Another Cheap Knife question

[SpyderEdgeForever]

If you saw an inexpensive knife that had 8Cr13MoV steel and molded plastic handle and Liner Lock with Flipper tab, that had a shape you like, at under 20 dollars, but with lower quality than good knife brands, would you buy it or pass?

[ChrisinHove]

Pass

[TkoK83Spy]

I'm willing guess just about everyone on this forum would say "NO"...since they likely already have a bunch of Spyderco knives they know are made of quality materials and would rather buy a Lynch clip for $20 for one of their knives over a lower quality knife than what they already have in their pocket.

[James Y]

No. Not even as an experiment.

Jim

[Mushroom]

If you saw an inexpensive knife that had 8Cr13MoV steel and molded plastic handle and Liner Lock with Flipper tab, that had a shape you like, at under 20 dollars, but with lower quality than good knife brands, would you buy it or pass?

What would you do?

[vivi]

I like cheap knives but I tend to avoid chinese knives and liner locks, so I'd pass. But I do make a point of collecting dirt cheap knives from other countries, like japan,italy, spain, usa, portugal, south africa, taiwan, etc.

The last knife I used was one I picked up for $5. Japanese made SK4 slipjoint.

in case you're curious - https://www.chicagoknifeworks.com/kanet ... aft-knife/

[SpyderEdgeForever]

If you saw an inexpensive knife that had 8Cr13MoV steel and molded plastic handle and Liner Lock with Flipper tab, that had a shape you like, at under 20 dollars, but with lower quality than good knife brands, would you buy it or pass?

What would you do?

To be clear, it is hard. If the design is very unique and is NOT A COUNTERFEIT, I would be so wanting to buy it, but if it is garbage steel and handle, it becomes a cluttering paperweight.

Better to save up for a better knife, I think.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I like cheap knives but I tend to avoid chinese knives and liner locks, so I'd pass. But I do make a point of collecting dirt cheap knives from other countries, like japan,italy, spain, usa, portugal, south africa, taiwan, etc.

The last knife I used was one I picked up for $5. Japanese made SK4 slipjoint.

in case you're curious - https://www.chicagoknifeworks.com/kanet ... aft-knife/

Do you have those slip joint Higonokami, is that the one you bought?
If yes, what are your thoughts? I found one for less than 20 dollars. Very sharp but I would be afraid the blade can close in use.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

If you or me contacted a reputable knife retailer who is selling the above mentioned knife, and said,

"Please give me, your customer who values your reviews, your honest advice, can I trust that this low cost knife will be a good everyday cutting tool that is reliable for my uses, or should I not buy it because it will be inferior to great knives like Spyderco and Victorinox?", would you expect them to say, "go ahead and buy it from us, you will be pleased," or would you expect them to say, "you know what? Save your money and buy one of the better brands."?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Update.

This particular knife is made with a 440 A stainless steel blade, the info on the company that makes it claims. The Carpenter Steel data sheet says 440A is not as hard as 440C, because of a lower carbon content, but, it is tougher and less likely to chip from brittleness.

Carpenter says 440 A gets to RC 55 to 56. 440C gets to 58 to 60.

Someone else told me a knife like this is what he would expect to buy from the bargain page in knife retailer catalogs or see for sale at truck stops, where you also get cheap bologna and lettuce on white bread sandwiches in a plastic box.

That you can use it for making sandwiches and opening boxes but the edge will get dull faster than better knives.

[Naperville]

Knife? NO. But an ice pick with the right length and handle design, YES.

[James Y]

If you or me contacted a reputable knife retailer who is selling the above mentioned knife, and said,

"Please give me, your customer who values your reviews, your honest advice, can I trust that this low cost knife will be a good everyday cutting tool that is reliable for my uses, or should I not buy it because it will be inferior to great knives like Spyderco and Victorinox?", would you expect them to say, "go ahead and buy it from us, you will be pleased," or would you expect them to say, "you know what? Save your money and buy one of the better brands."?

I don't know how many on the forum here are knife dealers. The best way for you to answer that question would be to call a knife dealer yourself, and ask that question about some cheap knife they sell.

Jim

[cabfrank]

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[vivi]

I like cheap knives but I tend to avoid chinese knives and liner locks, so I'd pass. But I do make a point of collecting dirt cheap knives from other countries, like japan,italy, spain, usa, portugal, south africa, taiwan, etc.

The last knife I used was one I picked up for $5. Japanese made SK4 slipjoint.

in case you're curious - https://www.chicagoknifeworks.com/kanet ... aft-knife/

Do you have those slip joint Higonokami, is that the one you bought?
If yes, what are your thoughts? I found one for less than 20 dollars. Very sharp but I would be afraid the blade can close in use.

