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![a civivi baby banter with damascus blade and carbon fiber overlay handle](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/civiviknife_acivivibabybanterwithdamascusbladeandcarbonfiberoverlay-1024x597.jpg)
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when searching for a good budget EDC knife. There’s hundreds of valid, high-quality options on the market right now that would serve as amazing EDC knives. But how do you decide which knife is the right one for you? I compiled this list of EDC knives based on my personal experience and preferences. I chose only knives that I either have owned, carried, or have some form of hands-on experience with. Any knife on this list is a great starting point for anyone who is looking to buy a solid EDC companion.
Key Takeaways
- Kershaw Iridium is a popular new knife model that combines a modern design and good build materials together for a great price.
- Civivi Baby Banter is one of the best small EDC pocket knives available on a budget.
- ESEE Izula is my go-to fixed blade for EDC because of the small overall size and sheath design.
- Boker Alluvial is my favorite budget automatic EDC knife. Features a new design by Justin Lundquist and the tried-and-true performance from the Boker Kalashnikov line.
- Gerber Savvy is the best USA-made budget EDC knife, featuring premium materials, good build quality, at a solid price point.
- Monterey Bay Knives Old Guard brings a highly sought-after Laconico design to the budget knife market. Great materials and versatile design make this a standout competitor for best budget EDC knife.
Top Picks
- Best Overall Budget EDC Knife: Kershaw Iridium Reverse Tanto DuraLock Knife Black Aluminum (3.5″ SW D2) 2038R
- Best Budget Mini EDC Knife: CIVIVI Baby Banter Liner Lock Knife Black G-10 (2.3″ SW Nitro-V) C19068S-1
- Best Budget EDC Fixed Blade Knife: ESEE Izula Black Oxide Survival Fixed Blade Neck Knife w/sheath (2.9″ Black)
- Best for Slicing and Game Dressing: Boker Lundquist Alluvial Automatic Knife Black (3″ Black)
- Best Budget USA Made EDC Knife: Gerber Savvy Pivot Lock Knife Black Aluminum (3.5″ Black 20CV)
- Best Designed Budget EDC Knife: Monterey Bay Knives Old Guard Clip Point Liner Lock Knife Black (3.5″ Satin)
![the ESEE Izula Black Oxide Survival Fixed Blade Neck Knife stuck in a tree](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/aknifeslife_theESEEIzulaBlackOxideSurvivalFixedBladeNeckKnifestuckinatree.jpg)
Best Overall Budget EDC Knife: Kershaw Iridium Reverse Tanto DuraLock Knife Black Aluminum (3.5″ SW D2) 2038R
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The Kershaw Iridium is a very popular competitor in the budget EDC knife market. Ever since its release, the Iridium has generated an insane amount of attention and, ultimately, sales. The reasons are mainly the amazing price-to-performance ratio. For just more than $60, you get a full-sized, highly capable, and rugged everyday carry knife in a fantastically designed modern silhouette.
The iridium not only looks great, but also feels well balanced and great in hand. Another great reason that I chose the Iridium for best overall budget EDC knife is that you can choose between various different blade shapes and color combinations. I chose the Reverse tanto as my favorite of the lot because I personally prefer the straight edge and fine point that the reverse tanto provides for my personal EDC knife. However, if you prefer a classic drop point style blade, then the Iridium has one of the best out there. Either option would make for a fantastic EDC companion for you.
Best Budget Mini EDC Knife: CIVIVI Baby Banter Liner Lock Knife Black G-10 (2.3″ SW Nitro-V) C19068S-1
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Designed by the “Professor of Practicality” himself, Ben Petersen. The Civivi Baby Banter fills a miniature hole in the EDC knife market. The Baby Banter is small… like really small. It is a significantly downsized and redesigned version of the popular WE Banter knife, inheriting all the great features and benefits of its parent, those being: great ergonomics, amazingly addictive thumb stud action, great blade steel, deep carry pocket clip – all for an especially great price. It will disappear in your pocket, allowing you to take it comfortably with you anywhere you go.
I was astounded by how useful its small blade actually can be. Outside of hard use outdoor applications, there isn’t much the Baby Banter can’t easily handle on its own. And quite honestly, for 95% of cutting tasks, I don’t need a bigger blade than this. If you are looking for a small EDC knife on a budget, then the Baby Banter is the way to go.
Best Budget EDC Fixed Blade Knife: ESEE Izula Black Oxide Survival Fixed Blade Neck Knife w/sheath (2.9″ Black)
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The ESEE Izula is my top choice for an EDC fixed blade on a budget. Sure, there are plenty of other potentially more flashy or exciting fixed blades out there, but the Izula just has something to it that I love for EDC. Everything about the Izula was intended to be highly utilitarian and capable to withstand hard use in any scenario imaginable.
I like to think of the Izula as a micro survival knife, one that you can take with you anywhere with ease. The 1095 steel definitely isn’t a “super steel” by any means, but it gets the job done, and it’s actually very easy to resharpen, a trait that I think is too often overlooked when it comes to knife steels. The sheath is the most important aspect of the Izula that makes it such a great budget EDC fixed blade. You can either carry the Izula as a neck knife for easy portability or attach a plethora of different clips to it so you can mount it on just about any piece of gear or clothing imaginable. Because of its lightweight skeletonized design, it is actually quite comfortable to carry for long periods of time, making this an ideal option if you are someone who prefers the utility you get from fixed blades.
