Reddit mentions: The best folding hunting knives

Alright, sounds good. A very basic recommendation would be a Spyderco Endura, which is a great knife in VG-10 stainless steel. In this steel you should occasionally oil your blade, but that's really it. If that looks too big, the Spyderco Delica is the same knife, essentially, but smaller. Another good Spyderco would be the Spyderco Stretch, also in VG-10. All three of these have strong back locks.

For a slightly more expensive knife, the Spyderco Manix 2 comes in 154CM stainless steel and a hard-use ball bearing lock.

The Benchmade Griptilian comes in 154CM stainless steel and has the second strongest lock on the market on it- the axis lock. There's also a version with a thumb hole instead of a thumb stud.

The Buck TM Vantage Pro comes in S30V stainless steel- one of the better steels available up until the $150 mark- but only costs about $60, and is by far the cheapest knife of its size available in S30V.

The Kershaw Blur in S30V is an amazing assisted knife in good steel. The Kershaw Junk Yard Dog is a great folder in a composite of a couple of good steels.


The Zero Tolerance 0700 is kind of funny looking but a solid knife in S30V.

So far, all of these are within your price range. Now, I'll move up just a bit and double it- you're now looking at a $200 range.


The Manix 2 XL in S30V is one of the strongest folders out there. It's definitely a hard-use knife and will survive a hell of a lot.

The Benchmade 275 Adamas is probably the strongest folder in existence. It's in D2 tool steel and has an incredibly robust axis lock that was beefed up to take more damage.

The Spyderco Caly 3.5 in ZDP-189 steel is an incredible knife in fantastic blade steel. I wish they made more things in it, I really do.

The Spyderco Techno is a bit smaller but will certainty last nonetheless.

The Spyderco Sage in S30V will do it for ya, that's for sure.

I'd love me some Benchmade Emissary in S30V.

The ZT 0350 is a folding tank.

All of these knives will last for whatever you want to do with them. Some are too heavy to reasonably EDC, like the BM Adamas and the ZT 0350, but others, like the BM Griptilian, are perfect EDC knives.

If you have questions on any of the knives I've linked or about their care and maintenance, feel free to ask.

5 knives

Above is a link to 5 folding knives that may or may not fit what you're looking for and 4 are well within your price range of under $120. One is slightly above at 139.00 on Amazon, but the Chrome extension called Honey is currently allowing a $10 discount. All are made by Kershaw/ZT.

1. The ZT 0350 is the top knife with the curvy ergonomics to it. It's probably the most basic ZT folder and is currently the only ZT knife I own. It is good for larger hands, it's very sturdy (and heavy) and technically more than $120 but only barely.
   
   
2. The Kershaw Fatback is next to it and has a more triangular appearance. Relatively newer offering from Kershaw, I think, but is certainly proving to be popular. It's as long when closed as the ZT 0350 but is thicker from one scale to the other on the handle AND is lighter. The actual specs for this and all the knives mentioned can be found by Googling them. This knife is currently under $25.
   
   
3. The Kershaw Skyline is probably the most well known knife, I wouldn't be surprised is this has its own lore here on r/knives. It's popular for a reason being lightweight, and well tested as an older, mainstay model from Kershaw. As you can see, mine is showing wear and scratches compared to the other knives! Amazon is currently listing the basic version of this knife for $46.
   
   
4. The next one is the Kershaw OD-1 which is DISCONTINUED. I didn't know this when I took a photo of it for you and started this list. This means the price is higher than you'd pay normally and isn't really available on Amazon or in stores. You can find it on the link provided (I think) which is to one Stop Knife Shop, you can also try Ebay or Bladeforums to find a used one. The link provided appears to be offering this knife for $53, but I don't know what condition that's in. The one I bought on Amazon back in like 2013 or whatever was ~$30-$35. I actually have two of them, but I'm not sure where the other came from. They are cool knives, fun to play with, but not tacticool.
   
   
5. The last one pictured is the Kershaw Cryo and is currently available on Amazon for ~$19. It is the smallest of the knives shown, smaller than the Fatback with the triangular handle by what looks like 2 inches when open. This would be a great beater knife, something that would be a fine flipper and used briefly but would not be comfortable for extended use, especially in large hands. If memory serves, there's two different Cryo models with 2 different sizes, but I have only the one you see. Could be the smaller of the two models.
   
   NOT PICTURED but I do also have the Kershaw Blur which Amazon is listing at ~$35 currently which is HIGHLY recommended even though it doesn't have a flipper. It's spring assisted opening and a very comfortable grip for larger hands. That price is so good, they're normally $55-$60 that I'm grabbing one of them again as an extra.
   
   I could list like 4-5 more Kershaw knives but my comment is too long already. If you would prefer more variety in recommendation, Spyderco has some solid options but if you want to go BALLS DEEP into tacticool, one of my most valued knives because it was bought for me as a gift was the Cold Steel AK-47. This knife is quite a bit larger than the ZT shown but is nearly the same price at ~$125-130 on Amazon. You might be able to find it cheaper on Ebay. Be careful though, there is the regular and mini version!

Hi! And welcome!

I like the Gayle Bradley 2 in M4, and the BM Valet in M390, but they are both very expensive to start out with. The Shuffle II is kind of crappy - I'd definitely pass on that one. I have no experience with
the Bartender Defeder, but even the XL version looks too small, as is the Rodie. The Delica and Leek are great knives, and would likely be solid options (their ergonomics are better than their handle lengths suggest, especially the Delica). The CRKT M16 is ok, but it's not great (in my opinion). I've never handled CRKT's Endorser, but it looks like a solid choice.

My best suggestion is a RAT 1 in D2. It's 40 bucks and you get a very well-made knife in D2 (semi stain resistant and will hold an edge for a good long time). The AUS-8 version is good, too, but if you're cutting boxes, the D2 option will stay sharp way longer.

As for some other options, here are some good ones from CRKT:

Foresight - It's big and comfy in-hand, but it's expensive for the materials used (aluminum and AUS-8)

Shenanigan - lighter and cheaper than the Foresight, but with the same blade material (AUS-8)

Outrage - aluminum handle and 8Cr13MoV steel (similar to AUS-8, id est, reasonably stainless, decent toughness, ok-ish edge retention), ball bearing pivot (nice and smooth!)

Ripple - aluminum handle, 8Cr13MoV blade, ball bearing pivot

With these suggestions, it may seem like I'm a shill for CRKT, but I'm not. I'm just a fan of Ken Onion's designs and ergonomics. I also like:

Spyderco Endura - very good stainless steel in a lightweight package, with plenty of handle real estate

Byrd Cara Cara 2 - Spyderco's value brand (basically a cheap Endura with 8Cr13MoV steel instead of the excellent blade steel VG-10)

Spyderco Resilience - big and comfy (G-10 scales with 8Cr13Mov steel), and my daily carry at work

Spyderco Manix 2 - light and medium sized (they also make an XL version), with BD-1 (kinda similar to AUS-8, kinda)

Cold Steel Recon 1 Spear Point - a big knife with lots of grippy G-10 handle space. The CTS XHP steel is the bee's knees, and the Recon 1 is an excellent value, but it may be too expensive as a starting point.

Also, I'm sure some other folks will chime in, too. The guys & gals of /r/knifeclub are pretty knowledgeable and helpful.

Again, my number 1 suggestion is the RAT 1 in D2. It'll be hard to beat interms of construction, ergonomics, and utility.

Happy hunting!

For the record, I feel the same that the Cryo is too slippery - which is why I'm super glad Kershaw released a G10 version of it last year.

I also agree that the Tenacious is just a bit too big for EDC - and they do make the Persistence, which is a shrunken version of the Tenacious, with a 2.75 inch blade vs the Tenacious' 3-3/8 inch blade. If you wanna go even smaller, the Ambitious has a 2.25" blade. All 3 knives share a similar design (though the Ambitious is small enough that the proportions might look a little weird to some).

A few other knives of note that are standouts in the sub-$50 price range:

• CRKT Ripple - Ken Onion design with a more-traditional drop point blade, IKBS, 8Cr14MoV. Usually on most people's "Under $50" list.
  
  
• Kershaw Leek - Again, a little slippery and still Speedsafe but a slightly weaker torsion bar so not as forceful. Some people have issues with broken tips since they're a little thin, but this thing was the best under $50 when it came out.
  
  
• Ontario RAT 1 - At $25 this thing is a pretty great package, if not a little big. 3.5" blade, but it's AUS-8 if you don't like the 8Cr China steels (even if they are pretty similar).
  
  
• SOG Flash II - again, a 3.5 inch, AUS-8 blade. Assisted opening, but much less forceful than Speedsafe.
  
  
• The Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K has blown up since it's release and a lot of high speed low drag tactical types love it for EDC use. $25 makes it a pretty appealing choice and rock solid under $30.
  
  
• The Spyderco Delica 4 is just a touch over $50, averaging about $60, but it's also a go-to knife in the $50 for many people. VG-10 steel on this one is a big selling point.
  
  
• On the same hand, the Kershaw Blur is usually available for about $60, and for those looking for a big folder (seriously this thing is large) it's a great choice. Sandvik 14C28N as standard steel, also available with S30V for about $75.
  
  A few notes here
  
  
• You'll see a lot of sub $50 knives using 8Cr13MoV or 8Cr14MoV. The main difference is a little more Chromium in the 8Cr14MoV, leading to a little more corrosion resistance. A lot of people loved the Skyline, but there were a few issues with minor rust spots on the knives, leading to many companies switching to 8Cr14MoV for some of their knives (most of the budget Kershaws are 8Cr14MoV now).
  
  
• Kershaw has many many options for budget folders under $50, for all kinds of aesthetic tastes. The Chill, Thermite, Link, Oso Sweet, etc. I've owned a handful of Kershaws, and loved all of them, especially for the price.
  
  
• The 8Cr steels (13MoV and 14MoV) are pretty much on par with AUS-8, especially from CRKT, Spyderco, and Kershaw who all do a good job on their heat treats. There's a slight difference in hardness (3 to 4 HRC difference by most counts), but really they're nearly identical for all intents and purposes, mainly sharpening and edge retention. Some people just prefer AUS-8 because they don't like so called "China steel."
  
  
  ETA a few more links and some clarification of my still-awake-at-5am rambling.

Let's get some participation in this sub!

Other things like my wallet, phone, pistol, and keys come and go as a college student-turned-graduate, farmhand, and product distribution specialist, but these are two things I keep with me almost all the time.

Spyderco Endura 4, blue

I've carried this for over two years now. I love it and would quickly and happily buy another, if I was careless enough to lose it. Which is possible.

Leatherman Wave with the frame painted blaze orange.

I can't believe I forgot to post this last summer! (Actually, I can believe it - no internet on the prairie.)

I've carried the Wave for a year and a half. This thing has saved me a few times. A few small things like "Where did I put those pliers/wire cutters" and "I wish I could could snug up these sunglasses" and "Damn, this screw is loose." But the one time it really saved me was one night last summer on my uncle's ranch. I was a recent biology graduate, and unemployed, so I volunteered to help my uncle and cousin on their ranch. I was alone for a few days and was mending fences and checking the cattle - seeing where they were grazing and making sure all the cows, calves, and bulls were healthy and accounted for. I'd just finished up after sunset. There was a young calf that had lost its momma and was wandering all alone. We have a pretty bad coyote problem around here and a possible mountain lion in the area, as well. I'm pretty sure the calf wouldn't have made it overnight. (Sometimes cows "park" their calves in a covered area while they wander elsewhere. In those cases, the calf won't move even if you walk up and touch it. Pretty crazy. In those cases, it's usually best to just leave the calf alone, as the cow will find it again. This wasn't one of those times.) The calf was up and wandering in an area pretty far from where the cows were. I was actually pretty lucky I found it.

After chasing the calf toward where the cows were and reuniting it with its inexperienced, first-time mother, and being very tired, I was driving the John Deere Gator back to camp a little faster than I should have, and ran into/over a small tree stump. Anyone who's driven a Gator for long can tell you it's worthless in low traction and rides stupidly low. So I was looking at having to walk the mile or so back to camp and be Gator-less until I could drive a pickup there to pull it off the stump. But I didn't want to do that. These were the tools I had available to me, as well as the knife, but I didn't include it in the picture at the time, because it was irrelevant. I had tried backing up, rocking it, jamming the pedal down with a stick and pushing with all of my might, stacking branches beneath the tires, and prying it up and off with branches. All of this has taken me about an hour and I'm almost ready to start walking, when I finally use my brain. I couldn't cut through the whole stump, but I could get the tallest part off, and it would have been enough to get it unstuck. I set to work for the next ten minutes with the saw and chiseling out bits of wood with the screwdriver and hammer. Once the top bit was off, the Gator came off rather easily. I drove back to camp, exhausted and pleased with a full day's work.

But as I was undressing, I realized that I'd left my Leatherman in the dirt. So I had to go back immediately. Good thing I got the orange one! Here's a picture of the stump after all was said and done. And the ruts I made. The stump is the gray spot to the right in the center of the ruts.

Just goes to show that your tools are only as useful as your smarts allow. Remember to work smarter, not harder.

I do quality control and put stuff in boxes for a major electronics distributor.

Edited to add what I posted in /r/EDC.

I'd actually start a little lower if I were you, then work your way up. I started with a Spyderco PM2 ($125ish) and then actually went down to some more budget friendly knives. You can get some TREMENDOUS value out of a few budget blades available right now. Here's a few that I HIGHLY recommend.

Top Pick: Sanrenmu Land 910+ or 9103. I'd choose the 910+ because it's got nice grippy scales and is easier to open/close than the 9103.

Compact, Lightweight, and Classy: Kershaw Atmos. Fantastic action, well known designer, nice and compact.

Workhorse: Spyderco Tenacious. This thing is built to cut. Nice and thin blade stock with a full flat grind, cuts like nothing else. Carries really well too.

Those are three of the best started blades on the market IMO. There's a lot more value in these than in some of the other commonly recommended blades like the Ontario Rats. If you do want to spend your full $100 budget, I'd just pick up all three of these. That way you can figure out exactly what you like before committing to one expensive knife purchase. Plus, once you do, you can hold onto the budget blades for backup knives or sell them over on r/knife_swap.

I hope you find the right knife for you. Good luck!

Lol, alright for example:

• Spyderco Delica 4 FFG: For your price range this is going to be the "best" steel you can get in a near 3" folding knife (VG-10). By best I mean the best edge retention in a stainless steel. However, being over 2.5" in some places (Chacago for example) the knife will be illegal. Also, many people do not like the look of the spyderhole as it can be seen as aggressive in office environments. Also the FRN handles, while very strong, have a cheap/plastic feel to them.
  
  
• Spyderco Tenacious: Compared to the Delica, 8CR13MOV is a "worse" stainless steel (not as good edge retention, more prone to chipping during heavy impacts). However, the extra blade length is better for many outdoor tasks (breaking down tree branches). The handle is also G10, which is slightly tougher and has a much better feeling in hand than FRN.
  
  
• Spyderco Centofante 3: A more "gentlemanly" and "office friendly" version of the Delica with a slightly longer blade. Again, VG-10 and FRN.
  
  
• Kershaw Cryo II: Same steel as the tenacious. Metal handles slightly tougher than G10. Flipper action has "cool" factor. The blade grind makes the tip a touch stronger than on the tenacious.
  
  
• Kershaw Skyline: One of the most iconic of Kershaw's knives. Hollow ground blade makes it great at slicing tasks.
  
  
• Esee Izula: Skeletonized fixed blade. 1095 Steel is significantly better than the other steels listed at "chopping" tasks as it is not prone to chipping at all. It is NOT stainless and so the blade has a protective coating over most of it. The steel will require mineral oil/cleaning to prevent rusting.
  
  
• Becker BK 24: Similar to the Esee Izula but D2 steel which has better edge retention and more corrosion resistance than 1095. It is also much harder to sharpen. Many think the BK24's handle is also less comfortable, the sheath is worse, and there are less available after market modifications.
  
  
• Ontario Rat Series (linked the RAT I. RAT 2 similar but smaller): Ontario's version of the tenacious. Bladeshape generally more people friendly. Another very popular beater option.
  
  
• Morakniv Knives (there are MANY, this is just one): Highly regarded in the "bushcraft" community. High carbon steel (similar to 1095) with a scandi-grind which is great for field sharpening and woodworking. Only partial tangs so not advised to use for battoning tasks or chopping.
  
  
• Kershaw OD-2: Gentlemanly knife with great flipping action.
  
  There are a LOT more suggestions I could add...

OK, I think I got this one.

For the younger brother I'd get the Spyderco Delica in one of the bright colors, as it is quite good (cool) looking blade.

It is also pretty light, so will make a great hiking companion.

Isn't the most heavy use knife out there, but will perform when needed.

For the older one I'd get the CTS XHP version of the Cold Steel American Lawman.

It is one of the best hard working blades out there (great for professionals who use their knife as a tool), has a strong lock for additional safety, steel that will hold up and a G10 handle with great grip to it.

Both are well within your budget (compare prices with other sites as well).

Good luck man, hope this helped!

in my opinion, once you get above like ~$250, you arent really getting any better in quality. just different designs, brand names, etc.

my advice is get him a benchmade 940 and be done with it. thats easily the nicest and most popular "expensive, but worth it because its actually really really nice" pocket knife. that company has great customer service and warrenty as well - part of that price tag is the fact that at any point for the rest of his life, if anything goes wrong with it, he can just ship it off to benchmade HQ and they will take care of it and send it back for free. it's a great high quality pocket knife that he will have forever, unless he sells it.

if you think he might like something a little smaller and dressier, the north fork is the same caliber.

another option that's ridiculously popular is the spyderco paramilitary 2

these are all equally high quality knives that are great for every day carry. choosing between them is just personal preference really

This is the stuff I have on me most of the time. I’m a grad student and as you can see, I’ve been lurking here for quite a while. I’m basically an /r/EDC stereotype at this point.

• Saddleback wallet
  
• bullet space pen
  
• Nitecore p12 flashlight (winter . . . short days)
  
• Ruger SR9c (winter)
  
• Sig p938 (summer)
  
• Spyderco delica (summer)
  
• Benchmade 950-1 rift (winter)
  
• carmex
  
• phone
  
• keys
  
• N82 IWB holsters
  
  *Thoughts: I used to carry a FourSevens QT2A (I think?) and it fit in the pocket much better but was obviously much dimmer than the p12. I think i'll go back to a smaller flashlight next winter. I've also carried a Benchmade 707, 275, and several 556 styles. Of all of them I liked the 707 the best but I tend to give away my knives to anyone that takes interest and the 707's price had gone way up when I went to buy another one.
  
  The p938 is, of course, much easier to carry than the SR9c but I can't hit shit beyond 10 feet away and it only holds 6 rounds. Luckily the odds of me needing to hit someone more than 4 feet away are effectively zero. I kind of regret buying the Sig but it'll do for another summer or two. I highly recommend N82 holsters because they are so damn comfortable and secure compared to most others I've tried. The Saddleback ID wallet is amazing if you never need to carry cash, and I've not found a better pen for my pocket than the Fisher space pen. I also like to buy the space pens in bulk so I can give them away to people who take interest.

What do you use the Skeletool most for?

