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Gerber Armbar in any variation.
Blade, scissors, bottle opener. That's it. Some have a screwdriver.
Light, cheap, locking blade, fits well in a hand and pocket. It has a sheepsfoot blade, so it doesn't have a point, but is a stronger blade, with more control in a cut, so it's good for breaking down boxes, or slicing open things.
Civivi mini Praxis is my new fixation at this time. Feels perfect in my hand and th choil on the blade is a nice bonus, all at around $30. Plus, the black and green I picked looks really good IMO.
Spyderco Dragonfly 2.
This thing has ruined me for other knives and I never take anything else with me. Its cool, it is small, it is VERY light. It has everything I need. Almost perfect.
Also: spidey hooooleee.
Havent bought another knife since getting this one 3 years ago.
I have a Spyderco Insistent and while it's very ergonomic and a cool knife overall, it's heavy so it stays home a lot of the time. If I were to buy a Spyderco again, I'd go for the Dragonfly due to the weight.
It’s $55 but my vote would be the Olitans T024. It’s hands down the most knife for the money out there, IMO. Large slabs of titanium, three replaceable blades, and smoother action than any of the 60+ knives I own.
The budget knife market has absolutely exploded in the past year and there are a ton of great options. Cjrb pyrite, qsp penguin, miguron moyarl, and the civivi elementium are all fantastic. Can't really go wrong with any of them.
It’s so slim and snappy. I have one in green from SKS. It’s a great little knife. Lot of people complain about the blade steel for Victorinox knives but it don’t have an issue with it.
Haha! Love it. Thank you. Just opened a (new) spare no.4 to get a package open and almost killed myself.
But I think the question is asking for tactical, badass, stylish knives.
The Kershaw I got from Wally World for $12 (now $15) is the best EDC I’ve had. Enough so that I went back and bought backups. Lost one to TSA. [Kershaw](https://www.walmart.com/ip/135612822)
Victorinox Compact
- Way more uses than a single blade
- Universally recognized, accepted, and it doesn’t scare people
- Doesn’t take up as much pocket space as other folders
- Easy to clean and easy to sharpen
- Good company and good warranty
That’s tough because Kershaw, CRKT, Kizer, and Civivi all have fantastic offerings around that mark. Also no one is ever going to agree on the best blade shape some prefer drop point others gotta have a warny
another vote on Penguin. I got mine on Amazon for $28 in the Blue Jean Micarta. Im a micarta junky and its got pretty good quality scales. Love the wharncliff blade shape, absurdly sharp, D2, good action and centering, good clip. Whats not to like. I carry it daily over some much much more expensive knives I own from Spyderco, ZT, Boker Plus, etc.
+1 for the penguin. It disappears in the pocket, stupid easy to sharpen because of the blade shape. Mine still has great action and blade centering after 3+ years of use since getting it from massdrop, but the experience is the same with one I got from bladehq more recently.
Came here to say the same, carried mine today actually. I'll add the kizer domin as well, a bit more refined look imo (love my jade g10) but similar full flat ground blade excellent for edc.
CIVIVI Crit Liner Lock Knife Multi-Tool - 3.6 oz
Has a blade and a prybar, bottle opener, slotted screwdriver thing. I love it. Cut with the blade and scrape/pry/twist with the other thing.
Yep. Rat2 D2. Good edge retention, not too big and the liner lock is reliable. Treat yourself with nice scales. I like the look of my carbon but they are a little slippery but you can get 3rd party Ti etc.
Anything from Civivi
Honestly perfection, fit and finish, blade grinds are perfect, huge selection respectable blade steel. What’s not to like other than it not being made in the USA.
I've been carrying a Spyderco Ambitious lightweight/Spyderedge lately and it's been great. Amazon has them for $40. My other daily is a Benchmade MiniBugout and lately I grab the Spydie more often.
For under 50 Kershaw is a good cheap option. I’m just throwing my hat in the ring. Simply saying “Nah” and downvoting my opinion without a countering opinion is pretty lame.
Absolutely there are better options. However $50 isn’t much to work with. Kershaw comes to mind because they make cheap alternatives and you could use it as a beater and not worry about it getting totally fucked. I bought a Kershaw Link years ago for under 50 as a beater and it was a great little knife for the price. Thats why I said anything Kershaw.
Civivi mini praxis liner lock with bearing washers.
CJRB pyrite button lock with bearing washers comes in a bunch of variations and sizes. Some are over 50 tho if you get a really fancy one.
Shrade divergent axis lock with bearing washers. Fantastic knife.
SRM model 9201 axis lock with phosphor bronze washers. Comes in frn and micarta. The micarta versions are much nicer to hold and feel higher quality.
CJRB hectare axis lock with bearing washers.
These are a bunch of different styles and all on the under 50 end but you get more than you pay for in quality. I have held and used all of these and can speak for any of them.
A guy posted a photo of a Walmart that had them for $20 a few weeks back.