Best Budget Automatic EDC Knife: Boker Lundquist Alluvial Automatic Knife Black (3″ Black)
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This is a category in which I would normally recommend a Boker Kalashnikov of some sort. But at this point I think everyone is somewhat bored with those knives. There are countless reviews on a variety of Kalashnikov knives you can look at. For this article, I wanted to recommend a knife that is very similar but is much more exciting to me. That is the Boker Alluvial, designed by Justin Lundquist. The Alluvial takes all the great things we’ve all come to love about the Boker Kalashnikov series and blends it with a refreshing, sleek, and modern footprint. You still get the same hard-hitting automatic action the Kalashnikov family is known for but now in a much nicer looking and arguably better performing package.
Best Budget USA Made EDC Knife: Gerber Savvy Pivot Lock Knife Black Aluminum (3.5″ Black 20CV)
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USA-made, Cross bar lock, and CPM-20CV, all for less than $100, is something that I never thought I would see, especially from Gerber Knives. They really knocked this one out of the park. The Savvy is one of, if not the best, EDC knife available if you are looking for something made here in the USA. It covers all the bases: great ergonomics, great build quality, and a fantastic price. If you are a fan of the famous Benchmade 940 like I am, then I think you’ll love the Savvy. It has a lot of the same characteristics as the 940, similar size and ergonomics mainly – which make the Savvy just feel downright amazing to use.
I exclusively carried the Savvy for a few weeks and have fallen in love with the design. It’s simple, but it does everything I need a good EDC knife to do with ease. The premium steel choice of CPM-20CV is the standout feature of the Savvy. It is so hard to find budget-priced knives with high-end steels – almost impossible. But somehow, Gerber made it happen with the Savvy. I highly recommend this knife to anyone looking for a solid everyday carry knife on a budget.
Best Designed Budget EDC Knife: Monterey Bay Knives Old Guard Clip Point Liner Lock Knife Black (3.5″ Satin)
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Monterey Bay Knives makes some of the most sought-after EDC knives on the market. Their main-line USA-made knives are very hard to get: They sell out because they are made in small batches. Recently, the designer, Ray Laconico, and his partner, Sanford Owen, have come out with a line of budget-priced versions of their popular knife designs. The Old Guard comes in at just over $60 retail and features one of the best budget knife steels on the market, Sandvik 14C28N. Pair this great steel with the amazingly well designed blade and handle on the Old Guard and you have one heck of an EDC knife.
The pocket clip is a deep-carry wire pocket clip. For some this would be a negative, but I personally really like wire pocket clips because they tend to be a lot easier on your pants pockets. The action is also fantastic on this knife, so if you are looking for a knife that satisfies the all-important fidget factor, as well as amazing ergonomics and great aesthetic design, then this is my favorite on the list.
![The Old Guard Knife by Monterey Bay Knives](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/montereybayknives_TheOldGuardKnifebyMontereyBayKnives.jpg)
How To Choose The Best Budget EDC Knife
Choosing the best budget EDC knife comes down to a few things, mainly personal preference and your intended use case. If you are looking for an EDC knife for hard use cutting tasks like on the jobsite, then a Fixed blade may be the best option for you. If you are looking for a knife that can handle most light to medium cutting tasks in a small form factor, then I’d probably go with a smaller folding pocket knife. Once you have a good idea of your intended use for your knife, it all comes down to price, material choice, and what suits your lifestyle. There are so many good budget EDC knives out there right now, and any knife on this list will work great for you.
Why Trust Us
I’ve had the opportunity to work behind the scenes for many EDC knife brands and distributors in the last four years. I’ve carried, tested, handled, and purchased many knives from basically every brand on the market. I have extensive experience in EDC pocket knives especially, since that is what I carry mainly on a day-to-day basis. I’ve distilled my personal experience and preferences down into a solid list of many great budget EDC knives that I would trust day in and day out. I will never recommend any knife that I haven’t either personally carried or have some form of hands-on experience with.
![holding the reverse tanto knife by Kershaw](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/kershawknives_holdingthereversetantoknifebyKershaw.jpg)
Final Thoughts
My personal preferences may vary from yours, but I do believe that this list is a great starting point for anyone looking to buy their first or even 10th EDC knife. The important thing to remember is that buying a great EDC knife can be confusing, but it really doesn’t need to be. Just find a knife that fits in your budget range and appeals to you and your lifestyle and try it out. It really is hard to buy a bad knife in today’s market. There are so many good options out there, from so many great knife makers.
FAQ’s
Question: What is the most reliable budget pocket knife brand?
Answer: Kizer knives has created an immense portfolio of very high-quality budget pocket knives through the years. Their quality control seems to be top-notch, and they release new designs frequently. Kizer also uses really nice high-quality materials for their knives, especially for the price point. If you are looking for a good reliable first knife, then I highly recommend anything made by Kizer Knives.
Question: How much does a good affordable pocket knife cost?
Answer: If you want a high-quality knife for the lowest price possible, then you should expect to spend around $40–60. Once you cross over the $40 threshold, most knives these days will be quite good,and will last for a long time with regular maintenance.