Opinions on Sub $200 Knives

Pale Rider

Active Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
55
Location
Triangle
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey you guys, I would love to hear all of your opinions on finding the best every day carry knife that is under $200. I've been following Facebook debates on whether more expensive knives are worth it. And I've learned a lot. But in the end for me, I think I'm going to be maxing out at under $200 on the best folding knife that I'll be able to afford. Let me know what knives you think are the best in the under $200 category!
 
There are tons of great knives on the market for less than $200.00. You need to decide what your main usage is going to be and then head out to your local gun and knife show and find the one that fits your needs and your hands the best.
 
I have carried a Spyderco Delica 4 with Emerson wave for years. It was about $80. I've replaced the clip a couple times after bending it at work. Great knife. Instead of a thumb stud open it catches on the pocket and opens as you draw it from your pocket. Basically, it opens as it clears the pocket with a nice attention getting snap.
 
Heck I have carried a Smith and wesson knife for 20 years. You don't have to go above $100 to fit your need unless you like the best of everything.
 
Spyderco makes a great (big) knife known as the Resilience, less than $50 and one hell of a knife. I also have Spyderco Military that some years ago I got at gun show for $100 out the door. GREAT KNIFE and I highly recommend it. Kershaw/Zero Tolerance make some great knives in the $200 price range. I have one ZT knife and it's bomb proof. Saw a guy carrying this knife the other day at my LGS. ZT 0452CF. Big, beautiful knife. If it wasn't tip up I would have bought one on the spot as the LGS had it in stock. If I wasn't saving for a very spendy 1911, I would still buy one of these.

41dSZbmm5aL.jpg
 
I've been a Spyderco fan for years, can't beat the value in those knives. Usually carry an Endura or Military.
 
I've got a couple Benchmades that were under $100. The smaller one is probably 4-5 years old and has done everything I've asked of it. The larger one is probably 2 years old and pretty much only gets used hiking or while out in the woods. I wouldn't spend a ton of money on a folder. I'd put my $$ more towards a higher end fixed blade than can handle more tasks and abuse.
 
I carry 2 SOG twitch xls. One is a single edged blade with serration on the back half. The other is a normal blade. Have carried both for going on 8 years. Beat the crap out of them. They still work awesome. Keep a edge well. Both were $50. Now I think they are $55. I highly recommend them.

But as long as you go with a good name brand it should treat you well. Never spent more than $75 on a blade. Never had issues.
 
Kershaw blur s35 steel or a zt o770 in elmax. either is a good choice. the zt may be still found in elmax but they are fast moving everything to s35. if you get the 0770 in carbon fiber it is very light weight.
 
Like a couple of others have mentioned, I like the ZT0452CF.

I have easy access to pretty much whatever I want in the currently available knife world. I carry my ZT probably 28 days out of 30. And it's been that way for months now.
 
I carry a ZT 0566 everyday. It is a medium sized heavier weight assist opener that I feel I can use for more than opening letters. I can’t remember exactly what I paid a couple years back but $125-135 would be my guess. ZT (and sister company Kershaw) has an excellent warranty and service department. I’ve sent back my Kershaw Leek because I popped the fine tip and they replaced the blade and refreshed the knife for $10 (ZT is $30 because they are higher dollar steel).

Side note, I love Moras and have a ton of them as my less expensive fixed utility knife. For my less expensive utility folders Kershaw has a near copy of my ZT 0566 they call Cryo II that I have a couple around. They are less expensive steel made in China but they run $35-40 and honestly I can barely tell the difference in except for edge retention and maintenance.
 
Benchmade, ZT, or US made Kershaws. Tons of great options so its hard to narrow down without any specifics. Do you work in a office, cutting boxes in warehouse, out on a farm, etc..

If I had to pick in general, I'd say go check out a Benchmade 940-2. Under your budget and a great all around edc blade.
 
Ive been carrying a 4”Cold Steel Tanto for @ 20 yrs, still love it yet it’s a bit large for office type clothing.
I’ve been carrying a ZT 0770CF I got from ThrillHill for the last 3 months, ZT makes a great blade.
Go see Bill, he’s got great pricing on Benchmades as well. I haven’t found anywhere else that has better pricing, or that large of a selection of high quality knives to see what fits you.
 
Benchmade, ZT, or US made Kershaws. Tons of great options so its hard to narrow down without any specifics. Do you work in a office, cutting boxes in warehouse, out on a farm, etc..

If I had to pick in general, I'd say go check out a Benchmade 940-2. Under your budget and a great all around edc blade.

I work in an office. I would like something that could work well as an EDC knife, but also be of great use outdoors/camping.
 
I've been carrying a Kershaw 1760 skyline for years. Great knife. Sharpens easy, holds an edge, and does everything I need a knife to do. You can find them around $50.00 pretty easily.
 
I was showing the gathering Sunday what I called the demise of the American pocket knife industry. It is a FlashTanto by S O G. FA 02 steel[whatever that is]. It snaps open with REAL authority. G2 scales. A point you could do ocular surgery with, and a blade that is shave ready. I paid $16 for it off EB. Delivered.
 
I work in an office. I would like something that could work well as an EDC knife, but also be of great use outdoors/camping.

My wife got me this one for our anniversary, and it's a pretty doggone good one.
Benchmade Grizzly Ridge folder.
Link to specs:
http://www.benchmade.com/15061.html

It's lightweight, but has a solid feel to it. The orange is a hard plastic and the gray is a really grippy rubberized material. That sucker does not slip in the hand. Blade and handle are big and sturdy enough to be of really good use on a campsite, but not too bulky to rule it out as an edc. It's a non reversible tip up pocket clip orientation, which I like, but ymmv on that. Straight, non serrated edge. Again, I prefer non serrated, but ymmv on that, too. The thumb stud for opening is prominant and positive feeling, but rounded and doesnt catch on the edge of a pocket. The opening action is really smooth. Theres just enough beginning tension to keep it from opening unwanted, but not enough to make it hard to deploy, if needed. Plus, it also looks good lol.
Overall, its a really solid edc/general use option. I personally like it a lot. It can be had for about $125 several different places online.
Whatever you get, good luck finding what suits you.

20180130_091427.jpg
 
My wife got me this one for our anniversary, and it's a pretty doggone good one.
Benchmade Grizzly Ridge folder.
Link to specs:
http://www.benchmade.com/15061.html

It's lightweight, but has a solid feel to it. The orange is a hard plastic and the gray is a really grippy rubberized material. That sucker does not slip in the hand. Blade and handle are big and sturdy enough to be of really good use on a campsite, but not too bulky to rule it out as an edc. It's a non reversible tip up pocket clip orientation, which I like, but ymmv on that. Straight, non serrated edge. Again, I prefer non serrated, but ymmv on that, too. The thumb stud for opening is prominant and positive feeling, but rounded and doesnt catch on the edge of a pocket. The opening action is really smooth. Theres just enough beginning tension to keep it from opening unwanted, but not enough to make it hard to deploy, if needed. Plus, it also looks good lol.
Overall, its a really solid edc/general use option. I personally like it a lot. It can be had for about $125 several different places online.
Whatever you get, good luck finding what suits you.

View attachment 41259

Yes, I've got that one in my wish list!!
 
Back
Top Bottom