The inexpensive valuable knife list.

[SleazyRider]

Thanks, Brian. I scored a new-old-stock Sharpfinger on Ebay last night for 30 bucks. I'm happy.

 

[hso]

The USA made Sharpfingers are good 1095 steel (I think)

Almost

During 1989-91 Schrade Sharpfingers were made using stainless blades and tangstamped "SCHRADE+" over "U.S.A. 512OT". Subsequent Sharpfingers may have been 420HC even if the box and catalogue indicated carbon.

 

[alaskanativeson]

Condor Tools also makes several knives that come in around this price. While I haven't used any of their knives, I do have their Parang, and it's well made.

 

[jk2008]

While I can't personally vouch for their value, two Kershaw knives are listed in the current Sportsmans Guide flyer that I received in the mail today.

The first is the Kershaw "Asset" which is listed for $21.97 ($19.77 if you've signed up for their "buyer's club"). It's rated at 4 stars on Amazon (where you can get it slightly cheaper, actually).

The second is the Kershaw "OSO Sweet" which is listed for $19.97 ($17.97 for club members). It's rated at 4.5 stars on Amazon (where it is slightly more expensive).

Do any of you have experience with these knives? Would they be worth picking up?

 

[Artumion]

I would have to say the Bushmaster Survival knife due to it's composition and stability... With a 9 and a half inch blade i serves the purpose of getting you out of a tight spot (more than once for me) with a long straight edge and a saw on the spine it serves as 2 tools in one. With a survival kit in the screw off watertight cap on the hilt it comes in handy... also comes with an emergency flash light and animal snare, snakebite kit, whetstone, and a GI can-opener all packed in a hardcase that easily straps to your leg... I only paid $40 before shipping at budk.com

 

[ugaarguy]

I picked up a Buck Bantam BBW today at my local Academy Sports. The BBW is the second smallest of the four Bantams with a 2.75" blade. At $12.99 + tax it was actually less expensive there than I could find it online before shipping. Based on impressions from initial use I can now vouch for the Bantam line in the strong value category. There are some minor compromises, but it was half the max target price of this thread. I'll post a more detailed review in a new thread later.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Value @ Price

I would have to say the Bushmaster Survival knife due to it's composition and stability... With a 9 and a half inch blade it serves the purpose of getting you out of a tight spot (more than once for me) with a long straight edge and a saw on the spine it serves as 2 tools in one. With a survival kit in the screw off watertight cap on the hilt it comes in handy... also comes with an emergency flash light and animal snare, snakebite kit, whetstone, and a GI can-opener all packed in a hardcase that easily straps to your leg... I only paid $40 before shipping at budk.com

Couple of things: 1) we've set an arbitrary upper bound of $25, and 2) the quality threshold is somewhat higher.

Unfortunately, the steel and temper of this knife is substandard, thus it misses the "valuable" part of the qualifier.

There are actually a number of high quality survival knives having hollow handles and made of good steel properly hardened to stand up to hard use. I have a tiny one (3-inch blade) that would cost $60 if you could buy it today (sadly, it's out of production). But a full sized knife of that kind? In a good steel? Hundreds of dollars. And even if you left out the hollow handle and just went with a good quality 9-inch blade from a reputable source, you're still up at nearly (or over) a hundred bucks.

Not many years ago (like maybe seven or so) when I started trying to figure out what would work well for me, I went through a "Bowie knife" phase. I bought several large knives of various Bowie-style appearance. Most of them I got for under $30. Such a deal.

As I learned about steel quality and hardening and grind and balance and fit & finish, I came to realize that my "bargains" were all basically junk. Most of them (like the one you mentioned) were made in China, while some were made in Pakistan. I gave some of them away, others I hid out of sight, knowing that I couldn't sell them or give them away to anyone I actually liked.

However, it wasn't all bad news. A few of the bargains turned out to be keepers. They were good buys even though I didn't understand it at the time.

It's a learning curve thing. In the beginning, I didn't know what it was I didn't know. As I learned a little about steel and heat treatments, I realized I was completely ignorant on the subject, and set about asking all the dumb questions I could.

I still ask dumb questions, but not so many as before. I still make buying mistakes, but not so many as before.

Today if I spend more than $30 for a knife, I have a fair idea what kind of quality it is I'm getting, and I've developed a decent sense of quality and value. I'm still not as good at it as, for example, hso or JShirley or Sam1911 or Valkman or any of a dozen other members here, but I'm getting better.

Anyway . . . the Bushmaster doesn't make the cut. Sorry, man.

 

[Barny]

Dexter/Green River knives are very similar to Old Hickory in design and cost around the same. Take a great edge, look nice, and fun to mod as well.

 

[ugaarguy]

There are actually a number of high quality survival knives having hollow handles and made of good steel properly hardened to stand up to hard use. I have a tiny one (3-inch blade) that would cost $60 if you could buy it today (sadly, it's out of production). But a full sized knife of that kind? In a good steel? Hundreds of dollars. And even if you left out the hollow handle and just went with a good quality 9-inch blade from a reputable source, you're still up at nearly (or over) a hundred bucks.

Arfin, I mostly agree. Mostly, because I'll cite three exceptions:

1. Full size, without hollow handle, Ontario 499 USAF survival knife - about $40 online

2. 8+ inch, not hollow handle, various Ontario Spec Plus knives - these can get into the $70+ range, but there are 8" blade models as low as $40, and 10" blade models, online for around $50. Rather than the stacked leather washer handles, and parkerized blades of the true military spec Ontarios, this series uses one piece injection molded soft plastic handles, and powder coated blades. Like their mil spec brethren the spec plus models are still made in the US with the same 1095 steel blades and full tang construction.

