I'm a cheap knife guy.

[sanford12]

The most I've paid for a knife is just short of 50 bucks and I don't see me spending much more than that. So far it's been about 50-50 if they're any good or not. I have a couple more that are sitting in a drawer that are not good and the not good ones are due to the junk blades that can't hold on edge.

Recently bought a CJRB Feldspar for 28 bucks. It's the top knife This is a excellent knife with ball bearings so very flickable smooth operation it also came wickedly sharp. It's a very comfortable knife. Like it so much I bought a button lock Pyrite from them. It is the most I've spent on a knife, right at 50 bucks.

The Duluth Trading Company knife I picked up at one of their stores. It's a Kershaw made in china. It was less than 20 bucks on sale. As far as action it's close to the CJRB just not as smooth. But the blade is junk that can't hold an edge after little use.

The 3rd one down the Appalachian Trail was bought from a cardboard display at an Ace Hardware for less than 10. Another chinese knife. No smooth action here but the blade is tremendous and holds an edge better than most other knives I have. That was a pleasant surprise.

The bottom CRKT took the place of the Appalachian Trail as my package, blister pack opener because it has a pocket clip and has the same ability to hold an edge for a long time. I added the yellow.

 

[Nabnassett]

I've got a cigar box full of cheap knives I've picked up over a lifetime. Garage sales, junk shops. I see em, I need em.

Most are just old pocket folders, none worth much but it's a sickness.

 

[Tooker]

A Kershaw Shuffle works well as my EDC. Fits in my jeans watch pocket.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

My favorite pocket knife, Gerber Bolt Action

 

[MaxxVolume]

Re: My favorite "cheap knife"
The backstory: March 1970, my friend and I were in Hong Kong on R&R. One morning, we took a walk, exploring the myriad of tiny streets and back alleys that are all over HK. On one alley, jammed in among shops of every variety, there was a tiny hardware store, which immediately caught my attention. Looking in at their modest window display, I happened to spot this Sodbuster-style folder. Entering the store, I pointed it out to the clerk, who retrieved it for me.
After haggling back and forth for a few minutes, the price was set at 16 Hong Kong dollars, which translated into 2 bucks (!) `Murrican money.
The knife is an Eye Brand, from Carl Schleiper of Solingen, Germany. Forged carbon steel with African blackwood handle scales. Takes & holds a great edge. It has served me well for a long time....

 

[VinylHanger]

I tell my wife that she can get me knives for every occasion. Pocket, folding, non folding, kitchen, utility it doesn't matter. She says, you already have enough knives. I say that's not possible. Cheap knives, expensive knives, they are all cool.

I tell my wife I am going to get my FIL another knife for Christmas. She says you got him one a few years back, why would he need another one.

And so it goes...

 

[sanford12]

The CJRB Pyrite button lock came yesterday. Same smooth action and excellent edge. I really like the button lock. Other than that it's very much like the Feldspar with a slightly smaller blade.

 

[parman]

Have you sharpened the Fieldspar yet? just wondered if you can get a good edge. How do you sharpen yours? I have trouble sharpening some blades with a steel and others sharpen right up. And I can't get a made in China kithen knife sharp no matter what

 

[sanford12]

Have you sharpened the Fieldspar yet? just wondered if you can get a good edge. How do you sharpen yours? I have trouble sharpening some blades with a steel and others sharpen right up. And I can't get a made in China kithen knife sharp no matter what

No need to sharpen yet. Both the Feldspar and Pyrite came with excellent edges. For me a steel is for putting a quick rather rough edge on kitchen knives not for fine edges. I haven't used a steel on a knife in years. It's really not the country of origin it's the quality of the steel. Good steel is making it's way to cheaper knives. The CJRB's are both D2 steel blades. Not the best but very good for the price.

Don't have a Chinese kitchen knife just folders. I do have one of the Forever Sharp surgical stainless. It's one of the few Made for TV products that actually lives up to the hype. At least 20 years old sees almost daily use. It doesn't cut like new but it still cuts very well. Better than a new German knife of similar design mainly due to how thin the Forever Sharp blade is.

 

[MaxxVolume]

No need to sharpen yet. Both the Feldspar and Pyrite came with excellent edges. For me a steel is for putting a quick rather rough edge on kitchen knives not for fine edges. I haven't used a steel on a knife in years. It's really not the country of origin it's the quality of the steel. Good steel is making it's way to cheaper knives. The CJRB's are both D2 steel blades. Not the best but very good for the price.

Don't have a Chinese kitchen knife just folders. I do have one of the Forever Sharp surgical stainless. It's one of the few Made for TV products that actually lives up to the hype. At least 20 years old sees almost daily use. It doesn't cut like new it still cuts very well. Better than a new German knife of similar design mainly due to how thin the Forever Sharp blade is.

