Pics Only: Lowest cost knife you might consider for EDC if your life depended on it

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Please disregard..I didn't read the end of page 2 where this is discussed already.

QUOTE="JShirley, post: 10825797, member: 25"]
I would never, ever, ever trust a cheap liner lock. EVER.
John[/QUOTE]

Elkins45 said:
I would never trust a liner lock. Period. Even if Michael Walker himself fitted it. There are simply too many better options available today to even consider carrying a liner lock.
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What is it about liner locks that doesn't work for you fellows? Not a challenge, I just want to hear and learn from your thoughts and experiences. I have both Kershaw liner locks and frame locks, US and China made and have had issues with none of them. I look forward to your response.
 
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I don't have a problem with frame locks. I have a problem with liner locks, especially on cheap knives with questionable QC. I have seen a lot of linerlocks that were loose over the years. Many of them were very cheap knives, but I've also seen loose Gerbers and many loose S & Ws (to be clear, S&W licensed knives have come up in quality over the years, but I still don't trust them).

John
 
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Since you didn't specify folding or fixed blade, I'm going to throw two sombreros in the ring.

Folder: CRKT M21
httpimages.salsify.comimageuploads--lzqg_-c2--c_padw_1840h_824fl_clip.png8qyoer8igntecxz2okvhx.png
I picked one up in 2012, still carry it every day. I haven't abused it THAT much but she's still a great knife, and a lot easier on the wallet than a benchmade griptilian or infidel (i may have been looking at knives too much lately....)
https://www.bladehq.com/item--CRKT-M2102G-Carson-M21--3171

Fixed: Mora... well, any of them.
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I mean, its a mora. they are the definition of inexpensive and useful.
 

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Yea. I have a hard time believing Mora is able to make such a great group of knives that sell at retail for under $15.
 
If you handle a lot of knives, like some of us, you will find more quality of construction problems with poor lockup in cheap liner locks as well as overly prominent versions too easy to open. Locks that over travel to engage or that are too short to engage well allowing blade movement are going to be unsafe.
 
Elkins45 said:
I didn’t see that the OP specified a folder. A $10 Mora is the cheapest knife I would trust my life to, and I would do so with few reservations.
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I agree with Elkins45. A Mora fixed blade is probably the only "cheap" knife I'd "trust my life" to.

One example of an "inexpensive" (IMO) knives I would trust would be the Spyderco Delica, which can be had for around $60:

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I've had one of these for well over 15 years and never has it failed me.
 
I usually have a Kershaw 1776 or OSO sweet in my pocket:
kershaw1776.jpg
OSO Sweet.jpg
Of course like everything I own, I modified them by adding some jibbing:
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I prefer the little flipper over a stud or hole in the blade,
:D
 
Lowest cost that would put my life on? You know, when it comes to my life, I am willing to spend at bit, given, that I have only one life.

But for $14.99 before shipping, I had to try this Schrade.:

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https://www.smkw.com/schrade-dual-action-p-serr-linerlock-3

It has a AUS8 blade, has a spring loaded flipper blade. The steel was hard and took a good edge and while I am not putting my life at risk, in case the thing fails, if I lose it, I won't cry over the lost cost.

Now, for the lowest cost knife that I could trust my life on, it would probably have to be a Cold Steel Code 4. I have purchased these off ebay for $60.00 delivered. The steel is good, the lock is good, very thin so I am likely to have it on me, and I think it is a good knife.

CS58TPCC.jpg

https://images.knifecenter.com/knif...ifecenter/coldsteel/images/CS58TPCC.jpg&w=545
 
Now if we could only persuade Mora to build a high quality low priced folder with their excellent Swedish steel........
 
My EDC is four knives.
The little green one is a $4 Ozark Trail. It’s in my right pocket daily. Yes it’s cheap and disposable. When ever it gets loose I just swap it out for a new one from my box of EDC cheap knives.
The one on the left is about a $20 knife, it stays on the outside of my EDC carry/get home bag.
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Inside my EDC carry/get home bag I carry two fix blade knives.
Now I have only been in one knife fight but I cheated. The guy pulled a knife, I pulled a gun. The guy had a come to Jesus moment and dropped the knife just as I was about to shoot. It was a good day.
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Speedo66 said:
Now if we could only persuade Mora to build a high quality low priced folder with their excellent Swedish steel........
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12C27 is a good razor blade steel. Sandvik improved it for Kershaw and turned it into a better knife steel called 14C28N. Chinese brands like Ruike (Fenix flashlight's knife brand), Real Steel, and others are offering some very good folders with 14C28N blades.
 
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Guidesman Uproar sold at Menard's. It is an OK 8Cr13Mov folder for $8.99

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In the early spring and late fall I carry this and an almost identical Coast LX330 in each of my coat jacket pockets.
 
JShirley said:
I've seen lots of those so loose they barely stayed open at all. What I went through BLOC, I gave a nice Spyderco to one of my classmates who had one. Because, even though I didn't like her, I wanted her to have a real knife.

Being expensive alone isn't enough to make a knife quality, I've just seen a lot of terrible Smith & Wesson's.
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I came across a lost LT who was going through IBOLC who wandered into our LANDNAV course. Had to explain what a GM angle was and how to use it. Probably didn't help him much as the declination in Benning is only -4 degrees. But in any case.

I have used the S&W M&P as short term EDC knives. They are inexpensive so once they get dull or worn out, they can be replaced easy. Which is the hallmark of a cheap knife. My biggest issues with the M&P were several, all of which were offset by the low cost. Which is why I went with the knife in the first place. The blade coating was weak, and scratched easily. The internals had to be very clean in order for the knife to fully spring open. The belt clip was tight and not adjustable. Whatever adhesive they used to put on the grip panels would melt and leak out during hot weather. And the tanto blades of the M&P would get dull very quickly.
 
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
Cold Steel Finn Wolf, I love the Scandinavian design, the design of the hunting blade bites deep and easily into flesh and the point is not too pointy so it stands up to repeated use well ( I aint stabbing car doors though so you be the judge), It also has the triad lock and it works for me, I love the thing can be had for about 35 bucks more or less.View attachment 788326
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I need to have a go at one of these
 
4FCBCAF4-E461-4B4A-92A2-877E2A0A8915.jpeg Cold steel Kudu ringlock. I’ve been carrying it a while. I use it often. It’s pretty big. I must admit the steel is so so and I have to sharpen it often. But what do you want for a 12 dollar knife? I can’t recall if I posted this yet.
 
Gtscotty said:
Why? I've carried my modest inventory of liner locks for years and years with no problems, and most of my other EDC knives are similar framelocks, also with no problems.

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Not only agree, but if anything I would rather have a liner lock when things are cheap. Other locks are a mystery (lock inside) so can fail without you noticing. Even a very cheap liner lock is mostly going to just work, but you can easily see if it's properly engaged and decide to use it, or not.
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