ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

Sure! :+1:

NICE! I’d been holding out for a lightly used Spyderco kitchen knife, but frankly this one looks amazing. Where’d you find it for $35?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203537827341
30$ + 5$ tax

Just over a year of ownership. The Asher Nomad.

This is my EDC knife. It still looks just like it did the day I got it. Totally beautiful minimalist flawless performing knife. So glad I picked this up and Justin gave me excellent customer service (replaced my 1st one that had some blade play in it).

The short answer is yes, they perform ok. And when I say ok, I’m comparing that exact knife of which I have 3 to mach more expensive cooks knives from Henkle, Trident, Felix, F-Dick that cost a lot more and come out of Solingen Germany. They come very sharp but lack the weight of the German/Japanese cooking knives. But for $35bux well they are ok. I bought a flipper Twosun knife two off eBay that I’m very impressed with. Very well made, great precision. I wouldn’t pay hundreds of dollars for a twosun knife but the metals on their outdoor knives I believe have been tested so they apparently are what they vkaim them to be.

Thanks for your frank observation about this Two Sun knife. So if it’s about worth $35, then I’ll pass. I thought it might be a sleeper value. I am smitten by Japanese cutlery, but the entry cost for the real authentic quality grade pieces is rather steep. I’m not in a hurry, as I have some decent knives I’m used to periodically honing.

Ever heard of Cutco? I first learned about them through their sheers (The Super Sheers model). Amazing cutting power. So damned solid. And with the warranty, it’s like a lifetime piece. They honor it even if you weren’t the original owner (I wasn’t—bought it as lightly tested overstock). Well, I eventually got around to picking up one of their carving knives (saber design) lightly used for a steal price. That thing is amazing. Glides through beef with ease. Rarely have to hone it. But its shape doesn’t lend itself to rapid chopping & kitchen utility duty.


Another one :frowning:

These are definitely worth it. I’m an amateur in the kitchen but I have used more expensive knives. I’ve owned Cutco knives for almost twenty years. I’ve only had the TwoSun kitchen knives for a short time but the quality seems to be excellent. As far as weight, I like the balance on the four models I’ve tried. I don’t remember which one is which, but there are differences in weight, blade thickness, handle size and shape, etc.

One thing to consider is that these use 14C28N. This steel has a fine grain structure and an excellent balance of properties. Lots of kitchen knives, including expensive ones, still use X50CrMoV15 or 440A. (Cutco supposedly uses the latter.) You should get noticeably better edge retention from 14C28N. It has better corrosion resistance than either. (Yes, 14C28N is more stainless than 440A.) It is one of the toughest stainless blade steels, just behind AEB-L and LC200N. It is also relatively easy to sharpen.

The best place to find these is stalking auctions on eBay.

After spending two hours on whetstones my Terva Skrama now has a propper convex without secondary edge and boy oh boy this thing cuts like a laser! Not sure if the 80CrV2 steel be tough enough for that edge in a large knife but I’ll know soon enough.

Last one, I swear :frowning:

You also need the santoku model!

My favorite kitchen knife is this one :

Super sharp and hold edge much better than my more expensive one with triple layer forged AUS8.

My Para3 pimp before & after:



Very nice colours, that turned out really well!

I have a RIT die job in planning too, a black micarta Kizer Yorkie is ordered that will arrive some day if fortune allows, and I will die the micarta daffodil yellow. The micarta already being dark grey I expect an ocre outcome. Will report.
(pic of the knife from the internet)

Thanks! At the moment I have only this racing red color but I’m planning to try new ones like yellow and purple. I’m curious about your result with the yellow.

Since I joined here three years ago I’ve picked up a few knives, starting with Land 9104 from Gearbest that one of you recommended. Since then I’ve added a few budget knives - the Browning from ebay and the rest from AE. No real need or reason to buy, just thought they looked good. I don’t EDC as knife laws are pretty strict in my state of Victoria, Australia, you need to have a lawful reason to carry one and as I’m sales of industrial sensors, I don’t think I qualify. Usually take one when I go bush walking but haven’t really had a need to use it.

Lined these up in order of acquisition starting with the Land. The Harnds and Sanrenmu feel and look great - quality in my noobie opinion. I woulodn’t know a good metal from bad. The Land good, Ganzo and Sanrenmu average and the Browning is a blunt POS

Land 9104 12C27
Browning X42 440C
Petrified Fish 828 D2
SANRENMU 7129 12C27
Ganzo Firebird F7551 440C
Harnds Talisman 14C28N





Any thoughts, comments on the collection? Dodgy, fake, value for money?

I got a Talisman. Noice.

What are some of the things you like about the Talisman and what knives would you say come close to it at this price point (around $40?).

Unno, just a nice solid feel, buttery smooth action, etc.

I’m not A Knife Guy™, so I’m probably not the guy you want to be taking knife advice from. :laughing:

Just like lights, the fancier (ie, pricier) ones I got, I keep home and just kinds play with them when I’m in the mood, but don’t EDC them and risk losing/scratching/dropping them. I have dedicated beaters for that (which I don’t actually beat, as I’m pretty gentle with all my tools).

Thanks. Always good to hear other experiences no matter the collecting level. I’m more of an axis lock kind of guy, but do appreciate a good liner lock. I’ve got only one flipper and it’s OK. But was thinking of adding a decent sub $50 flipper at some point. There’s a few reviews on the Talisman and generally it did well.

I’ve got that dragon, too, but it’s a bit too small for my taste, though still didn’t make up my mind if I want to try the bigger Ruike P801.

I would’ve liked the dragon only stamped in instead of that hand sanding in different directions so I acid etched it first and then decided to dress it up with customs scales.




Not perfect but I like it. The knife is still to small for my taste.