What's a good value "tactical" folder?

[NoirFan]

I am kind of an old school guy and when it comes to knives, I like Opinels, Bucks, Sodbusters and so on. That means I don't know much about the modern side of things in the knife world. I am shopping for a Christmas present for my brother - a younger guy in his twenties who is more into the tactical-looking stuff which I don't know that much about. Can you guys help me pick out a modern-styled pocket folder that is good and reliable while not costing too much?

My bro is not a "knife nut" or even particularly outdoorsy so I don't foresee this knife seeing a ton of hard use... in fact I don't think he even has a pocketknife at the moment. basically the primary function is to look cool while cutting the occasional envelope or package open. Appreciate the help.

Edited to add: I would like to keep the price below $40-50. Some of the Kershaws out there look pretty good:
https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Stai...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FCASMPF3Y6CFC7V9N95J
https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Stai...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FCASMPF3Y6CFC7V9N95J

 

[badkarmamib]

I have been carrying one of these every day since my wife gave it to me for Christmas 2 years ago, I love it. $45.29 right now.

https://www.amazon.com/SOG-Flash-As...F8&qid=1513018432&sr=8-3&keywords=sog+flash+2

 

[Speedo66]

The Kershaw Leek is nice, USA made, and the blade's a better steel than the ones you listed.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kershaw-US...152735&hash=item3f8a2336ef:g:cfsAAOSwZqZaGY-E

 

[readyeddy]

This is one of the best affordable made in China knives I've seen so far:

https://www.amazon.com/Ganzo-Firebi...F8&qid=1513024964&sr=1-3&keywords=ganzo+knife

 

[Kendal Black]

Investigate Byrd, a Chinese-made other-brand from Spyderco. Also, some of the less expensive Spyderco-branded knives come in under your price cap.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Kershaw Freefall

Quick stats:
-Made in China
-8CR13MOV stainless steel blade
-nice moderate tanto blade
-Ken Onion designed assisted opener with finger tab

Oh, and I've used mine for a couple years (I paid $25) but now they are $14 on Amazon Prime!!! I'm giving them to my brothers as gifts.

https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Ston...e=UTF8&qid=1513027218&sr=8-6&keywords=kershaw

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I'll add a 2nd vote for the USA made Leek. Nice knife, sharp out of the package and light weight.

 

[CZ9shooter]

Another American Kershaw, the Skyline, would be my pick for that price range. Grippy G10, manual flipper.

 

[Sistema1927]

I will be #3 for the Kershaw Ken Onion Leek. A stainless one is my EDC knife.

 

[cc-hangfire]

Either Ontario Knife Company RAT 1 (~+3" blade) or RAT 2 (under 3" blade).

Or CRKT (columbia river knife & tool) Drifter.

 

[hso]

This is one of

We want to avoid ripoffs of American knife companies. While Ganzo has plenty of copy cats like that Spyderco-like thing they have some designs aren't as clearly stealing from us.

The Drifter will do as will the Kershaw.

I'd suggest looking through Knifecenter in the price range you're comfortable.

https://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/...eel=&locktype=&style=&min_blade=3&max_blade=4

 

[bannockburn]

Another vote for the Kershaw Leek Model 1660H3X. Got this one from the kids for my birthday and really like it a lot.

 

[Lateck]

The LEEK is a great knife in my view. I rotate it with the Camber.

Lateck,

 

[Browning]

For work knives I've always pretty much gone with Kershaw with the occasional Gerber.

These are the ones that I generally carry at work. If I lose something, if it breaks or someone steals it then $25 to $60 is a whole lot easier to stomach than $216.

My line up. The Gerber 06 F.A.S.T. I picked up on sale at Walmart because my company gave us a Walmart gift card.

Kershaw Emerson CQC-9K (*Click*)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gerber-06-F-A-S-T-Serrated-Edge-Knife/16523866

https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Stai...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B06XSGSHMT

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS...g-knife-assisted-plain-blade-polyimide-handle

 

[.40isthenew.45]

My edc knife is about $7 over your upper limit, but has been rock solid for 3+ years, I even carry it in my board shorts in the ocean. Slightly more "tacticool" than some of the other kershaws you listed, mainly because of the blade shape, but still not over the top.
https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1870OLBLK-Knockout-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B00I0RUCXK/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1513185783&sr=1-1&keywords=kershaw+knockout

 

[jmr40]

IMO the Buck Vantage Pro is the most knife for the dollar. USA made, S30V steel, G-10 handles and priced just over $50. To get those features on most anything else you'd be talking about near $200.

https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-...d=1513210697&sr=8-1&keywords=buck+vantage+pro

 

[redneck]

IMO the Buck Vantage Pro is the most knife for the dollar. USA made, S30V steel, G-10 handles and priced just over $50. To get those features on most anything else you'd be talking about near $200.

https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-...d=1513210697&sr=8-1&keywords=buck+vantage+pro

Very nice knives for the money and come very sharp. I have given several of them away as gifts. They can be had in 2 other types of steel for less money as well.

 

[ugaarguy]

IMO the Buck Vantage Pro is the most knife for the dollar. USA made, S30V steel, G-10 handles and priced just over $50. To get those features on most anything else you'd be talking about near $200.

My problem with the Vantage line is that have pretty weak liner locks - Yes I've owned one. I'd rather have a still good but lower grade steel with a stronger lock.

 

[JShirley]

I don't suggest most Leeks because the metal handled ones are very slippery. I also want my knife to stay clipped to the top of my pocket, and Leeks won't do that well.

I carry Spydercos almost exclusively, but bought a Kershaw Cryo II while doing high-end security for a defense contractor in 2015. The C2 isn't a very light knife, but it is quite flat, and the scales won't chew up slacks like G10 will. This is an assisted knife with a flipper. Only use the flipper to open the knife.

Blackwash, $30.
Stainless, $31 (the one I'd get/had).

 

[hso]

That's a good point about G-10 eating fabric. While clear nail polish under the clip mitigates that, if you're giving a knife to someone that isn't wearing jeans or can't afford to have them chewed up you should look at handle material that won't damage the pants.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I love the Leek!
I bought some Coast brand knifes that work!

 

[NoirFan]

Hi all, thanks for the recs. I went with the Kershaw Leek. Here it is with my Opinel:

Nice and tight, very good looking knife. Maybe I should get into the modern stuff too

While I was looking around, I also quite liked the look of the Buck Nobleman:

What do you guys think of this one?

 

[redneck]

I got commissioned to engrave handles on a dozen buck noblemans for a guy to give to all his groomsman. They are nice knives, and the dozen I handled all had reliable lockup and decent fit for the price. They were all assembled with red loctite as well, no loose screws anytime soon, I actually had trouble disassembling them. I did one as a test run ahead of time and gave it to my girlfriend. She carries it everyday and likes it but I am not impressed with the edge holding. These are imports made with 440A instead of bucks normal 420HC.

 

[Litlman]

Kershaw assisted. CRKT. Love Spyderco.

 

[Armored farmer]

Mighty handy thing to have is a Leatherman skeletool, or a SAK.