A lot of the knives on AliExpress may have a big name but are counterfeits hence the great prices on some, so as mentioned previously quality is a crapshoot. That being said if you just want a big knife to have around I like my Medford Pratorean knockoff from Ali. If you are looking for a solid budget EDC knife though I think the Ontraio RAT or RAT2 are great places to start.
From the list the ystart and the ganzo g720.
From other options… A lot of them, enlan el01, el08, el04, ganzo g704, 712, 710… Hardns viper and that 9063 from sanrenmu it is a big deal too.
Spyderco tenacious is a good option but it is in a other category of price, at least in Europe.
Xatu, I know what you mean. In the usa you can buy a genuine Ontario RAT for $27.50 at Amazon. Here in europe you can not buy it below 50 euro!! I am not going to spend 200+ euro on a “fancy” brand name knife that I know has been manufactured in China also, although be it at higher standards of finish and materials. The clone’s will do for me, I am not Jeremiah Johnson where my life depends on having the best knife available 
That’ right man.
But I feel a lot of depression when for the same price, here in Europe, I can’t buy the original, like Ontario Rat 1, 27,50$ the good one, and +o- the same price for a copy from Aliexpress 
Obviously, if I could choose, I would buy the original, because from China when you buy replica/clone is always a lottery.
Value for money: Sanrenmu 7010, Sanrenmu 7063, Sanrenmu 7089, Ganzo G717 and EKA Swede 8.
Could you give us some more information, what you need (or want ;) ).
You wrote: not too large - how long could it be (please not only in inch - cm would be great, for the European members - we have the metric system. Some will know this sentence: "They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese? No, they got the metric system there". I love Pulp Fiction).
@brad, RonMuller:
You should try one of the good chinese brands (I don't speak about the Browning - I would not buy this and my next sentences would not include this brand). Replicas - the Ganzo G720 is one - Lionsteel SR1), but has a good quality. Each other is not a replica.
Try a Sanrenmu, Enlan/Bee, Ganzo or Y-Star - these have a great quality and are comparable which knives of western brands, which cost much more.
For example: Enlan EL01 (cost less as $15 with a black handle) - this is a beast and is comparable with knives, which cost $60-80.
If you compare it with a with a $200 - of course, this will have a better quality. I compared EL01 with a Zero Tolerance 0560 (price in Germany round about 220€, US price is a little bit cheaper $210-225
I don't speak about $10 Reeve, Strider or Hinderer copies. Most are crap and copy brands and designs of the famous companies.
Some Ganzo knives look like Benchmade, Lionsteel or H&K (sold by Benchmade) but do never copy a brandlogo and want to be a "look like genuine" product. All have the Ganzo logo.
Back to Dooku:
Maybe some more information about:
Handle material: G10, micarta, wood, stainless steel
Handle color: Only black, or do you want a striking color (like red or orange)
Blade: Coated, serration
Lock system: Liner, mono, axis, backlock or slipjoint (without lock - nice for Europeans because legal in most countries without removing the thumbpin)
Here are only my favorite knives - have bought all of the list a few times (for myself or friends) or in different handle colors (I like not coated blades without serration, stonewashed finish is a big plus, not black another good point for me - have to much black handle knives, prefer G10 and micarta get around wood and stainless steel if possible):
All folders:
Big blades (round about 90mm) and heavy workers (thicker blade): Enlan EL 01 link to thread with a few pictures of steve (who like the EL01 very much - I think he has all handle and blade versions, which are sold under different brands), Ganzo G704.
Only big blade (round about 90mm): Enlan EL02B, Enlan EL04 MCT, Sanrenmu 9063, Sanrenmu 913P (the only coated blade and one of two with serration I own - but a great knife for a incredible cheap price)
EDC knives with 70-80mm blade: SRM763 (not available on the market anymore with a G10 handle, but the new 7063 with aluminum handle), Sanrenmu 9055 (slipjoint)
Some pictures:
Link to my review (written in German) about the Sanrenmu 7063, RealSteel E963 with a few pictures (incl a SRM763 with G10 handle).
Ganzo G704:
Sorry for the bad quality: SRM 9055, SRM 913P, Enlan EL04 MCT, Enlan EL02B
I really love my ganzo G720. Really smooth axis lock and solid piece of kit. Love it. In europe you can get Moras fairly cheap and they are outstanding knives for the money.
I am not sure if any one of you used chicagocutlery’s knives. They are very good. Check out the knives on their site.
The Ganzo G710 still is my favorite “badass” chinese folder: well executed axis lock, good finish, truly useful blade shape and great ergonomics.
I would like to get a G716 too, for the same reasons.
Enlan EL01 is a fantastic piece also and very solid, quick opening action via the convenient flipper with a really useful size and blade shape.
For something different I also advise Kershaw “Needs Work” which is spring-action assisted opening, quicker as the blink of an eye; its wharncliffe blade is a real winner in use.
I also bought a couple of G620 for about 8$ ea. which makes them the cheapest of the selection, and actually I’m favourably impressed by them: smooth and quick assisted opening, absolutely ZERO blade play, symmetric grind lines and very proportionate design. I urge you to get one at least.
I personally find the blade shape of G720 not well suited to a folding knife, which I find needs to be less wide for better useability and comfort.
Folding knives, all of them (including those expensive “real deal” masterpieces), are nothing but toys when it comes to serious (heavy) use, that is what fixed blade knives are for, nonetheless folders prove convenient and useful on a daily basis, so I would get one that does not mimic a fixed-blade-tough knife geometry, but one that is comfortable and easier to manage, and actually cuts well.