If you use the knife on it constantly and daily, then yeah, get a good knife. If the stuff that you do cut makes you nervous with the Skeletool then definitely get a dedicated knife.

If you use the bit driver or pliers on the Skeletool the most then you probably don't need to carry a dedicated knife.

Give the Sage 5 a good look as well if you are considering the Para3. I'd also strongly recommend finding a Spyderco/Benchmade/Zero Tolerance dealer and fondling a bunch of knives before making a decision on which knife to buy.

If you have never carried a dedicated knife before it would be a good idea to buy a cheaper knife or two before spending $100+ on a knife.

Could try something like the Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara 2:
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Cara2-Lightweight-black-PlainEdge/dp/B0049AYJP4/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1499523866&sr=1-1&keywords=Byrd+Cara+Cara2

The Ontario Rat I/II
https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-Sp-Black-Folding-7Inches/dp/B00BBPAOCW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499523684&sr=8-2&keywords=ontario+rat+2

https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499523956&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=ontario+rat+1&psc=1

Kershaw Cryo
https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1555TI-SpeedSafe-Folding-Knife/dp/B0074FI28Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499523664&sr=8-1&keywords=kershaw+cryo

CRKT Squid
https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-Folding/dp/B00TFY39EQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499524020&sr=1-1&keywords=crkt+squid

Try some under $30 knives, pick one that looks like something you would like to carry, and pick something that is dang near the polar opposite. It will let you know what you like in a knife much cheaper. Differences in blade size, blade shape, handle shape and how they are used might change your opinion on what you think you need in a knife after using a dedicated knife for awhile. After that you can make a truly informed decision on a high-end knife.

You have a lot of good choices available within the $50 range. My personal two top choices for a small, inexpensive but well built folder would be the Ontario RAT 2 and the Cold Steel Tuff Lite. Both are under $30, easy to carry, and very capable. If you want more of that traditional look, go with the best Case model you can afford. Great Eastern Cutlery is really nice too for traditionals, but a bit more pricey. Another option might be an Opinel, classy and inexpensive.

Okay here are some suggestions

1. Wallet. I have not ordered it yet but [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P4Y9EW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28SBX2GB3VZCT) cigarette case could work.
   
2. Knife: [Spyderco tenacious] (http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1370136756&sr=1-1&keywords=spyderco) is $32 and a little more than 3 inches or the [Spyderco ambitious] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MMSDHO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) which is a baby tenacious with a 2 1/4 inch blade and $29.
   While they are not tactical opinels are really nice and are near $10 and come in lots of sizes.
   
   
3. Pens: I have a [zerbra 701] (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80) and a [Fisher space bullet pen] (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-Bullet-400/dp/B000095K9D/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1370136956&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=fisher+space+ben). For the money the zebra is excellent, the bullet pen is nice but there is a tutorial on how to mode the zebra to take space pen refills which is the best of both.
   
4. I know you got the wave but I suggest getting a small mt like a sak or a leatherman ps4 or micra. The victorinox classic sd is good and about $10
   
   Also with all the stuff you want to carry, It might be wise to invest in a maxpediton micro pocket organizer which is about $15
   If you got any questions just ask.

Depends on many things... and once you get to high quality knives, preference is a huge thing.

I enjoy ESEE-3MIL

They have one of the best warranties, but the price also reflects it.
it's 1095 high carbon steel, easy to sharpen and maintain, but can rust if you don't keep it clean.


You probably don't need a large knife for most things.

If you want to spend more on something fancy you can get a BUSSE




as everyone said... can't go wrong with mora for the price.. i'm personally not a fan though. I wouldn't say overall it's high quality, but the blade, where it matters.. is.


It's not too difficult to find a good camp/hunting knife. Like I said, mostly preference.

Just make sure you go with a good knife company or maker.

You can even find some real nice custom fixed knives for cheap from up and coming knife makers if you search around a bit.

Also, you could just get a folding knife.


if you want a super inexpensive one that's as legendary as the mora there is opinel no 8 - also carbon steel



or the Ontario Rat


anyhow, tons of options.

I have this knife. I carry it every day, and use it a whole lot more than I ever thought I would. Never for self-defense, but it does provide a small bit of peace of mind just in case.

There's a few things I like about it:

It's cheap!

It's small and very well made.

It flips open like a switchblade, but isn't considered one. It also makes a cool sound when you do that.

It holds a sharp edge

The pocket clips don't wear out.

Sharpens nicely


You can carry a pocketknife anywhere in Oregon. It's no big deal whatsoever. Check out Oregon's Knife Laws here. Oregon is a super lenient state when it comes to knife laws.

Enjoy!

Papa Johns worker with Irma right around the corner.

Top Row (from left to right):

Oakley SI Half Jacket 2.0: $72 with knockoff polarized mirrored lenses bought on amazon here for $20.

Leatherman Pro Wave: Not a special edition of Wave, just bought through Leatherman's Pro program. $55 with the clip found here for $5.

Timex Ironman Classic 30: Great $30-$40 digital watch that through everything has yet to hiccup, let alone fail, once.

iPhone 7: Matte Black. I'm one of those people who actually doesn't love or hate apple of android. I just happen to have a macbook and an iPhone, and that works for me.

Otterbox Symmetry Series: Wanted a $35 case to match my phone and got one. Lint and dust all over the port openings and inside the case?! Works great, just likes to get dirty.

Oakley SI Flak Beta Prism: $117 through Oakley's standard issue, these are the steel frames thanks to some confusing customer service calls. Polarized lenses with their mumbo jumbo technology actually make colors pop a bit.

Middle Row:

Black Leather Wallet: I don't know, probably found at Kohls or something. Nothing special, just gets the job done.

Field Notes Expedition: Awesome $13 notebooks that use a plasticy paper for writing in any conditions. Finally halfway through my first book, as I like to use all of the real estate available on each page. A bit worn, but character, right?

Amazon Special Wristwatch: There's so much conflicting branding everywhere, who knows who makes it. Anyway, have had it for a while and it seems to tell time. The band is a bit weird, but what would one expect for $16?

Car Keys: RIP me. I drive a minivan. sigh. Oh well, it's what I got.

Bottom Row:

Spyderco Tenacious: Perfect $40 knife if you don't want a beater and also don't want your wallet to scream in agony. I just need a good whetstone set to be able to do it justice.

Bose Soundsport Earbuds: Stay in my weird ears. I exercise regularly, but that doesn't mean I like it. Music helps me forget the lactic acid burning my muscles. They don't make the audio-only ones anymore, so here's a $99 pair for apple devices.

Wristbands: Air Force Academy in blue and Domestic Violence in purple. I wear these because I don't want to expose myself to the world of "Etsy." yikes.

Chrome Fisher Space Pen Bullet With Clip: ~$20 and so damn slippery. Awesome pen for being a pen, but I need something more practical for greasy hands. Any ideas? Not looking for anything more than like 30 bucks.

Kizer Vagnino Velox 2: A beautiful flipper on ballbearings. HOLY cow this thing flies out with vengeance and feels like a million bucks. A true gentleman's folder. However, I am not a gentleman... I see some ugly grip tape in it's future to make up for impracticality of no serrations on the back of the blade or handle for grip. Before anyone tries to complain about a 17 yr old with a $200 knife, I found 'er on Massdrop for $82 after shipping. Would I say it is worth the 13 hours of work needed to pay for it? Yes. Yes I would.

Awesome advice, all of the above models would be quite suitable. For pure woods use, something with a brighter color would probably do quite well for you. But I'm going to have to stick my neck out for some downvotes as well by disagreeing with the half-serration comment. I don't see it as "tactical," at all. I tend to prefer a half-serrated blade. I like serrations for cutting things like rope, handfuls of plastic sheeting, etc. If you just want a knife for the woods, you might not worry about it. I have knives that I carry with both types of edge, but I usually gravitate back to the half-serration. My personal every day carry is an older generation of Spyderco Endura which has a 4" blade, but is very light, well made, and strong. They make a 3" version called the Delica which I carried a lot when I was younger. You can get a perfectly serviceable knife for a lot less, but I've been carrying these for almost 20 years, and my current one has been through a hell that no knife deserves. They make them with plain edges as well, I've had them, but I don't tend to like them as much. Good luck, and I feel like pretty much everyone should have a knife. You just never know when it might be useful.

• ~$7-8 Sanrenmu 7010/710 - You can find these at Gearbest for cheap as hell when they have sales but they're absolutely $30 worth of knife
  
• ~$10-20 Opinel no.6-12 - Depends on blade size/steel/handle wood. #6 is under 3in blade if that kind of thing matters.
  
• ~$20 CRKT Drifter
  
• ~$20 Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara2
  
• ~$20-25 Ontario Rat II or Rat I
  
• ~$30 Victorinox Cadet Alox
  
• ~$30 Kershaw Cryo
  
• ~$35 CRKT Ripple
  
• ~$35 Spyderco Persistence
  
• ~$40 Kershaw Skyline - Often on sale in the ~$30 range
  
• ~$40 Kershaw Leek - Same sales as with the Skyline \^^
  
  Honorable Mention: Case knives. Traditional lockbacks. Hard as nails and pretty to boot. True pocket knives. Your grandfather (possibly great grandfather) had one. Good stuff the lot of them. $25-50 will get you a legacy knife that you can carry and use and then pass to your kid.
  
  You don't need to spend $200 to get a quality, durable, reliable knife. I've owned all of these knives at one time or another and loved every one of them. Sure they needed sharpening more often and sometimes something a little more drastic (Sanrenmus are often cheaper to replace than fix) but the value is insane. Plus, lets face facts; we're much more likely to break out our Cadet when we get box duty than our Sebenza.
  
  Knife enthusiasts (brothers) if there's a weighed and measured cheapo that I forgot, let me know.

A lot of your criteria is pretty subjective. What's your size limit? What climate are you in?

