Or should I say inexpensive? Was in Home Depot yesterday and ran across these. $7 for the package, I may go get some more and leave a couple at our place in the country. For the price I wouldn't be concerned about misplacing one.
Cheap Knives
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Not a bad idea. I've got an assisted lockback folder, I don't even know the brand name, but I paid 12-15 bucks for it. It's been a good knife. Takes and holds an edge just fine.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Maddog 521
Member
Also at Home Depot
FASTBACK Smooth Folding Pocket Knife | Milwaukee Tool
Pretty good knife for about $15.00
FASTBACK Smooth Folding Pocket Knife | Milwaukee Tool
Pretty good knife for about $15.00
Inusuit
Member
I have nothing against inexpensive knives (or guns either, I own some Kel-Tecs and have a PF9 in my vest pocket at the moment). I keep a bunch of Rough Riders around to hand out as tips for tradespeople or to give to knifeless friends/relatives and keep one in the pocket of every coat I own. My concern with the knives you posted would be the reliability of the lock. Had a cheap liner lock go closed on my trigger finger and had no feeling there for several years. Use them carefully and they will be just fine. But another vote for Mora and Opinel.
ggibson511960
Member
Kershaw Hinderer 1555TI $22
My nomination for "value" knife is a Kershaw Hinderer 1555TI available for $22 at Amazon. If you remove the useless belt clip and thumb studs it will ride in a pocket like a stick of gum. Everyone I have shown it to has to have one. The opening and closing mechanism is the safest design yet, impossible to cut yourself opening or closing, and easily done with one hand without cramped, contorted motion. It is made in China, but so what? If/when I lose it another will be on the way from Amazon.
My nomination for "value" knife is a Kershaw Hinderer 1555TI available for $22 at Amazon. If you remove the useless belt clip and thumb studs it will ride in a pocket like a stick of gum. Everyone I have shown it to has to have one. The opening and closing mechanism is the safest design yet, impossible to cut yourself opening or closing, and easily done with one hand without cramped, contorted motion. It is made in China, but so what? If/when I lose it another will be on the way from Amazon.
LeftHand-Fu
Member
Clearly you've got us beat for cheap. But want cheap and classic? Try a K55 Black Cat.
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No thank-you.
I'd rather handle a knife I'm proud of. For a second cheapie that I can loan I still want one that will hold an edge. At the moment I'm carrying an older Remington large stockman made by Camillus for that role. It was $15 at a gun show. Camillus' default "carbon steel" was 1095. Its 0.95% carbon to iron ratio has been considered ideal for knives since alloys could be preciously mixed. I can afford the additional $11 for a tool that will last the rest of my life.
For the record, Camillus went out of business in 2004. Whoever owns the brand now is having them made in China the same as Remington. While it is possible the Chinese could use good hardened and tempered steel in knives that are made to retail for $15 that is hoping for a lot. I would not bet $3.50 that those Coast knives have appropriate steel in their blades. What do they claim it is?
I'd rather handle a knife I'm proud of. For a second cheapie that I can loan I still want one that will hold an edge. At the moment I'm carrying an older Remington large stockman made by Camillus for that role. It was $15 at a gun show. Camillus' default "carbon steel" was 1095. Its 0.95% carbon to iron ratio has been considered ideal for knives since alloys could be preciously mixed. I can afford the additional $11 for a tool that will last the rest of my life.
For the record, Camillus went out of business in 2004. Whoever owns the brand now is having them made in China the same as Remington. While it is possible the Chinese could use good hardened and tempered steel in knives that are made to retail for $15 that is hoping for a lot. I would not bet $3.50 that those Coast knives have appropriate steel in their blades. What do they claim it is?
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I buy Case, Sod Buster Juniors with carbon steel blades. I don't
like to loose them at $25, but they do the job well. Nothing more
dangerous than a dull knife for serious cutting. To many of those
cheap knives are useless, and can't be sharpened for squat. You
have to be careful when buying name brands and read the info
on package. A lot of their low end knives are farmed out to China
& Pakistan. These knives are only good for butter.
like to loose them at $25, but they do the job well. Nothing more
dangerous than a dull knife for serious cutting. To many of those
cheap knives are useless, and can't be sharpened for squat. You
have to be careful when buying name brands and read the info
on package. A lot of their low end knives are farmed out to China
& Pakistan. These knives are only good for butter.
There are a lot of very good working knives around from many countries, often for less than $20, sometimes under $10. Here are a few of the ones I have accumulated over the last few years.
In my opinion, Opinel and Mora are at the top of the heap, but there are a lot of interesting, well-made knives around, from a lot of countries. Mercator, Filmam, Aitor, Svord, Douk-Douk, Marttiini, Pallares, Higo No Kami.
Rough Rider is a brand that has been building a reputation of high-quality, nicely finished traditional slip-joints. The quality of their better examples is on a par with Case, but they sell in the neighborhood of $10-15. Made in China, of course.
Cold Steel has some intriguing low-buck offerings. The Finn Bear is a twelve-dollar homage to the Tapio Wirkkala puukko.
In my opinion, Opinel and Mora are at the top of the heap, but there are a lot of interesting, well-made knives around, from a lot of countries. Mercator, Filmam, Aitor, Svord, Douk-Douk, Marttiini, Pallares, Higo No Kami.
Rough Rider is a brand that has been building a reputation of high-quality, nicely finished traditional slip-joints. The quality of their better examples is on a par with Case, but they sell in the neighborhood of $10-15. Made in China, of course.
Cold Steel has some intriguing low-buck offerings. The Finn Bear is a twelve-dollar homage to the Tapio Wirkkala puukko.
gwpercle
Member
Clearly you've got us beat for cheap. But want cheap and classic? Try a K55 Black Cat.
I didn't know those were still made. I kept one in my back pocket during the 1960's and 1970's . Good working knife, slim and decent steel. The Kershaw Leek replaced it only because of the one handed opening feature.
I'm going to get another Black Cat just for nostalgic reasons!
Gary
LeftHand-Fu
Member
Yes they were the height of cool for a lot of us then. GIs brought them back from Germany after WWII.
And yes, they're still made today:
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They have a new manufacturer, Otter-Messer, who offer one in a brass handle, if you want to go upscale.
LeftHand-Fu
Member
The brass one has Otter's otter logo, not the black cat. Thanks but I prefer the mid-century classics: blued revolvers and black K55s.
(I get the feeling we've taken this thread way off track, by the way... "And loving it.")
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