Budget Brands Make Some of the Best Knives - KnifeCenter
What knife brands can you count on to always deliver a solid value? Check out some great options here: kcoti.com/3au8Y7a
When it comes to the budget knife space, certain brands have it all figured out. From USA-made Kershaws to the consistent top-quality of CIVIVI, or the ever-dependable Swiss Army Knives, it’s never been easier to buy a great knife without breaking the bank.
Featured Knives
0:00 The Best Budget Knife Brands
1:45 Bestech Knives: kcoti.com/3nXJEtm
4:38 CIVIVI Knives: kcoti.com/3O6BIAh
6:46 CJRB Cutlery: kcoti.com/3uI8Oj7
8:56 CRKT - Columbia River Knife and Tool: kcoti.com/3PivHle
12:03 Kershaw Knives: kcoti.com/3bX8JSc
14:42 Morakniv: kcoti.com/3PcPano
17:15 Ontario Knife Company: kcoti.com/3PpGPN1
21:22 Opinel Knives: kcoti.com/3uHMqXa
23:10 QSP Knives: kcoti.com/3Proakh
25:20 Real Steel Knives: kcoti.com/3c9kcOM
28:19 Victorinox Swiss Army: kcoti.com/3OVHvtT
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This focus on "inexpensive" as opposed to "cheap" is nice. Far too many people use them interchangeably when they're not
You're perfectly right coz affordable and inexpensive is way different than cheap and maybe made out of bad quality, some manufacturers get a good deal formula on how to provide their costumers with an ok quality affordable knives
No Mora knife is cheap, but they are all inexpensive. You hit the nail on the head.
I don't get the distinction, cheap means relatively low price not poor quality.
@@user-kh3xv2tk9t Some people like to split hairs, but the thing is that cheap has multiple common meanings/uses. Yes, it does mean (relatively) inexpensive/low price, you open a synonym dictionary, those words will all list each other. But cheap it is also used in negative ways far more often than affordable or innexpensive, like low quality. It is the "you get what you pay for" mentality coping with paying low price for something actually good, basically.
The discount ones on my channel, Weasley is much cheaper.
Most people would never spend more than a hundred dollars on a pocket knife so this is a welcome review - I love my Kizer
Lol true "most" but not all I keep 2 $135 knives on me every day, I'm also a bit of a knife nut
100% and those that have $120+ knives don't actually use them
Most people wouldn't spend $30 on a knife.
@@King88_8 very true 👍🏼
If a lot of people weren't spending more than a hundred dollars on pocket knives, how do you explain all the high end knife makers that are doing booming business? Several of the brands mentioned in this video make higher end knives that sell very well. The adverse to this is all The people buying 2 dollar knives that have to be replaced every time you open them. People will generally buy the highest quality that will fit in their budget.
I don’t usually comment but this guy was so knowledgable and explained the features with a subtle confidence thst made me really want to listen all the way through. Thanks and well done!
DCA is the best
You know, Victorinox might not come to my mind when I think of budget knife brands, but there will never be a knife that's in my pocket more than the SAK on my keys, because it fills the niche it fills so superbly. I've carried a SAK since I was in the cub scouts, and I'll probably be carrying one when I die. An all-time great tool.
Most pocket knives are worth less than $121.
@@JohnnyFDiaz What do you mean?
I would choose the lock back knife that I know about on my channel.
I've carried a SAK since before it was a SAK too.
I rlly dislike my victorinox, not enough cutting power for me, they are good for the money but I just dislike them
just recently bought my first spyderco knife from y’all’s website, a pm2 to be exact, it was as easy as putting one on hold and a week later it showed up on my door step. love the content keep up the great work
Also the mora is an excellent excellent knife. I also believe opinel are criminally underrated. They are affected by the humidity but still for under 20 bucks..
they do have opinels in 12c27 which is a stainless steel it’s not great but it exists
@@acid6urnsIt's more that the wood handle can swell up a bit when exposed to a lot of moisture, making it véry hard to open the knife...
In that case i recommend to knock the lower end on to smt. Its a regular legit way to open the knife.
Thanks for the video your whole series has been very helpful!
This by far is my favorite knife review and so far my favorite knife review channel. I've been watching gun reviews for the last 15 plus years and I have my favorite channels for that too. This channel compares with them very well. I'll definitely be tuned in here for future (and past) reviews. Keep up the great work!
