(Part 2) Best products from r/knives

As you may or may not have recognized, this is the Condor Bushlore. Its blade is .125” thick made from 1075 carbon steel. The handle scales are walnut and the pins are brass (I think). The sheath is leather with stainless pins. These pictures are what it looks like after a weekend of extremely hard use in very damp conditions—I’ll talk more about this later. I took the pictures right after I cleaned it back up, and re-sharpened it.

I have been collecting knives for a while, and have quite a few, but did not own EVEN ONE fixed blade. I had a camping trip in the Finger Lakes region of NY, so I decided to pony up a whopping $31 and order one off amazon. When it arrived, the overwhelmingly positive reviews for the sheath were confirmed (it feels very high quality) as were the so-so reviews for the fit and finish of the knife itself. If you are looking for a fixed blade knife that is great to look at and fun to fondle, this might not be the knife for you. There is noticeable staining on the uneven handle scales, the pins and lanyard holes have grind marks on them (but are smooth to the touch), the grind is not a true Scandi (the blade had a secondary bevel when I received it, but it’s not a big deal, because I re-profiled it anyway), and the primary grind is actually uneven (this was brought out when I re-profiled it, one of the pictures shows this), and it came incredibly dull (hence the re-profiling).

So, how did it perform in the field? Very well! On two consecutive nights, in very damp conditions, it batoned through logs almost as thick as the blade is long, split about 9 bundles worth of wood (no-one had a hatchet) and performed other, less strenuous tasks like making wood shavings for kindling, carving tent stakes, and opening food packages etc. It was very comfortable to use, and held a good working edge for all of this. Now because it is carbon steel it did develop some significant surface rust, but that cleaned up very easily in just a few minutes.

In closing, this is a great camp knife for an incredible value. If you can get past the cosmetic imperfections, it’s an awesome little knife.

Let me know if you guys have any questions!

If he had been carrying a Swiss Army knife that's probably the style he prefers, Opinel makes single bladed knives that open in the same way his old SAK did, and leatherman makes amazing multitools, I would recommend checking all these brands out.

Opinel knives are usually extremely cheap and run about 20$/£, their most popular knife is the No. 8 for about 12$/£, it comes in other colors and wood types as well. No. 8 is a bigger model and it might be a little bulky for someone use to a SAK, the small the number in the name ex. No. 7, No.6, get smaller as their number designation does. I have the No. 8 Trekking knife in slate and its a pretty great knife for its price (18$/£).

If he likes Swill Army Knives, there are quite a few more options to look at, they can get a little pricey for their size at times, I own the Tinker, this was my first knife and I have found that looking at the tools on these knives would behoove you. I do not need an awl in the knife I carry every day for instance. There are many many options to chose from, and through a little sifting you may find one that you feel suits him best. Victorinox (the brand that makes swiss army knives) also makes knives that are a little closer to the opinels I mentioned earlier, a few of their models (like this one) are simply one or two blades. I would look into local laws however, I know some places do not allow blades that can be opened with one hand like the one I linked you to.

Leatherman makes wonderful multitools and a few pocket knives. Nearly everything they make have blades that lock as a safety feature, although very few can be flicked open, so I would check the specifics of this law, I doubt a multi-tool is illegal. This is the Micra, it appears to be a smaller version of a leatherman I own that I cannot find on their site. This one has a blade that opens in a way that is legal for sure, its blade does not lock either. If you find that some locking blades are allowed, the Skeletool is a favorite of mine, it may look a little outlandish but it has always had the best combination of essential tools out of any of my multi-tools, and it is one of my favorites. The Style is a smaller version with slightly different tools ( I don't think it has screwdrivers), but it's blade does not lock. The skeletool is about 70$/£ I think, and their smaller tools like the micra and style are under 30$/£, this brand has quite a bit more I didn't touch on, if you think he would like something like this I would check out site, I hope you find something that works, I know I'm always thrilled when my girlfriend gets me a new knife.

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!

