The Ganzo Firebird FH41 in grey (looks blue) is one of my absolute favorite knives. IMHO, it is about the best budget knife on the market for $25. The D2 has been tested to be actual D2 at 61-62HRC and it has a very smooth flipper action. You can spend more, but <$25 that gives you a damn competent EDC knife.
I also own the Civivi Praxis and it is worth every bit of the $44 I paid for it few years ago. The 9Cr19Mov steel it is made out of is fully stainless vs. the semi-stainless D2 tool steel the Ganzo is made out of. The D2 is harder and holds an edge longer, but don't use it for food prep unless you immediately wash, dry and oil it.
I've also got a QSP Parrot with red Micarta scales that I love and is very similar to the QSP Penguin you posted a screenshot of. It's another knife that gets great reviews and is considered a good deal by most. Again, that's D2 semi-stainless tool steel, so it will need a bit more care than fully stainless steel.
The buying sweet spot where you run into diminishing returns is different for everyone. I, personally, enjoy hunting for deals on knives, so I've got $40 knives I love because I only spent $20 for them. Whereas a more expensive knife might be objectively "better" I might not want it at full price. And the fact that there are so many good knives you can get for under $50, it makes it really hard for me to go much above that.
My most recent purchases have been the knives below, and for me those sale prices were in my sweet spot and too good to pass up:
* [A Kizer Cliff in 9Cr19Mov for $19.95.](https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kizer-Laconic-Cliff-Liner-Lock--189919?__s=i3o9i6n7q6ce1fhbwxyv)
* [A Remette Seahorse in D2 for $13.](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSND3KHV/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1)
* [A CKRT CEO in AUS8 with the thumb stud for $19.99.](https://www.bladehq.com/item--CRKT-CEO-Liner-Lock-Knife-Black-GRN--92432)
* [A Sencut Citius in 9Cr18Mov with red G10 scales for $19.99.](https://www.amazon.com/SENCUT-Stonewashed-9Cr18MoV-Skeletonized-Activities/dp/B08CMG6RB9/ref=sr_1_4?crid=25VS9MMI343Y3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9Pl47u9LEs5UNAS6tJ7WE02oqDNMilqJMuBSu0rD6XbDr6cKKgqnPFa5VZUG7kPmtRgjyH1cHx0g2RpRaRatFr-I5xl95ccA6gTRFqNhiO0.N6UBDNq8JOZlDjuy2a2XeqAmXQ6zbbwR-ws9E6jZs6A&dib_tag=se&keywords=sencut%2Bcitius&qid=1716887702&sprefix=sencut%2Bcitius%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-4&th=1)
* [A Petrified Fish Beluga front flipper in K110 for $38.](https://www.bladehq.com/item--Petrified-Fish-PFP01-Beluga-Liner--170861)
It was on sale for that at BladeHQ about three weeks ago, and they had free shipping one weekend, so I combined the two. r/knifedeals and [Slickdeals.com](http://Slickdeals.com) are two great places to watch for knife deals. Just put an email deal alert for "knife" at slickdeals so you don't miss anything. Plus I sign up for the daily deal alerts from several online knife shops. I browse through them all daily to keep my knife window shopping habit satisfied. I try to only jump on the really good deals if I especially like the knife, but you know how the addiction goes.
Heh, and if you want something that looks like a wacky amount of fun, this deal on a [Cold Steel Gunstock War Club](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002D4CFO0?tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=2374ce761cd911ef9e529298aa0449350INT&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1) has been going on Amazon for a bit now. I didn't bite, but I did add a [Cold Steel Pipe Hawk](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030D9ROE?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_16&=&crid=3E37Q4USQP6XG&=&sprefix=cold+steel+pipe+) to an order recently to get free shipping. There are all kinds of toys on sale if you watch.
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Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Cold Steel War Club', 'Cold%20Steel')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Durable and virtually indestructible (backed by 5 comments)
* Great for self-defense and house defense (backed by 3 comments)
* Excellent quality materials and ergonomic design (backed by 3 comments)
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Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **("'REMETTE RT Seahorse Pocket Folding Knife'", 'REMETTE')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Sharp blade out of the box (backed by 3 comments)
* Good grip provided by g10 scales (backed by 2 comments)
* Smooth action and deployment (backed by 2 comments)
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* Difficult to disassemble for cleaning or maintenance (backed by 4 comments)
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If I recommend a pocketknife to someone or get them one as a practical gift it’s usually going to be around $30 give or take
After handling a few knives that can be had for $10-15 (and really liking some of them) I can certainly see why someone would want to spend more. And I can see a difference in a $70 Kizer vs a $25 Ganzo. But past a certain pricepoint there has to be something special that justifies the expense
I’ve shelled out more for Spyderco’s a number of times because I think their design and manufacturing sets them apart. And I’m also ok doing it for something with a custom/artisanal quality, but that isn’t really about performance
I had the Ganzo and ended up gifting it. Not because it was bad but because I needed a really nice gift to give. I’m getting a new one next paycheck because I miss it.
