Mr. Beater, Lol! I hear ya Mick, life costs money. That's exactly why I like showing knives that most people can afford. Why dangle a carrot that's impossible to reach. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Jay! Free up the camera hand and keep time stamping your displays. You may have done this but this is my first video of yours and I like it a lot! 👍
I am feeding the algorithm here because I want to encourage his behavior. I very much appreciate the content. It is extremely useful for a newbie like me. I don’t have a ton of money but I would like to have a decent knife in each one of my cars, and this certainly helps me Make a selection
Great list, Jay. The Opinel 8 was my son's first knife from me. The Santa Fe is a personal favorite of mine, as well. Some other greats in that price range are: Cold Steel Tuff Lite, Roach Belly, Kudu, Bushman, Ganzo FH11, F753, Kershaw Crown, Deadline and Select Fire.
Thanks Ed. That makes your No8 even more special, very nice. The Tuff lite almost made the list, but the price kept it out. Some good choices you mention. I've thought about picking up a Diskin Deadline, it sounds like I probably should.
You will LOVE the #2., it's the perfect size, weight and grab one in D2. Despite what people are complaining about D2, on Rat in D2 has never rusted or patina-ed.
Thanks Jim. Like others have said, it's definitely worth a purchase. You can of course get it in D2, but I think for most purposes, the AUS8 blade is fine.
Great top ten. I have the Squid and 2 of your #1 choice. Bought the green one and my son liked it, so I gave it to him and got the black for myself. Had the Dozier and loved it. A work buddy had misplaced his pocket knife so I lent it to him. He really liked it and it just happened to be his birthday that week so I gave it to him. Still miss it and will get another. I enjoy your videos my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jay. Now here is a video for me. 25$ = 22..47€ yet most of these knives exept 4 are between 40€ and 50€ over here. Roughly double the price. But you give me names to look for, if not these precise models. Some i can see on Aliexpress at a good price but they are counterfeit. I will buy a modified copy but not a counterfeit. Opinels, especially the cheaper beach handle models have always been made so that the owner can modify to his own taste. Lanyard holes, more or deeper finger choiles or even totally sculpted handles. Most people leave them as they are but with a little time and imagination each knife becomes unique. I do find them a bit bulky for the pocket though so i keep it in my edc pouch. Ideal since it can be locked shut. (Yes, i'm a fan). Lol. Great video. All the best.
RHINO 54 :- One thing that you do have, that we don't, are classy, European knives from France, Italy and Spain that are almost impossible to find on this side of the Atlantic. 🙂🇨🇦
Thanks Don, I figured you would like the knives on this list. I'm definitely gonna drill a lanyard hole in my Opinel. I know what you mean about the mods, there are some crazy cool ones out there, even a few I would like to try.
@Wheaten Zoomies Hi. Are the knives you talk about illegal to own? I thought they were just illegal to carry. If not illegal to own how can customs justify confiscation? Knife laws are so crazy and contradictory here in Europe. Knife crimes are mostly commited with kitchen knives from poundland/dollar store not with quality collectors knives. All the best..
Jay, would love to see you do a review on sharpening systems. My knife collection is growing and I guess at some point I’m gonna have to get a system to sharpen them… I’ve looked at Wicked Edge ,KME and a few others all seem to have their advantages and disadvantages..Would love to know what you recommend
I would recommend KME!!! I have both or had both at one point and after some practice I end up selling the wicked edge.. 1. Their stones wear pretty fast and God help if you have to sharpen recurve!! 2. I enjoy focusing on 1 side first than the other!! 3. There is more options and significantly cheaper than wicked edge replacement accessories.. You're welcome
When I was trying to figure out which sharpening system I wanted, after watching LOTS of UA-cam videos, I decided on the KME and have not regretted my decision. I'm sure other systems work equally well, if not better, but for the money, I don't see how the KME can be beat. There's a bit of a learning curve (lots of UA-cam tutorials to help you learn) but you can get a SCARY SHARP blade with the KME. Just my .02¢ worth.
You're right Jim, I need to do a video about what sharpeners I use. I actually switch back and forth between the KME system and a bench grinder with a sharpening wheel system. I've included Amazon links so you can see the setup I'm referring to: Grinder/Buffer - amzn.to/2R5bALY Sharpening wheels - amzn.to/2u9UyUb
I love your videos. I really appreciate it when you call out manufacturers for not giving any lefty love. That said I think the Dozier merits a little more love from us. The price and exactly the same experience for left and right handed users. Maybe a review just of it? Or add it to a review of lefty friendly knives. (And make em truly lefty friendly PLEASE). Keep calling em out!! Rightist bigots!!! Seriously though, I do appreciate your videos.
Great list. I can't really do a video on that price range unless I just list 10 Ganzos. Prices are way higher here in Europe. I do love that you mentioned the Kershaw Strobe. It was the first knife in my collection and still is a great little knife.
Thanks John. Yeah, I really had to resist the urge to throw a bunch of Ganzo's on the list, but I wanted to mix things up a little. Funny you mention the Strobe was you're first because I bought mine in the early days of my collection too. Such a great knife to start out with.