By 'quality' metal I assume you're not a metal snob and are just looking for a metal that will not be terrible at holding an edge and will get sharp as needed. Because of this, I will keep the AUS8 and omit the 8Cr13MoV.

Rust 'proof' might happen, but you'd do better I think with a carbon steel of some kind, which will rust if not taken care of.

All that being said, here are some good suggestions to start you off.

Gotta have rust free? Spyderco Pacific Salt with H-1 steel

Spyderco Endura

Cold Steel Recon 1


Cold Steel American Lawman

Cold Steel Voyager

Kershaw Blur

Benchmade Griptilian

Ontario RAT 1 Folder

CRKT Heiho

All of these knives should be quality options with good steels that can be relatively easily concealed and opened, and fall under your price point. Their 'rust proof'ness will be directly proportional to the amount of care you give to your equipment. I have carried a Spyderco Endura with a VG10 steel blade for years and as long as I wash off the blade every once in a while (like right after you cut something acidic with it), and oil it whenever I get around to feeling like it sometimes (like whenever you start to see patina issues after the 30^th blue moon)...I do not have rust problems. YMMV

There are some aesthetically pleasing knives here, but I would encourage you to look into some things with a bit more functionality. While any of these may appear to function well, a properly made knife will treat you much better in the long run.

This Kershaw is inexpensive, has good steel characteristics and is well assembled. I encourage you to get one or possibly something recommended in the knife buying guide and compare to some of the knives in your collection.

Well, I prefer a lighter EDC, so i'd recommend the

• Kershaw Skyline
  
  This one is a very nice EDC for most people who use a knife for lighter tasks such as box cutting, opening packages and the like. I would not recommend this for someone who tends to use their knives for "heavier duty" tasks.
  
  
• Kershaw Leek
  
  Pretty much the same recommendation criteria as the Skyline, but this knife is both spring assisted, and has a more "delicate" point.
  
  
• Spyderco Delica
  
  Probably one of the most recommended knives for someone who wants an overall solid EDC at the price point with a lot of versatility and good overall durability. I own one myself, and this one is great for EDC.
  
  
• Ontario RAT 2
  
  The Ontario knife company really hit it out of the park with the RAT series, the Ontario RAT model II is a better choice for EDC over the RAT model I, mainly because the knife is a bit smaller putting it at about 2.75" blade and less "intimidating" for someone who needs for EDC.
  
  
• ESEE Izula
  
  I really like the Izula as a fixed blade EDC knife, it's a fucking tank and you can be sure you can rely on it everywhere, but it does lose some versatility and convenience because it isn't a folder.
  
  --------------------------------------------------
  
  Please keep in mind that these are just my suggestions and reviews, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me anything.
  

First and foremost, thank you for the contest. It was fun!

• For the old post Englishman in me I present you tea
  
  
• Though this will be with me almost always, I don't plan on keeping it very public hopefully for obvious reasons
  
  
• As for phallic, I have an entire NSFW WL for that, which I'm a little embarrassed about now ;)
  
  
• I'm not really a gamer but I do love this game, we played at my old job. Love it.
  
  
• These would help me start running again and get back into shape. Something I've been longing for but I'm really scared to do because of the health issues with my legs.
  
  
• A repeat but super helpful if I'm on a deserted island
  
  *edit: my format was weird so I fixed it.

Thanks, but I can't find a version with a plain blade, just with part serrated blade.

But in the suggestions at Amazon i found the Kershaw 1990 Brawler (link) which looks good. Not "as tanto" (can't think of a better description but I hope you understand what i mean) as I'd like but for the prize it seems like a good alternative.

What is your intended use for it? As an EDC knife I think it's not very good. The handle is a bit too thick for my tastes. The hollow grind clip point blade makes it more of a tactical blade. I am not a fan of a combo edge, especially on such a short blade (<6"). Like OldMan said, the 'patent pending' groove on it is pretty crappy too, get a Benchmade Triage if you want a quality cord cutter. The AUS 8 steel, isn't a bad mid-end steel, but for 10$ cheaper than you paid, you could have gotten a Spyderco Endura 4 FFG which has VG-10 steel and has a blade shape TONS better for an EDC blade (can also use a tactical in a pinch). The clip on it, as others say, is pretty awesome. It's one of my favorites.

If nothing else, the Trident does look pretty cool. I'd buy it as a collector just to look at, but I doubt I'd ever use it as an EDC blade.

Of the two you mentioned I would get the Ganzo. I love the Axis lock, its the most fun lock type to play with IMO. I carry a Ganzo G727 quite often and it has been holding up great. Its a good size for a big EDC beater, and the blade does most cutting tasks well. It is a copy of a knife that is very popular for a reason.

The Cryo 1 is a much smaller knife than the Ganzo, they have a larger model 2 that is more similar to the G727. Just be aware of the sizes and what you want to do with your knife. The Cryo is damn good knife I will not fault it for anything other than in my hands it needs a pointer finger choil. That is purely a preference thing though. If you want a sub $20 Kershaw I very much like my Kershaw Freefall. It's lightish, full size, deep carry and has great ergo's. Another option is the Volt SS again with great ergo's and is very thin in the pocket.

If you want a great flipper look for something that runs on ball bearings. CRKT makes some amazing ones for $30~40. The Teigh Tac Two Tanto, Outrage, and Ripple 1 and 2 all fit the bill. The Outrage is a very strong feeling knife, but the tip is very thin, and the other two are not overbuilt but solid so make great EDC knives, but are not the beaters a Rat or Ganzo might be.

LOL, i just bought BOTH of these knives like a month ago(drunk amazon shopping can be dangerous). I thought i would like the brawler better and the blade design does make it better for some stuff i do at work, but it took me all of 2 days to fall for the cryo as my preferred EDC. It feels more solid in my hand, its a bit shorter, and its thinner. The clip on it lets it sit lower in your pocket as well. As someone who is in and of their pockets a good bit the thickness is actually a big plus.

These knives were purchased to replace a Kershaw Clash that i lost and i would definitely recommend looking into that one as well if you havent already, i really liked it but just wanted to get something different.

everyone seems to rave about the griptillian and the 940 from benchmade. also includes their lifesharp service, which is pretty awesome

i have a decent number of knives, but the one i use the most by far is the delica 4 wave-- best $60 i ever spent.

in the end i'd say you could definitely spend a lot less than $200 for a great knife, just depends on your taste

Olight M2R But honestly any flashlight (preferably using an 18650 battery) will be extremely useful and I use mine many times throughout the day/night.

Keybars are also pretty useful, just bought my first one the other day and it really beats using a keychain.

Any good knife will also be useful. I personally carry a Benchmade 940 and I love it.

If you go up to $30-40 you can find a lot of great american made knives in that range like a Kershaw Skyline ($35), Salvo ($30), or Buck 110 Paperstone ($30) Classic ($35), Vantage Avid ($34)
BTW, a good pocket clip shouldn't be uncomfortable in your hand. None of the pocket knives I've owned have dug into my hand at all. The Buck is a nice option if you don't want a clip though.

Maybe a Spyderco Native? I wanna say these come in S35VN which is a pretty good steel.

I'd also consider the Mini Grip although that shipping time is atrocious. These come in 154CM.

A little beefier than a Delica and above your budget but I gotta recommend the HK Axis. I've heard that people don't like the mini's quite as much as the full size model but I take it you like the smaller side of things.

Just kinda poked around for some stuff I like on Amazon.ca. Good luck finding something!

Oh for sure! What's your price range?

For under 40$ some great options would be the Kershaw Leek , the Kershaw Cryo (the Cryo II is a bit larger for almost the same price if you prefer) or anything Kershaw really. You could also look for Sanrenmu knives, they're good for the price.

If you're really serious and you're looking for better quality, I recommend the Spyderco Delica (smaller), the Spyderco Endura (larger) or the Benchmade Griptilian (mini or full size, your choice). I own a mini Griptilian and I love it, I really recommend it if you can justify the price.

http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-555HG-Pardue-Design-Mini-Griptillian/dp/B00180GQJA

Mini grip in sheepsfoot. Smaller blade, so less headaches for you. Unassisted, but still easy to open, and it locks. Benchmade is a great company with a great reputation. Haven't seen anyone buy this knife and say "Man, I wish I hadn't bought this." It's a little higher than your price range, but not by a ton and is still very reasonably priced.

I had in mind this Kershaw 1605CKTST since I recently got myself a similar kershaw and I am very pleased with it.

So I kept shopping around and Buck seems decent but the blade is small at 2 1/2 inches. But that seems like it would perfect for my dad appart from the blade lenght.

Is Knifecenter.com a good place to buy. I Found a Gerber Tanto style that seems to be perfect. Opinions ?

You get used to friction folders, but I understand your concerns. If you want a locking knife if would forget about them. Making it a locking folder is a pretty extensive mod.

It's something totally different, but the Ontario Rat 2 is a pretty popular knife over here. It locks, has good steel and is pretty affordable. But it doesn't have the looks of a higonokami.

I absolutely love the leatherman wave. It is truly great. The only thing I don't like about it is now I don't have a need for any of my other knives. Also, I just purchases a sypderco tenacious here is why. It should be arriving today and I'll tell you how I like it. Another knife to consider is a buck model 110 folding hunter. If you read the reviews they will explain why.

Edit: Got my tenacious and love it. Highly recommend.

lol im really not a gun snob, but i love my full size mk25, in the summer or when i dont have a suit i carry a small sig p938 so i dont mind smaller guns at all. My spyderco that i just lost was a delica 4. heres the link. I loved it! I also carried a cutco folding knife that was amazing
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B003CH3V5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496332376&sr=8-1&keywords=spyderco+delica+4+knife
https://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?item=lockback-knife#sm.0000tnlyoz18n2dx1qfcjipmxla5a

Good idea but do keep in mind that different steels respond very differently to the stone. Really cheap steel will usually be quite soft, maybe even too soft to properly sharpen without it "smearing" or rolling over.

