Cheap knives: some thoughts and experiences

kirk13 · **on:** October 07, 2015, 12:49:50 PM

Over the last six months or so,I've been exploring some of the cheaper knife types out there. Rather than being mainstream patterns produced in China,they've tended to be 'folk' knives or patterns created to sell in the colonies back in the bad old days.

I've actively carried Higonokami,Douk-Douk and Mercator,and dabbled again in the dangerous field of Moras,as well as more contempary models like the Svord Peasant knive.

So,how did it go?

kirk13 · **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2015, 12:58:28 PM

Higonokami

I've written about the Higos before,and I'm super impressed with them. Built as cheap pocketknives for whittling and carving,they're friction folders,with handles made of rolled steel or brass. Prices start at about £15.

The carbon steel blade takes a wicked edge,and is held open by a thumb pad. It limits some angles of cut,but largely speaking,it makes for good ergonomics. The rolled brass models are far easier on the hand when used hard. Then again,adding a set of scales,as I did,utterly transform it in the hand!

Great little knives for not much money!

kirk13 · **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2015, 01:02:30 PM

Higos,Douk-douk and Svord

kirk13 · **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2015, 01:16:23 PM

Douk-douk

Perhaps the ultimate marmite knife. Faithful worker or dangerous,crude finger chopper?

I'd had the Douk for ages,but it had languish in my knife box. My intital feeling was that the lack of a nail nick,and the nasty snap close were,well,undesirable. Giving it a second chance,I was appalled by how badly I'd miss-judged it. Or,perhaps,my knife handling skills have improved?

Again,the carbon blade takes a great edge. The rolled steel grip is far better ergonomically than the Higo. As for the opening and closing of the blade? Well,your afforded a good grip for opening the blade. The knack of closing is to take advantage of the half stop,and to control the second movement of closure.

Oh yes,I enjoyed the Douk-douk

kirk13 · **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2015, 01:37:32 PM

Svord Mini Peasant knife

The Svord was the real standout disappointment of the group.

A friction folder,perhaps responsible for the resurgence of interest in the type,it features a long tang to keep the blade open. The handles are in plastic;nice and grippy,but not terribly well finished.

In fairness to the Svord,it would make a great camp knife,but at my work,the ergonomics caught it out. The real problem was keeping the blade open. Like the Higo,the Svord depends on the grip to keep the blade open. Unlike the Higo,the tang doesn't make a natural grip point . Either there needs to be a pad like the Higo,or the blade needs a small choil for the forefinger,which will place the heal of the Palm over the tang. As it stands,you either keep the blade well in place,but lack a good grip,or you get a good grip but but up with vertical movement of the blade. It's not dangerous,but it's not confidence inspiring!

As to the choil,why do I say it would help? Because Zoidberg has already done it to a full size Peasant

WWW · **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2015, 02:26:09 PM

Good read sir!! Thanks. Next a Tramontina Machete

kirk13 · **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2015, 02:26:22 PM

The Mercator

Designed to be sold in German colonies before WW1,the Mercator was the one that came with hype. A number of our members rate these quite highly. So how would the only lock blade in the group shape up?

Very well is this answer. The lock is solid,the ergonomics good. The blade is stainless rather than carbon,but still sharpened easily. The only major draw back is the size. The blade far exceedes the UK 3 inch limit(irrelevant due to it being locking),and while it's a really good working knife,I'd be happier if it were smaller.

The other thing to note here is finish vs cost. The rivets stand well proud of the handle,and are fairly rough. On a cheap knife,you'd expect this,but given that the cheapest I could find a K55K was £24,the Mercator isn't really cheap!

Saying that,I liked the Mercator more than modern 'tactical' folders in the same sort of price range. The Mercator did live up to,and exceed the hype.

As an incidental,I bought mine through Ray Mears Bushcraft. They don't offer Spydercos!

comis · **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2015, 03:44:23 PM

Thanks for all the write up, I do have a few that you've written, but never got around to carry them since I was only collecting them. This thread kinda motivates me to try carrying them.

kirk13 · **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2015, 03:49:04 PM

Quote from: WWW on October 07, 2015, 02:26:09 PM

Good read sir!! Thanks. Next a Tramontina Machete

Thank you! I used to have a Tramontina sheath knife back in the day. Great knife

Quote from: comis on October 07, 2015, 03:44:23 PM

Thanks for all the write up, I do have a few that you've written, but never got around to carry them since I was only collecting them. This thread kinda motivates me to try carrying them.

Try them,you might be pleasantly surprised

Zed · **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2015, 03:53:01 PM

Im a fan of the mini peasant, yes i know mine has a sparky micarta handle

but i have a leather lanyard on the flipper hole and a loop my finger through it,and hey presto and lock

sawman · **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2015, 03:59:10 PM

Great writeup kirky! I love the Higonokami and Mercator, awesome little knives

kirk13 · **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2015, 04:16:47 PM

Quote from: sawman on October 07, 2015, 03:59:10 PM

Great writeup kirky! I love the Higonokami and Mercator, awesome little knives

Cheers Steve

kirk13 · **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2015, 04:52:24 PM

Okapi

In this case,their Biltong knife. In every respect,it's cheap as cheap chips,but for all that,it's got tons of character. I've not put it to work yet,so I'll need to come back to this one...