I have only recently purchased my very first knives this week. Coincidentally I got 2 of your top 10 knives before I even aw this video! The 3 I got are the Ontario Rat D2 (desert tan handle with black blade), the qsp parrot (man what a solid action and nice simple design, I love it), and the Ganzo FH41. I feel as if the Ganzo is my favorite so far. Insanely good action and detent. R2D2 hasn't come in yet so I'll compare later. I LOVE the Ganzo though. It's a flipper, and because I love it so much I will likely get the Ganzo FB760 so I can experience an axis lock style knife. 1 week down and I am already addicted.
Yeah, I love that FH41. This hobby can be dangerous for the wallet, so it's good you're starting with the budget knives first. Even if you can afford it, I wouldn't jump into the $100 knives until you have spent spent some time with the Ganzo's, Rat's, and QSP's. That way you can figure out your preferences and it won't be the end of the world if you buy something you don't like. Ganzo is great for that because they have liner locks, frame locks, back locks, and even an AXIS like G-lock. Thanks for watching.
Hey Jay, hope things are good with you. I got my FB760 last week and it is everything you said it was in a previous review. However as a tinkerer and tool maker for my craft (pottery) I am happy when I can make it better for myself. So with my rotary tool, a file and sandpaper I rounded off the chamfered edges on the scales, smoothed the edges inside the liners and the rather sharp thumbstuds. I also rounded off the forward and rear edges of the finger choil. The spine before the swedge took a hit and for good measure I took some tension out of the springs. I could not expect any knife to have this level of finish at this price and since the action and fit is superior I am really a happy guy. Oh, took down the smile before the sharpening choil too. I'm not a collector but I do enjoy your reviews. Thanks
Thanks Morgan. Those are some great ideas for mods I'd like to try on mine. I've purchased quite a few knives that I knew I didn't love at first, but I could see the potential in making it better for myself. I'm currently working on my most ambitious knife modification yet of a discontinued Spyderco Junior. I'm recording the whole process, so that video will be coming soon.
Yeah, I always wanted to check out the Grik. i think the only reason I haven't yet is because I wasn't sure about the pocket clip. But it sounds like the clip is good to go.
I agree Russ. I have both and love them, great knives. I could have easily listed a bunch of Ganzo and Kubey knives, but I was trying to mix things up a little. There are just so many knives available in that price range. Thank you.
$25 is 50 euros for me in Belgium.Opinal knives are very cheap in Europe of course.Antonini and Martins knives are great value too.Just one more thing:I love traditional knives but i like the knife with D2 steel.Do you like a good slipjoint for about 30 dollars? The Maserin Scout would be my first choice
is the ka bar dozier good for self defense? For instance, if I have to stab something do you think my hand would shoot up to the blade given the style of the handle?
Nice list. I have been looking at several Ganzo Firebirds in this price range. I do like the F7651 or the FH71. The Kershaw Atmos is very close to the $25 mark too.
The Ganzo FB760 was a knife so nice, I bought it twice! Lol I had lost my original orange handled one so I bought another one. The I eventually found the first one so now I have twin orange 760s. It's a great knife so no harm, no foul. Lol I think it might have even been my first ball bearing knife. It's probably tied with the Land (SanRenMu) 910 series as my favorite "cheap" carry.
I hear ya. That is nice now that you have 2 of them - 1 to really use for everything, and another to keep kinda nice. For your first ball-bearing knife, you picked a good one. Thanks for watching DefMunky.
Hey buddy. Catching up after a few weeks without phone or 'net. I love my Opinels. I've got a No7, 8, 10 and a 13 for fun. Well, actually I have more than one 8. I've got a Wenge wood one and a gift box one that I'm sending to someone. Some are Carbon (I prefer the Carbon steel) while others are stainless. They're really good knives for the price. And yes, drill a lanyard hole if you want one. I have modified some of mine to allow some extra room at the nail nick (fat fingers lol). As for the Rats, I prefer the Rat 1. The size of the No1 appeals to me. That was a great selection of knives, buddy. Thanks for posting this.
Another Opinel fan here. I have a #6 and two number 8's, one in stainless. I want to get a #7 to try now. The #6 is great and you forget you are carrying it, another one that is a must-have. Makes a great church-carry knife. Less than an oz. in your pocket.
Brad Griffin :- One thing that I've done on several Opinels is grinding away (on the handle) a groove for a "thumb/forefinger" pinch pull on the blades . This is often called an "easy pull" and definately makes opening easier.
Thanks Brad. Nice to hear from you again. I really like your idea about making room for the nail nick access because I have trouble with that at times too. I'm having a hard time deciding which RAT I like more. I love the blade size and action of the I, but I really like the size of the II in my pocket.
Hey J, great job! I love that list. I was sure, that I was going to see a Honey Badger on it. Now that I look quick though, those did sell for a few dollars higher. I've had all of those knives, except for the Oso Sweet, and the Squid. All are sold now too, except for the Opinel No.08. So I guess, by default. That one wins in this group for me! : - ) I did just sell the Santa Fe last week, so it's in second place. The Ganzo Firbird knives will always be here with me though, I'm pretty darn sure. The FH-41-BK D2 is $24.99 FB727S is $15.93 FH51-BR D2 is $24.99 FH11S-GB is $21.50 All from powercutlery, and stocked here in the U.S. as well. But these are some of my favorites, and not yours. I also understand, you wanting to spread the Brands out on your list. That's a good idea, from a video list standpoint.
