Nick's Budget Knife Championship: The Final Four

Today, we've got a showdown of the final four in our "May Melee" budget knife championship, where we'll find the two knives going on to the Championship! The contestants?
The Cold Steel Tufflite - • The Cold Steel TuffLit...
The Kershaw Cryo - • Video
The Opinel 0008 - • A High-Speed Low-Drag ...
The Ontario RAT 2 - • The Ontario Knives RAT...
See all of the Thrifty Thursday Knife reviews here: • Budget EDC Gear: Knive...

[@ReticentSparrow]

Drawing attention away from the 0008 in order to keep its tactical superiority out of the spotlight. I salute your ability to operate operationally, sir.

[@NickShabazz]

There are arms control treaties to think about in these situations, alas.

[@Draknareth]

Should have an Opinel whichever wins purely because it's damn cheap and damn good!

[@Imightberiding]

This is a very rare Nick Shabazz video. It took well over 4:00 minutes into the video before he said: "..that's a beautiful thing."

[@stoneblue1795]

Certainly caught him off his A - game!

[@TheOfficialCaseMade]

As much as I love modern knives with smooth action and the latest greatest super steel... The Opinel just touches my heart in a way that's hard to describe. Much like shaving with a safety razor, shooting a revolver, or driving a car with a manual transmission, it's a tangible, touchable time capsule. The Opinel is a piece of history that is just as effective today as it was over 100 years ago, just differently. While I love and collect ALL types of knives, the traditional slip joints and friction folders are really what make me the happiest to own.

[@edlechleiter7042]

I carry a Opined often , comfortably in my pocket ,in fact I have forgotten it was there and sent it through the wash several times . And you can pop the locking ring which gives you access to the pin that holds the blade . I have done this more than once. Tactical schmactical , it's a tool not a weapon .

[@chriskolb3105]

You can get in stainless as well. I have several of carbon and stainless. I work around salt water and the stainless opinel is quite resistant to rust.

[@stoneblue1795]

The Opinel is a beautiful thing....

[@MarkasTZM]

Surpised Shabazz did not know how to easily disassemble an Opinel without any specific tools. Plus, the Opinel weighs 40% less than its competitors which is a huge EDC plus. Add to that the ease with which you can sharpen it and Opinel is a classic for good reason.

[@asterixky]

In 50 years from now, most of those knives would have fade away, when the #8 will still be sold, why???

[@dougjohnsonbushcraftandbjj5561]

Spinnaker Simplicity.

[@swiggamortis5521]

The bookies in Vegas are blowing up with this final. Place your bets boys!!

[@NickShabazz]

+El Duderino $10,000 on the Z-Hunter making a surprise comeback!

[@dan1e1473]

you don't need to worry about taking your Opinel apart for maintenance, becouse when it starts going bad, what will take years anyway, you can just buy another one and you will still be saving more money then if you got the Rat 2

[@D45VR]

Opinel is in a class all its own. Not meant to compete as EDC knife, in my opinion. Love my Opinels and my other folders, each for their own purpose.

[@antoniomargallo5317]

frank Have you got a Higonokami? Maybe you'd like that one too.

[@vessela84]

I bought something called a Honey Badger. 8Cr13MoV steel and it's.........ok I guess. It has some sort of bearings so the action is real smooth. Really considering a Cryo though. Love the flipper

[@obliviontactical7974]

I've got my money on the rat 2. Lightweight, full flat grind, just as easy and fast to open, easier to close.

[@doublepiedavid8908]

As someone who's carried an Opinel for the past year, I can tell you that the "Two-handed opening" complaint is illegitimate. With practice and oil the picnic operator can open and lock it one handed in a matter of seconds. By using his surroundings and/or clothing, he can even open in less than ten seconds. Also, it can be dissembled with an automatic center punch, for oiling and sanding.