Well, first, congratulations on becoming a LEO. I am not one myself, but I have had a few convos with them and I'm going to start by giving you a couple of things to consider. The first one is, this knife will be a tool, right? A tool is used for all sorts of tasks, some it wasn't intended for like prying, scraping, or breaching/otherwise opening something that wouldn't the best tool for the job. One LEO I spoke with mentioned having to use his knife to do some limited demolition to a couple of walls in a trailer to find drugs. Stabbing through sheet rock, hitting studs, and nails and shit like that. I might suggest having a small pry bar as, you know, your tool that rides with at least, maybe find a belt pouch or way to carry it on your person. Better to have and not need than need and not have on this. Another thing, you might consider starting off with a more affordable knife, a beater. There are several reasons - tools you have on the job can be damaged or lost, and with a cheap beater you won't cry when that happens, you may need to hand it over as evidence in an investigation (used in self defense, etc.) and handing over your favorite knife can be painful even if you do eventually have it returned to you, you will already know about how LEOs and lawyers are not your best friends and having a big ol' scary knife may raise an eyebrow or two even in your position, and FINALLY there's the fact that you may be required to loan your knife out or use it in such a way that would ruin it. Any time you loan a tool out, it's great to expect to be returned in the same condition, but it's not always the case. Additionally, you may find you need it for an emergency, like in a vehicle fire or such a thing, mostly I'm imagining fire-related emergencies. A lot of knives are made with plastic scales which will melt all to shit but is technically still able to be used. This is unlikely, I know, but you're more likely to be there than me, so it is what it is.

After all that, I do have some recommendations!

Kershaw Clash - currently listed at ~$22, it's a fair knife for the money. It's spring assisted opening, a little larger both in size as well as handling (bad for finer cutting manipulation) but would be a great knife to get started with and treat as a beater. Would also serve as entry level EDC and would get you a lot of quick handling experience for the type of knife you'd actually want to get!

Kershaw Blur is a really well known knife by the knife community, combining quite a few really nice points at once. Currently listed at ~$58 (this model), this is also a great knife for someone looking for an all arounder. The blade steel is a little better than the Clash and several other offers from the cheaper side of knives, the scales are really comfortable for medium to large hands, and it doesn't break the bank. In my personal opinion it's probably one of if not the best knife for the money.

Kizer Vanguard is a different blade shape than the previous two, a much more classic style with a drop point. Currently this is on sale for ~$44 and this knife has a variety of handle colors available, which I think is neat. Based on my EDC use, it seems to be quite nice!

CRKT M21-12G has a few variations available with a similar size offered there as well as plain edge versus serrations. Personally I find serrations difficult to sharpen so I avoid them on my knives, but your mileage may vary. This knife is currently ~$46 and is worth it. This is a thicc chunk of steel with a thiccer handle even though the steel liners are milled out. Having taken it apart and put it back together a few times, I find this knife very easy to clean and service.

Ontario Knife Company Rat-1 is no frills and a solid knife. This is currently selling for ~$22 and is worth every penny. There's a few different models with the price varying quite a bit but overall it's below $40. This knife is a large chunk of metal with the scales and thick plastic liners too. However, there are etsy shops that make more custom liners that might be less chunky. Will likely cost more than you paid for the knife, but eh, whatever. This will be harder to lose, I think, since it's so large.

I hope one or more of these suggestions is helpful!

• ~$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.

Honestly? You're going to want to just go to a knife forum- this is a good example of one, or BladeForums.com is another- and just immerse yourself in it. Read posts, ask questions, salivate over knives, etc.

Here's a guide on knife grinds and the differences between them. Here's another.

Some good, popular companies for folding knives are Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw, and Cold Steel. All of these also make fixed blades, but only Cold Steel has anywhere near as many fixed blade designs available as they have folders.

Some popular companies for fixed blade knives are Ka-Bar, Morakniv, Ontario Knife Company, ESEE knives, BlackJack Knives and Fallkniven.

Any knives by any of those companies will likely be good, solid knives for whatever their intended purpose is- which brings us to another point, the intended purpose of a knife.

Different knives are obviously intended for different things, and a good knife for bushcraft might make an incredibly shitty one for cooking, with the While the Becker BK2 might happily slash apart a log or firewood, it's so fucking thick that it'll take a lot more work to push it through food, for example. Alternatively, while the Benchmade 530 is a great EDC knife that will happily cut food or cardboard all day, if you try its super-thing blade against wood or rope you'll be in for a bad time and might even need a new knife. Basically, there isn't really any knife that's "good" for everything. There are knives that are BAD for everything, but that's a different story entirely.

If you have any questions about anything I said, feel free to ask. Like I said- that's a good way to learn about knives.

This answer assumes 1) you want a few knives to cover different uses and 2) you can dig in the couch cushions for $3.53 or you can wait for Amazon's prices to fluctuate just a little bit. The price on the Kershaw jumped $3 just while I am typing this up...

EDC: Kershaw Blur, $54.17. I'm a little goofy, and I like the serrated tanto even though it looks like ass. I assume for most people, they'd prefer the straight blade. I've had one for a few years, and it works great. Just the right size, comfortable grippy handle, and I love the opening mechanism.