Thanks Steve. You understand perfectly what I was trying to do with this list. For the most part, I like all the Ganzo's you have. It would've been so much easier to put a bunch of Ganzo's on the list, but like you said, I was trying to spread it around.
Great video! Here are a few more to add to the lineup Walmart executive Kershaw hotwire Kershaw induction Buck rivl I and/or II cold steel pro lite Snarenmu 9010 Ganzo FB727m These are just a few I have owned.
Yeah, I'll bet that Strobe will become harder and harder to find, so it's good you got one Joe. Once you get it, I'd be interested to hear what you think.
I like the K-bar Dozier mini Jay...don't need to use the clip it's soo light. I finally got my Russell Hunter and I was wondering if I could still get the Kwik-Stud from you for it. I could send you money for it so please let me know.
Do you mind if it's a black Kwik thumb stud? The reason I ask, I just moded a black coated one and it came out really nice, it's my best one yet. It's all ready to go, I could ship it tomorrow. No big deal either way, let me know.
@@TheKnifeBeater I'm thinking it would look funny against that big satin blade Jay....I'll just wait until you can mod a few silver finished studs and let me know when you have one for me so I can send you some money....thanks Jay.
Hi can you please help me choose between the fh41 fh13 and fh11 😅 This is going to be my first knife and for sure an edc so it would be awesome to pick the best out of the bunch
That's a tough one because they are all great. Since this is gonna be your first knife and probably your only for a little while at least, I would go with the FH13. Even though I love the FH41, the all metal construction of the FH13 makes it the most durable of the three and it has the stronger frame lock. Hope this helps.
I love the Strobe but both examples I've owned had horrible lock stick, am currently in the process of doing a complete mod on it. Personally I prefer the Ka-Bar Precision hunter from Dozier, it's just a little bit longer in blade and has a nice opening oval in it.
Anyone got a tangram santa fe (black handle) with poket clip? Thank you and reasonably priced not paying 100 for that steel it's a budget knife still back then it's old not rare lol
A wide array of chinese brands, very common in my country, SANRENMU, ENLAN, Y START, to name a few, have sometimes high quality models that can be suitable challengers to your list, as well.
From what I've seen Eafengrow isn't so much a knife company as a marketing/distribution company. They have identical knives to several of the Chinese makers like Y-Start, Sanrenmu, Kuby etc. In some cases, they are much cheaper than the other names for the same knife. LTK's testing group answered how. They are one of the companies caught mislabeling the steel in the knife. M390? No, its D2. S35vn, nope, 8Cr13. As a result, I'll never buy anything with their name on it unless I know that particular seller and batch has been tested. FWIW
I avoid them Eafengrow, Fura and y-start branded knifes, since they falsely label blade steel. That said, some have very good build quality, but the lying is prevalent. Ultimately, I avoid all Chinese makers until I can validate the quality and consistency of their products. In the budget world, Sanrenmu and Ganzo are kings of the budget knife.
Yeah, I know as a lefty, the clips should be on the other side. I just don't like how the clips feel in my palm. I do however, move the clip for my knives with large flipper tabs because if any knife is gonna open in my pocket, it will be one of those.
I like bronze bushing knives for hunting, skinning applications, those little ball bearing suck when full of blood and hair, but for folks that just chuck around in the city and worry about which end is up...noise...candy ass kids with toys, but that is your market now days, open a letter or a box, clean fingernails, or just flick off. The little Doziers are decent.
*Be sure to checkout BigRedEDC's video of his favorite knives $25 and under -* ua-cam.com/video/o8VGQz9TWTs/v-deo.html If you like watching knife list videos, Checkout My Top 10 Knives playlist - ua-cam.com/video/yR6Mn5jHU4w/v-deo.html
I'd make the Kizer Santa Fe and Ontario RAT II the tops in my list. I would remove the Ka-Bar Dozier because of its too flexible handles, sharp metal lock release and its general cheap/bad feel. I would also remove the Kershaw Oso Sweet. Its clip moves too much and the overall size is too small for my medium-sized glove hands. I would add the Kizer Tangram Amarillo if you have small to medium-sized hands -- it's like a flipper version of the Ontario RAT 2.
I wish someone would come up with some dual-sided replacement thumbstuds for the Dozier. I use my knife in both hands, the single sided stud only takes it half way. Plus the factory single stud is nasty feeling. I communicated with KaBar and they sent me a stud kit that didn't come close to fitting. Too bad, such a nice knife, but they stopped short of making it really great.
Thanks JP. I know what you mean about an ambi thumb stud, I wish it had one too, but I'm sure that's one of the reasons they cost around $20. I thought for sure I would catch some crap for what I said about that thumb stud sharpness. There is probably an easy solution to fix that jimping, but I just haven't thought of it yet.
