Budget BOB Blades

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Moab posted a video in the Bargains sub forum and thought a budget BOB knife thread would be a good idea. So here we are.

I'm not sure exactly what budget would entail since everyone has their own ideas of what "budget" means. I'd figure if the knife is under 50 bucks, it could be considered a "budget" blade.

ETA: Here's the video Moab posted.

https://youtu.be/fEj51XRgcTU

[majorhavoc]

I'm not particularly sophisticated about blades, owning mostly Gerber and Schrade knives.  I'm almost embarassed to say this, but the Ganzo Firebird is the best knife I own.  Definitely a step up from the Gerber folders. 

Ganzo Firebird

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

The last Gerber folder I owned was one of those Gator ones with the rubberized handle. This would've been back in like the late 90's and I think one of my brothers borrowed it and never returned it.

I've got a couple Gerber fixed blades now and they're not bad for the money. One (a Gerber Prodigy) rides on my plate carrier and the other two (Gerber Freemans) I rotate as part of my EDC.

[EBuff75]

I'm not particularly sophisticated about blades, owning mostly Gerber and Schrade knives.  I'm almost embarassed to say this, but the Ganzo Firebird is the best knife I own.  Definitely a step up from the Gerber folders. 

Ganzo Firebird

I have one of those sitting right here on my desk.  Sharpest knife (right out of the box) that I've ever purchased!  I mainly use it to open mail and after several years of that, it's still as sharp as new.  I tried to buy another one last fall, only to have the company send me the (same) wrong knife twice.  I gave up at that point, but I may try again sometime.

[echo83]

Great video; definitely some food for thought there. 

I have two: one is the "Rough Use Knife" from *shudder* Cheaper Than Dirt that I purchased years ago. (Only God can judge me, we all have to start somewhere, etc. etc.) It has held up pretty well, 13.5" overall length, made from a single piece of steel. Grip is so-so, sheath is absolute garbage, but the price point was a no-brainer and it has taken a considerable amount of abuse. Looks mall ninja, but gets the job done.

My more recent purchase was a Morakniv companion. I'm still wondering why I was such a late adopter. It's much smaller, but much more useful. The grip is like an extension of my hand, the blade is sharp, holds an edge, and is easy to touch up. Sheath is great; a simple, no non-sense piece of plastic with a belt clip, a bit of retention, and a drain hole...vital when working with stainless steel. 

EDC has been a Gerber Paraframe for years...I went with the partially serrated blade, and I use it daily. It has a nice pocket clip that has stayed tight. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

My only Kabar knife was a Big 5 Sports exclusive that Kabar would later stop production of because it wasn't a great knife.

The blade developed a pretty significant bit of play and the lock would occasionally get stuck. And this was after only a small amount of use. It mostly rode in my pocket and was occasionally used.

I called Kabar and the nice CS lady told me that Kabar was aware of the issues and apparently it was only a problem with the Big 5 exclusive model. Kabar eventually discontinued that particular version and Big 5 got a different exclusive model.

It kind of soured me on Kabar's folders for a long time after that.

[RonnyRonin]

In a world where $10 Moras exist I can't imagine getting anything else for a budget BOB knife; even if it does cost another $20 to get a decent sheath for one. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

In a world where $10 Moras exist I can't imagine getting anything else for a budget BOB knife; even if it does cost another $20 to get a decent sheath for one.

Even at 30 bucks total, a Mora with a decent sheath is still a pretty good deal.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Anyone have any experience with the American Buffalo Knife and Tool stuff Midway USA recently started selling ?

The knives look pretty good to me and most of them are under 50 bucks (the only ones I've seen over 50 are the ones with fancy Damascus blades. Not sure if they're actual Damascus or just have a Damascus finish) and they've got decent reviews on them.

Biggest complaint I've seen on them is the country of origin, but that's a common thing I've seen on a lot of products and not just these knives.

[Lodewijk]

In a world where $10 Moras exist I can't imagine getting anything else for a budget BOB knife; even if it does cost another $20 to get a decent sheath for one.

Yeah, kind of unavoidable. I don't particularly like Mora but they're ridiculously cost effective.