Camping knife: Condor Tool and Knife Bushlore 4.375-Inch Drop Point Blade, $36.41. The QA on fit and finish is apparently an issue with this company, but I didn't notice any problem on mine. It's not going to win a beauty competition, but its a hard worker. One of the comments on Amazon says it's the AK-47 of the knife world. I'm inclined to agree.

Inconspicuous Folder: Opinel #8, $12.95. I don't actually own one of these, so caveat emptor, but they come highly recommended by the hive mind. It's a classy looking folder that you could carry around in your suit's jacket pocket or your briefcase.

The CRKT drifter is a great simple and slightly smaller fold out knife. The blades closer to 3 inches but it fits in your hand great, and is really well balanced. You can get it with a serrated part of the blade or you can get just a plain blade.

I strongly recommend this knife.

Blade steel is fine for an EDC, and handle material looks close to G-10, which I would say is the best handle quality for grip. 3 inch blade, looks like it can be opened one handed from thumb stud.

Before making a purchase, check out the cheaper brands from Spyderco and Kershaw, they have $25 EDCs on sale, with same or better quality blade steel.

Here's a few that might be worth a look:

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Chive-Pocket-Knife/dp/B0009VC9RW/ref=pd_sim_sg_4

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=sr_1_10?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1313769769&sr=1-10

http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Folder-Black-Handle-Blade/dp/B0017KTOV8/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1313769793&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-31-000674-MP450-Compact-Paraframe/dp/B003LY43FA/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1313769825&sr=1-5

Good luck with your purchase :)

The best chefs knife that I can unreservedly recommend unfortunately isn't one that is going to make your brother go "ohhhh, wow! That's gorgeous!" It's the Victorinox 8" Fibrox. It's a fantastic chef's knife, not just 'for the price' (which is amazing at under $30), but genuinely a great knife. America's Test Kitchen has done multiple chefs knife tests and reviews (one of the most recent is on Youtube here) and their testing and reviews can be trusted.

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

Yeah but I don't really need specifically a kitchen knife. Just wanted a good all around knife I can use for pretty much everything. It doesn't have to be very good at something.

I'm really liking the Spyderco Resilience

The Condor Bushlore is an inexpensive option, and weighs about 12.3oz. If you're planning on batoning wood with your knife, you'll want it thick enough to withstand the force, and long enough to be able to hit the tip-side of the spine poking out from the other side of the log. Since your budget is a lot higher than that, you might want to shop around for something higher-quality.

Check out the Blind Horse Bushcrafter or Woodsman. Not sure what they weigh, but I'd be happy to lug around the extra weight of one of those beauties.

EDIT: Also note that O1 tool steel rusts very easily. Be prepared to maintain those blades quite a bit. It's very tough, though, and decently easy to sharpen. I read somewhere that, when polled, most knifemakers would choose O1 for their personal blades. It's the same steel as in the Ray Mears Woodlore knife.

Others have mentioned it but the Ka-Bar Becker BK2 is widely loved as a survival/do everything knife.

If the BK2's blade is too big and heavy for you, you might consider its little brother the BK16.

Also consider one of the Scrapyard Knives like the 311, 411, or 511.

Good luck!

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

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!

Here's a few:

Becker BK-2 carbon steel, decently sized though maybe big by your definition. This knife will take anything you throw at it, comes with a sheath.

The ESEE Izula is also pretty popular around here, definitely a lot smaller.

Can we get specifics on:

Carbon/Stainless?

Approx length?

Price range?

These will help us figure out what would be ideal.

EDIT: clarity

you won't be disappointed.

That being said, consider this knife: CRKT Drifter. Its the only other knife I EDC. Its slimmer than the Gerber AR and the blade is a higher-quality metal. If you get the G10 handled version its a little lighter and the textured handles let you grip better in wet conditions but its less pretty.

The Gerber AR and the CRKT drifter are the two (three if you count the two Drifter models; I've owned both) best EDC, non spring-assist, easy-flick-open knives I've ever owned. I only pick which one I put in my pocket based on my mood :)

Twitch II is good.

So is the Skyline

But my favorite is still the Tenacious. What an awesome EDC knife that sucker is. The metal may not be the best, but it makes up for it in durability and it's so easy to sharpen. The knife is of excellent quality and for less than 30$. If you want a smaller blade, get the Persistence (I wouldn't, the Tenacious is the perfect size for me).

the skyline is a great choice.
Spyderco persistance is another great choice. 29$ below.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Persistence-C136GP-Plain-Knife/dp/B002IWWYS4
Are you primarily just interested in folders? if fixed blade knives appeal to you Becker bk14 is another wonderful knife for 34$
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-BK14-Becker-Knife-Eskabar/dp/B004CIQY6K

The Morakniv Companion seems like a good starting point. Pretty cheap where I'm at ordering from Amazon.

