We are in a wonderful time to be a knife fan. The budget blade boom that we are having these last few years is incredible. Its a great time to be a cheapo!
For budget choices, two of my favorites this year+ made your list - the Iridium and the Mini Nightshade. Ive really beat the snot out of them and they hold up admirably - especially that Iridium, which I will be buying a couple for others as Christmas presents. Cheers!
I personally love a knife that only has one position of the pocket clip, for my personal use. I like the clean look of not having open holes or extra screws or a plate on the show side, and I don't foresee myself ever swapping the clip to my non-dominant side. So for myself as a user, I count it as a bonus. For the overall knife world, a single position clip is a negative for sure. Unless there is another version that is left handed, though there are only a few that are doing that.
I started out with a Spyderco sometime in the 90s when almost all tactical folders from that era were right hand carry only. The FRN handles were usually set up for tip up carry. I could open an Endura/Delica using my left ring finger or snap the 4" Cold Steel Voyager open. It wasn't something I ever practiced. I had a bad cut on my left hand which ruled that out completely. Back then most stainless handled and more expensive G-10 handled folders were tip down only. That's what I got used to. It took a long time for drawing and opening a tip up carry knife (Sebenza) to come naturally to me. So, nearly 30 years later, l like right hand only/tip up only carry folders. All the extra holes are not a deal breaker, but I do find them unattractive. I also think Chris Reeve got it right by making the clip insert for clipless carry. It looks good and protects the threads in the tapped hole.
I wouldn't say you overlooked it but I was surprised the CJRB Large Pyrite was not on the table. Really surprised when I saw the KC exclusive black & gold version is discontinued. I'm very happy I got one!
This video really nails the year in knives. I had pre-ordered a Benchmade but when it came time to confirm I couldn't do it because their prices have really run away recently. Instead I've been exploring the budget friendly options and have been having way more fun. Vosteed knives in particular are really home runs.
The super premium pocket knives have just priced themselves out of the range where they can be useful as anything but a show piece or limited to specialized light duty use simply because I will balk at using that 300 dollar Benchmade to pry out some heavy staples or auger a hole in a bit of PBC pipe. What is the point in carrying around a 300 dollar knife I don't dare to use for half the things I would normally want to use a knife for? I would much rather carry around a forty dollar knife that has 90% of the performance of the premium brand and which I don't have to stop and consider if I should be using it as a makeshift trowel or prying tool.
The Pyrite Large has been my favorite budget knife this year. Truly a “big easy” knife, and it functions great as a folding paring knife for kiddo snacks on the go.
I did pick up a few of these throughout the year. Boker Atlas (Sheepsfoot), Vosteed Nigtshade (not the mini though), Civivi Qubit & Vision FG, CJRB Chord & Resource, and the Real Steel Pathfinder. Not trying to be only negative, but there's a few opinions I wanted to share for a couple of them that might help. Vision FG has a more traditional pocket clip than the Vision R, but it can be easily tweaked otated since they notched the end of the scale material rather than using a channeled cutout. Because the clip screws are inline, I've had mine twist a good bit just from being in my back pocket while being in a car with bucket seats. I don't think it'll fail, but I've had to reposition and retighten the clip screws several times, so it's stayed at home more often than hopping in my pocket for an excursion. Real Steel Pathfinder is a pretty good knife. I appreciate that they don't want to go with the standard graduated conical thumbstud that most do, but the ones they use (that's shared with the Huginn and some others) are pretty uncomfortable to use, especially on larger blades. I'd implore them to revise it for future models, or just omit it for crossbar and button lock knives. I'd also agree that the angle is a bit steep for the steel. Mine came less than ideally sharp, but once I fixed that, the edge does seem more fragile than I'd like. While it's incredibly comfortable in hand, I wish that this and the Vosteed Grind shared their design strengths to make a fantastic hybrid.
i dont like the off set angle and not having a straight part to the edge. im not being combative. im just stating my opinion. anyway why do you like it? maybe theres something om overlooking.
@lordtartarsauceb8348 for repetitive tasks, the negative angle is just a bit better ergonomically speaking - especially with the knife having some belly to grab that material even easier. It's not a major deal, but if you are cutting for a length of time, your wrist might thank you. Cheers!
The Kershaw Outlier is the best folding karambit I've ever handled. The A/O mechanism allows it to open reliably, & eliminates the worry of dealing with a partially open curved blade. And it's super affordable. Kershaw brought some serious innovation here, & solved a problem that I've seldom seen addressed. This knife deserves all the positive press it can get!
The one I miss on the list is the CIVIVI Sentinel Strike. Great quality for under 100 bucks, looks great, very practical, nice fidget factor with various ways of opening it.