All knives need reprofiling of the edge upon receiving them from factory, I have bought LOTS and never found a remotely satisfying sharpness level on any of them. Most I also find to come with too obtuse an edge to start with. So, also invest in some coarse stone or a power tool to grin the dullness away. I go the Tormek way for the first welcome.
American brands are expensive in europe (double at least), the same with cars etc. This is the reason why chinese brands like sanrenmu and so have so success in europe.
The only one of your choices that I’d have a hard think about ordering is the Browning, they can be good, or not so good but as you say cheap knife and comes in a wide variety of styles.
I bought a Y-Start G10 and Micarta Solid knife.
Enlan EL-01 I have, erm, several :bigsmile: You’ll be hard pushed to beat it for the price. Big strong knife. $14 depending on model - the EL-01D With rosewood scales is$19. A particular favourite of mine.
Enlan EL-04MCT Big good looking knife with textured Micarta scales, strong Axis lock.
SanRenMu 9063 is good value at the moment un-badged at FastTech excellent value for $15
SanRenMu 7063 both the liner lock and Axis lock versions are great knives, the Axis lock on the 763/7063 is one of if not the best Axis locks on any Chinese knife, just my opinion but I do have quite a few Axis lock knives now.
isti’s Steel Reviews blogspot has a lot of good value knives, some higher end but a lot of inexpensive ones as well.
As for the Spyderco Tenacious being a budget knife - £47 in the U.K. or $72, not so budget outside the U.S.A. and guess what, made in China, uses the same 8Cr13MoV steel as most of the Chinese budget knives, Enlan and particularly SanRenMu heat treat is good.
Personally I shop for knives on both FastTech and AliExpress and have had very little problems and the one I did have was sorted in 48 Hrs (AliExpress).
EDIT…………….I also rate highly the clones that AliExpress sell, you pay your money you take your choice, not the real thing, unless you pay what I’d call a lot you don’t get the same materials as the original, still worth considering.
A particularly nice Spyderco Hungarian clone that I bought - $20 delivered, bronze washers, good G10 scales and a smooth opening 440C blade.
I was so impressed with the first one that I got I ordered the other 5 in the series, only one wouldn’t open freely and a quick strip down and clean/lube had it working great. The assist mechanism is simple.
I was surprised at the first one - there’s nothing about it being assisted opening on FastTech, could have been dodgy with customs but they all came through no bother.
This may come as a surprise to some since I have rained so much praise on certain models on aliexpress.
I would strongly echo ronmuller’s recommendation of the Spyderco Tenacious.
Or if that seems like too large a knife,…its smaller brother the Spyderco Ambitious.
The Tenacious is known as the gateway knife on most lf the dedicated knife forum and among collectors.
At $35ish,…I would consider it a budget knife.
You just don’t understand how sharp the real Spyderco’s come out of the factory, and just how perfect and addicting the Spydie hole is to use….over and over until you have it in hand.
A good $35 imo that you will carry and use often is far better than four mediocre ones that will end up sitting in the drawer.
The Spyderco clones just aren’t there yet imo.
Its the perfect starter knife imo.
hmm, i’ve been looking at knives a couple of times.
is fasttech still a good source for knives? if so, maybe the Enlan bee EL-01B would be a good knife for me?
i’d use it for scouting and general outdoor use probably. seems to be a quite tough knife?
I have one and like it a lot.
It is a large knife, mind that.
Opens quick, large blade with lots of edge to use, nice shape and useable point to pierce stuff with.
I would get it.
But for the outdoors I would only bring a fixed blade knife.
And here’s one of my G620 right after edge reprofiling
@Oscar:
The Enlan EL01 is the knife, most members recommend in this forum. It's solid, has great quality and you will like it. Please don't compare the flipper with a $200 knife. The ZT 0560 flips really easy - you touch it and the blade flips (you don't need any action of the hand). The EL01 flips if you move the hand quickly (out of the box). Of course you can replace the washers and it will flip better.
Heavy worker:
Take a look at this youtube review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axX_vsTvDWE
I’ll agree that a Tenacious is a great $35 worth but outside the U.S.A. and into the E.U. and the U.K. then the $35 becomes nearer $70 it doesn’t make as much sense, I bought a (well 3 actually) Paramilitary 2 clone for around $20 delivered, the same price for a Vallotton or Hungarian clone. Those 3 cost less to buy than a single Tenacious. Shipping, Import taxes and another layer of profit means things are more expensive for us in the U.K. when bought from the U.S.A. than from China. A single knife imported for $20 falls below the threshold for taxation. The more expensive knife doesn’t, skewing things in favour of the direct from China knife.
Seems like a lot of info has been added to the thread just when I was away
Thank you all for this great input, and now to answer some questions from some members:
Blade length: up to 9cm (or 3.55 inch) is ok, anything over 10cm is a problem in my country.
Handle material: G10 or micarta is good, I do NOT want wood.
Handle color: Black or grey is my favorite, but I will not shy away from some striking colors
Blade: normal blade, no serration but coating is an option.
Lock system: I have no real experience with locking systems. But I am located in europe, which seems to be relevant for some locking systems(but not really concerned about that).
It seems there is now enough options to choose from looking at all of the posts from members who replied, it’s very much appreciated. This will make my searching more easier and effective on websites like Aliexpress(and a few others). I will probably buy more then one knife, at these prices I can try out a few and see what I like and maybe gift a few to some friends.
How about a Sanrenmu 7010 black stonewashed?
