Foo - A good sub-$50 pocket knife? Or something for a guy who likes to cook?

C'mon Siu, we know you're the authority here on the knives. What is a good knife that you can find in stores this week? I have to get something for my bro-in-law, and it's probably gonna be a good pocket knife.

He also cooks for his family, any recommendations there, folks?

For a guy who likes to cook (and a knife) in one gift......

Forchner (Victorinox) Firbrox Chef's Knife (model 40520). About $20-25. Highest rated chef's knife on America's Test Kitchen for many years running.

This would run about $60

http://images.surlatable.com/surlatable/images/en_US//local/products/detail/592915v2.jpg

For a guy who likes to cook (and a knife) in one gift......

Forchner (Victorinox) Firbrox Chef's Knife (model 40520). About $20-25. Highest rated chef's knife on America's Test Kitchen for many years running.

Too bad it's ugly. But IMHO you can't go wrong with Forchner Firbroxes.

I think Shuns are gorgeous knives, but $50 won't even get a 3.5" paring knife in their classic range!

Ball whisks are nice, but you're not in knife land any more.

EBAY has a ton of solid custom knives. You can get a good selection. I like knives, custom bowies, green rivers, trapper blades. I bet your bro-in-law will keep it forever.

as a guy who loves cooking, the best presents I have ever gotten were cooking implements. I have had people get me knives, spatulae, pots, etc. I would suggest going to a kitchen supply store and just browse. Find something weird that he would not buy for himself. Most cooks already have knives that they like (its the first purchase).

Does he bake? If so, a Silpat mat is great! (and overpriced)

For a pocket knife, get a vintage USA made Schrade off of eBay. Well-built, good steel, nostalgic, and well within your budget. My daily pocket knife is a Schrade model 50T lock-back folder, pulled off of eBay for $10 shipped. Holds a sharp edge, and is a real solid feeling workhorse from yesteryear. I use it daily.

Another, larger classic is the Buck 110 folding lock-back. Again - fish eBay for a vintage one. I've had mine since I was 16, and it is a hell of a knife.

Here's one for $25 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Buck-Folding-Knife-110-Hunter-Knive-Vintage_W0QQitemZ220524625202QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item33584abd32).

Ginsu

Get him a SlapChop and a Graty. He will love your nuts.

A Buck 110 is a classic. and it's large enough to handle bigger jobs than the average small pocketknife. A new one would be a nice gift too.


They're a bit heavy in your pocket - some people are fine with that, some aren't. It should come with a leather belt case, but again, different strokes....

Get him a SlapChop and a Graty. He will love your nuts.

I'll take $100 worth!:thumb:

You can't go wrong with a good cookbook, like this one from Momofuka Bistro in NY http://www.amazon.com/Momofuku-David-Chang/dp/030745195X/ref=tag_tdp_ptcn_edpp_url

http://www.rei.com/product/794690 should take care of the pocket knife part. The big one will do all that most of us will need, and the smaller one is good if he works in an office.
http://www.rei.com/product/794690

Spyderco Tenacious.

The flat ground blade with its shallow edge bevel will slice and dice very well. Pillar construction will make it easy to clean. 8Cr13MoV steel is very easy to sharpen, clean and maintain. Spyderco's heat-treatment is excellent, so the blade will hold a good working edge for a long while. The handle scales are made of G10 glass fibre composite that is environmentally inert and temperature stable. The unnested liners won't trap stuff inside the handle. The 3.1" blade is enough for most tasks and the blade/handle angle will lend itself to kitchen work.

Knifeworks.com has them for about $35 shipped.

A Buck 110 is a classic. and it's large enough to handle bigger jobs than the average small pocketknife. A new one would be a nice gift too.


They're a bit heavy in your pocket - some people are fine with that, some aren't. It should come with a leather belt case, but again, different strokes....

The 110 comes with a nylon belt pouch, now.

You can find Buck 110's at Wal-Mart for $30 or so.

Knifeworks.com has them for about $35 shipped.

Disregard that. Your Corner Store has them in stock again.

http://yourcornerstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16995

Boker

http://i.stpost.com/erez4/erez?src=ProductImages/1114E_99.tif&tmp=Medium&redirect=0

Not sub $50, but at $71.50, it's a hell of a deal and it's even got a Titanium blade.

Titanium is a poor blade material for anything other than submersible equipment.

It'll either be too soft at around 45 RC, which will lead to crap edge retension, or too freaking hard and brittle after heat treatment to 70+ RC, which will lead to edge chipping as material breaks off during use.

Unless you're diving, just get something with stainless or carbon steel.