David, I bought that Real Steel Sacra for my coworker. I cut my palm the first time I tried it out, sound familiar? I also bought the green micarta Civivi Vision with the black blade, and the damascus version. I swapped the blades between handles, and each of them look much better!
I have a few high quality knives that I've bought over the years, but a week ago I got lucky enough to purchase the Civivi Baby Banter Damascus knife with a 25% discount, and I gotta say, it's the best knife I've ever used/bought. It's small, practical and looks beautiful, I get lots of compliments. The great thing about the knife is that I can carry it on me in many countries in Europe without any issues (I live in Warsaw and travel a lot), so that's a huge plus. Anyway, great video and I have to agree, that sometimes cheaper is better, especially that if you lose it, you won't feel bad about it :). Subscribed!
I am also a huge fan of the Baby Banter- but check out the CJRB Mica. It has the exact same dimensions, but with aluminum scales, button lock so it's finger safe, and best of all its cheaper than the former!
My favorite of the bunch is the Civivi Qubit. It is a perfect EDC knife. Lightweight, sharp, well tuned and easy to handle, it has a perfect size and those non-threatening curvy vintage roadster aesthetics that won't scare anyone aside from the most staunch knife haters. Love how it sits in hand, how it flicks, and how it cuts.
The CIVIVI FG is the winner this year. The Kershaw irridium is the runner up. The Kershaw Outlier is the the unexpected gem out of this group of knives. Can not go wrong with any of these purchases.
Hands down, the Civivi Vision is the best of the year! Especially the white with the damascus blade. It is a unique but solid and safe lock design. It has great blade steels available with perfect factory edges.The knife is very stylish and the execution is flawless as is with all Civivi knives I've bought. It has no downsides that I can think of. If they produced a more premium version, say in M390 or Magnacut I'd be the first to buy it too.
I don't buy D2 knives anymore. And I love my Civivi Qubit in blue aluminum, which fits perfectly in my medium sized female hand. Its next to my chair when I watch TV and I play with it all the time. I'm waiting for my one and only pink knife to come in, which will also be a Civivi Qubit.
The Boker Atlas made me immediately think of the Mercator K55 Black Cat, one of the first knives I can remember owning as a kid. I might have to get one just for nostalgia. (And yes, I still own a K55, lol.)
I've been interested in knives all my life. I've had focused collections about 4 or 5 different times. Traditional slipjoints, 80's: Butterflies, boot knives and Survival knives. 90s: factory made tacticals from Spyderco, BM, and CRK. Then I got into cusoms. I sold nearly all of them. I curried a Delica everyday for about 5 years. They first non-Spyderco knives I've purchased are a WE Big Banter, Artisan Xcelerator, CIVIVI Button Lock Elementum and a CJRB Resource. I don't find any flaws. They're well made. And I'm impressed with the quality for the price. I haven't owned a large folder in years. The Resource and Xcelerator are a lot of fun.
1:52 the buck 110 forever and ever was just 420 stainless steel but they did a good heat treatment and blade geometry. that ontario knife looks as good or better than a modern run of a buck 110 and in their traditional steel but for only $14. that is awesome! 4:08 i have the fixed blade version of the qsp canary attached to my belt horizontally under my belt buckle. i didn’t know they had a folding version but i use that knife a lot actually. mine has a neat pattern on the spine and the kydex sheath works really well. it is a little thick behind the edge but i’ve thinned mine so it cuts pretty good and since it is so sturdy and also compact it pairs well with most of the knives in my collection.
The Vosteed mini Nightshade looks fairly similar to the Spyderco Lum Chinese I have from over 20 years ago. Should be a really nice knife as long as they ground the blade nice & thin at the edge.
Just bought a Kihon DC and the Vision FG is my 2nd EDC knife combined with my Shaman. I LOVE the Vision and the Super-lock (I bought 3 of them already). I hope they make more knives usingthat lock. Really wish Kershaw would bring back tbe Knockout and give it their cross-bar lock.
The Sencut Serene is a fantastic adult size knife, flipper, thumb studs, button lock, 3.5” D2 drop point, 4.5” Aluminium handle. Good looking , fantastic action, perfect for $47 ?
Have anyone else had an issue with the QSP Canary's opening action? Purchased this as a small self defense blade for my significant other, and the liner lock seems to hold on quite a bit too tight to get it open quickly in a pinch. I wasnt expecting some kind of spring assist, but this seemed a bit off.
That Civivi Vision FG is my favorite under $80. Love the blade shape and lock mechanism. The grip is a little off, but everything else is so great I don't even think about it. Surprised no Pyrite on this list... interesting!