[@14981fc]

I have no treatment whatsoever on both my 6 and 8, without using clothing, thigh or surrounding, I can close them in 2-3 seconds single handed without practice, just like the way I close a linerlock knife, I fail to see why Nick has to close 1 two-handed

[@14981fc]

I have no treatment whatsoever on both my 6 and 8, without using clothing, thigh or surrounding, I can close them in 2-3 seconds single handed without practice, just like the way I close a linerlock knife, I fail to see why Nick has to close 1 two-handed

[@roelhernaus4109]

Opinel maintenance is just simple. You close the knife, lock it, and pul the blade open. The lock will jump off and you see how the blade is attached. Now you can take out your blade, clean everything en put it back together.. no tools, few seconds to disassemble. Good luck! 😉

[@feola69]

i like my cryo, i like to carry it when dressing nicer but as a EDC, meh. I wouldnt get it unless you like how it looks, which i do. I have a rat 2 and Opinel 08, the rat 2 is more practical for EDC. But you should own a Opinel 08 high carbon steel because its just a classic knife and you will not regret buying it even if rarely used. The high carbon steel makes it your own. And you can take it apart, which the video says you cant. There are plenty of videos online on how to do it. Awesome vid man

[@codemiesterbeats]

with carbon steel just stick it in an apple for a bit. I carried a carbon steel knife for aprox 5 years and with the blade turned black it never rusted. Oil it when you feel like it. If you want nice and shiny sure stainless is nice.

[@grumpyoldphart7325]

Nick, like your videos. Quick note from a near 70 year old. Opening knives becomes problematic at my age. Fingers weaken and do not flex well. So, I am in the process of ordering a new EDC. I am leaning towards Kershaw Chive or Leek. I also carry a small SAK on my keychain.

[@packbadge]

I love my Leek! You will be able to open it just fine!!

[@marycahill546]

Opinel comes in stainless also. I use mine only as a paring knife and always clean it immediately after use. Lightest knife ever and a great tomato slicer.

[@CrimeVid]

The Opinel ( that I love) is not a particularly good knife for outdoor use, because unfortunately if they get wet and the wood swells they get very difficult to open and close. Great sausage and cheese rough eating knife, you can get a really really sharp edge!

[@KR-vr3kh]

Mercator Black Cat would be interesting to add into a follow up for series or review. Lots of history.

[@dougjohnsonbushcraftandbjj5561]

That opinel is great for a backup bushcraft folder for food preps ect, the Rat II is great for edc

[@lukeskywalker1840]

I own three out of the four knives here. The one I do not own is the Kershaw. I can tell you you could not go wrong with any of these knives. They're all great.

[@1974lordvader]

The beauty of the opinel is that it’s simple and cheap. So cheap that if you break/lose it you can buy another without a care. That’s a huge plus. How many people have $100 knives but don’t use them for fear of damage but will pull out their $20 beater knife?

[@jasongentry5426]

I got a cryo and a chive today with an Xmas gift card. I love the cryo, going to return the chive after they have restocked the shelves from Xmas rush and hope the Leek doesn't disappoint.. these were my first Kershaw's. Not bad.. not bad.

[@Kurliston]

2 things i woud like to add in regards to the opinel: 1. Its not meant to be maintained indefinetly if its no longer usable you buy a new one ( wether you like that mentality or not is up to you) even with being able to be taken apart i doubt the rat 2 will last you as long as 2'opinels. 2. This is more of a minor thing but some contryes for example germany have very strict regulations for 1 hand opening knifes and are a lot more lenient on 2 hand openers.

[@chriselliott484]

ive been edcing a Kershaw cryo its like the g-10 or something on one side metal on the other with a satin blade

[@bilakos1987]

I watched all these again. Great points, and some great knives. I can't help but wonder how different this would be if you were to do it today. Sure, there's tons of knives at or under $30, and we can't compare them all. Still, how would the initial list look like today, with all those great budget knives we have today? Half the list would be Sanrenmu and Ruike. Plus some great new Gerbers, Cold Steels, Bucks, CRKTs.

[@antoniomargallo5317]

You open an Opinel one handed by tapping it on the table blade down, then the blade sticks out just enough to be open with one hand ...

[@gmedel78]

I just bought the Cryo and I like it! I wish it wasn't so heavy but I can live with it.

[@dont4get2Bawesome]

I knew it would be the rat 2 from the very beginning. It's just a rock solid knife for the money.

