Blade Scout

Best Folding Knives Under $100: What You Actually Get at Each Price

Under a hundred dollars the sweet spot for a folding knife is a D2 blade with a liner lock and G10 handle, which Atlas Knife Co lists from ABKT TAC in the mid-thirties. Below twenty you get 8Cr13MoV and assisted opening, fine for a glovebox or a first knife. Near the top of the budget, around ninety to a hundred, the Tenable Knives folders put a real Damascus blade in your pocket. Spend on steel and lock before handle color.

Under $20: disposable but useful

At this level the steel is usually 8Cr13MoV or unnamed stainless, and the draw is the opening mechanism. The ABKT Tac Ember Linerlock Assisted Opening folder with a 2.75 inch black oxide blade, the ABKT Tac Stiletto assisted opener at 3.5 inches and the ABKT TAC Assisted Opening Linerlock in black G10 all sit in the high teens. American Hunter's Assisted Opening Linerlock with a 3.25 inch satin blade is listed in the mid-teens, and the Albainox Vendetta slip joint with a 3 inch blade and brown wood handle is a traditional pocket knife for around twelve. These are knives to keep in a truck, a tackle box or a kitchen drawer. Expect to sharpen them often; 8Cr13MoV is easy to sharpen, which is its saving grace.

ABKT Tac Stiletto Linerlock Assisted Opening 3.5" Black
ABKT Tac Stiletto Linerlock Assisted Opening 3.5" Black
$16.99$28.99Check price →ABKT TAC Assisted Opening Linerlock Folding Knife Black G10
ABKT TAC Assisted Opening Linerlock Folding Knife Black G10
$16.99$28.99Check price →ABKT Tac Ember Linerlock Assisted Opening Folding Knife 2.75" Black Oxide
ABKT Tac Ember Linerlock Assisted Opening Folding Knife 2.75" Black Oxide
$16.99$28.99Check price →Albainox Vendetta Slip Joint Folding Knife 3" Blade Brown Wood
Albainox Vendetta Slip Joint Folding Knife 3" Blade Brown Wood
$11.95Check price →

$25 to $50: where D2 shows up

This is the bracket to shop if you want a knife that holds an edge. D2 is a tool steel that stays sharp much longer than 8Cr13MoV, at the cost of being a little harder to sharpen and a little more prone to spotting if left wet. ABKT TAC builds most of its mid-range folders around it. The Catalyst Linerlock with a 3.5 inch D2 blade comes in black, green G10, stonewash and coyote tan; the Predator at 3.75 inches in black, tan and a tanto version; the Warthog at 3.25 inches; the Night Stroke and Kambo; and the smaller Elite and AB Elite at 3 inches. All are listed between the low thirties and high forties. The Switch Linerlock is the oddball: a 4.75 inch handle with three interchangeable blades for under thirty.

Pick blade length by use. A 3 inch blade is enough for boxes, cord and food; 3.5 inches is the all-rounder; 3.75 inches starts to feel large in a front pocket.

ABKT TAC Predator Linerlock Folding Knife 3.75" D2 Black
ABKT TAC Predator Linerlock Folding Knife 3.75" D2 Black
$33.99$58.99Check price →ABKT TAC Predator Linerlock Folding Knife 3.75" D2 Tanto Black
ABKT TAC Predator Linerlock Folding Knife 3.75" D2 Tanto Black
$33.99$58.99Check price →ABKT TAC Predator Linerlock Folding Knife 3.75" D2 Tan
ABKT TAC Predator Linerlock Folding Knife 3.75" D2 Tan
$33.99$58.99Check price →ABKT TAC Warthog Linerlock Folding Knife 3.25" D2 Black
ABKT TAC Warthog Linerlock Folding Knife 3.25" D2 Black
$33.99$58.99Check price →

$50 to $70: better locks and handles

Here the blade steel often stays D2 and the money goes into the lock and the fit. The ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock and Interlace Slide Lock folders, listed in the high fifties, use a slide lock that you operate without putting a finger in the blade path, which many people prefer to a liner lock. The Siege has a 3.25 inch D2 blade in black, blue or green; the Interlace runs 3.5 inches in gray with orange or red accents. Smith's Sharpeners also lists combo folders in this range, such as the Trail Breaker Linerlock and the Edgesport Firestarter Combo, which bundle a sharpener or fire starter with the knife for campers who want one item in the pack.

ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock Folding Knife 3.25" D2 Black
ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock Folding Knife 3.25" D2 Black
$58.99Check price →ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock Folding Knife Blue D2 3.25"
ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock Folding Knife Blue D2 3.25"
$58.99Check price →ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock Folding Knife Green 3.25" D2
ABKT Tac Siege Slide Lock Folding Knife Green 3.25" D2
$58.99Check price →ABKT Tac Interlace Slide Lock Folding Knife 3.5" D2 Gray
ABKT Tac Interlace Slide Lock Folding Knife 3.5" D2 Gray
$58.99Check price →

$85 to $100: Damascus and crossbar locks

At the top of the budget the Tenable Knives line is the interesting option. The Heron Folding Knife with a 3.13 inch Damascus blade and crossbar lock is listed in the mid-eighties, and at just under a hundred there are the Entity Button Lock with a 3.5 inch Damascus blade, the Goblin L Linerlock, the Kitpu Linerlock at 2.9 inches in brown, and the Link Linerlock with a 3 inch Damascus blade and carbon fiber handle. These are pattern-welded blades, not etched, at a price that is unusual for the material. The trade-off is that Damascus needs more care than D2; wipe it dry and oil it.

Tenable Knives Entity Button Lock Folding Knife 3.5" Damascus Rose
Tenable Knives Entity Button Lock Folding Knife 3.5" Damascus Rose
$99.99$142.00Check price →Tenable Knives Link Linerlock Folding Knife Damascus 3" Carbon Fiber
Tenable Knives Link Linerlock Folding Knife Damascus 3" Carbon Fiber
$99.99$142.00Check price →Tenable Knives Kitpu Linerlock Damascus Folding Knife 2.9" Brown
Tenable Knives Kitpu Linerlock Damascus Folding Knife 2.9" Brown
$99.99$144.00Check price →Tenable Knives Heron Folding Knife 3.13" Damascus Crossbar Lock Silver
Tenable Knives Heron Folding Knife 3.13" Damascus Crossbar Lock Silver
$85.99$122.00Check price →

What to prioritize

In order: steel, lock, blade length, handle material, then color and coating. A D2 linerlock in plain black for thirty-four dollars is a better knife than an unnamed-steel assisted opener in camo for the same money. Coatings such as black oxide or stonewash are cosmetic and wear at the edge. G10 is the handle material to look for at this price; it is grippy, light and does not swell. Budget five to ten dollars for a pocket sharpener at the same time, because even D2 arrives needing a touch-up sooner or later.

ABKT TAC Kambo Linerlock Folding Knife D2 Black G10
ABKT TAC Kambo Linerlock Folding Knife D2 Black G10
$33.99$58.99Check price →ABKT TAC AB Elite Linerlock Folding Knife 3" D2 Black G10
ABKT TAC AB Elite Linerlock Folding Knife 3" D2 Black G10
$47.99Check price →Smith's Sharpeners Pocket Pal 3 1/4" Knife Sharpener w/ Carbide & Ceramic
Smith's Sharpeners Pocket Pal 3 1/4" Knife Sharpener w/ Carbide & Ceramic
$16.95Check price →Smith's Sharpeners Pocket Pal X2 Multi-Tool Sharpener w/ Whistle
Smith's Sharpeners Pocket Pal X2 Multi-Tool Sharpener w/ Whistle
$24.95Check price →

FAQ

Is D2 steel good for a folding knife?

Yes. D2 holds an edge well and is tough enough for daily use. It is semi-stainless, so keep it dry, and it takes a little longer to sharpen than 8Cr13MoV.

Assisted opening or manual?

Assisted opening uses a spring to finish the swing once you start it. It is convenient but adds parts that can fail, and some places treat it differently from a manual folder. Manual is simpler.

What is a slide lock?

A lock released by sliding a button on the handle spine or side rather than pushing a liner aside. Your fingers stay clear of the blade when closing.

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