Just a thought :- A small knife, under 3" blade, often needs a bit of weight to give a feeling of effectiveness to offset the lack of blade length. This is not a universal truism, but there is a mental idea that the "extra" weight on these "little/big knives" compensates for the lack of apparent usefulness. Edit:- Of course super light weight materials can be used and still keep a modicum of strength...but this would be at the expense of the lower cost at which these knives are usually priced.
Valid points. That can also run the risk making it handle heavy resulting in a lack of balance. Not a huge deal for me, but I know it is for some because of how it feels when cutting.
every single link you gave had the knife out of stock currently unavailable. for every knife page ive ever clicked on in almost 75+ videos ive watched on budget knives. not a single one i am having a horrible day
The only disappointment to me was your number one. In *MOST* cases the Ganzo 'G' lock is unreliable/unsafe without disassembly and hand fitting and even then reliability may be marginal. Ganzo has had *YEARS* of time to significantly improve this lock but has failed to do so.
I bought the Ganzo F7603-CF a while back and it looks to be very similar in shape. The blade comes out almost too fast. You have to get the timing down or it bounces back closed. Here is the link, www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076X2ZDYP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I will trade you. lol
Yeah, the ball-bearing pivot on these is nuts. For very little money, you get a knife with some really good action. I like the way yours looks with the coated blade and the black g10/CF scales. Thanks for watching Eric.
@@TheKnifeBeater of course it doesn't excel in opening or closing action but it shines where cutting is main objective of the knife.. Fantastic grind makes exceptional tool in the kitchen.. Unfortunately that's what lot of high quality knives are lacking these days..
Didn't mean for it to be just for lefties. I try to have the show side up, I forget to flip it sometimes, sorry. I need to pay attention to that, thank you.
Glad I found your channel not everybody can drop $450/$1000 on a Hinderer
Thanks Mr Beater... you are absolutely correct. Not everyone can spend a bunch of money on knives. There are groceries, gas, etc. etc. thanks man.
Mr. Beater, Lol! I hear ya Mick, life costs money. That's exactly why I like showing knives that most people can afford. Why dangle a carrot that's impossible to reach. Thanks for watching.
QSP Parrot $21.50 to $24.70 at Chicago Knife Works
D2 steel .
Thanks Jay! Free up the camera hand and keep time stamping your displays. You may have done this but this is my first video of yours and I like it a lot! 👍
I am feeding the algorithm here because I want to encourage his behavior. I very much appreciate the content. It is extremely useful for a newbie like me. I don’t have a ton of money but I would like to have a decent knife in each one of my cars, and this certainly helps me Make a selection
Great selection of knives under $25 Jay! My list would look pretty similar to yours but I'll see if I can come up with something!!
Thanks Jody. You totally should, that would be a great video.
Great list, Jay. The Opinel 8 was my son's first knife from me. The Santa Fe is a personal favorite of mine, as well. Some other greats in that price range are: Cold Steel Tuff Lite, Roach Belly, Kudu, Bushman, Ganzo FH11, F753, Kershaw Crown, Deadline and Select Fire.
Thanks Ed. That makes your No8 even more special, very nice. The Tuff lite almost made the list, but the price kept it out. Some good choices you mention. I've thought about picking up a Diskin Deadline, it sounds like I probably should.
Jay!!!!! Stop doing awesome reviews and making me buy more knives !!!! 😁😁😁
Another great review Jay, I have the Rat 1 and always meant to go back and pick up the Rat 2 ...
You will LOVE the #2., it's the perfect size, weight and grab one in D2. Despite what people are complaining about D2, on Rat in D2 has never rusted or patina-ed.
Thanks Jim. Like others have said, it's definitely worth a purchase. You can of course get it in D2, but I think for most purposes, the AUS8 blade is fine.
Great top ten. I have the Squid and 2 of your #1 choice. Bought the green one and my son liked it, so I gave it to him and got the black for myself. Had the Dozier and loved it. A work buddy had misplaced his pocket knife so I lent it to him. He really liked it and it just happened to be his birthday that week so I gave it to him. Still miss it and will get another. I enjoy your videos my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Michael. You're such a good friend and dad to give those knives away, but at least they are inexpensive enough to replace.
Love your video’s bad style of review.. thanks and subscribed
Hi Jay. Now here is a video for me. 25$ = 22..47€ yet most of these knives exept 4 are between 40€ and 50€ over here. Roughly double the price. But you give me names to look for, if not these precise models. Some i can see on Aliexpress at a good price but they are counterfeit. I will buy a modified copy but not a counterfeit. Opinels, especially the cheaper beach handle models have always been made so that the owner can modify to his own taste. Lanyard holes, more or deeper finger choiles or even totally sculpted handles. Most people leave them as they are but with a little time and imagination each knife becomes unique. I do find them a bit bulky for the pocket though so i keep it in my edc pouch. Ideal since it can be locked shut. (Yes, i'm a fan). Lol. Great video. All the best.
RHINO 54 :- One thing that you do have, that we don't, are classy, European knives from France, Italy and Spain that are almost impossible to find on this side of the Atlantic. 🙂🇨🇦
@@blueeyeswhitedragon9839 That is very true but we pay alot for this priviledge. Hihi. Opinels are a lot cheaper here obviously.
