Your Opinion Needed

sabre cat

sabre cat

Joined
Jul 4, 2014
Messages
6,158
What would you say the top three budget folders are with a street price of $40 dollars or less? That would be per knife. The cheaper, the better. You can jump the price to $50 if you are very passionate about a knife with a slightly higher price but, please list the higher price in your comments.

I would also like your opinion on fixed blades using the same basic guidelines. Fixed blades must include a sheath.

THE RULES:

1. If your choice was recently discontinued by the manufacturer please make note of that.

2. Please post your opinion even though another member may have picked the same knives.
If so, actually post your choices and not state "This" or just give a thumbs up to his or her post. This will make it easier for me to compile info and make my spreadsheets.

3. Please make your fixed blade choices a separate post. This also will make things easier for me to compile info for my spreadsheets. If you want to only post about folders or only fixed blades, you can.

4. You are welcome to post more than once but, please do not repeat your earlier post. For example, your first post is a SAK Spartan, Rat 1, and a Ka-Bar Dozier. Later you have a change of heart and decide a Rat 2 would be better than the Ka-Bar, you are welcome (and encouraged) to post again. Do not edit your earlier post.

It is just that simple. Any/all other guidelines are up to you, American or overseas production, blade type, steel, lock, scale materials, ease of maintenance, etc.. All your choice.

All the information will be compiled and the top choices will be posted here on BF.com at a later date. The thread will stay open until people are no longer posting or I feel that I have a good representation of what is available.

If questions come up, please ask them here.



Thanks,

Sabre Cat
 
1) Victorinox Huntsman. I think for under $40, with so many tools and usage, the Victorinox is pretty hard to beat in value.
2) Ontario RAT Model 2. This needs no introduction
3) Steel Will Intrigue. D2 steel and Steel Will knives usually flip pretty well, I think this should be a decent deal.
 
1) almost any victorinox SAK. Rambler, Spartan, climber and fieldmaster are my favorites

2) the Manly wasp slipjoint in 12c27 Is an pure slicer, it comes with a pocket clip and a 4 stops opening/closing that makes it pretty secure for a slipjoint. Very very good knife.

3) the Ruike 801 is the best low cost locking knife I have ever seen. As much I like the Kershaw-Emerson CQCs that are excellent too, the Ruike is one step above. 14c28n is a great EDC steel, IMO superior to d2. But the key feature of this guy is the flipping action, it is a benchmark even for >$150 flippers. Ergonomically it is very much like a ZT0450 but with thumb studs that can also be used to deploy the blade.
 
1. Cold Steel Pro Lite
2. Victorinox Swiss Army Sentinel
3. Ka Bar 3050 Mule (can be found under $50)
 
Therom said:
1) almost any victorinox SAK. Rambler, Spartan, climber and fieldmaster are my favorites

2) the Manly wasp slipjoint in 12c27 Is an pure slicer, it comes with a pocket clip and a 4 stops opening/closing that makes it pretty secure for a slipjoint. Very very good knife.

3) the Ruike 801 is the best low cost locking knife I have ever seen. As much I like the Kershaw-Emerson CQCs that are excellent too, the Ruike is one step above. 14c28n is a great EDC steel, IMO superior to d2. But the key feature of this guy is the flipping action, it is a benchmark even for >$150 flippers. Ergonomically it is very much like a ZT0450 but with thumb studs that can also be used to deploy the blade.
Click to expand...

Gonna agree on 3), I picked one up after handling one in a brick and mortar shop last year. Solidly built and great lines.
 
1) Case Sodbuster American Worksman
2) Douk-Douk medium
3) Svörd Peasant
 
RAT 1 or 2
Yellow Case Sodbuster in either size
Opinel 8 or 9

Honorable mention goes to pretty much any SAK in your price range
 
1) kershaw leek, 14c28n blade & aluminum handle -> outstanding value imho, great wharn blade, 3oz ... and one of the few which actually disappear into a watch pocket
2) yeah, most SAKs
3) Therom has it right with ruike, not only the 801, but imho the hussar (p121) with the same 14c28n steel and g10 handles instead of ss on the 801
 
Buck 110 is far and away the number 1 choice.

