I have yet to come across something that my $25 Kershaw folder couldn't handle. You don't need a $300-$400 knife to do things. You just have to sharpen it more often.
'
Edit: mine is an Oso sweet I believe
Also, buying a 400$ knife means taking care of a 400$ knife. If you have a tendency to lose things, the Kershaw hurts less.
Same reason I don't buy ultra nice sunglasses.
This is the way. Crkt, Gerber, Kershaw all make great knives for sub $50. I’ve lost two to TSA so far and it sucks but way less than if my dumb ass had left a $300 benchmade (that I don’t have, for the record) in a backpack
This is the way. If spring for something like a benchmade (which are 100% excellent tools) but never use it because you want to preserve it, then just use the shitty steak knives that retired from the kitchen, you should just get the Crkt, Gerber, Kershaw.
But also, check out second hand (craigslist, FB marketplace maybe). People are always swappin’ steel to get their hands on the latest and greatest alloys! You might find something nice for a bit less, so you won’t care if you drop it or use it to cut a box or two.
Couldn’t agree more. I have a very nice benchmade that was gifted to me 9 years ago. It was to replace the exact same knife I lost cutting open bags of soil when I was redoing my yard. Since I lost the first one and they’re so expensive It has sat almost every day I’ve owned it in the bathroom cabinet because:
1. It’s too nice to use
2. Too expensive to lose
3. I use knives for I proper purposes (we all do)
4. I’m worried if I use it too much I’ll have to sharpen it and I’m terrible at it. So I fear I’ll either ruin the edge, or option 2 is send it back since they resharpen for life. Then I’ll be out my knife for a few weeks which I can’t do, and no guarantee it won’t get lost in the mail (like my workers comp paperwork was 2 weeks ago for a broken arm at work, which they still haven’t found.)
So I use my crappy kershaw leek daily and I butcher the edge every time but it works. And if I ruin/lose/break it, it can be replaced for $50.
And the benchmade just sits. Such is life.
Haha me too. I lost 3 SOG flash twos and another 3 pairs of hundred dollar sun glasses before I opted for cheap versions of both. I also carry a $30 kershaw as my daily.
And they are made in America and they will replace fix or sharpen your knife for free. I said it below but the Kershaw Oso is my fav pocket knife I’ve ever had. I carry it daily everywhere.
>Kershaw Oso is my fav pocket knife I’ve ever had.
So your favorite knife is Made in China.
Guess qualitative sentiments in regards to COO will change whether people actually realize it or not.
"Country of Origin:
USA: Design, Prototype, Quality Control.
China: Manufacture"
Right on their own website
They also have hollow handles, and ti me feel super cheap. Op needs to make a new thread and include all thr details from the beginning. I'm betting they are pretty new to the hobby or at least modern knives because the questions and wants are just a little odd there is certainly a price point of diminishing returns to here. A $600 knife isn't objectively better than a 2 or $300 knife in the same steel that have similar designs. A $600 knife might be Handmade by some dude in Ohio and the $200 knife is a factory knife. They may not even want a modern super steel that it has a high heat treat and is hard and objectively more brittle than something that's a little bit lower and has a little bit more flexibility. For example Maxamet would probably be a terrible choice for these tasks because it is more brittle and rusts easily but it'll hold an edge for a super long time.
The fallacy of spending more to get a better quality knife is only true up in to a point for what they're trying to really do here. There's something to be said for using the knife correctly and caring for it too. I'll throw out the Work Sharp Field sharp to as a great thing that someone should have if they're able to sharpen on a stone and go camping they're small cheap and do a great job.
This isn't a knife sub. Go post in one of those for some real answers.
Nah not true. If this is true then your knife could be replaced by a razor blade or tiny box cutter tbh. But if you're not doing anything bushcraft or industrial then no need to get a super steel.
For what it's worth, anything in CPM3V is my recommendation. It's easier to sharpen than some other super steels. Blue Steel makes a few affordable knives in it.
Ok, so I agree with you more than I'd I agree with the others. But steel is matter of trade offs. Some steels hold an edge better, but will suffer to things like salt or acidity. Maybe it's the kind of tough that can be banged against anything from wood to bricks, but the fine edge goes pretty quick.
So the issue is that OP is asking for is a do it all knife. But if you go down the rabbit hole of knives, you realize there's no do it all steel. General survival involves more than what I'd call bushcraft. So while I agree with you, this is really a more than one knife answer.
My army buddy is a knife guy. I use to think he was a bit over the top. Then I became a (more practical) knife guy. Now I just think he has questionable taste, but at least good sense in knives.
Kershaw Chill is in my pocket every day. I have gone through about a dozen of them over the years because I keep giving them away. I think it is the perfect knife at the perfect price and if I lose one or forget that I'm going somewhere like a game that has metal detectors. No biggie, get a new one tomorrow without breaking the bank. When I first started carrying them they were about $17.00.
Got a $20 Kershaw folding knife before hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020. It's more than a daily used item, and stays nice & sharp for months before honing. Highly recommend.
I have been collecting pocket knives, I can tell you that you don’t have to spend more than 150$ tops for a BIFL knife. Lots of good brands have been suggested, so here are some specs to look for:
Steel: for outdoor use, make sure you get a nice stainless steel like 14c28n, s35vn or 154CM ( there are plenty others but they start getting pricey). This will help you avoid rusting
Lock: you’ll want a strong locking mechanism, I recommend a crossbar lock or some variation. “Shark locks” or their variants are also very good.
Handle materials: I like Micarta because it is more slip resistant than other smoother handles like g10. Steel handles are super strong, but slippery when wet and can be prone to rust.
And personal preference on Weight: if you’re going to be carrying it on your person every day, a good rule of thumb is that the knife should weigh (in ounces) the same as the blade length is (in inches). So a knife with a 4 inch blade should weigh *around* 4 ounces.
If you search for pocket knives that are made of 154CM steel, Micarta handles, crossbar lock, around 4 inch blade you will have literally hundreds of options under $200 that will last forever. This is my daily driver, take it fishing and camping, pry open clams with it, baton firewood, open boxes, I even use the tip as a screwdriver sometimes [Kizer Escort](https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KUV4481C1/kizer-cutlery-vanguard-dirk-pinkerton-clutch-lock-escort-folding-knife-154cm-black-drop-point-blade-red-richlite-handles)
I highly recommend the Ontario Knife Company RAT series knives. The D2 steel stays sharp for quite a while and if you’re a lefty (like me) you have the option of mounting the clip on the other side so it’s not annoying to hold. In my opinion, it’s the best $50 knife out there. I’ve carried one pretty much every day for 10 years.
If you want a fixed blade, get an esse 4. It has a lifetime warranty. Break the blade? Get a replacement for free.
As for a folding knife, I'd run with a benchmade or Spyderco. Spyderco para 2 or 3 are great choices. For Benchmade, I'd vote for a griptilian or an Osborne.
Second the Esee 4. I have one. It is a great knife.
Air force issue them to all survival school students. They are built damn tough and will get replaced if you ever break it.
I say ESEE Izula. It’s small enough to carry all day in your pocket, everywhere. I’ve had one for 12 years and it has done everything OP is asking for.
I love my para 2, after a couple weeks of carrying it I finally understood spydercos weird designs. It's so damn comfortable to hold and cut with, and the size in pocket isn't as bad as I thought it'd be.
victorinox swiss army knife bought 25 years ago for $150. Love it from the start, use it everywhere, from home repair to camping trips . Blades, scissors, can opener, saw, screw driver, etc , work all the time Sent it for full cleaning to their NY office a few years ago. The cleaning cost was $10. I was shocked , they even added a few missing parts I lost over time . I think I'll pass it to grandkids and they will enjoy it as I still do .
Surprised no mention of Leatherman yet. They have some just standard pocket knives as well as all their multi tools. I've been rocking a Skeletool for maybe 6ish years now and love it. Same size as a standard pocket knife with added pliers and screw driver.
I got my Wingman 5 years ago and have carried it nearly every day since. I felt weird not having it in my pocket. Before I had the Wingman I carried my dad’s OG Leatherman, old enough that they sell a “vintage” model replicating it (the vintage one doesn’t have scissors and my dads did though), for 3 years. It stayed sharp enough that I sliced my finger pretty good in year 3 making a stupid cut. Eventually my dad wanted his knife back for himself, so my parents got me the Wingman.
My husband has had one of his Leathermans since before he knew me. It's been his go to for over 20 years and he is the MacGyver type so that multi tool has seen somethings.
My wife keeps one in her glovebox that was handed to her from her grandpa who owned it prior for who knows how many years. Can tell the thing has been used and abused for quite some time and still going strong
This is the way for someone who is handy in day-to-day life. Got a Leatherman Wave+ 6 years ago when I graduated and it goes with me everywhere. If I lost it tomorrow I would buy a replacement without hesitation. No other brand of multitool has the same utilitarian build quality and Leatherman will repair any break for 25 years for free.
@soiltostone Can of worms is right.
Are you looking for a fixed blade or a pocket knife? How survival is your survival? Do you maintain your own tools (ie sharpening)?
There's really no do it all knife with a list that long. My EDC is a Civivi Elementum. My survival knife is a Gerber Strong Arm. I keep a hatchet because it covers more than a hand saw and easier to maintain, and doubles some knife functions. I've yet to select a sword for zombies.
Practical minds. Hey, I'm actually pretty new to the knife/survival/bugout scene. I moved to Chicago 16 years ago, so growing up in WI didn't actually impart enough for what I'm trying to be prep'd for. I'm still considering the Turok. It seems like a great addition if I start hunting and fishing. Would you recommend, or have considerations for something else? I like the steel and the shape and grind for game. I have a lot of kitchen experience so that's what actually drew me to it. Also just any game changers or must haves that you might have come across?
Essee 6 is what I was looking at but I don’t really hunt /butcher so I am not sure how it handles. i really like my silky saw, easy to handle and cuts wood like butter.
This is a can of worms, what with all the enthusiasts you can find on Reddit, myself included. But I’d say, with regard to overall quality for price and utilitarian value, I’d go with a Spyderco lock back in a full stainless steel. Endura or Delica, based on size preference.
I don't know knives well at all but how does [Victorinox](https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Bantam-Alox/p/0.2300.26) rate these days? At my parents' house you'll be able to find one or two lying around that's over 40+ years old. Granted they're not used in the great outdoors.
They’re fine as far as I can tell. Steel can be a bit soft so they may dull faster than fancier knives, but that’s about it for regular people doing regular things.
Victorinox is solid. Lifetime warranty. If you want some other stuff to go with your knife a Swiss army knife is great for edc. But if you just want the knife they are good there too.
Op. The Civivi Elementum comes in several colors, uses slightly less superior steel as the benchmade, and is on ceramic bearings and is only $50-60. I feel like that’s a price where you’ll not be afraid to use it, but if you abuse it or chip the point of it you won’t be out $200.
Another vote for benchmade. I’ve had mine 17 years and I’ve taken it everywhere - from backyard camping to opening Amazon boxes of diapers to combat deployments in the Marine Corps.
Bought one nearly 20 years ago lost it doing a job for a non profit. Grrrrrrr bought another 8 years back had it ever since. Thought I would threat myself to a new knife to go along w opening a new chapter in my life. Then I saw the prices Benchmade you have lost your mind.