For me who is a very beginner in knifes, this video is a lifesaver, thank you! That black and white Real steel Sacra is my personal favorite. Unfortunately the Hungarian regulations allow people to carry max 8 cm blade length knives. And that knocks out a lot of nice blades. What's left budget and size: The QSP Canary, with all the colors, I love it. The Kizer Amicus as one of your winners so to say. A little bit above budget: KB-41. Having a good grip seems like an important thing. The complete opposite: Boker Plus ATLAS BACKLOCK . That piece of steel might not be to confotable...but looks so slim, 53 g I could forget that it is in my pocket...and the cheapest of all. Finally above my budget as my first pocket knife: CIVIVI Qubit. Looks like ideal, but I'm not sure I want to spend almost double as most of these in the list. Note: the 67 USD price is actually 87 USD where I've found it in my country. Taxes and customs I guess. I would appreciate any advice which one to chose. For now I feel the winner will be the Canary for the color, or maybe the Amicus with it's button lock, and overall performace.
I would go with the Amicus. It feels and cuts like a bigger knife than the Canary, and since you can't actually have a bigger knife due to your regulations, the Amicus will be the next best thing. Cheers! -DCA
You should do a best of budget Big and Little where the knives are paired with their standard size and then smaller. Banter/Baby Banter, Pyrite/mini-Pyrite, Penguin/mini Penguin etc.
Hey DCA, you got me curious with your blind recommendability criteria. Other than the Qubit and the Amicus, what are other knives meet the criteria you described? (Slicey, ambidextrous, decent steel, under 3 inches, ideally finger safe)?
Great video, I’d say best of the best would be boker atlas, qsp canary, and the Becker bk-41. And maybe that real steel at the end too. If I were to buy one, though, it’d have to be the atlas
I got the black handle Kizer amicus for $33 on Amazon with nitro-v blade and the action is so buttery smooth it blows my mind that I got it for so cheap!!!!👍🔥🔥🔥
Boker Magnum Rockstub I received (Aug-2024) is reversible for the clip, can be used by lefties with no problem. I guess, Boker updated their product based on customer reviews :)
We dont live too long, so almost any knife metal will do. of course safety is king so a dependable locking mechanism is essential. Other than that knives should be pretty cheap in general.
Hey DCA my wife and I were having a discussion the other day and she told me to cut the crap. I wasn't sure what knife to use for that, what would you recommend.
I like how to give the cheaper knives (Which are still expensive for people like me) as much attention as the more expensive ones. I just started exploring this world of knives. It's insane how much choice there is. By watching video's like this over and over again it's finally starting to make sense (a little bit haha)😅😅😂. I'm liking the vibes of your videos!🙂
the amount of steel neededon a littleflipper just isn't that expensive. Going between a mid = mid/high range steel relly doesn't add a whole ton to the knife. On some of the harder steels, they can be arder to forge in the classic way, but no one is forging these things with hammer and anvil.
My OG Skyline flips every bit as good as my modern ball bearing flippers. I think most people have issue flipping the original due to the fact that it doesn't have a stop pin to mitigate the squeezing pressure. If it gets gripped to hard, the blade will not deploy due to friction.
Thanks David D C Anderson for speaking to the working man’s knife needs😎 and I have scratches on all my hundreds of affordable knives as well as the more expensive ones . Seriously keeping it real 🫵
David C is a man of the people! Mollydookers approve! Such a miss from knife companies that use ambi locks with no reversible clip! Including the back lock from Boker too.
Hey, maybe it is a dumb question, but anyway. What is realistically the difference between what is considered a mid range blade(440C) and premium blade (CPM s20 or s35)? Not technically but what effects the user? For example I dont use a knife abobe $10 near sea and I dont abuse a $50 knife. I consider it a nice knife.
How was the Large Pyrite not put on this list? In my opinion it's easily the best budget CJRB to come out this year, and arguably the best "bang for the buck" budget knife availabile, period due to the large, utilitarian blade in a slim lightweight package.
Had a couple of Kizer and they are very good pocket carry but tried a Civivi Elementum and was hooked. Best knife for the money imho. Sits in the pocket corner deep, slim so not in the way, blade steel holds a nice edge. Nothing to nitpik about it over. Daily carry for me and the wife.
Absolutely but they can’t have all civivi s 😂 otherwise there would be 3-4 more in the table . The sokoke , the fg , qubit and sentinel strike . Just my opinion . The cmb predator is another banger but last year but it’s so good .
