ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

Yes. There are other knives planned for the new steel but those are the two that jumped out at me. Michael Emler is the designer of the Sea Snake. He has been testing one of the prototypes and I’ve seen a lot of it watching his live stream on YouTube. It has a lot of features I like in an EDC fixed blade.

I mostly carry folders but sometimes, I like freeing up my pockets and moving to a small belt knife. For the last year or so, that’s mostly been the Real Steel Receptor. It’s a fantastic little knife and I’m sure it’ll stay in my EDC rotation. Seeing the thin Wharncliffe of the Sea Snake in action though… I have to admit that I’m excited to try it out.

Thanks. Yeah, the blue is a bit brighter in the photos than in reality, but still very nice. The scales are rather thick, so it makes the knife a bit much for an EDC. The arc-lock is solid. Really, for the price these knives were tremendous deals. The steel type isn’t indicated anywhere, but given the age I’m pretty convinced it’s 8Cr13Mov.

I sometimes forgive the extra pocket thickness for a comfortable user and that one sure is pretty. Sanrenmu’s 8Cr13Mov is okay. Their 12C27 is exceptional. I periodically check their AliExpress store to check for 12C27 knives with interesting handle materials like this. I’d love to find one of the Land knives with 12C27 and wood scales.

Whatever you buy, don’t buy 1095, 1075 or 1060 steels, as they’ve corrosion rating 0.

Else I consider to buy a super steel knife, maybe a TwoSun as they have good prices for these steels.
What other brands are recommended for budget super steel knives?

CH knives has quite a few models in S35VN/M390/Ti/CF, usually around $100/$150 and their quality is very good.
Kizer has once in a while sales on some models with S35VN, like for example the one I posed a few posts above from KnifeCenter, or if you look at their store on Aliexpress, they have a few models on sale right now below $100.

My wife took her little Kershaw pink folder to the airport. She totally forgot. She has already checked her bag so she had to toss it.
She loves that little knife. I bought it for her.
Anyone know of a small pink folder that’s affordable?

The QSP Parrot fits the bill. Goes for around $21. Love this knife. I dyed mine fuchsia, but it was originally a lighter pink.

https://whitemountainknives.com/qsp-outdoor-parrot-knife-army-pink-g10-handle-440c-stainless-plain-qs102-c/

This is true. I have both the Kizer stores in my favorites on AliExpress. I take a look through their inventory every once in a while. I’ve seen some great deals on knives in VG-10, N690, or S35VN. I’ve also seen some big sales at BladeHQ. There are special editions like the premium Kershaws in S35VN and M390. The S35VN versions of the Elementum are around $80 if you can catch them in stock.

The best “budget super steel” is still a TwoSun. You can get the little TS150 in S90V for just under $50. Has anyone tested the edge retention on that little knife?

Best TwoSun according to LuvThemKnives, here Sorted by price.

TS68 M390 blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33025822185.html usd 90
TS124 S90V https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000319815769.html usd 120
TS134 M390 blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000627107071.html usd 120
TS49 M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001249543509.html usd 130
TS127 S90V blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001203088664.html (also 14C28N) usd 140
TS81 S90V blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001191383660.html usd 140
TS180 Vortex M390 blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000129720622.html usd 140
TS223 M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001317923055.html usd 150
TS166 M390 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000932347715.html usd 160
TS182 M390 blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000836637501.html usd 170
TS177 Maverick M390 blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000957428931.html usd 180
TS100 integral M390 blade https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33022647114.html usd 240

Not the TS150 but Cedric & Ada tested Twosun S90V here
I love TwoSun knives, but it seems their S90V is not that great, at least on the one knife he got.

Quick question, are automatics now illegal…? Some years ago got ganzo auto that seemed a lot better than its cheap price point. Seems all of them are now discontinued…?

Legality depends on the state and local laws. Also dependent on if the police officer wants to give you trouble or not.

The Kabar Dozier is the best knife ever made. Designed by a real knife man. Not chinese junk.

Ok, thanks for the reply. Where is a good place to get an automatic now, what are budget decent brands to look at…? Seems everywhere I’ve looked they’re all discontinued…?

Sorry I don’t have a source as I live in California, where automatics over 2 inches are illegal. Therefore no fun OTFs and the like allowed here.

there are two types of “automatics” that i know about.

1. Out the Front. switchblade. illegal in my state.
2. Spring assist. side opening. legal in my state.

usually, when talking about autos, #2 is what the law means.
here is my source: smkw.com.

Welcome to BLF! Just curious about your username: Fan/owner of a Grimsmo? Related to John?

I agree with him. Not chinese junk. Taiwanese junk. Taiwanese, Chinese, can’t all knives just get along. The man may have designed it but, leave it up to western culture to send it overseas for cheap labor and materials, sometimes. I’m not complaining. I love a well put together knife.

My grandfather, who was a end of WW2 and Korean war vet. Yeah, he was a glutton for punishment and not super honest on his age at the time, told me shortly before he died. “Todd, the only difference between Benchmade and those chinese knives is the zip code.” Nah, I’m just joking, he didn’t say any of that nonsense. He would of slapped me in the back of the head for buying a ESE knife. I never had to buy a knife of my own while he was alive. So I got really crappy hand me down Case knives. Nah, I’m just kiddin, he didn’t give me any of those. He did throw a few Bucks my way on occasion. I mean literally threw. Did I mention my grandfather was a mean old man? Nah, just kidding, he wasn’t. Come to think of it, he never gave me a knife.

What was I even on about anyway?

Thanks, ya the automatic side opening is what I’m looking for. According to the chart, legal in my State of Fl.

Got a very very basic knowledge of these, only owning my cheap gonzo still real strong side opening no asset needed. Am I wrong thinking spring asset and automatic are 2 different things…?

Hard to beat the Boker Kalashnikovs, I see them as low as $33 for some models and they are plenty snappy. Mine seems like solid quality too, I’ve had it several years and haven’t had any problems with it.