I'm looking at getting a ''beat me'' knife in the $25-50 range and I wonder if anyone has any suggestions .I am looking at possibly a Buck Whittaker,Kershaw or Gerber paraframe/one handed opener to replace my old Buck stockman.

CRKT M21

They're supposed to be $80 but can be found for around $40 - as with all discounted goods though; just be careful you aren't buying some Chinese knock-off.

I've been carrying CRKTs too. I've got the "Prowler" in my pocket right now. I think they might rust a little easier than some but they sure are SHARP! I can shave with this one and its easy to put a good edge on it.

My old Gerber LST-2 knife held up well. Now in my pack to use as a fire starter with the magnesium stick. Its light weight, thin and you wont really notice it.

Now I carry a Swiss Army One Handed Trekker which is the same model as the current Swiss issue less the green hand grip with the rubber pads. It comes in handy quite often. Just in the last 3 days, I had to open pop and beer bottles with the opener at a local celebration (Europe still uses the crimped not screwed type on glass Coke and beer bottles), use the screw driver to take out the anti-thief plastic brackets from a kids toy, and a cut a few more things.

I am told carrying a "Swiss pocket knife" (Elvetiko Soya (sp?)) is ok in Greece just not carrying of regular knives, never did ask a cop though. But I have not had a problem in the 8 weeks now.

Dimitri

Been carrying an SOG paratool for the last 15 years or so..
Not the best but its pretty hard trying to find better one.

Columbia River Knife and Tool!!!!!!

These are some really great products that you can spend about as much as want to. Alot of the M series are made in Taiwan at some VERY good factories and the QC is outstanding for a "basic" knife. I have three CRKT that a carry routinely. The first is an old discontinued M18 and two M16Z's with the AutoLAWKS set-up. This an awesome idea and it can really save your backside. It essentially makes your folder into a fixed blade. And yes it does work!!!! But they are liner locks so if you are not comfortable with a liner lock then these are not for you.

They usually use a blade metal of AUS6 or AUS8, There is a slight difference in the metal but most folks probably will not know the difference.
But these steels are pretty easy to get a VERY nice edge on quickly and easily with a "crock stick" and the price is usually right. Most of the time you get a M16 for around $30 to $80US depending on model.

Whatever you get make sure you get a good sharpening set to go along with your new knife. I like the Lansky system and Gatco makes a similar set, I have one of them as well. What happens is after time you will round out the cutting edge of the blade and you will have an extremely hard time getting a usuable edge. With the two sets I mentioned you can regrind the edge to the proper angle and then get that excessively sharp edge.

Just get one that does not have alot of play in it's pivot point and lock.
The tighter the blade, including side to side the better. I have some very high quality cheap knives that I carry as back ups when i am out at the campsite. They are out there ya' just have to look for them.

I wound up getting a Kershaw Skyline 1760 .U.S.A. made, Sandvik 13C26 stainless-steel,and solid construction .http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv170/whittling/th_100_0905.jpg