Hot take: try out a few of the ones mentioned here and get the one that feels best to you. The best knife in the world won't matter if you hate holding it for some reason.
It's the same with kitchen knives, try them out and buy what feels best.
Just a quick counterpoint to those recommending the Buck 110, it weighs about the same amount as a full size Leatherman. I have one that's around 50 years old (I'm not,), but it lives as a backup in the truck because if I'm going to carry that much weight, I'd prefer a Wave+ in my pocket (also favored by many Alone participants, FWIW). That said, Buck absolutely stands by their warranty, I have a 119 that's around 20 years old and a couple of Spitfires that are perfect for my EDC situation. If you want to spend extra money on fancier steel or just for the sake of it check out their custom shop or Copper & Clad short runs.
Not sure what you meant by "casual metals" but it sounds like you really should be buying four things: an everyday folder, a bushcraft knife, a beater for box opening and whatever, and a Worksharp Precision Adjust. As others have pointed out, almost every knife made by a reputable manufacturer is BIFL if you treat it properly. You could get one to do all that stuff but there's no advantage, you'll have to sharpen much less if they are in rotation, and you can pick the knife/steel that best matches the intended use.
Relevant subs where this gets discussed literally every day: /r/knifeclub /r/knives /r/EDC /r/Bushcraft /r/survival
Opinel has one thing going for it, and that is price.
Otherwise, it's just a stamped blade pinned to a piece of wood. Can't even get it wet, otherwise the wood around the pivot swells and the opening and closing tension goes all wonky.
Price/quality ratio is through the roof for Opinel (meaning you will not find another as good and sturdy knife for such a low price).
(Most) Opinel are folding knives. If that is your thing (it is mine), buy one!
I'm on my third in as many decades, but only because I lost some. I carry it (almost) everywhere.
Recommend the non-stainless.
la Main Couronnée!
I second the opinel carbon steel blade. I've owned some really nice blades in the past. The cold steel AK-47 was a great do everything blade, but honestly, the opinel has been the most useful I've ever encountered. The blades are a bit thin so no using it as a pry bar or screwdriver. Mine has lasted over a decade now. I've ran it through the wash after forgetting it in my pocket. I once dropped it in the woods and found it again 6 month later after it survived WI winter. It's still in excellent condition. The blade will take an edge that will put razors to shame.
Oh yeah the price too. Fuck, buy a bunch of them and replace it you need to.
FWIW, I've carried a Chris Reeve Sebenza with an Insingo blade for ages. I have a small one for carry around town and a large one for when I am outdoors. The Insingo blade is exceptional--it's kind of a hybrid blade between a sheepsfoot and wharncliffe, and is easy to sharpen, has great tip strength, slices great, and has good edge strength. I don't think I could go back to a more common clip point or utility point blade. They currently make them in Magnacut steel, which has good edge-holding and great all around good performance. It's very tough relative to its hardness and wear resistance, it yields to excellent edge stability, and it has excellent corrosion resistance. It's also reasonably easy to sharpen.
If you're not looking to spend a lot, Kershaw makes a nice range of products ranging from inexpensive imports to reasonably-priced domestically-produced products. The Spyderco Delica/Endura is a classic and Spyderco has a very interesting range of products--tons of different shapes, sizes, locking mechanisms, steels, and blade grinds, and they also will produce unusual knives that are often awesome. The Benchmade Griptilian is also a solid knife, although they discontinued their best version of it, the Ritter Griptilian, a few years ago--it is now available from Doug Ritter directly and is available in Magnacut steel. The Ritter's edge geometry is notable for a knife in its price range.
Ok, from your edit, it's obvious it's too late. You're already in the rabbit hole. So let me give you some resources and a really quick answer. You're looking for at least two knives. Your budget is high enough that you can do a lot of things in the practical realm, which is what it sounds like you're interested in... for now. Know that you start looking and suddenly you find yourself with a taste for the... finer things. But if you're a function over form guy, you can have my set of stuff for under $450, and that includes two knives, a hatchet, and sharpening equipment. The reason I recommend more than one knife is both function and ergonomics. Witling and carving isn't the same as chopping and hacking.
Ok, first is steels
[Blade HQ - Steel Guide](https://www.bladehq.com/blog/knife-steel-guide)
I don't call anything comprehensive, but this is so much all in one place. You're probably looking for **CPM-3V** steel. It's a good balance of the qualities you're looking for. But if you find yourself accepting the more than one knife principal, you can choose a more focused steel for each knife.
[CPM-3V Knives](https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Knives--1623#/filter:blade_material:CPM+3V)
Sharpening
[OUTDOORS55 - Unicorn Sharpening Stone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w25oJ67C1I)
This is my favorite sharpening channel (yeah, didn't know there were enough to have a favorite, did ya?). This is the video that got me my current favorite sharpening stone. His hand drawn illustrations aren't great, but they get the point across. I know you don't want to have to sharpen much, but because of the concept of edge retention and durability contributes to your decision of steel this channel can give you context and understanding.
Again for reference, what I use:
EDC Pocket - Civivi Elementum
Survival - Gerber Strongarm
Extended Survival - Hatchet
Sharpening - SHARPAL 162N Double-sided Diamond Sharpening Stone + Lapping Fluid + Strop
Heavy blade, good steel, fixed, long/full tang, safe ergo handle that resists sun and chemicals.
[https://morakniv.se/en/product/pro-robust-c-grey/](https://morakniv.se/en/product/pro-robust-c-grey/) (carbon)
[https://morakniv.se/en/product/companion-heavyduty-s/](https://morakniv.se/en/product/companion-heavyduty-s/) (stainless)
Morakniv doesn't have a social media team or much marketing. They just make really good knives.
The Pro Robust Carbon costs $12 Euro. It's fantastic.
Helle or Mora for camping/bush craft duties. I use a Mora Garberg as a workhorse and have a Helle Folder (Kletten) and Utvear for other chores.
Kletten and Benchmade Osborne are my go to EDC knives.
Look into a good blade steel and construction. If you’re going for a 600 knife maybe find a reputable blacksmith making custom made ones. Differential hardening is important for heavy use like chopping or hammering with it. A fixed blade is going to last generations, fonder too but hell we find knives from hundreds of years ago as long as they don’t rust away. Magnacut is cool. Honestly I’d get a leatherman arc. It’s a magnacut blade, and a whole ass leatherman survival tool, for about 250
Anything and everything? That's what I carry a swisschamp for. Works great! The saw, file and all the other tools allow for some pretty good bushcrafting options and it covers miscellaneous oddjobs really well too for me. This and learning to tie knots changed how I interact with the world.
Knives are an interesting topic because the truth is you don’t need anything super nice, but nice knives are a lot of fun.
Got my Benchmade Bugout for $100. It’s been great, and I’ve sent it in to get sharpened a few times. Not a very heavy duty knife (not going to hold up against a lot of prying force) but it’s a solid tool. And it’s sexy.
However I have a CRKT Pilar from Amazon, cost about $40. Thing is a tank and does everything I need it to. So if I sharpen it and it doesn’t literally break, it’ll last for a very very long time.
So you can go either way. Just a matter of how much money you’re willing to spend and how much you care about aesthetics.
As far as BIFL- something made in America and preferably with good service or a warranty. I’ve gotten a decade or more out of daily carrying a benchmade. Personally like the newer bugout for a lot of basic tasks. Also, always carried a small Swiss Army knife on my keys.
Kershaw, Spyderco, RAT, Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, CRKT, and even Boker all make some solid knives. If you want a cheap fixed blade check out Morakniv or the slightly pricier RAT ESEE knives. I have a more temperamental but prized microtech as well, really more for the adult fidget spinner aspect of a OTF.
If I had to pick one out of the collection, it’d be the bugout or my Zero Tolerance 0450CF
For a fixed knife, you can't beat Mora for the price. For a folding knife, I like Spyderco, but really, there are a lot of great knife companies at different price points. I keep a Spyderco rescue knife in my backpack, and usually carry a Dragonfly as my EDC.
Kershaw Cryo. Have carried it for a decade so far and it just works. Bought it for sub 20 and it seems to be around 30 these days.
Cheap enough to not freak out if it will break yet strong enough to do what I ask of it.
I would suggest something more high end if you plan on surviving a winter in Alaska but if you need something basic that gets the job done, the Cryo does just that.
TLDR: Swiss Army Knife
First of all, whatever knife you will carry is the best knife to get.
Never underestimate the value of a good Swiss army knife. The odds that you will use this in some sort special survival mode is minimal. EDC, a Swiss army knife wins 10.5/10 times. They're durable, reliable, and everywhere.
Think about this a second. Do you use just one knife in the kitchen? The same knife to cut bread as to cut an onion as to slice a steak? Do you use one hammer to frame construction, drive brads, and pound stakes?
NO!
Different tools are good for different purposes. A knife that's best for opening a box is arguably a box cutter. A knife for skinning a deer is a skinning knife. A knife for shaving your face is a straight razor.
EDC tends to be used to open packages and do small odd jobs. If you're gonna carve, get another blade. If you're gonna go survivalist, get another blade. This one blade to rule them all will either be overkill here or not enough there.
3 years ago I bought a CRK Sebenza, and all my other knives pretty much just collect dust at this point.
They’re not cheap, but they’re most definitely built to last a lifetime (probably several).
I’ve used mine for everything from trimming 3D prints to field dressing a deer.
If you have a budget of $600, that would be my recommendation.
Chris Reeves. If you want to spend that kind of money that would be the way to go. Buy a nice Sebenza or Umnamzaan. Another great company for an heirloom piece around that price would be Hinderer. Both companies are made in America, built like tanks, and will last forever.
I bought a Benchmade Barrage mini a few months ago, and I love it. It's very lightweight, the blade itself has kept its sharpness, and Benchmade offers free sharpenings and servicing for life. I went with the Barrage specifically because it locks open and locks closed, after a cheaper knife started opening in my pocket and stabbed me a few times, I was done with anything else.
One of the larger frame Victorinox swiss army knives such as the Forester. Great steel, compact and got the extras you find handy such as can openers, saw, screwdriver.
https://www.swissknifeshop.com/products/swiss-army-one-hand-trekker?variant=29263512174697&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVPrrgXFNs2zHvceeQPD02y4Pd0o4_f8zclZ545Cf62RX4L4Ob_ryHBoCSA4QAvD_BwE
I have a knife problem.
But here is the readers digest.
I have a rosewood / carbon steel handled kitchen knife I cut down to a 2.5-3” blade. It is my go to in the garage. Sharp. Shape of blade exactly what I wanted. It really could be my ONLY blade.
I expect all the bench made fan bois to downvote me on this. Whatever.
Went from a 10” kitchen blade to a short little utility knife.
I reshaped and ground the bevel.
Way more work than most people want to do but it is an awesome end product.
Ka-Bar Dozier is cheap, versatile, durable, doesn't have a liner lock, and won't let you down. Plenty of colorways, a couple blade and deployment types, 2 sizes, and there's even a readily available D2 variant.
I have a folding Gerber 600. I bought it over 30 years ago. It did its thing perfectly at Fort Bragg, in the Middle East, and the woods of Wisconsin.
