Your favorite under $20 knives

[Just Tom.]

In the world of traditional knives there are many solid options for under $20, even without resorting to the Chinese slipjoint option. The easiest to find of these are Opinel and MAM. Less easy to find, but still available, are the plastic-handled Pallares Solsona knives, Okapi (beware fakes and ridiculously overpriced auction-site ones), and Fraraccio knives from Italy.

A recent discovery of mine, and something which may appeal to those with more modern tastes, is the Florinox Kiana. I am very pleased with mine - light, sharp, and very solid.

I can post pictures later, but for now I gotta go…

I didn’t promise GOOD pictures…

Anyway, all these can be had new for under $20 brand new (the Buck and Svord just barely squeak in under the limit), and not a one of them made you-know-where:

 

[sgt1372]

I use to own quite a few <$20 Kershaws and I still own this one.

It's an assisted blackwashed steel framelock Kershaw 1300 with (I assume) a blackwashed 8CrMov13 blade.

It came in a "Starter" blister pack "set" with another smaller knife like it that I sold along with almost all of my "cheaper" Kershaws over a year ago. The blister pack cost $20. So, I'm pricing it at $10.

There are MANY different variations of the 1300. This is just one of them. Kept it because the steel frame gives it some "heft" and because it feels very nice in my hand.

I don't have any other knives that cost me <$20 in my collection. So, this one has to be my "favorite." LOL!

 

[vinprom]

Victorinox Bantam. I like it so much, that I am thinking also to get Walker and/or Receuit soon. All about $20. Not so much interested in Waiter.To me 84mm is the right size for EDC.

 

[dogstar]

Victorinox Bantam. I like it so much, that I am thinking also to get Walker and/or Receuit soon. All about $20. Not so much interested in Waiter.To me 84mm is the right size for EDC.

Now if they made a Walker with an awl, I'd be all over that!

 

[Carboniferous]

Joker NB74 is awesome for the price. Very good blade geometry, nice hardwood, acceptable walk and talk. Good snap open, flush when open and close when closed, no blade play, $16.

The Pallares in this picture is pretty decent for the price as well, but the Joker is much more well-built.

 

[Hvactech]

I didn't realize that there are knives under $20

Hahaha exactly what I was thinking as well !!

 

[DMG]

You can buy a Cold Steel Bushman for under 20 and a Victorinox Tinker for $20 and change.

 

[kobold]

Heavy duty beater - Hultafors GK (or a Mora),
EDC - Opinel #9,
Tramontina machete,
a well rounded starter pack.

 

[afishhunter]

That I have: Rough Rider/Rough Ryder, Marbles, MAM, Opinel, Mora, Cold Steel KUDU and KUDU Light.
I like the looks of the Svord and Douk Douk, but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

 

[Wild Willie]

Where do I get a Svord peasant or Doukdouk?

Baryonyx carries both, so does knife center.

 

[Wild Willie]

I really dig my 12 inch tramontina machete. Imacasas can be had for under a Jackson too.

 

[dogstar]

This has been a great thread. Thanks to everyone who participated. I learned a lot... Didn't think there were so many options... Life is good

 

[Another Shepherd]

I have a Wharncliffe backlock with a combo blade that drops open or closed when the lock is released. I used it for 9 years, mainly to cut bailing twine. The smooth part of the blade needed sharpening every few weeks, but the serrated part cut better and held its sharpness better.

I lost the knife twice. The first time was in a sheep pen. I found it a couple months later, washed off the sand and mud and poop, and it was good as new. The second time was out in a pasture, and it took me a year to find it. The scales were slightly cracked, presumably from somebody with hooves stepping on it. But it still cut open hay bales just fine.

Eventually, after that 9 years (not counting the time it was lost) of almost daily use, it no longer cut bailing twine effortlessly. At the time, I did not know how to sharpen a serrated blade. And with the cracked scales, I figured it was time to get a new knife. So I got a Spyderco Atlantic Salt with a serrated sheepsfoot LC200N blade for $123.90. The Atlantic Salt does not open and close as smoothly as the old knife, and the Atlantic Salt tends to snag. It needed sharpening after a few months (DMT tapered rods work great). Later I got a Caribbean Salt for $184.95, which cuts better than the Atlantic Salt and even slightly better than the old knife, but it's hard to flick closed even though it has a compression lock and I have cleaned and lubricated it several times. It also hurts my eyes to look at it.

The only inscription on the old knife is "China". It cost $5 from ebay.

 

[sadmin]

I feel a little dirty about this, but I had to try one out. This is a B(eijing)made 940 off DHGATE for 24.00. Its stamped s30v but who knows tbh. Handles are painted aluminum I think, definitely not titanium.. but done well. The spacer is titanium though. Centering was not there but I loosened the detent and did the paper trick to re-align. The axis's Axis is solid and now that its straight, this is a pretty decent budget knife if I must say.

The factory edge was ok, but wanted to see where I could get it. Ran it through a Venev 800/1200 Phoenix, Spyderco XtraXtra ceramic, 5mc & 1mc on basswood, one of NORTHWEST_KNIFE_GUY awesome strops with .5mc diamond spray on 1 side, and .25mc on the other.. almost have the paper towel s-cuts, almost. Ill toss it in my console and abuse it and see how long she holds up.

 

[Hyesouljah]

Idk about knives but ima order me a sweet axe under $20 from Amazon with a sharpening puck just so I can learn on it

 

[dogstar]

Idk about knives but ima order me a sweet axe under $20 from Amazon with a sharpening puck just so I can learn on it

Good luck! As long as you can visualize the path of the head (and where it may glance off to), you should enjoy axing. I am glad you a familiarizing yourself with the way of the axe.

 

[Hyesouljah]

Good luck! As long as you can visualize the path of the head (and where it may glance off to), you should enjoy axing. I am glad you a familiarizing yourself with the way of the axe.

Thanks! Good skill to have at the campsite

 

[calm]

Prices may differ depending on time of purchase and area,and many have been mentioned previously, but: MAM, ICEL ,RR. Antonini, Opinel, Okapi, CS, Victorinox, SRM, Buck, Mora, Pallares, Martins, Svord, Joker have decent models that can be had reasonably.

 

[Billy The Blade]

I didn’t promise GOOD pictures…

Anyway, all these can be had new for under $20 brand new (the Buck and Svord just barely squeak in under the limit), and not a one of them made you-know-where:

That's a Knice lookin' group

Joker NB74 is awesome for the price. Very good blade geometry, nice hardwood, acceptable walk and talk. Good snap open, flush when open and close when closed, no blade play, $16.

The Pallares in this picture is pretty decent for the price as well, but the Joker is much more well-built.

I like the looks of the Joker,
I wonder where the best spot to snag one is...

// The second time was out in a pasture, and it took me a year to find it. The scales were slightly cracked, presumably from somebody with hooves stepping on it. But it still cut open hay bales just fine.

You mean like a  Centaur ?
Lol
P.S. I'd say you got your money's worth, & then some on that one...
B.T.B.