Maybe start with flea market junk, but consider something like a $20 Kershaw Cryo as an intermediary step. Its a lot better steel and will give you good practice, but if you really booger it up and can't fix it, you're only out $20.

On the other hand, if you find you can properly maintain the edge on that Cryo you'll have no problem with just about anything else you want to try, plus you've got a really good entry-level folder as well!

Some thoughts, feel free to take them or leave them:

• Skip the expensive cottage packs until you're further down the rabbit hole, look for a cheap osprey/granite gear/etc. pack, go to a store and try them on. Find one on /r/geartrade or at an REI garage sale. It's never bad to have a spare pack later for family or friends that want to join you here and there. Since you mentioned losing weight, the granite gear packs have an adjustable hip belt which is really nice.
  
  
• Make sure you practice with that alcohol stove in advance, a canister stove is not much heavier once you account for 6oz of fuel, and is just so easy.
  
  
• Go with a cheaper, easier to use, knife. Opinel's are well respected around here and weigh like 1.6oz, the larger handle makes it easier to use. (Some people will tell you to skip the knife all together, but since you had one on there I thought I'd offer an alternative).
  
  
• Skip the flint and go with a second lighter
  
  
• Skip the cottonballs and plan for a little extra alcohol to use for a fire starter if needed.
  
  
• You can probably go cheaper and lighter with a tent, but I understand the desire to hammock camp, I'm not experienced in it, so I won't comment on any of those items.
  
  
• No need for 3 pairs of socks. Use one pair for hiking and one for sleeping. The last day hike in your sleep socks.
  
  
• Ditch the sawyer pouches and one of the smartwater bottles, get a cnoc or evernew dirty water bag instead. Less headache, makes life better at camp (stove cleaning/cooking water), and if you're hiking a dry stretch you can carry more dirty water with you and filter as needed.
  
  
• Don't use alcohol to clean wounds, water will do. Alcohol will do more damage than good, you're not performing surgery.
  
  Honestly, by nature forums like this foster a lot of upgrade culture/gear nerds, you can make just about anything work for a hike (especially in mild temps in PA). No need to shove out a ton of cash to get the best when you start, just get out there and you'll figure out where your system can be improved.
  
  
  
  

Don't get that. If you want to wow him, definately get something special, like a Spyderco Delica Wave

The wave, patented by Emerson (famous high end brand), allows knives to be deployed the moment out of the pocket by itself. See if he owns one already, if not, that is a great choice.

Any of the Kershaw X Emerson CQC series is also a great choice, with the same wave feature. I always get these as gifts for people, both knife nut and non-nut. They always seem to be wowed by the wave feature. Its just my go-to for a knife gift.

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-6034-Emerson-Designed-CQC-6K/dp/B00I0RSVQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449725440&sr=8-1&keywords=kershaw+cqc

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica-Emerson-Opener-Plain/dp/B00165X4K6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449725449&sr=8-1&keywords=delica+4+wave

Look at the Kershaw Leek, its got a good 3 inch blade, it practically disappears in your pocket, is basically a modern gentlemen's folder, and can get it in several different colors. Its one of the most popular knives out there and is well made. Only thing to watch out for is the tip, its very thin and can break off if you try and use it as a pry bar. You can find the leek for about 40-60 bucks depending on the model.

Link - Kershaw Leek

If you're looking for something heavier duty, the Kershaw Blur or Freefall would be good buys. I use a freefall as one of my EDC knives and think its a great buy for the money. The blur is very well regarded as well, though I don't have experience with one myself.

Link for Blur

Link for Freefall

If you don't absolutely need the spring assist, another idea would be a Spyderco Delica 4, or perhaps a Spyderco Persistence if you want a little cheaper price. Both are solid knives for the money and aren't too bulky in the pocket. You can get the Delica in colors too!

Link for Delica 4

Link for Persistence

No problem.

Kershaw Scallion (Small, assisted opening, steel is not so great)

Kershaw Skyline (good size, G10, nice blade shape, steel can get to a crazy level of sharpness)

Kershaw OSO Sweet (pretty cool assisted opener, great price there on amazon)

Spyderco Tenacious (same decent steel on the OSO Sweet and Byrd, good G10, good blade shape, Spyderco quality, great value)

Byrd Cara2 (Great value, overseas production brings prices way down on all Byrd knives)


Here is one above your price range

And one below your price range

A knife is always a good gift. You can get a fairly nice knife for $30, or a pretty decent knife for $15. If you don't feel like shopping online, you could even pick up a Gerber Mini Paraframe for $10 at Walmart. They're really more affordable gifts than you'd think.

The best part is, they're good gifts for everyone. If they're a knife enthusiast, they'll always be glad for another knife, they can always use a cheap knife as a beater knife. If they've never carried a knife, they'll give it a try and realize how convenient it is.

I gave my girlfriend the Gerber Mini Paraframe after she kept borrowing my knife. She scoffed at first, but tossed it in her purse, a week later she thanked me, saying how often it's saved the day. 3 years later, she still carries it in her purse.

Well heres a list of some from amazon.

• Opinel No8 Carbon Pocket Knife | $12 | 4.6 Stars
  
  
• Kershaw Chill Serrated Pocket Knife | $21 | 4.8 Stars
  
  
• Kershaw Brawler Speedsafe Knife | $23 | 4.5 Stars
  
  
• Ontario RAT Folding Knife | $27 | 4.8 Stars
  
  
• Kershaw Cryo Speed Safe Folding Knife | $30 | 4.4 Stars
  
  
• Spyderco Ambitious Plain Edge Knife | $33 | 4.5 Stars
  
  
• Spyderco Tenacious Plain Edge Knife | $34 | 4.7 Stars
  
  
• Camillus Carbonitride Titanium Folding Knife | $37 | 4.8 Stars
  
  
• Kershaw Ken Onion Leek Folding Knife with Speed Safe | $39 | 4.7 Stars
  
  Hope that helps!
  
  PS if you aren't sure about your knife laws check out this PDF just scroll to your state and check. Also /r/Knives can probably help you if you have more specific questions about knives. Although going to that sub-reddit will also probably mean spending more than $30 so be forewarned.

CRKT Ripple is an amazing little knife; good blade length and cool handle. If you want to spend a little more money get the spyderco centofante 3 on amazon. Amazing knife and beautiful aesthetics.

I'm going to recommend a folder just b/c he'll probably carry it more than a fixed blade. If he's going to use it for cleaning game, I would recommend something with pillar construction (two slabs for the handle, spacers in between) so that he can easily rinse out the mess. If you want a quality knife, it should have quality steel and quality handle materials. G10 is great, Titanium is great, and Bone is really expensive with those prerequisites. With that in mind, I offer spyerco sage 1, spyderco sage 2, spyderco paramilitary 2, DPX HEST, zero tolerance 0200, and the spyderco military. The military is slightly over budget but it's pretty sexy.

If you like kershaw you can get a blur with S30v steel for around 65$ on amazon if you still want a kershaw. I've never been too impresed with them since I find their build quality to be lacking. They seem to have an excessive amount of blade play and use average quality steels in most of their knives. The a premium steel that can hold a razor sharp working edge. The spyderco delica/endura line is also a great knife. They have full flat ground blades that come razor sharp from the factory with absolutlely no blade play. I personally carry a green delica as one of my edc knives. The dragonfly is also great if you want a knife that dissapears on your person. it is a featherweight knife, that cuts and handles like a much larger knife.

If you are looking for a knife that can take an absolutely harsh beating, I would have to reccomend an Ontario RAT 1 or 2 depending on you size preference. They are a bit heavy in hand compared to other knives it size, but perform just as good as any of my spydercos. It is also on the cheaper side at around 25$.

The benchmades are also a good choice, but I would also reccomend the benchmade mini-presidio.

Anyways, I thought I might as well just post some links to them:

S30v Kershaw Blur

Benchmade Mini Presidio

[Benchmade Griptillian] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Q9BOF0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2Q6YQ3PL1NNYW&coliid=I1IO3PSF8569TW)

Benchmade Mini Griptillian (I prefer thumb hole openers, but both griptillians also are offered with combo edges and thumb studs.)

Spyderco Dragonfly

Spyderco Delica

Spyderco Endura

Ontario RAT 1

Ontario RAT 2

This Guy did - Who knows what would have happened if the knife snapped in half

Granted that is very low probability, but you still might need to rely on your knife to save your life. Even if you never need it, an extra $80 to save your life seems like a good deal for me. And thats ignoring the fact you can get a nice Kershaw for around $30

So honestly, I don't see the point in getting the Sanrenmu...

Microstream The clip on mine is different but I think this is the same light. Love it.

Spyderco Tenacious Easily the highest value knife I've ever had/seen. I cut and pry the shit out of stuff with this knife on a daily basis.

I would second the Delica recommendation. Amazon has a Delica 4 ffg in Purple that would do nicely. The Dragonfly 2 in a very dark green frn and a yellow H1 salt frn would be great as well. Great gift idea man!

Sorry guys, I thought this comment would show up but it didn't so here's it again!

Info and such.

Picture one is my work (garrison, not deployed) EDC and picture two is my normal EDC.

1. IPhone 5 with LifeProof case
   
   
   
2. [Fisher Space Pen] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E103CY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000095K9D&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RKGZQWYCXZQTRK0TSEH) (This is my third one, last two flew off.)
   