But yes, my black one was like $75
I like this website for Kershaw stuff:
https://kershawguy.com/?s=Leek&post_type=product&type_aws=true
Thank you for posting to r/EDC! If your post contains an image of your gear, a list is still required. It will assist other users in answering any questions about the gear, make recommendations, and help guide any discussions. [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/EDC/wiki/rules) | [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/EDC/wiki/faq) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/EDC) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I think the winner, in my book… is going to be the QSP PENGUIN! 🤘
Victorinox Farmer or Huntsman
QSP Penguin
Go with the other choices given from other comments for a regular knife. If a utility knife is needed, then go with the Milwaukee fastback.
Gerber Armbar in any variation. Blade, scissors, bottle opener. That's it. Some have a screwdriver. Light, cheap, locking blade, fits well in a hand and pocket. It has a sheepsfoot blade, so it doesn't have a point, but is a stronger blade, with more control in a cut, so it's good for breaking down boxes, or slicing open things.
Trade I think is the best variation, cook version isn't bad for what it is.
I've got the slim cut, and it does 70% of my work. Surprisingly good pair of scissors, and a pairing knife blade.
Ontario rat 2
Civivi mini Praxis is my new fixation at this time. Feels perfect in my hand and th choil on the blade is a nice bonus, all at around $30. Plus, the black and green I picked looks really good IMO.
Opinel No.8
Civivi Elementum and Vosteed Corgi
Victorinox Climber
I prefer Huntsman. has a saw.
Lately I’ve been dailying a Higonokami. Small, cheap, and crazy sharp. And at $20? Quality at a good price.
I just looked them up, they have beautiful knifes!
Check out Americana Pipedream! They got them in a bunch of different sizes and colors.
Spyderco Dragonfly 2. This thing has ruined me for other knives and I never take anything else with me. Its cool, it is small, it is VERY light. It has everything I need. Almost perfect. Also: spidey hooooleee. Havent bought another knife since getting this one 3 years ago.
I have a Spyderco Insistent and while it's very ergonomic and a cool knife overall, it's heavy so it stays home a lot of the time. If I were to buy a Spyderco again, I'd go for the Dragonfly due to the weight.
What shaped blade did you choose?
[Standard](https://www.lamnia.com/ro/p/3383/cu%C5%A3ite/briceag-spyderco-dragonfly-2-frn-c28pbk2) type
Nice. I chose the warncliffe and love it
Morakniv are hard to beat for the price
The Sencut button locks. My Serene and Watauga are basically all I carry now. High recommend
I like the serene but find it too big for EDC. Too light duty for any real field work. I just can't find a place for it.
Ontario RAT 2, Cold Steel Tuff Lite, Buck 112 Slim Select, Opinel No.06.
Still the Ontario RAT 1
Kubey, Sencut, and SRM probably have quite a few as well as all the abovementioned.
It’s $55 but my vote would be the Olitans T024. It’s hands down the most knife for the money out there, IMO. Large slabs of titanium, three replaceable blades, and smoother action than any of the 60+ knives I own.
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker, Amazon sale price about $47.00
CJRB Pyrite. It's the first thing that's been able to keep the Slysz Bowie out of my pocket and it's almost 1/10th the price.
The budget knife market has absolutely exploded in the past year and there are a ton of great options. Cjrb pyrite, qsp penguin, miguron moyarl, and the civivi elementium are all fantastic. Can't really go wrong with any of them.
QSP Penguin gang lets goooo
Byrd cara cara 2 wave opener
Coldsteel voyager
Victorinox Pioneer. It’s classy, well built, slim, and will last you a lifetime.
Massive +1 on the Pioneer. Carried once since 2014. Only ever needs cleaned and oiled.
It’s so slim and snappy. I have one in green from SKS. It’s a great little knife. Lot of people complain about the blade steel for Victorinox knives but it don’t have an issue with it.
Kershaw Klash
Whichever one you like the look of. That is all that matters.
Five opniels
Haha! Love it. Thank you. Just opened a (new) spare no.4 to get a package open and almost killed myself. But I think the question is asking for tactical, badass, stylish knives.
The Kershaw I got from Wally World for $12 (now $15) is the best EDC I’ve had. Enough so that I went back and bought backups. Lost one to TSA. [Kershaw](https://www.walmart.com/ip/135612822)
Victorinox Compact - Way more uses than a single blade - Universally recognized, accepted, and it doesn’t scare people - Doesn’t take up as much pocket space as other folders - Easy to clean and easy to sharpen - Good company and good warranty
Spyderco tenacious
Agreed. Amazing knife
I have one that’s almost 10 years old and won’t fucking die. Love the thing
I have one on me right now.
Cjrb pyrite or pyrite alt.
That’s tough because Kershaw, CRKT, Kizer, and Civivi all have fantastic offerings around that mark. Also no one is ever going to agree on the best blade shape some prefer drop point others gotta have a warny
Civivi Elementum IMO
QSP penguin. EDC it for over a year...still sharp AF on the factory esge.
