What to you think of as a budget friendly price for an EDC pocket knife?

[steelhead seeker]

“Budget friendly” sounds like a euphemism used by people in $6 velcro shoes.


You can get a decent knife for under $100. You can get one that will last the rest of your life for $200. Hogue RSK, Spyderco GB2, BM Grip, etc.

You can get one that will last the rest of your life for under $100 too...

 

[Boattale]

I'd say "under $100" if that was an option. The value of a knife depends on a lot of factors, including what you expect of it. The biggest or easiest variable to talk about among reputable Chinese manufacturers is blade steel.

At least relative to the current budget market, I'd consider 8Cr13Mov or lower members of that series to be obsolete. Despite some recent defense of 8Cr13Mov, it's relatively high toughness, and ease of sharpening; ratings that place its edge retention on par with 14C28N fail to differentiate the quality of the edge over the course of its life. The extremely sharp fine edge that is so easy to put on 8Cr13Mov doesn't last long at all. It quickly degrades to a ho-hum working edge that represents the majority of its life. A similar edge put on 14C28N or Nitro-V will feel better for longer over a similar lifespan. Meanwhile, either of those steels is tougher and 14C28N is much more stainless.

Depending on what a person needs, the quality budget spectrum in the current market starts with either D2 or 9Cr18Mov. Chinese D2 has issues but its edge retention is universally better than 8Cr13Mov. It does best with a toothy edge and the freedom of keeping to lower grits may help to mitigate some of the increased challenge in sharpening it. It's worth mentioning that D2 is a semi-stainless steel so care may be needed depending on the user's environment. While some research has to be done on which brands are reputable, you can find reasonably well-made folders in Chinese D2 under $30 and a whole lot more under $50.

9Cr18Mov is the first respectable member of the Chinese alphabet series. It's an analog of European X90CrMoV18, which is basically 440B plus extra chromium and molybdenum. When the rubber hits the road though, differences in edge retention between production knives in 9Cr18Mov and 440C come down to heat treatment. The Civivi, Sencut, and Ferrum Forge knives from WE tend to get an excellent heat treatment. 9Cr18Mov has lower toughness than the other steels mentioned so far but not worse than 154CM, N690, or M390. Where 9Cr18Mov really shines is in corrosion resistance. It is extremely stainless and fills this role as the partner to 10Cr15CoMov in Civivi's Damascus. There are lots of great modern folders in 9Cr18Mov in the $30-60 range.

10Cr15CoMov is a Chinese analog of VG-10. It's a reasonable EDC steel and shows up in some $50ish knives. Stepping up a little, there are plenty of quality folders in N690 and 154CM within the $40-100 range. Those are decent steels with 154CM tending to be better on edge retention and N690 being better on corrosion resistance. K110, a German analog of D2, also shows up in this range. Some of the Chinese companies specializing in D2 have started importing K110 as a more premium option. It might be a little better but by how much, I don't know. While these steels might get better overall edge retention versus Nitro-V and 14C28N, those steels remain some of the best in the budget realm. They are fine-grained, tough, easy to maintain, and supposedly pretty forgiving with respect to mass heat treatment. I prefer 14C28N for its higher edge retention but both are excellent choices under $100.

My original Ka-Bar Doziers were Aus-8. I believe it may still be the default. I had no problems with it at all, but will say the D2 version has very good edge retention. I cut up a room's worth of old carpet and pad with it. Hard on the cerakote but the blade really took a relatively minor touchup. I was impressed.

 

[AusLoX]

Just bought a brand new Petrified Fish flipper with G10 and D2 for $30 new. It’s a gift for a friends son (that’s what he wanted). But after seeing it, I’d probably carry it.

 

[Sibyrnes]

I did not cast a vote. The knife that I have on me when I need it is the most important knife I own! I would never skimp out on a knife that I depend on daily. I mean, to have a cheap knife fail on you when you have a good one at home in the drawer doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

 

[Boattale]

I did not cast a vote. The knife that I have on me when I need it is the most important knife I own! I would never skimp out on a knife that I depend on daily. I mean, to have a cheap knife fail on you when you have a good one at home in the drawer doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

The more or less corollary of the point of this thread is what you consider a cheap knife that you'd worry about failure?

 

[Sibyrnes]

The more or less corollary of the point of this thread is what you consider a cheap knife that you'd worry about failure?