Granted, I have a couple Gerbers. Mostly paraframe folders, and for the price, you're better off with a Chinese Kershaw, like the Oso Sweet

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.

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.

I bought 3 assisted opening knives:

• Leek - Ken Onion
  
• Flash II - SOG
  
• Some junky piece of shit - Smith & Wesson
  
  I'm not 100% satisfied with any of them. I like the SOG the best, but all of them have annoying locks on them that defeat the entire purpose of an auto opening knife. The purpose is to open them quickly with one hand. Well if the safety keeps getting turned on in your pocket then you end up fiddling with them.
  
  My brother on the other hand has a Ken Onion Black Blur and that seems to be a really good knife.

Cheapest great chef knife is the victorinox forschner 8". Awesome knife for a great price
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-8-Inch-Fibrox-Straight/dp/B008M5U1C2

the 940-2 is the model that you have, with the s30v stainless, g10 scales, and green spacers. theres also the 940-1 which has s90v stainless, carbon fiber scales, and blue back spacers. as well as the classic straight up 940 which has s30v stainless and aluminum scales.

theres also the 940-1601 , the 940-1701 .. many variants of the 940 design available. same knife, different materials.

i have the same one you do, the 940-2, and i think its awesome. easily my favorite folder

I think this one is the best way to go. It is super durable and very suitable for all different uses. Victorinox Swiss Army 8-Inch Fibrox Straight Edge Chef's Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008M5U1C2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_OPnzwbWRBYQ2R

Edit: They also have a good paring knife Victorinox Swiss Classic 4-Inch Paring Knife, Spear Tip https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LRYE36/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_sWnzwbJ3ZWKF3 In my opinion a chefs knife and paring knife are all you really need.

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'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.

I'm a fixed blade fan, though what's "EDC" for me (large knife in a belt sheath) isn't for most people. However, a full tang, fixed blade knife will always be more "indestructible" than a folder, so I stand by my opinions.

The KA-BAR BK series are extremely tough knives. My favorite is the BK-2: https://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-Becker-Campanion-Fixed-Blade/dp/B001N1DPDE/. This is about as close to "impossible to break" as you can get. It's a big, thick chunk of steel and I've used it for everything from cutting rope, splitting wood, removing tile and grout, and as a pry bar.

At about half the price is the Ontario 499: https://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Force-Survival-Knife-Black/dp/B001CZDQPI/ It's smaller than the BKs and has a rough finish, but it's extremely tough. It has been indestructible as far as I can tell: I TRIED to break it by banging it into hard logs and carelessly batoning with it and it barely lost an edge. Great knife for the price.

I could give you some strong examples of folders, but I know other commenters on here will do way better than me on that.

For cutting boxes, you're getting into medium use, not light use. For assisted, you're going to want a Kershaw at that price range- they're the kings of the budget assisted knife.

Some recommendations: Kershaw Clash, the Kershaw Burst, the Kershaw Drone, or the Kershaw Volt II. The Clash is going to be the strongest out of those options.

If you're willing to sacrifice speed (and the assisted open) for price, the Kershaw Kurai is only $12. If you'll also sacrifice the one handed opening, the Cold Steel Kudu is legitimately one of the very best knives on the market for under $15, and will only run you $8.50.

Feel free to respond with questions, comments or concerns. I'll try to get to them as soon as possible.

The CRKT drifter is the best cheap nice I own. You can find them for around $20.
Add pepper spray or a handgun for a better self defense plan.

http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-6450K/dp/B001DZMBY4

Well, for a low budget you can't beat the ontario rat 1.

Not bashing cheap beater knives, but the one you're using is a classic 'tacticool mall knife', stick as much stuff on it as you can and put a semper fi in the name. Done! If that's what you like, fine but they're not known for their high quality. Pretty much everything you get will be an upgrade.

Maybe also take a look at these

• Kershaw Cryo
  
  
• Spyderco persistence

Opinel makes good knives for hella cheap. I love 'em and think they're classy.

Keep looking. I like Condor knives as they are cheap-ish but tough and effective. See the Bushlore. Also, please don't be frightened away by r/knives's response. We generally do not like the B.G. series but I am sure you will get tons of other recommendations.

Spyderco Ambitious Folding Knife - Black G-10 Handle with PlainEdge, Full-Flat Grind, 8Cr13MoV Steel Blade and LinerLock - C148GP https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0XoKDb340M13P

These guys go on sale and can easily be had in the sub-$40 range. Super solid for the money.

