The inexpensive valuable knife list.

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hso

hso

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We've helped many members learn that there's difference between "cheap" and inexpensive knives that are a real value to the user. The problem with great inexpensive knives is that they're not well known outside of knife knut circles.

Here are the top two inexpensive knives that everyone should have. The folders made by Opinel of France and any of the Moras made by Frosts of Sweden.

Lets compile a short list of truly quality knives that don't cost an arm and a leg. Please post only about knives you have first hand experience with instead of what other people think of them so we're giving members a real endorsement. Let's leave your favorite piece of junk China/Pakistan off. We're not looking for cheap knives here, just inexpensive but valuable that cost you $25 or less.

Folder - Opinel
Fixed - Frosts Morakniv
 
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Folder: Spyderco Delica 4 or Endura 4. My EDC for 10+ years and never ever failed me.

Fixed: ESEE Izula, 3, 4 or 6. Best warranty in the business.
 
Fixed: Mora Classic No. 1
Folder: Victorinox Pocket Pal, Bantam, Pioneer and Farmer.
Always Knife: Vic Classic SD.
Gentleman's knife*: Case yellow handle, CV blade Peanut and 32087

* A gentlemen should always have a nice traditional knife that not only serves for general duty, but also fits into a more "formal" situation where he might be called upon to slice a chocolate for a lady, as to not smear her lipstick, or to slice a lemon/lime for her drink.
 
Russell Green River knives perform way above their pricetag. Cold Steel's Carbon V blades like the Master Hunter are great as well, but it looks like they're using a different steel these days.
 
Look, any knife that costs more than $25 is too expensive for this thread.

This is to help people who think spending $20 at WalMart for a POS folder is a "great deal" when we can point them to real value for the same price or less.
 
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The 2.75" Spyderco Persistence is a decent knife for the money.

It is part of their budget line, but mine was well worth the $25 I paid for it last year.
 
Yeah the Persistence/Ambitious line of liner-locked, G10-scaled Chinese Spydies is pretty awesome for the price.
 
Fixed - KaBar TDi (not super practical, but one of the few sub $30 fixed blades I have experience with).

Folder - Buck 110/112 EcoLite, like a friend sent me, available for under $30 online. Not only are these great knives, but they're made in the USA too.
 
A long time ago I made an order from CDNN investments and they sent me some knife free with my order. I can't recall what make and model it was but it held up better then anything I've ever bought at Wal Mart. I'd probably recognize it if I saw it again. It was was a true dime a dozen knife but it was dependable and got the job done. Kinda like the AK-47. :)
 
The Condor line a family of great outdoor working knives.

Rough Rider makes some great folders for EDC. Stainless blades, yes, but they hold their edges and are easy to sharpen.
 
Regular vs Found Prices

I have several knives at "found" prices below $25 which, unhappily, cannot be bought at retail for less than $50, so I'll refrain from listing them.

I'll try to stay under $25, but I may stumble into $30 territory.

I have Mora knives, both old and new designs, that I bought for under $20. I also have some Mora 2000 knives that I got at "found" prices from $20 to $25, but they normally retail for more like $30.

In general, Mora will have something suitable (and of quality) at a fraction of the price of similar offerings from mainstream brands.

Case XX knives. The Sod Buster Jr can be had for under $25. I have a dozen scattered among vehicles and tool boxes. Well, maybe more than a dozen. I also have some other Case models that I picked up for under $30, but most of those were "found" prices rather than MSRP.

I also have Böker sodbusters, both large and small, that will stack up against anybody else's sodbusters, and I don't think I've paid $30 for any of them.


Buck Knives. Depending on what you need, you will often find something among the offerings in the Buck brand that does what you need and costs well under $30.

Take, for example, the Buck 112 PaperStone Ranger (112BO5-B) currently for sale on Buck's "Web Specials" page for $20. It's a full sized 112 with handles made of the PaperStone synthetic. I have several. It performs exactly like the $54 Buck 112 (with the wood & brass handle), but it's lighter. At $20 it's inexpensive and a serious piece of quality. Also on that page are a couple of the BuckLite models at under $20. These are standard production quality 420HC blades set on lightweight handles.

Buck also offers a range of inexpensive folders in the under $30 range. Among these are the Bantam line costing (depending on the size) $25, $30, and $35. Smaller versions for less. Street prices may be lower.

