Which budget tactical folding knife is the BEST of the BEST?
Best = solid lockup, no blade play, top quality materials, great fit and finish
carried a spyderco native for years until their replacement costs skyrocketed and was afraid to lose it or have it stolen. unfortunate. great knife, size and steel. the us made spydercos are nice knives and completely out of my price range.
the EL-01 is remarkable and probably the best DEAL in knives of this size currently. that said, the thing is rather large, which is great if you are working in the trades or around your shop. as i work in a hospital, the first time i took it out and CLACK, opened it up, it attracted WAY too much attention. law enforcement also notices it easily in your pocket and there is no way you are explaining it away as a "pocket knive" in larger urban districts and ANYWHERE in the e.u.
benchmade tanto folders and their ilk are the same problem. G10 sides, tanto blades, all scream "military" which may be your point but for low profile carry, problematic.
carried the srm 962 (getting more difficult to find) for a while. fairly elegant, decent steel, not badly made, unobtrusive for a knife with a decent size blade, but a little thicker in width than i like. the srm 909 (also getting difficult to find) is great and if i could find them for under 20usd i would buy 5.
ganzo 704, not bad if you ease some of the sharp edges of the g10 with a file it wont wear a hole in your pants so fast, not crazy about 8cr steel, but still a little thick for my liking. notice it everytime i get in the car.
srm 704, 738, very inexpensive , blades a little small for me but in some jurisdictions may be to ones benefit, my examples were not particularly well made.
ka-bar ken onion assisted openers are a blast to play with but open so quickly people think they are automatic knives, again, too much attention.
which brings me to my current EDC. ka-bar 4062 dozier folders. 16usd.
the blaze orange zytel handles version currently. thin, unobtrusive in my pocket, flat enough for my pocket EDC kit ( ka-bar, pen, sharpie, lighter, nitecore D-10, spare cell, multi-tool, bandanna, hemostats, credit card magnifiers) AUS-8A steel, lock-back, explainable, not too military, easy to find in a mess after use or in low light. lose it? damn, get another.
will keep looking. next?
Inron MY803 Tactical Pocket EDC Folding knife 9Cr13Mov Blade G10 Handle
Enlan EL01
Sanrenmu 763. I don't believe it is "tactical" and its materials are typical for - good - budget knives but, for me, is one of the best budget everyday folding knives someone can buy:
- It can be flicked open / close really easily (just pull axis lock button back and flick your hand)
- No blade play
- Very sturdy axis lock
- Light
- Enough cutting power for daily use and small enough to be used with accuracy
Navy K607. Good quality, sturdy knife. Flicks like a Spyderco, no blade play
Navy K628. Good quality, sturdy knife, no blade play
Ganzo G704. Good quality, sturdy knife. Axis lock, flicks, no blade play
My favorite knives:
Ganzo G704
Ganzo G710
Kershaw Asset
Kershaw Tremor
The Chinese-made assisted-opening Kershaws are not easy to get in every country, and are not legal everywhere. I have recommended the Tremor many times, but I recently acquired the Asset. It's like a mini-Tremor, and it's my new EDC. :)
EDIT: I have SanRenMu GB-763 coming soon from Exduct that I expect to love.
just from what i have
Ganzo 704 is heavy but one of the best - if you get it you may want to check the newer version at exduct, its the only version they have it seems now.
the review says 9Cr13MoV thats great but its all about the heat treatment - so who knows. so far i am very happy for $20 , axis lock , ok clip , good g10 handle decent grip , modeled after a great knife , has a thick blade 4mm, so if you dont mind a bit heavy its best under $20 for me. Sadly i have no SRM - they come highly recommended here but i havent seen one that made me pull the trigger.
i know you said budget but if you want to get very nice spyderco budget the Tenacious is top tier budget has a large feel and is great all around - only knock is its a liner lock but its the best one have seen. extremely solid lockup due to the precision, fit n finish are perfect
a fantastic lightweight model is the Spyderco Delica , pick you steel vg-10 or better, rock solid lightweight and meets most legal BS. you will forget its there . unique grip on it too
this is not a budget knife in the sense that its cheap , it is something you will get near infinite reliable use if used properly . all depends on your use i hate to overspend but quality pays for itself.
I have about 20 SRM, Navy etc knives. For a larger tactical type, I like my Navy 631s and Ganzo 710 the best. I didn’t care for my Enlan L01 and didn’t see worth keeping it so I gave it to a friend.
I love my Ganzo 704 but I hear build quality can be inconsistent. Not that any are bad, just that some have a little verticle blade play when locked.
I don't own one yet but I hear the Enlan EL01 is every bit as good but more consistent in build tolerances.
Spyderco Tenacious or Inron MY801
I really like the Enlan EL-01.
The Buck Redpoint is worthy of consideration. The opening mechanism is non-assisted, but just as fast.
It also locks both open and closed.
I like my 763, but I would not put in in the "Tactical Knife" category, it is a small EDC knife.
If I seriously need 'tactical', I would probably not carry a Chinese knockoff. If it's just a look you want, then that's cool. But if your life will be depending on it, buy a recognized brand with a 3 1/2" or larger blade, preferably one that has Assisted Opening, and learn how to use it so well you can do it with your eyes closed.
+1
My Enlan El03 is pretty solid, sturdy and its blade is more beautiful than the blade of my Enlan el01. In small folder categorie, my sanrenmu 710 and 733 are very good.
Yeah, depending upon your definition of "tactical", I'd lean toward the EL01. Big, serious knife with outstanding fit and finish. And truly budget.
+1
Ka-Bar 4062 dozier folder
It's a one and done type thing.
I prefer the black.
Not sure how you define tactical, but the 763 is the best budget knife that I know of. The 710 is a good option if you like tip down carry, but I prefer the 763 for grip, the lock, and a few other items.
There are many options if you want a larger/heavier knife. I like my BM mini-ambush, Delica 4 FFG, and several others....but I still carry the 763 the most. The blade shape really adds to it capability/flexibility.
to say thank for all the info inside this thread, It has helped me make my purchase of the 763 and the T21 SRM's. Glad someone started this thread so I didnt have to. 