Top products from r/knives

We found 486 product mentions on r/knives. We ranked the 2,419 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

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Top comments that mention products on r/knives:

u/freeshavocadew · 1 pointr/knives

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!
u/chuckthetruk · 7 pointsr/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!

u/freedoomed · 1 pointr/knives

OK, i looked into your sharpener a little more and it is not as bad as i thought. the way yours works is it has a spinning diamond coated wheel and the plastic housing guides the knife at the correct angle against the diamond wheel. This style of sharpener won't destroy your edge like a carbide sharpener will. However diamond is very aggressive as an abrasive material. This means that you are probably taking off way too much material from the edge of your knife than you need to. This means you are shortening the life of your knives. This sharpener also only has two stages of sharpening which means you are not getting much of a polish on your knife edges. The higher the polish the more of a slice you are getting as opposed to a rip. This is both good and bad. cutting some materials requires a more 'toothy' edge to the knife but if you are slicing meat you don't want a toothy edge.

In short what you have is adequate for the average kitchen. if you want better results you will need to upgrade to a better sharpener.

The work sharp is basically a miniature belt sander. by having replaceable belts you have a sharpener that basically has an unlimited life, those diamond wheels will eventually wear down. by having replaceable belts you are able to change the abrasiveness of the belt. when sharpening a knife you want to move to progressively finer grits. this grit progression will ensure that you are not spending longer than you need to on finer grits and it will get you a highly polished blade edge. the work sharp belts are flexible which means you will also get what is called a convex edge. so instead of being a perfect V the V will be bowed out slightly. this provides a much stronger edge due to the shape. the wheels in the chef's choice will grind to a concave edge or what is known as a hollow grind. a hollow grind provides a much thinner edge. thinner edges tend to be sharper but they also tend to chip and not hold their edge as well as a convex edge.

amazon has the lansky sharpening system for $36 http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Deluxe-5-Stone-Sharpening-System/dp/B000B8IEA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406820039&sr=8-1&keywords=lansky+sharpeners

the lansky system will provide you with similar results to the work sharp in terms of edge polish and sharpness but it will give you the standard V edge. these clamp style sharpeners are very popular because they work really well. with a clamp style sharpener you will spend much more time on a single knife than with the work sharp.

u/DrSterling · 1 pointr/knives

I expect that a lot of people are going to comment this, but you really cant go wrong with the spyderco sharpmaker. It's the device I use on all my knives, great for beginners and intermediate collectors alike. It only takes a few tries to get the technique down, and there are ways to sharpen both straight edge (obviously) and serrations.

Once you start getting more into knives, some other great systems that I've been researching are the edgepro and the wicked edge. These will run you a lot more money- hundreds for the best wicked edge- but these are the kinds of sharpeners that the pros use to get ridiculously sharp edges on their knives.

There are a ton of excellent videos on youtube detailing how to use these products to get a great edge. Check out jdavis882 if you are interested in the edgepro.

Sorry for the ranting post. Hope you find what you're looking for, and tell us what you get and how you're liking it!

u/Rauldisco · 2 pointsr/knives

When cleaning a knife, don't use abrasives that will scratch the surface. Use water and soap and a towel, dry it completely with a dry towel, than use a good lubricant (WD40 is not recommended) to completely lubricate all of the moving parts of the knife. Be careful not to use too much lubricant or gunk will build up. Put some lubricant or oil on the blade to protect it from rust.
Next, you will need to know how to sharpen. Most of the people around here use either the Lansky Sharpening System, the Spyderco Sharpmaker, or freehand sharpening stones.
I use a set of free hand sharpening stones and a leather strop with a polishing compound to polish the edge. This is the edge of a knife I just sharpened today http://i.imgur.com/rU9xiiB.jpg
As you can see, the edge is a mirror and is razor sharp. I taught myself how to sharpen and it is kind of hard to explain it in words because each of those systems for sharpening above use different methods of sharpening. Because you seem to be a beginner, I would recommend buying the Lansky System http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000B8IEA4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421722347&sr=8-1&dpPl=1&dpID=51w1Ufl-%2BUL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SY200_QL40 because it is less likely to mess up your edge than if you use free hand stones. Also, if you buy the Lansky, buy the stand for it as well.
After sharpening, oil the edge once again to protect it from rusting.
Remember to always keep as much moisture and liquid off the knife to prevent corrosion and always clean it with soap and water if it gets dirty.
Also, if you are interested in a leatherman, I recommend the Charge http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0031Q8N40/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421722507&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=41K-6jvKBjL&ref=plSrch because even though it is pricey it is known as one of their best models.
I hope this all helps you!
EDIT: I also forgot to tell you not to use a knife outside of its intended purpose. It sounds like you tried prying with your previous knife, which ended up bending its tip. Never pry with a knife, next time it may break. Don't cut metal wire with a blade, use wire cutters. Don't use the edge a a screwdriver, that cause damage too. Remember to always use the correct tool for the job, which is beneficial for you because the leatherman will have many small tools.

u/eltonnovs · 3 pointsr/knives

If you're spending $100, most well known brands will be sharp and strong. The rest depends on taste and preference. But a few options

  • Benchmade mini griptilian, the axis lock is bomb proof. 154cm (the steel) is pretty good for that price range.