This is exactly what I was looking for in more affordable knives; THANKS!!!👍👍👍
This guy is probably has the best narrative coverage of all these tools learn something every time. Nice work.
I have a mora kansbol, I also have knives that are more than 10 times the price (just to put my collection and problem in perspective) it easily has the most comfortable handle of any knife I own. It also came sharper than any other when brand new. Thin blade cuts so nice and it's very light weight, sometimes i grab a more costly knife because I would rather beat up something I like less.
Thank you very much for what you do I appreciate it and it was a lot of fun meeting you at blade show and thank you for introducing me to some new things I'm going to buy
Terrific knives and video. I bought a Morakniv in a neat plastic sheath years ago to throw in my fishing bag and it has ended up as my go to kitchen knife. Cheers
Absolutely thrilled to see this video. Thank you and everyone at KC for highlighting these brands (Kershaw being my personal favorite) and letting us regular folks see what we can actually afford to add to the collection.
Love Kershaw! Great knives and reasonable prices.
He forgot my brand on my channel.
To everyone going through hard times, we’ll all get through it. Especially with the help of DCAs soothing voice. Stay strong kings.
Thank you for this very nice presentation. I will have a look at these brands.
Great video DCA like always, gettin us the best variety on the market
The best ones on the market are on my channel.
I'm pretty hard on knives and do alot outdoors and I have the Ontario model 1 and it has worked extremely well for me. I love this knife for edc.
Awesome, thanks for this one DC!
I'm new the channel but I would like to say that David did a great job keeping me interested in his presentation. Great job.. will highly recommend.
Tack för en mycket givande och lärorik video! Du är mycket trevlig att lyssna på och du verkar kunna allt om knivar. Tack än en gång och varma hälsningar från Sverige!
Nice to see a segment on budget knives..
Funny for me is how the Victorinox you mentioned is my first ever pocket knife. Got it from my father when I was like 13 or 14, it's been a bit over 10 years and I'm still carrying it around.
Yeah I had one to, lost it somewhere:(
@@minedthagap My dad still has his from decades ago. My grandmother won a Marlboro lottery thing and gave it to him.
I love my Civivi Elementum! It fits my hand perfectly and the jimping is so positive.
Old video but so many of these are still holding there own. Especially considering that Amazon brings out a new Chinese brand every other day. Personally I hope Kershaw continues to do well. To me it's like Case, been around forever it seems. Kershaw was one of those companies that offered you a decent knife at a good fair price. Before the internet you could buy you a Kershaw and it was a huge step above a gas station knife.
I would like to give an honorable mention to “Joker Knives” handmade in Spain for $40-100+ for some amazing fixed blades that punch way above their price and they aren’t made in China.
Spanish knives are unfairly neglected! They have perhaps the longest tradition in making knives and their quality is above German and American knives
Post a link
Yeah, I have the CO 60 and it's a very decent blade. Picked it up for around $32. Not my go-to fixed blade, but it gets used fairly often and has held up very well.
Morakniv Basic 511: 3/4 length rat tail tang with alternating cut outs that lock the blade in the handle against being pushed in or pulled out. The only weak point is batoning the tip while the finger guard is resting on a solid surface - that creates a rocking motion that is likely to snap the tang about an inch into the handle. The 546 is the 12C27 stainless version.
I use opinel and victorinox since 45 years and happy with them. For more demanding stuff I use a locking blade knive. Great vid
What a fabulous video, thank you David! His review of budget pocket knives it's so good one simply cannot go wrong selecting several knives from this list, owning them and/ or giving them away as gifts. I am particularly fond of the high-quality manufacturer ones which fall into the European category of the Mora knives and the Swiss Army knives. I am a believer that the higher the quality of manufacturer, the more likely the user is to employ them. But as you have pointed out, manufacturing quality is moving forward across-the-board such as with qsp. Thanks again for introducing us to these great brands that many of us may not have been familiar with. Take care and keep up the great work!
Thanks for this video. Very useful!
I have a lot of knives but the moras for fix blade is my favorite.👍
Thanks for the great videos!! 👍
All great pics. Well done.
Very nice video, thank you. I would love to see more budget topics.
I got budget prices too.