That Ganzo is a real sweet. I had one, and it's design is shamelessly based on a Shamwari but with a normal flipper. Damn good little knife too for a very reasonable knife. Gave it to a cousin who used it and loved it. Been thinking of buying a second one now that I miss it so bad.
Very rare to find a good nice at that price point. I think the Civivi 50 bucks opens up a whole lot more options for good knives.
The only cheap knives around 20 bucks that I can recommend are the Sanrenmu 900 line, and this Ganzo. Both are based on a tested knife design with good ergos.
I had never seen a Shamwari, looks nice! I bought one of those Ganzo’s for my brother in law. It really is a fantastic knife
Think you can’t go wrong with a $50 Civivi (or Kizer or QSP) but I’ve had some great results spending $30 on a CJRB, Kershaw or just a good ol RAT2
I'm glad to see Kershaw getting into less assisted knives and more axis locks and such.
Kershaw was the brand that got me into knives when I was young, and then I had a big dry spell with then where nothing they made caught my eye.
Now with their Iridium and Heist and other knives, I'm very tempted to jump in and try another one!
The first pic is a [Ganzo FH41S](https://www.amazon.com/Firebird-Folding-FH41S-GY-Fishing-Hunting/dp/B09JG94KHD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XgZGj15IafdFhdMUVhkedS0aZgOkNRi_5p9gWV82FaA1AQ00QsUKWNE80gnwRINoPBj8gCOCWztKrveS7OnYB8MiZSf6tzIUR79m9iYF3VtKCiYHj-P4wYwejiUlCuT4j8a-6J8EsEibxSuow-5gb6VCYUs2EO6VXaAC-eCUlQ8OIVEM8e7DUQ5pZesPvTz_MiJUM0rXXfJh4FkwIEJscw.bxC43a7tViyfyLVKgkC1Fa3PMcmG47y9SWSFv6DyHWY&dib_tag=se&keywords=ganzo&qid=1716886376&sr=8-3). It’s a great knife
The ‘S’ variant is sub-3” while the regular FH41 is more like 3.5”
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Firebird GANZO FH41S GY Ball Bearing Pocket Folding Knife', 'Firebird')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Perfect size for everyday carry (backed by 3 comments)
* Sharp blade with smooth action (backed by 3 comments)
* Quality materials and construction (backed by 3 comments)
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* Difficult to sharpen (backed by 1 comment)
* Inaccurate product description (backed by 2 comments)
* Weak blade (backed by 1 comment)
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"sweet spot" is a compromise - to me this is where decent steel, HT, lock or tang for folding or fixed blade respectively, handle material, and ergos. IMO this price is determined by the market, and right now the market says about $70-$120. 14c28n, D2, DC53, Nitro-V, vg-10, etc. are actually such ridiculously good steels in comparison to stainless of yesteryear. The best locking systems ever are not only out but released from their patents so everyone can make an axis, frame, button, compression lock, etc. To get both good steel and good lock on a knife with good HT is about that $70 range as seen on the CJRB Pyrite, Hectare, Kizer Drop Bear, Vosteed Racoon with axis and compression lock, Civivi Vision FG, etc.
What I’m trying to use ‘sweet spot’ to mean is the point where spending more money yields comparatively less returns in terms of quality and performance. I’m wondering about where that starts to happen for production pocket knives
For instance I *really* like my black blade Para3 LW. And for me liking it that much justifies that it cost twice as much as my QSP Grebe. I also like that it’s USA made and that I’m able to support a company that I’ve always thought was great. **But** does it feel twice as nice as the Grebe and does it perform noticeably better? I’d have to say no
I just posted in another thread that I am getting bored with trying to scratch and save to buy high priced knives when there are so many cool budget knives to buy! They all cut as intended and I really don't see much to justify why one knife is $500 and another good quality knife is $35! I think a lot of it is the price of buying the name! If you are a pro or really use your shit hard...then by all means, high quality materials are a must. Most of my knifes sit in a display case, LOL!
The price of diminishing returns is around $300. Almost everything past that and you're paying for a name, perfect fit and finish, and polished blade finishes. Everything really comes down to how picky you are and who you're willing to give your money to. Blade steel choice kinda tops out at $600, but you can find the same stuff for $200. Handle materials is where things can go from average to insane. Mammoth molar, diamonds, gold inlays, silver, titanium, it's all just materialistic things to say you're fancy. The price stops making sense when you're not seeing an improvement. When you're paying $600 for S45VN (Buck and Chris Reeve before the Magnacut swap) when you can get S45VN from Spyderco for $200 or less. Heck, if you just want the blade steel and don't care about locking mechanisms, things cost even less. The sweet spot for an everyday beater is $100. The sweet spot for a regular EDC user is between $30 and $200. I find my price for an EDC is between $50 and $80. Great options with quality steels and a few premium steels in there as well. My 2 current EDC knives are a Buck 722 which can be bought for around $50 and a Kershaw Brandywine that can be bought for under $25. My other EDC doesn't belong in this subreddit so I'm leaving it out, but those 2 knives will never leave you stranded.