I love the Sokoke and it was on my shortlist. You should have seen if Thomas panned to the right and there was a small pile of knives that didn't quite make the final list. Sometimes the final decision is made once they are all "on the table" and what feels right when they are sitting next to the competition. -DCA
You have several of the knives I've purchased this year on the table, got my Vision FG from your website, and love it. Had to wait for a restock, but it was worth the wait. Good video, David, but I saw some names in the comments that I feel would have easily qualified for this list, so take a look, please, and maybe consider another follow-on video before Xmas.
Gonna keep banging the drum for the $94 Kizer Begleiter XL. I have far more expensive knives, but it instantly became my EDC -- I've carried nothing else since getting it. Cannot recommend it highly enough.
Skyline is back in a mini!?!?! Yay!!! So kinda funny I was looking at the table wonder what company had ripped off the Skyline… Kershaw!!! 😂 Also just recently picked up the Mini Nightshade and it’s Fantastic!!! A perfect knife except that the closed detention is a little week and the pocket clip screws were a little soft as I stripped one (even using Wigan torx and good technique).
I like the Civivi cogent got a good grip. Looks classic and hides a big blade in a small handle.and the grind on top of the blade keeps it thick all the way out.sweet edc. Not the tuffest thing ever tho.
Love those Camp Plus. I bought two and added thumb studs. Like that Kihon. Reminds me of the Schrade Divergent for some reason. Not sure exactly when the CJRB Lago came out but it's my new favorite plain edge knife. Love my Kershaw Monitor. Two words: finger flipper, which the Heist and the iridium do not have.
I’ve got the Camp + Frost and I’ve been wanting to add a thumb stud. Did you use an after-market clamp-on or make your own? I’d like something in black to match the blade.
Boker Kihon DC has some great features, and I'm going to order one after I post this. Problem is once you buy a high quality budget knife, you want to buy all the rest!
Love my Iridium. There's other great choices on that table as well. Canary looks great. Wanna get a kershaw Heist too. I'd just rather it have different colored scales. Black and satin gets boring
We are in a wonderful time to be a knife fan. The budget blade boom that we are having these last few years is incredible. Its a great time to be a cheapo!
@@eskee1you watched the video so I assume you're just as broke as I am, just admit it 😂
indeed man. im ham fisted so im looking for an ad10 from before cold steel changed ownership
Love it mate.!@@notchipotle
@eskee1 I don’t even know where to start with this comment lol. Non- “flagship” does not equal subpar (below average).
A boom for tactical knives especially
For budget choices, two of my favorites this year+ made your list - the Iridium and the Mini Nightshade. Ive really beat the snot out of them and they hold up admirably - especially that Iridium, which I will be buying a couple for others as Christmas presents. Cheers!
I personally love a knife that only has one position of the pocket clip, for my personal use. I like the clean look of not having open holes or extra screws or a plate on the show side, and I don't foresee myself ever swapping the clip to my non-dominant side. So for myself as a user, I count it as a bonus. For the overall knife world, a single position clip is a negative for sure. Unless there is another version that is left handed, though there are only a few that are doing that.
I started out with a Spyderco sometime in the 90s when almost all tactical folders from that era were right hand carry only. The FRN handles were usually set up for tip up carry. I could open an Endura/Delica using my left ring finger or snap the 4" Cold Steel Voyager open. It wasn't something I ever practiced. I had a bad cut on my left hand which ruled that out completely. Back then most stainless handled and more expensive G-10 handled folders were tip down only. That's what I got used to. It took a long time for drawing and opening a tip up carry knife (Sebenza) to come naturally to me. So, nearly 30 years later, l like right hand only/tip up only carry folders. All the extra holes are not a deal breaker, but I do find them unattractive. I also think Chris Reeve got it right by making the clip insert for clipless carry. It looks good and protects the threads in the tapped hole.
I wouldn't say you overlooked it but I was surprised the CJRB Large Pyrite was not on the table. Really surprised when I saw the KC exclusive black & gold version is discontinued. I'm very happy I got one!
Same here. It's a sweet knife but now it's hard to edc knowing it's limited
This video really nails the year in knives. I had pre-ordered a Benchmade but when it came time to confirm I couldn't do it because their prices have really run away recently. Instead I've been exploring the budget friendly options and have been having way more fun. Vosteed knives in particular are really home runs.
The super premium pocket knives have just priced themselves out of the range where they can be useful as anything but a show piece or limited to specialized light duty use simply because I will balk at using that 300 dollar Benchmade to pry out some heavy staples or auger a hole in a bit of PBC pipe.
What is the point in carrying around a 300 dollar knife I don't dare to use for half the things I would normally want to use a knife for? I would much rather carry around a forty dollar knife that has 90% of the performance of the premium brand and which I don't have to stop and consider if I should be using it as a makeshift trowel or prying tool.
