What is the nicest sub $25 Chinese budget knive you have received to date?

By budget I mean less than $25 shipped Because while there are some amazing Chinese knives in the $50-100 range and up, that’s sort of a different thing. I’m talking about high value EDC pocket knives. I’m talking about Chinese budget alternatives to more expensive choices where you get more knive for your money than you have any reason to expect.

Two years ago I would have said my Ganzo 710 or one of my Sanrenmus or something but in the past year things have seemed to change. Ganzo has been making new and interesting knives and the quality is better than ever.

The F729-cf is IMHO the nicest knife that Ganzo has made. I haven’t had a chance to handle all of them so there are a few other models that may be just as good from the recent line but I can testify that this one is really nice. Smooth action. An Axis lock that you can actually use! Many of the Ganzo Axis locks are too stiff to use properly. It’s gorgeous in carbon fiber. It’s not perfect but for less than a $20 bill, I know of nothing else better.

The Ganzo Firbird F729-cf is really nice. I just bought one from Fasttech I think that is as cheap as GB and FT seems to ship faster.

https://m.fasttech.com/products/1901/10029427/6665000-authentic-ganzo-firebird-f729-cf-stainless-steel

It is a little cheaper at GB

http://www.gearbest.com/pocket-knives-and-folding-knives/pp_603467.html?

I think it’s worth the extra $1 to get it from Fasttech because they ship faster and I haven’t had any quality issues from them. GB is just such a pain to deal with.

I can’t select yet, as my 1st order of several Ganzo Firebirds just boarded the plane in Hong Kong last night. None are Axis though, all autos, from praise links posted here. And some C8 dimpled reflectors.

this http://www.gearbest.com/pocket-knives-and-folding-knives/pp_275134.html
feels sturdy, came sharp, looks great

but i dont use it because I carry this Ganzo all the time, thus also a contester
http://www.gearbest.com/pocket-knives-and-folding-knives/pp_267543.html

I’m a Byrd fan.

Meadowlark or Cara Cara 2

Also love ganzo 729, 759, 727
SRM 7010

Oh the list goes on

For me so far :

  • The Y-Start JIN02

This is my favorite at the moment. You can find them on Aliexpress or DHGate. Search for F3 Knife. D2 steel blade, 195mm long, ball bearing pivot, flipper, liner lock. The handle may be a bit bulkier because it is a liner lock with G10 on both sides (really nicely chamfered edges).

I’ve ordered two of the blue and black swirl ones from different vendors. The colors of the pattern were different between the two. Kind of like where the black and the blue were reversed. Not a problem, just noting if you go for that one it may not come quite as pictured.

Why do I like it? I like this size for EDC; not too big and not too small. The flipping action on it is great - very fun to flip - it’s totally a fidgeter’s knife. Just love the Shirogorov design. Blade shape is very utilitarian. Not at all scary looking or intimidating.

For me it’s impossible to say it. You must think that almost all my knives reviews on my blog are under 25$, and then, it’s like if you ask me what is the best knife i reviewed. Too hard, too hard :smiley:

The Jin01 is incredible, the Ganzo G753 like me a lot, the Ganzo F729, the Ganzo G720, the Cima 1, the Sarenmu 7098… impossible to say…

SRM GB-763
It’s still my favorite EDC, I should have bought a couple more while they still made them.

My favourite atm is the SRM Land 910 Plus. Great value for the $11 (+$10 coupon) that I paid right when it came out.

The Ganzo G-7533-CF was bought in the same manner, I really wanted that so unusually looking one but even after modding it quite a bit I didn’t really carry it.

Maybe I got a melon but the blade won’t hold an edge, even less than my old SRM 710.
The smaller version could suit me better but I won’t buy it so soon anyways.

after changing washers Enlan Bee M028 (can anybody suggest this kind flipper?)
little heavy for me Enlan EL01KH
best pencil sharpener what I have seen so far Sanrenmu Plus 4077

That’s a bit of a difficult question for me as nearly all my knives are sub $25 :slight_smile: All the new crop of Firebird/Ganzo knives especially the G7503, G7563 Osborne clones.
I’ve been using the RAT1 with an Axis lock G727BK to open boxes all weekend, the easiest Axis action of any of mine, smooth and quick after really no break in period and no adjustment or lubrication.

Overall feel of quality and all round attention to detail the Y-Start JIN01, I have one in black/orange and one in black/blue both are great knives.

One that is a genuine winner as a UK EDC is the little SanRenMu 4079SUX-FHK sub 2 inch slip-joint that cost £10 for two from GearBest, no wonder they are out of stock.

Can’t resist mentioning the Enlan EL-01 range, a strong favourite of mine and a strong knife that repays a little work becoming a great hard work knife.

Speedsix is correct, the last year Ganzo has become top Chinese producer, for me at any rate. A couple of years ago Enlan and SanRenMu were the ones I bought and very few Ganzos, the last year it’s been the opposite with all Ganzo from GearBestand a sprinkling of still incredibly good for the money Spyderco clones from AE.

Here's my list of extremely nice Chinese knives for under $25.

Kershaw 1556BW Cryo II

Kershaw 2200 Grid

Kershaw 3470 Pico

Kershaw 3871BW Amplitude 3.25

Kershaw 3880 Thermite

+1 for Ganzo G7503 CF

Hi 8steve88 - great to see you on here again…… Will have to arrange a pop down to see you in your new pad at some point.

My favourite cheap Chinese knife at present is the Land 9104, big brother to the really capable little SanRenMu 710/7010 series.

My example is just beautiful - so sharp, so solid, great lock-up and nice action with the ball-bearings.

SP

If you buy it from GB, you may never get it.

Any opinions about the Sanremu 7073LUC-SK?

Thinking about getting one.

+1 for mentioned very large pocket knife. Imho Blade is better than on any ganzo knife.

this ….^

  • like speedsix says it’s light ,real light which is why I like it . Small knives do everything a big knife would do for me ’cept weigh me down …
    nice blade shape …

The Sanrenmu 763 is a nice little knife. The aluminum scale one is better than the g-10 version IMHO but the G-10 is lighter. But neither is very heavy.

I think Sanrenmu would have sold a lot more of these 763s if they scaled the size up some. It’s just a bit too small to really open and close rapidly with one hand. If they made it 20% larger, like the size of a Benchmade Griptillian, it would have been big seller I think.