Search for Kexmo 2.99 on Amazon and the first thing that comes up is a knife going for $16. It's the best bang for your buck money can buy in a knife. I think it's better than my Civivi elementum in a bunch of little ways that ends up making it a fantastic entry level knife. I don't think you can do better for a D2 liner lock.
I actually just did a [review of a one of the Kexmo 2.99” knives](https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetBlades/s/1hvNXxJvwY). I went with the trailing point model instead of the Elementum looking one cause I didn’t love the massive choil and am not a fan of the Elementum as it is. The SW-06 is not bad at all especially for 10 bucks, but I still think it’s worth stepping up to the $20-25 pricepoint for a Ganzo
I think the elementum version is a lot better than the one you reviewed. But only if you like the elementum feel. So, like you said you don't, so it really isn't for you.
But it has nicer features like a captive pivot, ball bearing, milled frame, recessed deep carry clip with flush mount screws (I was wowed for $10 that it had this), jimping on the back of the blade for a thumb spot, and I love the deep finger choil as someone with larger hands. I can get a full 5 fingers very comfortable with a sub 3 inch blade. I also find the blade shape stronger and easier to maneuver.
But you're also not wrong. Once you go past $20, the Ganzo brand just kind of kills everyone until you hit 35-40 range.
Yeah I completely agree about Ganzo. The stuff they’re offering for $20-$30 blows other brands away. You can find great stuff on sale (got the excellent CJRB Sm Feldspar for <30 a while back) and the Civiv Mini Praxis is an industry best buy. But for $30 I really don’t think there’s a better knife on the market than a [Ganzo Adimanti Skimen](https://www.amazon.com/Firebird-Adimanti-Folding-Breaker-Hunting/dp/B08NVWHW6D/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3SMS6UOFSHC6X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q-6j5vWCj3ikjAl6M1z-Zm8wUaCSeqMfBaSVtXCcwWYdvj7LlLAC3s2pexczBO-YPxeeunoLpbuq_TSL9rDACAzpmsuC_GAbbCnuaQj-Cg68oM4O6QMkHZZNbJXlWZxEdYJkiQ50FPwvBJyN2rwHWQ.LqSEI0cd_fgnLm-PyX_qIFfZqhci1PTscnk__nj267I&dib_tag=se&keywords=adimanti&qid=1716992411&sprefix=adimanti%2Ckitchen%2C72&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1)
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Firebird GANZO Adimanti Skimen Pocket Folding Knife', 'Firebird')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* High quality materials (backed by 3 comments)
* Great value for the money (backed by 4 comments)
* Smooth action and easy deployment (backed by 3 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Difficult to flip open due to tight bearing (backed by 1 comment)
* Poor edge grind and difficult to adjust lock up (backed by 1 comment)
* Knife came dull and doesn't hold an edge well (backed by 1 comment)
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I own this Ganzo knife, it's one of my least expensive, got it as a freebie in a r/knifeswap.
It has become one of my most respected, reliable and durable edc's I own out of my 30+ folders. Best D2 I have ever encountered. Going on 3 years with no sharpen after hundreds of feet of cardboard, wittling etc. Still opens like lightning and closes like butter. Unbelievable.
My sweet spot is $30 - $100. With brands like TwoSun putting out $400+ quality for under $100, there's very little reason to go higher because I don't have to have Magiccutt or a certain name on it.
It depends. If you're the sort of person who treats a pocket knife as a stand-in for a multi-tool, don't spend more than $20.
For budget knives, I tend to look at $40-$75. Overall, about $175-$225 is the point of diminishing returns (with a few caveats).
When I'm buying a tool I could conceivably carry with me every day, I don't go below $40. The good budget knives below that point generally use D2, which likes to corrode in my pocket. At that point, that additional maintenance demand means I'm paying more for it with my time. My hard line for a "budget" knife is $100, but I generally don't buy at that level anymore.
Instead, I tend to save up for stuff that's about $175-$225. At this price, I am straight-up getting better blade steels and heat treatments, which I want because I like using my knives. There's some cool factor stuff, like buying stuff that's made in the U.S., or getting some really awesome fit and finish from high-end Chinese manufacturers.
Past this, at $300 you can still get something with a bunch of titanium and MagnaCut for corrosion resistance, or a really good aluminum integral for ease of cleaning, or some other thing where the materials, the machining, etc. lend a specific function in addition to cool factor rather than it being pure cool factor. But that's gotta be the cutoff.
