Cheap but surprisingly refined knives?

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LoonWulf

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Firstly, I'm not hugely knowledgeable about knives. I enjoy them, and usually have one or more on hand, and 1/2 a dozen in my vehicles or bag.
My "good" knives have been bucks, Spyderco, or similar (love my 105). I have had a couple custom folders.

Now in my experience most of my knives have had at least some issues. slop when open or closed, weak or inconsistent lock up, other goofyness etc.
Some were excellent, such as the Spyderco Enduras I've had, as well as the buck 110, which i wasn't a fan of. If the tips didn't snap all the time on Kershaw leaks those would be my favorites for every day stuff.

Recently I've been seeing an improvement in the cheaper knives (I loose or give away knives pretty quickly so cheaps the way to go for me)
The best I've handle lately have been these Eafengrow knives
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAEegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw1HSJg3cwicJ-u7_iIgdMKQ

I prefer larger knives so that's what I've gotten.
Lock up on all of them is solid, no fore aft or side to side blade wobble, materials actually feel really good. The tips even center well when on closed on all of mine (which my 400 dollar custom did not do....not that I actually care).
The blades are nicely formed, and sharp (blades marked d2) but dont feel all that hard. Still I've processed one animal and cut a pile of boxes but have not NEEDED a resharpen the one I managed to get away from my wife.
The designs are pretty varied and appear to be copies of other knives, so if you want to see how you like a particular shape before investing in an expensive one this maybe a good way to do so.


just thought I'd pass that along.

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I have had some good cheap knifes before can't tell the make but they worked good. I guess you can call some on the s&w knifes cheap there about 15 bucks.

I do not like expensive knifes,I like losing them lol. I still like the Kershaw leek for the money. I mora to. For a good cheap fix blade.
 
Opinel and Morakniv. Either one can be had for $15 or less and I'll take either over most other knives costing 4 or 5 times as much.

I also like Cold Steel for value and their attitude towards their designs. I'm not sure I'd call most of their designs "refined" but they have had some that are very nice. Most of their products are the edged tool equivalent of "scary black guns." While some of the designs blur the line between practical and absurd, they never pitch them as some kind of zombie-killer non-sense to make their customers feel better about it. They expect their customers to be honest about what they really want. So they offer refined designs -- at least they don't have fluorescent green splatter paint.

Some of their more refined designs would include:

Blackbear Classic
Tai-Pan
Military R1 Classic
Pendleton Custom Classic
Classic Tanto
Magnum Tanto
Natchez Bowie
their various Kukri's
Rajah 1
Espada

For the design style and features, for the steel you're getting, the quality of manufacture, they're all very "cheap" or inexpensive. Most of them use less costly manufacture in Taiwan, but excellent steels. They have some Pakistani-made models that might be even less costly for what you get, but I wouldn't call them "refined." If you want a 1055 steel beater, they're hard to top.

The prices on Cold Steel are flexible, unlike some other manufacturers that seem to fix their prices with dealer agreements. Street prices are often half list price, but I've bought new Cold Steel knives for as little as 25% of list price.

Look at these price histories for some models on Amazon:

Tai Pan in 3V
https://camelcamelcamel.com/Cold-Steel-13Q-Secure-Ex-Sheath/product/B00U1I80SA

San Mai Pendleton Classic
https://camelcamelcamel.com/Cold-Steel-Custom-Quality-Pendleton/product/B001RAU54I

To get those knives for $140, $150 is very cheap. Those are very nice knives for that kind of price.
 
I picked up a Eafengrow a bit back, pretty nice base for a $20 knife. At that price it is a bargain for sure. The locking bar was a bit stiff so it didn't flip very well and the lock would slip. A bit of bending and cleaning up of the lock surface it works well. The blade is centered. Mine tends to self loosen at the pivot after getting opened-closed. Needed a thread locker. Overall finish is good, took some 600 grit paper on the liner edges to soften the edge.
 
Picked up this Buck 112 Slim Ranger about a month ago. Made in the USA, sharp and well-built and under $30. I am far from a knife expert, but this knife seems to be an excellent value.

View attachment 855174
when I've lose my current carry knife, a cheap buck folders usually what I go buy to replace it, inevitably to also be lost or given away in short order lol.
I don't usually care for the size and shape of bucks folding handles but the knives themselves are really nice for the price.

I have had some good cheap knifes before can't tell the make but they worked good. I guess you can call some on the s&w knifes cheap there about 15 bucks.

