[Inazone]

This isn't about the cheapest, most underrated or simply "best" knife - just knives that have surprised people with how well they performed compared to what you would expect for the price. I'm not talking about the mint condition, high-end safe queen you found for a buck at a garage sale, but something that you bought knowing that it was cheap and expecting to perform like it.

For me, it has been this Guidesman folder (also sold under other brand names here and there) that I bought at Menard's for $1.99 and has outlasted and outperformed knives that literally cost ten or even twenty times as much. It doesn't look like it does in the picture these days, but it had surprisingly held its edge, has no play in the blade and still locks up securely every time.

 

[2 RAVENS]

Another Mora thread.
OP: Old Hickory paring knife for seven bucks.

 

[gearheadon44s]

I had a hunting knife I bought at a yard sale for a quarter. No handle, not rusted, but it was dark grey. I bought it thinking it might of been homemade. I took it home cleaned it up. Their was german markings on the blade and made in solingen. The stamping was pretty crude. Man that knife would hold an edge forever. Sadly I forgot to lock my truck one day and some tweeker got it off my dash.

 

[okcmco]

simple

the answer for me is simple...my Mora Companion

 

[ForestBeekeeper]

A simple 'Swiss army' knife.

 

[SCALPHUNTER]

A friend of mine is a Knifesmith in the country of Upstate New York. He specializes in hand forged knives of the 1700-1800's era. The two best knives he has made for me in the past which I rate both equally, is this set. A large Frontier style Butcher Knife w/ an 8" 1095CS blade and it's companion blade, a Skinner w/ a 4" 1095CS blade. Both are handled in Antique Stag.

 

[rcm]

In '03 I got a Gerber tool at the PX on a fathers day special only $23...it came with a Velcro belt carrier. With one hand I can deploy the vise grip like pliers with a crisp {snap}. Yeah it has 2 knife blades one has a serrated like blade that can cut meat or thick rope with ease.

 

[MeTarzan]

I guess it would be a Schrade Sharpfinger for me. Got it at least 30 years ago and I picked it because I was a kid and I thought it looked cool. It has since been used for everything imaginable and is currently doing glove box duty/GHB. I never really cared if I lost it or broke it but I can't seem to do either. Holds edge well from a Schrade Honesteel of the same age.

 

[Inazone]

A friend of mine is a Knifesmith in the country of Upstate New York. He specializes in hand forged knives of the 1700-1800's era. The two best knives he has made for me in the past which I rate both equally, is this set. A large Frontier style Butcher Knife w/ an 8" 1095CS blade and it's companion blade, a Skinner w/ a 4" 1095CS blade. Both are handled in Antique Stag.

I assume that these generally would carry a fairly hefty price tag, though, and that you would expect them to perform like a custom-made tool should. That's good, of course, but sort of outside the scope of what I was asking.

 

[Life at the Beach]

Buck and Victornorix Swiss Army

 

[Nutty Old Geezer]

For me it has to be my Buck 110 and 301 folders. Had both for over 40 years. Both used daily. That is value. I now have a Mora Companion. I like it a lot. It might not hold up 40 years but it just might. And it was cheaper. Good kit for a newbie or a old geezer.

 

[DomC]

Western lockback bought in '79 at an Ace Hardware store. It's in the proud hands of my son who keeps it in his collection. I carried it throughout my days in the NAVY in the 80's. It has nickel bolsters, dark phenolic scales, stainless clip point blade, & leather sheath. Well worth the price I paid (unfortunately I can't remember what I paid for it).

DomC

 

[SCALPHUNTER]

I assume that these generally would carry a fairly hefty price tag, though, and that you would expect them to perform like a custom-made tool should. That's good, of course, but sort of outside the scope of what I was asking.

They are "working" knives, not show pieces. I carry the smaller one for everyday use and the larger one is my hunting knife. Granted they aren't $10 cheapies but they were surprisingly affordable and are the ones I depend on.

 

[Cliff Nieporte]

Any one of these:



Paid about $8 each for them about 30-35 years ago & they're still cuttin' suff today.

Cliff

 

[223shootersc]

Condor Rodan for $25, was probably worth at least $150
CRKT M-21-4 for $45 worth $100 easy can't hurt either of these knives with hard use or not, just very good values and knives

 

[dstra]

For a fixed blade my Mora. For a folder my K-Bar Dozier. I got the foliage one first and now have the tan and black as well.

 

[Justme11]

Western Fixed blade knife that I bought in the early 70's .
Looks almost identical to this one,

http://www.iknifecollector.com/photo/western-knife-display-001-5?xg_source=activity

except in better shape and the blade on mine is not the curved skinner. It has been riding in my trunk tool bag since then. I put a little oil on the blade every 20 yrs whether it needs it or not. it was a beautiful knife when I bought it, and even now has held up very well. The handle is a work of art in my opinion.

2nd candidate is a filet knife that has been ratting around my sailboat in salt water for 25 years. not a speck of rust and still the sharpest knife I have ever seen.

 

[McGuyversurvivor]

my $10 Tractor Supply "Jobsmart" and other store brand knives from them which I grab up when on sale for $5.99 to $7.99 both lockback folders and sheath knives,,

Stainless, so they do not easily take a good edge, but otherwise are nearly free,, very strong and just the right size , 3 7/8" blade,, legal even in NY city
got them in all the car consoles, door pockets, glove boxes,, BOBs
one in each of my field jackets

for the price of my one Cold Steel Recon II I have these things everywhere

 

[Bearspirit]

My Ulu knife, Buck 110, Cold Steel San Mai Recon Scout.

 

[Cryptic]

My French made Opinels. They cost about $10.00 each on average, sharpen like crazy, lock, are very light - wood handles and last for years. They also develop cool patinas because the French, like most Europeans, are not big fans of stainless steel.

Opinels are the AK-47s of the knife world in regards to rugged design, cost effectiveness and wide spread use in developing countries. They are also a family owned company, that makes French Knives in France - no outsourcing to China like Buck does. This makes me like them even more.