  • Cold Steel mini recon
    Triad lock is really tough, CTS-XHP is a great steel. Cold Steel knives always come razor sharp, and are known for being indestructible.

  • Cold Steel rajah III, BD1, bit softer steel but still a good blade.

  • Ontario rat 1, a lot cheaper but hey, why not buy 2? Softer steel, but easy to sharpen. Tough knife on a budget.

  • Kershaw Blur Has assisted opening, decent steel. But your paying more because of the opening mechanism

  • Kershaw scallion. All metal knife, assisted opening. 420HC is pretty tough.

  • Gerber 06 fast Assisted opening. I'm not the biggest fan of 7cr17mov. The knife is strong though.


    And most likely every person reading this will have another knife to recommend. It's a lot about personal preference. What look do you like, what lock do you like.

    edit; Thanks kind stranger for the gold!
u/7thton · 2 pointsr/knives

For day to day stuff, I think a folding knife is more than enough. Multitools are heavy and I wouldn't want to have to lug it around all day on my belt or in my pocket.

As far as recommendations go, you can buy a very nice folding knife for under 50. A lot of people here are going to recommend Spyderco knives, but keep in mind that they are much bigger than other folders in terms of height. (To be more clear, they are not heavier than other knives or necessarily have a longer or thicker blade or handle, but the blades are very wide and that translates to it taking much more room in your pocket.)

I would reccomend a Buck Nobleman. It is nothing fancy, but it has a nice wide blade, comes sharp, has a sturdy liner lock, and a good clip. You can remove the clip is you want. In my opinion, it is the best knife you can buy for 20 bucks.

I can also recommend the Kershaw Leek (this is an assisted opening knife, so research whether or not that is something you'd like) and the Kershaw Skyline.

If you want to spend a little more on a knife that will likely last you forever, from a company that has great customer service, I can recommend a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian.

u/Reachmonkey · 2 pointsr/knives

okay, so... as far as cheap sharpening goes, stay away from pull thru sharpeners they give a mediocre edge and take years off the steel.
a cheap-ish way is to get a stone but learning to free hand sharpen is a pain and can take years to truly get the hang of. also chosing grits and a good stone that wont crumble and scratch the shit out of your knife.

you can get a lansky for 35-40$

or you can get a spyderco sharpmaker for 50-60$

i use one of these for rough stuff, really bad edges and reprofiling. i would recommend this because if you arent going to be sharpening often and dont need a razor edge itll be fine.

a good strop can get expensive but honestly you can just pick one for 15-20$ and some buffing compound for 3-10$

you can also use one of these to get a mirror edge, closer to finishing, freehand sharpening again has a larger learning curve, practice on a crappy knife. seriously. you will fuck up at first. you should see my first knife, gross...

if you decide in the freedom of freehand sharpening, check out atomedges guide in the sidebar. pretty helpful.

u/ARKnife · 1 pointr/knives

First of all - congrats!

Second of all, IMO the best knife to get as a present for groomsmen is the Buck 110 Folding Hunter:

  • Good looking, easily recognizable classic knife.

  • It's made in the US.

  • Could actually be used and will not fold during normal use (good strong lock).

  • Comes with a good quality leather sheath.

  • Well within your budget.

    Plus you could get it engraved and make the present even more special.

    Cheers and good luck!
u/HilariousMax · 10 pointsr/knives
  • ~$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.
u/Roketderp · 3 pointsr/knives

I'm not an expert either, just sharing some things I do.

Oils from your hands are technically bad for the steel, but it's not the end of the world. Wipe your knife with a cloth with a little bit of WD 40 every once and a while.

For sharpening, I like the Lansky Deluxe Sharpening System. I didn't think it would see much use, but now I sharpen my knives all the times. General consensus is that it's awesome for smaller knives, but sucks for big ones (anything over 5" in my opinion)

To get the little rust spots you mentioned out, just use some steel wool.

EDC knives are tools. They get used. Don't worry about if it's pretty or not. I use my SOG Trident for random things about every other day, and I have since I got it over a year ago. The Kershaw Skyline is an excellent knife.

