What is your favorite pocket knife or EDC knife under $15-$20 in price. Any folding knife you like that’s inexpensive fits in this category.
I enjoy sharpening and like to experience sharpening many different kinds of knives. I have more kitchen knives than any sane person needs and no more room to keep them. It’s not like you can throw a WE sharpened knife in a drawer and safely retrieve it. So I decided pocket knives are the way to go to feed my Zen desire to sharpen. Folding knives I can safely just hide in a drawer and reach in there and not need a Band-Aid. Thanks for your suggestions.
An alternative to buying cheap pocket knives… I found a lot of practice knives on eBay. In particular searching for “Knife Lot”. A bit of searching (and patience) will give you plenty of practice… and usually on knives that really need it. You’ll get a few “junkers”… they’re still usually good enough to throw in a toolbox or car as a spare… but occasionally you’ll get a nice find too.
Also, many people will sell a knife because it’s “damaged”… a broken tip or chipped edge will often get you a knife for pennies on the dollar… and many are easy fixes… and good practice.
Besides gaining practical sharpening experience, I’m really looking for cool, decent, inexpensive knives that are fun to carry and use. You know, grab and go a different one everyday. Then, like TCMeyer said, you don’t mind just giving it away, if someone likes it or needs it, because you can generally replace it, if you really want to. If I sharpen it too often that I waste the steel and ruin the usefulness and longevity of the knife I really won’t mind.
In that case… you might want to look at the many Kershaw “imports” that constantly pop up. For example the “Injection” 3820, great knife that can be found for around $15.00…
Marc I have to say–in my quest for some cheap knives to practice on, I stumbled upon the Kershaw Thistle. I tell you, it’s unique, and really easy to open and close with one hand. I was really surprised by the lockup and everything else about it.
The Opinel No 8 is one of my personal favorites. Pretty unique old world folder with a collar lock. Extremely thin blade, very lightweight. Takes an insanely sharp edge, and they’re only $12-14. They make great gifts.
I’ve had good success with Kershaw , Oso sweet, Thistle and a couple of trainers. Buck’s Lux is a nice knife as well. The Oso sweet is my favorite of those.
The part that I dislike is that it takes forever to get them (roughly a month) but well worth the wait. The price for either is close to $30 but let’s allow for inflation here, $20 in 2017 …
If you are so inclined, you can still find a Kershaw Dividend in M390 though they are getting rather scarce in the wild.
For years I’ve been buying batches of Grizzly’s Z-Knife, which is a small lock back folder with a skeletonized blade. When I first bought them, maybe ten or twelve years ago, they were only about $7 each, and I kept one at every place around house I worked or sat. When they became dull, I’d gather up the whole lot and take them to my WEPS for tune-ups. Then they came on sale, so I bought another batch, after which I’d keep one in my pocket and give it to a friend or relative who didn’t have an EDC. I probably gave about 12 away. Guys seem to love them, so now they’ve come on a close-out sale for $3.40 each, so I bought another batch of eight. All told, I think I’ve bought about 24 Z-knives.
As Father Guido Sarducci said, “Get 'em while supplies last!”
Okay, that’s a pretty obscure joke. To explain: On Saturday Night Live, back in the early eighties, a comedian portraying Father Sarducci, said that he was now working for the Vatican and that “they were running a special on absolution. Get 'em while supplies last.”
Thanks TC! Grabbed 6 to scatter about the house and garage.. I bet they are like cordless drills.. all gathered in the other place where I am not, when I need one! If it is small and lite enough might even put one in me pocket.
If it is small and lite enough might even put one in me pocket.