   
3. Just a normal sharpie
   
   
4. Two diffrent types of Rite in the Rain
   notebooks
   
   
5. Gerber Flick Multi-tool and belt carrying case
   
   
6. Southord Jackknife lock-pick set
   
   
7. Kershaw Cryo knife
   
   
8. CREE LED flashlight
   
   
9. Keys with a TEC P-7, a tritium key FOB, and a 2 GB flash drive
   
   
10. ID tags
    
    
11. A very cheap Armitron sports watch
    
    
12. Carmex
    
    
13. A BIC lighter
    
    
14. Standard ear Protection
    
    
15. Standard tri-fold wallet (will upgrade soon)
    
    
16. Oakley Flak Jacket (These were given to me)
    
    
17. Standard issue gloves (do not buy these)
    
    So I do carry much more stuff with me while I'm working but I'm quick to shed it when I get back to the barracks.
    
    Hope you enjoyed and I'll be happy to answer any questions about my getup!

They're both in 8cr13mov and people really underestimate them for it. It's actually a very easily maintained steel but watch out for the Clash and its bead blasted finish; it'll rust on you easily. The Freefall is stonewashed so you won't have that problem.

Honestly I'd probably prefer a [kershaw chill](http://www.amazon.ca/Kershaw-3410-Chill-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002IVHQ5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398139713&sr=8-1&keywords=kershaw+chill] in that range for its blade geometry. It's mostly flat ground and it will make for noticeably better slicing capability. (even though it is also bead blasted)

Otherwise it'd be good to pony up ten more bucks and get a Rat II

Unfortunately there just aren't a lot of great, smallish, narrow knives that can really take abuse. Back locks are stronger than liner locks so I'd point you in that direction - check out the waved Spyderco Delica. The Delica is a classic design and the waved version has a couple advantages you might appreciate: great steel that isn't a bear to sharpen, great ergonomics, and blade geometry that can take a beating. Oh and the wave is pretty cool and sometimes practical, too.

It miiight be one of the ugliest knives ever made but when I want an easy to carry, capable, and comfortable blade I always grab mine.

EDIT: just realized you said you wanted a partially serrated knife in which case check out the foliage green version, which happens to be a little cheaper, too.

re: thumbstuds. That is where I give cold steel a nod, they make theirs removable, so when putting on a clamp style sharpener you can remove them so they do not get in the way.

But I agree with all this. Honestly, as well a great EDC blade for a low price in your budget that will serve you well, is an Ontario Rat II. They can be had for about $30 - $40 and are amazing budget blades. They are not assisted, but the deployment with the thumbstud are amazing. Well worth a try to purchase one.
http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knives-Model-Folding-Knife/dp/B00BBPAOCW

Here are my personal essentials.

• Spyderco Delica 4: $60 VG-10 steel, comes in tons of colors
  
• Spyderco Endura 4: Larger version of Delica
  
• Morakniv Companion: $12-$20 A really awesome fixed blade, outperforms knives triple it's price.
  
• Victorinox Tinker: $20-25 classic swiss army knife, really great quality in general. Lots of tools but not too many so it's easily pocket carried.
  
• Victorinox Cadet: Smaller Swiss Army Knife, aluminum handles. Lots of colors.
  
• Kershaw Cryo, or Cryo 2: $20-40 steel frame lock, Hinderer design, good price, tons of colors. The Cryo 2 is the same as the Cryo just larger.
  
• Ontaro Rat 1 or 2: $25-30 Classically shaped folders with a very rugged build for a liner lock. The 2 is a smaller version of the 1.
  
  Also, you're going to want a sharpening system that works for you in the long run. I personally use the Spyderco Sharpmaker But there are tons of good sharpening options out there.
  
  P.S: You're going to get a lot of people hating on your Gerbers most likely, that's because they're honestly not worth it in the long run. They use very low quality steel for the price and they don't have the best quality control. I'm not saying your Gerbers are trash or anything. But they definitely won't last very long. Just about all of the knives I listed will last you a lifetime if you treat them right, and oil/sharpen them correctly.

I really like my Kershaw Cryo. Very inexpensive (<$25 online) and a great size for EDC. The blade is easy to maintain and came from the factory with an excellent edge on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1555TI-SpeedSafe-Folding-Knife/dp/B0074FI28Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417308519&sr=8-1&keywords=kershaw+cryo

It also has an adjustable pocket clip and speed-safe assisted opening which is a nice feature in a relatively inexpensive knife.

So you seem pretty knowledgeable, and I trust your opinion. I’ve narrowed it down to 6 I’m choosing between, with some definitely more likely than others. Three are folders , and three are fixed . While I no longer trust MTech for folders, their blade kept decently well, and there’s not a lot of room for screws loosening on fixed blades. I also know Elk Ridge was never mentioned in the tread, but I’ve owned one fixed and one folder from them and they were both great knives, I have faith in the brand

I'm in IT as well and perform very similar tasks. I use the Spyderco Tenacious for everything. It's easy as hell to sharpen and the flat ground blade takes a wicked sharp edge. It has stainless steel liners, but they're skeletonized so the knife is still pretty light. The G-10 is nicer than the stuff I've got on knives that are well past the hundred dollar price point.

As for draw speed, you can do a bootleg wave using zipties. Here's mine. Best $30 I've ever spent.

The spyderhole cutout on the liner makes a pretty good choil. It works better than I thought it would for sure. I do think it'd be nice with a forward choil like other spyderco models but it isn't a dealbreaker for me.

Amazon warehouse had the Techno for $150, so that's roughly two $65 dragonfly zdps. (if you can find a new zdp dfly2 for $50 please lmk!) The amazon new price is $161. My apologies to your wallet ;)

You won't regret it, but honestly. I would've gone for this version instead..

http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-K415KXP/dp/B0030IT794/ref=sr_1_1?srs=3548657011&ie=UTF8&qid=1464407607&sr=8-1&keywords=415kxp

it's slightly bigger, but the same exact model. And easier to hold and better overall :)


if you want you can cancel it and purchase it, up to you however.

I bought mine in Florida where it was legal to sell and carry. It was one of my favorites and a pretty frequent EDC for me. Then, recently I moved to Portland, OR, where they're not so legal. I had to replace my favorite EDC, but I'm pretty happy with my new quick deployment knife, the Spyderco Delica 4 with Emerson Wave opening.

i like this citizen as a nice but not crazy expensive watch. it's my normal wear watch

griptillian from benchmade is my favorite EDC if you can afford one (not crazy expensive, and you will love it)

inexpensive carry knife i like this kershaw

Spyderco has a wide range of folders under $100. There's the Delica, Endura, Dragonfly, Centofante 3, and Stretch to name a few. All high quality, made in the USA.

The Tenacious line (including the Persistence and Ambitious) is awesome if you want good quality for less than $40. However, if you want to spend more, I would definitely recommend US made knives.

another killer set of scales.

Can I make a suggestion? I read below you are using the Sarge kits - which run about 18 bucks. While the scales are awesome, the knife itself - well, it's not good. Garbage pivot, tip down, non-reversible pocket clip, 440C (gross) and an "ambidextrous" thumb stud which doesn't matter because it sould only be carried in the right pocket anyway.

For not a lot more, you can scale a really nice knife. The RAT II is very highly praised and recognized in the knife community and even though it comes with scales already, it's super easy to make scales for

https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-Sp-Black-Folding-7Inches/dp/B00BBPAOCW

I own one of these and it's a pretty good knife for EDC. One handed open & close, nice fit in the hand. Only potential drawback would be performance if it gets wet, which i haven't had to worry about yet.

I typically stick to benchmade but theyre normally $150+. gerber is a good brand, but if your state allows assisted opening you should go for a Kershaw. I carry a Clash and use it almost every day. Its got a flipper with a torsion bar assist, so be careful of state laws. Its a little heavy, but I like that, feels more solid to me. Excellent knife for the price. my other, more expensive knives that I rotate (or will be, in a few days when some of them get delivered) are the Benchmade Griptilian, the Benchmade North Fork and the Benchmade Barrage(assisted opener).

If you're looking for a cheap, rough work knife, get the Kershaw, but if you're looking for an investment and a really high end, go for a BM.

Quality tools cost a bit more. It will last longer, and give you better service.

Spyderco makes several good EDC choices IMHO. Look at a Tenacious or a Delica to start.

SOG also makes quality knives. I'm partial to the Flash II Tanto, but it comes in several blade styles.

Either way, make sure you get a good sharpening system and learn to keep your knife sharp.

A sharp knife is a safe knife

Kershaw skyline
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Skyline-Knife-Textured-Handle/dp/B001CZBDF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411072014&sr=8-1&keywords=kershaw+skyline

Kershaw chill
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-3410-Chill-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002IVHQ5Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411072014&sr=8-2&keywords=kershaw+skyline

Both are great edc knives. Chill is small but tough (not tiny though) perfect if you work in an office.
Skyline is a great overall. My work edc.

Buy 2 of either one, if you manage to break one you have a backup while the factory fixes the other.

In that price range, from lowest to highest price, I found these in a quick search on Amazon:

• Spyderco Ambitious - 2.25" blade, $26.20
  
• Spyderco Tenacious - 3-3/8" blade, $30.13
  
• Spyderco Persistence - 2.75" blade, $31.89
  
• Spyderco Resilience - 4.25" blade, $42.87
  
  All of these use pretty much identical materials, and have identical features and quality. So go with whichever you like best.
  
  The steel used on these is middle of the road (the same as used in your Tremor), but overall quality is outstanding for the price. All around these will outperform and feel nicer than any Kershaws in the same price class, though I have nothing against Kershaw's better knives.

Previously mentioned Kershaw Skyline is a good one, but another one I like is Kershaw Chill. Cheaper steel, but I prefer the look.

Kershaw in general is pretty good for cheap folders.

