Bowsite.com

They are not real expensive at all and I have had great luck with them regarding durability/sharpness for general use. They have a assisted opening built in that makes it very easy to use even with 1 hand.

Give them a look.

Most of my EDC's are cheap. I've lost so many pocket knives....I now do mostly the cheapies for $8-$10. I typically ding them up pretty good doing stuff that shouldn't be done with a knife, prying, scraping, etc....and then there are the three good knives I've donated to TSA....yup cheap ones from now on.

I like Spyderco, great quality and you can choose the type of steel you want in the blade. I am tough on tools in general especially knives. I consider them work knives, and for me, I like a big single blade lock-back with a half serrated blade. I can open with one hand and not worry about the blade closing. I like the half serrated as it’s best of both worlds and nothing cuts rope or chord like a serrated blade. It also has to have a clip. That way I don’t lose it and it’s always in the same place, my inside right front pants pocket.

The Pros: The steel take a great edge and will hold an edge; comfortable carrying size.

I have skinned many deer and hogs with this knife, removed splinters, cut rope, cut limbs, etc.

If you really want to know if a knife is good - try skinning a muddy hog, then you’ll find out what kind of steel you have in a knife.

I also have a Case Sodbuster that my dad gave me. It has sentimental value, but steel is not as good. I also have several mini sized pockets knife that belonged to dad and grand dad. They all have good steel in them. They were known as “dress” pocket knives as the were carried in dress slacks and suit pants.

Find it interesting that Case Knives have been in business for 130 yrs. Guess they have knives figured out by now !!

Case’s steel, either Tru Sharp or CV, can’t be beat. I’m a sharpening stickler and I’ve found no production steel that takes and holds a better edge. They are also generally trimmer and lighter in your pocket.

Buffalo1, you can get that Trapper in a trapperlock version too, which solves the lock back issue. I have a couple. Great knives!

Exactly. This is why I carry a Havalon and a Gerber saw when hunting because those two will handle anything you need to do besides build a log cabin and they're disposable when it comes to cost.

When it comes to everyday carry, I have some very nice knives that I can't get myself to leave the house with because I'd lose them eventually. Most of them are works of art. Too expensive and beautiful to use for everyday tasks.

Last month, I had to remove a very large treble hook from a little girl's face that was casted by an older sibling while snagging herring. The medical instruments I had at my disposal were worthless - ala pounding a 12 penny nail with a screwdriver. I ended up borrowing a Leatherman and sanitizing it with Chlorhexidine. I don't think I'd have been able to remove the hook without the Leatherman.

It's not the first time I've used one. They may be heavy and bulky, but they come in really handy here and there.

I have gravitated towards the Havalon for hunting and have some Kershaws for general usage.

Has this been anyone else's experience?

Not really, but yes. All of those brands make knives that are basically entry level throw away junk all the way up to top level stuff. So yeah, if you buy their cheap stuff it's cheap stuff, but if you move up the brand you will see some good things.

Lots to choose from!

I’ve lost three of those. The first one I had I found while out hunting. I looked all over the phone book to contact Ken Onion to give it back to him. Then I realized it was the knife model. Silly me.

As far as Buck knives, some are still made in the USA and are good knives, but they’re expensive. The cheap ones are made in China and are crap. I snapped the tip off the last one I had the first time I used it. That damn knife with the missing tip is the only one I seem to not lose and I carry it often for that reason.