I would recommend a Ka-Bar Becker BK-2 Campanion (of course) and a Kershaw Skyline, if you're interested in a folder. Total for less than $100.
(BK-2 Abuse links.) Those two sets of tests should be more than enough evidence for the Campanion's awesomeness. It's $62 on Amazon.
The Kershaw Skyline gets great reviews. Amazon has them for $34.

EDIT: Added all the links, and decided to provide an actually comprehensive and helpful comment.

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.

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.

The CRKT Drifter [Stainless Steel Handle] [G10 Handle] is a good choice, like the poster above suggests. The Ontario RAT-II and Kershaw Clash are other great options.

I have the esee 5 (very similar to the BK2) and it is a big bad boy. the quarter inch thick makes it a beast at spliting via batoning or chopping. down side... it has a big fat edge that can kinda feel bulky when doing finer work... Honestly, I would look into a cheaper (yet very good blades) like a Mora or a Condor Bushlore... my pick would be the bushlore b/c of the grind and full tang but Moras are very good.

Then from there after using those blades a lot you'll get an idea of what you really want in your next blade.

The Becker BK-2 is a fine beater of knife for your first decent quality fixed-blade. Great size, great price.

Edit: If you really want something "cool-looking" but still functional, the new Becker BK-5 could fit the bill.

Another option, the Spyderco Ambitious. A lot along same lines, in your price range and offers some good quality for budget. It is not assisted like you like, but once you get the flick down using spyder hole, it is a fun little blade.
http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO

I am a meat cutter and I use this Victorinox 10 inch knife and a smaller 6 inch victorinox for trimming steaks. I was wanting to know a good beginner sharpening kit I could get thats not to expensive. I am not sure what counts as a cheap price for stones, but I really don't want to spend more than $40-$50.

I also have this Kershaw pocket knife that has quickly chipped. Not sure if its the metal or what, but would like to know if I would have to buy a separate sharpening kit for a pocket knife.

Thanks!

Victorinox 8" Chef's knife, you'll love it.

Kershaw Chill is the only sub-20 dollar pocket knife I can think to recommend. Here is a review with several photos for size comparison. Kershaw makes several sub-30 dollar knives worth considering, though.

I'd go with a Kershaw. Good quality for the price. The Blur is a good knife, I have one. A Kershaw Leak is also a great knife. It's much more concealable.

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Black-Smooth-Folding/dp/B0009VCA0I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398115825&sr=8-2&keywords=Kershaw+Blur

Thanks for the condolences. If you want a cheap version of a spyderco knife I would get one of these Byrd knifes. I am rocking this one and love it.

Spyderco byrd Meadowlark2 Black G-10 PlainEdge Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0048FU4F4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fW5izbBFG7M0C

Spyderco Delica 4 Flat Ground Plain Edge Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089DFGIG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aX5izbQRC25YW

Also, I think I've narrowed it down to 3

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009VC9YK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00172A3DE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CZBDF8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Not looking for you to make the decision, but appreciate any insight you might have like the shape, finger groove etc. being good vs problematic for some people or otherwise.

I know, I was joking, they say bladehq.com all over them :-D

For around $30, I'm a fan of Kershaw. The Leek and Scallion are sleek, and I just got an orange Skyline, which is more utilitarian and surprisingly light. I haven't tried the OSO Sweet, but you might like its shape and price.

You might try the Spyderco Dragonfly 2. 2.25" blade, great with a zip-tie mod for even easier opening, wonderful cutting power for such a small, compact blade.

Edit: I know you're not a fan of Spydercos, however the blade shape here really gives you maximum torque and control for how incredibly short of a blade you're restricted to.

Big Left, top to bottom:

Gerber Gator Jr.
Harbor Freight $8 survival knife
KA-BAR #1213 Black Straight Edge
Ka-Bar Short Kraton-G Handle

Big Right, top to bottom:

Schrade SCHKM1 Large Full Tang Fixed Blade Kukri
Schrade SCHKM1SM Small Full Tang Fixed Blade Kukri
Schrade SCHF9N

Small stuff, top row, left to right:

Bessey D-BKWH Quick-Change Folding Utility Knife - Wood Grain Handle
Some cheap Husky multitool I got at Home Depot two-for-five-bucks back in '10 or '11
CRKT Eraser

Small stuff, bottom row, left to right:;

SOG Aegis Mini
Kershaw Thistle
Spyderco Resilience

-----

The Harbor Freight was an impulse thing. Same with the cheap-o Home Depot multitools.

The rest is pretty budget-conscious stuff. No matter what, though, even though they're not considered top-of-the-line or whatever, nobody will ever convince me that Schrade doesn't make some pretty damn good knives.