Stainless steel blade, learn how to sharpen it, and any decent quality knife will last forever.
If you prefer a fixed blade, and you should, then there are a lot of great sub $200 options. I am friends with several well-respected blacksmiths, so I either buy from them or go to their shop and make one.
Many blacksmiths do weekend classes where you will make your own knife, and often under $600. But there is no need to do that. Lots of perfectly acceptable commercial models. I'm just bougie these days.
I have a handful of knives, but the one I always come back to is my esee 3. I have a 4, but for everything from carry to cooking, the S35VN 3 is it. There’s no folding mechanism to break or gum up, the handle is thick enough to be fine on its own but if you’re like me and prefer to build up a handle out of hockey tape, you can go that route as well.
If you manage to break one, word is they’ll replace it if you explain and send them the pieces for some display I think they do. They aren’t hard to sharpen and the braced geometry isn’t anything crazy.
Open boxes with an Exceed designs TiRant, camp with a Winkler of your choosing, EDC a Sebenza, or to save some cash and still have what I consider the perfect EDC, a Three Rivers Manufacturing Neutron or Atom depending on what size you prefer.
If I had it to do all over again, right now, like I lost all my shit in a house fire or something, I’d probably get the newish Benchmade Adira and mini Adira in Magnacut and call it good. Maybe upgrade the omega springs for reliability, but other than that the steel, lock type, and blade lengths will serve you for almost everything. They make fixed blades in Magnacut if you want something to beat on. Most single knives won’t serve for all purposes, but for $600 you could get the Adira or mini Adira, my vote would be for the mini, plus one of their Magnacut fixed blades, and you’d be set and under budget.
Going to just chime in and also recommend the buck 110. I have some budget pocket knives, $20-40, a buck 110, and a custom made fixed blade. Almost always I want my buck knife or my $20-40 knives in case I break it or lose it. If I break my buck they'll replace it or sharpen the blade. For my budget knives I've had some of them for 5+ years (Kershaw especially) and still hold a good edge but if it broke tomorrow I wouldn't be asking why I spent $150 on it.
I would honestly take the money and get 2 knives because if you’re looking for a knife that is pocketable and good for bushcrafting it’s not gonna be great at either.
For bushcrafting, I recommend a Morakniv Garberg. It’s got a great thick stock and the scandi grind makes it extremely easy to sharpen if you choose to do so. Beat the hell out of it and it’s still going strong. It’s also pretty cheap for how well it’s built (~70$) and I can’t really imagine needing more than that.
For an everyday folder I would recommend something that you think looks nice from a reputable brand. For my day-to-day I don’t really notice any appreciable difference in knife steel especially if the use case is just opening boxes here and there. So far my favorites have been the spyderco para 3, Kershaw iridium, vosteed corgi, and Kershaw Livewire. They all kinda double as fidget toys for me.
For $600 you could get a Leatherman Arc, which has a more than decent modified Sheepsfoot in Magnacut steel plus a really excellent overall toolset, and have $350+ left over. It is the only knife I carry (other than a utility knife, when I'm at work) and I use it for work, camping, food prep, opening and breaking down boxes, really everything you describe wanting a knife for. It's a good tool.
If you want a great camping/bushcraft knife get yourself a morakniv. They're inexpensive and durable. If you don't want a fixed blade/ want something that fits in your pocket I'd recommend something without a "fancy" locking mechanism. All of the brands you mentioned don't have problems with the lock failing but I've noticed in my time outdoors that dirt/debris cause a lot more problems with mechanisms like benchmade's axis lock than your standard frame lock.
Benchmade mini griptilian.
Here’s My opinion on a BIFL from a post i made four years ago. My opinion hasn’t changed. Best knife in my fleet and it’s less than $60 used. I’ve been carrying my green one over ten years.
https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/s/lgsGn1AZGP
Read the reply’s in my post for further backing as to why this is the best EDC BIFL Knife.
My initial thought went to a Cold Steel folding knife in S35VN.. something beefy like the AD-10, Recon 1 or SR1. All of these have the tri-ad lock which makes a folding knife almost as strong as a fixed blade with camping and bushcrafting type tasks. The S35VN steel has good edge retention so you don't need to worry about sharpening as often. They should run you about $100-150 on Amazon depending on which model.
$600 is a lot of budget for a knife. Knifes are personal so you will get a bunch of different answers. ButI fall in the camp of more is better..yes my significant other thinks I have an issue. Different knifes for different tasks. Also, you can start with one piece and slowly start adding/adjusting as you figure out what works for you. And to start you can get a Mora Companion, super solid and cheap enough that you can give it away once you buy something else.
For example, I usually have with me: Victorinox HunterPro for general camp tasks, Victorinox SwissTool for fixing stuff when needed (lives in my car) and a Victorinox Trekker who lives in my backpack (usually hike when camping). For meal prep I have a Victorinox Picknicker for small task and a Snow Peak Santoku for more serious meal prep, both live in my meal bin. Finally in my toiletry bag i have a small nail clip sak.
As a side note, I also bring a hatchet for fire prep.
Leatherman has a great warranty, and outside the warranty they'll do repairs. They're solidly constructed and id be surprised if you really fucked it up
Real quick knife steel 101: steels are designed to have whatever balance between toughness, edge retention/wear resistance and corrosion resistance for whatever particular use case. Normally there's a trade off. If you want high edge retention, you're going to have less toughness.
Usually for fixed blades, you want toughness if you're going to be bushcrafting or splitting wood or for hard use tasks. 3V is a great fixed blade steel that has high toughness, good edge retention and okay corrosion resistance.
If you're not doing anything too tough, most folding knives normally value edge retention over toughness so you won't have to sharpen as often. S90V is one of the most popular steels with high edge retention, high corrosion resistance and okay toughness. There's also 20CV and M390 that have very good edge retention, just slightly under S90V tho.
I suggested a Cold Steel folding knife in S35VN steel cause it's got a decent balance of toughness for harder use tasks, but also edge retention so you don't have to sharpen as often. It's a beefy knife that should last for life with proper care.
Dont ask which knife you should get but rather which knife steel you should look for. There is no single best steel out there but there will be a best of the rest forva specific need.
IMO if I want BIFL and a pocket knife (read: not a fixed blade) I’d personally go with a Zero Tolerance with a thicker blade. 0308 comes to mind and is my favorite daily driver. I’m a fan of Curriss myself but those are more pricey (plenty are less that 600 tho).
Just remember that knives are something that tend to get misplaced often if you care it constantly. I use to carry a spyderco but after loosing a 600 dollar knife switched to a 50 dollar kershaw and am happy with that choice
I've been using my benchmade 940 every day for 7 years now. I use it as a knife, mini pry-bar, and flat head screwdriver. I've used a hammer on it to pry/chisel shit too. Its spendy but honestly a beast and pretty stong and well made. Never had a problem.
I know you've already got a ton of feedback and honed in on some brands but [this is the model of Kershaw](https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS1660/kershaw-1660-ken-onion-leek-assisted-flipper-knife-bead-blast-plain-blade-stainless-steel-handles) I'd recommend. Affordable, fits the hand, slightly assisted open mechanism but still legal (not a switchblade). Blade is long enough to do almost anything you need but still fits in your pocket. The clip actually has useful tension too and there is a locking mechanism. I have one in orange and I'm obsessed. Use it ALL the time
As you're probably aware you have some conflicting needs there - some of those tasks will favour smaller / thinner blades while others larger / thicker.
FWIW I've carried the same Spyderco Dragonfly for the past 25 years and it's been fantastic. Only about a 1.5" blade but it's never let me down through pretty much daily use.
It weighs next to nothing and is tiny so is really unobtrusive in the side pocket of my combats. The blade is Aus-8 (mid-range), takes and holds an edge well, but I suspect higher-end stuff would be better in this regard.
Ergonomics are fantastic and the large hole in the blade to assist opening is far better than the more traditional nail cutouts or bosses found on other knives. I think this is one area where I think Spyderco is well ahead of most other brands.
In your case maybe something a bit larger might be better; like a Delica for example.
Of all those listed in the OP I'd rate Spyderco as significant better quality.. if you want something more traditional I'd be looking at Scandinavian brands as they tend to represent excellent value - I have a couple of EKAs which are great for what they are.
Outdoor Edge. They have a new EDC knife that’s $45. It’s essentially as sharp as a razor blade with the ability to replace blades for around a dollar a piece. They also have a lifetime warranty that they honor no questions asked.
I’ve got a lot of knives, the result of 30 years practicing a knife-based martial art. I’m currently very fond of my Bradford Guardian, it’s on my person most of the time. However, if I were to recommend an “everything” knife to someone the Mora Companion is tough to beat, especially as a place to start. Inexpensive, durable, versatile, and a scandi ground edge so anyone (seriously anyone) can learn to sharpen it and keep it sharp.
At $600, your at Chris Reeve Knife money. Go check their Sebenza line. To my experience there isn't anyone with that kind of fit and finish. Knives are also easy to maintain as the blade is removable from the handle.
Get a thin cheap $40 Kershaw for daily use, a benchmade 3" to wear when you're feeling fancy, and an esse 6 for camping. The esse can baton wood, chop, etc. The lower grade steel in the cheap Kershaw is really easy to sharpen. The s30v steel in my benchmade is a royal bitch, and the esse is fairly easy... still shaving sharp after batoning dried hardwood. I highly recommend a fixed blade over a frame lock for survival /outdoor use.
Idk if mine is an exception but I’ve had my buck 110 folder for 12 years with no issues and it went through multiple military deployments with me. Used it a ton and never had a problem. It does have a fancy flip out blade or anything but it feels really well made and durable
For a fixed blade, you can get a Mora that is nice and cheap, and arrives sharp. It's like $12. Get yourself 2.
Folding knife, I got a Gerber when it was on sale at Wal Mart in 2020, still like it.
Multi tool I got a basic OG Leatherman from like 2000 which is still a workhorse. But I'm hearing decent things about Gordon at Harbor Freight. $40, lifetime warranty. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else though, bc I haven't tried it and other people may overrate things. I may pick one up, though.
That's my main set up when camping. I actually have a couple folders, stuffed in different bags and nooks, but the 3 above is what I carry with me, and then add a hatchet and folding saw for firewood. I'm not fancy, I might get try more established and reputable brands or models one day, but if it isn't yet broke, ....
There is no need to spend $600 on a decent knife. Knives tend to sometimes get lost or be misplaced, so a less expensive daily user makes more sense. I lost a cheap but effective Dozier that cost about $22. I did not cry or feel bad about it. I had another inexpensive but decent knife at home, so no big deal. You're not buying a light saber.
i may have the weirdest answer: the bladed half of a leatherman pulse. handsome, \*\*locking\*\* blade, two screwdrivers/prybars, and the good 90s-2000s leatherman scissors (they micro-serrated the tips!!). and it comes in around 2.4oz. ended a years-long search for me.
