Good knives under $50

[Stuey]

I'm working on a series of knife reviews and started with two of my sub-$50 faves, the CRKT Shenanigan Z and Gerber Instant.

Full Review Links:

http://toolguyd.com/crkt-shenanigan-z-knife-review/
http://toolguyd.com/gerber-instant-knife-review/

Summaries:

Shenanigan Z: surprisingly light, but not weak. I'd consider it a nice entry-level flipper, but it's robust enough for everyday and utility use.

Instant: I've had both good and bad experiences with Gerber knives, with this definitely being a good one. The assisted opening is smooth and all, but what I like most is how the knife closes with one hand.

The Kershaw Leek is also a great inexpensive knife, USA-made too. TG review.

Do you have a favorite <$50 knife?

 

[demographic]

Opinel
Svord Peasant
Mora

 

[Primered Thunder]

Kershaw. Hands down.

 

[Stuey]

Opinel
Svord Peasant
Mora

I haven't found any Moras that I can fit in my pocket, but I keep two around my workstation for random usage.

As for Opinel, I have a small one, but don't like it very much. Which size would you recommend?

 

[Paulkenosha]

Gerber Rex Applegate spring assist.

 

[Givl Reggin]

On a whim the other day I picked up SOG Flash-II knife at Lowes, sells for about $50 bucks. To be honest I was just looking for something that I could carry day-in-and-day-out, hold a decent edge and wouldn't turn into a rust-bucket if I happened to use it in the rain (like the Letherman Wave did). Plus if I lost it (dropped it in the drink) it's only $50 bucks.

Overall I've been quite impressed, I had thought to get anything like a decent 3.5" blade you'd have to spend upwards of $120 bucks, but so far I'm really digging this knife! It opens one-handed as fast as a switchblade! Now, that's a really nice feature!

You can see it here...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041EKQSC/awh

I like the partial serrated blades because being a sailor cutting rope can be a challenge with a non-serrated blade.

 

[gsmornot]

I'm not sure if it's under $50 but the knife I carry daily is the SOG Twitch II. It open with one finger, spring assist. It requires you to press a button to close it but that's fine with me.

 

[fourtythree]

The only sub $50 knife I have is a Leathermans folding knife I bought for $20. It's been surprisingly decent.

 

[bobcatdan]

Perfectly happy with my buck 110, think I paid $35 brand new for a knife with a 3" blade. It is the sharpest knife I have ever owned. I lost a good number of pocket knifes to laundry service before I started carrying my knife on my belt.

 

[dirtydogintex]

...
You can see it here...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0041EKQSC/awh

I like the partial serrated blades because being a sailor cutting rope can be a challenge with a non-serrated blade.

Maybe it's just me but I found the manufacturer's hype positively underwhelming on the Amazon link.
However
a good partially serrated blade is very desirable - it's so much more convenient than carrying a keyhole saw.... *L*

 

[Hammell]

My Gerber gator folder is awesome. Been packing it daily for 10 years or so. Its been a screwdriver, prybar, split wood with it, shucked oysters, skinned many deer, bears, moose with it. The grip texture is worn a bit but the locking action is still tight.

I like my Buck knives too, a skinner and vanguard, great knives. Both over 50 bucks here tho.

 

[cheechi]

Sog Trident. I've used the Flash II and the Aegis also, but I prefer the feel of the Trident.

I prefer both the Flash II & Trident to the Leek.

 

[5lima30]

Kershaw, SpiderCo, and Byrd would be my under $50 choices.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Kershaw Leek, I carry one every day!
I do like the Leatherman Crater knives as well.

 

[dogmir]

Gerber Covert
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-01966-Covert-Knife-Serrated/dp/B001PTGONW/ref=sr_1_39?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1351727753&sr=1-39&keywords=gerber
Mini Covert
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-01967-Covert-Knife-Serrated/dp/B001PTGOO6/ref=sr_1_102?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1351728110&sr=1-102&keywords=gerber

 

[neonnblack]

Kershaw Leek hands down the best knife ive owned.

 

[bhalv]

Kershaw 1550 ST

 

[Stuey]

I've also been using a Sog Flash, but not really in love with it (yet?).

 

[turbowoodworker]

Big SOG fan here. Love my Trident but i just saw the Flash II on sale Midwest USA for 39 bucks. I think I'll pick it up.

 

[95YJIL]

I vote Kershaw. Every SOG knife I have ever laid my hands on had a loose blade with a lot of side to side movement.

 

[balane]

I live two blocks from SOG. Wanted to love their knives but just couldn't do it, I find them to be over-rated and over priced compared to their competition. For cheap knives I'll take a Cold Steel Recon 1 over pretty much anything.

 

[sdguy55]

I bought my kershaw Oso Sweet justvas a beginner knife. Somethin to practice sharpening on a stone with and has impressed me quite a bit

 

[aussiek2000]

Spyderco hands down. For $30, you can't beat the tenacious. Or it's little brother the ambitious or big brother, the persistence.


Now, if you step the budget up, I can give you all kinds of suggestions.

 

[senlow]

Mora

 

[Jawn]

I like my Kershaw OD-1 (1775). It comes in just under the $50 cap.

 

[Stuey]

Spyderco hands down. For $30, you can't beat the tenacious. Or it's little brother the ambitious or big brother, the persistence.