I do not like expensive knifes,I like losing them lol. I still like the Kershaw leek for the money. I mora to. For a good cheap fix blade.
I break all the tips off my leeks, but besides that I really like them also.
I've also still yet to own a More, my fixed blade buck kinda killed all interest in another fixed blade general purpose knife. I still sorta feel I should try one tho.

Opinel and Morakniv. Either one can be had for $15 or less and I'll take either over most other knives costing 4 or 5 times as much.

I also like Cold Steel for value and their attitude towards their designs. I'm not sure I'd call most of their designs "refined" but they have had some that are very nice. Most of their products are the edged tool equivalent of "scary black guns." While some of the designs blur the line between practical and absurd, they never pitch them as some kind of zombie-killer non-sense to make their customers feel better about it. They expect their customers to be honest about what they really want. So they offer refined designs -- at least they don't have fluorescent green splatter paint.

Some of their more refined designs would include:

Blackbear Classic
Tai-Pan
Military R1 Classic
Pendleton Custom Classic
Classic Tanto
Magnum Tanto
Natchez Bowie
their various Kukri's
Rajah 1
Espada

For the design style and features, for the steel you're getting, the quality of manufacture, they're all very "cheap" or inexpensive. Most of them use less costly manufacture in Taiwan, but excellent steels. They have some Pakistani-made models that might be even less costly for what you get, but I wouldn't call them "refined." If you want a 1055 steel beater, they're hard to top.

The prices on Cold Steel are flexible, unlike some other manufacturers that seem to fix their prices with dealer agreements. Street prices are often half list price, but I've bought new Cold Steel knives for as little as 25% of list price.

Look at these price histories for some models on Amazon:

Tai Pan in 3V
https://camelcamelcamel.com/Cold-Steel-13Q-Secure-Ex-Sheath/product/B00U1I80SA

San Mai Pendleton Classic
https://camelcamelcamel.com/Cold-Steel-Custom-Quality-Pendleton/product/B001RAU54I

To get those knives for $140, $150 is very cheap. Those are very nice knives for that kind of price.

I haven't used any of cold steels smaller knives, but I've got a Thai Machete, that I actually REALLY like. While it looks sorta funny, I appreciate the fact it gives me almost 6' of reach, while still being functional when choked up on, or two handed. I use it for cutting stupid tall cane grass, and it's more effective than anything else I've tried.


I picked up a Eafengrow a bit back, pretty nice base for a $20 knife. At that price it is a bargain for sure. The locking bar was a bit stiff so it didn't flip very well and the lock would slip. A bit of bending and cleaning up of the lock surface it works well. The blade is centered. Mine tends to self loosen at the pivot after getting opened-closed. Needed a thread locker. Overall finish is good, took some 600 grit paper on the liner edges to soften the edge.
I've read similar reports and like most Chinese stuff I think quality control can be a little spotty. That or they have improved consistency lately cause all three of my current ones are very good, I'm about to order another made green, as I'm probably gonna give the one I'm carrying to a coworker, so we'll see.
 
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Those are all Chinese knockoffs of other people/companies. They're theft of intellectual property. At least buy some Chinese knives that aren't stealing from the people who came up with the designs.
A fair opinion for sure.
I don't think folks looking at actually buying one of the real knives would see something like these, even tho they are pretty good copies and choose one over an original.
Unless of course they want to see how the basic design works for them before shelling out for the real deal.
I happen to really LIKE the way that black one feels in my hand, and if I can figure out who it's copied from, and it isn't hugely expensive I'll likely buy the original. If it is more expensive than I'm willing to spend then I won't, but I wouldn't have been willing to buy it to begin with.
Not trying to start an argument, simply offering my opinion. It's one I hold for most knock offs, especially when one compares a really expensive original to a cheap knock off. Most folks I know that would be willing to spend for a real deal, either won't settle for a knock off, or buy the real one after playing with the cheap version first.
 
You break the tips off of Kershaw Leeks (plural?)?

