ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

Got myself a RAT-II in AUS-8 recently, nice and light/compact. :+1: If I had to compare the value with a light it would be with the BLF A6/S1. Maybe I can now add a knife to my wallet/phone/S1 shorty/car key/pen EDC, given its light weight.

Any thoughts on the RAT-II in AUS-8? My next (and final) knife would be the Delica4 instead of the RAT-II in D2, but that’s a long way from now since I’m not really a knife guy and prefer cheap-o razor blades for boxes.

I really like the RAT2 but if I had to get another one I’d want the R2D2 as the AUS-8 dulls way too quickly.


This is true. However, putting a blanket hardness of 56-58 across all steels (as it seems generally happens with the chinese manufactured blades) is foolish because you miss out on many of the qualities of various steels.

M390, like I used in my example, is best at 60-62. Unless you are being stupid with it, it will not chip out at that hardness and you get a huge (HUGE) increase in edge retention. Even S35Vn is better around the 60 mark. At 58 it is actually pretty soft (for that steel) and the performance suffers because of that.

Rockwell hardness is a complex thing, and the changes made to each steel are varied. But a lot of people think that 58 is only 1 different than 59 so it can’t really matter than much, but that’s not how the scale works. It’s an exponential scale so 1 point of hardness can make a really large difference in toughness and edge retention etc.

56-58 is fine for the low end or softer steels…8Cr, 440C, etc. Some can be taken a bit higher but generally those steels are reaching their best in that 56-58 range. But newer technology, higher end steels, are usually at their best in the low to mid 60s. Of course there are always exceptions and personal preference based on use. For example if I were making a camp chopper out of 3V, I might leave it about 59 to increase the toughness. But there are a few knife makers that put in the the 60-61 range. I’ve seen it at 62 in smaller fixed blades and folders to help increase edge retention where the toughness matters much less.

The new frame-lock Ganzo Firebird FH13-SS appeared on Aliexpress. :slight_smile:

Thanks for the info, I’ll keep the R2D2 in mind in case I ever want another RAT2 with a blade that keeps its edge better.

Gerber Suspension on sale on Amazon right now. $19.97
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-01471-Suspension-Multi-Plier/dp/B000EDPT9K/ref=gbps_tit_s-3_d337_e30bb185?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=378ac6ee-552b-4f4f-943a-e84d8730d337&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_all&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=MCF8RXZAV44PERTK6PFF

Work Sharp knife and tool sharpener, Ken Onion Edition on sale too right now for $101.36 for the next 5 hours.

https://www.amazon.com/Work-Sharp-Knife-Sharpener-Onion/dp/B00EJ9CQKA/ref=gbps_tit_s-3_d337_310b55ee?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=378ac6ee-552b-4f4f-943a-e84d8730d337&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_all&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1E220ZQZVQGZKHRSPQR4&th=1

I see $129.95 from my end…

Click on the standard packaging. “Frustration Free” is 129.

Click on the standard packaging buying option.

Nice find. Seems to me that in knives 2018 is the year of the Kaiken and the Cleaver styled blades.

In 18 hours from now Vipon will have a coupon available for the Kizer V4461 Series A1/A2. Regularly $66.50, with upcoming coupon $33.25

Amazon Link

Vipon Link

No affiliate link or anything. Just passing on the good deal. At least I think it’s a good deal. Searched around for it some and couldn’t find it this cheap. If you haven’t used Vipon it’s easy. Just create a account, just like anywhere else, then click “Get Coupon” and the coupon code will come up on the screen for you to copy and paste.

Sanrenmu 9001, Ganzo FH11 and Sanrenmu 9002 side by side (more pics here):

Sanrenmu Land 910 plus, Ganzo FH11 and Sanrenmu 1161:

Which one feels the most compact in your hand? Thanks.

That’s the Sanrenmu 9002. It weights only 3.57 oz (101 g) and the handle is the thinnest (0.405” / 10.3 mm).

$85 w/ free shipping

(photos not showing up)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/IzNpT9W

Found these on ali. the johnnyjammie gamma and zetta. look pretty good. there are some russian vids on youtube about them.
does anybody know if these are good?
they look interesting at least.

New Ganzo FH12, FH21 and FH31 on Aliexpress. All of them comes with D2 blade and ball bearings. :+1:


Two Sun TS48 & TS51

Tangram Santa Fe

Sanrenmu S708

Mora Allround, Hx Outdoors Bushcraft and Sanrenmu S708: