ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

desertdog256 · March 29, 2015, 11:39pm

I am liking the looks of the ironwood handled knife. Got a link to it?

downlinx · March 30, 2015, 2:31pm

Fixed Blade D2 Steel with Micarta handles for $40 shipped

Thought i would throw up this deal for guys in the US
http://www.amazon.com/Knife-King-Handmade-Bushcraft-handle-Razor/dp/B00K01328G/ref=sr_1_3

Fritz_t_Cat · March 31, 2015, 4:08am

I got my Elk Ridge. Very nice. Used it to trim fat off meat. The rivets holding the scales are dead flush, like I used to do with a sharpening stone.

IN_Caver · April 4, 2015, 2:09pm

Nagao Higonokami friction folder was added to my budget collection this week.

chenko · April 4, 2015, 3:38pm

This thread is problematic. I should not have opened it. Omg. Gonna spend a fortune or drive myself crazy trying not to.

mattyts · April 4, 2015, 3:44pm

Anyone else use rough rider knives? I am a big fan of the traditional canoe and trapper style knives instead of anything tactical orientated so the rough riders really suit, cheap and incredibly high quality.

8steve88 · April 4, 2015, 5:50pm

I have a few.
They are incredible for the price, the Granddaddy Barlow with saw cut bone scales if fantastic, the large leg knives are truly large and the Stockman with red jigged bone is a bit more expensive it is a superb knife.
I have the “Once in a blue Moon” trapper as well as toothpicks and the knife opener. That is one thing that I can criticise - the backsprings are way too strong on most of them.
I believe that Smoky Mountain Knife Works commissioned them, well good on them they got me back into the traditional style folders again.
There is a Ganzo that is worth considering if you like the traditional style knives, the G725-M Stockman pattern with Krupp 4116 steel.

8steve88 · April 4, 2015, 6:28pm

Freman:

Here are three imports from China. Copies of the Hungarian and the Vallotton, and the Elk River fixed blade mentioned elsewhere in this thread.

The Elk River is a beautiful little knife, very shiny. The sheath is… adequate.

The Vallotton is very well made and solid, if I could ping it on one thing the blade would be better running on bronze washers than the nylon/teflon ones it has. The etching on the blade was a little shaky, but that’s about it.

The Hungarian is… I think perfect about sums it up. It feels good in my hand, it came very sharp, and the full flat grind would make it one heck of a slicer. It does have bronze washers and it opens as smooth as glass. It has me contemplating the affordability of the original, it’s that good. The polished G10 feels much better in hand than the bi-directional FRN on my Endura.

I completely agree with that, I have the Vallotton and the Hungarian. The Vallotton might look “dressy” but it is a very strong, almost overbuilt knife well capable of hard use.
The Hungarian is as you describe - perfect. I particularly like the way the linerlock is treated, recessed into the bolster allowing it to disengage and flush enough so it doesn’t dig into your fingers.
The genuine one is £210 in the U.K. the copy cost around £15 an amazingly good knife, to put that into perspective the Spyderco Bug is £14 and the Honeybee is £18, both made in China like the clone.

Speedsix · April 4, 2015, 10:43pm

KaiserSosa:

I guess budget knife is a relative term. I am far enough along my knife collector journey to have it really bad for the designs of Hinderers, Striders, Medfords as well as the art of custom handle work in the likes of TuffThumbz.

Way too much time spent on Usual Suspects Network forum I suppose.

But at this stage I am not about to drop $500-1200 on a custom knife. So to me, a really well done $75-120 Chinese manufactured Kevin John is a budget knife if it delivers a near experience or close performance.

With that said, I would recommend folks take a look at the earlier designed faux Strider SMF double gunner grip to get that custom feel. Like the Praetorian,…it just feels like quality when you hold it, solid lock up, holds an edge well…and has that nice snap when you open it.

Where can a quality Strider clone like that be bought?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUBDxm4-Qk4

Speedsix · April 4, 2015, 10:44pm

Speedsix:

KaiserSosa:

I guess budget knife is a relative term. I am far enough along my knife collector journey to have it really bad for the designs of Hinderers, Striders, Medfords as well as the art of custom handle work in the likes of TuffThumbz.

Way too much time spent on Usual Suspects Network forum I suppose.

But at this stage I am not about to drop $500-1200 on a custom knife. So to me, a really well done $75-120 Chinese manufactured Kevin John is a budget knife if it delivers a near experience or close performance.

With that said, I would recommend folks take a look at the earlier designed faux Strider SMF double gunner grip to get that custom feel. Like the Praetorian,…it just feels like quality when you hold it, solid lock up, holds an edge well…and has that nice snap when you open it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUBDxm4-Qk4

Sorry. Where can a quality Strider clone like that be bought?

isti242 · April 5, 2015, 8:17am

Have a look at these:

Strider RC Kevin John version
Strider SNG Kevin John
Strider 7 Kevin John
You should consider the Kevin John versions if you want top quality with top steel.

Strider RC
Strider RC tanto
Strider SNG
Strider tanto
Strider SMF 1
Strider SMF 2
Strider SMF 3
Strider SMF carbon
Strider SMF Ti
Strider Ti 2
Strider G10

As I see my wish list I need more birthdays in a year!

downlinx · April 8, 2015, 3:42pm

does anyone have any experience with the Enlan Bee M027

isti242 · April 8, 2015, 4:58pm

I like mine.

downlinx · April 8, 2015, 5:00pm

thank you isti

pcruz · April 8, 2015, 7:35pm

Can you recommend a good seller for both the Vallotton and Hungarian?

I see prices ranging from $15.99 and up. Wondering if they’re all form the same manufacturer or if there’s different grades of these.

Thanks!

8steve88 · April 8, 2015, 7:58pm

Good knife, when I first saw it I thought that the photo had been distorted but they really are that shape. the description on FastTech lists the scales as Pakkawood, - sawdust and resin but mine look like rosewood, they polish up really well.
The slightly larger EL-05 is a good one as well just a bit heavy for the size but a capable knife.
The overall look makes them less threatening than black G10 as well which has got to be a bonus.

isti242 · April 8, 2015, 8:42pm

A good source for the Hungarian.

8steve88 · April 8, 2015, 8:53pm

Hungarian - DIY Knives $20

Vallotton $28, I bought mine from the place above, DIY Knives but they aren’t listing them now, I’ve had a look at some others and can recommend this one, Y-Start Knives, I’ve bought from them several times and had one go missing, started dispute and was refunded in 24Hours, re-ordered the same knife and it turned up no bother.

The prices are up to you, sometimes you get a new store wanting to build the business up and they sell very close to their own cost, as they get more successful the prices creep up.
One little tip I’ve noticed that if you place an item in your wish list and leave it a while, a week say, the price comes down.
AliExpress don’t store your credit card number and using the Escrow system the stores don’t get it anyway. Personally I’ve had no problems buying from them in around 50 orders.

8steve88 · April 8, 2015, 9:22pm

I can’t tell you about these but I can tell you that I bought two U.K. Pen Knife clones, they were bladed objects that looked O.K. and sort of worked but I expected more.
I ordered two more from a different store and couldn’t be more pleased, exactly as they should be. Different manufacturers maybe, different grades definitely.
By the way, the model of UKPK that is for sale on AliExpress is the early G10 scaled model not the plastic handled one in production now, the originals go for over $100, the four of mine cost less than $40 and I have a pair of good quality - not up to Spyderco’s I’m sure - EDC legal knives.

Fritz_t_Cat · April 8, 2015, 11:39pm

I like mine, though I haven’t used it.