(Part 3) Top products from r/knives

Ok. So to summarize what you want:

Will be used for

• light cutting (packages)
  
• medium use (camping, I assume food/feathersticking/kindling/whittling)
  
• Just in case (not sure if you mean self defense or in case you need it)
  
• Emergency Use in car (Seatbelts)
  
  Some things you also mention
  
  >when I want to use it, I want it to do the job properly
  
  You listed off a large range of tasks, an I personally feel that for all those things, some of the knives you are looking at might not be necessarily the best.
  
  My Thoughts
  
  Firstly, I would advise against using any knife as a go-to seatbelt cutter. For safety reasons you don't want to accidentally stab the person whose seatbelt you want to cut. Especially since tanto blade shapes are designed to maximize tip strength for stabbing/penetration. For your emergency needs I feel this or this would be better.
  
  As for camping, a tanto blade is not "ideal" but for the tasks you I assume you'll be doing I think you'll be ok. A blade with a nice belly (the curved part of a blade, like a drop point) has more utility as it will be easier to slice food, and offer you a bit better control. But I mean if you like the tanto shape than by all means =).
  
  If you feel like you're not going to have it on your person everyday, then that Kershaw RJI should be more than sufficient for your needs. Just because Kershaw's price are lower, they definitely do not feel like "cheapies"! Kershaw has great build quality, 8cr13MoV is an OK steel, and will be easy to touch up.
  
  I haven't had any experience with SOG so I can't say much about them, other than that /r/knives is a fan of the SOG Flash. As for ZT, they are wonderful knives. they are a little big to have in the pocket, but the quality and craftmanship is definitely there. For how lightly you will use it, If I were in your shoes, I am not sure if I can justify this as a first buy, unless you have a real appreciation for knives.
  
  Other Options
  
  
• CRKT M16
  
• SOG Flash 2
  
• Kershaw Blur
  
• Benchmade Griptilian
  
  They are all around the same blade size, and same "look" as your suggested 3. The first 3 are around the same price range as the Kershaw RJI and are community proven knives. The last is around the price range of the ZT 0700, but in my opinion is a better buy. Griptilians are a joy to use.
  
  That's my $0.02, hopefully I didn't overwhelm you too much!

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!

In that case I was also thinking for a budget of $200 you could get him a nice fixed blade and a nice folding pocket knife. Without more details you may have to just go with your gut feeling on a couple of the more popular brands mentioned since they rarely fail to please. Fallkniven, Benchmade, Bark River, Buck..

The Buck 110 is always a well received pocket knife and I would happily receive any of their fixed hunting knives.

I've also read that Morakniv makes a great all around blade even for working with game. I love all the Mora's I own and the best thing about them is the price. You could add one of those in for only an extra 15 bucks and it may end up being a really well used knife he likes and can beat up using it for things he may not want to do with his nice pretty knife his wife got him. Just a possible thought there if you can't land that perfect single knife for him. A nice little folder, solid fixed blade that will last and he can admire, and an all around utility knife covering all 3 bases.

Ok, you're welcome, well I don't know how flexible you are on the outside appearance of the knife, but you can still get a great folder.

For a super useful performance knife, I really like the Spyderco Pingo

For a cheap knock about knife that is also very useful but you won't be too worried if you break it, lose it, or get it taken by police...I like the Opinel #7

For overall utility, I like a classic Swiss Army Knife.

Then you have a bunch of varied designs that might work for you. The Higo No Kami, the Kabar Dozier, the Spy-DK, the American Classic Case Sodbuster (I recommend the Jr. size).

And you can easily add a clip to any of these.

Okay so first we would have to know about the knives you will be using such as what is their Hardness(HRC)? We would also need to know at what angle are you going to sharpen your knife at and where (at work or home)? Traditionally western knives were around 20 degrees but recently thanks to higher HRC knives, angles have been reduced to around 15 degrees to obtain a higher sharpness that is often found in Eastern knives.

1. For Honing steels I would recommend a ceramic honing rod instead as they work better for knives at a higher HRC. Just use it at your knives angle and wash after use.
   
2. A cheaper alternative for a sharpener could be the Worksharp Ken Onion edition which should sharpen knives from 15-30 degrees and has multiple grit belts which includes polishing belts. Watch some videos as there are many on YouTube for this sharpener. The only downside I see to it is that you probably can't use it at work.
   