Are you using them as pry bars?
yep plural lol. I
broken them getting them caught in the joint on animals, cutting heavy straping, and yes even using it as a pry to pull the staples on card board boxes.
Like I said, I really like the design, which include the fine sharp point, but I use that point for a lot of cutting tasks, and while I take care of my knives, when in use I'm not horribly careful with them, and they are offten tools I have on hand.
I've snapped off the tip of a Endura getting getting it caught in a ankle joint and twisting wrong.
 
i never broken the tips on the leeks, i don't pry with them. i am not big fan of normal serrated knifes but kershaw has the ones with those mound shaped serrations i really like, when i was working for the well driller i cut 10ga wire with it when cutters were out of reach.
 
has anyone broken knife by dropping them on concrete. i broke a buck 101 and a crkt m16. oddly both when skinning deer in the barn when colder the 30 out.
I've reshaped more than a few 110s that are 1/4"-1/2" shorter than original.
I broke my spyderfly by dropping it, THAT was very upsetting. I also happen to really like butterfly's for general use, and would replace that one in a second even at the 300 plus they seem to bring now.
 
LoonWulf,

Keep in mind that the design of a knife impacts the use (and use often drives the design). Fine point knives aren't generally considered good for breaking down game and you find a lot of purpose designed/built blades for that purpose lack that fine point. If you're breaking Leeks dressing out deer then that's a clear indication that they're not designed for that purpose. ;)

Ken Onion is on the island so look him up and talk with him about what he'd use on deer (Ken is a hunter as well).
 
I’ve broken the tips off several Leeks myself. All but one was replaced and the last one I still carry broken because I’m tired of returning them.

I have nothing against Kershaw or Leeks per se, and I bought several at my Base Exchange when they were marked down for clearance.

But I too find the Leeks to have a fragile tip. Or maybe I’m just hard on knives, but I mainly use them to trim garden plants, open packages, and cut fruit at lunch.
 
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LoonWulf,

Keep in mind that the design of a knife impacts the use (and use often drives the design). Fine point knives aren't generally considered good for breaking down game and you find a lot of purpose designed/built blades for that purpose lack that fine point. If you're breaking Leeks dressing out deer then that's a clear indication that they're not designed for that purpose. ;)

Ken Onion is on the island so look him up and talk with him about what he'd use on deer (Ken is a hunter as well).
Your absolutely correct, and we're I better at remembering to bring my regular hunting knives (or grab my hunting bag even, as there's always one of my fixed blades in there) I would have expended much less effort and suffered less stress a number of times.
Unfortunately if I manage to remember guns, bullets, and boots on some of my last min jaunts I'm doing good. I've chased enough critters over lava rock in my slippers, that you'd think I'd remember my boots every time now.....cleaned a few pigs with a serrated paring knife my buddy kept in his lunch pail also, again one would think there wouldn't be a second time.....

I didn't know Ken Onion lived out here, thats pretty cool!
 
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For a fixed blade, just buy a Bob Dozier or a Bark River and use it for the rest of your life.

For a folder, Spyderco, Benchmade, Zero Tolerance make some superb knives.

I've never been a fan of Buck, Gerber, Case, K-bar or any of the other cheap blades. The Buck 110 is fine for the once a year deer hunter, but for hard use the 420/HC steel in the blade just won't hold an edge worth a darn.
 
For a fixed blade, just buy a Bob Dozier or a Bark River and use it for the rest of your life.

For a folder, Spyderco, Benchmade, Zero Tolerance make some superb knives.

I've never been a fan of Buck, Gerber, Case, K-bar or any of the other cheap blades. The Buck 110 is fine for the once a year deer hunter, but for hard use the 420/HC steel in the blade just won't hold an edge worth a darn.
my 105s made from d2, it holds it's edge well. I also had/have (buddy has been putting a new handle on it for almost 3 years) Gerber fixed gator made from S30V that has been excellent.
for big folders I used to use Spyderco knives a lot, but I do tend to lose knives and that gets expensive. Switched to Byrd's, but they discontinued the one I liked. I'm still looking for a replacement to those.
 
For a fixed blade, just buy a Bob Dozier or a Bark River and use it for the rest of your life.

For a folder, Spyderco, Benchmade, Zero Tolerance make some superb knives.

I've never been a fan of Buck, Gerber, Case, K-bar or any of the other cheap blades. The Buck 110 is fine for the once a year deer hunter, but for hard use the 420/HC steel in the blade just won't hold an edge worth a darn.
I'll check out those fixed blades also
 
i have always wanted to try a spyderco, but there still to pricey for me. if i did not lose them then the cost would not be bad.i have had good luck with kershaw and crkt. i like fixed blade but don't use belts to hold the sheaths, they go in my back pack when hunting. i have to see my dad had a really early buck, one of the ones made in the work shop from files.

i like the old style folders like the case's i carry a old imperial 2 blade folder most days. but i chew my nails and they can be very hard to open.
 
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