Tested: The Best Budget EDC Knives – All Under $50

When seeking out everyday carry gear, we’re constantly forced to make compromises to get our hands on the gear that suits our tastes, functional necessities, and — of course — budget. Truly, even if you have all the money in the world to throw at your EDC loadout, you’re still going to have to make some tough decisions; budgetary restraints amongst the top considerations. We’ve handled the heavy lifting for you, testing the very best budget everyday carry pocket knives – all currently available for around $50 or less.

How We Tested

While there didn’t use to be all that money genuinely stellar knives available for half-a-bill, this reality has changed over the last decade or so, and there’s now an enormous selection of cheap blades offering remarkable levels of bang-for-your-buck. In a bid to seek out the best value-laden, budget-friendly knives, we first generated a list of qualities and characteristics that we’d use to judge each potential candidate. This included looking at areas such as blade steel, blade length, blade shape and profile, blade thickness, overall length, handle construction, locking mechanism, blade deployment, and overall design and dimensions. Letting these factors guide or search for the best affordable EDC knives, we were then able to make a shortlist of around two-dozen knives that we suspected of possibly representing some of the best-of-the-best the “cheap” knife space has to offer.

Though you can gain a decent amount of information from looking at knives online, browsing photos, and reading spec sheets, the truth is that the only way to get a comprehensive sense of how a knife feels and performs, you have to actually use it. So, we did exactly that; tracking down a sample of every knife comprising our shortlist before individually putting each one to the test. In an effort to more objectively judge each knife, we created several standardized tests that saw every blade scored in several areas after performing trials such as a paper-cutting test to judge factory sharpness, and an ergonomics test to judge the comfort of the handle. And, with these budget knives are being made for everyday carry, it probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that we carried each knife daily for several days in order to get a more complete sense of what it’s actually like to live with, use, and carry each blade day-in and day-out. 

Additionally, our hands-on testing phase would also reveal other crucial areas pertaining to the overall quality of a knife (or lack thereof), such as letting use scrutinize overall craftsmanship, build quality, and fit and finish. Once armed with the info and intel from our hands-on testing, we were then able to narrow our initial shortlist of roughly 20 blades down to a final selection of what we now believe to be the very best affordable everyday carry knives.

What Exactly Is A “Budget” EDC Knife?

Words like cheap, budget, and inexpensive can be a bit subjective. What one person considers affordable, another may see as expensive. Consequently, when we set out to deliver this guide to the best budget-friendly everyday carry knives, we kicked things off by first defining what “budget” would mean to us. With the $25 to $50 range being just about the least you can spend while still getting your hands on a solid and capable blade, we’ve opted to use the half-bill mark as our cutoff. So, for the sake of this article, when we say “affordable” or “budget-friendly” EDC knife, we’re referencing blades sold for around $50 or less.

Can You Get A Good EDC Knife For Under $50?

Generally speaking, you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to everyday carry knives. Having said that, the $25 to $50 area is just about the least you can spend while still getting a quality blade. As such, we’ve opted to limit our selections for this list of affordable knives to around the $50 mark. This is due to the fact that some pretty solid EDC knives can be produced at this price point thanks to overseas mass-production manufacturing. Additionally, the $50 price point allows for some decent yet budget-friendly materials that have no problem standing up to everyday use — such as stainless steel handles, which may not be as premium or lightweight as aluminum or titanium scales, but are no less rugged, making it a perfect go-to choice when designing an affordable everyday carry knife. The truth is, purchasing a knife for below $20 or $30 will practically guarantee extremely low quality. Collectively, this is why we’ve set the approximately $50 price limit found in this guide to affordable EDC blades. 

Opinel No.08

Best Budget Pick: For those who view knives as more of a luxury item, $50 might be approaching too-high a price point. Turns out you can actually get one of the most iconic pocket knives of all time for a fraction of that price if you pick up the Opinel No.08 Knife. Made by the same artisans in France — they’re actually a family, believe it or not — for the better part of a century, this Sandvik 12C27-steeled, beechwood-scaled knife features the famed French firm’s signature Virobloc safety ring. Like the rest of the brand’s lineup, the No.08 is also offered in carbon steel constructions.

Though it lacks the ergonomics and hand-handed-open-ability afforded by more modern designs, there’s something I really appreciate about the fact that this inexpensive knife dates all the way back to the 1890s, and has changed very little since that time — receiving only minor material updates. Due to the iconic nature of this folding knife and its immense popularity, Opinel also produces this affordable knife in an ever-increasing array of special and limited edition variants with model-exclusive blade finishes and handle materials. In addition to being a true gentleman’s knife that’s also capable of handling workhorse duties, what really makes the Opinel No.08 so special in my eyes is its fairly unbeatable value, as the thing offers some of the best bang-for-your-buck of any blade on the market.  