3. The learning curve of a whetstones is much higher (weeks to months) and is pretty much essential if you are sharpening single bevel sushi knifes such as a Yanagiba. Regardless if you can master this method you can sharpen pretty much any knife to a mirror polish and the total cost would be about $150 for all three stones. Cerax 320 , Cerax 1000, and Suehio Rika pro 5000 to give you a mist like polish.
   
   ​
   
   As for the F. Dick RS 150...I have never heard of this brand (F. Dick) but from what I can see the RS 150 Has a diamond and ceramic grinding wheels which should be able to sharpen knifes at high hardness and from what I can tell the ceramic hone is probably 1000 grit so it would be a basic working edge in term of sharpness. The major benefit of this machine seems to be that it sharpens your knife quickly and consistently at a fine angle (15-17degreees) and I can see its benefit in a working kitchen (it is small and can work on site). The thing that I don't like about it is the lack of information on it. There seems to be no info on the sharpening angle (I assumed based on its design to sharpen eastern knives which are finer) and no info in regards to the wheel grit (I assumed it is around 1000 grit based on a product showing of it) and any reviews on it. Let not forget the price ($1000+ wow), but it is for a professional kitchen so I suppose that is normal.
   
   ​
   
   If you get the lansky system you are going to sharpen the knives when you are at home. They can take some time to sharpen but you can achieve that mirror polish if you buy the ceramic stones (1000 + 2000grit) and a strop.
   
   The Lansky Diamond system ($67) is a great place to start as it has 70/120/280/600 grits but you also have to purchase the C clamp stand ($15 and you do need it as you will get tired holding the thing) and higher grit (1000) ceramic stone ($13) and 2000 grit stone ($12). Leather strops with compound if you want an absolute finish. The only complaint I would have about this system is that the stones are not of the highest quality and stop working as the diamonds fall off. The sharpening guides also are fixed and can be inaccurate depending on how large and wide the blade is. So with everything but the strop you are looking around $120.
   
   You should probably check out the KME Sharpener if you are thinking lansky as it is more flexible in the angle settings. You also have to purchase a base for it as well and all together it should run you about $300.
   
   Also check out the spyderco sharpmaker as it has keyed holes (15 and 20 degrees) for its sharpening stones which makes it pretty simple to do a quick sharpening and honing run but I would only use this for maintaining an edge.
   
   ​
   
   ​
   
   Hopefully others with experience with the RS150 can help but here is a forum regarding a similar product. Also you might want to ask r/AskCulinary if they have any experience with this product.
   
   F. Dick Polish (yes its a product name)

• ~$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.

It depends entirely on what you expect to do with the knife.

Food prep is a common task, which is best done with a small, slender fixed blade knife (folding knives are harder to keep clean - very important with food prep! - and slender blades cut food better than thick blades do). If the food prep knife is carried with the cooking gear, it does not require a belt sheath. A $9 victorinox paring knife is light and strong and would work fine for all but the largest jobs.

A saw or hatchet is far superior to a knife for preparing firewood, if that's going to be necessary.

General woodworking tasks - such as forming tent stakes, or notching wood to build a shelter or something like that - is best done with a thicker, stronger knife. A $20 stainless mora is very hard to beat for these sorts of tasks. If the hatchet/saw are lost, they can help with firewood prep, too.

See /r/Bushcraft for lots of helpful advice and knowledge.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Victorinox or Zhen out of Japan is probably going to be your best bet outside of Wusthof which are pretty pricey.

http://www.amazon.com/ZHEN-Japanese-8-Inch-7-Inch-Santoku/dp/B00GME7Q2S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421709779&sr=8-2&keywords=zhen+knife Zhen knife set in 440c (should be adequate; will just require sharpening periodically) for $80.

http://www.amazon.com/ZHEN-Japanese-3-Layer-Forged-Cooking/dp/B00DJT3ELQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421710052&sr=8-1&keywords=zhen+cooking+knife Zhen 8 inch chef knife for $52. The steel on this one is VG 10 which will hold an edge longer and require sharpening less.

He should be happy with any of those. I'm not sure how much his knives are 'wearing' though. I understand that he's using them often but do you know if he's sharpening them? If not, you may want to get him a good set of sharpening stones and perhaps a strop to keep his knives performing thus preventing him from having to purchase new knives. If he has chips in his edges -- he'll just need a coarse stone to remove those and then switch to a fine stone to get the knife back to shaving sharp which might be the better long-term investment for him?