Personally a budget spyderco.

see

persistance

Or

Tenacious


With a mini swiss.

See.

Small Swiss

Is acceptable for most applications, a larger multi tool is good for in the car or around the house though.

I seriously can not possibly say enough good things about my spyderco tenacious. Get one, or another in the budget line (persistence, resilience)

This is a great little knife for the price; I have one and quite like it.

Spyderco Lightweight Delica, in gray - here. At $58.65 it's just a tad over your stated $50 limit, but I'm confident you'll like it.

7.125-inch open length
4.25-inch closed length
2.875-inch VG-10 steel blade
2.56-inch cutting edge
0.5-inch blade hole
0.09-inch blade thickness
2.5-ounce weight
FRN handle material

I've EDC'd a Spyderco Tenacious for about a year and I love it. If I had to replace it, I would easily consider another Tenacious, or a slightly smaller Persistence.

Part of me really wants a Leek but I'd also like a Kershaw Blur for the assisted opening, and if you can set aside an extra $20, you can spring for the version w/ S30V steel. All of these are within your price range.

If you want one for everyday carry, I've been using the Kershaw OSO Sweet as my EDC for quite awhile and absolutely love it.

If you're looking for something to put on your keychain, this might be a bit too big for you. Also "discreet" wouldn't necessarily work with this knife, so maybe not. Sorry :(

I was thinking something similar.
1 Ontario 8848 RAT
2 Kershaw Chill (A bit slimmer, lighter, and sleeker than the Clash)
3 CRKT Drifter G10

I just bought the Chill, and I love it! At 1.9 oz, it's half the weight of the Clash. The locking system is nice and smooth. I loosened the tension a little so I don't need to flick my wrist, just a quick trigger pull on the tab. So far, nothing I can complain about.

Many professional chefs swear by Victorinox, and this one is the best bang for your under $100 budget by far:

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife, 8-Inch Chef
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008M5U1C2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bvN4Ab4G1PRCN

^ you might want to pick up a paring knife as well, if you don’t already have one...

Victorinox 3.25 Inch Paring Knife
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019WXPQY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2xN4Ab0MWEMC7

A full set for $75 is pretty cheap. For comparison the most recommended knives on reddit are the Victorinox 8" at $44 and the Tojiro DP at $70, and that's just one knife a piece. I'm not sure what's available for less but those two knives are already my cheapest budget options.

Additionally, it's better to not get a set and instead buy the knives you need individually. For starters that should probably be a chef's, paring, bread, and maybe boning knife.

How small of a knife would you be willing to purchase?
Any of the Spyderco Bug series would be a good choice. Priced right and come in different sizes.

[Bug](http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Slip-Joint-Plain-Knife/dp/B003788U9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373555986&sr=8-1&
keywords=Spyderco+bug)

Honeybee

Grasshopper

All three deal


For opening boxes (cutting tape) any of those will suffice. If your cutting cardboard, then mostly the Grasshopper will do (although not efficiently)


Also an Opinel looks classy while still being functional. All different sizes to choose from too.

My current EDC. Kershaw 1830. Not serrated at all, but amazing for the price.

That looks like a pretty standard assisted-opener, unless I'm missing something. Kershaw makes a few models that are a step up but won't break the bank. The Blur that /u/Clocktease suggested is a good one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009VCA0I?psc=1

I'd recommend a Spyderco Ambitious. Small, about $30, and won't be difficult to get used to carrying around.

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO

http://www.amazon.com/SABRE-3--Pepper-Spray-Protection/dp/B0007VM8UC

It sounds like you want it for personal protection. Get this instead. This is coming from someone who loves knives and carries one always and has used them a ton and trained to use them. A lot more reliable, and will generally keep you safer, and a lot less legal liability if you use it. Yes there was a commando on the front page, but that is offensive use he was talking about anyway.

And a sweet edc knife, currently 52 bucks: http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Blk-Ffg-Plainedge/dp/B0089DFGIG

Well, there's this :)

You might want to look at the Becker BK2 for a little more money.

That's a Benchmade 940. These retail on amazon for $180ish. Being a prototype certainly adds value, but I'm not sure how much. Likely worth $250-300, but could be worth as much as $500 depending on the buyer and how rare prototypes are.

I would recommend the Kershaw Clash. It keeps a good edge and I can't imagine that clip breaking

Spyderco Ambitious sounds like it would fit.