Neither of the first two meet the under $25 price point of this thread.

However, I'll throw out a sight unseen recommendation (if you want to call it that) that does hit the pricepoint:

3. Cold Steel Bushman - $23 online. This isn't fancy, and it's still made in China. However, it's forged, with integral handle, from Cold Steel's SK5 carbon steel. The blade is 7" long, so it fits the full sized criteria. The handle is hollow, but there's no cap; although some handy black duct tape fixes that on the cheap.

Some folks may not agree with the fiery personality who owns Cold Steel. That aside, they stand behind their products, and those products have always been well made in my experience - maybe not the most refined, but definitely rugged and well built. I'd take what I consider a very low risk on a Cold Steel Bushman at $23 if I had to have a big fixed blade under $25.

 

[hso]

I would have to say the Bushmaster Survival knife

Sorry, no.

Many people starting out will mistake size and "wow factor" for quality and value. Eventually they learn that these are usually indications of poor value when dealing with inexpensive knives. If you look through the list here you'll see unimpressive looking knives with impressive performance.

United produces cheap knives, not quality inexpensive ones. Your "Bushmaster" is a low grade of 420J2 steel that won't take or hold an edge with use, attached to a cast potmetal handle that is not secured well to the blade. It is actually a poorly made copy of the Marto Survival Knife of the '80s (yes, I had one ) and neither would perform well side by side with a $20 Mora. It may be impressive to some because of the size and the materials in the handle, but it is of too cheap a quality to recommend for this list.

 

[Dirty Bob]

+1 on the Cold Steel Bushman as perhaps the only affordable "hollow handle" knife available. I would look for a rubber plug or stopper -- or make one from wood to fit fairly snugly -- and wrap the kit contents in a piece of packcloth (itself useful) and tie with a length of paracord (also useful) before sliding into the handle.

If you don't want to line Lynn Thompson's pockets, then buy your Bushman used. I wouldn't worry about it that much, however.

The United "Cutlery" "survival knife" discussion was useful. This thread could also include a cheap knives to avoid.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[SleazyRider]

... This thread could also include a cheap knives to avoid.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

That's a great idea, and I second the motion. If agreeable to the OP, maybe we could type "AVOID" into the subject line to further separate the "wheat from the chaff," and avoid confusion.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Might be better as another topic

 

[DAdams]

Outstanding thread. I vote Sticky.

 

[hso]

Let's not confuse the issue by combining cheap knives to avoid with a discussion of inexpensive knives to seek out. There are too far too few of the latter for comfort and far too many of the former to even begin to waste bandwidth on.

 

[T.R.]

Schrade imported knives are well made despite what collector snobs have to say. Their stainless steel has enought nickel for corossion resistance but not too hard for ease of sharpening. You don't need to buy a spendy knife to get a good one!

TR

 

[sm]

Some more offerings...

I may have missed these, though I re-read this thread.

Victorinox paring knife, Krein suggested this to me and said I would think he was nuts, but damn if he was not correct. ( I gave mine away, to someone in "need" and I need another(s).

Vic Spartan.
Some know the only darn knife I had after tornadoes took darn everything from me, this was the only knife I had for a bit.
[and thanks to hso I had a means to sharpen it, after he sent some sharpening stuff, which I will be eternally grateful for.}

Case Mako Shark.
Yes deals can still be found for these within the
$25 dealie we speak of.
I have nothing against the Buck 110 or 112s just I come up with Case and the Mako Shark fits my hand better.

I bet I can still do the "Mako pop" though I don't have one, or done so in years.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

The local Pawn shops have been great for me finding American made Pocket knives in this price range.

 

[Brian Williams]

I am sorry TR, the 3 New Taylor made Schrade's were ok for metal but the pins were not enough to keep them together.

 

[sixgunner455]

I have a Schrade Little Finger. I'd wanted one since they came out when I was a kid, but they were only made for a few years.

Great knife. I found several on eBay, but I wasn't willing to pay too much for one, and finally won the 7th or 8th one I bid on. I got it for less than $30, IIRC. Deals can be had, if one is patient.

It had never been sharpened, since the factory edge.

My favorite $25.00 value I've bought recently was a Spyderco Tenacious I got last year. Takes a great edge, holds it pretty good, big enough to do anything (including field dressing), flat and compact enough to carry every day unless I'm wearing a suit. Then, it's just ridiculous. That's when I carry a penknife, though. Like a Pocket Pal or Case 32087 or Peanut.

 

[hso]

Schrade imported knives are well made despite what collector snobs have to say.

Considering this is a $25 and under thread there aren't any collector snobs here (well, except perhaps me). Current Taylor/Schrade knives are not just inexpensive, they're cheaply made and have too high a failure rate to be recommended in this thread.

 

[Lee D]

i bought a Buck 143 Paklite Skinner to compliment my Hoodlum, and after wrapping the skeletonized handle with paracord, i attached it on the Hood's sheath.
for under $20 its a darn good knife thats made in the USA.

 

[Shoobee]

My twins:

 

[jdub3]

Fixed: Cold Steel Outdoorsman Lite.
Folders: CRKT m16, Kershaw Assets, Tremors, Compounds

 

[DNS]

I've bought three new Schrade knives and one was actually 440C much to my surprise. The third was Remington-WallyWorld-Christmas quality so its a crapshoot.