When it comes to gear, most of the time you get what you pay for. Sometimes, you get much more. The ESEE-designed Blue Ridge Zancudo framelock folder is one of those great values in pocket knives. At around 30 bucks, it’s often been recommended by our readers as one of the best budget knives for your EDC.
The Zancudo rightfully makes for a solid EDC knife thanks to its useful blade shape, pocket-friendly design, and robust materials. At a modest 3”, its AUS-8 blade has plenty of cutting edge to be versatile enough for tactical, outdoors, and everyday applications. It deploys via dual thumbstuds and locks up with a stainless steel framelock. You won’t often find a framelock in too many knives of this class, but you’ll enjoy the extra security and slimmer profile it provides. A lightweight G10 scale graces the front of the knife, while a lanyard hole and large pocket clip on the back give you multiple carry options.
If you’re not chasing the latest and greatest blade steels or advanced deployment mechanisms and just want a good, all-around EDC blade, start here. The Zancudo’s also a thinner alternative to the popular Ontario RATII if you prefer a framelock over a liner lock. You can pick one up in one of many blade/scale color configs at the link below.