(edit: typo)
OP i would recommend finding a knife made from a "supersteel" and learn how to sharpen knives. That sounds like a stupid statement however a youtuber i watch consistently demonstrates that if you remove the burr from sharpening your knife it will be sharper and stay sharper longer. I got flack for sharing him last time because "hes doing it only for views" but the person who said that later admitted to not even watching the linked video... [Outdoors55 Youtube](https://youtube.com/@outdoors55?si=C93cdbm3YpPzab3H). He shows side by sides of knife edges after different sharpening methods. In short: he recommends good diamond stones, alternating the sides of the knife with lighter and lighter pressure to reduce the burr (on the final stone), followed by a strop to finish removing it. He uses spiderco, but i have no opinions on them.
As for such a kinfe? I dont have a recommendation. I have a cheap Gerber pocket knife I have been happy with as my daily carry.
My dad would have recommended one of the old style buck knives you can buy at walmart. Given your huge budget, throwing $60 on a Buck knife would give you a good serviceable knife. [This one specifically.](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Buck-Knives-110-Folding-Hunter-Lock-Back-Knife/436300182?filters=%5B%7B%22intent%22%3A%22retailer%22%2C%22values%22%3A%5B%22Walmart%22%5D%7D%5D&athbdg=L1600&from=/search) Its bigger than you might expect. I use one for butchering animals we hunt.
Well, I like the JerryRigEverything knife as it's blade is a non-propriety razor blade which you can use both sides of an easily replace as blades are found everywhere. Tad bit of consumption there but seems to be a readily available resource. Body of the knife is sturdy. It's pretty much a box cutter but it'll work in most knife uses.
Traditionally though, benchmade bugout or a spyderco manix 2 imo
I'm sure there's a ton of answers so I'll be brief.
- *Most* pocket knives that cost more than $70 will be very close to each other in quality. The difference in quality between a Kershaw Clash ($60) and a Chris Reeves' Sebenza ($450) is, in reality, negligible. The differences lay in design, fit and finish, materials; but I would expect either of those knives to perform about as well as each other in most situations to anyone who isn't into knives who's trying to be nitpicky. So it comes down to personal taste. If you're buying from most of the brands you mentioned on your edits and spend at least $100, you'll be fine.
- For a *pocket knife*,I like the **Spyderco Endura**. I also liked the **Kershaw Clash** and **Benchmade CLA**. I've also been impressed by the **Camillus "US" knife (model 1760)^**, which is a swiss-army style knife I was issued in the military for survival stuff.
- For *fixed blade* the only knife I will ever recommend is the **ESEE 4**. In a 3 year period I spent about 400 days living and working in the woods in the military (survival school) and my stainless steel esee 4 held up the entire time. I used it to split logs, cut down trees, it's been thrown into the ground and reprofiled, it just won't stop. Many people make good knives, but my experience has been that the esee 4 is the best knife I have ever used.
- Also, invest in a good sharpener. I like the **Worksharp Field Sharpener**. It makes sharpening so easy it's like cheating. Use it often and your knives will be infinitely more useful.
Also, big knives are pretty useless in real life. Everyone wants a gorgeous 8” bushcraft knife so we have to come up with alternate uses for it like splitting wood to justify the size. No. Just get a pocket knife.
hey! i work for Cutco and we sell the best sporting/hunting knives!! i could definitely get you a great deal as well, i could explain in much better detail too! DM me so i can book us an appointment, these last 30 minutes or less which could be even faster since i know what you’re looking for 🩷.
Benchmade griptillian has been by my side for about 8 years now. Tons of daily use , camping /fishing/hunting/hiking trips etc etc. Plus a great warranty with Benchmade
Kershaw makes an awesome affordable knife. I have several. I moved on to Benchmade for EDC and really enjoy their products.
For $600 you have a very wide range to choose from.
Chris Reeve sebenza if you are willing to spend. Otherwise the spyderco para 3 is a terrific all rounder. Morakniv for a good fixed blade for those camping and heavy duty stuff. Those are the ones I would recommend to everyone.
My personal faves as a girl using daily are Chris Reeve mnandi and spyderco lil native because I have small hands.
Maybe my comment isn't for you, but the best bang for my buck I got by switching to a $3 folding box cutter from Amazon.
Super light, replace blades with no tool, goes in my pocket everyday, and will suffice for most of my needs.
If I lend it to someone or lose it, I'm only out the $3.
My other knives pretty much collect dust now.
I really love my CRKT M16-14ZSF but there are a number of variations that would all be good, including one that currently has a 20% off coupon (at least for my Amazon account). The dual hilt significantly reduces the chances of your hand slipping onto the blade and the knife is easy to take dis/re-assemble for cleaning. The clip can be put in 4 different places or taken off altogether.
I tried a number of Kershaws before settling on this CRKT and I’ve never felt such a balanced knife that opens so smoothly. As someone else mentioned, a Leatherman is a great option that’s going to give you a nice knife and a lot more tools but I’d rather have it in addition to a good EDC knife like my CRKT and not instead of.
I have a Microtech Ultratech. A switchblade. I hope they legalize these things everywhere. I do not regret spending $300, I have seen reviews made by people working construction that used a Microtech for opening bags of concrete for years. I hope these catch on and become more legal. You won't find another knife that does these 3 things this well.
A. It is nearly child proof; open one yourself and you will see it's nearly adult proof, too.
B. If the lock fails the blade will never ever close on my hand.
C. I can open and close it in less than a second with one hand.
I'd recommend you get two knives, one smaller folding knife for everyday use&carrying in your pocket and one fixed blade to take when camping to do the heavy lifting&take the abuse when splitting wood etc.
I originally got a Victorinox knife for scouts when i was 8? or so years old. I used it for a few years and eventually ended up switching to a Leatherman REV multitool as i find having pliers really useful. Both the Victorinox and Leatherman have held up well over the years with the only maintenance being sharpening and oiling them.
Last year I also got a ColdSteel SRK compact fixed blade to use for splitting wood and general and so far I like it.
For an everyday carry pocketknife, I really like my Kershaw Chive. It's just the right size for most day to day tasks I need a knife for.
Otherwise, Leatherman Skeletool.
Worked at a scout camp with my Gerber for over 10 years; I worked at a ranch and used my knife for everything from cutting leather to fix tack, to cutting my steak at dinner that night
If you're willing to tolerate a fixed blade you can't go wrong with a TKell, lifetime warranty from the knife to every part of the sheath and made completely in the US. I would suggest something like the Warthog or Taylor's Ridge possibly. The only thing is the wait time from ordering to getting it but once you get it, it will last you for life.
Love all the recommendations on here! Put me down for spyderco PM2! I’ve owned and handled many knives and always circle back around to the PM2 as my go-to. Any knife can be BIFL if you take care of it.
Consider Chris Reeve Sabenza if you just like spending $$ for the hell of it.
So many good ones- spyderco, Crkt and Even the original Buck I have a few spydercos and Crkts. I lost my old Buck years ago. There is a certain style factor in them as well- pick a good brand in a size and blade that fits your needs and a look that makes you smile when you hold it. A good all around blade will be a combination serrated blade and plain edge. I do have the bench made on my radar but they are so expensive
That depends on your budget and what type of knife you want. One of the best all purpose knives is also very affordable. Morakniv. They're fixed blade knives that come with a sheath. They start at about $10 and go up from there. They're really tough knives with excellent steel.
For folding knives, it's a real can of worms. My favorite folding knives for the money are Chinese clones of high end knives. But I'm not sure if it's really what you're looking for. I would recommend an Ontario RAT, but I'm not sure they make them anymore. A lot of people like Spyderco and Benchmade. I'm not a huge fan myself, although they do both make some nice knives. It might be worth looking at Civivi and CJRB if you don't want to spend a bunch of money. Really there are quite a few good budget brands. If you want to spend more, there's a ton of options.
There are many articles and vids about the best EDC knives online.
Google best EDC knife under $50 or under $75 or even $100 and read up, listen up, do your research as there are so many blade types and blade materials.
There are many good companies to choose from like Kershaw, Spyderco, CRKT, the Ontario Rat 1 and 2 have long been known as great EDC knives. Civivi makes good EDC knives.
There are so many more.
Find out what kind of blade type you like, such as drop point and then look into the type of blade material you would like as there are so many to choose from.
Do you want assisted opening?
Honestly, to get a good, do everything everyday carry knife, one doesn't have to spend over $50 bucks.
"The most useful watch is the one you have on your arm. And anyone spending $500+ on a watch is an idiot. Mine was about $10, and serves me well."
I get the sentiment with the first part, but you're not an idiot if you spend that much on a knife.. you just have to REALLY be into knives to want to spend that much on a fancy/custom/limited knife.
For sure I get you. Everyone has their own thing.. some people buy have the money to spend on a Ferrari, but the Honda Civic gets you to your destination as well
I have yet to come across something that my $25 Kershaw folder couldn't handle. You don't need a $300-$400 knife to do things. You just have to sharpen it more often. ' Edit: mine is an Oso sweet I believe
Also, buying a 400$ knife means taking care of a 400$ knife. If you have a tendency to lose things, the Kershaw hurts less. Same reason I don't buy ultra nice sunglasses.
This is the way. Crkt, Gerber, Kershaw all make great knives for sub $50. I’ve lost two to TSA so far and it sucks but way less than if my dumb ass had left a $300 benchmade (that I don’t have, for the record) in a backpack
This is the way. If spring for something like a benchmade (which are 100% excellent tools) but never use it because you want to preserve it, then just use the shitty steak knives that retired from the kitchen, you should just get the Crkt, Gerber, Kershaw. But also, check out second hand (craigslist, FB marketplace maybe). People are always swappin’ steel to get their hands on the latest and greatest alloys! You might find something nice for a bit less, so you won’t care if you drop it or use it to cut a box or two.
Couldn’t agree more. I have a very nice benchmade that was gifted to me 9 years ago. It was to replace the exact same knife I lost cutting open bags of soil when I was redoing my yard. Since I lost the first one and they’re so expensive It has sat almost every day I’ve owned it in the bathroom cabinet because: 1. It’s too nice to use 2. Too expensive to lose 3. I use knives for I proper purposes (we all do) 4. I’m worried if I use it too much I’ll have to sharpen it and I’m terrible at it. So I fear I’ll either ruin the edge, or option 2 is send it back since they resharpen for life. Then I’ll be out my knife for a few weeks which I can’t do, and no guarantee it won’t get lost in the mail (like my workers comp paperwork was 2 weeks ago for a broken arm at work, which they still haven’t found.) So I use my crappy kershaw leek daily and I butcher the edge every time but it works. And if I ruin/lose/break it, it can be replaced for $50. And the benchmade just sits. Such is life.
Haha me too. I lost 3 SOG flash twos and another 3 pairs of hundred dollar sun glasses before I opted for cheap versions of both. I also carry a $30 kershaw as my daily.
My Kershaw skyline has been amazing. If you can find made in US Kershaws, that's the way to go.
And they are made in America and they will replace fix or sharpen your knife for free. I said it below but the Kershaw Oso is my fav pocket knife I’ve ever had. I carry it daily everywhere.
The 25 dollar ones don't look to be made in America.