Thanks Don, I figured you would like the knives on this list. I'm definitely gonna drill a lanyard hole in my Opinel. I know what you mean about the mods, there are some crazy cool ones out there, even a few I would like to try.
@Wheaten Zoomies Hi. Are the knives you talk about illegal to own? I thought they were just illegal to carry. If not illegal to own how can customs justify confiscation? Knife laws are so crazy and contradictory here in Europe. Knife crimes are mostly commited with kitchen knives from poundland/dollar store not with quality collectors knives. All the best..
Jay, would love to see you do a review on sharpening systems. My knife collection is growing and I guess at some point I’m gonna have to get a system to sharpen them… I’ve looked at Wicked Edge ,KME and a few others all seem to have their advantages and disadvantages..Would love to know what you recommend
I would recommend KME!!! I have both or had both at one point and after some practice I end up selling the wicked edge.. 1. Their stones wear pretty fast and God help if you have to sharpen recurve!! 2. I enjoy focusing on 1 side first than the other!! 3. There is more options and significantly cheaper than wicked edge replacement accessories.. You're welcome
When I was trying to figure out which sharpening system I wanted, after watching LOTS of UA-cam videos, I decided on the KME and have not regretted my decision. I'm sure other systems work equally well, if not better, but for the money, I don't see how the KME can be beat. There's a bit of a learning curve (lots of UA-cam tutorials to help you learn) but you can get a SCARY SHARP blade with the KME. Just my .02¢ worth.
You're right Jim, I need to do a video about what sharpeners I use. I actually switch back and forth between the KME system and a bench grinder with a sharpening wheel system. I've included Amazon links so you can see the setup I'm referring to:
Grinder/Buffer - amzn.to/2R5bALY
Sharpening wheels - amzn.to/2u9UyUb
Looks good.. i’m afraid I might turn my favorite folders into ice pics… LOL
Great top 10 video ! Thanks for sharing !
Absolutely Patrick, thank you.
I love your videos. I really appreciate it when you call out manufacturers for not giving any lefty love. That said I think the Dozier merits a little more love from us. The price and exactly the same experience for left and right handed users. Maybe a review just of it? Or add it to a review of lefty friendly knives. (And make em truly lefty friendly PLEASE). Keep calling em out!! Rightist bigots!!! Seriously though, I do appreciate your videos.
I appreciate that, thank you. I really like your video idea. I think it's safe to say you will seeing that soon.
Great list. I can't really do a video on that price range unless I just list 10 Ganzos. Prices are way higher here in Europe. I do love that you mentioned the Kershaw Strobe. It was the first knife in my collection and still is a great little knife.
Thanks John. Yeah, I really had to resist the urge to throw a bunch of Ganzo's on the list, but I wanted to mix things up a little. Funny you mention the Strobe was you're first because I bought mine in the early days of my collection too. Such a great knife to start out with.
I have only recently purchased my very first knives this week. Coincidentally I got 2 of your top 10 knives before I even aw this video! The 3 I got are the Ontario Rat D2 (desert tan handle with black blade), the qsp parrot (man what a solid action and nice simple design, I love it), and the Ganzo FH41. I feel as if the Ganzo is my favorite so far. Insanely good action and detent. R2D2 hasn't come in yet so I'll compare later. I LOVE the Ganzo though. It's a flipper, and because I love it so much I will likely get the Ganzo FB760 so I can experience an axis lock style knife. 1 week down and I am already addicted.
Yeah, I love that FH41. This hobby can be dangerous for the wallet, so it's good you're starting with the budget knives first. Even if you can afford it, I wouldn't jump into the $100 knives until you have spent spent some time with the Ganzo's, Rat's, and QSP's. That way you can figure out your preferences and it won't be the end of the world if you buy something you don't like. Ganzo is great for that because they have liner locks, frame locks, back locks, and even an AXIS like G-lock. Thanks for watching.
The Knife Beater I got the fb760 that will come in on Monday :)
Great video my left handed Brother some really awesome choices Jay and that Kershaw strobe mention 👌
Thanks Rodney. That Strobe is such a cool little knife.
Good lineup KB. I can come back and review if my budget allows something else.
Please do James, thank you.
Great list. Love the FB760
Thank you John. Such a great knife.
Hey Jay, hope things are good with you. I got my FB760 last week and it is everything you said it was in a previous review. However as a tinkerer and tool maker for my craft (pottery) I am happy when I can make it better for myself. So with my rotary tool, a file and sandpaper I rounded off the chamfered edges on the scales, smoothed the edges inside the liners and the rather sharp thumbstuds. I also rounded off the forward and rear edges of the finger choil. The spine before the swedge took a hit and for good measure I took some tension out of the springs. I could not expect any knife to have this level of finish at this price and since the action and fit is superior I am really a happy guy. Oh, took down the smile before the sharpening choil too. I'm not a collector but I do enjoy your reviews. Thanks
Oh yeah; I got my Ganzo FB760 from Gear Best for $18 free shipping to Japan in 11 days. Rather fast for them.