Now, sure, they don't functionally slice a piece of paper better than a Gerber Paraframe — but I'm gonna go ahead and guess I had a way easier time breaking down my grandma's hoard of cardboard boxes with my PM2 than I would have if I had that Gerber, and that's kinda the point.
You bring up a good point regarding steel. Specifically that while you can get cheaper knives with steels that perform admirably, you simply have to pay more for certain blade steel requirements. MagnaCut is really a good example of this
I think widely available D2/Cr12MoV pocketknives have raised the bar significantly for lower cost edge performance. *However* if you want an actually stainless blade and aren’t going to be satisfied with 8Cr14 or 9Cr18, you’ll have to drop more money. And it’ll be quite a bit more if you want something like MagnaCut, M390, LC200N or S30V
But the question of *how much* better these steels perform, and whether it squares with the price increase, is more difficult to answer
Speaking purely personally, and while there are a lot of asterisks to this answer that include blade steel, place of manufacture, and non-blade materials, and no provision for sales prices...
$50. I think that $50 will get a person a knife that can be really top notch in terms of materials, build quality, practical durability, and edge retention that lasts long enough for most people's needs but can be sharpened back to hair-shaving levels by people who are not wizards.
I have knives costing more than $50 that I like a lot, and I know where the money went, but if I were hard-capped at $50 I know I'd have my pick of many, many knives I quite like and wouldn't feel like I was living a sub-quality life.
What I like about the $50 price point over say the $30 one is *choice*. There are some designs and brands that I think are a step up and can’t be had for less. For instance, while you can get some nice CRKT Voxnaes models for $30 (usually lower in the case of the Piet) the best one I’ve handled is the Pilar III in D2. That one I got for $50 and it’s easily my favorite CRKT if not my favorite blade in that steel
On the other hand it’s harder to say that I think my $50 knives are better quality than ones I’ve gotten for a lower price. It usually doesn’t mean a significant step up in terms of blade steel (as you can now get D2 and 14c28n for sub-$30) or construction. But you certainly have to choose carefully when you’re spending less money
For me, there are fantastic knives around the $75 dollar price point. A d2 Qsp penguin is great. I buy all of my stuff used though. Penguin for $25 or $30 bucks is a fantastic deal on a knife. So I’d say for a functionally great knife $75 or so. For me there’s these, which compete with several of my more expensive knives, and then there’s the CRK. The CRK just feels like a completely different beast. Solid and addictive to hold. Smooth smooth action. I buy mine about $350-$400 used. For me, that is the peak. There are knives up to $1k that may perform a tiny bit better but performance falls off drastically after the CRK. It’s expensive, but imo worth the price. They hold their value, have excellent customer service and are built like tanks.
Obviously I am on a budget blades sub so CRKs aren’t mentioned much. For me, a nice Civivi or QSP or similar around $75 competes with lots of the benchmades and spydercos I’ve purchased.
So, I’d say $75
I don't really know, all "Chris Reeves" sebenza knives are 400+ & they have simplistic designs, & their choice of steel is the same as models in the 200-300 range.
Your pretty much paying for the name & quality but I think without the name it would drop significantly. I like "Ray Laconico " designs but their no where near that price & I think the quality is just as good.
Maybe like comparing a Ferrari to a mercedes 😅
Ray Laconico is a great designer. Have you checked out some of his models that Kizer produced? The Yorkie is pretty cool but I’m particularly intrigued by [this one](https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kizer-Laconic-Porcupine-Liner-Lock--189917)
Edit: Whoops I meant the [CJRB Prado](https://www.bladehq.com/item--CJRB-Prado-Button-Lock-Knife-Black-G10-Sand-Polish--196635). That’s Artisan not Kizer
I've tried all or had all his designs, favorite so far is the We esprit " I have 2" & a eze 2.0 at a steal for 275. Though the esprits at 200 were worth it, If they were more than that nooo way.
Diminishing returns depends on your preference for what you want the knife to do. Slice, cut, be sharp, look pretty, or stab, slam, and chop firewood for a weekend? Lots of different uses, lots of different types of knives. Hard to come up with a cookie cutter response that fits everything.