If I have to choose 2 more?
Mercator Black Cat K55K
Duok Duok
 
Folders:
Cold Steel Tuff Lite - Not the mini, the OG is small enough as it is. You get a rock-solid utility wharncliffe knife in a compact package.
Spyderco Resilience - Slightly pricier than $40, but this has served me well as a beater knife. In terms of F&F, don’t expect Japan or Golden, Colorado levels, but the lockup on my unit is solid.
Cold Steel Voyager Large - Slightly pricier than $40, better than the Resilience. This is the last workhorse knife you’ll ever need. Aus10a, decent ergonomics, Tri-Ad lock. ‘Nuff said.

Fixed:
ESEE Izula or Izula II - Slightly pricier than $40, but well worth it. Get the model II version since it adds 0.5” to the handle which does wonders for comfort in hand. Fantastic fixed blade EDC that I can just toss in the pocket. Works like a charm and doesn’t scare the sheeple.
Morakniv Kansbol - Versatile camp knife. I can use it to peel fruit, cut cake, open boxes, etc. The stainless steel means I don’t have to worry as much about rust.
Cold Steel Recon Tanto in SK5 - My default SHTF knife. If I could only have one “survival” type knife, this would be it.
 
Esee Izula
Esee Candiru
Cold Steel mini Pendleton Hunter
Kershaw Field Knife Hunter (discontinued)
Kershaw Diskin Hunter
 
Standard production brass and ebony Buck 110, under $40 (depending on retailer.) I think the standard production 110LT with black FRN handle is under $30., (again depending on retailer.) standard blade steel is 425HC.
Unless sold out, SK Blades has 'The Smoke Jumper' and 'The Shield' SFO 110LT with a CPM154 blade. (clip point on the 'Smoke Jumper'; drop point on 'The Shield'. The smoke jumper has a red FRN handle. The shield is blue) for under $40.

Marbles MR431 D2 Sow Belly stockman (under $20 at the owner's website) (I paid $16.99 for mine in July) I don't know if the D2 series is a limited edition, or if they have sold out the first run.) (D2 blades)

Marbles MR278 "G.I. Utility Knife" AKA: "Demo Knife" (under $10) (I paid $6.99 for my last one in July) knife is 100% 440A

Honorable Mention in the event the Marbles D2 series has sold out:
Rough Ryder "Classic Carbon" series. There are ten patterns in the series, which is a limited production series.
Last week there were still eight patterns available on the owner's website.
Of the still available eight patterns, I chose the RR1740 large (4.25 inch closed) stockman.
(I hope to get the Barlow and Canoe patterns before they sell out, as well.)
All knives of this series has yellow synthetic covers. The Blade steel is T10.
All in the series are under $20 at the owner's website.
(non-supporting dealer so I can't mention their name.)

(BTW: Rough Ryder and Marbles are both owned by that big knife dealer in the Tennessee smoky mountains.)
 
Victorinox Fieldmaster or Huntsman...the only difference between them is the first has a phillips and later has a corkscrew.
Victorinox large folders: Alpineer, Sentinel, OH Sentinel, Sentinel clip.
Opinel No.08 in oak, olive, or Padouk.

Fixed blade:
Rapala fillet knife.

I love the Buck 110...but these days the 110 is selling for over $40.00.
 
CS Tuff Lite - great little utility knife
CS Pro Lite Sport (discontinued) - not sure what they sold for new, but can get them for like $25 now...great bang for the buck for a 3.5" blade
CS Grik - my current EDC...love how the clip is basically part of the handle
 
I only have two low-cost folder recommendations - these are the low-cost knives I would be inclined to replace if my house burned down or something:
  • Opinel No. 08
  • Buck 303 (although I must confess that mine is 40+ years old and made by Camillus - the new ones are made in-house by Buck, and have a few minor design changes, so I'm slightly hesitant to recommend that, since I haven't tried one of those yet).
This is an interesting thread - thanks for starting it.

-Tyson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top