That's a first. But just as spendy as a Case or US Buck.
I have a Camillus sailor's knife (sheepsfoot blade on one end and a marlinspike on the other). I love the knife to pieces, and the blade is fine, but the backspring for the marlinspike broke after about a year, so the marlinspike tends to flop around a bit.
I'd still buy another to replace it if the need ever arose.
Here's a video from the Knife Center about sub-$50 USA-made knives:
It's from 2021, so the prices may not still be sub-$50 (thanks, Brandon).
Funny you mention Case and Buck--they each had two knives in the Knife Center sub-$50 video linked above. But, yeah, US-made ain't cheap these days.
Don't be so hasty in judging stainless steel; not all stainless steels are created equal, and blade metallurgy has advanced a heck of a lot in the last 25 years. There's a reason you see a lot of stainless steels in knives in the mid- to higher-end mass production and custom knives these days, and it's not because they're cheap steels.
I'm not just wanting an American made folder. I'm wanting a canoe, specifically. I just wanted to know which brand is better...if there is a better brand, that is.
Maybe I should just stick with Victorinox. They don't offer a canoe style, but they do everything you could ever ask of a traditional type of folder, and then some.
Yes, back in the day, my uncle was a Buck stocking dealer that went hardware store to hardware store replacing the knives they sold, so consequently everyone in my family carried Buck knives.
I have most everything from tooth pick models I call my Sunday go to meeting folder to a Buck special fixed blade that has unzipped 10 elk and hundreds of deer.
The steel was 440C stainless that for some reason would not hold an edge no matter if it was used or not just sittin the pocket or sheath. All of their knives using that stainless had the same issue and was well known resulting in the diminishing reputation of that brand.
Buck changed the alloy they use now that has eliminated that issue. Have no idea where they are manufactured now.
All my fixed blades currently are @mike miller knives of this forum or @Dave Mckrosky knives out of Stillwater.
My folders are always Damascus from Boker or a CIVIVI.
The CIVIVI have some amazing steel that really retains hardness. Hard to sharpen because of that but worth the effort. I cut some wire reinforced electrical cable yesterday lengthwise and it’s still shaving sharp.
You can get Case folders in stainless for under $50. There aren't a bunch of them, but they are available.
Case Yellow Handle (the ones marked CV are Chome-Vanadium, and SS are stainless)
Case Work Series
IIRC, Magnacut is the new hotness in stainless steel that's supposed to hit the magic trifecta of stainlessness, edge retention, and toughness. I don't think you'll find it in sub-$100 knives yet, though.
I haven’t heard of that alloy but if it’s harder than the CIVIVI, it’s going to take some special sharpening.
Also wonder how brittle it might be with it that hard?
Yes it’s been a long time but my dad when was in the Navy on a floating dry dock to repair ships during WWII built a knife from a file using leather pump seals as a handle.
I dropped it one time on a wood fishing dock and it broke. I was pretty much heartbroken.
Metallurgy has certainly improved over the years so I’m interested in how this new alloy will work out.
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