Hey, everyone.
David C. Andersen here coming at you from the KnifeCenter, and today we’re taking
a look at the best ECD pocket knives you can get for less than $100.
Let’s check ‘em out.
Now, of course, you can daily carry just about anything, so let me lay out a few guidelines
for what we’re talking about when we say “EDC friendly.”
We’re talking about something that’s modest and unassuming, but with characteristics that
will make it a lifelong friend, just like your dad or granddad who always had that one
pocket knife on him; a knife that he could use for literally any random need that popped
up in daily life.
What we’re looking at here are the modern equivalents of those knives.
Now, those old-school jack knives and Swiss Army Knives may have been their EDC, but for
our purposes here, we’re considering blades that have one-hand opening functionality,
pocket clips for easy carrying, and feature locking mechanisms to keep the blades from
folding closed.
Not necessarily a hard-use bruiser or a fast-action tactical knife, but something for folks who
just need a pocket knife.
It needs to look good in khakis or blue jeans, and make a trip from the country to the suburbs
to the city with ease.
First up is a favorite around the KnifeCenter offices, the Kershaw Leek.
This is so popular we’ve lost count of the number of employees who have wound up with
a Leek in their collection.
Part of the appeal, first off, is how classy the base model is, and how forward-thinking
it still appears today, but also due to the sheer number of variants that have been available
with upgraded handle and/or blade materials over the years.
I myself have had several rotate through my collection, and honestly, I’ve lost count
at this point.
It’s a fantastic knife.
Part of the appeal, too, has to be the fact that this is a very affordable American-made
design.
The standard model is a fantastic executive gentleman’s knife, and it is an assisted
opener, meaning that a spring takes over after you’ve manually rotated the blade past a
certain point.
This wharncliffe-style blade cuts aggressively, and it’s just as good at breaking down cardboard
as it is opening a letter.
Now, just to get ahead of some of you in the comment section, oftentimes the Dividend gets
mentioned as a new and improved Leek, but at the budget end of the line, I like the
steel selection better on the Leek.
We get 14C28N versus 420HC on the Dividend, which is why the Leek won out.
For the budget-conscious, it’s hard to beat the Ontario RAT-2: a downsized version of
their popular RAT-1.
The blade is a versatile drop point with a full flat grind held open by a secure liner
lock.
You can get them in D2 steel, or if you want something a little more stainless, they’re
also available with AUS-8.
There are several different synthetic handle colors available, as well as different blade
finishes, but we especially love the satin blade paired with the tan handles for EDC.
The light color overall makes it unobtrusive and, dare I say it, more socially acceptable
in certain situations.
Thanks to that low price, these are good disposable knives, too.
You’re not gonna be afraid to lose it in a situation where you wouldn’t want to risk
a more expensive knife.
But you’re not giving up any quality at the same time.
It’s a well-built knife that’s gonna last for years.
Next is a newcomer, the SOG Terminus XR, which is available with a few different handle materials
and blade steels.
The Terminus XR is currently the cheapest way to get a quality-made knife equipped with
a crossbar-style lock.
SOG calls this their XR lock, and this is a great option for ambidextrous use that lets
you close the knife just as fast as you can flick it open.
This makes the Terminus XR ideal for quick cuts.
You can get out of your pocket, do what needs to be done, and have it back in place in a
flash.
And thanks to a deep-carry pocket clip, which is reversible, it can really stay out of the
way until you need it.
As far as the options go, this version comes with green G10 and a stonewashed D2 blade,
although you can also get this same version with red G10, but there’s also a carbon
fiber handled version with BDZ-1 steel.
Now for another flipper, the Kizer Vanguard Gemini.
Now, the frame lock version of the Kizer Gemini really kicked the door down in the United
States for a new influx of high-quality Chinese imported knife companies, and this G10 liner
lock version, the Vanguard Gemini, benefits from their precise engineering brought down
into our price range.
The flipping action is as crisp as anything out there, with ball bearings and a good detent
tune.
It makes it effortless and addicting to pop the blade open over and over again.
The blade is high-quality N690 stainless with a stonewashed finish.
It’s nice and broad, and a bit over three inches, and it’s about as big a blade as
we’re considering for this list, and it kind of bridges the gap between the smaller
blades here, and the bigger, more heavy duty designs out there.