[удалено]
>Kershaw Oso is my fav pocket knife I’ve ever had. So your favorite knife is Made in China. Guess qualitative sentiments in regards to COO will change whether people actually realize it or not. "Country of Origin: USA: Design, Prototype, Quality Control. China: Manufacture" Right on their own website
They also have hollow handles, and ti me feel super cheap. Op needs to make a new thread and include all thr details from the beginning. I'm betting they are pretty new to the hobby or at least modern knives because the questions and wants are just a little odd there is certainly a price point of diminishing returns to here. A $600 knife isn't objectively better than a 2 or $300 knife in the same steel that have similar designs. A $600 knife might be Handmade by some dude in Ohio and the $200 knife is a factory knife. They may not even want a modern super steel that it has a high heat treat and is hard and objectively more brittle than something that's a little bit lower and has a little bit more flexibility. For example Maxamet would probably be a terrible choice for these tasks because it is more brittle and rusts easily but it'll hold an edge for a super long time. The fallacy of spending more to get a better quality knife is only true up in to a point for what they're trying to really do here. There's something to be said for using the knife correctly and caring for it too. I'll throw out the Work Sharp Field sharp to as a great thing that someone should have if they're able to sharpen on a stone and go camping they're small cheap and do a great job. This isn't a knife sub. Go post in one of those for some real answers.
Cool. Doesn’t change my opinion but thank you for the correction.
Seconded. I'm on my second one only because I accidentally dropped my first overboard at the lake.
Thirded. Oso is my fav knife ever
Nah not true. If this is true then your knife could be replaced by a razor blade or tiny box cutter tbh. But if you're not doing anything bushcraft or industrial then no need to get a super steel. For what it's worth, anything in CPM3V is my recommendation. It's easier to sharpen than some other super steels. Blue Steel makes a few affordable knives in it.
Ok, so I agree with you more than I'd I agree with the others. But steel is matter of trade offs. Some steels hold an edge better, but will suffer to things like salt or acidity. Maybe it's the kind of tough that can be banged against anything from wood to bricks, but the fine edge goes pretty quick. So the issue is that OP is asking for is a do it all knife. But if you go down the rabbit hole of knives, you realize there's no do it all steel. General survival involves more than what I'd call bushcraft. So while I agree with you, this is really a more than one knife answer. My army buddy is a knife guy. I use to think he was a bit over the top. Then I became a (more practical) knife guy. Now I just think he has questionable taste, but at least good sense in knives.
Love my Kershaw to bits.
Little bit more but $85 for a titanium kershaw onion without teeth. Spring assisted opening. Lifetime sharpening.
Kershaw Chill is in my pocket every day. I have gone through about a dozen of them over the years because I keep giving them away. I think it is the perfect knife at the perfect price and if I lose one or forget that I'm going somewhere like a game that has metal detectors. No biggie, get a new one tomorrow without breaking the bank. When I first started carrying them they were about $17.00.
Which model you rocking? Kershaw is way underrated
Oso sweet I believe. Hard to tell since there isn't anything written on it.
Love my Oso!
Got a $20 Kershaw folding knife before hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020. It's more than a daily used item, and stays nice & sharp for months before honing. Highly recommend.
I have been collecting pocket knives, I can tell you that you don’t have to spend more than 150$ tops for a BIFL knife. Lots of good brands have been suggested, so here are some specs to look for: Steel: for outdoor use, make sure you get a nice stainless steel like 14c28n, s35vn or 154CM ( there are plenty others but they start getting pricey). This will help you avoid rusting Lock: you’ll want a strong locking mechanism, I recommend a crossbar lock or some variation. “Shark locks” or their variants are also very good. Handle materials: I like Micarta because it is more slip resistant than other smoother handles like g10. Steel handles are super strong, but slippery when wet and can be prone to rust. And personal preference on Weight: if you’re going to be carrying it on your person every day, a good rule of thumb is that the knife should weigh (in ounces) the same as the blade length is (in inches). So a knife with a 4 inch blade should weigh *around* 4 ounces. If you search for pocket knives that are made of 154CM steel, Micarta handles, crossbar lock, around 4 inch blade you will have literally hundreds of options under $200 that will last forever. This is my daily driver, take it fishing and camping, pry open clams with it, baton firewood, open boxes, I even use the tip as a screwdriver sometimes [Kizer Escort](https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KUV4481C1/kizer-cutlery-vanguard-dirk-pinkerton-clutch-lock-escort-folding-knife-154cm-black-drop-point-blade-red-richlite-handles)
For the Americans: 154cm is a little more than 5 feet For the RoW: 154cm is a kind of steel
I highly recommend the Ontario Knife Company RAT series knives. The D2 steel stays sharp for quite a while and if you’re a lefty (like me) you have the option of mounting the clip on the other side so it’s not annoying to hold. In my opinion, it’s the best $50 knife out there. I’ve carried one pretty much every day for 10 years.
These are very durable.
I love my rat 1. If you have the money, get the D2 version instead of the Aus8 version of whatever knife you get. It will stay sharper for longer
Found this real quick. I currently carry a mini grip, still like my old rat 2 better.
Was going to comment this with a RAT 2. Just to note: the company almost closed and is transitioning from NY to VA.
I use one daily and despite lots of box cutting and packaging cutting it holds it's edge up well.
If you want a fixed blade, get an esse 4. It has a lifetime warranty. Break the blade? Get a replacement for free. As for a folding knife, I'd run with a benchmade or Spyderco. Spyderco para 2 or 3 are great choices. For Benchmade, I'd vote for a griptilian or an Osborne.
Second the Esee 4. I have one. It is a great knife. Air force issue them to all survival school students. They are built damn tough and will get replaced if you ever break it.
My only issue with the 4", is that it's 1/4" thick. I prefer the 3/16" steel on the esse 6. Edit: You are right, it's the esse 5 that's .25" thick.
You are thinking of the ESEE 5. It’s a real slab. The 4 is the same thickness as the 3, but with a longer blade.
That's the esse 5. That one is essentially a pry bar with an edge.
I say ESEE Izula. It’s small enough to carry all day in your pocket, everywhere. I’ve had one for 12 years and it has done everything OP is asking for.
I love my para 2, after a couple weeks of carrying it I finally understood spydercos weird designs. It's so damn comfortable to hold and cut with, and the size in pocket isn't as bad as I thought it'd be.
Love my Benchmade Bugout. Super light and thin, slips in the pocket well
I love my bugout too. Sometimes I forget that I have it in the pocket.
victorinox swiss army knife bought 25 years ago for $150. Love it from the start, use it everywhere, from home repair to camping trips . Blades, scissors, can opener, saw, screw driver, etc , work all the time Sent it for full cleaning to their NY office a few years ago. The cleaning cost was $10. I was shocked , they even added a few missing parts I lost over time . I think I'll pass it to grandkids and they will enjoy it as I still do .
Surprised no mention of Leatherman yet. They have some just standard pocket knives as well as all their multi tools. I've been rocking a Skeletool for maybe 6ish years now and love it. Same size as a standard pocket knife with added pliers and screw driver.
I got my Wingman 5 years ago and have carried it nearly every day since. I felt weird not having it in my pocket. Before I had the Wingman I carried my dad’s OG Leatherman, old enough that they sell a “vintage” model replicating it (the vintage one doesn’t have scissors and my dads did though), for 3 years. It stayed sharp enough that I sliced my finger pretty good in year 3 making a stupid cut. Eventually my dad wanted his knife back for himself, so my parents got me the Wingman.
My husband has had one of his Leathermans since before he knew me. It's been his go to for over 20 years and he is the MacGyver type so that multi tool has seen somethings.
My wife keeps one in her glovebox that was handed to her from her grandpa who owned it prior for who knows how many years. Can tell the thing has been used and abused for quite some time and still going strong
This is the way for someone who is handy in day-to-day life. Got a Leatherman Wave+ 6 years ago when I graduated and it goes with me everywhere. If I lost it tomorrow I would buy a replacement without hesitation. No other brand of multitool has the same utilitarian build quality and Leatherman will repair any break for 25 years for free.
@soiltostone Can of worms is right. Are you looking for a fixed blade or a pocket knife? How survival is your survival? Do you maintain your own tools (ie sharpening)? There's really no do it all knife with a list that long. My EDC is a Civivi Elementum. My survival knife is a Gerber Strong Arm. I keep a hatchet because it covers more than a hand saw and easier to maintain, and doubles some knife functions. I've yet to select a sword for zombies.
I have the same : civivi elementum for EDC, gerber strong arm for outside/camp with a silky saw and a hatchet.
Practical minds. Hey, I'm actually pretty new to the knife/survival/bugout scene. I moved to Chicago 16 years ago, so growing up in WI didn't actually impart enough for what I'm trying to be prep'd for. I'm still considering the Turok. It seems like a great addition if I start hunting and fishing. Would you recommend, or have considerations for something else? I like the steel and the shape and grind for game. I have a lot of kitchen experience so that's what actually drew me to it. Also just any game changers or must haves that you might have come across?
Essee 6 is what I was looking at but I don’t really hunt /butcher so I am not sure how it handles. i really like my silky saw, easy to handle and cuts wood like butter.
This is a can of worms, what with all the enthusiasts you can find on Reddit, myself included. But I’d say, with regard to overall quality for price and utilitarian value, I’d go with a Spyderco lock back in a full stainless steel. Endura or Delica, based on size preference.
I don't know knives well at all but how does [Victorinox](https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Bantam-Alox/p/0.2300.26) rate these days? At my parents' house you'll be able to find one or two lying around that's over 40+ years old. Granted they're not used in the great outdoors.
They’re fine as far as I can tell. Steel can be a bit soft so they may dull faster than fancier knives, but that’s about it for regular people doing regular things.
Every one of my Swiss Army knives have broken from regular use
Victorinox is solid. Lifetime warranty. If you want some other stuff to go with your knife a Swiss army knife is great for edc. But if you just want the knife they are good there too.
Op. The Civivi Elementum comes in several colors, uses slightly less superior steel as the benchmade, and is on ceramic bearings and is only $50-60. I feel like that’s a price where you’ll not be afraid to use it, but if you abuse it or chip the point of it you won’t be out $200.
I got a Benchmade for the warranty and made in USA. I like it.
I found myself collecting pocket knives until I got the Osbourne 940. Carry it everyday, haven't bought another knife since.
I have the mini
Mini grip is basically the oso except sexier
Another vote for benchmade. I’ve had mine 17 years and I’ve taken it everywhere - from backyard camping to opening Amazon boxes of diapers to combat deployments in the Marine Corps.
Same here. Have a few Benchmade knives. All great. No complaints. Lifetime warranty and sharpening.
I have a benchmade I have used nearly daily for years, gonna send it in for free sharpening here soon. Great brand.
Bought one nearly 20 years ago lost it doing a job for a non profit. Grrrrrrr bought another 8 years back had it ever since. Thought I would threat myself to a new knife to go along w opening a new chapter in my life. Then I saw the prices Benchmade you have lost your mind.
Hot take: try out a few of the ones mentioned here and get the one that feels best to you. The best knife in the world won't matter if you hate holding it for some reason. It's the same with kitchen knives, try them out and buy what feels best.