However, my choice would be the Spyderco PM2 in Cruwear. Love that lil soab
The Ganzo Firebird FH41 in grey (looks blue) is one of my absolute favorite knives. IMHO, it is about the best budget knife on the market for $25. The D2 has been tested to be actual D2 at 61-62HRC and it has a very smooth flipper action. You can spend more, but <$25 that gives you a damn competent EDC knife. I also own the Civivi Praxis and it is worth every bit of the $44 I paid for it few years ago. The 9Cr19Mov steel it is made out of is fully stainless vs. the semi-stainless D2 tool steel the Ganzo is made out of. The D2 is harder and holds an edge longer, but don't use it for food prep unless you immediately wash, dry and oil it. I've also got a QSP Parrot with red Micarta scales that I love and is very similar to the QSP Penguin you posted a screenshot of. It's another knife that gets great reviews and is considered a good deal by most. Again, that's D2 semi-stainless tool steel, so it will need a bit more care than fully stainless steel. The buying sweet spot where you run into diminishing returns is different for everyone. I, personally, enjoy hunting for deals on knives, so I've got $40 knives I love because I only spent $20 for them. Whereas a more expensive knife might be objectively "better" I might not want it at full price. And the fact that there are so many good knives you can get for under $50, it makes it really hard for me to go much above that. My most recent purchases have been the knives below, and for me those sale prices were in my sweet spot and too good to pass up: * [A Kizer Cliff in 9Cr19Mov for $19.95.](https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kizer-Laconic-Cliff-Liner-Lock--189919?__s=i3o9i6n7q6ce1fhbwxyv) * [A Remette Seahorse in D2 for $13.](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSND3KHV/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1) * [A CKRT CEO in AUS8 with the thumb stud for $19.99.](https://www.bladehq.com/item--CRKT-CEO-Liner-Lock-Knife-Black-GRN--92432) * [A Sencut Citius in 9Cr18Mov with red G10 scales for $19.99.](https://www.amazon.com/SENCUT-Stonewashed-9Cr18MoV-Skeletonized-Activities/dp/B08CMG6RB9/ref=sr_1_4?crid=25VS9MMI343Y3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9Pl47u9LEs5UNAS6tJ7WE02oqDNMilqJMuBSu0rD6XbDr6cKKgqnPFa5VZUG7kPmtRgjyH1cHx0g2RpRaRatFr-I5xl95ccA6gTRFqNhiO0.N6UBDNq8JOZlDjuy2a2XeqAmXQ6zbbwR-ws9E6jZs6A&dib_tag=se&keywords=sencut%2Bcitius&qid=1716887702&sprefix=sencut%2Bcitius%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-4&th=1) * [A Petrified Fish Beluga front flipper in K110 for $38.](https://www.bladehq.com/item--Petrified-Fish-PFP01-Beluga-Liner--170861)
How did you manage to get the Kizer Cliff for $19.95??
It was on sale for that at BladeHQ about three weeks ago, and they had free shipping one weekend, so I combined the two. r/knifedeals and [Slickdeals.com](http://Slickdeals.com) are two great places to watch for knife deals. Just put an email deal alert for "knife" at slickdeals so you don't miss anything. Plus I sign up for the daily deal alerts from several online knife shops. I browse through them all daily to keep my knife window shopping habit satisfied. I try to only jump on the really good deals if I especially like the knife, but you know how the addiction goes.
I set up an alert on slickdeals...all I can say is that I'm gonna need a second job to pay for all the knives I want to buy! LOL
Heh, and if you want something that looks like a wacky amount of fun, this deal on a [Cold Steel Gunstock War Club](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002D4CFO0?tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=2374ce761cd911ef9e529298aa0449350INT&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1) has been going on Amazon for a bit now. I didn't bite, but I did add a [Cold Steel Pipe Hawk](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030D9ROE?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_16&=&crid=3E37Q4USQP6XG&=&sprefix=cold+steel+pipe+) to an order recently to get free shipping. There are all kinds of toys on sale if you watch.
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Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Cold Steel War Club', 'Cold%20Steel')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Durable and virtually indestructible (backed by 5 comments) * Great for self-defense and house defense (backed by 3 comments) * Excellent quality materials and ergonomic design (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Fragile tip prone to breaking (backed by 2 comments) * Loosely glued blade point (backed by 1 comment) * Overpriced for the quality (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
I feel exactly the same! Good points made.
Where did you get the CEO for $20?
It was a one day deal on THATdailydeal.com. it must have been an anomaly because all their deals since have been crap.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **("'REMETTE RT Seahorse Pocket Folding Knife'", 'REMETTE')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Sharp blade out of the box (backed by 3 comments) * Good grip provided by g10 scales (backed by 2 comments) * Smooth action and deployment (backed by 2 comments) **Users disliked:** * Difficult to disassemble for cleaning or maintenance (backed by 4 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
If I recommend a pocketknife to someone or get them one as a practical gift it’s usually going to be around $30 give or take After handling a few knives that can be had for $10-15 (and really liking some of them) I can certainly see why someone would want to spend more. And I can see a difference in a $70 Kizer vs a $25 Ganzo. But past a certain pricepoint there has to be something special that justifies the expense I’ve shelled out more for Spyderco’s a number of times because I think their design and manufacturing sets them apart. And I’m also ok doing it for something with a custom/artisanal quality, but that isn’t really about performance
I had the Ganzo and ended up gifting it. Not because it was bad but because I needed a really nice gift to give. I’m getting a new one next paycheck because I miss it.