If you have $200 to spend, I'd say get that 8 inch Zhen knife for $52 and get this sharpener for $31 http://www.amazon.com/DMT-FWFC-Double-Diafold-Sharpener/dp/B00004WFTW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421710812&sr=8-1&keywords=dmt+sharpener Coarse and fine is really all that he should need to maintain that knife indefinitely. Coarse if he chips it; fine to get it shaving sharp again. A dedicated strop isn't entirely necessary. He can strop on cardboard (or even cut some)/a leather belt and remove the burrs from the edge.

If [this] (https://www.house.com.au/baccarat-id3-3-step-knife-sharpener) is the one your talking about then I would not recommend it. Those kind of sharpener are in general very poor at sharpening your knife and wear out the blade much faster than a regular sharpening system. They function by pinching off chunks of metal and leaving a wavy stressed edge that will dull quickly and require sharpening again.

Instead for a similar price, at least here in the US its a similar price. I would recommend the


[spyderco sharpmaker] (https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tri-Angle-Sharpmaker-Sharpener-204MF/dp/B000Q9C4AE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519110224&sr=8-1&keywords=sharpmaker)

It holds the ceramic rods at pre set angles but doesnt have only a single angle to it and you can even take out the rods and use them individually or tilt the sharpener to make up for some smaller variations in the factory grind angle.
Also very importantly you can clean the ceramic rods in the sharpmaker awhile in that device you really cant.
The one draw back that the sharpmaker has is that the brown ceramic "Medium" grit rods are very fine and do not do good at sharpening a knife that is very dull (its very slow at it)

Alternatively I would also recommend this


[Lansky diamond ceramic turnbox] (https://www.amazon.com/Lansky-2D2C-Diamond-Ceramic-Four/dp/B008EKY5OA/ref=pd_sbs_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008EKY5OA&pd_rd_r=VYC7T7S4Q80MZ56KR8NA&pd_rd_w=4CqcY&pd_rd_wg=wFmqi&psc=1&refRID=VYC7T7S4Q80MZ56KR8NA)

Its similar to the sharpmaker but cheaper, has shorter ceramic rods which can make it a little less ideal for longer knives like kitchen knives. But it also comes with some diamond rods that are much courser than the rods on the sharpmaker.
The sharpmaker does come with diamond or CBN rods but they cost almost as much as the whole sharpener, though a great addition if you do a lot of dull 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

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

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

Mod told me to post here, post is pasted below:

Currently have several knives, two EDC knives, and one full tang knife. Trolling through many forums, reddits, and tutorials, I was wondering what are the best ways to clean, lubricate, and sharpen knives without ruining them.
Currently have this product for sharpening but I have heard that stones can produce a better edge. Also have not educated on what each part is most useful for.
Thanks in advance!

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.

I've always felt that if a knife can shave a patch of hair off your arm or leg it's plenty sharp. The coarseness of the finish doesn't really have much to do with how sharp it is, you can sharpen a knife on a 120 grit stone and get it shaving sharp. D2 generally does better with a coarser or "toothy edge" because of the larger grain size and carbides. Whereas, Aus 8 is excellent at taking a polished edge.

​

You'd probably do fine with something like a DMT diafold, diamond is great for sharpening D2.

https://www.amazon.com/DMT-FWFC-Double-Diafold-Sharpener/dp/B00004WFTW

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 problem with the lifesharp program is that if you send your knife in - you are left without an EDC knife for a couple of weeks at least.

So you either buy a backup blade or what I think is a better solution - a sharpening system to maintain and touch up your blade.

Spyderco Sharpmaker is an excellent choice, I personally use the diamond Lansky Turn Box and it works well for me (especially the ceramic rods, love these) along with a good quality strop with a compound.

Which "super-fine" Lansky hone should I get to accompany the Deluxe Diamond Set that I purchased, seen here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Diamond-Deluxe-Sharpening-System/dp/B000B8L6LS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1452449613&sr=8-3&keywords=lansky

I feel that I would like to get a sharper edge than what I can achieve with this basic set. I was considering between the Ultra fine here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Ultra-Sharpening-Yellow-Holder/dp/B000B8L6MC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1452449613&sr=8-11&keywords=lansky

or the Super Sapphie polishing hone

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Super-Sapphire-Polishing-Hone/dp/B000B8IEB8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1452449613&sr=8-5&keywords=lansky

Both of which have been recommended, however I do think the ultra fine is better for sharpening, rather than polishing, no?

