ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

@chronovore The only AUS8 blade I own (I think) is the Ontario RAT 2.
I really like that knife but the steel (on mine) is getting dull like a freshly opened tin can.

My SRM 710 or 9306 in 8Cr behave much better. Still I’m with you, in budget steels my favourite is 14C28N.
My best D2 blade is on my workday edc knife, the Green Thorn Mouse 3, the clone of a Slysz custom knife.

If they made a legitimate production knife with the same specs I’d probably get another one, it’s just so perfect for my needs.
I use it everyday to cut up to 3mm vegetabaly tanned leather, 20mm EVA foam - or a thread at the sewing machine :wink:
For sharpening I clamp it at the edge of the table, mark the edge with a sharpie and file it with my appr. 600 grit diamond file.

When the burr occurs, I do the other side. Then stropping only to remove the burr.
This “toothy” edge lasts much longer than a mirror polish, in between I strop it or I use a diamond honing steel (maybe 1000 grit)
I only made the mistake once to sharpen it to a very acute angle, 20 deg per side or less, chips where what I got.
Back to something around 25 deg and it handles everything I’m throwing at it.

The small form factor (15cm open, 6cm blade) is also easier to control at heavy cutting, a big knife is only good for show or maybe for bloody stuff (I’m not a wilderness guy)

Thanks for all the help guys...

Watched that vid, guess blade steel is like most other things, hard to trust any claims till a trusted source proves it out.

Seems aus-8 can be a decent blade and possibly on par with d2, at least from certain companies anyhow. Maybe the company heat treat process is more important than the actual claimed steel composition in some cases. If claimed steel composition is even correct..?

Btw, is that guy in the video a trusted source.?

You are welcome. To summarize the important points: the type of steel certainly matters but so does the heat treatment and the blade geometry. Some companies do better than others. Edge retention can improve with sharpening and initial factory edges aren't always the best indicator of quality. Advertising and long-repeated internet opinions do not always match reality.

Yes, Outpost 76 is a trusted source. He does a good job controlling variables. For instance, he always tapes off a 1" section of blade. He always cuts the same sort of material. He puts the same sort of edge on what he tests. He always does a few sharpenings to get fresh steel and tests in between edges to ensure stable results. He's also been doing it for a while and demonstrates a good understanding of what he is doing. The results obviously speak to a specific type of edge on a specific type of medium but much like gel tests for ammo, the point is to create a standard medium for comparison. His results do seem consistent with my general experiences on the steels I know.

As far as trusting the steel stamp on a particular knife, most well-known brands can be trusted to use what they claim. There are a few bad companies out there like Fura and Eafengrow. Luckily, there are people doing independent testing to check. If you are curious about a brand, feel free to ask.

Does anyone have a EOS Prawn? Is it a decent knife? I have had one on my list for quite some time but have never ordered it. I am not big on watching Youtube reviews. I’d rather hear it from someone who actually has one and uses it.

Reviews depend on the reviewer. Some channels seem to showcase new product without being too critical. I prefer channels that use, carry, or test knives in preparation for a meaningful discussion.

I'd actually never heard of the EOS Prawn. I looked it up. It appears to be a discontinued product from Elite Outfitting Solutions. It looks like you can get different scale materials with prices ranging $100-200. It's made in the USA but that still feels expensive for D2. The blade seems a little chunky at 2.1" long and 0.15" thick. It's hard to rule something out without firsthand experience but stats like those would prevent me from gaining firsthand experience.

Knife Center seems to have the EOS prawn in stock. However $175 for D2 does seems steep. I’d also be careful with any blade that has those little speed holes that can trap debris and moisture in them, especially for a non-stainless steel.

All excellent points. Thank you. I think I shall move on to more proven products. Honestly it was the looks that got me.

I concur. Nice looking knife, but these issues caused me to move on to others.

Sounds like marriage… :smiling_imp:

We’ve all been there, right?

My wife says I look old. Obviously she’s overdue for her next eye exam. :nerd_face:

The Bestech Engine looks similar to the EOS Prawn. I just got this one from Drop.com for $135. It’s nice, but the handle is just too short for me.

Oh yeah, forgot about that one. Thank you. I have a Bestech Pebble and it is a mighty fine knife. The Engine might be a better choice than the Prawn. At least the odds of it being good are better anyway. Put that on the list so I don’t forget it.

I’ve really been trying to slow down on my knife buying. I am not so much a collector so I feel guilty when a knife just sits around not getting used. My friends on the other hand love it when I get to feeling that way because I start giving them away.

Checked my email to find that in there. How nice looking is that? Never mind that, not a collector thing above. :wink:

I’m really digging the Civivi Dogma!

Can anyone recommend some large Chinese budget fixed knives for me?

Something like the Harnds HK5006 (Desert Fox) would be ideal but the only seller with stock since it’s been discontinued wants too much for them.

The Brother F001 looks interesting but I’d prefer something larger.

Thanks for any help.

How about Morakniv knives? They are reputable with a pretty wide selection of prices, I own two and they seem to fit my large hands quite well.

I have one and it’s a lot smaller than I’m looking for, I want something heavy duty and about 10”/25cm overall. The Mora (Bahco 2444) is about a inch and a half shorter has a delicate thin blade.

I have a Bahco 2449 wrecking knife and a Hultafords Heavy Duty GK knife which are both bigger and have thicker blades but I’m looking for something bigger than those as well.

That looks like a great alternative to the Prawn. The thinner 0.12" blade stock should be a much better fit for that blade length. The S35VN should be much better for EDC.

I haven't tried any of the premium Bestechs but my experience with their budget knives has been fantastic. Fit, finish, and action are all excellent and have actually improved since the Pebble was released. If you end up getting one of these, please share your experiences with it here.

The Desert Fox is currently $60 on Amazon. What was the going price when it was in production?

I ask because if you love the knife and you love the sheath, that might not be terrible. It looks expensive compared to fixed blades in 9Cr18Mov from Schrade, CRKT, etc. but those are junk. My experience with Harnds has been okay. Compare it to decent fixed blades in 9Cr18Mov from Real Steel or Steel Will: https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Fixed-Blade-Knives--179#/filter:price:40:90/filter:blade_material:9Cr18MoV

Beyond that, do you have any preferences regarding steel, sheath type, etc.? For another $10, you could get a Ruike Jager. The Jager is a very nice fixed blade. It's a little more compact but still a good size. I prefer that kind of sheath for regular carry. It's also 14C28N. Its particular balance of toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance makes 14C28N a great choice for fixed blades.