Who here prefers thier inexpensive knives?

[Pawcatch]

My most used knives are my Eriksson #510 mora,Eriksson#1 mora,and my Okapi #907E folder.They all cost ten dollars or less and get the most use.I have several knives that cost over $150,but I actually prefer these.
Anybody have any similar experiences?

 

[P95Carry]

Put it this way - I love my Buck Mayo TNT - it is daily carry and scary sharp - a truly (IMO) superb piece of knife craftsmanship. My fave.

OTOH .. I have a boatload of Chinese origin cheapies, one or two of which are, remarkably - halfways decent. OK not ''quality'' per se, but good enough to hold an edge well and, lock safely. These I use for opening mail, packages, cutting plastic ties etc .....

I do have also a Camillus which was a give-away from Buckmasters ... rather crappy plastic handle but otherwise, very serviceable.

Cheap does not have to be garbage - often is but - just not always IMO.

 

[Pawcatch]

I think that there is a big difference between cheap and inexpensive.Most knives used by the working class in under-developed countries are inexpensive,but not junk.Junk knives would not hold up under these conditions.So knives like moras,opinels,and okapis come about.These knives can a do hold up under harsh conditions.

Cheap knives are a whole different cup of tea.They are generally not used by the tribesmen in poorer countries.
I tend to think of cheap knives as knives made at low cost with inferior materials.Chinese and Pakistani jobs come to mind.These are made for people in the western market
that don't know the difference.

 

[Soap]

There are many inexpensive knives that I use daily. For example my SAK Soldier, Buck 110, or my Becker Necker. I hate cheap knives, but I'll take inexpensive any time. I usually do carry a more expensive blade though.

 

[SapperLeader]

I hate cheap knives with a passion. No name knockoffs of SAK, the latest Chinese clone, every time a coworker asks me to sharpen one of those things it makes me cringe. . I do like inexpensive knives and have given away many as gifts. I really like the K-bar Dozier collaborations, the frame lock Kershaw’s aren’t bad, I love most of the Gerber and crkt line, and have a soft spot for the mirage and urban shark.

That said, my tastes have evolved a little bit and I truly love the nicer cutlery. My edc is usually a griptillian, native III or switchback at work, and my 941ti when at school or home. My always knife is my hideaway around my neck. So while you don’t have to spend big bucks to get a decent knife, the better knives are money well spent.

 

[sm]

I still like to whittle with an old Schrade Stockman. I have some other Schrades, too that still get used from time to time. Some were bought so I wouldn't lose a Case of similar design when out and about - or not break when doing some stuff.

I still like the SAKs , probably use the scissors, toothpick and tweezers more than the pen blade.

I still like the Old Hickory carbon steel knives with the wood handles. My nice Case kitchen knives disappeared...I started using the Old Hickory because I had them...that little Paring knife is a handy around the house, the shop "piddling all purpose knife".

Women can fix anything with a butter knife - the Old Hickory paring knife is my version. From scraping paint, opening a box, making a funnel out of 20 oz soda bottle to mumbly peg. For $ 1.69 - I find it hard to beat.

EDC used to be a SAK and Old Trapper ( or another Case). Still carry the SAK , leave the put up Case for memories - EDC is a Leek by Kershaw...still not expensive.

 

[Flashpoint]

I personally never seen a reason to drop $100-200 on a pocket/work knife. Most all the knives I have, I boughtfor under $25 with the exception of a SOG Sculpturian that I spent $35 on. The other day I did go a little crazy and bought a Spyderco Spyderfly, but that's a different story. Everything that I've needed to do I've been more than able to do it with the less exspensive knives that I have.

Don't get me wrong, I do know the difference between inexspensive and cheap. You can tell cheap my picking it up.

 

[Skofnung]

It seems you and I think alike Pawcatch, or at least we have like tastes in working cutlery.

I have close to a dozen Swedish knives of various types stashed all around. The kitchen, the workbench, the truck, in my desk at the office... the list goes on. I use them all the time.

If you have not tried a Frosts "Clipper" yet, I suggest you do so. The handles are very comfortable and the steel is typical mora... I haven't tried the stainless version yet, but I aim to soon. My only complaint is the sheath... but for $8.00 what do you expect?

Years ago my father bought half a dozen Okapi pocketknives at a Rendezvous. My brother and I put them to good use over the years, losing a few as kids, giving a few more away, and having at least one confiscated on a school trip in the pre-Columbine days when you wouldn't get thrown in prison for such nonsense. They ain't fancy, but like the moras, they cut like the words of a red-headed girl I used to date.

 

[Kingcreek]

The scandi knives are a great bargain. good quality for not much money. My hand-forged H. Roselli (finland) has become my favorite, but I've got some Errikson's scattered about. I still like some of my expensive knives. I have a $600 custom for sale and I've sold others in the $200 recently. I still have some great custom knives I'm not ready to part with.
I have nothing against inexpensive knives, but I have no use for poor quality knives.