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 have a BK2 and love it, the weight isn't really an issue since I use at as hammer when camping. The thing that surprised me about he BK2 is how wide the blade is and how thick it is. If you want something similar check out the BK 11. The blade is 2ish inches smaller (you can get handles for it too). The added bonus of the bottle opener is nice, it will be my next fixed blade purchase I think.

Check out the CRKT Folts, I’d wager you’d enjoy it. I love carrying it, and it blends in great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006SK0SP8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518038933&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=crkt+spew&dpPl=1&dpID=31GtQKynZoL&ref=plSrch

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.

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. )

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

I'd say a Japanese waterstone would be the way to go. They're not that hard to use. This Kai 240/1000 would even match most of his knives! A 1000/6000 would also be a good option paired with a fine diamond stone.

I understand that none of these would work particularly well for that half serrated blade. But a little Lansky blade medic could touch it up nicely.

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 smaller hands and recently picked up a Kershaw Brawler as my first EDC knife. Small enough to be barely noticeable in my pocket, but still very solid construction. Really happy with it.

CRKT S.P.E.W.. Inexpensive and pretty, I wear it every day and love it.

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.

if it has to be fixed blade your options are pretty limited

becker necker

crkt minimalist

boker gnome

esee izula

the only one of these i've owned is the becker necker, which is great, but the sheath is so big that it pretty much cancels out the small size of the knife.

It’s just the name. It’s probably just a finer ceramic. It feels like it does nothing but it turns gray so it’s removing metal and makes the difference between razor sharp and hair splitting sharp

Lansky S2000 Super Sapphire Polishing Hone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B8IEB8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_lSjaCb240NSWP

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)

I would suggest doing a google search for proper sharpening technique. Not trying to be a dick, but that pre-written stuff will be more thorough and informative than the responses you will get here (most likely). The MOST IMPORTANT step is forming a burr with your coarsest stone and maintaining your angle. If you do not do this along the entire length of the blade, anything else you do on finer stones will be futile. I use a coarse/fine DMT Diafold then go to a 1200 grit sandpaper and strop on the back of a legal pad.

My current method is very low budget, but I can always get an edge that is sharp enough to shave with. Good luck man!

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.

A BladeMedic is an inexpensive and quite easy approach to get you started. :)

If you want classy, you can't go wrong with a Case knife.

If you want a hard worker, go for something like an Emmerson knife. If you really want to make him happy, go after one of the Emmerson CQC (close quarter combat) knives.

If you want something he could carry with him every day and fill just about any EDC type use, get him a Spyderco Endura 4. They even come in multiple colors.

I tried to pull a bunch of good knives under $60 for you. $40 generally won't get you something that will last for years, but $60 will.

You might look at CRKT's M16 knives. Or something from SOG. But I generally wouldn't recommend them, as the quality of the blade steel is kinda meh, and the quality control is iffy as they come from china.

Had this for awhile before a customer stole it from me, second favorite compared to my Oso Sweet:

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1990-Brawler-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B005UE6GRC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411497114&sr=8-2&keywords=kershaw

The Kershaw Blur is my favorite knife I've ever owned. I've had the SOG aegis and the spyderco g10 that cyclefreaksix mentioned and the Blur is by FAR a better knife.

The only knives worth buying for less than $25 are the Sanrenmu Land 9103, 910 plus, or Ganzo FH11, and maybe the CRKT Pilar i don't have any personal experience with this knife but i hear good things about it.

I like what you named. Here's a speed safe and a wave open meeting your preferences and budget:

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1990-Brawler-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B005UE6GRC/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1415701386&sr=1-3&keywords=kershaw

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-CQC-5K-Modified-Point-Blade/dp/B00I0S1BFW/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1415701479&sr=1-1&keywords=kershaw+emerson+5k

I carry one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EU8ML46/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That little flipper thing is the thing I use my knife for the most. My office is in an eight-story building, but our floor is like 40% my company, and the rest is other smaller offices/startups. Everyone is connected by the same hallway, shaped like the number 8 (but squared, not round). Anyways.

There are four mens rooms on the floor, each consisting of two sinks, two urinals and two stalls. Personally, I don't like to poop when there's someone in the stall right next to me. On a road trip at a rest stop? Fine, whatever. Not at work. I want to be able to take my time, look at my phone, etc. I don't want to hear the gentle sounds of someone grunting out a loaf next to me during my poop time.