Those are something different,but yes I have a few. Here are two different sizes next to that slipjoint I linked to:



They require some care to use, as they close about as easily as a swiss army knife on average. The tab along the spine can help keep them open if you use it as a thumb ramp, but I wouldn't do any hard stabbing cuts with these.

There are high quality cheap knives and there are garbage cheap knives. Nothing wrong with 420 and 440 series steels, AUS8, 4116, SK4&5, 1055 and other inexpensive steels if they've been properly heat treated.

Look at stuff like Mora, kanetsune, cudemon, m fraraccio, antonini, artesa, kiwi, kom kom, buck, old bear, MAM, dexter russell, victorinox, marttiini, wood jewel, mercator etc. if you want perfectly useable knives for dirt cheap.

to me collecting stuff like that is more fun than titanium flippers and fidgety axis lock folders. more variety imo.

[Naperville]

Update.

This particular knife is made with a 440 A stainless steel blade, the info on the company that makes it claims. The Carpenter Steel data sheet says 440A is not as hard as 440C, because of a lower carbon content, but, it is tougher and less likely to chip from brittleness.

Carpenter says 440 A gets to RC 55 to 56. 440C gets to 58 to 60.

Someone else told me a knife like this is what he would expect to buy from the bargain page in knife retailer catalogs or see for sale at truck stops, where you also get cheap bologna and lettuce on white bread sandwiches in a plastic box.

That you can use it for making sandwiches and opening boxes but the edge will get dull faster than better knives.

When I was studying Escrima and Arnis in Stockton, California one of the advanced guys that I looked up to in martial arts asked me to do security detail at a few events with him and I said yes each time. He would check to see if I had a knife and give me one. They were not $500 knives that he gave me. They were beat up cheaper folders, and I kept those knives for 20+ years. (I lost all of my belongings in 2023 when my brother sold an apartment building with all of my belongings in it or I would still have the knives.) The knives and times really meant something to me. I was earning my stripes and a cheap knife is good enough if you know what to do with it.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I like cheap knives but I tend to avoid chinese knives and liner locks, so I'd pass. But I do make a point of collecting dirt cheap knives from other countries, like japan,italy, spain, usa, portugal, south africa, taiwan, etc.

The last knife I used was one I picked up for $5. Japanese made SK4 slipjoint.

in case you're curious - https://www.chicagoknifeworks.com/kanet ... aft-knife/

Do you have those slip joint Higonokami, is that the one you bought?
If yes, what are your thoughts? I found one for less than 20 dollars. Very sharp but I would be afraid the blade can close in use.

Those are something different,but yes I have a few. Here are two different sizes next to that slipjoint I linked to:



They require some care to use, as they close about as easily as a swiss army knife on average. The tab along the spine can help keep them open if you use it as a thumb ramp, but I wouldn't do any hard stabbing cuts with these.

There are high quality cheap knives and there are garbage cheap knives. Nothing wrong with 420 and 440 series steels, AUS8, 4116, SK4&5, 1055 and other inexpensive steels if they've been properly heat treated.

Look at stuff like Mora, kanetsune, cudemon, m fraraccio, antonini, artesa, kiwi, kom kom, buck, old bear, MAM, dexter russell, victorinox, marttiini, wood jewel, mercator etc. if you want perfectly useable knives for dirt cheap.

to me collecting stuff like that is more fun than titanium flippers and fidgety axis lock folders. more variety imo.

Thank you for all of this and for posting the pictures of those knives. I have seen some of the brands you mention, yes they are good.

[Doc Dan]

Walmart has been selling $7.97 Axis Lock knives with D2 that some people really like. I've never tried one.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Walmart has been selling $7.97 Axis Lock knives with D2 that some people really like. I've never tried one.

Stuff like this is exactly what I wonder about, Doc. I have been seeing both the dreaded Cheap Liner Lock that you and I fear, and cheap Axis Cross Bar Lock folders in that 8 to 20 dollar price range.

Vivi, your advice is great, I thank you. If I want or need a good one at that lower price, do you think the Opinel N0 9 with Inox Sandvik 12C27 blade is a wise choice?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

If you saw an inexpensive knife that had 8Cr13MoV steel and molded plastic handle and Liner Lock with Flipper tab, that had a shape you like, at under 20 dollars, but with lower quality than good knife brands, would you buy it or pass?

What would you do?

I will contact the knife seller and ask their opinion and let you and vivi and Doc and all know how they answer.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Update:

The knife seller told me just what you and I know.
You get what you pay for.

So how do we reconcile this fact with the apparent conflicting fact that you can buy a good quality Mora, Opinel, Buck, MAM, Antonini, and other NON CHINESE budget knives at a price under 20 dollars?

Vivi? Doc? Ankerson? Naperville?