Maximumbob54
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2024
- Messages
- 1,073
First off I'm setting some ground rules...
US MADE, not just assembled is #1.
The rest are all my own desires so of course everyone can/will argue but this is my list:
The word "budget" is going to mean many things to many people but I'm going to say under $100. Scrolling a few retailers shows a lot of listings at $99.95 or $99.99 but I won't look at those since you still have to include tax and shipping.
No plastic no matter how fancy. So no FRN, GFN, Grivory, polymer, any of the above. To be decent means micarta, G10, or better as a minimum.
The blade should be at least 2.5" or longer to really be an EDC useful for most any cutting task. Shorter may work but a line in the sand must be drawn.
No mystery blade steels to include surgical steel, 440 without an ABC at the end, or any other such unknown quantity.
No pinned or riveted together construction. Their is no denying your bone stock Buck 110 in 420HC isn't a great knife but I want knives that can be fully broken down for deep cleaning, swap out worn or damaged washers or whatever other fix.
Last, it has to have some kind of lock so no slip joints or friction fits. No getting your knife stuck in something leading to a bandaid fix. I love a SAK, I daily carry a Case, but neither one is my primary knife and I would cringe to hand either one to a non knife person. And while some places are relaxing a knife law here and there, no butterflies, autos, or any other legally gray area knives.
No links since I'm pretty sure there are rules, it's not like I scanned every available retailor but most carry a similar enough selection. By all means post up suggestions!!!
Bear OPS Rancor IV
14C28N Clip Point at 2.75"
Aluminum grip with a slide bar lock
At the time of this post this is a sub $50 knife, but not having one I haven't a clue of the quality. It does checkmark all the boxes so it's just up to the fit an finish if it would be worth it or not.
Bear & Son Slide Lock Folding Knife
D2 Tool Steel at 3.375"
Cocobola Wood with Stainless Steel Bolsters
The cocobola looks real in the pics as in it's not just red dye in laminate wood. Steel bolsters and construction means it's probably a little hefty but otherwise this seems like a decent knife at just over $70.
Buck 722 SpitFire
420HC at 3.25"
Aluminum handles with a lockback
Curious they don't advertise this as a Bos heat treat, maybe that's a cost reduction? Just looking at the pics this looks like a decent knife at $50.
Kershaw Leek
14C28N at 3"
Aluminum handle with liner lock or steel handle with frame lock
I've had several of these and I used to think for sure I would break the dainty little tip or the assisted open would skewer my leg. Nope but I'm also not a guy that uses his knife to pry at anything. These can be found most places well under $100 and you can often upgrade to 154CM or S35VN for just under that max price. These have my vote since I've bought and carried several as well as given them as gifts to fellow knife people.
And one knife I've never heard of or seen:
Mantis MT7.2
S30V at 3.25"
G10 with a liner lock
This is an $80 knife of a decent size and construction and while I'm not keen on the "Besh Wedge Tip" I'm sure it still cuts anything as needed. Definitely a tough looking little knife well under the max price.
Apparently Mantis has a dubious history that makes this a questionable recommendation at best and at worst a mislabeled steel with partially or fully imported material.
This is a subject near to my heart since I've looked at my collection and buying habits. I like supporting US business when they make a good product and I really feel like sometimes the imports push our US production hard to meet the price vs production cost. So my point in this post is you don't have to resort to imports for a good EDC. You may have to sort through what you define as decent but they are out there. And this was just the few I found in a few minutes!!!
US MADE, not just assembled is #1.
The rest are all my own desires so of course everyone can/will argue but this is my list:
The word "budget" is going to mean many things to many people but I'm going to say under $100. Scrolling a few retailers shows a lot of listings at $99.95 or $99.99 but I won't look at those since you still have to include tax and shipping.
No plastic no matter how fancy. So no FRN, GFN, Grivory, polymer, any of the above. To be decent means micarta, G10, or better as a minimum.
The blade should be at least 2.5" or longer to really be an EDC useful for most any cutting task. Shorter may work but a line in the sand must be drawn.
No mystery blade steels to include surgical steel, 440 without an ABC at the end, or any other such unknown quantity.
No pinned or riveted together construction. Their is no denying your bone stock Buck 110 in 420HC isn't a great knife but I want knives that can be fully broken down for deep cleaning, swap out worn or damaged washers or whatever other fix.
Last, it has to have some kind of lock so no slip joints or friction fits. No getting your knife stuck in something leading to a bandaid fix. I love a SAK, I daily carry a Case, but neither one is my primary knife and I would cringe to hand either one to a non knife person. And while some places are relaxing a knife law here and there, no butterflies, autos, or any other legally gray area knives.
No links since I'm pretty sure there are rules, it's not like I scanned every available retailor but most carry a similar enough selection. By all means post up suggestions!!!
Bear OPS Rancor IV
14C28N Clip Point at 2.75"
Aluminum grip with a slide bar lock
At the time of this post this is a sub $50 knife, but not having one I haven't a clue of the quality. It does checkmark all the boxes so it's just up to the fit an finish if it would be worth it or not.
Bear & Son Slide Lock Folding Knife
D2 Tool Steel at 3.375"
Cocobola Wood with Stainless Steel Bolsters
The cocobola looks real in the pics as in it's not just red dye in laminate wood. Steel bolsters and construction means it's probably a little hefty but otherwise this seems like a decent knife at just over $70.
Buck 722 SpitFire
420HC at 3.25"
Aluminum handles with a lockback
Curious they don't advertise this as a Bos heat treat, maybe that's a cost reduction? Just looking at the pics this looks like a decent knife at $50.
Kershaw Leek
14C28N at 3"
Aluminum handle with liner lock or steel handle with frame lock
I've had several of these and I used to think for sure I would break the dainty little tip or the assisted open would skewer my leg. Nope but I'm also not a guy that uses his knife to pry at anything. These can be found most places well under $100 and you can often upgrade to 154CM or S35VN for just under that max price. These have my vote since I've bought and carried several as well as given them as gifts to fellow knife people.
Mantis MT7.2
S30V at 3.25"
G10 with a liner lock
This is an $80 knife of a decent size and construction and while I'm not keen on the "Besh Wedge Tip" I'm sure it still cuts anything as needed. Definitely a tough looking little knife well under the max price.
Apparently Mantis has a dubious history that makes this a questionable recommendation at best and at worst a mislabeled steel with partially or fully imported material.
This is a subject near to my heart since I've looked at my collection and buying habits. I like supporting US business when they make a good product and I really feel like sometimes the imports push our US production hard to meet the price vs production cost. So my point in this post is you don't have to resort to imports for a good EDC. You may have to sort through what you define as decent but they are out there. And this was just the few I found in a few minutes!!!
Last edited:
