Best D2 Steel Pocket Knives Under $50

If you're looking for an affordable

pocket

knife with the

best

possible edge retention, it's never been a better time to be a knife fanatic. I'm David C. Andersen, I'm from KnifeCenter and these are the

best

EDC folding

knives

with D2

steel

that you can get for under $50 right now in 2019. Let's take a look. In this age of constant improvement, new

steel

s are always appearing that claim to be the latest and greatest, but it's not all about high-end products. Sometimes classic blade materials are still a phenomenal choice. One of the most interesting things that has happened in recent years is the proliferation of D2 steel at a much lower price than we used to get.

In fact, there are plenty of great options for $50 or less. Why is this so cool? Two words: edge retention. It will be hard to beat the properly heat-treated D2 when comparing it to similar low-priced, entry-level

pocket

knives

. The first one we'll look at today has been an affordable favorite for years, is the Ontario RAT 1. This knife was originally released and is still available with AUS-8 for a more stainless option; D2, of course, is a tool steel that is only semi-stainless, but since the upgrade to D2, that keeps the RAT 1 among the ranks of the best cheap pocket knives out there.

The drop point blade is 3.6” long, although a three-inch model is available with the RAT Model 2, and features a flat grind and versatile shape. The RAT 1 has long been a favorite of campers and hunting enthusiasts, it is an efficient cutter and has enough belly to function as a hunting or skinning knife. It is also a useful larger blade for EDC or any type of hard work. Part of this is due to the spacious nylon handles that are also thicker than some knives out there to provide a solid grip, and it has two full liners to back them up and give them extra strength.

Thanks to that girth, it makes it very easy to grip this knife tightly and apply pressure when you really need a powerful cut. Still, there is a nice recess section in front of the handle that you can use to make more detailed or controlled cuts. You can get the handle in the OD Green you see here, as well as black, coyote brown, desert tan, and others. To secure the blade, we have a nice liner lock for added security and we have two thumb studs to open it. Now, despite using simple washers, you can still get it to move pretty well.

One last thing that Ontario offers us with the RAT 1 that isn't seen on many knives is a four-position pocket clip. When using it, you can wear it tilted up or down on either side, which is a really nice touch. The next big D2 design is an incredible tactical knife, the Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K D2. This knife is part of a series that offers Emerson's incredible combat knife designs at an affordable price through the partnership with Kershaw. The key this gives us is the Emerson Wave opener, which is this spine hook here. It is designed to twist the blade open as you take it out of your pocket by hooking it to the hem of your pants while you draw.

Of course, it can be opened more conventionally; Here we have an ambidextrous thumb plate that works well for left or right handed users. We have a three and a quarter inch blade with a straight clip point. Makes it good for more than just combat. It is also a solid everyday knife. It comes with a two-tone finish, stonewashed hollow burrs, and a horizontal satin on the flats of the blade. As for the handles, we have stainless steel on the back with a strong frame lock and G10 on the front. It's not as aggressive of a texture on the G10 as the texture on true non-Kershaw Emersons, so it's not as much outright traction, but they'll still be kinder to your hands.

They will also be kinder to your pockets, no matter which side you carry the knife on. Since we have a nice reversible tip-up pocket clip, both the smooth stainless steel and the softer G10 won't put as much wear and tear on your pockets. Despite that, we still have plenty of grip, and that's thanks to a prominent finger groove. It really helps lock the knife into your grip, so you can tackle whatever you need to. We've seen a popular workhorse and tactical knife, so how about a capable style piece? Right now we have the CRKT Large Pilar designed by Jesper Voxnaes, with a wide sheepsfoot blade, which is almost a pocket knife.

We have a similar build with this knife to what we had on the Kershaw. We have a stainless steel frame lock, finished in black in this case, and a black G10 front scale. The nice thing about this design is that it folds up nice and small, so it doesn't take up too much space in your pocket. But it opens with the flipper tab or thumb cut into the blade, revealing the full length of the handle, and that's thanks to a full-sized finger in front of the flipper where you can place your index finger. This allows you to get a lot of work out of the two and three-eighths inches of the edge.