Google "EDC Knife Care" and I'm sure you'll get tons more answers.

u/YouMadeMeDumber · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/frenzyboard · 2 pointsr/knives

The delica is a pretty great option for whittling. It's a high carbon blade, so it holds up to wood fibers and hard use pretty well. It's got a solid lockup and zero blade play, so control and safety are taken care of. But honestly, it's a better EDC tool than a carving knife.

Another good option I'd throw out for you are high carbon mora blades.

You might also dig this. It's specially made for wood work.

u/voraidicon · 3 pointsr/knives

The SOG Flash 1 is spring assisted. It is a kickass blade and extremely lightweight. Around $35.


Then there is the Benchmade Emissary 470. Just a brilliant, brilliant blade. Practically sexy. $160-ish though, so I'll never have one in my pocket.



I just did a huge amount of research and decided against the spring assist. I like the super fast deployment, a lot; however, I found that many knives deploy just as fast because they are made so damn well. I just picked up the Kershaw Skyline 1760 for $35 and it is awesome. Spring assists have more parts to break, and more parts mean higher manufacturing costs.


Notable mention, the Kershaw Chill for about $16 most places.


Sorry for the amazon links, they are just easy to find. Also, I am new to this game so wait for some constructive criticism from more experienced users about my recommendations. And finally check some youtube reviews, I trust nutnfancy's reviews all day.

u/xtremepado · 1 pointr/knives

You can't go wrong with the Spyderco Tenacious. Only $35 but it performs like a $100 knife. When I got mine I was very impressed by the quality. The handle has good ergonomics and the blade is a decent steel. It is a great slicer and workhorse!

A good entry-level sharpening kit is the Lansky TurnBox. It was my first sharpening system and it will keep your knife razor sharp. It only has medium and fine grit ceramic rods, but as long as you don't let your knife get too dull you can easily maintain it. There is a slightly more expensive turnbox that has coarse diamond rods that would be better for bringing very dull knives back to life.

u/Sung-gil · 1 pointr/knives

For mainly camping get a Cold Steel GI Tanto on Amazon. I usually don't like tango style blades but Cold Steel's has a thick edge that's great for bushcraft while the secondary edge/tip is great for prying and other heavy duty tasks. It is 1055 carbon steel so do clean it after every use. I recommend you modify the grip to something better though, I personally use tennis over grips as they are cheap and amazing.

Or if you want something smaller for both camping and EDC I suggest a Kershaw Skyline

u/wittlepup · 2 pointsr/knives

Victornox makes pretty dang good knives at a great price. I would also recommend the RAT 1 as a great, incredibly solid knife. It is, however, a rather heavy duty knife, so if you are looking for something a little lighter I'd recommend browsing THIS budget knife list for one you like best.

u/test18258 · 1 pointr/knives

Its sad how many "professionals" out there are just morons with a belt sander.

Assuming that your trying to only spend whats on that gift card you looking at the lansky clamp system or one of the chinese edge pro knockoff sharpeners.

the lansky is a decent sharpener but can be a little bit fiddly to work with. however its capable of leaving a mirror polished perfectly flat edge once you know how to use it properly.

Lansky

The edge pro clones are going to be various levels of quality as they are chinese clones of an actual quality product. And if you do decide to get an edge pro knock off please get real edge pro stones or aftermarket stones made fro the edge pro the ones that come with the chinese clones tend to be garbage.

fake edge pro

I know you probably want to spend the money on the amazon gift card but you can also find knife sharpeners for relatively cheap on things like craigslist or here on /r/Knife_Swap

If your willing to spend more than the $50 on the giftcard there are a few more sharpeners that become available such as the spyderco sharpmaker, a real edge pro (cheaper varients apex 1,2 or 3 dont buy the version thats $700) a KME, wicked sharp, and a few others.

If you do decide to get the edge pro I would highly suggest getting the real thing if you can afford it. The edge pro stock stones are perfectly servicable but many of the aftermarket stones for it are way better.

Though if you are on a budget for this you could also get the chinese fake and get some either stock or aftermarket edge pro stones.

The only systems I have personal experience with are the edge pro and the spyderco sharpmaker though the rest of the ones I mentioned come highly recommended often.

u/toucher_of_sheepv8 · 13 pointsr/knives

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.

u/Kalahan7 · 11 pointsr/knives

Kershaw Skyline. It's a great folder for EDC use and yet very affordable.

Super lightweight, reliable, easy to operate, ergonomical, safe to use, great blade size and form, and so cheap it's almost disposable.

A great first knife to see what you like about it and later on maybe spend more on something else.

u/Peoples_Bropublic · 1 pointr/knives

A fixed blade would be perfect. Mora knives are excellent inexpensive knives that are quite commonly used for camping. They make some with wooden handles, composite handles, stainless blades, and carbon blades. My understanding is that their stainless blades don't hold an edge quite as well as their carbon blades, but carbon blades have the disadvantage of being susceptible to rust. So for an outdoor camping application where you're likely to be running around in dirt and mud and rain and lakes and streams and not likely to have a supply of rubbing alcohol, clean cloths, metal polish, and mineral oil, a stainless blade with composite handle would probably serve you best.