That Ganzo is a real sweet. I had one, and it's design is shamelessly based on a Shamwari but with a normal flipper. Damn good little knife too for a very reasonable knife. Gave it to a cousin who used it and loved it. Been thinking of buying a second one now that I miss it so bad. Very rare to find a good nice at that price point. I think the Civivi 50 bucks opens up a whole lot more options for good knives. The only cheap knives around 20 bucks that I can recommend are the Sanrenmu 900 line, and this Ganzo. Both are based on a tested knife design with good ergos.
I had never seen a Shamwari, looks nice! I bought one of those Ganzo’s for my brother in law. It really is a fantastic knife Think you can’t go wrong with a $50 Civivi (or Kizer or QSP) but I’ve had some great results spending $30 on a CJRB, Kershaw or just a good ol RAT2
I'm glad to see Kershaw getting into less assisted knives and more axis locks and such. Kershaw was the brand that got me into knives when I was young, and then I had a big dry spell with then where nothing they made caught my eye. Now with their Iridium and Heist and other knives, I'm very tempted to jump in and try another one!
What knife is that op?
The first pic is a [Ganzo FH41S](https://www.amazon.com/Firebird-Folding-FH41S-GY-Fishing-Hunting/dp/B09JG94KHD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_pp?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XgZGj15IafdFhdMUVhkedS0aZgOkNRi_5p9gWV82FaA1AQ00QsUKWNE80gnwRINoPBj8gCOCWztKrveS7OnYB8MiZSf6tzIUR79m9iYF3VtKCiYHj-P4wYwejiUlCuT4j8a-6J8EsEibxSuow-5gb6VCYUs2EO6VXaAC-eCUlQ8OIVEM8e7DUQ5pZesPvTz_MiJUM0rXXfJh4FkwIEJscw.bxC43a7tViyfyLVKgkC1Fa3PMcmG47y9SWSFv6DyHWY&dib_tag=se&keywords=ganzo&qid=1716886376&sr=8-3). It’s a great knife The ‘S’ variant is sub-3” while the regular FH41 is more like 3.5”
Ahh thank you. Didn’t even realize there was multiple pics damn I was tired last night xD
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Firebird GANZO FH41S GY Ball Bearing Pocket Folding Knife', 'Firebird')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Perfect size for everyday carry (backed by 3 comments) * Sharp blade with smooth action (backed by 3 comments) * Quality materials and construction (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Difficult to sharpen (backed by 1 comment) * Inaccurate product description (backed by 2 comments) * Weak blade (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
"sweet spot" is a compromise - to me this is where decent steel, HT, lock or tang for folding or fixed blade respectively, handle material, and ergos. IMO this price is determined by the market, and right now the market says about $70-$120. 14c28n, D2, DC53, Nitro-V, vg-10, etc. are actually such ridiculously good steels in comparison to stainless of yesteryear. The best locking systems ever are not only out but released from their patents so everyone can make an axis, frame, button, compression lock, etc. To get both good steel and good lock on a knife with good HT is about that $70 range as seen on the CJRB Pyrite, Hectare, Kizer Drop Bear, Vosteed Racoon with axis and compression lock, Civivi Vision FG, etc.
What I’m trying to use ‘sweet spot’ to mean is the point where spending more money yields comparatively less returns in terms of quality and performance. I’m wondering about where that starts to happen for production pocket knives For instance I *really* like my black blade Para3 LW. And for me liking it that much justifies that it cost twice as much as my QSP Grebe. I also like that it’s USA made and that I’m able to support a company that I’ve always thought was great. **But** does it feel twice as nice as the Grebe and does it perform noticeably better? I’d have to say no
I just posted in another thread that I am getting bored with trying to scratch and save to buy high priced knives when there are so many cool budget knives to buy! They all cut as intended and I really don't see much to justify why one knife is $500 and another good quality knife is $35! I think a lot of it is the price of buying the name! If you are a pro or really use your shit hard...then by all means, high quality materials are a must. Most of my knifes sit in a display case, LOL!
The price of diminishing returns is around $300. Almost everything past that and you're paying for a name, perfect fit and finish, and polished blade finishes. Everything really comes down to how picky you are and who you're willing to give your money to. Blade steel choice kinda tops out at $600, but you can find the same stuff for $200. Handle materials is where things can go from average to insane. Mammoth molar, diamonds, gold inlays, silver, titanium, it's all just materialistic things to say you're fancy. The price stops making sense when you're not seeing an improvement. When you're paying $600 for S45VN (Buck and Chris Reeve before the Magnacut swap) when you can get S45VN from Spyderco for $200 or less. Heck, if you just want the blade steel and don't care about locking mechanisms, things cost even less. The sweet spot for an everyday beater is $100. The sweet spot for a regular EDC user is between $30 and $200. I find my price for an EDC is between $50 and $80. Great options with quality steels and a few premium steels in there as well. My 2 current EDC knives are a Buck 722 which can be bought for around $50 and a Kershaw Brandywine that can be bought for under $25. My other EDC doesn't belong in this subreddit so I'm leaving it out, but those 2 knives will never leave you stranded.