I understand where you're coming from as far as syle is concerned, but I think giving them something they can carry everyday is more meaningful. I suggest a Kershaw Cryo;
I think the 8Cr13MoV steel is the best steel you can get in a knife under $30. I always suggest either a Kershaw or a Spyderco as a budget knife.

My comment was written with most everyday people in mind. They're mostly sharpening bad 440C kitchen knives and don't want to spend a lot of money. Another big thing is that your average person in the kitchen doesn't even know just how sharp a knife can get. The average guy is usually okay with a good working edge. I was recommending the honing rod and the Lansky system because they're inexpensive, easy-to-use, and they last a long time. Plus, most people are never even going to need a Lansky. That's already more advanced than most want to get.

If you have good knives though, everything changes. If you're a knife guy, then yeah absolutely you need to have a more sophisticated sharpening system.

We're both knife guys, so you'll probably agree that it all really depends on which knife you're using.

There are so many factors that go into it.

How thick is the knife?
What's the blade length/shape?
What's the steel?
What's the grind? Convex? Hollow? Full-Flat Grind? Scandi? Sabre?
What's the angle on that grind?
What type of knife is this?
What kind of edge do I want to put on it?

I personally just put a convex edge on most of my knives, so all I really use is a strop and a handful of compounds. For everything else I just use an Apex Edge Pro.

Here's a few of my favorite budget knives. Can't go wrong with any of them! I don't have any to trade otherwise I gladly would. Here's some amazon links, all prices include free shipping (and Amazon is the best.)

Spyderco Tenacious($40): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001EI7578/ref=mp_s_a_1_sc_1?qid=1408631106&sr=8-1-spell&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

Ontario RAT Model 1($27): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013ASG3E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1408631239&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Kershaw Thermite($25): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BNPUX94/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1408631306&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40

Kershaw Cryo($25): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0074FI28Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?qid=1408631380&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

Well let's not be rash.

If you really can only afford one, it has to hold up. Maybe the fixed blade is already assumed, and it's just a question of comfortable discrete carry.

You could modify a sheath to be an inside-the-waistband, deep-carry type. So long as it was comfortable and safe you'd have it all.

If that won't work than a tough cheap folder is what you want. Maybe an ontario rat?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBPAOCW/ref=sxts_kp_bs_tr_lp_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8778bc68-27e7-403f-8460-de48b6e788fb&pd_rd_wg=U8F34&pf_rd_r=RRBAWVQRCT0XYRE36GY0&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00BBPAOCW&pd_rd_w=ZFSOc&pf_rd_i=ontario+rat&pd_rd_r=6e2b1603-7384-4fb7-a8b2-3cb005087db4&ie=UTF8&qid=1539130155&sr=1

/r/knives is a great place to ask this kind of stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425256528&sr=8-1&keywords=spyderco+tenacious

This is a great knife that I EDC and its only $35. Perfect starting knife.

The Tenacious looks good for the price.

So now I'm down to 3 I would like to choose from,

• Kershaw Cyro
  
  
• Kershaw Leek
  
  
• and the Spyderco Tenacious
  
  So I think I might be leaning towards the Leek, except for what you said about the thin steel. Will that be a major issue? The Tenacious looks good, only thing is that it doesn't have to spring loaded opening, which is something I didn't really know I wanted until now. Then there's the Cyro, which has a slightly smaller blade (1/4 of an inch shorter), but it also has the spring loaded system, only thing is it doesn't look as simplistic as the Leek, but I think I can get over that. Which would you recommend of the Cyro and the Leek which I've posted? Because I realize there are different variations of each knife, but if I get either, I will be getting the ones I've linked to. Thanks.

I've lurked here for a while and thought I should make my first post.

I'm also looking for a better wallet similar to mine. I've checked out the Hitch and Timber Card Caddy, but can't justify the price. Any recommendations?

Any other feedback is also welcome :)

Small multi-tools (Pick one and goes in wallet front pocket)

• Vicrorinox classic SD
  
• Leatherman Style PS
  
  Flashlight (Goes in wallet's front pocket)
  
  
• Glaree Key-chain Flashlight
  
  Pens (Pick one)
  
  
• Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen
  
  
• Zebra F-301 Compact
  
  Wallet
  
  
• Cheap wallet from amazon that holds my flashlight and multitool
  
  Watch
  
  
• LG Watch Urbane
  
  Earbuds
  
  
• Symphonized NRG 2.0 Earbuds
  
  Phone (Had to Badly Photoshop it into the pic)
  
  
• Moto X Pure Edition with wood back and blue accents and a Poetic Affinity case
  
  On key-chain
  
  
• Chinese Suspension Clip with organizer
  
• Nite-Ize DoohicKey
  
• Sandisk Ultra Flair 64GB
  
• Truck/House keys
  
  Knives (Just my favorites. I usually just carry whatever knife I'm feeling that day)
  
  
• Ganzo/Firebird F7542
  
  
• CRKT Swindle
  
  
• Ontario RAT II
  
  
  
  Edit: not sure why photo uploaded with potato quality
  
  

• Coast HP1 Great flashlight for the price
  
  
• Kershaw 1990 Brawler
  
  
• Timex Men's T2P390 A watch that will look good in any social event and that would be great for anything else.
  
  $94.67

If you want to spend less than $50: Ontario RAT II Currently $26 on Amazon.

If you want to spend less than $100: Spyderco Delica 4 Currently $65 on Amazon.

They are the kings of their respective price ranges. The Delica steel is a definite upgrade from the RAT II, and the knife is much lighter and easier to carry.

They are both stunningly good knives for the money.

I have two recommendations that have never failed me within that price range and bring a lot to the table for the price:

The Delica4 by Spyderco which is large and stays sharp. It can cut and cut and just won't stop. I use this for my outdoor activities where a pocket knife can be used with some abuse. Also has a great grip on it which comes in a multitude of colors. Only knife better by them in my opinion is the paramilitary 2 for about $100 more.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CHANLO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407121452&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40

The Ken Onion designed Leek by Kershaw is my gentleman's knife. Very sharp straight out of the box and won't fail you. Much smaller than the Delica4 by equally as trustworthy. Super fast deploy speed and fits in the pocket nicely with or without the clip. Kershaw is known for cheaply priced big bang for your buck knives that just keep on going...and if you lose it, your wallet doesn't feel it. First folder I bought a few years ago and it is still my go-to most days.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009VC9Y0/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1407121786&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40

My personal EDC. I love this knife, and it's held up perfectly for several years now

Edit: downvoted for sharing my EDC? Never change, reddit

Kershaw Skyline is pretty nice if you want a g-10 handle and it's US made but it is 3 1/8" long

Kershaw Cryo is pretty nice and it's 2 3/4" long

Why not a Spyderco Tenacious?

Granted, it is about twice as heavy as the KISS, but with the weight you get G10 scales, a practical blade (Chisel grind tantos are made for stabbing people, they're profoundly "meh" for utility), and Spyderco quality. I've heard good things about CRKT, but you mind as well spend the extra couple bucks for a much better knife (IMO).

The knives I always recommend under $100:

• Ontario RAT II (~$30)
  
• Benchmade 556 Mini Griptilian (~$90)
  
  I own both and actually carry the Ontario RAT II more often just because it's a cheap-ish knife I feel comfortable abusing. The Benchmade is extremely high quality and super fun to play with.

Pockets

• Phone Case - Magpul iPhone 5 Field Case
  
  
• Knife - Benchmade Mini-Griptillian
  
  
• Handkerchief - Fifth&Brannan Charcoal Pocket Square
  
  
• Bottle Opener - New Belgium Globe - Got this for free after a tour there, and it's lived in the small pocket of my jeans ever since.
  
  
• Lip Balm - Burt's Bees
  
  
• FitBit - Fitbit Ultra - Probably going to be replaced by a newer Fitbit soon.
  
  
• Pen - Fisher Cap-O-Matic Space Pen - I will buy this pen over and over.
  
  
• Wallet - Saddleback ID Wallet in Tobacco
  
  
• Gum - Orbit Sweet Mint - It's unbelievable how much of this I have chewed.
  
  
  
  Keys
  
  
• Biner - Nite Ize S Biner Ahh
  
  
• USB - Kingston Digital DataTraveler 8GB - Contents change daily. Mostly client software.
  
  
• Light - FOURSEVENS Mini 123/ML - Throws a ton of light for how little room it takes up.
  
  
  
  
  That's pretty much it. Any questions feel free.
  

I have that same clone and it definitely is pretty solid. But, my contender for best $20 (give or take 3 bucks) knife is still the Rat 2

I'll give you some options here instead of just one choice.

This CRKT is a wonderful tool.

If you'd like another Spyderco you can't go wrong with a Dragonfly or a Centofante III.

If you've never got a Kershaw they're killer knives for the price. The Leek is a great introduction.

Or, you could buy 2 knives with your fifty. Ontario's RAT I and RAT II are some sweet knives.

Depending on your taste. You simply cannot go wrong with any of these knives.

The Ontario RAT1 and [Spyderco Tenacious] (http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578) are great knives in the $30 range that can accomplish all the activities you have listed without an issue.

This list and thread from the sidebar lists many good suggestions as well.

You really can't go wrong with the Spyderco Tenacious. Its inexpensive, uses a suitable steel, and gives you a TON of bang for your buck.

My final advice is buy a tenacious and bang it around for a while, then when you have a better handle on what you like and don't like, break the bank. Good luck!

Haha, awesome! Where do you recommend getting one? Is this alright?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TXMFQQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

These knives are a Buck Whittaker 437T Revolution at the top, and a Kershaw Chill. Recently I have expanded my collection of Kershaw knives. I have the Brawler and the [Lifter] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ILFLBYK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523470233&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=kershaw+lifter+knife) as well. I think they are a great value for the comparatively low price point. They come very sharp, don't have frills, and they just work.