On the other hand, Cody London, that hippy dude from Dual Survival pretty much exclusively uses classic Moras with wooden handles and carbon blades. On the other other hand, he also doesn't wear pants or shoes.

Here are a few to look at.

u/ALeapAtTheWheel · 2 pointsr/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.

u/djstefan96 · 3 pointsr/knives

For fixed blade if you are gonna be using the knife for hard use then I would not recommend a folder. I'm more knowledgeable on folders so someone else may find a better choice. If they don't, this is still a very solid choice, I have never had one, but I did have an izula (which is very similar).

For folder I would go with the Ontario rat, they make this is d2 blade steel which would be better and they make a smaller version (rat 2) but any version of this knife you choose will be the best for the money.

Another fixed blade that is similar to picture is this Schrade. Schrade usually isn't the best company but 1095 is definitely a cheap, good steel. With the blade thickness and steel, I would trust this knife any day.

u/JimmyJuice · 2 pointsr/knives

I wouldn't limit myself to just metal handled folders, because most quality knives use metal liners with some sort of plastic scales such as G10 or FRN. They are very strong and give you a nice grip if the texturing is done right.

In that price range, and NOT a plastic handle, check out the Kershaw Blur S30V. It has Aluminum handles with grippy inserts and a sexy stonewashed S30V blade. It is on the larger side of EDC knives, but it is very thin and feels great carrying.

If you want to step outside your love of metal handles, I would recommend the following in that price range; Benchmade Mini-Griptilian(556), or regular Griptilian(551) if you want something bigger. Spyderco Delica FFG, or Endura if you want something bigger.

u/TOUCHER_OF_SHEEP · 2 pointsr/knives

SRM 710 is officially seconded. For a bit more money (link is $100), MCusta makes some nice looking knives. That's VG-10 and a beauty, my friend. The Kershaw Leek could work as well. The CRKT Drifter is very similar to the SRM 710, but a bit faster and easier to obtain. Higo no Kami knives are potentially pretentious, but beautiful. My final recommendation, the Spyderco Centofante 3 is a great choice for slightly over $50 ($52 on Amazon, right now) and also uses VG-10 but for less, though the Spyderhole isn't appealing to everyone.

For more expensive options (I have multiple on my Amazon wishlist alone), just ask, though since they all break your price limit and I've already done that twice I'll wait for further questioning first.

u/free2game · 3 pointsr/knives

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.

u/uberfastman · 1 pointr/knives

I'll second /u/super_octopus 's post! I've got the Sharpmaker and it works great for all my knives, from my Buck 505 with a 1.875" blade to my custom Bowie and Kukri both with over 6" blades. The system is pretty affordable (under $60).

Alternately I've heard really good things about the Lansky system, either the three stone or five stone sets, both of which are even more affordable (under $40).

I've also got a few diamond coated whetstones for freehand sharpening, which work great too, but you just have to be prepared to go slow at first and learn how to hold your blades at the proper angles and sharpen them evenly. DMT makes some good diamond coated whetstones.

So definitely watch a few youtube videos, read the sidebar guide /u/super_octopus pointed out to you, and if you're still unsure on technique, once you get something to sharpen your knives with, try to practice first with some old beater knife or cheap blade that you might not mind having to sharpen a little extra in case it takes you a while to get it right.

u/toyfulskerl · 1 pointr/knives

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.

u/[deleted] · 1 pointr/knives

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.

u/GoldenBacon · 2 pointsr/knives

I think the kershaw blur is one of their greatest knives, I love it, it's sturdy and thick. I think it fits and feels great in the hand as well. The only downside is that it is very rust prone. If you want to get a Blur with better steel, you could get the S30V on Amazon.

u/smallbatchb · 2 pointsr/knives

Probably from lots of use and sharpening and maybe a bit of stropping. Nothing a little sharpening time can't fix. If you don't already have a sharpening setup I personally recommend the King 250/1000 waterstone or a set of Crock Sticks as both options aren't too pricey and will accomplish all your basic sharpening needs. The King 250/1000 waterstone is great because the low 250 grit is great for damaged or really dull edges and the 1000 grit side will put a nice finished edge. You'll have to learn freehand sharpening though. The crock sticks on the other hand have decent grits and I personally recommend that style of sharpening to anyone new to sharpening because all you have to do is hold the blade straight up and down and draw the edge down the sticks.... it is easier to get the hang of.

u/Silverlight42 · -1 pointsr/knives

If you care anything for this guy you will buy him a new knife.