I love my Kershaw Iridium and think it’s the best knife I’ve bought this year. The right design, the right materials and the right price.
The Pyrite Large has been my favorite budget knife this year. Truly a “big easy” knife, and it functions great as a folding paring knife for kiddo snacks on the go.
100% agree!
I did pick up a few of these throughout the year. Boker Atlas (Sheepsfoot), Vosteed Nigtshade (not the mini though), Civivi Qubit & Vision FG, CJRB Chord & Resource, and the Real Steel Pathfinder. Not trying to be only negative, but there's a few opinions I wanted to share for a couple of them that might help.
Vision FG has a more traditional pocket clip than the Vision R, but it can be easily tweaked
otated since they notched the end of the scale material rather than using a channeled cutout. Because the clip screws are inline, I've had mine twist a good bit just from being in my back pocket while being in a car with bucket seats. I don't think it'll fail, but I've had to reposition and retighten the clip screws several times, so it's stayed at home more often than hopping in my pocket for an excursion.
Real Steel Pathfinder is a pretty good knife. I appreciate that they don't want to go with the standard graduated conical thumbstud that most do, but the ones they use (that's shared with the Huginn and some others) are pretty uncomfortable to use, especially on larger blades. I'd implore them to revise it for future models, or just omit it for crossbar and button lock knives. I'd also agree that the angle is a bit steep for the steel. Mine came less than ideally sharp, but once I fixed that, the edge does seem more fragile than I'd like. While it's incredibly comfortable in hand, I wish that this and the Vosteed Grind shared their design strengths to make a fantastic hybrid.
Glad to see the Mini Nightshade mentioned. Definitely my favorite purchase of 2023.
One of my favorites as well great knife
i dont like the off set angle and not having a straight part to the edge. im not being combative. im just stating my opinion. anyway why do you like it? maybe theres something om overlooking.
@lordtartarsauceb8348 for repetitive tasks, the negative angle is just a bit better ergonomically speaking - especially with the knife having some belly to grab that material even easier. It's not a major deal, but if you are cutting for a length of time, your wrist might thank you. Cheers!
It's a very precise tip the angle of the blade along with the rounded spine feels really good on my finger and glides when you use it spine side down
The Kershaw Outlier is the best folding karambit I've ever handled. The A/O mechanism allows it to open reliably, & eliminates the worry of dealing with a partially open curved blade. And it's super affordable. Kershaw brought some serious innovation here, & solved a problem that I've seldom seen addressed. This knife deserves all the positive press it can get!
The one I miss on the list is the CIVIVI Sentinel Strike. Great quality for under 100 bucks, looks great, very practical, nice fidget factor with various ways of opening it.
David, I bought that Real Steel Sacra for my coworker. I cut my palm the first time I tried it out, sound familiar?
I also bought the green micarta Civivi Vision with the black blade, and the damascus version. I swapped the blades between handles, and each of them look much better!
It looks like Thomas cut his palm in the same way I cut mine on the Bugout several times. Crossbar locks may be "finger safe" but are "palm perilous".
I have a few high quality knives that I've bought over the years, but a week ago I got lucky enough to purchase the Civivi Baby Banter Damascus knife with a 25% discount, and I gotta say, it's the best knife I've ever used/bought. It's small, practical and looks beautiful, I get lots of compliments. The great thing about the knife is that I can carry it on me in many countries in Europe without any issues (I live in Warsaw and travel a lot), so that's a huge plus. Anyway, great video and I have to agree, that sometimes cheaper is better, especially that if you lose it, you won't feel bad about it :). Subscribed!
I am also a huge fan of the Baby Banter- but check out the CJRB Mica. It has the exact same dimensions, but with aluminum scales, button lock so it's finger safe, and best of all its cheaper than the former!
Since I started watching you, my collection went from three to about 40 in six months.
bro same
My favorite of the bunch is the Civivi Qubit. It is a perfect EDC knife. Lightweight, sharp, well tuned and easy to handle, it has a perfect size and those non-threatening curvy vintage roadster aesthetics that won't scare anyone aside from the most staunch knife haters. Love how it sits in hand, how it flicks, and how it cuts.
The CIVIVI FG is the winner this year. The Kershaw irridium is the runner up. The Kershaw Outlier is the the unexpected gem out of this group of knives. Can not go wrong with any of these purchases.
Just checked out the FG. It looks solid. Do you have one? If so, how you liking it
Hands down, the Civivi Vision is the best of the year! Especially the white with the damascus blade. It is a unique but solid and safe lock design. It has great blade steels available with perfect factory edges.The knife is very stylish and the execution is flawless as is with all Civivi knives I've bought. It has no downsides that I can think of. If they produced a more premium version, say in M390 or Magnacut I'd be the first to buy it too.
