Best action folder under $100??

There’s a NIB Para 3 lightweight for $99 on the exchange right now. I’d have a hard time finding something I’d recommend more than that
 
Don't play/fidget with knives, plenty of scars to solidify that statement, one almost made me walk with a cane for the rest of my life.
Now having said that, you need a solid user,
Kershaw brawler. Not sure if they've been discontinued but I used mine to sh*t in my produce job back in 2013, seen box wax, produce flesh, ice, dirty water and the like and survived
Great budget knife
 
Kizer drop bear can be flicked out and in pretty easily.


It might be partly the blade shape. As I think it is geared towards swinging out and in.
 
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Lots of good choices but the full-sized Sheepsfoot Domin from Kizer probably had the best stock action from the box. (I've since upgraded mine to Skiff bearings and it is even better now.) No video but here is a pic of mine.

8ZGxScV.jpg
 
My smoothest knife in that price category is my Kizer Begleiter 2. It has almost no friction on the action at all once you get passed the detent. I kind of bought it just to check out what Kizer had going on, and it's become about my favorite foreign made knife in that price category.
begleiter.jpg
The N690 has also become one of my favorite steels in this category. I've consistently been able to get the best edges I've ever got on a knife.
https://imgur.com/rPbQDxm
 
BladeZz said:
What's your favorite folder with the best action under $100? Looking for something silky smooth for a fun fidget knife that's still practical for edc lol
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Try Kizer's sheepsfoot version of the Domin! It's super practical, the grind is excellent, the micarta is nice even if the scales are done in a simple flat style (also very nicely executed), and it's just a fantastically fun knife to fidget with because it has a glassy pivot and a crisp detent

https://imgur.com/a/bijSIuU
 
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Kershaw Iridium. Smooth as glass with bearings, and the non-assisyed barrel lock makes it a natural for fidgeting.


I bet you could find the 20CV version for under a hundred, the D2 for sure under a hundred.

I don't personally find assisted or automatics fun for fidgeting because they are no fun to close.
 
I'm still a big fan of the Ontario RAT Model 1 and 2 folders. Tried, tested and true. I've owned several over the years and never got a single dud. Smooth manual action with a rocket detent, good ergos, and solid lock-up. Still available for around $40 USD.

Good luck, OP :thumbsup:
 
LimpCroissant said:
My smoothest knife in that price category is my Kizer Begleiter 2. It has almost no friction on the action at all once you get passed the detent. I kind of bought it just to check out what Kizer had going on, and it's become about my favorite foreign made knife in that price category.
View attachment 2296263
The N690 has also become one of my favorite steels in this category. I've consistently been able to get the best edges I've ever got on a knife.
https://imgur.com/rPbQDxm
Click to expand...
When will it be mine turn to have a knife with a laser edge?
 
Maybe give us some more guidance on what you're after. Budget is a good one; you already gave us that.

  • Preferred blade size? (I find 3" to be about right for everyday carry)
  • Preferred blade shape? (clip, drop, wharncliffe, dagger)
  • Preferred action? (flipper, thumb stud, thumbhole, automatic)
  • Preferred lock type? (back lock, liner lock, bar lock)

Some good ones, off the top of my head for under a hunge:

- Kershaw Iridium is a good one, by all accounts. They copied Benchmade's Axis Lock when the patent expired and now they have decent steels available in it too. I think it may be US-made also? This is right around a hunge, I think.
- Kershaw Blur is a good one, if you like the blade shape. It's assisted opening and US-made. Right around a hunge.
- Kershaw Leek is a great one. Spring-assisted opening with the flipper tab and a nice sharp tip. US-made also. The ones with the better MagnaCut blade steel are just over $100 now. They cost around $60 I think with their more basic blade steel.
- Ontario RAT1 or RAT2 (depending on your size preference) Get the D2 tool steel blade for the excellent edge retention, but realize it's not stainless and you do have to give a little thought to caring for it. (Don't leave it wet, wash & dry it after cutting food, etc.) These have thumb stud opening and a lot of belly on the blade, if you like that. Well under a hunge.
- Spyderco Leaf Jumper, Native or Delica. (back locks, leaf-shaped blade) I like that the opening hole doesn't catch on stuff you're cutting through, like a thumb stud can.
- Cold Steel Mini Recon 1 (available in 3 different blade shapes) - Killer TriAD back lock on these, and I like their AUS-10A steel. Not as fun to fiddle with the back lock, but the are SOLID.

Knifecenter's YouTube channel did a good video on budget knives recently at the $25 and $30 price points.
 
Brawny said:
When will it be mine turn to have a knife with a laser edge?
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Well, from my experience knives rarely come with crazy amazing edges. Every once in a while I'll get surprised, like by my Spyderco Para 3 in Maxamet, or my TRM Nuetron 2. However if I want a lazer sharp edge, I really have to put it on there myself. The edge you saw there was accomplished by using a KME sharpening system. I reprofiled it to I believe 17 degrees using diamond stones from 50 grit, up to 1000 grit, and then did a light stropping.
 
Brawny said:
When will it be mine turn to have a knife with a laser edge?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what a laser edge is, but based on my data, if you want to have a good chance of buying a blade with an average BESS score out of the box around 100 or less, buy a couple hundred Spyderco and Cold Steel knives. Of course, it would be a lot less expensive to buy several cheap knives, one good knife not with super-duper steel, and one good guided-angle or Work Sharp Ken Onion sharpener. Practice on the cheap knives. Then you should be able to get a sub-100 average BESS score on the good knife without much trouble.

If you also want excellent flick-open and drop-closed action, make the good knife a Spyderco with a compression lock such as a PM2.
 
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