Maybe a skyline. It's the cheapest I could recommend. Then you tell him never to take a grinder to any knife ever again and turn them into you. Ask for money if you must but if you're like me and enjoy sharpening free is fine too ;)

u/alfredbordenismyname · 5 pointsr/knives

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

u/novel__ · 3 pointsr/knives

I'm going to recommend knives I own. All of these are pretty high-value.

KA-BAR Dozier Folding Hunter

Manual opening. Own one myself, it's a tank... for 20$? Comes in different colors. Very light.

SOG Flash II

Assisted opening, comes out very forcefully. There's a little "wiggle" in the blade, but if you can get passed that... it's excellent. Somewhat light.

Kershaw Leek

Assisted opening, doesn't come out with as much force as the Flash II. Non-threatening, very well-made. The only thing to watch out for is the delicate tip. It's not like it'll break instantly, though. Just don't pry with it... It's great for detail work. Very thin as well. Very light.

u/ANAL_PLUNDERING · 11 pointsr/knives

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

u/brazilliandanny · 1 pointr/knives

It's a great knife for under $30. Strong blade, amazing grip on the handle.

Honestly Im not crazy about the fire starter as I keep plenty in my camping kit, so this will be redundant. But they didn't any Mora's available without it so I bought one anyway.

If you are looking for the fire starter/knife combo than it's great. other wise just get the basic Mora for half the price.

u/blzd4dyz · 1 pointr/knives

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.

u/Geodyssey · 2 pointsr/knives

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!

u/TheRobotHunter · 1 pointr/knives

I personally went with Smith's Tri-Hone. I'm sure there are better ones, but at this price it can't be beat.

Don't forget to get a strop (I've had great success with this Razorsharp Strop) as well.

u/optional_downvote · 2 pointsr/knives

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

u/ssskuda · 1 pointr/knives

I'm a big fan of the Ontario Knife Co. RAT-1, OP.

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

The build quality is pretty good, the blade is easy to maintain, and the handle is easy to grip, which is a gripe I have against the Cryo (I have one and love it) since my hands are wide.

u/pussifer · 2 pointsr/knives

Kershaw Blur?

The only thing is that the pocket clip locations (there are 2) are only on one side of the knife. Should still be very workable for left-side carry and use, as it has ramped thumbstuds on either side. The Kershaw Speedsafe assisted-opening is really pretty great, and easy to remove if you so desire (as I have done). I have no problem opening or using the knife with either hand. And they're pretty reasonably priced. I have the one I linked, and it's been a great EDC knife. Blade length is ~3.5" of usable edge.

u/merkon · 3 pointsr/knives

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

u/ElectricLamp · 2 pointsr/knives

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

u/Stormrider001 · 2 pointsr/knives

Wrap the back edge of the knife with tape and make sure your clamp is parallel.

​

Use an angle cube to make sure you have a consistent angle through out the blade edge or you can use an app on a smart phone to zero and measure it. You can also use paper binder clips to make a moveable angle guide for more accurate angles throughout the knife's length. Here is my set up

​

Use a marker on the blade edge to see your progress and where you are cutting or to get an idea of where your knife's blade angle sits. If you cuts are far from the edge, your angle is too small and you will have to remove more material if you want to get to the very edge. When you start cutting the edge it will start to form a burr that is very noticeable, then you can move on to finer grits. Just make sure that you do equal strokes on both sides to have an even bevel.

​

And of course make sure you use honing oil on your stones to prevent plugging.

​

If have an accurate common angle (20/25degrees) you can use a Lansky Turnbox to maintain the edge with a ceramic rod and quickly do some small repairs with the diamond rod. and it is easily portable.

​

Hope this helps

u/fergusonwallace · 3 pointsr/knives

Firstly, you are in luck! The specs you listed are all available in one of my ALL TIME favorite knives. The Kershaw Skyline (video) is the finest EDC knife I've ever owned. Extremely light. Blade shape is perfect and thin... hollow ground. The grip is spectacular and you owe it to yourself to buy it. Oh, and the flipper is just perfect. Trust me you won't go wrong here. I keep mine shave sharp and it is simply a blast to own. You get used to the aesthetics. Check the reviews from amazon linked above.

u/BarryHalls · 3 pointsr/knives

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Deluxe-5-Stone-Sharpening-System/dp/B000B8IEA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335807629&sr=8-1

finish off with

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Super-Sapphire-Polishing-Hone/dp/B000B8IEB8/ref=pd_sim_sg_2

If you find yourself sharpening a lot of different knives you'll want

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Coarse-Diamond-Accessory-Silver/dp/B001KN3OTK/ref=acc_glance_sg_ai_ps_t_3

it moves the steel faster (for changing the edge the first time) and the stone holds up longer.