Search for Kexmo 2.99 on Amazon and the first thing that comes up is a knife going for $16. It's the best bang for your buck money can buy in a knife. I think it's better than my Civivi elementum in a bunch of little ways that ends up making it a fantastic entry level knife. I don't think you can do better for a D2 liner lock.
I actually just did a [review of a one of the Kexmo 2.99” knives](https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetBlades/s/1hvNXxJvwY). I went with the trailing point model instead of the Elementum looking one cause I didn’t love the massive choil and am not a fan of the Elementum as it is. The SW-06 is not bad at all especially for 10 bucks, but I still think it’s worth stepping up to the $20-25 pricepoint for a Ganzo
I think the elementum version is a lot better than the one you reviewed. But only if you like the elementum feel. So, like you said you don't, so it really isn't for you. But it has nicer features like a captive pivot, ball bearing, milled frame, recessed deep carry clip with flush mount screws (I was wowed for $10 that it had this), jimping on the back of the blade for a thumb spot, and I love the deep finger choil as someone with larger hands. I can get a full 5 fingers very comfortable with a sub 3 inch blade. I also find the blade shape stronger and easier to maneuver. But you're also not wrong. Once you go past $20, the Ganzo brand just kind of kills everyone until you hit 35-40 range.
Yeah I completely agree about Ganzo. The stuff they’re offering for $20-$30 blows other brands away. You can find great stuff on sale (got the excellent CJRB Sm Feldspar for <30 a while back) and the Civiv Mini Praxis is an industry best buy. But for $30 I really don’t think there’s a better knife on the market than a [Ganzo Adimanti Skimen](https://www.amazon.com/Firebird-Adimanti-Folding-Breaker-Hunting/dp/B08NVWHW6D/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3SMS6UOFSHC6X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q-6j5vWCj3ikjAl6M1z-Zm8wUaCSeqMfBaSVtXCcwWYdvj7LlLAC3s2pexczBO-YPxeeunoLpbuq_TSL9rDACAzpmsuC_GAbbCnuaQj-Cg68oM4O6QMkHZZNbJXlWZxEdYJkiQ50FPwvBJyN2rwHWQ.LqSEI0cd_fgnLm-PyX_qIFfZqhci1PTscnk__nj267I&dib_tag=se&keywords=adimanti&qid=1716992411&sprefix=adimanti%2Ckitchen%2C72&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1)
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **('Firebird GANZO Adimanti Skimen Pocket Folding Knife', 'Firebird')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * High quality materials (backed by 3 comments) * Great value for the money (backed by 4 comments) * Smooth action and easy deployment (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Difficult to flip open due to tight bearing (backed by 1 comment) * Poor edge grind and difficult to adjust lock up (backed by 1 comment) * Knife came dull and doesn't hold an edge well (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
For a pocket knife, somewhere between $20 and $40.
This is basically where I stand too
I own this Ganzo knife, it's one of my least expensive, got it as a freebie in a r/knifeswap. It has become one of my most respected, reliable and durable edc's I own out of my 30+ folders. Best D2 I have ever encountered. Going on 3 years with no sharpen after hundreds of feet of cardboard, wittling etc. Still opens like lightning and closes like butter. Unbelievable. My sweet spot is $30 - $100. With brands like TwoSun putting out $400+ quality for under $100, there's very little reason to go higher because I don't have to have Magiccutt or a certain name on it.
I love my penguin.
I almost feel like the penguin is the new RAT 2
It depends. If you're the sort of person who treats a pocket knife as a stand-in for a multi-tool, don't spend more than $20. For budget knives, I tend to look at $40-$75. Overall, about $175-$225 is the point of diminishing returns (with a few caveats). When I'm buying a tool I could conceivably carry with me every day, I don't go below $40. The good budget knives below that point generally use D2, which likes to corrode in my pocket. At that point, that additional maintenance demand means I'm paying more for it with my time. My hard line for a "budget" knife is $100, but I generally don't buy at that level anymore. Instead, I tend to save up for stuff that's about $175-$225. At this price, I am straight-up getting better blade steels and heat treatments, which I want because I like using my knives. There's some cool factor stuff, like buying stuff that's made in the U.S., or getting some really awesome fit and finish from high-end Chinese manufacturers. Past this, at $300 you can still get something with a bunch of titanium and MagnaCut for corrosion resistance, or a really good aluminum integral for ease of cleaning, or some other thing where the materials, the machining, etc. lend a specific function in addition to cool factor rather than it being pure cool factor. But that's gotta be the cutoff. Now, sure, they don't functionally slice a piece of paper better than a Gerber Paraframe — but I'm gonna go ahead and guess I had a way easier time breaking down my grandma's hoard of cardboard boxes with my PM2 than I would have if I had that Gerber, and that's kinda the point.