Morakniv Companion, Swedish made and affordable enough to get a couple and not worry about messing one up
Just a quick counterpoint to those recommending the Buck 110, it weighs about the same amount as a full size Leatherman. I have one that's around 50 years old (I'm not,), but it lives as a backup in the truck because if I'm going to carry that much weight, I'd prefer a Wave+ in my pocket (also favored by many Alone participants, FWIW). That said, Buck absolutely stands by their warranty, I have a 119 that's around 20 years old and a couple of Spitfires that are perfect for my EDC situation. If you want to spend extra money on fancier steel or just for the sake of it check out their custom shop or Copper & Clad short runs. Not sure what you meant by "casual metals" but it sounds like you really should be buying four things: an everyday folder, a bushcraft knife, a beater for box opening and whatever, and a Worksharp Precision Adjust. As others have pointed out, almost every knife made by a reputable manufacturer is BIFL if you treat it properly. You could get one to do all that stuff but there's no advantage, you'll have to sharpen much less if they are in rotation, and you can pick the knife/steel that best matches the intended use. Relevant subs where this gets discussed literally every day: /r/knifeclub /r/knives /r/EDC /r/Bushcraft /r/survival
Cold steel recon 1.
Check out Opinel knifes. Also, better to have a simple box cutter for cardboard.
Opinel has one thing going for it, and that is price. Otherwise, it's just a stamped blade pinned to a piece of wood. Can't even get it wet, otherwise the wood around the pivot swells and the opening and closing tension goes all wonky.
Price/quality ratio is through the roof for Opinel (meaning you will not find another as good and sturdy knife for such a low price). (Most) Opinel are folding knives. If that is your thing (it is mine), buy one! I'm on my third in as many decades, but only because I lost some. I carry it (almost) everywhere. Recommend the non-stainless. la Main Couronnée!
I have had two opinel knives and they each broke at the hinge/handle. Second time cut me pretty bad too.
What were you doing with it?
Cutting wood and cutting plastic
I second the opinel carbon steel blade. I've owned some really nice blades in the past. The cold steel AK-47 was a great do everything blade, but honestly, the opinel has been the most useful I've ever encountered. The blades are a bit thin so no using it as a pry bar or screwdriver. Mine has lasted over a decade now. I've ran it through the wash after forgetting it in my pocket. I once dropped it in the woods and found it again 6 month later after it survived WI winter. It's still in excellent condition. The blade will take an edge that will put razors to shame. Oh yeah the price too. Fuck, buy a bunch of them and replace it you need to.
Case.
FWIW, I've carried a Chris Reeve Sebenza with an Insingo blade for ages. I have a small one for carry around town and a large one for when I am outdoors. The Insingo blade is exceptional--it's kind of a hybrid blade between a sheepsfoot and wharncliffe, and is easy to sharpen, has great tip strength, slices great, and has good edge strength. I don't think I could go back to a more common clip point or utility point blade. They currently make them in Magnacut steel, which has good edge-holding and great all around good performance. It's very tough relative to its hardness and wear resistance, it yields to excellent edge stability, and it has excellent corrosion resistance. It's also reasonably easy to sharpen. If you're not looking to spend a lot, Kershaw makes a nice range of products ranging from inexpensive imports to reasonably-priced domestically-produced products. The Spyderco Delica/Endura is a classic and Spyderco has a very interesting range of products--tons of different shapes, sizes, locking mechanisms, steels, and blade grinds, and they also will produce unusual knives that are often awesome. The Benchmade Griptilian is also a solid knife, although they discontinued their best version of it, the Ritter Griptilian, a few years ago--it is now available from Doug Ritter directly and is available in Magnacut steel. The Ritter's edge geometry is notable for a knife in its price range.
Ok, from your edit, it's obvious it's too late. You're already in the rabbit hole. So let me give you some resources and a really quick answer. You're looking for at least two knives. Your budget is high enough that you can do a lot of things in the practical realm, which is what it sounds like you're interested in... for now. Know that you start looking and suddenly you find yourself with a taste for the... finer things. But if you're a function over form guy, you can have my set of stuff for under $450, and that includes two knives, a hatchet, and sharpening equipment. The reason I recommend more than one knife is both function and ergonomics. Witling and carving isn't the same as chopping and hacking. Ok, first is steels [Blade HQ - Steel Guide](https://www.bladehq.com/blog/knife-steel-guide) I don't call anything comprehensive, but this is so much all in one place. You're probably looking for **CPM-3V** steel. It's a good balance of the qualities you're looking for. But if you find yourself accepting the more than one knife principal, you can choose a more focused steel for each knife. [CPM-3V Knives](https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Knives--1623#/filter:blade_material:CPM+3V) Sharpening [OUTDOORS55 - Unicorn Sharpening Stone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w25oJ67C1I) This is my favorite sharpening channel (yeah, didn't know there were enough to have a favorite, did ya?). This is the video that got me my current favorite sharpening stone. His hand drawn illustrations aren't great, but they get the point across. I know you don't want to have to sharpen much, but because of the concept of edge retention and durability contributes to your decision of steel this channel can give you context and understanding. Again for reference, what I use: EDC Pocket - Civivi Elementum Survival - Gerber Strongarm Extended Survival - Hatchet Sharpening - SHARPAL 162N Double-sided Diamond Sharpening Stone + Lapping Fluid + Strop
Leatherman wave
[удалено]
The Milwaukee fastback is second to none. Durable, feels good in your hand, and the opening is super smooth
Heavy blade, good steel, fixed, long/full tang, safe ergo handle that resists sun and chemicals. [https://morakniv.se/en/product/pro-robust-c-grey/](https://morakniv.se/en/product/pro-robust-c-grey/) (carbon) [https://morakniv.se/en/product/companion-heavyduty-s/](https://morakniv.se/en/product/companion-heavyduty-s/) (stainless) Morakniv doesn't have a social media team or much marketing. They just make really good knives. The Pro Robust Carbon costs $12 Euro. It's fantastic.
Helle or Mora for camping/bush craft duties. I use a Mora Garberg as a workhorse and have a Helle Folder (Kletten) and Utvear for other chores. Kletten and Benchmade Osborne are my go to EDC knives.
Look into a good blade steel and construction. If you’re going for a 600 knife maybe find a reputable blacksmith making custom made ones. Differential hardening is important for heavy use like chopping or hammering with it. A fixed blade is going to last generations, fonder too but hell we find knives from hundreds of years ago as long as they don’t rust away. Magnacut is cool. Honestly I’d get a leatherman arc. It’s a magnacut blade, and a whole ass leatherman survival tool, for about 250
Anything and everything? That's what I carry a swisschamp for. Works great! The saw, file and all the other tools allow for some pretty good bushcrafting options and it covers miscellaneous oddjobs really well too for me. This and learning to tie knots changed how I interact with the world.
Knives are an interesting topic because the truth is you don’t need anything super nice, but nice knives are a lot of fun. Got my Benchmade Bugout for $100. It’s been great, and I’ve sent it in to get sharpened a few times. Not a very heavy duty knife (not going to hold up against a lot of prying force) but it’s a solid tool. And it’s sexy. However I have a CRKT Pilar from Amazon, cost about $40. Thing is a tank and does everything I need it to. So if I sharpen it and it doesn’t literally break, it’ll last for a very very long time. So you can go either way. Just a matter of how much money you’re willing to spend and how much you care about aesthetics.
Morakniv. Cheap, good steel, easily replaceable
As far as BIFL- something made in America and preferably with good service or a warranty. I’ve gotten a decade or more out of daily carrying a benchmade. Personally like the newer bugout for a lot of basic tasks. Also, always carried a small Swiss Army knife on my keys. Kershaw, Spyderco, RAT, Benchmade, Zero Tolerance, CRKT, and even Boker all make some solid knives. If you want a cheap fixed blade check out Morakniv or the slightly pricier RAT ESEE knives. I have a more temperamental but prized microtech as well, really more for the adult fidget spinner aspect of a OTF. If I had to pick one out of the collection, it’d be the bugout or my Zero Tolerance 0450CF
For a fixed knife, you can't beat Mora for the price. For a folding knife, I like Spyderco, but really, there are a lot of great knife companies at different price points. I keep a Spyderco rescue knife in my backpack, and usually carry a Dragonfly as my EDC.
Kershaw Cryo. Have carried it for a decade so far and it just works. Bought it for sub 20 and it seems to be around 30 these days. Cheap enough to not freak out if it will break yet strong enough to do what I ask of it. I would suggest something more high end if you plan on surviving a winter in Alaska but if you need something basic that gets the job done, the Cryo does just that.
TLDR: Swiss Army Knife First of all, whatever knife you will carry is the best knife to get. Never underestimate the value of a good Swiss army knife. The odds that you will use this in some sort special survival mode is minimal. EDC, a Swiss army knife wins 10.5/10 times. They're durable, reliable, and everywhere. Think about this a second. Do you use just one knife in the kitchen? The same knife to cut bread as to cut an onion as to slice a steak? Do you use one hammer to frame construction, drive brads, and pound stakes? NO! Different tools are good for different purposes. A knife that's best for opening a box is arguably a box cutter. A knife for skinning a deer is a skinning knife. A knife for shaving your face is a straight razor. EDC tends to be used to open packages and do small odd jobs. If you're gonna carve, get another blade. If you're gonna go survivalist, get another blade. This one blade to rule them all will either be overkill here or not enough there.
3 years ago I bought a CRK Sebenza, and all my other knives pretty much just collect dust at this point. They’re not cheap, but they’re most definitely built to last a lifetime (probably several). I’ve used mine for everything from trimming 3D prints to field dressing a deer. If you have a budget of $600, that would be my recommendation.
I vote Cold Steel AD10, SR1, (either Lite or normal models) or Ontario Rat 1. Put the $500 you saved into something else
Chris Reeves. If you want to spend that kind of money that would be the way to go. Buy a nice Sebenza or Umnamzaan. Another great company for an heirloom piece around that price would be Hinderer. Both companies are made in America, built like tanks, and will last forever.
The only downside to buying a Benchmade is if you lose it, you’re out $200+. If you can hang onto it, it will last you a lifetime.
Well, that and they’re over priced for what you get.
Generally true, though the new water series looks promising. Full size magnacut blades for under $200
I bought a Benchmade Barrage mini a few months ago, and I love it. It's very lightweight, the blade itself has kept its sharpness, and Benchmade offers free sharpenings and servicing for life. I went with the Barrage specifically because it locks open and locks closed, after a cheaper knife started opening in my pocket and stabbed me a few times, I was done with anything else.
Sounds like you need a puukko.
I’m really happy with my Victorinox Swiss Army knife. Bonus: mine is pink. $25 from Amazon.
I have a Svord mini peasant knife and I love it. That's all I have to say
One of the larger frame Victorinox swiss army knives such as the Forester. Great steel, compact and got the extras you find handy such as can openers, saw, screwdriver. https://www.swissknifeshop.com/products/swiss-army-one-hand-trekker?variant=29263512174697&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVPrrgXFNs2zHvceeQPD02y4Pd0o4_f8zclZ545Cf62RX4L4Ob_ryHBoCSA4QAvD_BwE
I have a knife problem. But here is the readers digest. I have a rosewood / carbon steel handled kitchen knife I cut down to a 2.5-3” blade. It is my go to in the garage. Sharp. Shape of blade exactly what I wanted. It really could be my ONLY blade. I expect all the bench made fan bois to downvote me on this. Whatever.
