Cheap but surprisingly refined knives?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Most really good OTF knives go for $250 and way up from there.

I've recently discovered the S&W M&P OTF going for under $40.

It's a single action, well built with very little blade play. Aus8 steel blade, aluminum handle, looks nice. You'll need to practice to open it while flicking the safety but it's easy. Here you can see the expensive Benchmade Infidel (upper left), Microtech Ultratech (upper right), my two S&W M&P's in the middle and a Shrade Viper OTF (not recommended) on the bottom:

20190816_184035.jpg
 
I have recently started buying a few of the Mora fixed blades. Not real heavy duty but great value for money.
On the folder side the Honey Badgers have been great value ($32-$36). They seem to be adding new models and features which is nice.
The ball bearing action flipper is very slick. I recently added the D2 model as well.

 
.


It's a single action, well built with very little blade play. Aus8 steel blade, aluminum handle, looks nice. You'll need to practice to open it while flicking the safety but it's easy. Here you can see the expensive Benchmade Infidel (upper left), Microtech Ultratech (upper right), my two S&W M&P's in the middle and a Shrade Viper OTF (not recommended) on the bottom:

View attachment 855350

Just my personal experience, but I would advise against buying any knife made from AUS 6,8 or 10 steel.

My experience with AUS is consistently bad.
 
Just my personal experience, but I would advise against buying any knife made from AUS 6,8 or 10 steel.

My experience with AUS is consistently bad.

What problems did you encounter with Aus8 ?

The primary advantage of Aus8 is that it can be stamped instead of being forged, thus making a superior stainless knife (as opposed to 44c for example). To me it seems comparable to D2. I have much better steels but they are also in much more expensive knives.
 
I recently bought the Kershaw "Portal". Its part of their "starter" series. 3 inch assisted opening blade, a bit of style, very solid lockup, lifetime warranty, all for 18$ shipped I'm happy with it.
 
Watch your fingers with that one. I've had horrendous luck with the bargain Kershaws. Got one of those starter packs with two knives for about 15 bucks at Walmart a few years ago, and the liner lock failed by just not having any flex in it. I unlocked the knife one time, and the liner just stayed pressed in. Had a lock fail on a little LST knockoff a few years before that. They don't seem to ride herd on their supplier(s) for the really low end stuff as much as they do for the mid-range and up stuff.
 
I recently bought the Kershaw "Portal". Its part of their "starter" series. 3 inch assisted opening blade, a bit of style, very solid lockup, lifetime warranty, all for 18$ shipped I'm happy with it.
I really wish Kershaw would stop making their starter series. The "Portal" has 4Cr14 blade steel. Some of the others in the starter series have 3Cr13 steel. Those steels have half the carbon, or less than half the carbon, of 8Cr13. That's not much carbon to form primary carbides, and (to my knowledge) 3Cr13 and 4Cr14 don't form secondary carbides the way that AEB-L (AKA 13C26) does. If you search "Kershaw 8Cr13MoV" on Amazon you can find many folders from Kershaw with that steel for $20-$30. Those are a much safer bet, in my experience.
 
The primary advantage of Aus8 is that it can be stamped instead of being forged

I don't understand what you mean. Aus 8 is a stainless steel and like all stainless steels the primary advantage is the corrosion resistance. I also don't understand what you mean by "stamped instead of being forged". Are you referring to being hand forged or machine?
 
I don't understand what you mean. Aus 8 is a stainless steel and like all stainless steels the primary advantage is the corrosion resistance. I also don't understand what you mean by "stamped instead of being forged". Are you referring to being hand forged or machine?

Yes Aus8 is better for mass production by machine. I would guess that is because it's a little more ductile than other stainless steels.
 
a little more ductile than other stainless steels

Since there's a large range of stainless there will be some that this fits for, but AUS 8 is used so often because it is a bit tougher than 440C, but 440C has slightly better corrosion resistance and has a bit more carbon. You can almost think of AUS 8 as 440B with some vanadium. The vanadium in AUS 8 helps with the toughness. The economics dictate why manufacturers use AUS8. From a metallurgical standpoint AUS8 and D2 aren't close enough to really be comparable since D2 will make a better blade if properly heat treated, but it isn't really a stainless (nearly, but not quite there).
 

Attachments

  • Knife Steel Composition Chart | Knife Informer.pdf
    306.3 KB · Views: 5
cheygriz,

What has been your negative experience with AUS 8 or 10?

Very poor edge retention, primarily. It's soft and ductile.

It's a very cheap steel so it is attractive to manufacturers looking to save money.

440B is a fairly good comparison. What lotsa folks call a "truck stop knife."
 
Cowboy, I never really got into collecting Cold Steel, but in my younger days, I did have and use, a Cold Steel "Master Hunter" made from 0170-6. (Cold Steel called it Carbon V)

That was an excellent hunting and overall outdoor knife. Not quite up to my Doziers, but I would feel perfectly comfortable using it again.

My only complaint about Cold Steel is that while they sell some excellent knives, they also sell some real junk, so one needs to select their products with care.
 
Been thinking about the Buck 112 slim Ranger … but a bit concerned about that stubby pocket clip. I seem to be fighting a loosing battle with seat belts as it is.

my broken tips were from miss uses: old Buck 112 broke tip trying to remove a shower drain sump in the army about 1975. SpyderCo broke in a moment when a horse was caught in a fence and I needed to pry out the fence staples RIGHT THEN and the SpyderCo was cheaper than the horse or even a vet call.

-kBob
 
what is the buck with the aluminum handle, i have one like new up at my dads. it's to big for anything i would use a knife for.
the big fixed one with the phenolic resin handle and aluminum bolsters, which is the 119 I think, or the big round aluminum handled 184 survival knife.....cause the 184s have a bit of a cult following and are worth some cash.
 
ya know what? thats what I've got, not a 105.
Its that big a knife lol. I really like mine.
i wish i had all the knifes i had when i was a kid, had 3 or 4 milk crates full. i still have some nice old schrades that are new, i have 5 or 6 of the one that is like the buck 110. some nice smaller fixed blades to.
 
EDC knife I love a Kershaw Blur. Sharp, sturdy, locks good, feels good in the hand, sharp and sharpens well. For a hunting knife I prefer the outdoor edge swing blade or just the folding knife and hook separate.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top