I have a Boker Titanium knife set and yes, they do require care, but the edge is great, and I'm really happy with them. A good steel knife set, like Victorinox Carbon Steel also requires care, though, so this is a moot point. Fine cutlery always requires care. It's not like a $49 a set stainless steel knife set from China or elsewhere that you can just throw in a drawer. FLip side, take care of them, and you can slice raw beef so thin, it's almost transparent, and same with veggies.




Titanium is a poor blade material for anything other than submersible equipment.

It'll either be too soft at around 45 RC, which will lead to crap edge , or too freaking hard and brittle after heat treatment to 70+ RC, which will lead to edge chipping as material breaks off during use.

Unless you're diving, just get something with stainless or carbon steel.

My suggestions:
Leatherman Squirt S4
Victorinox Executive
Case Peanut
Spyderco Ladybug

Forchner Victorinox is easy to sharpen and stain resistant. Their swiss army pocket knife is good too. If he cooks, he probably has enough. what about a mora at $10 or so or puukko? pretty and very handy and sharp.

Forchner Victorinox is easy to sharpen and stain resistant. Their swiss army pocket knife is good too. If he cooks, he probably has enough. what about a mora at $10 or so or puukko? pretty and very handy and sharp.

A Frost Mora sounds good.

Since you wanted a pocket knife why don't you try the Benchmade Mini Griptilian? ("http://www.benchmade.com/products/556" ) That's the one I have (in pink!) but they do come in black, brown, green, yellow, blue, and camo. The blade is 154cm which is a high carbon steel and is resistant to corrosion, holds it's edge very well and is not hard to sharpen. Blade shape is called drop point, in which the design allows for a strong tip and a good size belly for slicing. The handles are Valox, which is a type of plastic that looks cheap but is VERY durable and can take a beating and still has a very grippy surface to avoid slippage. There is jimping on top and bottom of the scales as well as a bit in the top of the spine of the blade, adding to the grip. It has the Axis lock, a Benchmade exclusive that is the strongest lock on the market. This knife has won knife of the year in 2002 (I forgot who awarded it).

Benchmade has excellent customer service and will sharpen your knife for free as long as you own it for a $5 shipping fee. While it's there they will adjust it, clean it up and oil it all as a courtesy! And repairs that need to be made will also be taken care of before they send it back to you.

Retail is about $90, above what your limit is but if you can get away with around $67 internet shopping you will be getting him a fantasic knife. This is Benchmades most popular series, the Griptilian. Good as an all around every day knife that is not too big to be uncomfortable for carry.

The pink one is the Mini Grip. The one above it is the full size Grip with serrations.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/Flycrow/knives.jpg

Since you wanted a pocket knife why don't you try the BenchmadedMini Griptilian? ("http://www.benchmade.com/products/556" ) That's the one I have (in pink!) but they do come in black, brown, green, yellow, blue, and camo. The blade is 154cm which is a high carbon steel and is resistant to corrosion. Blade shape is called drop point, in which the design allows for a strong tip and a good size belly for slicing. The handles are Valox, which is a type of plastic that looks cheap but is VERY durable and can take a beating and still has a very grippy surface to avoid slippage. There is jimping on top and bottom of the scales as well as a bit in the top of the spine of the blade, adding to the grip. It has the Axis lock, a Benchmade exclusive that is the strongest lock on the market. This knife has won knife of the year in 2002 (I forgot who awarded it).

Retail is about $90, above what your limit is but if you can get away with around $67 internet shopping you will be getting him a fantasic knife. This is Benchmades most popular series, the Griptilian.

http://www.knifeworks.com/search.aspx?find=556

Knifeworks will always have the best prices on Benchmade stuff.

Hey thanks everybody for the great suggestions. I ended up going with the George Foreman grill. :)

Knifeworks will always have the best prices on Benchmade stuff.

True. They have awesome prices. But I try not to be a shill. :D

Hey thanks everybody for the great suggestions. I ended up going with the George Foreman grill. :)

That's not shaped like a knife AT ALL Spreggy. And he can't put it in his pocket. :notamused:


After I wrote all that up.......hmmph.

I guess I missed the boat but...I always carry a Swiss Army knife.

I guess I missed the boat but...I always carry a Swiss Army knife.

Have you seen this? Both the main blade and the large screwdriver have a liner lock.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2576/4173b6gacvlss500sc2.jpg

Wassa liner lock?

My favorites.

http://www.laguiole-france.com/index.php?lg=en&module=Rubriques&rubr=27#

A little more than 50 though. Lee Valley carries them once in a while.