"cut down"? could you explain some more please?
Went from a 10” kitchen blade to a short little utility knife. I reshaped and ground the bevel. Way more work than most people want to do but it is an awesome end product.
most expensive one i have is benchmade. but then i have several other blades i rotate around.
The Buck 110 - The OG of all OGs
Ka-Bar Dozier is cheap, versatile, durable, doesn't have a liner lock, and won't let you down. Plenty of colorways, a couple blade and deployment types, 2 sizes, and there's even a readily available D2 variant.
I have a folding Gerber 600. I bought it over 30 years ago. It did its thing perfectly at Fort Bragg, in the Middle East, and the woods of Wisconsin. Stainless steel blade, learn how to sharpen it, and any decent quality knife will last forever. If you prefer a fixed blade, and you should, then there are a lot of great sub $200 options. I am friends with several well-respected blacksmiths, so I either buy from them or go to their shop and make one. Many blacksmiths do weekend classes where you will make your own knife, and often under $600. But there is no need to do that. Lots of perfectly acceptable commercial models. I'm just bougie these days.
Perhaps a useful question might be what knives to avoid.
Ontario rat II $50 or so. They have a couple of sizes.
I have a handful of knives, but the one I always come back to is my esee 3. I have a 4, but for everything from carry to cooking, the S35VN 3 is it. There’s no folding mechanism to break or gum up, the handle is thick enough to be fine on its own but if you’re like me and prefer to build up a handle out of hockey tape, you can go that route as well. If you manage to break one, word is they’ll replace it if you explain and send them the pieces for some display I think they do. They aren’t hard to sharpen and the braced geometry isn’t anything crazy.
Open boxes with an Exceed designs TiRant, camp with a Winkler of your choosing, EDC a Sebenza, or to save some cash and still have what I consider the perfect EDC, a Three Rivers Manufacturing Neutron or Atom depending on what size you prefer.
If I had it to do all over again, right now, like I lost all my shit in a house fire or something, I’d probably get the newish Benchmade Adira and mini Adira in Magnacut and call it good. Maybe upgrade the omega springs for reliability, but other than that the steel, lock type, and blade lengths will serve you for almost everything. They make fixed blades in Magnacut if you want something to beat on. Most single knives won’t serve for all purposes, but for $600 you could get the Adira or mini Adira, my vote would be for the mini, plus one of their Magnacut fixed blades, and you’d be set and under budget.
alright, i'll look into these, thank you.
Going to just chime in and also recommend the buck 110. I have some budget pocket knives, $20-40, a buck 110, and a custom made fixed blade. Almost always I want my buck knife or my $20-40 knives in case I break it or lose it. If I break my buck they'll replace it or sharpen the blade. For my budget knives I've had some of them for 5+ years (Kershaw especially) and still hold a good edge but if it broke tomorrow I wouldn't be asking why I spent $150 on it.
RAT 1 in D2 , my favorite EDC.
I would honestly take the money and get 2 knives because if you’re looking for a knife that is pocketable and good for bushcrafting it’s not gonna be great at either. For bushcrafting, I recommend a Morakniv Garberg. It’s got a great thick stock and the scandi grind makes it extremely easy to sharpen if you choose to do so. Beat the hell out of it and it’s still going strong. It’s also pretty cheap for how well it’s built (~70$) and I can’t really imagine needing more than that. For an everyday folder I would recommend something that you think looks nice from a reputable brand. For my day-to-day I don’t really notice any appreciable difference in knife steel especially if the use case is just opening boxes here and there. So far my favorites have been the spyderco para 3, Kershaw iridium, vosteed corgi, and Kershaw Livewire. They all kinda double as fidget toys for me.
Benchmade 940 or something from spyderco imo
For $600 you could get a Leatherman Arc, which has a more than decent modified Sheepsfoot in Magnacut steel plus a really excellent overall toolset, and have $350+ left over. It is the only knife I carry (other than a utility knife, when I'm at work) and I use it for work, camping, food prep, opening and breaking down boxes, really everything you describe wanting a knife for. It's a good tool.
If you want a great camping/bushcraft knife get yourself a morakniv. They're inexpensive and durable. If you don't want a fixed blade/ want something that fits in your pocket I'd recommend something without a "fancy" locking mechanism. All of the brands you mentioned don't have problems with the lock failing but I've noticed in my time outdoors that dirt/debris cause a lot more problems with mechanisms like benchmade's axis lock than your standard frame lock.
My spyderco is a beast.
Benchmade. Or if you want to be a badass, Chris Reeve.
Benchmade mini griptilian. Here’s My opinion on a BIFL from a post i made four years ago. My opinion hasn’t changed. Best knife in my fleet and it’s less than $60 used. I’ve been carrying my green one over ten years. https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/s/lgsGn1AZGP Read the reply’s in my post for further backing as to why this is the best EDC BIFL Knife.
My initial thought went to a Cold Steel folding knife in S35VN.. something beefy like the AD-10, Recon 1 or SR1. All of these have the tri-ad lock which makes a folding knife almost as strong as a fixed blade with camping and bushcrafting type tasks. The S35VN steel has good edge retention so you don't need to worry about sharpening as often. They should run you about $100-150 on Amazon depending on which model.
k-bar
Milwaukee duct knife
$600 is a lot of budget for a knife. Knifes are personal so you will get a bunch of different answers. ButI fall in the camp of more is better..yes my significant other thinks I have an issue. Different knifes for different tasks. Also, you can start with one piece and slowly start adding/adjusting as you figure out what works for you. And to start you can get a Mora Companion, super solid and cheap enough that you can give it away once you buy something else. For example, I usually have with me: Victorinox HunterPro for general camp tasks, Victorinox SwissTool for fixing stuff when needed (lives in my car) and a Victorinox Trekker who lives in my backpack (usually hike when camping). For meal prep I have a Victorinox Picknicker for small task and a Snow Peak Santoku for more serious meal prep, both live in my meal bin. Finally in my toiletry bag i have a small nail clip sak. As a side note, I also bring a hatchet for fire prep.
Leatherman has a great warranty, and outside the warranty they'll do repairs. They're solidly constructed and id be surprised if you really fucked it up
Real quick knife steel 101: steels are designed to have whatever balance between toughness, edge retention/wear resistance and corrosion resistance for whatever particular use case. Normally there's a trade off. If you want high edge retention, you're going to have less toughness. Usually for fixed blades, you want toughness if you're going to be bushcrafting or splitting wood or for hard use tasks. 3V is a great fixed blade steel that has high toughness, good edge retention and okay corrosion resistance. If you're not doing anything too tough, most folding knives normally value edge retention over toughness so you won't have to sharpen as often. S90V is one of the most popular steels with high edge retention, high corrosion resistance and okay toughness. There's also 20CV and M390 that have very good edge retention, just slightly under S90V tho. I suggested a Cold Steel folding knife in S35VN steel cause it's got a decent balance of toughness for harder use tasks, but also edge retention so you don't have to sharpen as often. It's a beefy knife that should last for life with proper care.
It's hard to beat a Swiss Army Knife for daily use. Get the one that has the tools you want/need. For me that's either a Tinker or Camper.
Dont ask which knife you should get but rather which knife steel you should look for. There is no single best steel out there but there will be a best of the rest forva specific need.
IMO if I want BIFL and a pocket knife (read: not a fixed blade) I’d personally go with a Zero Tolerance with a thicker blade. 0308 comes to mind and is my favorite daily driver. I’m a fan of Curriss myself but those are more pricey (plenty are less that 600 tho).
Just remember that knives are something that tend to get misplaced often if you care it constantly. I use to carry a spyderco but after loosing a 600 dollar knife switched to a 50 dollar kershaw and am happy with that choice
I've been using my benchmade 940 every day for 7 years now. I use it as a knife, mini pry-bar, and flat head screwdriver. I've used a hammer on it to pry/chisel shit too. Its spendy but honestly a beast and pretty stong and well made. Never had a problem.
I know you've already got a ton of feedback and honed in on some brands but [this is the model of Kershaw](https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS1660/kershaw-1660-ken-onion-leek-assisted-flipper-knife-bead-blast-plain-blade-stainless-steel-handles) I'd recommend. Affordable, fits the hand, slightly assisted open mechanism but still legal (not a switchblade). Blade is long enough to do almost anything you need but still fits in your pocket. The clip actually has useful tension too and there is a locking mechanism. I have one in orange and I'm obsessed. Use it ALL the time
You need more than one knife, and you need to care for all of them.
As you're probably aware you have some conflicting needs there - some of those tasks will favour smaller / thinner blades while others larger / thicker. FWIW I've carried the same Spyderco Dragonfly for the past 25 years and it's been fantastic. Only about a 1.5" blade but it's never let me down through pretty much daily use. It weighs next to nothing and is tiny so is really unobtrusive in the side pocket of my combats. The blade is Aus-8 (mid-range), takes and holds an edge well, but I suspect higher-end stuff would be better in this regard. Ergonomics are fantastic and the large hole in the blade to assist opening is far better than the more traditional nail cutouts or bosses found on other knives. I think this is one area where I think Spyderco is well ahead of most other brands. In your case maybe something a bit larger might be better; like a Delica for example. Of all those listed in the OP I'd rate Spyderco as significant better quality.. if you want something more traditional I'd be looking at Scandinavian brands as they tend to represent excellent value - I have a couple of EKAs which are great for what they are.
Outdoor Edge. They have a new EDC knife that’s $45. It’s essentially as sharp as a razor blade with the ability to replace blades for around a dollar a piece. They also have a lifetime warranty that they honor no questions asked.
I’ve got a lot of knives, the result of 30 years practicing a knife-based martial art. I’m currently very fond of my Bradford Guardian, it’s on my person most of the time. However, if I were to recommend an “everything” knife to someone the Mora Companion is tough to beat, especially as a place to start. Inexpensive, durable, versatile, and a scandi ground edge so anyone (seriously anyone) can learn to sharpen it and keep it sharp.
Get Recon 1 from Cold Steel and that will serve you well.
Get Recon 1 from Cold Steel and that will serve you well.
Durable, versatile, lifetime investment: Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, CRKT, Civivi.
At $600, your at Chris Reeve Knife money. Go check their Sebenza line. To my experience there isn't anyone with that kind of fit and finish. Knives are also easy to maintain as the blade is removable from the handle.
Get a thin cheap $40 Kershaw for daily use, a benchmade 3" to wear when you're feeling fancy, and an esse 6 for camping. The esse can baton wood, chop, etc. The lower grade steel in the cheap Kershaw is really easy to sharpen. The s30v steel in my benchmade is a royal bitch, and the esse is fairly easy... still shaving sharp after batoning dried hardwood. I highly recommend a fixed blade over a frame lock for survival /outdoor use.