Edit: Or maybe a Cold Steel Tuff Lite

Personally, I'd recommend either:
An Opinel.
Simple carbon steel (although they do stainless as well, if you'd prefer) pocket knife with a solid lock, really useful blade profile & edge geometry, and heaps of class. Can't praise these little things enough. My one complaint is that they're not one-hand-opening.
Or a Svord Peasant Knife Mini.
Again, about as simple as you can get in a folder, with a carbon steel blade, and no real locking mechanism to speak of; when you hold the knife, your hand wraps around the tang and keeps the blade from closing on your fingers. Very useful for outdoorsy kinda stuff, as in a pinch, you can thwack the spine of the blade with a big bit of wood to split kindling and whatnot, without worrying about a lock failure. The tang also means you can use your thumb to open it one handed. Only problem with the Svord is that the fit and finish is pretty shoddy. The grind can be kinda wonky, but as a practical odd-job knife, it's not the end of the world.

I was going to recommend the Spyderco resilience because that what I use but I don't remember paying $40 for it. The 4.25" blade is perfect for cutting bait for off shore or cutting bass fillets. If you're fishing in salt check out Spydercos with H-1 steel.

I would recommend a Spyderco Tenacious I have one, and it is probably the most sturdy folder I have. If that is a little big, you could always go with the Ambitious for less length. Finally, if you want to go still smaller, a Kershaw Cryo 2 may fit the bill. But I only have personal experience with the Tenacious.

At the top end of your budget there's the Spyderco Dragonfly and it fits all of your crieria.

You could also go with something a little more classic, like the Buck 501 or Uncle Henry. Though they both use 400 series stainless.

You might also like the Kershaw Black Gultch.

There's the Buck Nobleman that I've heard decent things about (440A).

And lastly, I don't consider it a party without a Boker.

I got my dad a Spyderco Dragonfly. I looked at many other knives, including the Benchmade 940. But this is the one i think suits him best.

the leek is prone to that problem from what i've gathered. i might suggest you re-profile it or get a different kershaw. i'd recommend the blur. it's a bigger and more capable knife imo. check it out next trip to walmart. i think youll like it.

Skyline's a good knife i just don't like the lines on it as much as something like the clash

This is a great chef's knife that will last forever and has excellent reviews. It's $44 right now but every once in a while it goes on sale for around $30 or 35.

Just ordered this myself - http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-8700BLK-Shuffle-Multi-Function-Knife/dp/B00I0RXHWS/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_img_y

This is my current EDC -
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-3812-Thistle-Folding-Knife/dp/B00I0RV72K/ref=sr_1_91?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1426258907&sr=1-91&keywords=kershaw+knives

Some other good ones -
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-3850-Swerve-Folding-Knife/dp/B00AU6NSFI/ref=sr_1_82?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1426258868&sr=1-82&keywords=kershaw+knives

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1830-Stainless-Steel-Handle-SpeedSafe/dp/B00172A3DE/ref=sr_1_105?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1426258970&sr=1-105&keywords=kershaw+knives

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-8200GRY-Funxion-SpeedSafe-Knife/dp/B006YBYA32/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1418746570&sr=8-9&keywords=kershaw+funxion+emt

http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8902-Utiliac-Folding-Knife/dp/B002VXO9BK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418781567&sr=8-1&keywords=Ontario+Utilitac+II&pebp=1418781564939

Spyderco Ambitious

I carry mine in that little pocket or on my belt depending on the day. Its been 4+ years and its amazing.

Cheaper side go with the SOG Seal Pup.

For something of better quality go with the ESEE 4, or the Ka-Bar BK2.

http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Sandvik-Military-4-1-Inch/dp/B009NZVZ3E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382540279&sr=8-2&keywords=mora+knife

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Ambitious-Black-PlainEdge-Knife/dp/B004MMSDHO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1382540355&sr=8-9&keywords=spyderco+tenacious

http://www.amazon.com/Opinel-No8-Carbon-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002SCUO04/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382540386&sr=8-2&keywords=opinel

http://www.amazon.com/Svord-Peasant-Knives-Knife-Handles/dp/B004HV3A3W/ref=pd_sim_hg_15

All good quality knives under $30

Best budget kitchen knife?
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibrox-45520-Frustration-Packaging/dp/B008M5U1C2/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1504399935&sr=1-3&keywords=victorinox+chef+knife

No lifetime warranty or sharpening.

For $5 cheaper you can get a Kershaw Clash. A really nice assisted opening blade from a much more reputable company.

Picked up a Kershaw Blur maybe a week or two ago. Kershaw's SpeedSafe opening is smooth as butter and the blade locks well into place with zero movement.

There's a version with a S30V blade for about $20 more. Overall, I don't have a negative thing at all to say about the Blur.

