I just don't have enough RSK Mk1s to go around. I have different EDC bags that I want to be able to grab and go, and though I would like to have Mk1s in each, I can't afford that right now.

I'd like some suggestions for low cost, yet reliable folders, preferably stainless steel of some sort...something durable until I can "Ritter-ize" all my kits. $20-$30 would be best right now.

What do you think?

I can imagine the firestorm that may ensue after I provide my recommendation...Knives are intensely debated here on the forum...

I'm no expert on fine cutlery or grades of steel or whathave you, but for that price range I'd look into the Gerber Parafram II. I have one that I EDCed before I got my own RSK M1 and it served me well. Break it in with a little oil and it opened real smooth, it took a shaving sharp edge without too much work, and I had it with me this past summer out on the sea and the stainless steel held up just fine - no rust (can't say the same for my Leatherman Wave). I've cut line, cleaned game, and opened hundreds of boxes with it. It's a decent knife for that price range.

That's my $0.02, hope it helps.

Matt

If you spend your money on what you consider sub standard items, you'll never be able to afford the quality you really want. One good item is better than numerous suspect ones.

My suggestion : a Spyderco Delica 4.

Do consider having "nested" bugout bags rather than several independent kits. It would be hard for me to afford several duplicate Rittergrips.

To your question, I purchased several Kabar Dozier Folding Spear for just $20 each. The best knife I've seen for the money. I gave one to each of my kids and keep one in the drawer that is next to my family room chair. It gets LOTS of home-use cutting all sorts of nasty stuff and has done very well. Folks on the knife forums speak favorably of them too - for the price.

Here is a link:

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KA4066

SAVE YOUR PENNIES for the Rittergrips - you'll love them!!

Another option to consider is to purchase several fixed blade Moras at http://www.ragweedforge.com . My own favorites are the #746 and its longer-bladed relatives. Others really like the #760, though those handles are a bit small for my hands. If you want a big knife look at the #C223.

Ken K.

Another one to consider might be the Spyderco Native at Walmart. S30V steel and $39. It's like this but with a plain edge. Nice knife.

The Byrd brand of knives offers some pretty good value for the money. Any of their knives can be found for under $25 on the internet.

I have a Kershaw Vapor ($20 at Walmart) that I recently started carrying. It is pretty comfortable to use. I don't know how it will hold up in the long run.

I agree with the above poster that the Spyderco Delica is a nice knife, but it looks like it might be a bit out of your price range.

I wasn't clear about my wants...I'm in the process of putting together several EDC/emergency kits. I have one in the backpack I carry my laptop in, another one when I want to carry a few small books and some water bottles (Max Devildog) and just recently decided to build a kit into a Max NeatFreak, for when the Devildog seems more tedious than seems worth it. A lot of the items in these kits are duplicate of what's in other kits. I've tried transferring things from one bag to another, but if I'm in a hurry I usually forget something. And I'd like to be able to just grab and go with little or no thought as to what's in the bag I grab. I usually keep a Mk1 close anyway, but if I have to clip it to the waistband of shorts, it digs into me a bit sometimes. It's going to take me some time to build all of these kits just the way I'd like...I'm trying to be more financially responsible for my family, instead of just running out and buying whatever I want <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Anyhow, good suggestions, and any more would be appreciated as well.

And yes, it is difficult for me right now to own several of the Mk1s...I'm looking into the future to get them in all my kits <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

KA-BAR / Dozier Folding Hunter, 3" blade, AUS 8A Stainless Steel, about $20.

For the money this knife is very good. There are other blade styles available in the same family.

In my opinion, the differences in practical survival benefit between this knife and any similarly sized folder costing many times more money would be infinitesimal in any real short term survival situation.

A good med size folder, no longer made but still available. Figure $25.

TRO

Since I EDC a folder (sometimes a Ritter, sometimes a different Benchmade) I'm not concerned with needing one for each kit. I have a fixed blade in each kit selected for the purpose of that kit, but the folder will be in my right front pocket.

I'll second the Gerber knives (although I've never used the paraframe). For the price, they're decent quality, I actually prefer them over my spydercos because they're lighter and more versatile. They don't have tree-felling power of some of the more tactical knives, but most of the time I'm just using them for light duty cutting where a smaller, thinner blade is more useful.

Personally, I've started going cheaper and smaller on all my knives. For me, It seems like after a certain price point, you're really not getting a much better cutting implement for the extra money. A $300 knife will not cut 10X better than a $30 knife, and for most people who aren't knife enthusiast, they probably will not know the difference.

I do recommend having one really good quality knife for your main knife, but unless you have a lot of extra cash laying around, buying multiple $100+ knives that will most likely spend it's whole life collecting dust in an emergency kit seems like a waste of money. That is money you could be putting to better use somewhere else. I'll even go as far as to say for that purpose, just get the most inexpensive (but decent) knife that will fulfill your needs. I'm not saying get a $3 pocket knife, but I think you could probably find a lot of decent choices in $30 price range that you're looking at.

Check out smokey mountain knife works . They have a super deal on the gerber paraframe folder a good all purpose folder i have several and yhink they are o.k.


Breaker

I'm less interested in the debate of what knives to get than what you mentioned here. I EDC the LM New Wave, and I'm curious just what sort of use yours saw with regard to salt-water induced rust. It sounds like you were actually using it on a boat. If it was continually drenched in salt-water, did you rinse it with fresh and oil it regularly? Any other maintenance or was it just left to it's own devices? I ask because I would like to avoid the same result. Also, what parts rusted and were you able to recondition it?