Grathr · **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2015, 05:05:45 PM

Nice write up!
Have you considered Ciol knives? Cheap traditional portugeese knives.
http://commerciol.com/Pocket-Knives/CIOL

Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2015, 05:51:25 PM

Nice write up John

If you accept that a knife is essentially just a sharpened piece of metal with a handle, then these types of knife do the job, and do it well. For me personally, I now like a little bit more finesse from my pocket knife. I have an Opinel that doesn't get carried, even though it takes a good edge and cuts whatever I need to cut. I sent you a sheepsfoot douk douk because while that worked well, I just didn't "connect" with it.

Actually, thinking about it, that's all it is with these knives. You either connect with them or you don't.

I have an old Sheffield made lambsfoot folder with plastic handles, and that just feels right, feels "familiar" maybe. I can happily carry that knowing it will do the job no better than any of the aforementioned knives, and feel very comfortable with it. Sometimes you just have to try a knife/tool to know if you're going to get along

Talking of which, performance, cost, and quality aside. If you were going to be picking up any one of these knives and using it exclusively for a long time, which would it be, and would it be for an identifiable reason or something more intangible?

Kampfer · **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2015, 07:03:24 PM

Add Cold Steel Kudu and Eland to the mix.

kirk13 · **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2015, 10:42:37 PM

Quote from: Grathr on October 07, 2015, 05:05:45 PM

Nice write up!
Have you considered Ciol knives? Cheap traditional portugeese knives.
http://commerciol.com/Pocket-Knives/CIOL

Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

I hadn't

Quote from: Kampfer on October 07, 2015, 07:03:24 PM

Add Cold Steel Kudu and Eland to the mix.

Er,thank you but no...really,no! I've got a Kudu buried here somewhere. I'm in no rush to find it

kirk13 · **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2015, 10:47:23 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 07, 2015, 05:51:25 PM

.... I just didn't "connect" with it.

Actually, thinking about it, that's all it is with these knives. You either connect with them or you don't.

....Sometimes you just have to try a knife/tool to know if you're going to get along

Talking of which, performance, cost, and quality aside. If you were going to be picking up any one of these knives and using it exclusively for a long time, which would it be, and would it be for an identifiable reason or something more intangible?

Cheers Al,I'd been thinking out a long winded conclusion about how these were more fun,more satisfying than tacticool knives built of unobtainium,but you summed it up in one sentence.

The answer to your question is my Higonokami. Reason? I like it. It's different,it's stylish,it's easy to maintain,and...well,I really like it

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2015, 11:23:05 PM

Quote from: kirk13 on October 07, 2015, 10:47:23 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 07, 2015, 05:51:25 PM
.... I just didn't "connect" with it.

Actually, thinking about it, that's all it is with these knives. You either connect with them or you don't.

....Sometimes you just have to try a knife/tool to know if you're going to get along

Talking of which, performance, cost, and quality aside. If you were going to be picking up any one of these knives and using it exclusively for a long time, which would it be, and would it be for an identifiable reason or something more intangible?

Cheers Al,I'd been thinking out a long winded conclusion about how these were more fun,more satisfying than tacticool knives built of unobtainium,but you summed it up in one sentence.

The answer to your question is my Higonokami. Reason? I like it. It's different,it's stylish,it's easy to maintain,and...well,I really like it

That doesn't sound like me

I thought I was the one that usually came up with the long winded stuff

I had a feeling you were going to pick that one, and yes, sometimes you don't need more of a justification than "I like it"

jerseydevil · **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2015, 01:19:43 AM

Nice write up, John.

Sometimes a knife just feels right, doesn't matter where it's built, what super steel flavor of the month it has, etc. That's why I like my Barlows and TL-29's so much.

kirk13 · **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2015, 02:02:11 AM

Quote from: jerseydevil on October 08, 2015, 01:19:43 AM

Nice write up, John. Sometimes a knife just feels right, doesn't matter where it's built, what super steel flavor of the month it has, etc. That's why I like my Barlows and TL-29's so much.

Cheers Tom,I have to agree with you on the Barlows in particular

kirk13 · **Reply #21 on:** October 15, 2015, 10:07:53 AM

Quote from: kirk13 on October 07, 2015, 04:52:24 PM

Okapi

In this case,their Biltong knife. In every respect,it's cheap as cheap chips,but for all that,it's got tons of character. I've not put it to work yet,so I'll need to come back to this one...

...and we're back!

Done a 2-11 shift last night to attack an unruly stockroom. The Okapi worked a treat! A lot of what I read on them say it can be difficult to get an edge on them,but the smooth stone from my Lansky must have done the trick,because the little Biltong knife tore into the cardboard like a Spydie.

The rivit's stand proud to a mad degree! I'm tempted to tidy them up a bit,and drill a lanyard hole. We'll see how it goes...