The blade itself has a black oxide coating, which will help prevent corrosion on the D2 steel, and the shape is ideal for powerful cuts or any type of cut as well. With the tip slanted downwards, it works very well for any type of cut and, due to its shape, the tip itself is very strong. We have a two position pocket clip, but it is set to carry on the right side only, but you have options to tilt it up or down. You can now get this knife with a stainless steel blade option in this size, as well as a smaller version, but no matter which you prefer, this sleek folder with a minimalist aesthetic is sure to turn heads.

Now, the next knives I'm going to feature come from a brand called Steel Will, and this is the Modus Mini liner locking fin; A great compact design with flowing lines and a two and three-quarter inch blade, although there is also a three and a quarter inch blade option. But the mini version is a great length for venues that have restrictive length limits, and you still get a good amount of benefits to work with. Measure just below the front end of the scale. The blade has a flat grind and a continuous curve to the edge, ideal for long, wide cuts as the edge follows the movement of the elbow, all keeping the edge nice and thin for efficient cutting.

Satin or stonewash black finishes are offered as options, as well as several different colors of FRN handles and rear spacer combinations. You get a tip-up pocket clip, which is reversible for left or right hand carry, and the knife has a mostly three-finger grip, but you can still choke a little on the fin tab and get a good gorilla grip on the knife. for heavier cuts when needed. Speaking of the fin, it runs on brass washers and the action is perfectly tuned. This goes to show that while bearings are generally considered the best way to go, you can still run a good flipper without them.

However, this next knife proves that those bearings are a good option. This is the Steel Will Tenet, a great knife for everyday use, or even as a backup tactical knife with a fantastic twist action. The black coated blade has a fairly long, straight clip point. I love how far back it reaches along the spine. It gives us a good point, but still has enough belly to be versatile for all kinds of tasks, and it also has that high, flat edge and a thin edge for excellent cutting, like the Modus Mini. The G10's handles have a faceted look, but are still comfortable to hold.

We also have double skeletonized skins that add some extra rigidity without adding too much weight. We even have a reversible left or right pocket clip folded over for a deep carry style with just a bit of handle sticking out above. This small detail in Steel Will Tenet allows it to make a big impact on your pocketbook, without really advertising itself. You can be gentle and discreet until you're ready to cut, and that's a task you'll have no problem with. So, as expected, at these prices all of these knives have been imported, but it's no secret that the Chinese brands themselves are doing a great job in leading the charge in this segment.

The first one we'll talk about is CJRB and while they may be new, they are setting a new standard at this price. Essentially the budget subsidiary of ArtisanCutlery, these knives are built on the same line by the same people who build those knives, and Crag and Talla are their most distinctive designs. The Talla comes with an angular Wharncliffe shape and the Crag with a blade profile that is so popular at the moment. These knives manage to pack ball bearing pivots, strong liner locks, and surprisingly good build quality at a price of $40 right now. The Crag is available with flat G10 handles or the carbon fiber you see here for a couple extra dollars.

The flat blade is nice and wide without being too unwieldy. It has a great shape and a stonewashed finish, which is one of my favorites, as the scratches tend to blend together when you use the knife, which is great, because as soon as you hold the Crag, you realize that it is good. just begging to be used. He just wants to cut. The Crag and Talla also have a deep, reversible pocket clip that keeps it out of the way, as does the Steel Will Tenet, hiding the greatness in your pocket. The Talla steps things up a notch with rounded and milled G10 handles, rather than flat, although you still get flat scales if you opt for the carbon fiber version.

Because of the curve of the handle, it fits my hand really well and the blade itself is really great. Flat and stonewashed terrain too, and here at KnifeCenter we're having a friendly discussion about whether this shape is a sheepsfoot or a Wharncliffe profile. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments, but whatever you call it, it's great. The sweep towards the spine on the back of the knife here is excellent for indexing, either with the thumb or index finger, and a couple of facets lead to a very sharp point. You can drill well and make good cuts with this blade shape.