Given their cult status on BCUSA I think a possible contender for "luxury budget" status at like $50 could be an Ontario pilot knife, but that probably needs touching up out of the box.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

In a world where $10 Moras exist I can't imagine getting anything else for a budget BOB knife; even if it does cost another $20 to get a decent sheath for one.

Yeah, kind of unavoidable. I don't particularly like Mora but they're ridiculously cost effective.

Given their cult status on BCUSA I think a possible contender for "luxury budget" status at like $50 could be an Ontario pilot knife, but that probably needs touching up out of the box.

I've got one of those Ontario pilot knives and I can vouch for it needing some touch up work. At least on the edge anyway.

It's not razor sharp out of the box, but with a little work it can be.

[CG]

My definition of budget knives are generally the free ones my husband has picked up at certain trade shows.

[Lodewijk]

Another interesting one might be the Glock field knife, because those are ~$30. Might work for some people.

I feel like there's two main powerbands under $100 - Mora for cheap, and like Varusteleka's puukko or a Mora Garberg for not as cheap.

My go bag knife is a 140 from Varusteleka, personally.

[echo83]

Another interesting one might be the Glock field knife, because those are ~$30. Might work for some people.

I feel like there's two main powerbands under $100 - Mora for cheap, and like Varusteleka's puukko or a Mora Garberg for not as cheap.

My go bag knife is a 140 from Varusteleka, personally.

Completely forgot about Varusteleka! Their knives look amazing. Even though I'm not in the market, I always check that part of the site when I visit. Such a cool, underrated company. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I had to look up the Varusteleka 140 and that's a nice looking knife.

[flybynight]

Joker makes fine affordable knives also. Maybe not budget though

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/9345596E-FF05-4D27-A17B-FC32D0C26B8A/?_encoding=UTF8&store_ref=SB_A075844510CD3MDAGXPE7&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=b70e8025e1dc650a3261b78c11b27b76&hsa_cr_id=1276903390601&lp_asins=B07V5XV71W%2CB07V86RQR5&lp_query=joker%20knife&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_ssd_logo&pd_rd_w=qOG4R&pf_rd_p=488a18be-6d86-4de0-8607-bd4ea4b560f3&pd_rd_wg=Fubrr&pf_rd_r=9FSFD5G6SNA1R09GHTV5&pd_rd_r=6d833642-cbde-4b20-9e94-11dca8b6be59

[Moab]

I'm not particularly sophisticated about blades, owning mostly Gerber and Schrade knives.  I'm almost embarassed to say this, but the Ganzo Firebird is the best knife I own.  Definitely a step up from the Gerber folders. 

Ganzo Firebird

I have a very similar knife. Its a knock off of a very famous $350 knife made by chris reeves. I got mine for $17. They've since gone up to $22. But this is the nicest and sharpest knife I own. A SUPER deal for $22. Nicer than my spyderco or benchmade bugout. Great vehicle knife that you could replace cheaply.

Land 911 Pocket Knife Folding Knife 12C27 Blade G10 Handle Liner Lock Pocket EDC Knife (Army Green,G10) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y42TZ6W/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_J0Q18VEBDTPSA8BYRACP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[Moab]

I don't think you could go wrong with this for $26!

Gerber Gear Ultimate Knife, Tactical Knife with Fire Starter, Sharpener, and Knife Sheath, 4.75" Blade (31-003941) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085JXWCBP/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_4KBVM1W4TGQ92QJAAGTN

Its about halfprice. And the brother knife to the Gerber strongarm. But in stainless. I wouldn't hesitate to use this as a main bob knife. But even as a throwaway, leave it in your car knife, its an amazing deal. And at least its not Bear Grylls branded! Lol

Mora's:

I have a beautiful mora military. Its a classic mora with 4" blade and fat green handle. Its my go to hiking blade. It weighs nothing. And is SUPER sharp.

I just wish it was fulltang. Why they dont spend another $1.25 on the rest of the handles steel. To make it fulltang. Is beyond me. Only short by a couple inches from being a fulltang knife. And then they sell the fulltang version (garberg?) for like $70(?)! 