Long story short, it gives perfect consistency and has the super fine stones for giving that polished razors edge. It makes sharpening anything UNDER 6" a dream.

For knives LARGER than 6" I use

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/sanders/1-inch-x-30-inch-belt-sander-2485.html

with various ceramic belts from

http://www.trugrit.com/belts1.htm

It's also GREAT for doing convex conversions. Doing a flat grind on a concave edge takes a steady hand or a jig.

Practice on wood and scrap steel. You'll RUIN a blade in a HURRY with those coarse belts.

If the blade gets hot it will burn the steel and you will lose it's hardness. Dip it in cool water, dry with a towel, often. The tip is the most delicate part. Only grind for a second or two, then dip again.

u/downhillcarver · 1 pointr/knives

You mean this thing? I like it, especially that it folds away nicely.

Any idea if this is any good? It looks like it gives you more for about the same price, and the angle guide is nice. It's getting good review too.

u/DemonSanctuary · 1 pointr/knives

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

u/cr0wmium · 1 pointr/knives

I have a Kellam, Helle is going to be my next puuko addition.

Pretty knife! I've found myself admiring my Kellam more often than using it.

Just as a tip, this knife has lasted me amazingly in the outdoors (I mainly do a lot of fishing and camping) and complements my wood-handled Kellam rather nicely for wet environments! Anyways, great gift.

u/chodemessiah · 3 pointsr/knives

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.

u/Sengura · 2 pointsr/knives

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).

u/teraquendya · 2 pointsr/knives

I got a Kershaw Skyline. Great knife. Opens with index finger too. Super light, very good grip and an excellent blade.

u/JayL1F3 · 1 pointr/knives

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

u/MIDNIGHTZOMBIE · 4 pointsr/knives

I like this sharpener. It's easy to use and inexpensive. Sharpening stones are great too but they really do take a lot of practice to get a good edge. Maintaining the proper angle is crucial.

Just focus on one technique and style of sharpener and practice a lot. Keep at it and you will see success!

u/Ravensong427 · 3 pointsr/knives

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.

u/500SL · 1 pointr/knives

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

u/wikkid7798 · 5 pointsr/knives

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.

u/Hatandboots · 1 pointr/knives

I just got the Lansky Deluxe kit and it worked wonders for me. Got my old Mora to a smooooth 17° finish. I'd recommend it. The kit is decently small and comes with everything you need for any knife.

I'm also pretty new to sharpening, so getting a 3 year old Morakniv back to shaving sharp is a huge success for me :)

u/wparsons · 2 pointsr/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.
u/Pseudolntellectual · 1 pointr/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.

u/pveoq · 2 pointsr/knives

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

u/JoeReal · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/xMordethx · 1 pointr/knives

Yeah I looked around, knifewearer seems great, they have $15 shipping to US and Canada. But I don't think they have the stones. D:

Unfortunate I wasn't able to find the stones anywhere.

Currently I'm looking at this, and this. I think these are the pretty much the same as the King 1000/6000 that you mentioned earlier, just with a 250/1000 and a 6000 separately.

I saw this one and was a bit confused when I found this, do you know why there's a price difference, or is it just how they're selling it?

In what ways specifically are the Norton stones inferior?

Do you think these King stones are a good alternative?

Are these actually King stones, and do you think these prices are reasonable?

Still quite bummed about that $41 shipping, that set looked perfect.

Thanks again

u/Kromulent · 1 pointr/knives

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

u/AllGoldGold · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/hewlandrower · 1 pointr/knives

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1670S30V-Knife-Steel-SpeedSafe/dp/B0015ZXCT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1383043023&sr=1-1&keywords=s30v+blur

Excuse the long link, but I would point you in this direction. I think it's one of the best deals around. You get vastly superior S30V steel than the CRKT for a few more bucks, and it's american made (in case that matters to you).

u/Tadashi047 · 3 pointsr/knives

Out of the three you have listed, the Skyline has the best steel (Sandvik 14C28N) and the greatest price to quality ratio over the other two knives you are looking at. Plus lifetime warranty.

This list from the sidebar has many other good suggestions if you want more options.

u/HelloFromPortland · 1 pointr/knives

Do you recommend any certain brand of mineral oil? Also, would this get the job done as far as sharpening goes? - http://amzn.com/B00062BIT4

I just feel like $20 is better for someone just starting out, vs $50+ for this - http://amzn.com/B000Q9C4AE

Then again, I don't really know much about this. Let me know what you think, thanks!

u/Aznguy1 · 3 pointsr/knives

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

u/thanatos31 · 1 pointr/knives

If you do like it and then come into a bit more money, take a look at the skyline or shallot. Both made in USA (if you're into that, generally means better quality regardless), have better steel, use the flipper, and the shallot's assisted (though I did do away with the speedsafe on my shallot - like I said, I prefer unassisted - but still a great knife).

u/BarlesChronson · 1 pointr/knives

I would consider something like the Kershaw Skyline. If you are expecting heavy use then i would pick up a decent sharpning kit such as the TRI-6 System.

