ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

That’s a modified drop point blade. You can do just about anything from EDC to hunting and skinning. It should be straightforward to sharpen too.

It’s a little slim in the handle for hard use but if the steel is s35vn, you’ll like the edge performance better than most steels that you’ll find coming out of mainland China.

I ran across this beautiful CRKT ball bearing knife today and thought I’d share it here and get some opinions.

(Click on the photos for the links)

CRKT V.A.S.P.™ (Verify.Advance.Secure.Proceed.) folding pocket knife. Design by Steve Jernigan. Model #7481
.

.

I really want MUST HAVE this knife!
Some may not consider it budget, however at $31 and change delivered its not super expensive either.

I don’t have any ball bearing knives and have been wanting to try one, however the ones I’ve seen were well over twice the price of this CRKT. I’m seeing this same bearing system is utilized on some expensive high end knives.

There is also a non serrated version but it seemed to be selling for a slightly higher price. I don’t usually buy part serrated knives but I kinda like the serrations on this one.

I really like the tan G10 “pistol grip” checkered pattern scales and the shape of the blade (8Cr14Mov), the flipper and nice jimping on the steep thumb ramp, I also like the hefty stonewashed clip. Plus it’s a good sized knife measuring 8.25 in. overall.

IKBS ball bearing system: (shown on a different knife)

This is confusing, a Todd Begg bodega copy labelled GTC (Gustavo T Cecchini).

Just picked this up;

CRKT 5650 Outburst, $18.99, came to $25 and change with the shipping and tax.
Looks like a decent knife, anyone own one?

They have a few more deals there as well, some of these knives seem to sell out quick.
HTH
Later,
Keith

Darn you The Burgh. I told myself that I wasn't going to buy anymore cheap knives, especially stainless steel folders. But, I couldn't resist that GTC at that price and pulled the trigger.

I really like that CRKT that beam0 posted above too. I gotta quit visiting this thread.

Dang, you guys are costing me $ again!

Got that CRKT 7481 off of Amazon as I had some points and a small gift card balance.
Looks like a nice knife and as there is no Ball Bearing knife in the collection, this is the one now!

Thanks beam0 for the info.
Later,
Keith

i wonder if you can buy these ikbs pivots separately

Have a look at THESE.

thank you very much, i really appriciate it. $4 apiece is kinda pricey even for chinese though.

You’re welcome.
Let me know about your DIY project when you finish it. :slight_smile:

Unfortunately they’re too thick for the EL01 otherwise I’d have ordered them without hesitation.

yea you are correct, i wonder if it would work in my brous reloader clone

There are these from USAKnifemaker but I think they’ll be too thick like isti says, they look like is would need a machining job to fit.
I also wondered about the fit on an Enlan EL-01 but they only need 20 thousandths of an inch each side.

Awesome, I’m looking forward to getting it too.

DISCLAIMER: All blame goes to freman, I came across the 7481 while researching the CRKT Persian Folder he posted earlier. :wink:

Hold on to your wallet…I went back on CRKT’s site tonight to look at the VASP again and found this gem:

CRKT Glenn Klecker Graphite 5195 Folding Blade Combo Edge

Another must have CRKT! No bearings but I like the high tech look of the open build skeletal frame. At first I thought it was a regular frame lock, then I realized it was on the top of the frame. It has something called an “integrated Klecker Lock”

My favorite blade shape a modified drop point (also 8Cr13MoV) it comes in plain edge or with “Veff Flat Top Serrations”. I like the plain edge but again I’m drawn to the rugged utilitarian look of the Veff Serrations. Now I’m torn on getting the plain or combo edge on this one.

Could still be considered budget at $36.95

(Click on photo for link to crkt.com/graphite Folding Knife)

Cheers
beam0

I’m waiting for these

Enlan Bee EM01

my excuse is that I can give them away at birthdays. Already have a stock of knives and flashlights that are to be given away.

More folding knives with no bolsters. Does anyone have data on the torque the pivots can stand? The one with metal supporting the pivot looks uncomfortable to hold.

Typically I think the lock would fail before the liners, except on an Axis lock where I reckon the liners would fail first.
You would be talking way more force than you could exert by hand on a well made knife like the Enlan EL-01.

The pivot pin on most Chinese knives is ¼” O.D. for the larger knives and 3/16ths for smaller, you won’t break or shear that with normal use. If you are in doubt then use a fixed blade. I carry a slip joint every day and feel safe enough with that, you might snap a blade at a weak spot, typically the pivot but you would have to be putting great force sideways on to the blade to do that, not really a knifey task you’d doing. I suppose it depends weather you use your knives for cutting or as a general purpose pry bar or screwdriver, not having a go - just saying that obviously anything can break if it’s not used for the intended use.

I recently bought a Hultafors Chisel knife that would take a lot of abuse before breaking, it sits in my toolbag alongside a Hultafors Heavy Duty knife, both with high carbon Japanese steel and stropped before leaving the factory. £12.90 ($19) for the pair.


Someone who was re-handling his Hultafosr Heavy duty with Curly Birch took this picture, although not full tang it’s tough enough. For £5.95 you get a carbon steel blade ready finished, very good value and probably the best quality/money balance that you are going to get. You could do the same with a Mora and ~I’m sure many have.


Strangely the Chisel knife doesn’t have a chisel grind.
Heavy duty 4” blade ⅛” thick
Chisel knife 3” blade ⅛” thick
Ideal if you want to apply high torque with a knife.

I think these two Spydercos would be strong in the pivot area.

These are more budget priced and would be plenty strong enough.


Even the G10 bolstered one would be strong enough, anyone who’s tried to break a 6mm piece of G10 will tell you how tough it is.

Don’t know where this is going but if you buy a known brand or even a lesser known one like the Y-Start knives then they are going to be strong enough for normal use.

I’ve deliberately left Frame locks until last as they are only as strong as the cut out that lets you unlock the knife and the metal that’s left there can be worryingly thin.
I’m not knocking the SanRenMu 710/7010 in fact as they go it’s a great little knife and I own a lot of them, about ten and a couple more are on the way but this pic shows how thin a framelock can get and why I wouldn’t get worried about frame locks or bolsters.


Compared to the liners on this linerlock Enlan you can see there’s enough in the thickness of the liners to give a very strong knife, no bolsters needed.

The stronger the better. Since a folding knife is usually your only tool at hand, the more things it can do the better. So the question isn’t “Is it strong enough?” It is “Is it as strong as it can be without significant loss elsewhere?”
I was surprised how quickly I got a very sharp edge on my Hultafors. Thanks for your previous post about them. I may get another some time to re-handle. I have some teak wood left over from fixing my son’s kris that I could use either for that or for the Eye brand Sheffield table knives.
I like those Spydercos a lot, but have enough knives for now.

When I began this thread, I knew that (for me) the definition of "budget knives" is ever evolving. As I spend more time looking into the universe of knives, the $$$ ceiling for "budget" gradually rises like an elevator to infinity!

I'm now fishing the ocean of "low cost" custom fixed blade knives. I suspect that the simpler mechanics/parts/assembly of fixed blades may put more of my money into the knife itself. Also, these knifemakers seem to be, well, more artistic.

Here's a sample of one I landed this week:

Yep, gorgeous damascus and Boxed Elder Burl wood (dyed purple/eggplant). Sheath is custom grey leather.

Think I'll be fishin' in these here waters for a spell!

Two big knives, one small knife.

Timber Rattler Scarab
Cold Steel Espada XL G10
Victorinox Minichamp Midnite

Needless to say, the Victorinox is the one I carry everyday.