I am looking for an EDC knife that does not break the bank. The two I have found most intriguing are Opinel (long history of reliability) and the Ka-Bar Mule (Ka-Bar legendary reputation). Maybe there are better options than those two, so I will include others as an option. I will not be using this for combat, rather for everyday cutting needs or as an outdoors-man tool. I have a revolver on me when I am not at work so it will not see combat duty unless I am desperate.

If you choose others, write what you would recommend in the comments

The Opinel 8 is an excellent knife with classic styling, hard to go wrong.

That kabar mule is high up on the list of ugliest knives I've ever seen, but don't know much beyond that.

Don’t particularly care for either.
I’ll go with my KaBar Dozier.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I vote for Ka-Bar. I have a couple and they are good no-nonsense knives.

+1 for the Opinel. Although I prefer a No.10.

I carry an Opinel 6 daily. I have a No.8 and a No.10 prepped for occasional pocket carry. I always have a Victorinox Alox Electrician alongside it in the RFP, and right now a Queen Hawbaker, although it is often an Okapi Biltong. Any one of those is more knife than I need. I only carry three because I want to.
If I were going to carry a Kabar, it would be the Kabar Dozier folder, but more likely the Becker BK14, a smaller fixed blade which is the first knife I pick up if I am going to carry a fixed blade.
Of your two candidates, I would take the Opinel. I don’t have the Mule, and doubt that I would carry it. It looks to be about as big as a Buck 110, much bigger than I would care to carry. For a knife in that style, however, the Buck is the poster child, and at fifty or sixty bucks , may be cheaper than the Mule.

An Opi 6 and an 8, modified for pocket carry. I find the round handle and flare pommel too bulky for pocket carry, so I slim them down, usually by sanding.

The Opi 6 I usually carry. I whittled this handle. The mustard patina is long gone.

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Not in jail.

The Opinel handles will swell if they get moisture in them and the blade will be hard to open. That's the reason I don't like them for hunting or trail use.

I love me some Opinels. I believe the #6 is perfect size for EDC. It is the smallest size with lock mechanism. The trekker models come in different colors with a small leather lanyard. The #8 is the classic, but it’s kinda bulky. As I type this I have a #4 Carbone in my pocket.

I keep an Opinel #8 Inox in my jacket pocket, it's not my EDC, but it comes in handy as my wine & cheese and fruit knife.
I have 2 #8s, I prefer the carbon steel but my GF gave me the Inox and really likes it when I use it in an appropriate venue.

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SWCA #2817

big fan of the Opinel, they are a wonderful affordable cutting tool.. pick the size & blade you like... sadly I don't think kabar is what it once was...

KabAr is famous for cheap trash combat knives that are really good for stabbing enemy combatants when you run out of ammo. Those are the knives that made them famous.

That kabar looks like a bad copy of a buck 112. Get a 112 or 112 slim for the same price or cheaper, better steel, same dimensions, and very classic. Seriously, aus8 is not good for a small blade.

I have a couple of Opinals that I like. Downside is they are fat for pocket carry, no clip, sometimes tricky to open unless you relieve the scale to make easier access to the nail nick. You can buy several Opinals for the cost of one Mule.

I disagree with Lowa on the quality of the original KaBar combat knives, I do like his suggestion to investigate Buck folders.

KaBar, Camillus, Schrade, Case all made quality knives once. So did a bunch of German manufactures. There are many more brands that have went belly up. Stainless Steel and farming out to China makes about 90% of todays knives a shiny piece of metal in a fancy handle. The best deal you can get is to pick up one of these old knives at a yard sale because if they make it to a show the tag will make your head spin.

Option C: Buck 112

I carry a Bucklite 442 around the place. Weighs nothing, 3" blade, strong blade. Use it daily cutting feed bags, hay string, hose . ropes, whittling up things. Sharpen it up and skin small critters, fish, Has held up for years. I had no idea but they also make a bigger one . I have a bunch of other knives. I used to carry a Kabar folder, Dozier blade but it was heavier. The Buck has been just a good all around work knife.

You may want to look at a K55K Mercator knife. I like it because it's flat.

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Thread Killer.

I have a pretty hard fast rule about knives that are not made in the USA. I do not buy them. That would be current day Schrade, S&W, NRA, Imperial, Taylor, and on and on.

I get a lot of great USA made knives on EBAY.

Just me

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Remember this is just MY opinion. I think Opinel knives are really U-G-L-Y, and life is too short to carry an ugly knife. I like sambar stag, and I prefer to carry an older Case knife or a Great Eastern Cutlery knife. JMHO.
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

I decided to not get either. I am going to pay to have a true master craft me one that will last me a lifetime

Can't open it with one hand is an automatic deal breaker, Kabar Mule

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Retired Career Security Guard

I have a signed Pat Crawford Leopard if you are interested and want to PM me. You van google the knife. Benchmade made them for a while

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Had always wanted a Opinal and a few years ago bought a #8...would not waste the money again. They are hard to open and the blade very thin...

Have carried a Victorinox Craftsman daily for 27 years and before that a Grand Prix model for 10. In addition I usually carry another slightly larger single blade folder that is one handed opening...

As to suggestions...look at the Spyderco Endura...they made them with several different handle styles... Slim, easy to open and close, sharp and stays sharp...

Murphy’s Law concerning knives. If it is cheap knife you can bet you almost never loose them. Good knives fall into black holes and are never seen again.

One reason I get near new knives on EBAY. My EDC is a Schrade USA SP2. Got an new one the other day for 5.00 plus 4.00 shipping

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son