The doors to the stalls lock from the inside, but they have a flush flathead-type thing on the outside of the door, I assume to open the door up if someone ODs or something in there.

I discovered that if I locked the inner stall door from the outside (with the flipper of the knife), then went into the other stall and pooped, people would walk in, assume both stalls were in use (since they could see my feet in the outer stall, and the door to the inner stall was shut/locked), and leave.

I now poop alone, and it's glorious.

I really love the three finger grip on this one https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Minimalist-2387/dp/B0030IT76C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487532167&sr=8-1&keywords=crkt+neck+knife

For that budget the Ka-Bar does seem like a good choice. If you don't mind going 5 bucks over budget, I would consider this too though.

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

Mine was fairly cheap, something like this. Though there are a couple people who make much nicer ones.

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 love my Spyderco Bug

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009VCA1M/ref=twister_B008XOX5E8?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 Or any kershar blur you can find around your price range, they're great knives.

what you need to sharpen a curved blade like a karambit is a rod. get something like this . it has a rod, and also other surfaces that you can use in the future, should you find yourself buying an actual pocket knife with a straighter blade

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

How about http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-BK11-Becker-Necker-Knife/dp/B001N1CBB6

I don't have the handle, but this looks pretty good http://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-BK-11HNDL-Becker-Custom-Micarta/dp/B004GIDJK0

Higo no Kami 7 Pocket Knife by Nagao Seisakusho, Parkerized Black Satin Finish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EU8ML46/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.szJwbC2JENAH

To get it grey you have to mod it yourself with vinegar but it is very easy.

I don't think you can find a better knife for the money. $17 on Amazon when I picked mine up. There is nothing about this knife that would lead you to believe it was $17. http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Sandvik-Military-4-1-Inch/dp/B009NZVZ3E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1407359237&sr=8-4&keywords=mora

I got a CRKT Pilar a while back for work utility. It's 4" folded and the Wharncliffe blade is 2.4". They came out with a larger version as well (Pilar II) but since I'm using an unauthorized cutting instrument at work, smaller profile is helpful.

The small version is $30

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3CG3KJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_pjlqDbXM18FKS

So if you were to buy one, which would you buy? Also what do you think about guided sharpeners like the Lansky sharpening system or the Spyderco Sharpmaker?

EDIT: or the DMT DMGEF Diafold Magna-Guide Sharpening System to go with the DMT Diafold

I got this for christmas. Is it good? Will this suffice for sharpening?

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

They're super cheap and you can order them off amazon: Higo no Kami 7 Pocket Knife by Nagao Seisakusho, Parkerized Black Satin Finish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EU8ML46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oBGpzbK29P04T

Amazon, $55 if you do the free 6-8 day shipping.

Yes!

Glock KB17281 81 Field Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W32PIK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_x6RNBbWQ0HCE5

$30!

Or Mora (Companion)

Starting at $15

Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade, 4.1-Inch, Military Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZAIXSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_giSNBbDZWQZHH

Is the lansky blademedic any good?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0085PPSIQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1526063260&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=lansky+knife+sharpener

Maybe a Brawler then?

Kershaw pretty much has the sub $50 assisted opener market on lockdown.

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

OK

or this one, which is quite well reviewed and popular but it's over $30. If you gotta buy me one, i'd prefer this one.

If I was going to buy a good knife and sharpener these 2 things are what I'd get

Kershaw Damascus Steel Leek Assisted Opening Stainless Handles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003R6DDEO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pHk7Bb92QNSK9

Lansky PS-MED01 BladeMedic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085PPSIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wIk7Bb6S6Y502

I have a few CRKTs I carry normally.

The two I carry most often are the Eros for nicer occasions, and the M16-13ZLEK for work/everyday use.

The ball bearing system on the Eros is super smooth, and the M16 feels sturdy enough for anything I normally encounter on a job site (construction inspection).

I also have the Bowie Minimalist which I tried neck carring, but did not like. I am looking for a belt clip or something of that nature instead.

Lastly, I have the Ignitor. I wouldn't recommend it due to the difficulty in using the Fire Safe stud and the frame lock in this model. It is possible my particular knife is an outlier, but the thumb stud release is very hard to depress and flick. The frame lock on this model is also very hard to unlock. I think that this is due to the Out Burst spring putting pressure on the blade and frame lock when the blade is deployed. I cannot operate this knife with one hand like I can the other two folders mentioned.

