Quality inexpensive pocket knives

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I love USA products as much as the next guy. That being said, I am also a sucker for quality at a bargain price. Some of the knives coming out of China right now are stellar. Built and assembled well with quality steel. Over the past few months I have picked up six new knives. Here is a quick look at them and I’ll provide a link if you’d like to check them out in detail for yourself.
Fist up is the Honey Badger.9B22E7C7-D7C1-4BEE-8A17-6DF6A075AF2E.jpeg0044AC3B-4638-402A-B184-6E49D440084D.jpegNext up is the QSP Parrot.
These first two knives have a bit cheaper steel. The Honey Badger at this price range($32) has 8Cr13MoV steel. The QSP ($21) has 440CB4028C7F-1417-4363-9E20-0B98F554B47B.jpeg422D911D-3C83-47E6-88BC-BCB20F2E0357.jpegThe rest of these knives all have D2 tool steel. The QSP Penguin.$30
D91874CA-CE16-4C77-8879-FD245CE7633E.jpegAB9A93BD-485A-4898-8983-4ADCDE018A0A.jpegOntario Knife Company Rat Model 27C145C23-CD3D-4F2B-A9F4-76D3D3EEF7CC.jpeg189910B9-465F-43C6-845D-3CAB2C6C9CD8.jpegThe CJRB Feldspar $40D8DD98EF-7206-4633-B744-5BB2B7219E0D.jpeg0F84B91E-E77F-4066-96B6-900B47C960A3.jpeg
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
What I really want is a reasonably priced pocket blade that will stay sharp. Above all look nice but do they cut ?
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
What I really want is a reasonably priced pocket blade that will stay sharp. Above all look nice but do they cut ?
D2 is a good blade steel that will hold a nice edge and is pretty easy to sharpen.
Most of these knives are offered with even better steel like CPM-S35VN
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
My everyday carry is a three blade stockman made by case but badged carhartt that I picked up several years ago at the case outlet store in Branson. Takes the place of the same model case I bought as as high school freshman, that one finally gave up with two broken blades from stupidity. that would of been around '68 or '69 when it was bought.
My "dress up carry" is a case 225 L lockback drop point, 2" blade. Scales are Zytel or some type of glass filled nylon, extremely light. Both knives are SS and hold a good edge, especially the small lockback. This one also picked up at the outlet in Branson.
 

JonB

Halcyon member
My carry knife is a vintage Spyderco Delica clipit with a full Serrated AUS-8 blade
BTW, vintage is like 1990, LOL :)
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I have been rally impressed with the fit, finish, and quality of these budget knives. I have a hard time spending $100 plus on an EDC blade. These knives just fit the bill.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Been carrying the same Swiss Army fisherman knife for nearly 30 years. The blade won't stay sharp long so I wear them out fast. Nearly through the main blade on my second one.

I do have an appreciation for cheap, effective folders, in fact have dozens of them stashed in vehicles, every bag I own, most of my jackets have in permanently kept in a pocket, a few scattered around the shop stuck in posts or shelves. I figure on a most basic level a person needs food, water, a blade, and a way to make fire. With a blade a person can get food and and make fire, so a gallon of water and a locking blade are bare minimum 3-day survival equipment.
 

jaysouth

New Member
Buck makes a 110 variant with plastic handles that sells in WalMart for $19.99. The blade has Buck's new steel which stays sharper than my 1967 Buck 110 with walnut and brass handles.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Over the years, the #110 I speak of has lost about .050" of blade depth by routine sharpening. I hone it about 2x/year.
 
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Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
7BEBE260-3A27-4454-9539-093C7F0176F7.jpeg
Ive carried, worn out, or lost about five of these little French Opinel folders over the last twenty-six years. Carbon steel blade, cheap, fun design with a rotating ferrule that locks the blade. One piece wood handle. Brand new they look like an antique.

Not the only type of knife that I’ve carried, but the only one I’ve sourced direct replacements for.

Edit: not my photo
 
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RBHarter

West Central AR
I have a kitchen knife from Ontario . Great carbon steel blade , also very handy for 12-14" cabbage , whole bags of carrots or potatoes .
I may look into those , I'm kind of disappointed in Kershaw . I've always had Shrades until about 8-9 years ago when they started marking them Heco en Chine .
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
I have a couple 3 or 4 cheap folding knives, but the only two I have always felt I could rely on have been a rather large 1967 Case and a very very small Beretta.
 

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
I had lost my good buck skinning knife, some years back Bought an Ozark Trail Deer caping and gutting set at Wallmart, Made in Mexico. Just to get me thru the season.
It has ben,15 years, or more. They probably clean more squirrel and rabbit then deer though.
Use them from field to freezer. I have to sharpen them once a year. Maybe twice if I get a deer, or two.
Two swipes on each side of the sharpener they came with, and done, ready for the next season. I like the orange plastic handles, hard to lose and easy to keep clean.
 

STIHL

Well-Known Member
It’s hard to beat a case. Been toting the same one for 17 years. I bought another with carbon blades about 10 years back and I tote it occasionally. They are trappers I would rather spend 70-80 bucks on a case than 50 on a China made. Not knocking you Waco, just different strokes for different folks. Those are some cool blades though. That CJRB is pretty neat looking.