Beckers are nice, http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK2-Campanion-Fixed/dp/B001N1DPDE/ref=pd_sim_sg_1 also comes in 7 inches

be patient, it takes a little while to learn. but its well worth it. remember to wrap your index finger around the lighter, rather than trying to force the lighter into that crevice.

If you still want a knife, but no longer a bottle opener: this is my favorite

It really depends on what you want, size/price/use. Are you using it for wood processing or just general light use? Are you looking to spend under say $100? If you want something that can take anything you throw at it for a decent price check out this http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK2-Campanion-Fixed/dp/B001N1DPDE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IR4DJ93EW5I7A&colid=3DVWN7LG1J27P

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK2-Campanion-Fixed/dp/B001N1DPDE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_37

The BK2 is a better all purpose knife. It can baton wood or aide in meal prep. Also has a kydex sheath which won't hold moisture like a leather sheath will.

Not too far from the sticks though. (It's a joke, I have and like this knife, but down vote away.)

> For comparison

I just spent an embarrassing amount of time searching that pic for the police model I thought you were comparing it to. Please don't tell anyone else I did that.

The trait the AFCK has that most Spydercos lack is that it has a slender profile for slipping in and out of the pocket. There's evidently something called the Spyderco Resilience that looks promising, but its relative quality is questionable (altho I'm sure it's fine for a knife priced under $50).

This is all you need. You could buy 3 with your gift card. Seriously, not all knives have to have military color schemes.

Condor bush lore fits the bill as well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002CC6BPM

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CHANLO/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510161174&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=delica+4&dpPl=1&dpID=41w6rWFbu4L&ref=plSrch

You can find it in ZDP as well as different blade shapes and waves and whatnot. None of them would break 100 bucks.

I ordered this knife from amazon, this link: https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-Knife-940-Plain-Handle/dp/B000QA9G2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511052177&sr=8-1&keywords=benchmade+940


I have a box with the tags and the little bag and everything and it feels just the griptilian I own. But the action isn't as smooth at my griptilian and there are the main concerns listed in the album. I don't understand why it says 'benchmade.com/pat' and it doesn't even seem very centered or aligned.


Is this a fake or real?

I'm currently eyeing the BK10 or the BK2

The BK2 seems better suited to heavier tasks, some light chopping and batoning whereas the BK10 seems like a nicer all around knife that can handle batoning and the abuse but is also thinner so it can carve and feather stuff.

Get a decent chef knife and a paring knife.

That will cover you for easily 97% of kitchen tasks. You don't need 5 knives for cooking. If you really feel your chef/paring knife combo is falling short in some area (like boning), you can always add knives as you feel necessary.

Amazon acts as an escrow, so of course the money hasn't even been withdrawn from my account yet since it wasn't shipped out. If you look on an Amazon price [history] (http://camelcamelcamel.com/Kershaw-Onion-Black-Smooth-Folding/product/B0009VCA0I?context=browse) the knife has dropped to as low as $30 while being fulfilled by Amazon, so $15 isn't that extraordinary. And as I've stated earlier, it's not a mistake as much as we all want to believe that. There's no reason a shop would open for five days, take hundreds of orders for a vast array of items, and cancel all of them while changing shop name at the same time. And as stated earlier as well, on the Complaints Board (a place to check online stores for legitimacy via reviews) all of the complaints all follow the same fishy pattern.

Specs - http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/1

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-Campanion-Fixed-Blade/dp/B001N1DPDE/

Scales (Same kind, different color) - https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Handle-Scales-Becker-KA-BAR/dp/B01H5PFX5O/

Other than the mora those are all pretty poor knives. Also see here.

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Black-Smooth-Folding/dp/B0009VCA0I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397301659&sr=8-2&keywords=blur+knife

Amazon for about $75

Becker BK2

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK2-Campanion-Fixed/dp/B001N1DPDE

I received a Ka-Bar Becker Campanion today. It is a beast!

If I was facing the end of the world and had to have an absolutely bomb-proof knife for under $70, I'd choose the Becker BK-2 and never, ever look back. Thing's a dang tank.

Condor Bushlore
Morakniv Companion HD

I was in a similar spot recently, I went for a Condor Bushlore, though it's on the shorter end, though it all depends on what you're looking for. The Becker Bk-14 is another option, and a cheaper alternative to the Izula-II

Bushlore

Becker

condor bushlore

If you're willing to spend 200 then go custom although at that point you're only getting style.

Opinel no.8
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002SCUO04/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492285903&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=opinel+no+8&dpPl=1&dpID=41FnDjkEEiL&ref=plSrch