That skyline does not have a partial serrated edge. I to enjoy a serrated edge for cutting rope and twine... however, that blade is 14C28N stainless steel and can maintain a very sharp edge with everyday use for quite some time and negates my need for a serrated edge.

Coupled with the tri-6 system you would have an awesome edc (every day carry) knife for a very long time.

Budget total: $60-$65 - free shipping for prime members

Edit: serrated edges are a pain to sharpen without the proper tools and know how

Hope this helps

u/OoogaOoogaYoink · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/thehonorablereese · 1 pointr/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.

u/mrflarp · 4 pointsr/knives

I wouldn't recommend using pull-through sharpeners. A set like the Lansky Deluxe or the DMT Aligner would be a better option. They have a easier learning curve than freehand sharpening.

For kitchen knives and pocket knives that are mostly doing slicing or push cutting, I'll aim for 20 dps in general, or if the steel can hold a stable edge at it, around 15-17 dps w/ 20 dps micro-bevel. For cleavers or choppers, something around 25 dps will hold up better. If you can, a convex edge will also hold up better for choppers.

As for the fire steel, don't use the sharpened edge of your knife for that. Use the spine. If the spine isn't squared off enough, use some sandpaper or a Dremel to create a small flat spot you can use for the fire steel.

u/conrthomas · 2 pointsr/knives

Just throwing in my opinion, I own a Kershaw Blur S30V. It's an assisted open and the action is extremely smooth. The factory edge is wonderful, and S30V holds an edge like a champ. I would highly recommend it.

u/JohnsonJuggler · 1 pointr/knives

I have a benchmade pocketknife (I think barrage 580) as well as a $50 Henkels chefs knife and I would like to be able to sharpen both of them. I was thinking of grabbing an 1000/6000 whetstone off of amazon to do so. Is that a good idea? I've never really tried my hand at sharpening with a stone before.

u/Kayanota · 3 pointsr/knives

If you are looking for a knife, head over to a site like this and just check out their sale/clearance blades. I linked to a stainless steel one that has a good shape for cleaning fish.

If he really is a knife guy, then he will have personal preferences, so a blade might not be the best.

I would suggest picking up a Mora HD Companion (~$20 with sheath) which is my all time favorite outdoor blade. A Custom Strop (~$45) there are a lot of custom makers of those here (see other comments) and a sharpening system (If he doesn't have one, a Lansky is an excellent field sharpener for ~$40, otherwise a 1k/6k stone for ~$30. )

u/SeungOfStorms · 1 pointr/knives

Since you mention carrying in a purse, I'd throw in the Kershaw Leek here too; it's an assist, has a nice steel (14C28N, the same as the Skyline and better than the others) and the tip safety, while not overkill for carrying it clipped to a pocket, could be useful if it's getting jostled around inside a purse to prevent it from drifting open and giving you a nasty surprise when you reach for it.

u/Daoism · 3 pointsr/knives

Personally I wouldn't head into the woods without a fixed blade knife. That's just my personal preference.

The obvious answer that a lot of people will give you is a Mora. These people are correct. It's a crazy sharp knife, well made and for $14 you could use it for one hiking trip and it'd be worth it.

If you're looking for a folder to carry all the time. Any of those you listed would be good. There are like a million choices for folders in the $20-40 range. Just stick to a good brand and find one you like the looks of.

u/sugiyama · 4 pointsr/knives

FWIW: I bought one of these and I love it. You could establish a new edge on the most coarse stone, and refine it with the other two. As an alternative to finer stones, use automotive-grade sandpapers to get it up to 2500-3000 grit. For putting the final edge on it, I have a strop made from an old leather belt that I cover with a small amount of Mother's Mag. Honestly, though, you could stop at the fine stone on that tri-hone and be all set.

Hope this helps!

u/narcolepticdoc · 4 pointsr/knives

Oh, it s a good steel. It used to be the sort of steel you only saw in higher end knives, it’s trickled down a lot over the years so now it’s very common. It’s a very definite step up from the lower end knife steels. I agree with the other posters that it’s really not that hard to sharpen or take care of. A simple ceramic rod sharpener like the Spyderco sharpener or really any of the type would be more that enough to start with being that this is your first decent knife.