They have fancy steel in the WE version
They do make one with better materials it is the WE vision r.
I don't buy D2 knives anymore. And I love my Civivi Qubit in blue aluminum, which fits perfectly in my medium sized female hand. Its next to my chair when I watch TV and I play with it all the time. I'm waiting for my one and only pink knife to come in, which will also be a Civivi Qubit.
I agree . It’s a good one .
What budget steels do you prefer? 14c28n? AUS-8? 154cm? S35vn? 9cr18mov?
The Boker Atlas made me immediately think of the Mercator K55 Black Cat, one of the first knives I can remember owning as a kid. I might have to get one just for nostalgia. (And yes, I still own a K55, lol.)
The Mercator was the only knife I carried for years! Maybe 7 years... such a great tough tool.
How about doing a "most returned knives" video?
I've been interested in knives all my life. I've had focused collections about 4 or 5 different times. Traditional slipjoints, 80's: Butterflies, boot knives and Survival knives. 90s: factory made tacticals from Spyderco, BM, and CRK. Then I got into cusoms. I sold nearly all of them. I curried a Delica everyday for about 5 years. They first non-Spyderco knives I've purchased are a WE Big Banter, Artisan Xcelerator, CIVIVI Button Lock Elementum and a CJRB Resource. I don't find any flaws. They're well made. And I'm impressed with the quality for the price. I haven't owned a large folder in years. The Resource and Xcelerator are a lot of fun.
1:52 the buck 110 forever and ever was just 420 stainless steel but they did a good heat treatment and blade geometry. that ontario knife looks as good or better than a modern run of a buck 110 and in their traditional steel but for only $14. that is awesome! 4:08 i have the fixed blade version of the qsp canary attached to my belt horizontally under my belt buckle. i didn’t know they had a folding version but i use that knife a lot actually. mine has a neat pattern on the spine and the kydex sheath works really well. it is a little thick behind the edge but i’ve thinned mine so it cuts pretty good and since it is so sturdy and also compact it pairs well with most of the knives in my collection.
The Vosteed mini Nightshade looks fairly similar to the Spyderco Lum Chinese I have from over 20 years ago. Should be a really nice knife as long as they ground the blade nice & thin at the edge.
The entire time you were descibing the Ontario Camp Plus, all I could think about was MoraKniv. Extremely inexpensive yet worth owning.
Just bought a Kihon DC and the Vision FG is my 2nd EDC knife combined with my Shaman. I LOVE the Vision and the Super-lock (I bought 3 of them already). I hope they make more knives usingthat lock. Really wish Kershaw would bring back tbe Knockout and give it their cross-bar lock.
The Sencut Serene is a fantastic adult size knife, flipper, thumb studs, button lock, 3.5” D2 drop point, 4.5” Aluminium handle. Good looking , fantastic action, perfect for $47 ?
For under $50... What is the top three blade steels to look for?
Is 14c28n, S35vn or 154cm possibly the three to look for?
I’ve had way more fun collecting “budget” knives in the past few months than “regular” ones.
Great video!! 2023 has been a fantastic year for budget knives !!
Have anyone else had an issue with the QSP Canary's opening action?
Purchased this as a small self defense blade for my significant other, and the liner lock seems to hold on quite a bit too tight to get it open quickly in a pinch. I wasnt expecting some kind of spring assist, but this seemed a bit off.
That Civivi Vision FG is my favorite under $80. Love the blade shape and lock mechanism. The grip is a little off, but everything else is so great I don't even think about it. Surprised no Pyrite on this list... interesting!
Pyrite came out last year and it featured heavily on our best of the year vids then -DCA
I wish the Vision had a blade cut out instead of thumb studs, and why no jimping on the spine?
For me who is a very beginner in knifes, this video is a lifesaver, thank you! That black and white Real steel Sacra is my personal favorite. Unfortunately the Hungarian regulations allow people to carry max 8 cm blade length knives. And that knocks out a lot of nice blades.
What's left budget and size:
The QSP Canary, with all the colors, I love it.
The Kizer Amicus as one of your winners so to say.
A little bit above budget: KB-41. Having a good grip seems like an important thing.
The complete opposite: Boker Plus ATLAS BACKLOCK . That piece of steel might not be to confotable...but looks so slim, 53 g I could forget that it is in my pocket...and the cheapest of all.
Finally above my budget as my first pocket knife: CIVIVI Qubit. Looks like ideal, but I'm not sure I want to spend almost double as most of these in the list. Note: the 67 USD price is actually 87 USD where I've found it in my country. Taxes and customs I guess.
