5 Best New EDC Knives Under $50 in 2018
Jonathan Tayag
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When you're on a tight budget, it's easy to think that good EDC knives are out of reach. But it's actually entirely possible to pick up a solid everyday carry knife with the right design and craftsmanship, all without having to spend a pretty penny. In the past year or so in particular, several standout knives have been released that could change any negative preconceptions you might have about “budget” knives. In this guide, we'll round up five of our favorite knives under 50 dollars.
Best Budget Knives for EDC 2018
Kershaw Atmos
First on the list is the highly popular Kershaw Atmos, sporting a sleek design carrying all of custom knifemaker Dmitry Sinkevich's hallmarks. Its thin 3” 8Cr13MoV modified drop-point blade makes for easy slicing, while retaining a top swedge for closer detail work with the pointed tip. The KVT ball bearings in the pivot, combined with the index flipper tab on the blade, make for an easy one-handed opening. The knive's beauty extends to the combination G10 and carbon fiber handle, which affords you a firm grip while keeping everything light in your pockets at just 1.76 ounces. The handle also features a strong inset liner lock to hold the blade into in place during use. And for your convenience, the Atmos comes with a reversible tip-up deep-carry pocket clip.
Spyderco Efficient
With the Efficient, Spyderco has distilled what makes their knives a great choice for EDC down to a compact, efficient, and affordable package. It starts with the stout leaf-shaped 2.98” plain edge blade, with its full-flat grind and an easily-maintained 8Cr13MoV composition. Spyderco's hallmark eyehole in the blade makes it easy to open this manual knife, even when you're wearing gloves. You'll also appreciate the index finger choil at the base of the blade, which lets you get a forward grip on the blade for detail work. It also augments the size of the handle, letting the overall 7” length remain compact in your pockets. The handle itself features grippy G10 scaling, and a liner lock prevents the blade from collapsing during hard use. When it's time to put it away, you can carry it in any pocket using its reversible tip-up pocket clip.
Ruike P801
While they're relatively new to the EDC knife scene, Ruike continues to impress this year, especially with the release of their P801. For its low price, the value of what you get is astounding. The P801 is a minimalist frame lock flipper knife with a blade that doesn't skimp on the details. It's 3.5” long, with a drop-point shape, and it's made of quality 14C28N Sandvik stainless steel featuring excellent edge retention and impressive corrosion resistance. The stainless handle is big enough for you to get a full grip on the knife during use, and the indent combined with the flipper tab help prevent you from cutting yourself on your own knife. And with its reliable frame lock, you'll be hard-pressed trying to get the blade to collapse on you during even the roughest of use.
Steel Will Mini Intrigue
Steel Will's offerings this year have also been quite impressive, and the Mini Intrigue folding knife takes the cake. It features a thin and slender organic design that denotes the slicing and thrusting potential of this blade during use. The blade itself sports a drop-point design that has a tip more akin to a spear-point style. It's well suited for piercing tasks, but its plain edge works well for regular utility work as well. And because it's made of hardy D2 tool steel, it's going to be able to keep up with the pace and get through frequent use with ease, all while keeping a sharp edge for the next job. With its flipper opening mechanism, getting the blade in order is an easy one-handed task. The handle features a liner lock to hold the blade in place during use. And with its FRN scaling, the knife is light in your pockets, weighing in at a mere 2.19 ounces.
Buck Knives Slim 110 Folding Hunter
And if you're looking for something a bit different, maybe a bit more traditional even, Buck Knives has taken their iconic 110 folding hunter knife and given it a more modern, lightweight bent. The design itself retains what makes the original great, with its reliable 420HC 3.75” clip point blade, wholly manual nail nick opening, and ultra-safe lockback mechanism. But what has changed is the new glass-filled nylon handles, with diamond scoring for added grip. They make this venerable knife light in your pockets at just 2.8 ounces. You can pick out the color you want out of a wide variety, from traditional black to high-visibility yellow and orange if you wish. And if you have the budget for a more premium option, there's a Pro version of the Slim Folding Hunter that ups the ante on the blade with S30V stainless steel.
What's your favorite budget knife to release in the past year or so? Let us know what you've been carrying in the comments below.
Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.
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