The new PakLite Caper goes for $27, PakLite Skinner: Small for $27, Large for $32. Serious hunting gear.

Most of the ones I've mentioned above are US production, some will be imports.


I concur wholeheartedly with the Opinel suggestions. Everybody should have a few.

If you can find the ones made in Sweden and Finland, the Rapala fishing knives are very good value. I'm not yet ready to endorse the import versions, since I have no real experience with them. The Swedish company, EKA, is the original source for the Rapala and Normark folding fillet knife. Real quality, under $25.

Wenger SAK models are all over the place, but a good ordinary SAK can be had for under $30. I have a soft spot for the new Evo S10 design. I bought mine for $25.

Marttiini (Finland) makes a line of Puukko style knives whose prices average out below $30. The do a bait knife for under $15. Good quality, very affordable.

I'll have to review this when I'm awake.

Past my bed time tonight.

 
Schrade "old timer" I got it in a horse trade. I think mine was called a 'sharp finger'.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-211359.html (I think these are now made overseas but its a good utility/hunting knife)

Buck original 'skinner'. I don't think they run much more than $50 (pricey for this thread) but one of the best shaped blades in a purpose built knife.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-297142.html

A good Swiss (Wegner/Victorinox) army knife for you pocket. The serrated blade models are hard to sharpen, but I have used my corkscrew around many a campfire. I have field dressed an antelope using only an SAK. They are really useful tools.
 
A working man's knife: the SOG Blink

Ahhhh ... this is the thread I've been waiting for! Though I'm a big fan of "The THR Knife Picture Thread," most of the knifes cost more than my rent money, so I look at the Bark River knives and drool.

Here's my two cents: The SOG Blink. I'm a fool for assisted openers (some say just a plain fool), and I can't count the number of times my left hand has been wrestling with a bag of feed or PVC pipe, and I've reached into my right pocket of my jeans to retrieve my Blink. A flick of the thumb stud and you're good to go ... in a blink! It's flat and small, yet fills the hand, and I use it as a money clip when the wife lets me hang on to a bit of my paycheck. (It's a magical knife: put a couple of 20-dollar bills under the clip and it will turn them into singles by the end of the week---and then they'll disappear!)

One caveat, however: keep it clean. If you're working in a ditch or sandy area, the mechanism will bind up if it gets gritty. I've resorted to paper strips, dental floss, and even compressed air to clean it out. There's a tiny ball and spring detent on the inside that's difficult to disassemble and clean. Last time I attempted to do so I botched it up, and SOG most graciously reassembled it for me.

The SOG Blink is made in the USA and can be had for about 30 bucks.

IMG_4428.jpg
 
Folding - Svord folding knives, Spyderco Kiwi, Spyderco Byrd line-up
Fixed - in addition to the Mora, Cold Steel's lite series: Tanto, Outdoorsman, Pendleton, Cold Steel Bushman. Some of the Condor neck knives: Bush Buddy, CRKT Folts Neck knives, Ritter RSK, and Buck Smidgen.

Borderline cheap, just a hair over $25 Cold Steel Kobun, Boker Tom Krein Pocket Bowie and TOPs Key knives.
 
Lets compile a short list of truly quality knives that don't cost an arm and a leg.
Click to expand...
An off beat approach, but I enjoy finding old, US made, Schrades, colonials, Camillus, Ka-bars, and other fine knives at yard sales for way less than $25. Most just need to be cleaned and sharpened.
 
Yesterday I bought my daughter a Victorinox Recruit for $15.98 + tax at Lowe's. It's a nice little knife with two blades and a few other tools.
 
I guess some of this is sticking as I have both of the knives mentioned in the OP (I really like the Morakniv a lot. Just wish I had a different sheath for it). I need to find a an older Sodbuster in good shape. I have a couple of Bucks that I might have paid under $25 or $30 each for years ago - one is a muskrat style folder and the other is a fixed blade (I want to say it is called the Personal or maybe Pathfinder) about a 4-5" blade with a false edge grind about an inch long and not a drop point.
 
I have to agree with the Opinel being one of if not THE best under 25 dollar knife there is. In spite of my love for the Case peanut, I have a few Opinels I just can't stand to part with. A number 6 or 7 is a very light weight knife that rides in dress pants well, and will handle most any pocket knife job that comes along. The big number 12 makes a fine pocket machete or roast pig slicer.

Of course, you should always have a Victorinox classic on your keyring.
 
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