You are correct, a steel is not a "sharpening tool", per se....it`s purpose is to re-align the edges of an already-sharp blade. After trying many methods of sharpening, I currently favor a cheap and effective setup, namely, 3 hard-rubber sanding blocks, each one faced with a different grit of wet-or-dry sandpaper (the black stuff) ranging from 400 grit up to 1500 or so. Used wet, this combo does a good job, especially on those thin, hard Japanese blades like Global.
And yes, many knives from China, India, and Pakistan suffer the same character flaw, i.e. inadequate heat-treat.
One possible source of good, cheap kitchen knives might be your local thrift store. Sometimes you can find old (from the `40s, `50s, & `60s) carbon-steel knives that were made in maybe Germany, France, England, or the USA. These may look discolored or a little rusty, but will clean up nicely with a little effort, and will be ready to perform another 30 or 40 years of reliable service.

 

[Mystic]

Re: My favorite "cheap knife"
The backstory: March 1970, my friend and I were in Hong Kong on R&R. One morning, we took a walk, exploring the myriad of tiny streets and back alleys that are all over HK. On one alley, jammed in among shops of every variety, there was a tiny hardware store, which immediately caught my attention. Looking in at their modest window display, I happened to spot this Sodbuster-style folder. Entering the store, I pointed it out to the clerk, who retrieved it for me.
After haggling back and forth for a few minutes, the price was set at 16 Hong Kong dollars, which translated into 2 bucks (!) `Murrican money.
The knife is an Eye Brand, from Carl Schleiper of Solingen, Germany. Forged carbon steel with African blackwood handle scales. Takes & holds a great edge. It has served me well for a long time....
View attachment 2747201

I like it.

 

[sanford12]

One possible source of good, cheap kitchen knives might be your local thrift store. Sometimes you can find old (from the `40s, `50s, & `60s) carbon-steel knives that were made in maybe Germany, France, England, or the USA. These may look discolored or a little rusty, but will clean up nicely with a little effort, and will be ready to perform another 30 or 40 years of reliable service.

Have a old tapered boning knife my wife used when she worked cutting meat at her fathers grocery. Probably 30's or 40's. One of those nice thin bladed knives that make it easier to use. Still a good solid knife at 80-90 years old.

 

[KingBubba]

I was looking on Amazon for a very small pocket folder for an EDC. Right away I started to come across a bunch Chinese cheepies. When I say cheepie, I meant cheepie. The majority were in the $3 TO $5 dollar range. I was shocked at how many knives there were in this price range. I ended up buying three of them. They were purchased to keep the price up; so I would get free shipping. The three were a folding filet knife, a folding sodbuster and the knife I was really looking for a tiny folder. Most of the time, I wear soft shorts with an elastic waistband. All my Swiss Army knives are so heavy the they pull my damn shorts down. How embarrassing. The tiny knife I ended up with is Chinese with a Pakistan blade. Fully extended it is less than four inches long. It weighs less than nothing and are a great choice for my EDC for when I am wearing my elastic shorts. This is the perfect knife for my purposes.

Recently, I did some research about concealed folding knives in Florida laws. The rule is called the "4 inch Law". Any folder in your pocket must not have a blade longer than 4". If longer than 4", laws can, depending on the situation, become felonies against you. When I had read this law, I decided to measure all my pocket knives, which is a large number. Other than the new folding filet and my collection of fruit knives, the remainder of my folders are less that 4". I am, most certainly, a knife addict. My kitchen collection is enormous. Visitors are stunned with that part of my collection. They have not yet seen the 5 knife blocks on the counter by the stove. I too watch all the tables at the flea market and the kitchen area of thrift shop. I can never have too many knives. When I was a kid my Dad forbade me to have any knives and instead of keeping me away from knives, it made me worse. I was allowed to have letter openers, which I got during our vacations. I have close to 30 souvenir letter openers from all over the World. They were not very sharp but they were very pointy. With all those beauties around, I still use the same old cheap everyday opener that I have used for 20 years. People are weird, myself included.

 

[onepixel]

Regardless of price, I like knives that are functional. I've had this #8 Opinel for maybe 30 years. Paid $12? You can get one now for $18. It sharpens razor blade sharp.

 

[REMINGTON700]

I keep a drawer of everyday beater Rough Ryder's knives in the garage. Decent knives in the $10-25 range. More than I need, but each one is a different style and I collect knives. One has glow in the dark handles(top horizontal green). Hawkbill, Sowbelly, Dr., Fishing, Stockman, Peanut, Whitling, Marlinespike, Canoe, to name most of models.

 

[E2]

My Grandfather had some impressive knives. He never met a knife he didn't like according to my Father. He even had a collection of Randall Knives......(My Uncle who I dislike has the Randalls that my Grandfather had)
He actually bought the knives from Randall himself in the 1950's.

I have flipped a few away. I think I still have a few more that I can't find at the moment.....

The USM6 with the USM8 Scabbard is the only good knife I pulled out of a thrift. $10 June 2020 surprisingly. Never know...

Case Muskrat is late 60's. Unused.

 

[Shtig99]

Kershaw Chive