Oh wow, that is fast for GearBest.
Thanks Morgan. Those are some great ideas for mods I'd like to try on mine. I've purchased quite a few knives that I knew I didn't love at first, but I could see the potential in making it better for myself. I'm currently working on my most ambitious knife modification yet of a discontinued Spyderco Junior. I'm recording the whole process, so that video will be coming soon.
@@TheKnifeBeater I / we look forward to it.
I have all of these. The Santa Fe is my number one. Good list.
Thanks Andrew. Yeah, that Santa Fe is one of my favorite budget knives. You get a lot for the money.
The Kershaw shuffle 2 could be a good candidate brotha.
Great video 👍🏼. Just subscribed
Hey thank you so much! Welcome to the channel, glad to have ya. You're right about the Shuffle 2, it should be considered.
The tangram santa fe is great 😄. Recently i've got another budget folder. The coldsteel grik. And I'm loving it 😍
Yeah, I always wanted to check out the Grik. i think the only reason I haven't yet is because I wasn't sure about the pocket clip. But it sounds like the clip is good to go.
@@TheKnifeBeater yeah. The clip is kindda weird at first 🤣. But i'm digging it
I shrunk some heat shrink wrap around the thumbstud for the Kabar Dozier and it is now much nicer to use.
I have a Firebird fh21, and fh41. Paid less than $25. Got them from Fasttech, great knifes.
I agree Russ. I have both and love them, great knives. I could have easily listed a bunch of Ganzo and Kubey knives, but I was trying to mix things up a little. There are just so many knives available in that price range. Thank you.
I just got a fh41 and LOVE it. Any suggestions for my next budget knife to get? Either a different style Ganzo or a different budget brand?
@@TheKnifeBeater ccccccccccccccc
$25 is 50 euros for me in Belgium.Opinal knives are very cheap in Europe of course.Antonini and Martins knives are great value too.Just one more thing:I love traditional knives but i like the knife with D2 steel.Do you like a good slipjoint for about 30 dollars? The Maserin Scout would be my first choice
Yes i agree. Most of these knives cost the double in France too. Pity. Even Ganzo on Amazon nearly doubled a year ago for no reason. All the best.
is the ka bar dozier good for self defense? For instance, if I have to stab something do you think my hand would shoot up to the blade given the style of the handle?
Thanks for the great review on budget knives. My QSP PARROT isn’t drop shut but it’s not far from it.
Nice list. I have been looking at several Ganzo Firebirds in this price range. I do like the F7651 or the FH71. The Kershaw Atmos is very close to the $25 mark too.
Thank you KillerBee. Those are good picks and you're right about the Atmos, very close.
The Ganzo FB760 was a knife so nice, I bought it twice! Lol
I had lost my original orange handled one so I bought another one. The I eventually found the first one so now I have twin orange 760s. It's a great knife so no harm, no foul. Lol I think it might have even been my first ball bearing knife. It's probably tied with the Land (SanRenMu) 910 series as my favorite "cheap" carry.
I hear ya. That is nice now that you have 2 of them - 1 to really use for everything, and another to keep kinda nice. For your first ball-bearing knife, you picked a good one. Thanks for watching DefMunky.
A few knives I have not seen before. Cool list TY.
You bet Rusty, thank you. I always love finding out about knives I've never seen before.
Hey buddy. Catching up after a few weeks without phone or 'net. I love my Opinels. I've got a No7, 8, 10 and a 13 for fun. Well, actually I have more than one 8. I've got a Wenge wood one and a gift box one that I'm sending to someone. Some are Carbon (I prefer the Carbon steel) while others are stainless. They're really good knives for the price. And yes, drill a lanyard hole if you want one. I have modified some of mine to allow some extra room at the nail nick (fat fingers lol). As for the Rats, I prefer the Rat 1. The size of the No1 appeals to me. That was a great selection of knives, buddy. Thanks for posting this.
Another Opinel fan here. I have a #6 and two number 8's, one in stainless. I want to get a #7 to try now. The #6 is great and you forget you are carrying it, another one that is a must-have. Makes a great church-carry knife. Less than an oz. in your pocket.
Brad Griffin :- One thing that I've done on several Opinels is grinding away (on the handle) a groove for a "thumb/forefinger" pinch pull on the blades . This is often called an "easy pull" and definately makes opening easier.
Thanks Brad. Nice to hear from you again. I really like your idea about making room for the nail nick access because I have trouble with that at times too. I'm having a hard time deciding which RAT I like more. I love the blade size and action of the I, but I really like the size of the II in my pocket.
was looking for a knife for X-Mas present. the link for Ontario Knife OKC RAT II AUS8 has the price at $4, just thought you would like to know
Blade HQ has two exclusive Squid Models, one has micarta and I believe the other has G10 but both are D2 steel.
Good👍 review 👌
Very nice! My favorite sub $25 knife is probably the Kershaw Chill, it's similar to the Oso Sweet.
Thanks Cameron. Oh sure, I know the Chill. Good choice.
Jay, do you still consider the HARNDS Warrior for $36 the best budget hard use knife?
Hey J, great job! I love that list.