Matt has served on the USCG academy training cutter Eagle and 210' medium endurance cutter Venturous.

Thanks Chris, that settles the "did you use it on an ocean going vessel" question. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Now I'm even more interested in the answers, since I would imagine he's not a "light" tool user.

Everybody's mentioned the Spydercos, Gerbers, and others, so I'd just add not overlooking the standard Buck 110 & 112 hunters & trappers for a little over $35 or the Trapper series for less than $20.

But best of all for your purpose to put one in each bag might be the Victorionox Swiss Army Knives. Some very good models for less than $20.

Massacre,

As Chris pointed out, I spent 12 weeks of my summer at sea, in the Atlantic on our training ship EAGLE, and in the Gulf of Mexico on the 210 VENTUROUS. It was a great summer, we picked up a Cuban migrant that was on a 3' raft for a week, but that is a different story.

So, my comment about rust. I too have the Leatherman New Wave, which is made from 440c stainless steel I believe. I mentioned the rust more to illustrate a good quality of the Gerber Parafram rather than put down the Wave, one of the best tools I have ever used and a very wise way to spend $65 in my opinion.

But to answer your questions, yes I did get a little rust on the Wave, something I was very shocked to see (but perhaps I am just niaive about the properties of stainless steels). It was the only tool on my belt (I had the Parafram and the RSK Mk1 too) that had ANY rust at the end of the summer. The Wave did come in handy quite alot and was used frequently (rope and line mostly, as well as lots of screwdriving). I can remember three distinct times that I (and my tools) was drenched in seawater - during bow lookout in a nasty storm, during a hull breech drill where I was on the plug team, and during the small boat ride while conducting a boarding - but I did rinse my gear in freshwater after each time that happened. Other than that it was just exposed to the salt air, which I must admit I did not rinse off daily.

I kept my tools sharp and fairly clean during the patrol, and I am not talking MAJOR rust here. When I was done with the summer, I took all my gear and gave it a THOROUGH cleaning. When I got inside the joints and nooks and crannies of the Wave with oil coated paper towel wrapped around a toothpick, there was some rust, which I then cleaned up for the most part. And a little bit on the blade where it got scratched up a good bit, which I scubbed away. Oh, I almost forgot...Before the deployment I did use Marine Tuf Cloths on my RSK, Gerber, and as much of the Wave as I could reach with it, but I couldn't get inside those joints (the same joints which showed rust).

But again, the rust was minor, and may have been due to a little bit of daily neglect on my part. I could have done a better job of keeping it clean, and I am glad that you asked me this question because it has made me realize that I probably can do better next time with my tool maintainence. That being said, the Wave is awesome and took good care of me this summer. I wouldn't be too concerned with major rusting, sorry if it seemed like I blew it out of proportion.

Matt

I would put a vote in for the Spyderco Deleca 4, the SAK Farmer or the Fallkniven U2. I just bought a U2 on ebay for $22, brand new. I was very surprised by the quality of this little knife and how sharp it was. For a grab and go it, though, I don't think you could go wrong with the SAK Farmer.

I too, want to get a Ritter mini.

Ready

I agree with the SAK suggestion. The large format Rucksack and Trekker with locking blades and saws make excellent survival knives. ~$32 depending on where you shop online.

Yup.

eBay for used SAKs

I agree, the ordinary person who doesn't use knives as much will not notice the difference. As for myself, I have owned and used Gerbers (including the Paraframe), and they just don't hold an edge long enough for me and are frustrating. Also on some cheap Walmart-bought Paraframe-style models the blades were way to thick. The supposedly-great LST II never held an edge worth a hoot. I gave them all away to friends who don't use knives as much and they work fine for them though.

I just look at edge holding as not only important for someone who uses knives alot but also especially important for someone in a survival situation that can't or doesn't have the means to sharpen a blade, due to unforeseen circumstances. I guess it can be done, but I would rather have an edge that held longer in a survival circumstance than try to sharpen my blade with my one unbroken arm, for example.

For lower cost knives, I have found that Buck knives hold the best edge for me. I do not however, have any experience with the newer "Made in China" Buck Knives. So I would recommend a lower cost robust Buck folding model made in the USA. I would stick to a drop point blade if possible though. The overall utility and strength of the blade is increased and the likelyhood of the blade tip breaking off is decreased greatly.


Oh, and stay away from the el cheapo Buck Diamondback fixed blades (Made in Taiwan, I think). I tested them out of curiosity a few years ago. The tip easily broke off of the larger model when roughing out cedar, and the rubber handle peeled right off of the smaller model with a little hard use shaving some basswood. Yeah, I know, I'm rough on knives.

Thanks Matt,

I appreciate the thorough response! I could be a little less lax in the oiling department as well. And I wholeheartedly agree with you on the wise use of $65. I'm saving my pennies for the new TTi when it's released too. My New Wave has been used for so many jobs it's just amazing really, and I can't wait to drop some of the weight when I go to Titanium.

Anyway, you answered all of my questions better than I could have asked and even answered a couple of my followup ones in before I could ask them. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'm going to put a little dab of oil on my Wave joints right now (but I'm rarely near water with it - so I haven't seen any rusting yet). And your own comments made me realize that I could step up the maintenance of my tools. Maybe make a regularly thing out of it (on top of when I really get it messed up and have to clean it on the spot).

-Tom