Subscribe / Back Issues
GOOD BUDGET KNIVES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
Not all good knives cost a mortgage payment. If you’re like us, you stash knives everywhere: in the glove compartment or center console of your vehicle, in your toolbox, in your daypack, in your tackle box, in your range bag, in your survival kit.
“…always have a knife when you need one without worrying about it getting lost, stolen, or damaged.”
Good quality budget knives at reasonable prices are great for places like these so you’ll always have a knife when you need one without worrying about it getting lost, stolen, or damaged.
Here are some choices for budget knives that won’t break the bank.
Check out the Budget knives Buyer’s Guide for 2022:
01. Victorinox Swiss Army
VICTORINOX CLASSIC SD
Overall Length: 3.68 inches
Closed Length: 2.3 inches
Blade Length: 1.38 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.039 inch
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Handle Material: ABS/Cellidor
Locking Mechanism: Slipjoint
Weight: 0.7 ounce
Origin: Switzerland
Other: Knife blade, file, flat screwdriver, scissors, toothpick, tweezers, keyring
MSRP: $16.99
2. VICTORINOX CLASSIC SD ALOX
Overall Length: 3.68 inches
Closed Length: 2.3 inches
Blade Length: 1.38 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.039 inch
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Handle Material: Alox
Locking Mechanism: Slipjoint
Weight: 0.6 ounce
Origin: Switzerland
Other: Knife blade, nail file, flat screwdriver, scissors, keyring
MSRP: $28.99
3. VICTORINOX PIONEER X ALOX
Overall Length: 6.14 inches
Closed Length: 3.66 inches
Blade Length: 2.48 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.078 inch
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Handle Material: Alox
Locking Mechanism: Slipjoint
Weight: 3.3 ounces
Origin: Switzerland
Other: Knife blade, scissors, awl, can opener, bottle opener, wire stripper, two flat screwdrivers, keyring
MSRP: $69.99
4. SPYDERCO ROADIE COYOTE, OLIVE
Overall Length: 5.08 inches
Closed Length: 2.99 inches
Blade Length: 2.09 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.112 inch
Blade Material: N690Co
Handle Material: FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon)
Locking Mechanism: Slipjoint
Weight: 1 ounce
Origin: Italy
MSRP: $80
5. GERBER FUSE
Overall Length: 8.23 inches
Closed Length: 4.86 inches
Blade Length: 3.37 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.106 inch
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Handle Material: Stainless steel with nylon insert
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 2.83 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $33
6. GERBER HIGHBROW
Overall Length: 7.9 inches
Closed Length: 4.5 inches
Blade Length: 3.4 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.0985 inch
Blade Material: 7Cr17MoV
Handle Material: Aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Sliding blade lock
Weight: 5.79 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Assisted opener with flipper
MSRP: $55
7. CRKT MINIMALIST PERSIAN
Overall Length: 5.81 inches
Blade Length: 2.76 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.13 inch
Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV
Handle Material: Micarta
Sheath Material: Polypropylene
Weight: 2 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $39.99
8. CRKT KITH
Overall Length: 6.75 inches
Closed Length: 3.78 inches
Blade Length: 2.95 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.11 inch
Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV
Handle Material: Glass-reinforced nylon
Locking Mechanism: Front lock
Weight: 2.30 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $44.99
9. BRK CHURP
Overall Length: 6.25 inches
Closed Length: 3.62 inches
Blade Length: 2.7 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.078 inch
Blade Material: D2
Handle Material: Micarta
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 2.1 ounces
Other: Designed by ESEE/Randall’s Adventure & Training
Origin: China
MSRP: $29.95
10. OUTDOOR EDGE KNIVES/TOOLS
OUTDOOR EDGE RAZORWORK
Overall Length: 7.1 inches
Closed Length: 4.1 inches
Blade Length: 3 inches
Blade Material: 420J2 stainless
Handle Material: Grivory
Locking Mechanism: Back lock
Weight: 1.9 ounces
Origin: Japan
Other: Includes three exchangeable blades: two utility, one drop point
MSRP: $30.95
11. Buck Knives
BUCK LANGFORD
Overall Length: 7.875 inches
Closed Length: 4.5 inches
Blade Length: 3.375 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.110 inches
Blade Material: 7Cr stainless
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 3.7 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Stainless steel pocket clip
MSRP: $29.99
12. Ka-Bar knives
KA-BAR/BK&T BECKER FOLDER (BK40)
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Closed Length: 5 inches
Blade Length: 3.559 inches
Thickness of Blade: 0.138 inch
Blade Material: AUS-8A stainless
Handle Material: GRN-PA66
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $53.81
A version of this article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2022 print issue of Knives Illustrated.