the only 3 knives you'll ever need for less than $75

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I'll admit I'm a bit of a knife/steel snob, but there's a couple a keep coming back to. They seem to do everything, and are not expensive on top of it.

First up, you need a good kitchen knife. This is one I over looked for a long time, but use it almost everyday. The Victorinox fibrox 6 in chef knife is my go to. For $22 I don't think you can beat it. It holds an edge pretty well and strops right up. It's comfortable to work with, and handles everything I've needed to get done.

Next an everyday carry. SAK classic. It'll cut open that amazon package just as good as your super ninja death dealer 5000, and the scissors do come in handy. Plus a couple other tools that are nice to have. It's super light, easy to carry, and I don't think there's any place you would get a second look for having it. Again they are in the $20-22 range.

Lastly everyone should have a good fixed blade. I give you the Mora companion HD (other Mora knives in the same price range) but that's my fav. I love these darn things. I've got a lot of expensive fixed blades, and more times than not I end up using one of my Mora's. They get all the abusive stuff and keep coming back for more. Super comfortable, If you use your knife in cold weather you'll really like the rubber handle! I've processed deer, wood working stuff, most normal thing you would do with a knife. They are darn near indestructible. The scandi grind is the easiest to sharpen by hand I think. The factory sheath is nothing fancy, but it's perfectly functional. Again another $20-25 knife.

Not being the latest and greatest super steels, you have a wide range of sharpening stones that will get the job done. Add a nice strop to the mix, and you're set.

I've spent more money on knives than any sane person should. Always looking for the perfect knife. You never know till you get a knife in had and use it for a while, but If I could do all over again this is where I would start. Bang for the buck, in todays world I don't think you can beat them.
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The Mora companion, both HD and the more slicy regular is so underrated. The handle, sheath and blade are very well designed. Just a no bs knife.

When it comes to kitchen knives though I really appreciated dumping my vic for a thin japanese one in R2 steel at 62-63 HRC. Sharpening went from 5-6 times a year to maybe 2. And it also sharpens up easy to.
 
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I will (and have) paid boucoup bucks for hot rod kitchen knives. I have used one of those Vics, though, and they're workhorses.
I regret most of the upper-end knives I've bought - and for me the upper end is 300-500.
 
$75? I’m heading to the nearest gun show/flea market! Gonna pick up a sweet SAK or Buck 110/112 and a multi tool from the used stock. Then a quality machete. Machete will probably get cut down to 12in if I can’t find one already that length.
 
A mora Bushcraft Black kept me from buying an expensive fixed blade for close to 6 years. I love moras.

I love the victorinox paring knives. I might have to check the local knife shop for the 6" looks like a great add to the collection. Thanks for spending my money 😁
 
A mora Bushcraft Black kept me from buying an expensive fixed blade for close to 6 years. I love moras.

I love the victorinox paring knives. I might have to check the local knife shop for the 6" looks like a great add to the collection. Thanks for spending my money 😁
Just to make it easier you can get em all on amazon
 
I will (and have) paid boucoup bucks for hot rod kitchen knives. I have used one of those Vics, though, and they're workhorses.
I regret most of the upper-end knives I've bought - and for me the upper end is 300-500.
That's me with fixed blades. I've got some nice ones, but that Mora is hard to beat.
 
Victorinoxes and Moras are excellent knives for the money, but really, they do not hold an edge well, and it takes more than a strop to keep them sharp. Maybe they are "the only 3 knives you'll ever need for less than $75" if you do not cut much stuff and never cut anything challenging.
 
The only 3 knives you'll ever need for under $75? Good luck with that. 🤷‍♂️
 
I don’t really need 3, even 2 can be enough
A victorinox Spartan or climber and a mora bushcraft cover most situations
 
Victorinoxes and Moras are excellent knives for the money, but really, they do not hold an edge well, and it takes more than a strop to keep them sharp. Maybe they are "the only 3 knives you'll ever need for less than $75" if you do not cut much stuff and never cut anything challenging.
I agree, they're not going to hold an edge as long as the newer high end steels. I use a double sided strop with 9 and 1 micron gunny juice. That keeps em going for a good while, before they need anything more.

More times than not I end up being a little underwhelmed with $200-300 knives. That's what got me thinking about it. Those are just the three that I continue to use, and am happy with.
 
Sharpening a mora is covered in 300 other threads I'm sure but when you can just freehand run the bevel with a stone around the campfire that really zeros out the steel concern in my book. I cant say I've had an issue getting through a day with a mora going unreasonably dull. But even the Bushcraft Black at $50 a piece I could carry 5 for the cost of my LT Wright in 3v. 5 I'm sure would make a weekend and would still be reasonable on the resharpen. Just my .02
 
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