Honestly though, for under $100 dollars, you can find a better knife. I carry these because they are around or under $50, and I broke the tip off of my Kershaw Blur.

If you wants tool to get out of a car buy a car hammer. If you want a knife for camping get a fixed blade like a Mora Companion.

I like the CRKT Pilar. It's a little heavier but open so nice after the break. It's under $22 right now at Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/CRKT-Pilar-Folding-Pocket-Knife/dp/B01N3CG3KJ

Aww man, your knives deserve to be used. And then they deserve to be sharpened! If you suck at sharpening like I do and don't want to/have time to develop the right angles on a flat stone, try this: https://www.amazon.com/Lansky-2D2C-Diamond-Ceramic-Four/dp/B008EKY5OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540043212&sr=8-1&keywords=lansky+rod+sharpener

​

Its like 20 bucks, and it takes away the human error. Plus its easier to use than those ones where you have to adjust the angle--the angle is already set, with a choice of 20 or 25 degrees.

Would this and a small knife (Spyderco Bug?) fit the bill? Too many tools (without one being pliers) and finding quality is hard.

I would avoid all of the ones you linked, they are all low quality brands except the last one you linked but it's a ceramic knife that can't be easily sharpened. I linked some better option bellow.

https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Minimalist-2387/dp/B0030IT76C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487532167&sr=8-1&keywords=crkt+neck+knife

https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-2388/dp/B006SK0SP8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1487532167&sr=8-3&keywords=crkt+neck+knife

https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-2805/dp/B01BAJIUDI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487532167&sr=8-2&keywords=crkt+neck+knife

Is this the one? Lansky Diamond Ceramic Turn Box TB-2D2C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008EKY5OA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_USd1DbBJYXB4Z

> 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).

If it is only for regular maintenance i.e. that the edge is only slightly dull the sharpmaker as is is ok. But if it ever gets really dull or a chip it will take forever and a day with s110v to get the edge back.

A cheaper alternative but with more obtuse angle options that works the same way is available here from lansky https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lansky-Unisexs-4-Rod-Deluxe-Sharpener-Yellow/dp/B000B8FW0E.

And I have just seen there is also a diamond version https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lansky-4-Rod-Diamond-Ceramic-Sharpener/dp/B008EKY5OA/.

I prefer two different types of knives.
My EDC is a Kershaw Leek
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009VC9YA?pc_redir=1412830846&robot_redir=1

And my camp knife is a Mora.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZAIXSC?cache=4ddea882c23be704873c7e83fe4a9622&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1413465404&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

They're both solid and the pair should still come in under budget.

CRKT makes a few cool knives, IMO. I'm waiting for "Wharcliffe Wednesday" to post my 4 Wharncliffe blades, 2 of which are CRKTs: The S.P.E.W. and the C/K Dragon.

Both blades were pretty good value, so-so steel, but the S.P.E.W. is a really freaking handy neck knife and the C/K Dragon just scratches that Wharncliffe itch I have been having the last few months.

using one of these.

If you mean the colored things at the bottom right.. I think they might be sharpeners.

DMT Diafold Sharpeners

Fortunately for you, there's nowhere to go but Up from S&W Knives. How about this one: http://amzn.com/B0009VCA1M

Kershaw Blur Tanto Serrated

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Tactical-Folding-Knife/dp/B0009VCA1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397175549&sr=8-1&keywords=blur+kershaw

%50 off

You're right. I remembered that it came in tanto and serrated, but I guess not both at once. The Blur does, but at a bigger price tag. Post when you get your stuff!

ok now that i am back home and on my computer not a phone here is what i got

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-LK3DM-Diamond-Standard-System/dp/B000B8JDRC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419717060&sr=8-2&keywords=lansky++diamond+sharpeners

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

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-Ultra-Sharpening-Yellow-Holder/dp/B000B8L6MC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1419717110&sr=8-9&keywords=lansky++diamond+sharpeners

i got these, it was less then 100 dollars and with a couple of strops on a leather belt you will be shaving your arm hair in no time

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK7-Combat-Utility/dp/B001IPMG8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330734429&sr=8-1


http://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-Marine-Fighting-Knife-Straight/dp/B001H53Q6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330741585&sr=8-1

For around, or under $100, I’d suggest the RAT 7, or the Bk 7.