Lansky rod sharpener

This is the first think that looked decent on Amazon when I sorted by price low to high. Stay away from the pull through sharpeners especially any that use carbide.

u/sgrantcarr · 2 pointsr/knives

[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.

u/mavriksin · 2 pointsr/knives

I love my Kershaw Skyline. It opens incredibly quickly once you get used to the flipper, holds a good edge, and I have never once lost my grip on the handle. I would recommend this blade to anyone.

u/clicker4721 · 1 pointr/knives

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.

u/slowwburnn · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/NewZJ · 1 pointr/knives

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.

u/huntmol · 1 pointr/knives

I use a Sharpmaker and other than new users dulling the point of their blades I find it to be an easy and effective sharpening method.

You noted above that this isn't a bad setup. Is it good enough for the average EDC knife user such as myself?

What system would you recommend over this one? A pair of bench hones? I have zero experience bench honing a knife, but I would be interested if they can be found reasonably priced.

u/sampling_life · 6 pointsr/knives

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.

u/skyn3tgh0st · 1 pointr/knives

Personal opinion, but I don’t think you need to spend $150+ on a decent EDC knife. Check out the Ontario Rat II in D2 or the Steel Will Cutjack in D2. I’ve also always been a big fan of Kershaw knives too. The Kershaw Blur in S30V is a pretty solid choice.

u/corvettevan · 3 pointsr/knives

For those that care, I went with a Kershaw 1660 Ken Onion Leek mainly due to its thinness and minimal design.

http://imgur.com/a/gKhV1

Thanks for all of your help!

u/malecky · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/Tyroneshoolaces · 1 pointr/knives

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Folding-Knife-Speed/dp/B0009VC9Y0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293489435&sr=8-1

Kershaw Leek is the greatest knife i've ever owned. If you break it, send it back, they will either fix it or send you a new one. The SpeedSafe opening is amazing.

u/emmber · 3 pointsr/knives

For $50, you can get a good knife from Glock, and that would leave you with enough money to get another one if you wanted.
YOu could also go with the Becker BK2
I also have good experiences with this

Though this may be a little smaller than what you're looking for, my favorite fixed blade right now is the Dajo Survivor

u/Aesho · 1 pointr/knives

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!

u/Tinyjay · 2 pointsr/knives

First "real" (by real I mean name-branded) knife I purchased: The Kershaw Chill
A bit of a stronger blade "upgrade": The Tenacious by Spyderco.
The next one I plan to buy: Kershaw Blur

I really like Kershaw for quality. Just my $.02 to help give you an idea of what's out there.

edit: formatting

u/cleartape · 3 pointsr/knives

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.

u/aryoung0890 · 1 pointr/knives

decent for tool blades, axes and such. works for pocket and fixed blades, however not the best taper for it. if your trying to get a TRULY sharp edge for hunting or utility knives, i would use one of these puppies http://www.amazon.com/TRI-6-Arkansas-TRI-HONE-Sharpening-System/dp/B00062BIT4/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1346777215&sr=8-21&keywords=knife+sharpener

throw it over a denim or leather strop afterwords to debur and hone the edge. your knife will be beyond razor sharp after this so be extra super careful.

u/listen2 · 5 pointsr/knives

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

A little more than your gift card, but it's worth it. Well worth it.

u/ZombieJesus371 · 1 pointr/knives

The Kershaw Cryo is a fantastic little knife. Great EDC for anyone on a budget.

u/william_tells · 2 pointsr/knives

Are you still excluded/special (mil/fire/police/ems)? Gerber has an authentication, I think through idme, and you prefill the auto acknowledgment.

I have a Lansky 5 Stone and purchased a couple extra stones off the recommendation of some people on this sub and it’s pretty damn groovy. It works well and has made everything I’ve put on it shaving sharp. The additional stones are an Extra Coarse Diamond and a Super Sapphire They also have angled stones for serrated sections. I also picked up a few strops off of r/knife_swap from u/jester002100 which he hand crafts and are of utmost fit and finish.

u/skipsmagee · 2 pointsr/knives

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.

u/N3DD3L · 2 pointsr/knives

Or one of my favorites because it's less bulky and can be swiftly opened one hand

Kershaw Leek

u/900_year_old_vampire · 10 pointsr/knives

dono about the engraving, the spyderco tenacious is a great EDC for this price point though. i have the same one with the black blade, carry it every day. really nice little folder

u/weiss_schneenis · 1 pointr/knives

Ah, nevermind then, i just assumed you took the firesteel. Thats a neat sharpener.

http://www.amazon.com/Smiths-TRI-6-Arkansas-TRI-HONE-Sharpening/dp/B00062BIT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453920898&sr=8-1&keywords=tri-hone great stones, i use them on my gear, they can get (if youre willing to spend some time) a pretty dope mirror finish.

http://www.amazon.com/Smiths-50008-8-Inch-Diamond-Tri-Hone/dp/B001I6JGL4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453920898&sr=8-3&keywords=tri-hone this is the diamond version. arguably better, but hella spensive.