I was sure, that I was going to see a Honey Badger on it. Now that I look quick though, those did sell for a few dollars higher.
I've had all of those knives, except for the Oso Sweet, and the Squid. All are sold now too, except for the Opinel No.08. So I guess, by default. That one wins in this group for me!
: - )
I did just sell the Santa Fe last week, so it's in second place.
The Ganzo Firbird knives will always be here with me though, I'm pretty darn sure.
The FH-41-BK D2 is $24.99
FB727S is $15.93
FH51-BR D2 is $24.99
FH11S-GB is $21.50
All from powercutlery, and stocked here in the U.S. as well.
But these are some of my favorites, and not yours. I also understand, you wanting to spread the Brands out on your list. That's a good idea, from a video list standpoint.
Thanks Steve. You understand perfectly what I was trying to do with this list. For the most part, I like all the Ganzo's you have. It would've been so much easier to put a bunch of Ganzo's on the list, but like you said, I was trying to spread it around.
Great video! Here are a few more to add to the lineup
Walmart executive Kershaw hotwire
Kershaw induction
Buck rivl I and/or II
cold steel pro lite
Snarenmu 9010
Ganzo FB727m
These are just a few I have owned.
Thank you. Some very nice choices you listed, I love the Hotwire. Kinda stinks they discontinued the Induction.
I have 5 of these knives! lol Great video. Also, you can get a Cold Steel Pro-lite for $25 or less on Amazon or Blade HQ. Blade HQ also has the Parrot
Thank you Stephen. Yeah, I've seen the Pro Lite at Blade HQ under $25, such a great deal.
Nice list Jay !!!
Thanks keifer, I appreciate it.
I like the Kuby. Sold me on the Strobe. I had to really scour the web but I finally found one still available on Walmart for $22.
Yeah, I'll bet that Strobe will become harder and harder to find, so it's good you got one Joe. Once you get it, I'd be interested to hear what you think.
I like the K-bar Dozier mini Jay...don't need to use the clip it's soo light. I finally got my Russell Hunter and I was wondering if I could still get the Kwik-Stud from you for it. I could send you money for it so please let me know.
Do you mind if it's a black Kwik thumb stud? The reason I ask, I just moded a black coated one and it came out really nice, it's my best one yet. It's all ready to go, I could ship it tomorrow. No big deal either way, let me know.
@@TheKnifeBeater I'm thinking it would look funny against that big satin blade Jay....I'll just wait until you can mod a few silver finished studs and let me know when you have one for me so I can send you some money....thanks Jay.
It's all good. I mailed the silver one just now, it's in a white envelope.
Thanks Much!.....I'll use the information on the envelope and get a payment out to you.
You're more than welcome. I don't want any money Andrew. You've been watching my crap for a while now, that's all the payment I need. Thank you.
ganzo for the win
Thanks for sharing!
You bet Ibanez, anytime. Thanks for watching.
Hi can you please help me choose between the fh41 fh13 and fh11 😅
This is going to be my first knife and for sure an edc so it would be awesome to pick the best out of the bunch
That's a tough one because they are all great. Since this is gonna be your first knife and probably your only for a little while at least, I would go with the FH13. Even though I love the FH41, the all metal construction of the FH13 makes it the most durable of the three and it has the stronger frame lock. Hope this helps.
gotta have a cold steel. they dont know what a liner lock is but they are pretty good quality overall and good fit and finish
Cold Steel makes some quality stuff, I'm a big fan. Good blade steel at a good price. Thanks for watching Tyler.
I love the Strobe but both examples I've owned had horrible lock stick, am currently in the process of doing a complete mod on it. Personally I prefer the Ka-Bar Precision hunter from Dozier, it's just a little bit longer in blade and has a nice opening oval in it.
Thanks John. I thought about modifying my Strobe a few times to try and get that weight down. I would be interested to hear how your mod turns out.
please try a Land 910Plus.
How come you flick your wrist every time that you deploy a knife? Even if it's on bearings? Just curious.
Jay I like your list ! Ganzo FB7603 Murdered Carbon Fiber is my # 1 at $ 23 on Amazon . Its action is just like my $ 123 Griptian :)
Thanks John. I hear ya, it has to have the best action out of all others in the same price range.
Anyone got a tangram santa fe (black handle) with poket clip? Thank you and reasonably priced not paying 100 for that steel it's a budget knife still back then it's old not rare lol
A wide array of chinese brands, very common in my country, SANRENMU, ENLAN, Y START, to name a few, have sometimes high quality models that can be suitable challengers to your list, as well.
I agree with you and I do have or had some of those. Thank you Josep.
From what I've seen Eafengrow isn't so much a knife company as a marketing/distribution company. They have identical knives to several of the Chinese makers like Y-Start, Sanrenmu, Kuby etc. In some cases, they are much cheaper than the other names for the same knife. LTK's testing group answered how. They are one of the companies caught mislabeling the steel in the knife. M390? No, its D2. S35vn, nope, 8Cr13. As a result, I'll never buy anything with their name on it unless I know that particular seller and batch has been tested. FWIW
Yeah, I think I saw something about the testing results too. I usually stay away from Eafengrow for that very reason.
