10 steel, steel liners, shield appears to be pinned, some sort of CF scale.

(Picture ripped off the net)
I love a heavy bladed work knife. I have more than a few these days that are in job site rotation. But I have only a very few that are traditional patterns. That bad boy you posted will be ordered soon. If I like it, they have a couple of others that look like they could put in a day's work, too. I do love a good traditional pattern.
It's made in China, if that matters. I bought one because I feel like Case quality is garbage these days. I like RR knives, but I wanted something a step in steel quality. I would pay GEC prices IF it meant I paid the inflated price and got the knife. I'm not putting effort into chasing down a traditional.
I see a few CASE knives sold new here and there, but rarely look. Back in the 60s, CASE made great knives and that was about all I carried. But... a friend of mine was in town and we went to Austin TX (90 miles away... "down the road" in Texas parlance) to go to the confiscated or abandoned property outlet run by the state. It has to be peculiar circumstances for items to be there, but they had a large amount of knives. Thousands... seriously. Most were gas station knives, many were inoperable, and some had broken blades.

But they had a counter that they kept well known brands under. They had CASE, Benchmade, Schrade, etc. under glass and in small bins. I went through a couple of hundred CASE knives of all models, handle materials, blade steel and ages. Found a couple I liked. The clerk asked me if I was a CASE knife fan, I told him "just the oldies", and he produced about 10 knives. All smaller gentleman's knives, all built like a little Swiss watch, they were a step back in time. None had been carried or sharpened. I have no idea where they got them as old as they were and still no wear, but there they were. And $25 each for a micro stockman (2" long in burnt bone), a mini stockman, a gorgeous peanut, and a the CASE find of the decade for me was a Tony Bose swayback two blade jack in blood red/black scales. Since it was a "bigger knife", they upcharged me to $30. All of the knives I bought were "older" knives.

If you want to see how spotty CASE quality is now and in some examples how far it has fallen, you should see these jewels. That being said, I have heard whispers about the consistency of quality with GEC as well. I doubt it matters much with their knives though as I think their products are 95% collectibles.
 
Forgot to mention I like my two handed Manly Peak, solid lock up and sturdy (sorry, it is not a slip joint). Also have the Wasp and the Comrade, not heirloom quality but good working knives and good materials.
 
Last edited:
Hen & Rooster are an old knife company from Solingen, Germany and make a lot of knives similar to the older style knives of Case.

Otter-Messer, another German knife company make some decent carbon steel slipjoint folders, with an old timey feel about them.

The slipjoint I use the most these days, which is very inexpensive but well made, is the Luna Lite by Realsteel.
Good point about otter. they make great knives too. The ones I have needed a little working on but the action was nice and they are solid with no wobble or anything. Better than case quality i think for the most part.
 
Back
Top