I noticed you like the same things I do: G-10, titanium, etc... My recommendation would be to source the cheapest “Titanium/G-10 Framelock” you can find. If you want to go even cheaper, you could do Stainless Steel Framlock with G-10.
To me, Ti/G-10 Framlocks are addictive. It’s like an all tube amp, or a fully automatic watch. Took me a while to reach those ideals, but now I’ll never look back.
You like Spyderco, and they’ve been offering some inexpensive ti/g10 framelocks - check out the “Chockwe” (Sp?) or the “Leaf Storm” - smaller knives, but I guess that’s why they’re cheaper. The “Chockwe” is more refined, slicer - while the “Leaf Storm” has translucent G-10 and is more heavy duty/hard use, albeit really small. I personally like a larger handle...
Michael Walker LinerLocks, Axis Locks, LockBacks, and Compression Locks are all good and fun, and they work well enough, but something about the (Chris Reeve Integral) FrameLocks really get my mojo running. There’s like a certain mystique about them.
Something about ONE side being G-10 offers the perfect amount of traction, while retaining the elegance of the ONE side of metal.
I know you want to spend more money, but the current folder that has my attention is the Navy K-507 - it’s the Stainless StoneWashed G-10/Stainless Framelock that mimics the Sebenza for ten bucks. Having been astoundingly impressed by my Sanrenmu 710’s, but wanting something with more grip, and larger size, I figured it was worth a first hand look.
I know it’s a cheap knife, but Navy makes some knives for Spyderco’s cheaper line (or so I’ve heard...) - so you save a boatload, for going right to the manufacturer, which, to me, is cooler than paying more for a name brand logo - but I’m actually thinking about sending it to STR and asking for a custom (THICK) titanium slab to replace the Stainless (thin) scale that comes from the factory. That would be cool. Like a Chinese Stridenza. For near enough to your price range, you’d have something that would end the “Strider vs. Sebenza” wars... It’s like the best of both worlds! I also think that only a certain percentage of the item needs to be made in the U.S.A. for the legal claim, but if someone like STR put that much custom work into it, it might seriously rival some of the top offerings from the big boys.
My cpm860U812 crvcr or whatever steel on the 710’s has impressed the heck out of me, so I think their 440c (7cr17mov?) should hold a proper edge. Some Chinese stuff is really great, while other stuff isn’t, but when you find the people making the knives for Spyderco, Kershaw, CRKT, Buck... I don’t know any of this to be fact, but speculate SRM and Navy to be at the top of that list.
Just like Giant Bicycles (in China) makes all the products for a huge percentage of well known name brands. (««« incomplete sentence)
So, if you need to spend more to hit that price point, have it customized with a ti slab, and maybe some spinework, or sculpted scales. That’s what I would (am going to) do.
EDIT: Oh yeah, and I’m going to ask STR to do one of his deep carry stealth clips on the tip-up side of the custom (THICK) ti slab he’ll hopefully create for me. That’s it, custom, tip-up clip, on a ti-slab of framelock goodness on a one-sided poor man’s Sebenza. I hope I didn’t offend the people who can afford real Sebenzas. It’s an homage. Imitation is the highest form of flattery... Paying respect.
The reason I didn’t get a real Sebenza, was because I’d have to have it customized with a G-10 scale and add that to the already hefty price tag, because the micarta/wood inlays didn’t shake my boat, and the idea of all ti makes me feel slippery. This way, I get what I want, while still staying way below the real price - and enjoying my knife, as a poseur.
When it comes, if it’s anywhere near as good fit and finish as the Sarenmu 710’s I already have, I’m doing this. I’m so doing this.