Higonokami Folding Knife

Best Japanese Knife: Towards the latter-end of the 19th century when the Samurai period came to an end, a great many sword-makers found themselves unable to continue their operations, prompting many to pivot their businesses and begin applying the same skills to crafting knives. One of these ex-sword-smiths was Komataro Nagao, who in 1894 in Japan’s Miki, Hyogo prefecture, introduced the world to what’s widely viewed as the most iconic Japanese pocket knife of all time, the Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami — or the “Higonokami” for short. Despite 130 years having passed since its introduction, the Higo has gone almost entirely unchanged, looking nearly identical to the original from 1894 — plus the modern version is still made in the same region in Japan where it all started. 

Constructed around a brass handle, this friction-folder features an overall length of 6.25” — 3.60” of which is comprised of its blue paper steel blade. Like the Opinel No.08, this Higonokami lacks a great many of the modern amenities found on contemporary knives — such as a locking mechanism, a one-hand-operable opening method, or a pocket clip — though manages to make up for this with its immense character and charm, as well as its rich and illustrious history. Also of note is the fact this affordable knife tips the scales at less than 1.5oz, which is extremely lightweight for a knife of this size. And, considering its stellar Japanese craftsmanship and surprisingly high-end material selection, the Higonokami also offers some pretty remarkable value — making it an obvious go-to choice to consider for anyone shopping in the budget EDC knife space. 

Ontario Knife Company RAT 2

Best Tactical Pick: If we were to pick one cheap knife that you could get for under $50 that has stood the test of time, is legendary in EDC circles, and still has plenty of life left to live, it would almost certainly be the Ontario Knife Company’s RAT II folder. From a super ergonomic shape that fits snugly in the hand whether carried normally or held in a reverse grip, this seven-inch-long folder features a three-inch AUS-8 steel blade paired with a liner-locking handle sandwiched between nylon-6 polymer scales. 

Though it no doubt lends itself extremely well to everyday carry use, a major part of what separates the second-generation OKC RAT from other folding knives on the market is its decidedly tactical design, as this is what gives it the added benefit of also being widely conducive to self-defense and tactical use. And while there are plenty of knives that fit this description, the RAT 2 is one of very few affordable tactical folders on the market that you can actually trust with your life in a CQC scenario. The action and build quality on this inexpensive knife is also surprisingly on-point, considering its price point. What’s more, because of how popular it is, OKC produces the RAT 2 in a myriad of different finishes, blade steels, and handle constructions. 

CRKT Pilar III

Best Value Pick: Designed by Jesper Voxnaes, one of the most prolific knife designers alive today, the CRKT Pilar III is a third-generation followup to one of the best budget everyday carry knives of all time. Taking its name from is the legendary fishing boat piloted and owned by iconic American author Ernest Hemingway, the gen-three Pilar sports a stout design that’s brought to life using a three-inch 8Cr13MoV blade mated to a frame-locking stainless steel handle with a G10 scale on its show side. And, due to the incredible popularity of this affordable knife, it’s not only offered in multiple variants, but it can also be optioned with a handful of available aftermarket upgrades such as titanium handle scales. 

The CRKT Pilar III has a surprisingly top-shelf feel to it. It’s blade has a beefy and robust 0.15-inch thickness, its steel frame-lock feels ridiculously sturdy and snaps into place with a satisfying sound, its back-spacer takes inspiration from aftermarket spacers, and its IKBS bearing-assisted opening action is super smooth, allowing its thumb-hole opening to easily be flicked using your middle or trigger fingers. The best way I can sum up this knife — and quite possibly the greatest compliment I can give it — is by saying that if you handed it to me and asked me to use the thing and take a guess as to what its price is, I’d have estimated an MSRP that’s maybe 4 or 5-times higher than its actual price point. 

Kershaw Cryo

Best Overall Pick: If you ever wanted proof that Rick Hinderer was one of the best knife designers of all time, just turn to the remarkable lifespan of Kershaw’s Cryo knife. Most budget-friendly knives come and go with little pomp and circumstance. Yet the Cryo has remained a fan favorite for far longer than anyone would have expected, first debuting in 2012 (the same year it won Blade Magazine’s coveted “Best Buy of the Year” Award — and remaining an incredibly strong seller ever since. Weighing in at 4.1oz and spanning 6.50” overall, the Hinderer-designed Cryo is comprised of a framelock-equipped stainless steel handle with all black hardware that’s mated to a 2.75” 8Cr13MoV blade — both of which have been decorated, finished, and fortified via matte titanium carbo-nitride coatings. 