I would appreciate any advice which one to chose.
For now I feel the winner will be the Canary for the color, or maybe the Amicus with it's button lock, and overall performace.
I would go with the Amicus. It feels and cuts like a bigger knife than the Canary, and since you can't actually have a bigger knife due to your regulations, the Amicus will be the next best thing. Cheers! -DCA
@@knifecenter Thanks, I've already ordered. :)
more fixed blades please
Can never go wrong with a budget button lock knife!
Well… I don’t know about that. I had the civivi elementum for about three months of regular/light use before the button completely locked up.
You should do a best of budget Big and Little where the knives are paired with their standard size and then smaller. Banter/Baby Banter, Pyrite/mini-Pyrite, Penguin/mini Penguin etc.
Surprised you didn’t include the Spyderco Resilience lightweight at $48.94, I just brought 4. 😊
Awesome subject for an episode though.
Qubit and Amicus, I have both! My two most recent aquisitions, the Amicus on DCA's recommendation, so thank you!
QSP canary folder is a must have. 👌
Vision FG 👐💜
Hey DCA, you got me curious with your blind recommendability criteria. Other than the Qubit and the Amicus, what are other knives meet the criteria you described? (Slicey, ambidextrous, decent steel, under 3 inches, ideally finger safe)?
I really dig the Kabar because of the additional tip up/tip down that are also ambidextrous friendly. You really don't see that on very many blades.
Böker Magnum or Kiser Amicus? Which one would you buy? I’m just about to pull the trigger on either knife. Thank you.
Great video, I’d say best of the best would be boker atlas, qsp canary, and the Becker bk-41. And maybe that real steel at the end too. If I were to buy one, though, it’d have to be the atlas
From a knife lover of limited means, thanks for doing a broad review of specimens in my price range.
I got the black handle Kizer amicus for $33 on Amazon with nitro-v blade and the action is so buttery smooth it blows my mind that I got it for so cheap!!!!👍🔥🔥🔥
Civivi Vision: Cream Color + Damascus = 🔥
Boker Magnum Rockstub I received (Aug-2024) is reversible for the clip, can be used by lefties with no problem. I guess, Boker updated their product based on customer reviews :)
love me some budget blades
Thanks for this knife round-up. I picked up the Civivi Vision FG. Truly a great knife.
We dont live too long, so almost any knife metal will do. of course safety is king so a dependable locking mechanism is essential. Other than that knives should be pretty cheap in general.
Depressing comment well done.
The iridium wins for me, I now have 3 😂 might go for a 4th it’s that good
im enjoying the Civivi Vision FG specially for food prep.
Hey DCA my wife and I were having a discussion the other day and she told me to cut the crap. I wasn't sure what knife to use for that, what would you recommend.
@knifecenter
If only buying one:
Civivi Vision FG or Kershaw Iridium Titanium?
which were the 3 cheapest? wouldn't be nice to have a price list 😊
I like how to give the cheaper knives (Which are still expensive for people like me) as much attention as the more expensive ones. I just started exploring this world of knives. It's insane how much choice there is. By watching video's like this over and over again it's finally starting to make sense (a little bit haha)😅😅😂. I'm liking the vibes of your videos!🙂
Exciting to see the victorinox companion! The Crkt Dextros looks worthy of my money and pocket time....gotta bump the sebenza 31 Inlay lol
@BlackSavvvage I am, good sir, a knife junkie. I use, collect, trade, and sell all types of knives , providing they are well made.
the amount of steel neededon a littleflipper just isn't that expensive. Going between a mid = mid/high range steel relly doesn't add a whole ton to the knife. On some of the harder steels, they can be arder to forge in the classic way, but no one is forging these things with hammer and anvil.
My OG Skyline flips every bit as good as my modern ball bearing flippers. I think most people have issue flipping the original due to the fact that it doesn't have a stop pin to mitigate the squeezing pressure. If it gets gripped to hard, the blade will not deploy due to friction.
Thanks David D C Anderson for speaking to the working man’s knife needs😎 and I have scratches on all my hundreds of affordable knives as well as the more expensive ones . Seriously keeping it real 🫵
David C is a man of the people! Mollydookers approve! Such a miss from knife companies that use ambi locks with no reversible clip! Including the back lock from Boker too.
I appreciate your knowledge on these knives. Great video
That CIVIVI Vision is very very nice in my eyes.
The Kershaw Heist feels like the perfect knife I've been looking for. Thanks for the recommendations.
I have a regular sized Nightshade on my list to get. I have a million drop/clip points in my collection but I don’t have any Kukri bladed folders.
