10 Mid-Range EDC Pocket Knife Picks $50 - $100 - Late 2020
Jake picks 10 solid $50-100 budget EDC knives. These knives are from a variety of brands, which are listed alphabetically below.
Note: prices may be subject to change. Check the product page for current pricing.
Note #2: These knives won't have many Cons - as they are generally the best in this category.
A.G. Russell Gent's Folding Hunter II
Price: $75 - $145
Pros
- Great aesthetics. It has a modern-traditional look to it.
- Smoothest lockback action I have ever held.
- Nice, full bellied full flat grind drop point blade
- Deep reversible pocket clip
- Lightweight, skeletonized steel liners
- Multiple size and scale material options including a Cocobolo wood option. Good wood handles are becoming rare nowadays
Cons
- No thumbstuds makes for a slower deployment (unless you flick it from the butt end)
- Doesn't really close one-handed
A.G. Russell Sea Skorpion
Price: $59.95
Pros
- Slim, lightweight profile with skeletonized steel handles. Light but still feels sturdy
- Marlin Spike - great for untying knots and splicing line
- Great blade shape & grind, with a combo edge
- Four position pocket clip - and it comes with two pocket clips AND screws. Your choice of deep pocket clip or normal
Cons
- A water knife without a blade coating may be prone to rust.
Buck Sprint Pro
Price: $99.95
Pros
- Smooth Ball Bearing Flipper Action
- Nice hollow ground S30V steel - great steel value
- Deep pocket clip
- Ergonomic Burlap Micarta Handle
Cons
- Clip is not reversible
CRKT Bronze Crossbones
Price: $73.95
Pros
- Great ball bearing pivot action with a subtle flipper
- Unique looking design
- Thin, long blade
- Deep pocket clip
- USA Made
Cons
- Clip is not reversible, only one screw holding it in place.
Fox Core
Price: $99.95
Pros
- Great, ball bearing pivot action. Nice subtle flipper
- Big bellied flat ground N690Co blade.
- Subtle, nested skeletonized steel liners
- Reversible deep wire clip
- Very comfortable, textured handle. Very cool exploding honeycomb design by Jesper Voxnaes
Cons
- While the handle fills the handle, it also fills the pocket.
Gerber Fastball
Price: $99.95 - $104.95
Pros
- Fast Ball Bearing Pivot Action
- Nice, modified S30V Wharncliffe - great steel value
- Lightweight aluminum handles reduce the weight but still give that sturdy feeling
- USA Made
Cons
- The Ball detent requires a bit too much pressure to deploy the knife, making the action not feel quite as smooth as it should. It will wear over time and should fall into place just right.
Kershaw Leek
Price: $49.95 - $91.95
Pros
- Slim, sleek design. Doesn't take up much pocket room
- Needle pointed modified Wharncliffe Sandvik 14C28N steel blade
- Speedsafe Assisted opening with nice subtle flipper tab
- Available in a range of steels and colors (and sizes, see the Chive and the Scallion)
- USA Made
Cons
- The needle point is thin and prone to breaking - though they will replace the blade for only a $10 Fee.
- The secondary lock is not reliable long term. Keep the screw on it tight or it will slide and get cut off when closing the knife.
Kershaw Blur
Price: $65 - $94.95
Pros
- Grippy, comfortable lightweight aluminum handle. Feels sturdy
- Slicey, recurved hollow sabre grind Sandvik 14C28N Steel Blade
- Great Kershaw Speedsafe assisted deployment, with tilted thumbstuds
- USA Made
Cons
- Clip is not reversible for left-handers
Spyderco Delica 4
Price: $78 - $119
Pros
- Very comfortable, well designed, lightweight, textured handle
- Full Flat ground Japanese VG-10 stainless steel Leaf Shaped Blade
- Four position pocket clip
- Available in different colors, steels and sizes (See the Endura for larger, or the Dragonfly for smaller).
Cons
- Closing one-handed takes practice
Spyderco Para-Military 3 Lightweight
Price: $91 - $104
Pros
- Lightweight, very comfortable textured handle
- Full flat ground leaf-shaped blade with CTS-BD1N steel
- Deep reversible wireclip
- Compression lock is strong, and with some working it will allow a drop-shut action
Cons
- Compression lock may be difficult for left-handers to operate
Written 11/3/20 by Jake Broce
Other Price Cateogory Buyer Guides:
For Budget EDC Knife Picks Under $50, check out this article.
Premium Knives $100+ (not made yet)