I avoid them Eafengrow, Fura and y-start branded knifes, since they falsely label blade steel. That said, some have very good build quality, but the lying is prevalent. Ultimately, I avoid all Chinese makers until I can validate the quality and consistency of their products. In the budget world, Sanrenmu and Ganzo are kings of the budget knife.
Just curious why are all your clips on the right hand side?
Yeah, I know as a lefty, the clips should be on the other side. I just don't like how the clips feel in my palm. I do however, move the clip for my knives with large flipper tabs because if any knife is gonna open in my pocket, it will be one of those.
I like bronze bushing knives for hunting, skinning applications, those little ball bearing suck when full of blood and hair, but for folks that just chuck around in the city and worry about which end is up...noise...candy ass kids with toys, but that is your market now days, open a letter or a box, clean fingernails, or just flick off. The little Doziers are decent.
I agree JC, bronze washers require less maintenance. Yeah, those little Dozier's are super handy.
*Be sure to checkout BigRedEDC's video of his favorite knives $25 and under -* ua-cam.com/video/o8VGQz9TWTs/v-deo.html
If you like watching knife list videos, Checkout My Top 10 Knives playlist -
ua-cam.com/video/yR6Mn5jHU4w/v-deo.html
I'd make the Kizer Santa Fe and Ontario RAT II the tops in my list.
I would remove the Ka-Bar Dozier because of its too flexible handles, sharp metal lock release and its general cheap/bad feel.
I would also remove the Kershaw Oso Sweet. Its clip moves too much and the overall size is too small for my medium-sized glove hands.
I would add the Kizer Tangram Amarillo if you have small to medium-sized hands -- it's like a flipper version of the Ontario RAT 2.
Very nice choices Daniel. The Amarillo is one Tangram I haven't tried just yet. If it's like a RAT II with a flipper, then sign me up, sounds good.
I wish someone would come up with some dual-sided replacement thumbstuds for the Dozier. I use my knife in both hands, the single sided stud only takes it half way. Plus the factory single stud is nasty feeling. I communicated with KaBar and they sent me a stud kit that didn't come close to fitting. Too bad, such a nice knife, but they stopped short of making it really great.
Thanks JP. I know what you mean about an ambi thumb stud, I wish it had one too, but I'm sure that's one of the reasons they cost around $20. I thought for sure I would catch some crap for what I said about that thumb stud sharpness. There is probably an easy solution to fix that jimping, but I just haven't thought of it yet.
Just a thought :- A small knife, under 3" blade, often needs a bit of weight to give a feeling of effectiveness to offset the lack of blade length. This is not a universal truism, but there is a mental idea that the "extra" weight on these "little/big knives" compensates for the lack of apparent usefulness.
Edit:- Of course super light weight materials can be used and still keep a modicum of strength...but this would be at the expense of the lower cost at which these knives are usually priced.
Valid points. That can also run the risk making it handle heavy resulting in a lack of balance. Not a huge deal for me, but I know it is for some because of how it feels when cutting.
To bad you don't include blade length which is most important
every single link you gave had the knife out of stock currently unavailable. for every knife page ive ever clicked on in almost 75+ videos ive watched on budget knives. not a single one i am having a horrible day
Man, if only the doizer had a deep pocket clip
I hear ya
Gosh, I hate (GANZO) axis lock
Sorry to hear that.
@@TheKnifeBeater ...but I like GANZO knives anyway. Thanks. Just my personal opinion about me-no-gusta axis lock
With all due respect I'm not being rude whatsoever I was curious why don't you ever use your right hand ?
The only disappointment to me was your number one. In *MOST* cases the Ganzo 'G' lock is unreliable/unsafe without disassembly and hand fitting and even then reliability may be marginal.
Ganzo has had *YEARS* of time to significantly improve this lock but has failed to do so.
I bought the Ganzo F7603-CF a while back and it looks to be very similar in shape. The blade comes out almost too fast. You have to get the timing down or it bounces back closed. Here is the link, www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076X2ZDYP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I will trade you. lol
Yeah, the ball-bearing pivot on these is nuts. For very little money, you get a knife with some really good action. I like the way yours looks with the coated blade and the black g10/CF scales. Thanks for watching Eric.
$41, sorry for typeo
Opinel nothing more necessary.
Yeah, it's a pretty versatile little knife. Thanks Marek.
@@TheKnifeBeater of course it doesn't excel in opening or closing action but it shines where cutting is main objective of the knife.. Fantastic grind makes exceptional tool in the kitchen.. Unfortunately that's what lot of high quality knives are lacking these days..
Shouldve showed the other side more. They all kinda blended in. Smh guess this is a review for only left handed people 😔
Didn't mean for it to be just for lefties. I try to have the show side up, I forget to flip it sometimes, sorry. I need to pay attention to that, thank you.
Eafengrow makes clones why even talk about them they will just steal concepts?
I tend to stay away from their clones, but I can't condemn someone for buying them, it's their money. I can only control what I do with mine.
1 pocket buschmano cold steel n1 di tutti lukkwtto da far sembrare tutti i kiudibili stuzzicadenti