I look forward to your videos each week, DCA. Keep that stuff coming and thanks.
It is interesting( and saddening) to me that while I can spend just a few dollars on an Ontario, Opinel, Mora, or Victorinox that arrives arm shaving sharp. But, if I spend two to three times the price on a WR Case I need to spend quite a bit of time repairing and sharpening the blade to make it serviceable. It kind of makes the cheap options superior.
Case is really wierd with their folders... they cost full price but every Rougth Ryder has better fit and finishing.
@@AYellowPepper Rough Ryder? haha... you're funny. But Case does have a very serious problem with their sharpening. It should not leave the factory unless it can cut paper.
it's the difference between a company that knows knives are tools and one that sells "lifestyle accessories"
It's the mith of the "american made" which doesn't mean the knife is better and notice that the american workers are payed less than the european workers.
Your talking about a case knife's like their not affordable knife's . I mean technically most of their knifes are on the cheaper side ...
Thanks a lot, DCA-this episode is going to cost me a lot of money! Joking aside-some great choices here, and I enjoy and appreciate your videos.
Thanks David for your review of bestech swordfish. After giving it thought and research, I've ordered one with the black and blue handles. This type of video helps me make an informed decision when I'm looking to buy a new knife like the swordfish. I look forward to more videos like this one.
That was the first or second Bestech that I purchased. What a great knife.
Thank you, David! Well done!
Thanks for another great video. Great topic. Great knives. ● Kershaw Leek (U.S.) ● Morakniv 511 (Sweden) ● Ontario Rat (Tiawan) ●Opinel 6 (France)
Great overview and presentation. I was missing Kizer from the lineup, but I am sure you had good reason to omit it.
Great great breakdown. Thank you.
Hey David, that's right! Thanks for showing. Best regards Holger
Excellent Review, thanks!
Great demo. Ty
The action on the BT Fighter is just as smooth as any other button lock I own. Yes they can make a great unassisted knife
The Kershaw Leek was my first pocketknife, got it about 18 years ago and it had been around for a while at that point
Love the 🐀1and 2 fixed and folder!!!!!!
I really love the recoil lock I want to see more of it
A budget brand that also deserves mentioning is Hultafors. They are better known for their axes but the knives are good also. I have a Mora TopQ Allround and a Hultafors Craftsman knife RFR. Pretty much the same price and blade size/shape. The mora has a better sheath but the Hultafors keeps an edge notably better.
I'll check it out!
I got Hultafors for me and my son for camping , very similar to mora , great around camp
Now this is a really great topic for a video
I think I need to get that variant of the CJRB Crag. I like the Burlap micarta one, but the one shown is really speaking to me. Such an amazing price for so much knife.
The Mora Basic has been my go to recycle day knife for several years. I've sharpened it once.
I’m a knife guy since early childhood. But just want you to know watching your videos and listening to your critics I’ve learned a lot. You’ve upgraded my view like light years. Thank you and respect Ps. As a business man I use to filter the parts you go to advertising direction :D
Nice David . Didn’t know there was a cjrb rag that did that for $38 is vey cool. 😊. So I ended up grabbing a kershaw launch 1 and some other cool knives from your Christmas vid where you picked what you like .
Great video, love most of those brands, particularly Civivi, Kershaw, Ontario, Mora and QSP. I would also add Honey Badger, the large versions in D2, flipper with ball bearings in the $50's. (Love my Wharncleaver).
I have heard many favorable things about HBs. I have yet to get one.
CRKT Squid and QSP Penguin are the two knives I always recommend to people new to the knife world or anyone that's looking for a quality, inexpensive knife for EDC
Ngl the raw feeling of the opinel makes it my favorite !!
Great video as always, DCA! Another contender might be the Artisan Cutlery Predator...A solid little 2.78" D2 blade with well-textured G10 scales.
Great vid and I love the knives reviewed. To add, Ka-Bar Dozier, Kizer, and Sencut are all great budget knives.
What about the Hunting Knife on my channel?
I feel like Kizer is sorely missed here, at least on par with civivi and real steel
Kizer has been elevating prices. i suspect that is the reason kizer isn't included. While they do have some budget knives I don't consider that their "bread and butter" so to speak.