Now, if you step the budget up, I can give you all kinds of suggestions.

Can't argue with the Tenacious being a good value. Mine sits by the door to assist with package opening.

 

[yjWrangler]

I really like my Leek

 

[Paco Pena]

I'm old school on knives. Not a fan of plastic. Buck 110 under $50.00 on sale.Nice and solid. Argggggh, feels good in me hand!

Paco

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

why limit yourself to under 50? for a few more dollars you open yourself up to some quality Kershaw knives. Eg the blur. and the leek. and a few others. also buck is reasonably priced. plenty of good USA made knives from buck for less than 80 or so. but i think i only gave 70 for my blur tanto

Sorry ill get off my soap box now I realize what your trying to do with your less than 50 knife thread. your looking for a good knife for the everyman. a quality working knife. one that isnt going to break your heart if you lose or break it.

 

[Stuey]

why limit yourself to under 50? for a few more dollars you open yourself up to some quality Kershaw knives. Eg the blur. and the leek. and a few others. also buck is reasonably priced. plenty of good USA made knives from buck for less than 80 or so. but i think i only gave 70 for my blur tanto

Sorry ill get off my soap box now I realize what your trying to do with your less than 50 knife thread. your looking for a good knife for the everyman. a quality working knife. one that isnt going to break your heart if you lose or break it.

You do make a good point. Why $50? When I purchased my Leek, even the $35-40 price seemed a bit high. Is it really worth 3 times more than the $13 Gerber I purchased years before?

Most people take small steps when buying knives. First it's a cheap sub-$20 knife. Then they spend up to $50. After that the price ceiling might go up further.

When I polled people, most said they'd spend maybe $75-$100 on a good knife.

I haven't tried a Blur yet, but hope to maybe in 2013 when my tool review budget recovers.

 

[Hammell]

If I could have any it would a Ed Folwer knife.

http://www.edfowler.com/

 

[rockchucker]

Kershaw. Hands down.

Kershaw 2420ST

I have carried this same style knife for over 10 years now. Has a thicker, hollow Handle that is something to actually hold on to instead of a skinny little nothing. I am not a big fan of knives that have nothing to hold on to. They stopped production and just last year I found 2 BNIB on E-Bay and bought them. I have been through 6 of them in the years I have carried them. Since I also use them to throw for practice they actually have lasted a long time. If I would not throw them then they would last MUUUUCH longer obviously. They are not throwing knives by any means. I would still have the original one that I bought and it would be in great working condition if I did not use them to throw.

From years of practice with carrying the same knife I can quick draw and throw pretty fast. From 15-20 feet I can stick it ~95% of the time inside the Diameter of a Coffee Can. 25-30 feet it is harder to get the rotation right as it is a pretty light knife. I go down to about 75% at the 25'-30' distance.

Either or it is a great knife. I like the Tonto Style Blade but the regular curved one is just as good. They are only cut for the Blade on one side. I usually change that after the initial blade sharpening is gone. The Serrated area is not to be trifled with. It is NASTY. This Serrated area can also be sharpened with a Rounded Fish Hook Sharpener. I have done this for years with the Serrated part of the knife.

Here is the Sharpener I use for the Serration...

 

[JeremyManning]

Letherman c33x, had it for about 6 months now and i am impressed

 

[jeffmoss26]

I showed my C33x to a coworker and he was hooked...went out and bought his own!

 

[Givl Reggin]

I've also been using a Sog Flash, but not really in love with it (yet?).

I'm curious what you're not liking about the SOG Flash? I've been carrying one now daily for just a little over a month and really not have any complaints about it... still just as sharp as can be, the opening action does take a bit of use to get used to... it *really* does open in a FLASH!!! I have large hands and the belt clip gives a nice place to grip it when it opens, but every once-in-a-while I can feel the cutting edge as it flies by my thumb... probably just my technique, as it only takes a small amount of force to start the opening action.

 

[Stuey]

I'm curious what you're not liking about the SOG Flash? I've been carrying one now daily for just a little over a month and really not have any complaints about it... still just as sharp as can be, the opening action does take a bit of use to get used to... it *really* does open in a FLASH!!! I have large hands and the belt clip gives a nice place to grip it when it opens, but every once-in-a-while I can feel the cutting edge as it flies by my thumb... probably just my technique, as it only takes a small amount of force to start the opening action.

It's the opening, just not perfectly smooth compared to the Gerber Instant, Kershaw Leek, and Zero Tolerance assisted openers I have. Makes me feel like I have to check my fingers after every opening!

I guess I just have to use it more to get used to it.

 

[fourtythree]

I showed my C33x to a coworker and he was hooked...went out and bought his own!

I believe that's the Leatherman I have. It's a lot of knife for 20 bucks.

 

[franzdom]

Only slightly off topic, Stuey, I hold you personally responsible for this problem:

 

[Armed Bear]

Cold Steel Large Voyager, it has the Tri Ad lock which is the strongest lock on the market.

I carried mine for a year and its a strong knife.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

In that price range, I usually have a Kershaw Leek or Scallion (have a Leek in my back pocket right now). Most of the time however, I'm carrying a Benchmade but they are a little over your budget number. They do make a nice knife though....