Well that's a good point. But there is the whole "pride of ownership" thing and just having a quality piece of work in your pocket too. I guess I just wouldn't limit the max to $200.00.

 

[Chronovore]

My original Ka-Bar Doziers were Aus-8. I believe it may still be the default. I had no problems with it at all, but will say the D2 version has very good edge retention. I cut up a room's worth of old carpet and pad with it. Hard on the cerakote but the blade really took a relatively minor touchup. I was impressed.
View attachment 2647068

I keep one of these in my glove box. It's a good little beater!

8Cr13Mov is the Chinese analog of AUS-8. Generally, AUS-8 seems to perform better than 8Cr13Mov but still falls below the steels I discussed above. I still have a few knives in AUS-8 and use them occasionally. My Dozier is AUS-8 and as a random "quick dirty job" or "I forgot my knife" glove box knife, I'll take the slightly increased corrosion resistance over D2. (AUS-8 and 8Cr13Mov are similar to 154CM and Nitro-V in terms of corrosion resistance: stainless but not very stainless.)

 

[Drop bear]

Mine would be mostly around $50 American
Mabye a little more.

My civivi vision was about $180 Australian.

 

[greater]

Cold Steel a variety of choices

The Finn wolf is good

 

[katguy]

I just picked up my first Cold Steel. It is a Tuff lite that I paid $21 for new. At that price point, I wasn't expecting much at all. It seems to be a very well built knife. I think it will easily do anything I'd ever ask of it.

I agree 100%. I own about 50 pocket knives. Some cost 500 bucks, but I typically carry a $25.00 AUS 8 Tuff Lite because it's tough as nails, easy to sharpen and 100% legal everywhere I travel in my state. If I lost it, I'd just buy another. No big deal. I also carry a $35.00 Spyderco Roadie to lend to friends who need a knife.

 

[DMG]

You can get one that will last the rest of your life for under $100 too...

I suppose I can if I don't use it at work.

Also, I don't love any of the sub $100 options.

 

[David Mary]

I agree with others who’ve said budget friendly depends on the budget. [...]
I also did not vote.

Ditto. My vote would have been "it depends".

 

[David Mary]

8Cr13Mov 14C28N 8Cr13Mov 14C28N 14C28N 14C28N 14C28N

I agree with you for the most part. If 14C28N were more readily and economically available to me, I'd use it as a maker, and if it were used in the production folders that have designs I like, I would buy those as well. As it is, the folders I like use 8Cr13MoV, and I have no difficulty keeping it cutting more than suitably well enough for my needs.

 

[Terry M.]

I voted $100-150. Dunno why.

 

[Chronovore]

I agree with you for the most part. If 14C28N were more readily and economically available to me, I'd use it as a maker, and if it were used in the production folders that have designs I like, I would buy those as well. As it is, the folders I like use 8Cr13MoV, and I have no difficulty keeping it cutting more than suitably well enough for my needs.

... at least until you reblade them all in MagnaCut...

 

[Therom]

any victorinox makes an excellent edc and most of them are under $50 …
For something more robust with a fixed blade there are amazing knife under $100, I have a civivi vision fg and a asp mini pe grin in this range and they are still affordable

My person am sweet spot for edc is in the $150-250 range: Spyderco native, Benchmade Bugout, Emerson CQC-7B, ZT0452CF , etc.

 

[cbach8tw]

I voted for 50 to 100, good quality and still affordable, although for about 40 you can get a Buck 110 or 112 Slim select for a good user that will still cut. I use my buck 112 slim for weekend carry.

 

[whp]

I suppose I can if I don't use it at work.

Also, I don't love any of the sub $100 options.

Try a Cold Steel Recon 1. If that doesn t last for years at your job, your work is harder than I would do.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Seeing as how most of the knives I seem to purchase are $250-700, I think 50-100 is a great budget. Spyderco has many good quality offerings around this price point. I just picked up two Spyderco Endura’s in M4 for $110 a piece. Yes, $10 over that budget but very doable for that quality of knife.

 

[Ironbut]

I didn't vote, but for about $38 you can get a Buck 112 Slim Select. It's not the latest super steel, but it's a good, working knife. It's lightweight, has a good clip, lock, and action. The K-Bar dozier is another good budget friendly knife, but the Dozier doesn't get carried much since I got the Buck.