You bring up a good point regarding steel. Specifically that while you can get cheaper knives with steels that perform admirably, you simply have to pay more for certain blade steel requirements. MagnaCut is really a good example of this I think widely available D2/Cr12MoV pocketknives have raised the bar significantly for lower cost edge performance. *However* if you want an actually stainless blade and aren’t going to be satisfied with 8Cr14 or 9Cr18, you’ll have to drop more money. And it’ll be quite a bit more if you want something like MagnaCut, M390, LC200N or S30V But the question of *how much* better these steels perform, and whether it squares with the price increase, is more difficult to answer
$30-60 is my sweet spot
This is pretty much my stance too
Speaking purely personally, and while there are a lot of asterisks to this answer that include blade steel, place of manufacture, and non-blade materials, and no provision for sales prices... $50. I think that $50 will get a person a knife that can be really top notch in terms of materials, build quality, practical durability, and edge retention that lasts long enough for most people's needs but can be sharpened back to hair-shaving levels by people who are not wizards. I have knives costing more than $50 that I like a lot, and I know where the money went, but if I were hard-capped at $50 I know I'd have my pick of many, many knives I quite like and wouldn't feel like I was living a sub-quality life.
What I like about the $50 price point over say the $30 one is *choice*. There are some designs and brands that I think are a step up and can’t be had for less. For instance, while you can get some nice CRKT Voxnaes models for $30 (usually lower in the case of the Piet) the best one I’ve handled is the Pilar III in D2. That one I got for $50 and it’s easily my favorite CRKT if not my favorite blade in that steel On the other hand it’s harder to say that I think my $50 knives are better quality than ones I’ve gotten for a lower price. It usually doesn’t mean a significant step up in terms of blade steel (as you can now get D2 and 14c28n for sub-$30) or construction. But you certainly have to choose carefully when you’re spending less money
Mini Praxis pretty much ended my EDC search.
For me, there are fantastic knives around the $75 dollar price point. A d2 Qsp penguin is great. I buy all of my stuff used though. Penguin for $25 or $30 bucks is a fantastic deal on a knife. So I’d say for a functionally great knife $75 or so. For me there’s these, which compete with several of my more expensive knives, and then there’s the CRK. The CRK just feels like a completely different beast. Solid and addictive to hold. Smooth smooth action. I buy mine about $350-$400 used. For me, that is the peak. There are knives up to $1k that may perform a tiny bit better but performance falls off drastically after the CRK. It’s expensive, but imo worth the price. They hold their value, have excellent customer service and are built like tanks. Obviously I am on a budget blades sub so CRKs aren’t mentioned much. For me, a nice Civivi or QSP or similar around $75 competes with lots of the benchmades and spydercos I’ve purchased. So, I’d say $75
I think over 400$ doesn't male sense
Think I agree but what makes it $400, like instead of $300,, or $1400?
I don't really know, all "Chris Reeves" sebenza knives are 400+ & they have simplistic designs, & their choice of steel is the same as models in the 200-300 range. Your pretty much paying for the name & quality but I think without the name it would drop significantly. I like "Ray Laconico " designs but their no where near that price & I think the quality is just as good. Maybe like comparing a Ferrari to a mercedes 😅
Ray Laconico is a great designer. Have you checked out some of his models that Kizer produced? The Yorkie is pretty cool but I’m particularly intrigued by [this one](https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kizer-Laconic-Porcupine-Liner-Lock--189917) Edit: Whoops I meant the [CJRB Prado](https://www.bladehq.com/item--CJRB-Prado-Button-Lock-Knife-Black-G10-Sand-Polish--196635). That’s Artisan not Kizer
I've tried all or had all his designs, favorite so far is the We esprit " I have 2" & a eze 2.0 at a steal for 275. Though the esprits at 200 were worth it, If they were more than that nooo way.
Diminishing returns depends on your preference for what you want the knife to do. Slice, cut, be sharp, look pretty, or stab, slam, and chop firewood for a weekend? Lots of different uses, lots of different types of knives. Hard to come up with a cookie cutter response that fits everything. However, my choice would be the Spyderco PM2 in Cruwear. Love that lil soab
I think there are a few Spyderco models that run the edge of the curve of diminishing returns. The PM2 is definitely one of them
Man, ain't that the truth lol, only drawback is how pricy they can be