List recommended high value US knives at each price point

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maximus83

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Nov 7, 2011
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What would you recommend to a friend as the most high-value US manufactured-or-designed knives at each $10 price point from $20-and-under, to $100-and-under? (Fixed or folder)

Requests for your lists:
* Firsthand experience. List knives you have owned and used.
* Use your own definition of "value."
* USA knives. Only knives that are made in the US (even if parent company is foreign), or knives that are designed and sold by a US company (even if made elsewhere).
* Use current prices. If possible, list current prices (rather than what you originally paid), and provide a retail link if you can. Makes it more useful for your BF compadres. :)
* Ok to multi-list. If you don't have a knife at a certain price point, or you have a knife that's your top pick at multiple price points, multi-list it.

Mine:
* $20: Kershaw Injection
* $30: Buck Vantage Select
* $40: Ontario Rat 1 in D2
* $50: Buck Selkirk fixed. Online retailers and Wally have for sub $50.
* $60: repeat Buck Selkirk
* $70: Buck Vantage Pro (3.25" S30v, non-coated)
* $80: Kershaw Link (M390)
* $90: repeat Kershaw Link
* $100: Cold Steel Recon 1

ETA pic:
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I also like my regular Rat 1 for $30.
EDIT: sorry this is not US made, think it is manf in Taiwan
 
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A high value knife is one that's relatively inexpensive for what you get, and is not just inexpensive based on outsourcing.
10$ Buck 283 nano bantam.

20$ Buck 482 bucklite max



30$ Buck 110

50$ Buck 119 special. ( I know their steel and it's reputation doesn't like, I don't have it yet but I will before long )

Btw I don't think that a knife can be a USA knife if not made in the USA.
 
^Totally hear you on the Bucklite Max. I think mine must be different model, that looks like a folder. Anyway I have the Bucklite Max 679, which is a 4" 420HC full tang fixed blade hunting knife, designed AND made in the US, for $23.95. This is a great value knife, 100% USA designed and made, is a great slicer with 0.11" blade stock and the Buck hollow grind, has a good belly for hunting use, and is full tang (unlike similarly priced Moras, by the way). For my uses, I actually like this better than any similar priced Mora for a small utility fixed blade.
 
maximus83 said:
^Totally hear you on the Bucklite Max. I think mine must be different model, that looks like a folder. Anyway I have the Bucklite Max 679, which is a 4" 420HC full tang fixed blade hunting knife, designed AND made in the US, for $23.95. This is a great value knife, 100% USA designed and made, is a great slicer with 0.11" blade stock and the Buck hollow grind, has a good belly for hunting use, and is full tang (unlike similarly priced Moras, by the way). For my uses, I actually like this better than any similar priced Mora for a small utility fixed blade.
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I recently thought about picking one up for 14$ new, but they have a printing on the blade for something so I decided to pass.
 
I vote Spyderco G10 Manix 2 for $100 price range and Cutlery Shoppe Exclusive S90V Spyderco Native LW for $90 price range.

I think this list would be more interesting and focused if it were limited to USA-made knives, but your thread and your call, obviously.
 
Well, few can touch a $12 Mora for value...but it doesn’t qualify for this list.

And I agree with the above posters that a US designed outsourced knife is still a cheap Asian-made knife to me (especially from Taiwan) but it’s your thread my man.:):thumbsup:

Don’t know if I can come up with the full 9 options:

I like several Kershaw models like the chive and leek and link. The link can be had under $40. I don’t know the MSRP for the Leek and Chive but I know it’s typically $50-$80 (I can get any of them used under $30 but that doesn’t count either:D). And I’m sure there are some fantastic Buck offerings that are cheaper.

I can’t kill my $45 BK14.

I don’t own a Strongarm but I’ve handled them and it’s definitely one of the best in its $50-$60 price range.

I personally think the Kabar Becker BK16 is the best feeling and performing knife for the price, it’s often under $80 (got mine for less). Love the design and love the steel.

Lots and lots of great options in the <$100 range from the likes of Ontario, Kershaw, Spyderco and Benchmade just to name a few.
If I were to spend $100 on a knife today I’d get a big ol’ BK9. “Get to da choppa noooooooow!!!”........sorry.....got carried away. :p
 
ricechrispy said:
I think this list would be more interesting and focused if it were limited to USA-made knives, but your thread and your call, obviously.
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+1, a "100% designed and made in the USA by a USA-owned company, and below price point X" would definitely be an interesting thread. You should spin one up, or if you don't, maybe I will later. :) I should add that 2 knives in my list would already make this list: the 2 Buck Vantage knives. I was about to say the Kershaw Link would too, since it's made here by Kershaw, but Kershaw is actually owned by a Japanese company.
 
I recommend a Leatherman squirt and an opinel. Best combo for true mountaineers.
They are super light and leave room and strength to carry dog feces in your pocket so as not contaminate the woods and streams.

Know that.
 
^Good point on the American made Leatherman multitools that are sub $100, there are lots of good ones including the Wave, altho at the moment, I only have the Charge which is more spendy. I didn't know Opinel was American made. :)
 
V84mystang said:
Yep.

That’s been my experience with US companies outsourcing there. It’s just an opinion. I know many people who swear otherwise.
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Check out a Taichung Spyderco sometime, although I'm not sure if any of them come in under the $100 price limit for this thread.
 
extrafury said:
$90 Buck Marksman...USA designed, USA made
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Yep those are interesting, tho I don't own one. A lot of Bucks in the "under $100 made in America" category, for sure.

How do you like that locking mechanism on the Marksman, compared to say classic Buck back locks, and liner locks?
 
US made knives I own and have used, and what I paid:

Buck 110: $21 (from a gun shop special, but can be had for $40 or less)
Buck Vantage Select small: $17 (same gun shop, different year)
Buck Vantage Select large: $32
Leatherman Crater C33T: $30
Spyderco Native: $30 used, perfect condition after sharpening
Imperial Schrade Kamp King: $1 (from friend)

not counting multi-tools, of which I have several Leathermen.

This is over a range of years, so current prices are probably different.
 
maximus83 said:
Yep those are interesting, tho I don't own one. A lot of Bucks in the "under $100 made in America" category, for sure.

How do you like that locking mechanism on the Marksman, compared to say classic Buck back locks, and liner locks?
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I like it. I have the version from SK which is g10/S35vn (think it was $125) as opposed to the aluminum/154cm normal version. None of what I am saying below is any different though.

I like that it keeps my fingers out of the blade path and is a one handed knife. Also, once the lock disengages, there is nothing holding it, so it flips and drops quick. It has a great deep carry clip too.

To me the $90 version is probably the most interesting thing under $100. But that's just my opinion.
 
extrafury said:
I like it. I have the version from SK which is g10/S35vn (think it was $125) as opposed to the aluminum/154cm normal version. None of what I am saying below is any different though.

I like that it keeps my fingers out of the blade path and is a one handed knife. Also, once the lock disengages, there is nothing holding it, so it flips and drops quick. It has a great deep carry clip too.

To me the $90 version is probably the most interesting thing under $100. But that's just my opinion.
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Would you consider the Marksman "fully ambidextrous?" I'm kinda getting interested in this....
 
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