If they spent the extra pennies to make the standard mora fulltang. And charge another two dollars. It would be the best knife in America. Or at least one of the top 5. Thats the only fear that a vast majority of folks have. That keeps them from buying mora's. Is that its not fulltang.

I don't use my knives to split wood. But I still shy away from using a mora as my main get out of dodge knife. As I just can't get behind a rat tail knife. Even my old Kabar leaves me wanting. I know neither have probably ever broken. But I still have that voice in my head. That says if I can only have one shtf knife do I want a full tang or not? And so it goes.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I don't think you could go wrong with this for $26!

Gerber Gear Ultimate Knife, Tactical Knife with Fire Starter, Sharpener, and Knife Sheath, 4.75" Blade (31-003941) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085JXWCBP/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_4KBVM1W4TGQ92QJAAGTN

Its about halfprice. And the brother knife to the Gerber strongarm. But in stainless. I wouldn't hesitate to use this as a main bob knife. But even as a throwaway, leave it in your car knife, its an amazing deal. And at least its not Bear Grylls branded! Lol

Mora's:

I have a beautiful mora military. Its a classic mora with 4" blade and fat green handle. Its my go to hiking blade. It weighs nothing. And is SUPER sharp.

I just wish it was fulltang. Why they dont spend another $1.25 on the rest of the handles steel. To make it fulltang. Is beyond me. Only short by a couple inches from being a fulltang knife. And then they sell the fulltang version (garberg?) for like $70(?)!

If they spent the extra pennies to make the standard mora fulltang. And charge another two dollars. It would be the best knife in America. Or at least one of the top 5. Thats the only fear that a vast majority of folks have. That keeps them from buying mora's. Is that its not fulltang.

I don't use my knives to split wood. But I still shy away from using a mora as my main get out of dodge knife. As I just can't get behind a rat tail knife. Even my old Kabar leaves me wanting. I know neither have probably ever broken. But I still have that voice in my head. That says if I can only have one shtf knife do I want a full tang or not? And so it goes.

I've seen those full tang Moras, but the price always drives me away from them.

At 70 bucks, there's other knives that perform just as well as a Mora or better. I know Condor makes a pretty good line of knives within the same price range as the full tang Mora (not sure what the model is called either.) and they're designed to have the crap beat out of them.

[Moab]

I don't think you could go wrong with this for $26!

Gerber Gear Ultimate Knife, Tactical Knife with Fire Starter, Sharpener, and Knife Sheath, 4.75" Blade (31-003941) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085JXWCBP/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_4KBVM1W4TGQ92QJAAGTN

Its about halfprice. And the brother knife to the Gerber strongarm. But in stainless. I wouldn't hesitate to use this as a main bob knife. But even as a throwaway, leave it in your car knife, its an amazing deal. And at least its not Bear Grylls branded! Lol

Mora's:

I have a beautiful mora military. Its a classic mora with 4" blade and fat green handle. Its my go to hiking blade. It weighs nothing. And is SUPER sharp.

I just wish it was fulltang. Why they dont spend another $1.25 on the rest of the handles steel. To make it fulltang. Is beyond me. Only short by a couple inches from being a fulltang knife. And then they sell the fulltang version (garberg?) for like $70(?)!

If they spent the extra pennies to make the standard mora fulltang. And charge another two dollars. It would be the best knife in America. Or at least one of the top 5. Thats the only fear that a vast majority of folks have. That keeps them from buying mora's. Is that its not fulltang.

I don't use my knives to split wood. But I still shy away from using a mora as my main get out of dodge knife. As I just can't get behind a rat tail knife. Even my old Kabar leaves me wanting. I know neither have probably ever broken. But I still have that voice in my head. That says if I can only have one shtf knife do I want a full tang or not? And so it goes.

I've seen those full tang Moras, but the price always drives me away from them.

At 70 bucks, there's other knives that perform just as well as a Mora or better. I know Condor makes a pretty good line of knives within the same price range as the full tang Mora (not sure what the model is called either.) and they're designed to have the crap beat out of them.

Condor Bushlore? I just saw ine for $65. Can't beat that price.