Beginners Folder

[TangoDown]

I'll post my usual recommendations for inexpensive EDC folders:

• Kershaw Skyline - $35 (USD) : US made, good Sandvik steel, nice the blade shape, G-10 handles, liner lock, hollow ground blade, bead blasted finish, 2 position clip for right handed tip up or tip down carry, phosphor bronze washers, light weight, smooth and fast flipper w/ thumbstuds also (non-AO)
  
• Spyderco Tenacious - $30-35 (USD) : Chinese made, high quality, high value, very good fit & finish, decent steel, G-10, handles, liner lock, 4 position clip for tip up/down/left/right carry, phosphor bronze washers, fast & smooth deployment, open construction, full-flat grind, Spyder Hole (non-AO), great thumb jimping
  
• Buck Vantage Pro - $40-45 (USD) : US made, S30V "premium" steel, G-10 handles, liner lock, very high value considering the Paul Bos treated S30V premium steel, great clip design that rides very low in pocket, hollow ground blade, 2 position clip for left or right tip up carry, open construction, flipper and thumbslot (non-AO), no jimping
  
• Kershaw Leek - $35-50+ (USD) depending on steel and handle options : US made, steel handles, frame lock, good Sandvik steel (other steel choices include S30V, ZDP-189/Sandvik composite blade), hollow grind blade 2 position clip for right hand tip up or tip down, thumbstud and flipper w/ AO
  
• Spyderco Native - $50 (USD) and up : US made, great S30V steel (other steel options available), FRN handles, linerless, pinned construction on the cheaper models, spear/leaf shaped hollow ground blade, 2 position clip for right or left handed tip up carry, light weight, linerless Spyder Hole (non-AO), great thumb jimping
  

All are 3 - 3 1/2". All are in my EDC rotation. The Buck Vantage Pro has a lot of "bang for the buck" with its material choices. The Skyline is my favorite and gets the most carry.

[jzmtl]

• Buck Vantage Pro - $40-45 (USD) : US made, S30V "premium" steel, G-10 handles, liner lock, very high value considering the Paul Bos treated S30V premium steel, great clip design that rides very low in pocket, hollow ground blade, 2 position clip
  

Vantage pro has gone up in price quite a bit unfortunately. One of my most frequented dealer in u.s. just raised price to $60.

[ASH]

Sanremu 710, is a new "poor people sebenza", cheap, but the quality really good. Use the same steel like the Byrd.