My favorite knife has been the Kershaw barge. Got it for $15 on Amazon years ago. Can't find it anywhere anymore.
A plethora of budget goodness!
Hey, maybe it is a dumb question, but anyway. What is realistically the difference between what is considered a mid range blade(440C) and premium blade (CPM s20 or s35)? Not technically but what effects the user? For example I dont use a knife abobe $10 near sea and I dont abuse a $50 knife. I consider it a nice knife.
Just watching this and cracking open a cold brewski. Good chill time
How was the Large Pyrite not put on this list? In my opinion it's easily the best budget CJRB to come out this year, and arguably the best "bang for the buck" budget knife availabile, period due to the large, utilitarian blade in a slim lightweight package.
Lots of great knives!
Had a couple of Kizer and they are very good pocket carry but tried a Civivi Elementum and was hooked. Best knife for the money imho. Sits in the pocket corner deep, slim so not in the way, blade steel holds a nice edge. Nothing to nitpik about it over. Daily carry for me and the wife.
I think the Civivi Sokoke is definetely missing in this list.
Absolutely but they can’t have all civivi s 😂 otherwise there would be 3-4 more in the table . The sokoke , the fg , qubit and sentinel strike . Just my opinion . The cmb predator is another banger but last year but it’s so good .
that looks like a swear word haha.
I love the Sokoke and it was on my shortlist. You should have seen if Thomas panned to the right and there was a small pile of knives that didn't quite make the final list. Sometimes the final decision is made once they are all "on the table" and what feels right when they are sitting next to the competition. -DCA
The vision!
As a right hander, I actually prefer a non-reversible pocket clip such as the Rockstub.
Why dont you guys show off Kizers too often? They make awesome budget blades! They make awesome non-budget blades as well!
You have several of the knives I've purchased this year on the table, got my Vision FG from your website, and love it. Had to wait for a restock, but it was worth the wait. Good video, David, but I saw some names in the comments that I feel would have easily qualified for this list, so take a look, please, and maybe consider another follow-on video before Xmas.
Gonna keep banging the drum for the $94 Kizer Begleiter XL. I have far more expensive knives, but it instantly became my EDC -- I've carried nothing else since getting it. Cannot recommend it highly enough.
Skyline is back in a mini!?!?! Yay!!! So kinda funny I was looking at the table wonder what company had ripped off the Skyline… Kershaw!!! 😂
Also just recently picked up the Mini Nightshade and it’s Fantastic!!! A perfect knife except that the closed detention is a little week and the pocket clip screws were a little soft as I stripped one (even using Wigan torx and good technique).
I like the Civivi cogent got a good grip. Looks classic and hides a big blade in a small handle.and the grind on top of the blade keeps it thick all the way out.sweet edc. Not the tuffest thing ever tho.
Got my vision FG a few days ago and couldn’t be happier
Have the nightshade and iridium,very impressed.
Great review
Cool video David, Let's see the best fixed blades next.
I like that Ontario.
Gotta have a Bugout. It's expensive but it's iconic
Love those Camp Plus. I bought two and added thumb studs.
Like that Kihon. Reminds me of the Schrade Divergent for some reason.
Not sure exactly when the CJRB Lago came out but it's my new favorite plain edge knife.
Love my Kershaw Monitor. Two words: finger flipper, which the Heist and the iridium do not have.
I’ve got the Camp + Frost and I’ve been wanting to add a thumb stud. Did you use an after-market clamp-on or make your own? I’d like something in black to match the blade.
@@wardprocter2371 yes, I ordered a set off Amazon. Black matches perfectly.
Refreshing having you push more budget oriented sales vs ur high end crap. 👍
Boker Kihon DC has some great features, and I'm going to order one after I post this. Problem is once you buy a high quality budget knife, you want to buy all the rest!
You missed the cjrb lago $49 five ways to deploy, reversible clip ,slicy, all size neutral handle.
Very helpful video DCA👍
lol. that Boker is basically a Black Cat knife from the old Soldier of Fortune advertising section updated with D2 steel.
Canary 👍
What a great episode this is! I will ho back through it again to make my selections. I immediately want several!
Excellent videos, look forward to them coming out, many thanks.
Looking forward to the 2024 edition of this video! Great reviews.
I have the F3 exclusive from Knife Center
Great to see a pro like David C. Anderson with a palm cut from flipping a blade closed…I thought only amateurs like me did that. 😊
That is Thomas... so is he an amateur? Perhaps. lol -DCA
Love my Iridium. There's other great choices on that table as well. Canary looks great. Wanna get a kershaw Heist too. I'd just rather it have different colored scales. Black and satin gets boring
The fusion fg! I hope they keep making it.