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-BK11-Becker-Necker-Knife/dp/B001N1CBB6

Crkt minimalist might work for you https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Minimalist-2387/dp/B0030IT76C

http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Minimalist-2387/dp/B0030IT76C/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1395596610&sr=8-7&keywords=crkt

I have a spyderco bug on my car keys. And a christy slide knife on my truck keys.

Check out the spyderco bug I just got one the other day. Very high quality mini knife.

Spyderco Delica4 Lightweight FRN Flat Ground PlainEdge Knife (Gray) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CH3V5E/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_dQp.AbN109R13

Gerber EAB & 250 blades (5x 50 packs) Irwin Industrial Tools Bi-Metal Blue Utility Blade, 50-Pack

I can open boxes for the rest of my life!

For an EDC: 2x Spyderco Delica 4

http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Endura4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B003CH77WW

For $20 I can get my so far favorite knife, the Kershaw Clash. Won't the handle rust quickly on the paraframe, since it's stainless steel?

Fixed blades

http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Outdoor-Military-4-1-Inch/dp/B004TNWD40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411328955&sr=8-1&keywords=mora

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-80PGTK-Tanto-Carbon/dp/B004H9DO4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411329214&sr=8-1&keywords=cold+steel+knife

Folding knives

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1990-Brawler-Folding-SpeedSafe/dp/B005UE6GRC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411329041&sr=8-2&keywords=kershaw+knife

http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-3410-Chill-Pocket-Knife/dp/B002IVHQ5Q/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1411329149&sr=8-17&keywords=kershaw+knife

What suggests the lansky is higher end than the smith? It's also only $10 fwiw

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-10628536-PS-MED01-BladeMedic/dp/B0085PPSIQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1414593815&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=lansky+BLADEMEDIC

Condor Bushlore
Morakniv Companion HD

https://www.amazon.com/Higo-Kami-Pocket-Seisakusho-Parkerized/dp/B00EU8ML46

CRKT Pilar: https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-5311/dp/B01N3CG3KJ

Hands down......and now under $20 bucks. CRKT Pilar

https://www.amazon.com/CRKT-Pilar-Folding-Pocket-Knife/dp/B01N3CG3KJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DXODLSD5SBQF&keywords=pilar+knife&qid=1562258202&s=gateway&sprefix=Pilar%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

That price range is tough but probably the Ontario rat 2 or maybe the CRKT Pilar

Oh man...where to begin? My problems with BudK are essentially two-fold. One is that I believe they deliberately mislead prospective knife buyers into purchasing low quality imported junk. A combination of clever marketing and very low prices makes BudK the Wal-Mart of knife merchants.

And two, its sort of a cultural bias. In the serious knife community, a negative connotation has become associated with people who buy from BudK. They tend to be referred to as Mall Ninjas and buy things that are tacticool.
I hesitate to describe the stereotypical BudK customer without using derogatory slurs, but i'm not sure how else to categorize the subculture. Lets just say that if you lived in a state with a large rural population, and you went to the county fair, I can guarantee somewhere you'll find a merchant stall selling BudK products at enticing prices, probably right between the velvet Elvis paintings and the guy selling weed pipes disguised as spark plugs.

which would be fine except that many of these poor misguided individuals fully intend to use this gear for serious self-defense purposes. With BudK gear in hand, they're more likely to injure themselves than fend of a potential attacker.

While BudK does indeed sell plenty of high quality knives as well, this does not appear to be the main source of their business. Good quality knives are expensive, and for many people the lure of BudK's absurdly low prices on a knife that "looks badass" outweighs any other argument.

For these reasons I choose not to buy from BudK, and I encourage others to do the same. There are tons of other knife merchants on the internet who are more deserving of your dollars.

Full Disclosure: As a much younger man I wasted a lot of money on BudK products, until I realized I might as well be flushing my money down the toilet for what it got me. I spent a lot of money on shit like this when I should have been spending it on knives like this instead.

Unless you MUST have red or pink the Becker BK11 (aka Necker) and the Eskabar are just about half the price of the Izula for damn near the same thing.

Not a classical Bowie when it comes to design and finish, but with the Becker BK7 you can't go wrong. It is very durable and a viable alrounder.
edit: the only negative point might be the sheath which is a bit flimsy.

so BK2 or BK7?

Anyone have experience between the two? For camping I want a big ass knife that can take a beating, and both look like they can do that. I have a kabar USMC. Do I need to buy another knife?

No problem. There is also the BK11, I dont really like it though because it has a weird bottle opener on the end of the handle.

I cant seem to find any with a finger hole in them though.