Next up is one of my favorites here today, the CIVIVI Wyvern. Now, just like CJRB is ArtisanCutlery's budget brand, CIVIVI is made by WE Knife Company. They have burst onto the scene in recent years thanks to their impressive materials and build quality. For the Wyvern, they change the materials for cheaper things, but the build quality remains just as high. Now this knife is actually based on the WE Knife Drakon, which is an all-around titanium frame lock, so the Wyvern is a great way to get most of that style at a very affordable price. The FRN handles have the same awesome dragon scale texture, but instead of wrapping the spine for an all-around construction, we have a back spacer with a lanyard hole built into the back end.

Additionally, since these scales are synthetic, we also get a line lock instead of the frame lock on the Drakon, but there is no blade set. Very good confinement here. In addition to black, there are several other colors, including tans and OD greens, but also brighter shades like orange and blue. They all have a milled titanium pocket clip, which is a nicer touch than the bent clip on the rest of these knives here. It is now removable, but cannot be moved to another point. The right side tip is facing up only on this knife. The blade itself opens nicely on ball bearings, but has a thumb cutout for a more deliberate opening if you want to be more subtle with things.

The blade and edge itself are nice and thin, and a hollow hone keeps things even thinner behind the edge, making the Wyvern a very precise cutter. I also love the fuller style, which starts at the thumb cut and shoots out the end of the blade. The CIVIVI Wyvern is a great EDC knife, very elegant and very capable. Finally, we come to the SOG Terminus XR, which is vying to be one of the best budget knife releases of the year and has all the makings of a great EDC. We've got a sub-three-inch blade, stonewashed with a flat grind, G10 handles available in crimson or green OD, and even a reversible deep pocket clip for discreet carry.

However, the real star of the story is the XR lock that holds this knife together. Now, you may not call it an AXIS lock, but this is the same style of crossbar locking mechanism that runs along both sides of the handle and over the tang of the knife. This secures the blade very well, and because the bar runs along both sides of the handle, this is a great option for ambidextrous use. Now, they've put their own spin on it, namely by using a set of ridged plastic tabs that make it easythe actuation of the locking bar.

This fantastic locking mechanism provides only one of three different opening methods. You can use the two thumb buttons for a more deliberate opening, or slam the flap for quick, snappy action, or you can simply hold the locking bar back and open and close it as you please. Elegant, balanced and addictive to use, the SOG Terminus XR is a fantastic companion on your daily commute. Alright, I know I said that was it, but I actually have two additional picks for you. They cost about $52 each, so they didn't meet our limit, but I wanted you to check them out anyway.

The first is the ArtisanCutlery Tomahawk with a single cleaver-style blade. It almost looks like a very wide razor. Aside from that perverse shape, it's actually quite similar to the CJRBs we looked at previously. We have G10, a liner lock, a ball bearing pivot, and a stonewashed D2 blade. However, the reason this is part of the Artisan line, rather than CJRB, is that it is just the entry point to this model. They also offer higher-end versions, including full titanium options with S35VN or even Damascus steel, but you can still get this great design for just a little over $50, which is pretty good for such a distinctive blade.

Lastly, and I mean it this time, there is the Bestech Kendo, which is just one of the few models worthy of attention for just over $50. Bestech Swordfish and Warwolf Especially are other great options. With Kendo, we get a Tanto style blade that opens with fantastic action. In fact, it's probably the best one on the table in front of me right now, with CIVIVI and CJRB right behind. The blade is held open with a liner lock and folds into a G10 handle. It has a straight profile, but is perfectly contoured for comfort. It makes Kendo a robust but still easy to manage folder.

It has several different colors you can choose from and like the Tomahawk, you can opt for the Titanium and S35VN if you want to get fancier. Now, D2 may have a reputation for being a little harder to sharpen than some of the other single steels out there, but the fact of the matter is this: never before has there been such high performance at such a low, tight price. Of course, for inflation. So what did you think of our list of the best D2 steel folders you can get for under $50? Be sure to let us know in the comments what you think or if you have another favorite that we don't show here.

In the meantime, to get any of them, you can click the links in the description to head over to KnifeCenter.com and be sure to sign up for our KnifeRewards program while you're there so you can win money. on a knife you were going to buy anyway. This is David C. Andersen from KnifeCenter and I say goodbye. See you next time.