You can still get a lot of work done with this knife, but it’s still a fantastic size
for easy pocket carry.
So the last few knives have been imports, but why should they have all the fun?
Here are a few American-made models to round out our list, and few brands are as famously
American as Buck Knives.
Their 112 Slim Ranger models that were released last year are the modernized smaller brother
to the classic 110 Folding Hunter.
This knife has been updated from its traditional form into a way that most of us like to use
and carry our knives today.
We’ve got dual thumb studs for easy opening with either hand, a reversible deep-carry
pocket clip for discreet carry, and it still maintains their signature lockback implementation
for security.
The 3 inch straight clip point blade is just enough, and there are a few variants to be
had.
This S30V version that you see here comes either with black G10, or green or natural
micarta.
These models take care of the high end, but they’re also available in Select versions
for the budget-conscious.
These feature their famously heat-treated 420HC stainless, and various bright nylon
handles in addition to the standard black option.
Getting to the end of our list, these next two models have bee, duking it out for the
top spot for years, so make sure to let us know what your pick is in the comments.
The first is the Benchmade Mini Griptilian, recently upgraded with S30V steel, these are
more competitive than ever.
The handle on these knives is a little on the smaller side.
In my hands it’s about a three and a half finger-length grip, but the benefit is very
pocket-friendly dimensions.
And to be honest, having previously EDC’d mini versions of the Griptilian myself for
a number of years, I never felt like I was wanting for more grip.
This length can handle just about anything you would tackle with a blade this size just
fine.
Speaking of blades, there are three standard shapes available: the drop point you see here,
as well as a sheepsfoot and a tanto profile, and you can get them with or without serrations,
coated or uncoated, and there’s even a number of different handle colors to choose from.
But at its heart is Benchmade’s signature Axis Lock.
Now, SOG’s XR lock may be the new kid on the block, but the Axis is the one that got
the crossbar lock as a genre off the ground, and Benchmade’s execution is still the standard
by which all others are compared, because they get it right.
With smooth flipping action and easy operation, these are satisfying knives and, dare I say,
they are just the right size.
So, we mentioned the rivalry, and it could be none other than a Spyderco, and there are
so many Spydercos that could be a part of this list.
Plenty of great options in the price range we’re looking at today, including the Tenacious,
and the ever popular Endura and Delica models, although I’d argue the new in-between size,
the Endela is the model to get there.
I almost gave it to the Chapparal Lightweight, which is a great model that I think might
be overlooked a bit, but in the end I had to give it to the Native 5 Lightweight with
S30V steel.
Regulars of our channel already know that I think this is one of Spyderco’s best EDC
designs of all time, regardless of the price, and that’s because it adds one key feature
over the Delica family that elevates it.
That being the full-sized finger choil here that allows you to choke up on the blade,
effectively giving you a bigger handle than its folded size would suggest.
It also sports that signature Spyderco leaf-shaped blade with a full flat grind, and Spyderco
really gets their edge geometries right.
The Native 5 is a phenomenal slicer.
This model gives you more grip length than the Benchmade Mini Grip, but not quite as
much sharpened edge, and there’s something to this method, as it allows you to tackle
some slightly bigger jobs with a more secure hold, but that tradeoff is that little bit
less of a sharpened edge.
Neither method is right or wrong, it just depends what you value more in your EDC and
what type of work you anticipate doing.
One of my favorite parts of the Native 5 is something it does share with the Delica family:
it’s a great recommendation for anyone.
It has a four-position pocket clip, an easily accessible lock back, and ambidextrous hole
for one-handed opening, anyone can carry this in any pocket in any position and open it
with any hand with no trouble whatsoever.
So what do you guys think of our list of EDC knives for under $100?
Did we leave anything out that you think deserves to be here?
Be sure to let us know in the comments, and in the meantime, to get your hands on any
of them, click the link in the description below to head over to KnifeCenter.com.
And be sure to sign up for our KnifeRewards program while you’re there, because if there’s
anything better than a new knife, it’s getting free money to spend on your next knife.
See ya next time.
I’m not even sure exactly how many, it’s… a really cool knife.
(Bedebedebedebe…)
(SOLD!)
The wharncliffe kyle…
(Kyle?) Kyle Wharncliffe.
(Kyle, don’t go to Area 51!)