My favorites.

http://www.laguiole-france.com/index.php?lg=en&module=Rubriques&rubr=27#

A little more than 50 though. Lee Valley carries them once in a while.

there are many laguiole companies - I have one of those /\ , it's the best I've seen:thumb:

Wassa liner lock?

A portion of the metal liners inside the handle butt up against the blade, holding it open.

I guess I'm late too. I always carry my Leatherman tool.

A portion of the metal liners inside the handle butt up against the blade, holding it open.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/5/15/1913438/DSC02919.jpg

Liner lock in action on a Spyderco Military, which is one of my favourite folders.

My most versatile knife is probably my Cold Steel Voyager X2. The blade should be a bit thicker and stronger, but for the 50 bucks or so it cost me, it's just about unbeatable.

Great bowie blade profile, decent rust resistant Japanese steel that holds a wicked sharp edge with regular sharpening, and the blade's over all length is 6". It's not for using as a machete, but for anything lighter, it works great. I've used mine both for cooking and as an every day carry knife. Even used it to do asbestos abatement cutting tasks a few times.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m267/Michiganderbiker/ColdSteelVoyagerX2.jpg?t=1260504845

there are many laguiole companies - I have one of those /\ , it's the best I've seen:thumb:

One of the best is here (https://www.randallknives.com/index.php). But they don't make folders, and the wait-list is 58 months - that's right, order now for Christmas 2014.

That's not shaped like a knife AT ALL Spreggy. And he can't put it in his pocket. :notamused:


After I wrote all that up.......hmmph.
Well I did specify knife or cooking, and your write-up wasn't for naught because now I'm hot for a Benchmade. Mucho thanks.

I have a Boker Trapper, which is a bit long for the pocket. What makes it a singular item is the Stanhope lens in the bone grip, with a faux-vintage nude picture inside. It's for sale if anyone is interested. :innocent:

I have a Boker Trapper, which is a bit long for the pocket.

As far as I know, the blade on a Boker Trapper isn't even 4" long. To me, it seems a bit small for the pocket.

I've just never understood why so many people have a fascination with carrying the smallest pocket knives they can find, but in the kitchen use blades so long they're almost short swords. Both seem silly to me. Better to have a compromise size knife you can do everything with.

As far as I know, the blade on a Boker Trapper isn't even 4" long. To me, it seems a bit small for the pocket.

I've just never understood why so many people have a fascination with carrying the smallest pocket knives they can find, but in the kitchen use blades so long they're almost short swords. Both seem silly to me. Better to have a compromise size knife you can do everything with.

That's like having just one bike. Are you nuts? :):)

Notice I said "compromise size". I certainly have more than one that fits that description.

Notice I said "compromise size". I certainly have more than one that fits that description.

That's better.:thumb:

Never realized the Victorinox knife was so popular:
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-8-Inch-Chefs-Fibrox-Handle/dp/B000638D32

Never realized the Victorinox knife was so popular:
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-8-Inch-Chefs-Fibrox-Handle/dp/B000638D32

I have a fixed blade Victorinox knife with a belt sheath. Never saw one for sale anywhere.

Balisong. OG.

I have a fixed blade Victorinox knife with a belt sheath. Never saw one for sale anywhere.

Neither have I. Have any pictures?

Balisong. OG.

Oh yeah. Imagine ME with a Balisong. They'd be calling me "Stubby".

My two favorite spring-assisted lockblades

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt267/mwilliams781/100_3024.jpg
Kershaw Whirlwind (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=kershaw+whirlwind+knife&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

http://www.cgwgun.com/images/products/CR1081.gif
CRKT Kommer Full Throttle (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=crkt+kommer+full+throttle+knives&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

Basic Swiss Army pocket knife, Spartan model, in black
https://www.heimerdingercutlery.com/images/vn53153_swissarmyspartanblack_cv.jpg

As far as I know, the blade on a Boker Trapper isn't even 4" long. To me, it seems a bit small for the pocket.

I've just never understood why so many people have a fascination with carrying the smallest pocket knives they can find, but in the kitchen use blades so long they're almost short swords. Both seem silly to me. Better to have a compromise size knife you can do everything with.

I'd rather have too much blade for a task than not enough.

The smallest I'll carry in my right pocket is a 3.6" bladed Chris Reeve Large Classic Sebenza. I have a SAK in my left pocket for cutting things around strangers. There's also a tiny little Spyderco Bug 1.1" slip joint blade danging from my keyring.

The 4" blade on my Spyderco Military is enough for just about everything except survival stuff. It works better as a kitchen knife than my kitchen knives do.