I got a Kizer yesterday. The Swayback with 4v blade. Sending it back today because I need something that is more hard use (yesterday i also threw away an Esee Zancudo when the pivot decided to let go and there was more blade play than a John Wick movie. What is a kizer you would recommend? Preferably something less than 3 inches, no D2, no 154, no 8cr whatever, no Aus 8. Something solid with decent edge retention and can handle being used a bit rough. Finger choil is preferred but not a deal breaker. Thanks!
@@andrewg7576 I can't imagine sending a knife back for that reason. Sorry.
@@arrowheadguys7637 Fair enough. I can't imagine carrying and using what I know to be a safety hazard.
@@andrewg7576 Its not a safety hazard if used for its intended use. Its not a hard use knife, if thats what you intended to use it for thats a bad purchase on your part, and imo poor form to return it because you bought the wrong thing.
I carried a CRKT M1610KZ for years (lost my first one and ordered a replacement after a making do with cheap Walmart knives for a while) and still love the knife along with my C/K Dragon fixed blade. I recently got my first D2/ball bearing flipper, a Petrified Fish PF818. They're currently under $30, but the down side is that they ship from China so it takes about a month to get to you.
My knives can get to you in one week.
I've carried a CRKT M16-13z for over a decade and it's been a tank, excellent knife. Of course, now I work for a knife manufacturer in Golden, Co, USA Earth and get an employee discount, so most of my recent knife purchases are from the company store.😉
I've got a great old morakniv with the curly birch handle, my brother got it from and old swedish man for $10, it was an amazing deal
I love your reviews on knifes and kershaw is one of the 3 knifes i carrey for edc another brand i been using for over 10 years is gerber blades, never had one break on me and would like to see reviews on it
very useful and informative👍
Thank you. I'm glad you did this. With all due respect. I had started to notice the last few segments I had seen have been so over the top ( $800 oil titanium zirti or whatever up grade you were doing to you Shaman that was ) and so so many of these wonderful knives you have featured, but out of reach for a guy who punches a time clock every day. Not every single one. And tbh I haven't seen every single one. I wasn't going to click on anymore, concluding I'm just not your target market. But this was cool. Already knew most of this but it was refreshing anyway. Looks like I'll stay around for a while. Don't get me wrong. It's ok to dream.. occasionally.
I own 5 of the knives shown and love every one of em.
I've had my Swiss Army Knife/Huntsman for over 30 years. Goes for $32. Got me through Air Force survival school and still looks brand new. Don't overlook CRKT products either. I think they give the best bang for the buck. The CRKT Flat Out is my favorite knife for protection and it goes for only $48.
I fidget with my folding knives all the time mainly my d2 demko ad20.5 with nebula fat carbon scales and my civivi conspirator
Wow I had no idea about that recoil lock from cjrb that is pretty dang sweet I gotta pick one up
I knew the large herman munster hands would be bragged on!
Mora of course is in the kit in the car and scattered around the place. Lately, I'm EDC ing a Civivi Dogma in D2. Plus a SAK Manager in the pocket. I picked up a Kershaw OSO Sweat used and it's a pretty good little knife with AO that I've carried a bit. I have a lot of knives. Everything from Rough Ryder to Randall Mades. Until recently my standard carry was something like the Civivi or Kershaw, a SAK Alox Pioneer, and the SAK Manager. I finally started carrying a Leatherman Wave that I got for a good price used at a place I used to work. So it's the Wave now, the Civivi, and the SAK Manager. I consider the Leatherman to be a tool with a knife blade so don't use it as a knife. When I carried my SAK Champ I considered it a knife with tools on it.
Opinel for the win! I own 20+ Opinels, all of which are outstanding!
You guys should do a list of best fidget friendly edc. Would love to see that.
Cowabunga DCA.! Catering for the blue collar folks. The Bushcraft III is an awesome & handsome cutting tool. Proud to own a few. cheers mate. Hi Thomas! Greetings from Australia.
I used an Opinel 9 and a Mora for several years working in the forest. Those are good inexpensive knifes that you don't afraid to use. Still in perfect condition although might be covered a bit with pine resin.
