Best sub-$200 folding pocket knife for edc?

[tom1025]

Brad, what is your opinion of Buck Knives? I have been a Buck fan all my life, my first real hunting knife was a Buck 102 back in my pre-teen days. I know all the rage is ceramic bladed knives now.....but there is just something about a good old steel knife that I like.

I have a nice Buck 119...with a custom leather scabbard. I have been thinking about a nice assisted open folder. I do like the 110..but it's not assisted open. Am I too stuck in the past, too old fashioned?

I was the same way until I started handling good steel. Once you cross the road you will never look back.

 

[DaKruiser]

I know all the rage is ceramic bladed knives now.....but there is just something about a good old steel knife that I like.

I don't know what knife guys you know, but ceramic sucks!!

Steel is where it's at, the new steels will amaze you with their ability to pry, chop, slice, stay sharp, and sharpen easily. Check out a knife with 3V, ELMAX, M4, INFI, there's to many to name, that's just a few.

Buck isn't bad for what you pay,

 

[twfshelton]

+1 for Emerson, so many different sizes and blade shapes, made in USA. With the emerson you are not stuck with fast opening, you can deploy it faster than even auto or simply thumb open. If you don't like chisel grind, you can sharpen to v grind. Very sturdy and easy to sharpen. Very rugged and simple, no spring to bind or break. The perfect knife would be a collabro of Emerson and Benchmade (wave with axis).

 

[chibicascade]

My favorite edc knife has been a buck vantage. They have a cheap one with polymer handles and 420 steel and a nicer one with G10 and s30v.

 

[jgreiner]

I was the same way until I started handling good steel. Once you cross the road you will never look back.

Maybe, but I dont' find them visually appealing....at all. And my 46 year old Buck 102 is still a great knife.

 

[jgreiner]

My favorite edc knife has been a buck vantage. They have a cheap one with polymer handles and 420 steel and a nicer one with G10 and s30v.

With the possible passing of the new knife laws in Indiana, I have thought about an auto 110 Buck.

 

[Bradsknives]

Brad, what is your opinion of Buck Knives? I have been a Buck fan all my life, my first real hunting knife was a Buck 102 back in my pre-teen days. I know all the rage is ceramic bladed knives now.....but there is just something about a good old steel knife that I like.

I have a nice Buck 119...with a custom leather scabbard. I have been thinking about a nice assisted open folder. I do like the 110..but it's not assisted open. Am I too stuck in the past, too old fashioned?

With the possible passing of the new knife laws in Indiana, I have thought about an auto 110 Buck.

I do like the older Buck knives. I'm not all that crazy about their newer models, although some of them look to be pretty good from a steel selection viewpoint. I just think there are many better choices out there that fall into the same price range as some of the higher end (USA made & better steel) Buck models.

FYI: The Buck 110 auto is not actually made by Buck. Secondary companies/people are taking the standard 110 model and converting them to an auto. Buck will not honor the warranty on the 110 models that have been converted.

 

[cubby]

Maybe, but I dont' find them visually appealing....at all. And my 46 year old Buck 102 is still a great knife.

There is someone for every seat. Case in point:

When I hit a knife show, I walk right passed the tables of knives that all look the same. Like the traditional slip joints and 10" Bowie knives with stag handles. I have no interest, and find them generally unappealling. I am
Drawn more towards original designs and innovations. It's not to say the other knives are not quality built, but rather a question of visual taste.

The reason I share that is because looks ate skin deep. If we compare a quality built tool to a price point built tool.... Odds are very good that the quality tool will perform better. And to say a cheap, poorly mass produced knife can do anything a better built knife can, is ridiculous. Quality is measurable by performance. Just look up some of the edge holding and
Impact tests done for RnD. Then, the junk drawer knives have no RnD...

 

[Kart29]

Personally, my tastes are a bit different. I think all the knives suggested above are butt ugly and generally repulsive. (please don't take that personally). For a more traditional quality knife I might suggest a knife from Great Eastern Cutlery or Queen Cutlery. I like the two blade trappers, canoes, and copperheads. Now THAT's a KNIFE!

 

[savage308]

I have been carrying a Kershaw (Ken Onion) 1550ST for years now. It is assisted open and easy to take apart and clean. Like any quality knife it has a lifetime warranty.

 

[Bradsknives]

Personally, my tastes are a bit different. I think all the knives suggested above are butt ugly and generally repulsive. (please don't take that personally). For a more traditional quality knife I might suggest a knife from Great Eastern Cutlery or Queen Cutlery. I like the two blade trappers, canoes, and copperheads. Now THAT's a KNIFE!

You must be an old guy like me. None of these young whipper snappers of today appreciate a good slip joint knife.

 

[Kart29]

You must be an old guy like me.

Ouch! Now THAT I take personally!

 

[Bradsknives]

Ouch! Now THAT I take personally!

Don't take it personally, but if you are an "old guy", be proud of it, and the fact that you recongize a good knife when you see it.

 

[Hohn]

Surprised no one on the first page of this thread mentioned Chris Reeve?

The Sebenza is one of the most popular premium folders ever made!

Chris Reeve Knives - Optimum Quality, Optimum Performance


My next knife will be a ZDP-189 Spyderco. Probably a Stretch.

 

[Miles42]

I have a Benchmade that I have carried for many years now. Excellent knife. That said I really like my old Case Canoe.

 

[tradertator]

Surprised no one on the first page of this thread mentioned Chris Reeve?

The Sebenza is one of the most popular premium folders ever made!

Chris Reeve Knives - Optimum Quality, Optimum Performance


My next knife will be a ZDP-189 Spyderco. Probably a Stretch.

I abso-freaking-lutely love the Chris Reeve folders, but the thread is about the best knife for under $200. A small Sebenza is going to run around $400, and the large for another $50.

 

[cfl4rat]

I like my ZT 0350

 

[Hohn]

I abso-freaking-lutely love the Chris Reeve folders, but the thread is about the best knife for under $200. A small Sebenza is going to run around $400, and the large for another $50.

Didn't realize they were that expensive. Last I saw one it was around $200-$250ish..

 

[tradertator]

Didn't realize they were that expensive. Last I saw one it was around $200-$250ish..

I've seen them used around $250ish and up. But I totally agree the Reeve stuff is top notch. I don't think I've left my house without my Umnumzaan in the last 18 months I've owned it.

 

[Manatee]

My favorite carry knife for many years has been the Benchmade 730 by Elishewitz.