 

[EghtySx]

I still carry a Spyderco Delica

 

[Third_Rail]

I mostly use inexpensive (not CHEAP!) knives, though I do own a couple more expensive knives ($200+).


I barely use the more expensive knives, they're more for display. A BBQ knife, if you will.

 

[enfield]

I don't consider Kershaw, Buck and CRKT knives particularly expensive - not when you're getting a knife that you'll leave to your son (if ya don't lose it). I am a cheap sonofagun, but I believe that, if you're paying close attention, you can get what you pay for.

I've GOT to get another one of those CRKT M16's!!

 

[Texian Pistolero]

Reminds me of something I read decades ago.

Rich Americans going to shoot dangerous game in Africa would spend weeks, if not months at Abercrombie and Fitch, picking out their "safari knife".

The opinions of all the experts was soberly evaluated, in this life or death question.

Some writer thought to ask, what knife is actually used by the African porters who actually shin and field dress the elephant/rhino/lion/buffalo?

Oh, they use the cheapest butcher knives ordered from Sears and Roebuck. No big deal.

 

[Bob]

I carry and use daily a Buck 110 and Buck 301. The 110 I bought used and the blade was needing replacement so I sent it into Buck for a new BG-42 blade. Inexpensive, but what a knife! I also occasionally carry a Buck 560 and a Buck 426. These are variations of the 110 with titanium and plastic grips. I've found the 110 blade geometry works really well for my uses.
I'm pretty much turned off by the black tactical stuff. I really don't care for the really thick bladed knives either. I was raised by a butcher and I like knives that cut well. They are a joy to use.
Bob

 

[DarkKnight01]

Inexpensive oh yes =) not generic, If I were to buy a 2-300$ pocket knife id just end up losing it, and if im going to buy a knife im buying it because I intend to use it.

 

[Kingcreek]

Speaking as someone who has actually carried and used knives costing as much as the average mortgage payment, I have to say losing one is quite unlikely. I don't forget and casually leave them laying on the tailgate or park picnic table or walk off and leave one on the ground next to a gutpile. I just don't, would you?
Yeah, inexpensive knives are great if the quality is adequate or better. I have swede moras stuck in 2 places out in the barn for cutting bale twine or opening feedsacks, etc. got atleast one in the toolbox of the truck and one stuck in the door map pocket.
high dollar and cheap users both have thier place. I appreciate them both.

 

[Bix]

Another Eriksson Mora fan. After replacing the factory sheath with some custom kydex - at twice the cost of the knife [$15 ] - I can't seem to find a reason to buy a more expensive blade.

 

[p35]

My favorites are the Frost's Swedish Army model- perfect size & grip & very sharp. All they need is a sheath that dosn't break its belt loops easily.

I agree that once you get one of these, you wonder why anyone would need a fancier fixed balde.

 

[WolfDog]

My most favotite three knives are my old trusty Victorinox Swiss army pocket knife, and my two Frost Flying Falcons.

One of the Falcons is a folder with an aircraft aluminum body. The other is a fixed blade "Combat Knife" with a tanto point. I carry the folder daily and the Fixed blade stays in it's Kydex sheath strapped to my hiking frame pack situated behind me between the shoulder blades as my emergency knife I I ever have to cut myself out of the straps.

Both knives hold an edge very well and have had the crap kicked out of them. The folder can be completely disassembled to easily clean out any crap that gets into the workings and put back together very quickly.

 

[hso]

Add the Opinels to the list. Cheap, good steel, well established, predated current French snottiness.

 

[T4A]

Kershaw Vapor ...Love it. 20$

 

[krang]

My 2 favorites:

Swiss army- My daughter got it for me when she played flute in a touring symphony orchestra and played in the small town at the foot of the Matterhorn. Best knife I ever had and I always have it with me.

Frost- stays sharp and a nice tactical weapon.

 

[DT Guy]

I like inexpensive knives, but I only use 'cheap' knives when I'm wearing my 'cheap' fingers....



Larry

 

[greg531mi]

Guess I am looking for value, as well as quality in a knive, gun, car, etc....I responded to a thread about scopes, and got bitten when I liked my new Tasco World Class 3x9, when they liked Burris, Leupold, Swarvoski, this is the same reasoning, I look for value....That's why I like my Kershaw's Black Out and Boa....bought them for $45 and $90...and love their sharpness....

 

[Mad]

I have a abused Cold Steel Recon 1 with a tanto blade 1/2 serrated. I've taken a hammer to this knife and used it as a chisel several times (i.e.50). I've hammered on the end of the handle and the back of the blade with a full size 18 oz hammer. It gets used as a screw driver every once in a while and a hammer for driving small nails or pins. The blade has been chipped and dulled but sharpens up just fine. Oh yeah I almost forgot, it does get used as a knife too. I've used it to cut copper wire 12 gauge and have used the serrated part to cut wood. It cost me aprox. $60 a few years ago and I've gotten every penny out of it and it still keeps ticking. I don't know if it's a cheap knife but it's a knife I don't mind using as a tool because it was rather, ahhh well cheap.

If any Cold Steel reps want this endorsement please contact my agent