17:18 For Mora, I would add, that they come in the very affordable models, which have good steel, 3/4 tang, etc, But offer variety of steel, full tang, etc. Not limited, to only the entry model. Love Mora
I hve a Civvivi mini praxis I got for $29. This is my favorite budget knife now. It take a scary edge and it is lightning fast
i have a moraknive and i’ve beaten the crap out of it and abused it and it still holds up and is still razor sharp
I love your videos. They are both entertaining and informative. The best on KZhead! That being said I find the background music(?) incredibly annoying. Is there a radio playing in the background that can be turned off? Thanks again for the best knife content on the internet.
DCA really sold me on Mora knives, gotta check those out.
You can not go wrong with any Mora. You would have to spend at least double if not more to match a Mora.
I love the carbon steel over their stainless, a little more work but a far superior edge
I have several of those models you have shown. The Rat 1, a definite beast of a knife. Has handled everything I have thrown at it. As has my Civivi, granted I don’t have an elementum yet, I have the brazen tanto. I have had three of the victorinox explorers, will again one day (assuming I stop loaning them out).
Do you have the Cutco hunting sport knife that is on my channel?
Lots of people love the Elementum. I like the shape and the price but the handle is just too small for my hand (wear size Large glove).
The explorer was my first pocket knife and it's still a favorite. Nice selection of good quality knives Mahalofor making this video
That BT CRKT has been in my cart forever. May have to get that one here soon...
I own the civivi elementum and the qsp penguin. For the money I can't find anything better. One drop point and one sheep's foot. One flat grind the other hollow. One with caged ball bearings and the other with brass washers. One is a finger tab flipper and the other thumb studs. Of all my knives I carry those 2 the most. Not too long, not too short and you could buy both for less than 90 bucks total. Best knives for the dollar ever.
Hey! Love the show! I've been learning a lot. Ever do any dive knives? I don't dive but had a small beginner knife collection and I had one but they were all stolen. Thanks for your time.
Love your posts... Do you have any stores in Cape Town South Africa?
Great video!
Value for the dollar is the goal for me. Budget is whatever you can afford. I have a SP10 that has out performed the purchase price by leaps and bounds. Same for my RTAKII. I have an Old Hickory that was basically free,($20), and it is a fantastic knife. Great selection DC.
Have you seen an old western hunting knife from my channel?
Rat 2 with d2 steel, my everyday carry until I misplaced it somewhere. Time for a new one since I spend a week looking for it.
I would add Sanrenmu. Bought one very early into my collecting and it’s still going very strong.
Love my kershaw leak 😊
I absolutely love my Mora knives
Great topic
QSP did a good job on the Orion Solaris knife 👍👍
To this day my favorite budget knife is my purple Civivi Cogent, amazing knife. Often finds just as much time in my pocket as my bugout and s45vn Para 2
Otter's Mercator lineup are great budget pocketknives, I prefer mine to any Opinel... since 1867!
I have several of those knives. Kershaw Leek: love it. I have an Ontario Rat 2 in D2 with carbon fiber; not in love with the action; it seems a bit clunky to open, but other than that it's a solid blade. And Mora, can't go wrong. I like displaying my Opinel more than using it just for its classic vibe.
Opinel is a knife you use and then replace when it gets old. I keep one in toolbox, in my desk, a couple in the kitchen… just use ‘em and use ‘em and they’re cheap to replace.
Like i said before d2 & 1095 my preferred steels, also steels of moras, victorinox - practical usage
Felt the same about my Rat, but once I took it completely down, cleaned and lubed it, it works a LOT better.
@@chainedlightning Might have to do that myself. Kinda sucks that it isn't like that out of the factory though.
I have that kershaw link he showed and I rarely use it- the handle is so smooth (and about an inch too short for large hands) that it feels slippery and unsafe. I like my Rat 1 and Opinel much better because of their superior grip. The Leek is now my ‘dress knife’ for very light tasks
David, normally I just enjoy your videos and never comment. But after reading some of the other comments and having thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, I felt compelled to comment. You are exactly right in stating inexpensive versus cheap. those terms are not synonymous. I have many expensive knives in my collection. I find my most chosen EDC’s are my CRKT knives, the CEO or the minimalist. Yes I do EDC a minimalist. Or my Delica 4. I know Spyderco not on the list here, but love love love my Delica. But you sell every brand with facts, passion and an u bias towards any of them. And you are human, so you have biases. Just extremely well presented and fair and accurate and honest. You keep making them and I’ll keep watching them, daily. Thank you
The Man gets it.
Great video, DCA.
Great vid.