A couple months ago I hit gold in my search to reacquire a knife I lost as a kid. My Buck Whittaker 437T fetish was finally acted upon, and I found two on Ebay. Well, I was searching for something else, and I found another one! This one is black. So, now I have three - blue, black, and green. My search for more is always ongoing, but I'm not seeking them out any longer. All three of them have been disassembled, oiled, cleaned, and sharpened. They are in tip top working order.

[My collection of Buck Revolutions] (https://imgur.com/UBK6DI0),
[Kershaw Chill with a lighter for scale] (https://imgur.com/9pD5kpH)

Thanks for looking.

get something not so expensive for your first knife. Here's why:

-Get used to it. Carrying it around, deploy and fold, cut fruit at work with it (see your co-worker's faces when you pull it out). Doing this will let you get use to having one (unfortunately, you will probably lose it).

-Use the shit out of it. cut paper, cardboard, pencils, test it out on thin twigs, branches etc.

-Sharpen it. I don't mean with some cheap easy way of doing it like with a sharpmaker; use a sharpening stone, learn the angles.

-Learn to respect it. No matter how careful you think you are, you will eventually cut yourself doing something you feel is the safe way. You will have a new appreciation for this knife.

I recommend either of these knives (learn the different ways knives can be deployed) http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578/ thumb hole deployment

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1660-Onion-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B0009VC9Y0 - speedsafe

http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E - thumbstud

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Skyline-Knife-Textured-Handle/dp/B001CZBDF8 - flip

Find how the knives also carry in your pocket (left pocket, right pocket, tip up or tip down).

These should be your first steps into getting and owning your first folding knife.

Rat I on Amazon ($27.03):

https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1510507787&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=ontario+rat+2&psc=1

Rat II on Amazon ($26.83):

https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-Sp-Black-Folding-7Inches/dp/B00BBPAOCW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510507787&sr=8-3&keywords=ontario+rat+2&dpID=41oOxKQBsuL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Seems like with a knife this inexpensive it is a no-brainer to get it new. Just my two cents. Good luck with your search.

[Ontario RAT II] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBPAOCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_a7Bkxb3BR0017)

At $24, it's a steal. I'd say it's worth between 2 and 3 times what it goes for. My favorite sub-$100 knife I've tried by far!

I recently picked up a Benchmade Small Summit Lake for $99 (plus tax put it at $108), and I LOVE it! It was my first high-quality knife. It took a $108 knife for me to replace my $24 RAT II as my EDC. They're that good.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: http://smile.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578/


|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|Spain|www.amazon.es||
|Germany|www.amazon.de||
|Japan|www.amazon.co.jp||
|Canada|www.amazon.ca||
|Italy|www.amazon.it||




To help add charity links, please have a look at this thread.

This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

If you have a few bucks lying around, the easiest way to answer this question is to have you buy a decent knife and see for yourself how much better it is. For a nice folder in your size range, the Ontario Rat1 would be a nice start...it's only $25 (which is a very low price for a quality knife), its 3.5" blade is big enough to do most things you'll need it to do while also being legal to carry almost everywhere (in the US), it's supposed to have a buttery smooth pivot action, and it has a decent blade steel (AUS-8) as opposed to the who-knows-what in a typical gas station knife. And yes, the steel alloy does make a lot of difference, a good blade will hold a sharp edge for longer, be tough enough to withstand some abuse, be flexible enough that it doesn't shatter easily, and unlike crap "stainless" steel it will actually remain rust-free under reasonable conditions. The heat treatment of the blade also contributes to these traits, and I can guarantee that Ontario does a better heat-treat than whoever made your $7 gas station knife...which probably didn't receive any treatment. If the Rat1 isn't your style, Kershaw makes a bunch of budget-friendly (~$30) knives that are also pretty highly regarded, something like the Cryo which has spring-assisted opening or the very sexy Skyline which isn't assisted opening. And if those aren't to your liking, then Spyderco makes a couple budget folders, one of them being the Resilience which has a bigger 4.25" blade and nice G10 handles, you may like that one for the bigger size. Might wanna check the legality in your area though...

So yeah, apart from working better, a nice knife also has a much smaller chance of failing and cutting off your finger, which is the main reason that I cringe a little bit when people use bad knives...I just don't want to see someone who doesn't know any better get hurt by a knife they thought would work fine. Unfortunately, I do see plenty of knives like that around r/EDC, but maybe I just hang out in /r/knives too much.

For cheap assisted knives, Kershaw is the way to go. You can get an OSO sweet under $20, or a cryo under $25, both of which are popular around here in their price range. If you have a little more to spend, the Leek is a great choice.

Not quite sub $20 but definetely a great knife. Kershaw Cryo.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0074FI28Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_p3goybZC8VYNQ

$22 currently on sale. I've had it for 2 years now. Take it everywhere. She sharpens like new every time.

For about $50, these are the best you're going to get.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001EI7578/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1498269519&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=spyderco+resilience&dpPl=1&dpID=21SYwroxw1L&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004AWOLV8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498269519&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=spyderco+resilience&dpPl=1&dpID=41CRY-zVxCL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CH1SQ8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498269566&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=spyderco%2Bendura&dpPl=1&dpID=31TgYMj7KDL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

These are all great knives, they're just a little different from each other.

Even better, post it to /r/knifeclub.

It looks like it might have come from one or both of them originally though. That's a Kershaw Cryo II, one of the most popular budget blades out there

Edit: Actually after looking closer, the longer clip suggests it's the original Cryo, not the Cryo II. They're very similar though.

I have 2 knives. A Spyderco Tenacious G-10, and a Kershaw 1660 Ken Onion Leek

I'll start with the course diamond and do about 20 passes towards the cutting edge (as if I'm trying to shave the sharpener instead of scraping the blade against it) on each side moving the diamond at an angle so the entire blade was touched. Then the same with the fine diamond, then the same with the Arkansas stone. I'm using the shallow angle option on the blade holder.

I don't strop the blades afterwards with leather.

Good idea about marking the blade edge with a Sharpe, I'll try that.

From what I can tell, for a "concealed" knife the blade limit is 4" - the 2.5" is only for on school grounds. So unless you're a student, you can get something with a longer blade.

And in that case I recommend the Ontario Rat Model II. It's $30 instead of $20, but mine has done me well for a few years now.

If you are a student, maybe go with a Kershaw Shuffle from Walmart or Dicks or something. My girlfriend has one of those and likes it well enough.

Can't go wrong with a Spyderco Delica. It's a trusted and well loved EDC knife. Check out some of the reviews on it.

Spyderco byrd Cara Cara2 Black FRN ComboEdge Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NKY3SI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dcWDxbNMR9W6A

I like that one.

You might like this one better:

Kershaw 1605CKTST Clash Folding Knife with SpeedSafe (2-Step Serration) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057R8SSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_geWDxbMHQRY97

They both have ok steel. You generally need to spend more if you want nicer steel.

Buck 110 by the look of it!
Great, great knife.
Amazon

best of the best:

https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Techno-Titanium-Plain-Knife/dp/B006L6WSIY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510170470&sr=8-1&keywords=spyderco+techno

Got my brother one of these (which he loved), then bought one for myself. Pretty nice for the price, and guys like playing with knives.

Kershaw 1605CKTST Black Clash Folding Serrated SpeedSafe Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057R8SSM/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_6rNeub1PVEXF8

It's a great feeling getting PMs in the mail. What kind of knife is that? I finally just caved after my cheap one broke several months ago and grabbed this one. It came in the mail yesterday and is an excellent value -- highly reocmmended.

That is fair and that isn't the worst Gerber knife there is. The problems though are:

The biggest concern I would have is the reports of failure lock and other robustness.

The general quality is okish....

It is quite big and heavy considering it isn't very robust.

The Bead blasted finish is prone to rusting (especially with that steel).

The steel (7CR17Mo) is mediocre in a lot of aspects.

The serrations are personal and if you just tear things rather than requiring a clean cut they can be better (just more difficult to resharpen).


For the same price range you have the dozier which is brilliant, the Cold steel tuff litehttps://www.amazon.com/2010012-Cold-Steel-Serrated-20Lts/dp/B006YBW6VA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1492545767&sr=8-3&keywords=cold+steel+tuff+lite) which is really robust and the Kershaw which has amazing reviews over thousands of buyers and a lifetime warranty

Sure, I can understand that, though I think you should consider whether 3-4 'meh' quality knives is better to have than 1 solid knife. I went from Kershaws and CRKT's to Spyderco (there are other manufacturers if you don't like Spyderco) and noticed a difference in what I was getting for my money. I also started giving away a lot of knives because I found myself carrying 1-3 out of the 20 I had. I'd much rather have combined all the useless knives I bought into one decent one looking back on it.

That said, most everyone goes through their 'collect a bunch of cheap stuff' phase and I don't want to kill the fun of that. Realistically though, I'd take all the money you spent on those four and get one of these instead, if I had a time machine.

I'm a huge fan of the Ontario RAT 2; I think it's the perfect straight edged folding knife for cheap:

https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-Sp-Black-Folding-7Inches/dp/B00BBPAOCW/

Leatherman sidekick is a great multitool. $45.

For just a knife the Spyderco Tenacious is a fantastic folder for the price at $35.

• A decent pen
  
  
• Deodorant
  
  
• A pretty good quality knife
  
  
• A good keychain flashlight
  
  
• A charger for your smartphone

Gerber Shard is a convenient little pry-tool for a bargain. It's worth the price just to try it out. Bottle opener, pry bar, and Philips-head screwdriver all in one make it worth the space on my keychain.

For a folder, you won't go wrong with either a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian or a Spyderco Delica. And at the cheaper end, there's the popular Spyderco Tenacious, but I am personally not a fan. Just don't buy anything with partial serrations, and do learn how to sharpen your blade.

Happy trails.