A monumental aspect of what makes Kershaw’s Cryo such a great knife is undoubtedly its stellar design. And this design has been brought to life using an affordable yet genuinely rugged and long-lasting material selection — a recipe that ultimately allows for one of the most value-laden everyday carry knives of all time. And, while I do appreciate the fact that this cheap knife’s blade can be deployed using its flipper tab or thumb-stud setup, I don’t love the fact that it uses an assisted-opening mechanism (Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening to be more specific), though I also realize this is somewhat subjective, and that not everyone subscribes to my same position on spring-loaded openers. 

Gerber Flatiron Cleaver

Best Cleaver Design: Though the hype has somewhat died off, there are still a large number of excellent cleaver-style everyday carry knives on the market. And while they range in price from the bargain basement to the ultra-luxe, the Gerber Flatiron you see here is still one of the best around — regardless of price. From its combination stainless steel and Micarta frame lock handle to its durable D2 tool steel blade, this is a budget-friendly knife you can count on day-in and day-out and it won’t even cost you half a Benjamin — plus Gerber stands behind the thing with its generous “Gerber Guarantee” lifetime warranty.

Though I’d read the Flatiron Cleaver’s spec sheet prior to getting it in hand, I was nonetheless still surprised by just how large it is. At 8.50” overall, the thing is slightly longer than a Spyderco Para Military 2 — which is already considered to be pretty big for an EDC knife. And while this does mean the Gerber takes up a bit more space in your pocket, it also means that the Flatiron Cleaver can lend itself to hard-use tasks — an area furthered by its 3.80-inch blade’s beefy 0.15-inch thickness. On top of being big, it just has a decidedly robust feel to it when in-hand, plus the heft of the blade makes deploying it particularly satisfying. It’s also worth mentioning that Gerber offers the Flatiron Cleaver in aluminum and G10 handle versions as well as with a 7Cr17MoV blade — though some variants are priced at over the $50, albeit not by much. 

Spyderco Ambitious Lightweight

Best Workhorse Pick: Whether you’ve got a budget of $50 or $500, it’s always worth checking out the Spyderco catalog anytime you’re shopping for practically any type of blade. The Colorado company’s Ambitious Lightweight is a truly excellent affordable option that not only punches well above its weight, but it also boasts several of Spyderco’s hallmark design elements — from a stubby take on its leaf-shaped blades to its thumb-hole opener to its signature bi-directional handle texturing pattern. Measuring 5.813” overall, this affordable knife is constructed around a skeletonized full stainless steel liner with an integrated liner lock and overlying lightweight injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon scales sporting the brand’s aforementioned bi-directional handle texturing. Paired with the handle is a thumb-hole-opening 2.25” blade with a full-flat grind and 8Cr13MoV steel construction. 

While it is on the shorter end of the spectrum with its sub-six-inch length, the Ambitious still makes for a dependable little workhorse of a knife, plus it’s able to tackle the vast majority of the tasks that are more commonly left to its larger counterparts. Also, for being as small as it is, I found Spyderco’s Ambitious knife to offer surprisingly stellar ergonomics — even when carried in a reverse grip. The jimping on the thumb ramp at the base of the blade’s spine also makes it super easy to control this affordable knife when taking on finer, more delicate tasks. Additionally, the Spyderco Ambitious is another affordable blade with a level of continued popularity that’s ultimately prompted a slew of aftermarket outfits to start producing custom scales and upgrades for the knife. 

Victorinox Cadet ALOX

Best Multi-Tool: The Swiss Army Knife might be the most instantly-recognizable folding pocket tools around. And it comes in a plethora of different shapes, sizes, and formats. The SAK variant seen here — the Victorinox Cadet ALOX — comes armed with a total of nine onboard tools and functions while measuring just 3.30” when closed, making the thing a true pocketable powerhouse. And, the thing packs all of this functionality while tipping the scales at just 1.6oz. Included amenities on this SAK model include can and bottle openers, 3mm and 6mm screwdrivers, a wire-stripper, a nail file, a nail cleaner, a key ring, and a large blade. 

The Victorinox Cadet ALOX doesn’t boast any unique or hidden features, and is very much a case of what you see if what you get — though in this case that’s far from a bad thing, as what you get is a highly pocketable piece of EDC gear that punches well above its weight from a size-to-utility standpoint. While I’m personally quite fond of the unique-looking ALOX scales adorning this SAK, it is worth mentioning that there are numerous available aftermarket scales sold for the Cadet, ranging from brass to titanium to FatCarbon carbon fiber. And, while I’ve never broken or damaged any of the Swiss Army knives that I’ve owned over the years, it’s still nice knowing that Victorinox backs these knives with a lifetime warranty — the Cadet ALOX very much included. 