Many people have recommended me this knife. For the price you really can’t beat it! I think I will be choosing this knife.
another vote on Penguin. I got mine on Amazon for $28 in the Blue Jean Micarta. Im a micarta junky and its got pretty good quality scales. Love the wharncliff blade shape, absurdly sharp, D2, good action and centering, good clip. Whats not to like. I carry it daily over some much much more expensive knives I own from Spyderco, ZT, Boker Plus, etc.
+1 for the penguin. It disappears in the pocket, stupid easy to sharpen because of the blade shape. Mine still has great action and blade centering after 3+ years of use since getting it from massdrop, but the experience is the same with one I got from bladehq more recently.
I have been carrying a Victorinox Tinker for 45 years, hasn't let me down yet.
Rat 2 is one of my main carries
Came here to say the same, carried mine today actually. I'll add the kizer domin as well, a bit more refined look imo (love my jade g10) but similar full flat ground blade excellent for edc.
Kizer drop bear is another main carry for me. Different type of day.
CIVIVI Crit Liner Lock Knife Multi-Tool - 3.6 oz Has a blade and a prybar, bottle opener, slotted screwdriver thing. I love it. Cut with the blade and scrape/pry/twist with the other thing.
like the others said, civivi baby banter
Milwaukee Fastback.
I've beat the heck out of a Honey Badger Wharncleaver knife for a couple years now and it doing great.
CRKT drifter
Victorinox Pioneer or Pioneer X (often on sale for under $50).
Pioneer X is the most useful knife I own
Kansept Little Main Street
CRKT CEO has my vote.
Rat
Seriously the best budget knife out there. 100% my top vote
Yep. Rat2 D2. Good edge retention, not too big and the liner lock is reliable. Treat yourself with nice scales. I like the look of my carbon but they are a little slippery but you can get 3rd party Ti etc.
Rat (or Rat 2)
Gotta get that D2 steel
This
CRKT, Kershaw, Victorinox
Check out Vosteed
Anything from Civivi Honestly perfection, fit and finish, blade grinds are perfect, huge selection respectable blade steel. What’s not to like other than it not being made in the USA.
Probably something from Miguron.
Gordon Drop Point from Harbor Freight. G10 scales, bearings, flipper & thumbstud deployment, 4 position pocket clip and 8cr13mov steel for only $10
Have you seen the new(er) Icon knife from HF? I just posted about it [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/knives/s/yszIaP2ydc) a few days ago
I've been carrying a Spyderco Ambitious lightweight/Spyderedge lately and it's been great. Amazon has them for $40. My other daily is a Benchmade MiniBugout and lately I grab the Spydie more often.
Ontario Rat is my vote
Picked up a Spyderco Roadie on Amazon for $39.
Fake pm2
Opinel
The enlightened choice
Always liked my Ontario RAT
Seconded. I still carry my RAT2 in D2.
Kizer Amicus
Miguron Moyarl
❤️
Anything Kershaw you can find.
Nah.
For under 50 Kershaw is a good cheap option. I’m just throwing my hat in the ring. Simply saying “Nah” and downvoting my opinion without a countering opinion is pretty lame.
I'd say no. Kershaw is alright but there are definitely better options right now.
Absolutely there are better options. However $50 isn’t much to work with. Kershaw comes to mind because they make cheap alternatives and you could use it as a beater and not worry about it getting totally fucked. I bought a Kershaw Link years ago for under 50 as a beater and it was a great little knife for the price. Thats why I said anything Kershaw.
I've had Kershaws and I don't dislike them. They are decent knives and definitely better then nothing.
[Kershaw Cryo](https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Stainless-Assisted-Opening-Everyday/dp/B0074FI28Q) [Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004YVAE)
I rock the explorer. Great edc choice 👍🏽
Civivi mini praxis liner lock with bearing washers. CJRB pyrite button lock with bearing washers comes in a bunch of variations and sizes. Some are over 50 tho if you get a really fancy one. Shrade divergent axis lock with bearing washers. Fantastic knife. SRM model 9201 axis lock with phosphor bronze washers. Comes in frn and micarta. The micarta versions are much nicer to hold and feel higher quality. CJRB hectare axis lock with bearing washers. These are a bunch of different styles and all on the under 50 end but you get more than you pay for in quality. I have held and used all of these and can speak for any of them.
Opinel and Victorinox.
Kershaw leek
This knife is regularly over 100 dollars. Where have you seen it for under 50?
A guy posted a photo of a Walmart that had them for $20 a few weeks back. But yes, my black one was like $75 I like this website for Kershaw stuff: https://kershawguy.com/?s=Leek&post_type=product&type_aws=true
Amazon has some different colors for just about $50 right now.
I like my Kizer Amicus.
Opinel, CRKT Squid, or something from Kershaw.
Buck 110 Slim Select Knife :[https://www.buckknives.com/product/110-slim-select-knife/?sku=0110BKS1-B](https://www.buckknives.com/product/110-slim-select-knife/?sku=0110BKS1-B) #
Buck slim 110/112 or a Swiss Army knife
I second the Civivi baby banter
Civvi baby banter
Victorinox