Do you buy only the best, only cheap stuff, or a little bit of both?
The most I've spent on a knife was in 1988 at the Navy Exchange in Pearl Harbor. Bought a Gerber BMF fixed blade for $110. Figured if I couldn't be armed while exploring the islands, then I would have the biggest, baddest survival knife I could get.
Still have it and it's in remarkably good condition. Something of a collector's item now and worth much more than I paid for it.
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Over the years, I mainly had decent quality Buck knives. About ten years ago I bought a Benchmade Griptillian folder and have been very happy with it. Picked up a commemorative Spyderco as well. Both were under a hundred bucks.
My main hunting/hiking/camping knife is an Ontario Knife Works Rat 5 that was $60. Beefy, heavy and has worked great.
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Then a couple of years ago, I was shopping for an ESEE 3 to give to my son for Christmas and found a cheap Chinese knockoff on Amazon for under $20. It got rave reviews, so I got one for myself and the ESEE for him. The cheap knife turned out to be excellent and has successfully processed an elk and a couple of deer with no damage and retaining it's sharpness remarkably well.
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Most of the time for work and bumming around town, I have a cheap WalMart folder in my pocket and haven't had any complaints. Often times I have a small Swiss Army knife instead.
I know some guys are into the custom made knives and spend hundreds of dollars on them. I never have, but I can appreciate the beauty and ultimate performance they offer. I love watching the show Forged in Fire!
Was thinking about buying another knife for a Christmas present this year and it got me to thinking about knives in general and curious as to what other folks have and use.