Case Trapper Knife

Best USA-Made Pick: For the uninitiated, Case is one of the longest-running American knife-making brands around — and they’re still going strong in 2024. As it turns out, one of their best heritage folders is also one of the brand’s most exceptional folding knives sold for under $50. We’re talking, of course, about the legendary Trapper knife you see here. Believe it or not, this classic folder was actually intended as an outdoor hunting knife — featuring two blades for dressing game — but it works just as well as a multi-purpose cutting tool in the modern age, as well. It’s also made here in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty — two pretty major rarities on knives sold at this price point. 

Tipping the scales at 2.7oz, the Case Trapper sports an unmistakably old-school design that’s identical to the original from the 1920s, however, utilizes more contemporary constructions in the form of a yellow synthetic Derlin handle with alloy bolsters, and a pair of blades forged in chrome vanadium. Using a snappy slip joint mechanism and nail nick openings, the Trapper’s pair of blades allow it to excel in a wide variety of different uses and scenarios. Another one of the Trapper’s main selling points is unquestionably its vintage charm, as Case leans into this two-blade model’s old-school nature by using a retro “CASE” badge inlay and vintage logo markings on the blade steel. 

What To Consider When Shopping

If you want to stretch your dollar as far as possible and get the absolute best bang for your buck, it’s imperative that you’re privy to the key factors one should take into account when shopping for an EDC knife for under $50 — the most important of which we’ll be touching on directly below. 

Blade Steel: A knife’s size and shape will directly determine how well it cuts and pierces, and what type of tasks it best lends itself to. The blade’s hardness, ability to be honed, and how well it retains an edge, on the other hand, are all owed directly to the type of steel used to construct the blade. At the sub-$50 price point, you won’t be coming across any S90V or M390-steeled blades, however, there are plenty of solid budget blade steels (most of which are much easier to sharpen compared to their more premium counterparts) to be found in this segment such as D2, Böhler N690, Sandvik 12C27, AUS-8, and 8Cr13MoV.

Blade Shape & Size: Knives are obviously made for cutting and piercing tasks. As such, a knife’s blade — the component that actually does the cutting and/or piercing — is of extreme importance. The length of the blade, its thickness, and the type of edge and grind it has will collectively play an enormous role in any knife’s performance characteristics. The same goes for the profile an style of the blade, whether it’s a tanto, drop point, sheepsfoot, or any other blade silhouette.

Handle Shape: A handle’s thickness and how it’s shaped also play a pretty substantial role in the overall user experience of any knife, as a handle’s ergonomics and level of grip will ultimately determine how well it lends itself to hard uses such as industrial or self-defense applications. 

Hardware & Details: While the primary components such as the blade, handle, and locking mechanism are objectively more important, it’s still worth your while to look at some of the more minor elements of a knife such as its hardware, pocket clip, or back-spacer.

Handle Material: A knife’s handle — or “scales” — are also no doubt of massive importance, as this element not only plays a major role in a knife’s outward appearance but also determines other crucial factors such as the level of grip and durability being offered. Unlike the affordable knife sector’s blade steel options, most of today’s most popular knife handle material choices are available on a knife for under $50 including G-10, Micarta, stainless steel, aluminum, and FRN. What’s more, on top of a knife’s scales, you’ll also want to review the type of underlying construction being utilized for its liner or frame. 

Locking Mechanism: A blade’s ability to lock into place when being used is owed to a knife’s locking mechanism. Just like with more expensive knives, mechanisms used in the cheap blade space include liner locks, frame locks, back locks, and button locks, just to name the most popular. It’s also worth pointing out that there are also non-locking folding knives in the EDC space — though they’re often at least of the slip-joint variety. 

Craftsmanship & Manufacturing Origin: After the type of constructions being used for the blade and handle, another area that massively differentiates today’s most accessibly-priced everyday carry knives from their costlier counterparts is undoubtedly craftsmanship and quality control. And while one may not expect this, there are actually exists a small handful of blades being sold for below the $100 mark that legitimately boast some wildly impressive levels of fit and finish, with precise tolerances and exacting quality control standards that are typically reserved for markedly more exorbitant knives or those from small boutique knife outfits.

Tested: The Best EDC Pocket Knives Under $100

Don’t want to spend a fortune on your next EDC blade but want something a little more premium than the sub-$50 segment has to offer? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best sub-$100 knives for a handpicked selection of more high-end cutting tools that still afford fantastic bang-for-your-buck.