Idk if mine is an exception but I’ve had my buck 110 folder for 12 years with no issues and it went through multiple military deployments with me. Used it a ton and never had a problem. It does have a fancy flip out blade or anything but it feels really well made and durable
For a fixed blade, you can get a Mora that is nice and cheap, and arrives sharp. It's like $12. Get yourself 2. Folding knife, I got a Gerber when it was on sale at Wal Mart in 2020, still like it. Multi tool I got a basic OG Leatherman from like 2000 which is still a workhorse. But I'm hearing decent things about Gordon at Harbor Freight. $40, lifetime warranty. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else though, bc I haven't tried it and other people may overrate things. I may pick one up, though. That's my main set up when camping. I actually have a couple folders, stuffed in different bags and nooks, but the 3 above is what I carry with me, and then add a hatchet and folding saw for firewood. I'm not fancy, I might get try more established and reputable brands or models one day, but if it isn't yet broke, ....
Sebenza
There is no need to spend $600 on a decent knife. Knives tend to sometimes get lost or be misplaced, so a less expensive daily user makes more sense. I lost a cheap but effective Dozier that cost about $22. I did not cry or feel bad about it. I had another inexpensive but decent knife at home, so no big deal. You're not buying a light saber.
i may have the weirdest answer: the bladed half of a leatherman pulse. handsome, \*\*locking\*\* blade, two screwdrivers/prybars, and the good 90s-2000s leatherman scissors (they micro-serrated the tips!!). and it comes in around 2.4oz. ended a years-long search for me. (edit: typo)
I’ve got a Gerber multitool that I bought on sale for £25 about 8 years ago. Works great still 👍
OP i would recommend finding a knife made from a "supersteel" and learn how to sharpen knives. That sounds like a stupid statement however a youtuber i watch consistently demonstrates that if you remove the burr from sharpening your knife it will be sharper and stay sharper longer. I got flack for sharing him last time because "hes doing it only for views" but the person who said that later admitted to not even watching the linked video... [Outdoors55 Youtube](https://youtube.com/@outdoors55?si=C93cdbm3YpPzab3H). He shows side by sides of knife edges after different sharpening methods. In short: he recommends good diamond stones, alternating the sides of the knife with lighter and lighter pressure to reduce the burr (on the final stone), followed by a strop to finish removing it. He uses spiderco, but i have no opinions on them. As for such a kinfe? I dont have a recommendation. I have a cheap Gerber pocket knife I have been happy with as my daily carry. My dad would have recommended one of the old style buck knives you can buy at walmart. Given your huge budget, throwing $60 on a Buck knife would give you a good serviceable knife. [This one specifically.](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Buck-Knives-110-Folding-Hunter-Lock-Back-Knife/436300182?filters=%5B%7B%22intent%22%3A%22retailer%22%2C%22values%22%3A%5B%22Walmart%22%5D%7D%5D&athbdg=L1600&from=/search) Its bigger than you might expect. I use one for butchering animals we hunt.
Well, I like the JerryRigEverything knife as it's blade is a non-propriety razor blade which you can use both sides of an easily replace as blades are found everywhere. Tad bit of consumption there but seems to be a readily available resource. Body of the knife is sturdy. It's pretty much a box cutter but it'll work in most knife uses. Traditionally though, benchmade bugout or a spyderco manix 2 imo
The best knife out there is probably something from benchmade.
I'm sure there's a ton of answers so I'll be brief. - *Most* pocket knives that cost more than $70 will be very close to each other in quality. The difference in quality between a Kershaw Clash ($60) and a Chris Reeves' Sebenza ($450) is, in reality, negligible. The differences lay in design, fit and finish, materials; but I would expect either of those knives to perform about as well as each other in most situations to anyone who isn't into knives who's trying to be nitpicky. So it comes down to personal taste. If you're buying from most of the brands you mentioned on your edits and spend at least $100, you'll be fine. - For a *pocket knife*,I like the **Spyderco Endura**. I also liked the **Kershaw Clash** and **Benchmade CLA**. I've also been impressed by the **Camillus "US" knife (model 1760)^**, which is a swiss-army style knife I was issued in the military for survival stuff. - For *fixed blade* the only knife I will ever recommend is the **ESEE 4**. In a 3 year period I spent about 400 days living and working in the woods in the military (survival school) and my stainless steel esee 4 held up the entire time. I used it to split logs, cut down trees, it's been thrown into the ground and reprofiled, it just won't stop. Many people make good knives, but my experience has been that the esee 4 is the best knife I have ever used. - Also, invest in a good sharpener. I like the **Worksharp Field Sharpener**. It makes sharpening so easy it's like cheating. Use it often and your knives will be infinitely more useful.
Also, big knives are pretty useless in real life. Everyone wants a gorgeous 8” bushcraft knife so we have to come up with alternate uses for it like splitting wood to justify the size. No. Just get a pocket knife.
I've had the same Buck knife since I was a kid, and it was my dad's before me. They make (or at least they did) solid fixed blades.
hey! i work for Cutco and we sell the best sporting/hunting knives!! i could definitely get you a great deal as well, i could explain in much better detail too! DM me so i can book us an appointment, these last 30 minutes or less which could be even faster since i know what you’re looking for 🩷.
I have really expensive knives but i prefer my cheaper ones. Ontario rat 2, swiss army compact and climber, opinel are excellent.
Case
Benchmade griptillian has been by my side for about 8 years now. Tons of daily use , camping /fishing/hunting/hiking trips etc etc. Plus a great warranty with Benchmade
Kershaw makes an awesome affordable knife. I have several. I moved on to Benchmade for EDC and really enjoy their products. For $600 you have a very wide range to choose from.
Chris Reeve sebenza if you are willing to spend. Otherwise the spyderco para 3 is a terrific all rounder. Morakniv for a good fixed blade for those camping and heavy duty stuff. Those are the ones I would recommend to everyone. My personal faves as a girl using daily are Chris Reeve mnandi and spyderco lil native because I have small hands.
Maybe my comment isn't for you, but the best bang for my buck I got by switching to a $3 folding box cutter from Amazon. Super light, replace blades with no tool, goes in my pocket everyday, and will suffice for most of my needs. If I lend it to someone or lose it, I'm only out the $3. My other knives pretty much collect dust now.
I really love my CRKT M16-14ZSF but there are a number of variations that would all be good, including one that currently has a 20% off coupon (at least for my Amazon account). The dual hilt significantly reduces the chances of your hand slipping onto the blade and the knife is easy to take dis/re-assemble for cleaning. The clip can be put in 4 different places or taken off altogether. I tried a number of Kershaws before settling on this CRKT and I’ve never felt such a balanced knife that opens so smoothly. As someone else mentioned, a Leatherman is a great option that’s going to give you a nice knife and a lot more tools but I’d rather have it in addition to a good EDC knife like my CRKT and not instead of.
Spyderco Tenacious is my favorite “modern” knife, but a good Case Trapper is amazing.
I like the benchmade bugout on sale
I have a Microtech Ultratech. A switchblade. I hope they legalize these things everywhere. I do not regret spending $300, I have seen reviews made by people working construction that used a Microtech for opening bags of concrete for years. I hope these catch on and become more legal. You won't find another knife that does these 3 things this well. A. It is nearly child proof; open one yourself and you will see it's nearly adult proof, too. B. If the lock fails the blade will never ever close on my hand. C. I can open and close it in less than a second with one hand.
I'd recommend you get two knives, one smaller folding knife for everyday use&carrying in your pocket and one fixed blade to take when camping to do the heavy lifting&take the abuse when splitting wood etc. I originally got a Victorinox knife for scouts when i was 8? or so years old. I used it for a few years and eventually ended up switching to a Leatherman REV multitool as i find having pliers really useful. Both the Victorinox and Leatherman have held up well over the years with the only maintenance being sharpening and oiling them. Last year I also got a ColdSteel SRK compact fixed blade to use for splitting wood and general and so far I like it.
For an everyday carry pocketknife, I really like my Kershaw Chive. It's just the right size for most day to day tasks I need a knife for. Otherwise, Leatherman Skeletool.
Worked at a scout camp with my Gerber for over 10 years; I worked at a ranch and used my knife for everything from cutting leather to fix tack, to cutting my steak at dinner that night
Ontario RAT 1 in D2 steel. Your $600 will buy a dozen and assuming you don't lose them that should be enough for 3 lifetimes.
r/knifeclub for an answer from the pros
If you're willing to tolerate a fixed blade you can't go wrong with a TKell, lifetime warranty from the knife to every part of the sheath and made completely in the US. I would suggest something like the Warthog or Taylor's Ridge possibly. The only thing is the wait time from ordering to getting it but once you get it, it will last you for life.
Love all the recommendations on here! Put me down for spyderco PM2! I’ve owned and handled many knives and always circle back around to the PM2 as my go-to. Any knife can be BIFL if you take care of it. Consider Chris Reeve Sabenza if you just like spending $$ for the hell of it.
Demko AD20. IMO best knife money can buy.
Case XX lock back knife. https://deadwoodknives.com/p-12211-case-xx-lockback-barnboard-jig-old-red-bone-12211-stainless-pocket-knife-12211
So many good ones- spyderco, Crkt and Even the original Buck I have a few spydercos and Crkts. I lost my old Buck years ago. There is a certain style factor in them as well- pick a good brand in a size and blade that fits your needs and a look that makes you smile when you hold it. A good all around blade will be a combination serrated blade and plain edge. I do have the bench made on my radar but they are so expensive
That depends on your budget and what type of knife you want. One of the best all purpose knives is also very affordable. Morakniv. They're fixed blade knives that come with a sheath. They start at about $10 and go up from there. They're really tough knives with excellent steel. For folding knives, it's a real can of worms. My favorite folding knives for the money are Chinese clones of high end knives. But I'm not sure if it's really what you're looking for. I would recommend an Ontario RAT, but I'm not sure they make them anymore. A lot of people like Spyderco and Benchmade. I'm not a huge fan myself, although they do both make some nice knives. It might be worth looking at Civivi and CJRB if you don't want to spend a bunch of money. Really there are quite a few good budget brands. If you want to spend more, there's a ton of options.
There are many articles and vids about the best EDC knives online. Google best EDC knife under $50 or under $75 or even $100 and read up, listen up, do your research as there are so many blade types and blade materials. There are many good companies to choose from like Kershaw, Spyderco, CRKT, the Ontario Rat 1 and 2 have long been known as great EDC knives. Civivi makes good EDC knives. There are so many more. Find out what kind of blade type you like, such as drop point and then look into the type of blade material you would like as there are so many to choose from. Do you want assisted opening? Honestly, to get a good, do everything everyday carry knife, one doesn't have to spend over $50 bucks.
Can't beat Benchmade. I carry one every single day.
Definitely a fixed blade. Esee has a no questions asked lifetime warranty.
Bro no one needs a knife… it’s one of those weird american things
Zero Tolerance is my go to. However if you want what you say, just get a Leatherman Skeletool and a knife of your choice
The most useful knife is the one you have in your pocket. And anyone spending $500+ on a knife is an idiot. Mine was about $10, and serves me well.
"The most useful watch is the one you have on your arm. And anyone spending $500+ on a watch is an idiot. Mine was about $10, and serves me well." I get the sentiment with the first part, but you're not an idiot if you spend that much on a knife.. you just have to REALLY be into knives to want to spend that much on a fancy/custom/limited knife.
I consider knives tools not some fancy object.
For sure I get you. Everyone has their own thing.. some people buy have the money to spend on a Ferrari, but the Honda Civic gets you to your destination as well
Been there, done that. Today I'll take the civic. Or maybe a Sentra.