[@rileyb4937]

*Cough* SPOILER ALERT *Cough* *Cough

[@grren1782]

as a suggestion if you ever do anything like this again the kershaw 1990 brawler is a great knife. good build quality, good steel, knife blade shape, and good ergos

[@AYellowPepper]

i keep hearing Rat-poo instead of Rat 2 xD i love you Nick!

[@romasprojectcorner]

Now that's all I hear - thanks bud

[@StimulatedCynic]

You can take the opinel apart

[@stoneblue1795]

Yup, and I don't have to go buy a set of Torx bits to accomplish it!

[@shaunpearson7905]

You can take the Opinel. Please.

[@frankbutta9344]

I'm doing a write in for the Kershaw Skyline. Made in the USA, 2.2 oz, and a flipper. But since this is your contest, I'll vote Cryo. I had a Rat, and it's gone. The Cryo is still here.....somewhere...lol!

[@NickShabazz]

Skyline is a decent choice, but not reliably under $35. :(

[@garethbaus5471]

Opinel knives are pretty easy to disassemble, I could probably take the blade out and then put it back in in less than 15 minutes.

[@SpaghettiNachos]

Only downside of the opinel I find, is in really humid areas, the wood swells so you could break a nail trying to open it.

[@MiataBRG]

3:08 really? Mine failed! The torsion bar (speedsafe spring) just snapped in two when I flicked it open one day, making the knife useless without a replacement part. The metal must have had a flaw in it, suggesting poor materials or poor manufacture. It had had a few months very light edc use. Went in the bin.

[@ctrskistad]

I think you should look at the lapg tbfk s35vn edc. 43 bucks shipped from Amazon. nothing better for the money. love your channel homeboy!

[@stuardoloy1104]

for me the winner of all times... the cold steel tuff lite... my opinion

[@redastrachan8978]

Indeed

[@cosmikvratch]

it's amazing that you manage to record a video with this speaking flow with no (obvious?) cut! how many takes for a video like this? I'm curious :)

[@thegarbagefly]

I wish you had access to the buck Kingsman

[@TheTuneAce]

My dad likes the tuff lite. I like the eab lite. Having a beater utility blade around is always nice, and usually there's another knife in a bag somewhere (or you're carrying multiple knives xD). For me, Eab lite would win out in the "utility" quarter because it's $10. Easy to replace, and you actually give no fucks if it rusts or chips. Also, nice to see the rat 2 still in the lead even before the days of R2D2 ;) As for the opinel, I *think* you can find a victorinox electrician in alox for around $35 used. To me, this would be the traditional knife of choice. It would be pioneer x, but that's closer to $45-$50 (new, but probably you could find a good deal on eBay, similar to the electrician).

[@AlfredoRGuillen]

I like the Cryo more....I have both and I really love them but I believe the Cryo gives this extra pleasure to carry...now if I had to bet, the Rat will win.

[@Manic.miner2077]

kershaw cryo is $86 in the U.K

[@Lars1540]

Nick, the fact that the Opinel has a larger handle is a product of it having much better ergonomics than a flat 2-d knife like the rat or cryo for that matter. So the fact that the handle is larger is not necessarily a downfall. It all depends on whether you are willing to trade carry ability for ergonomic comfort. That completely comes down to a personal taste issue. Also I just personally disagree with knocking a knife because it is not able to be disassembled. As we both know, many knife makers actually prohibit the disassembly of their knives and will state that it voids the warranty to do so. Many other knife company's pin their knives making them not able to be disassembled it all. The point is that many of the knives that are grandfathers carried were mainly penned rather than assembled with any type of screw system. So the only way to wash knives out was to run them on your warm soapy water and use a toothbrush or sponge. Then all the knife and put it back in your pocket. I don't see anything wrong with doing that, and have never had a problem with the action on any of my folders because I didn't completely disassemble the knife. I honestly don't feel as though it is truly necessary to disassemble your knife to clean it. Running it under warm soapy water and cleaning with a toothbrush and sponge then or oiling I feel is completely adequate. That's just my take on it though. Obviously everyone is going to be different and will have their own preference such as yourself, and I'm OK with that! All I'm saying is that it is not necessarily a ding against a knife when you are doing a head-to-head comparison such as this. =). Great video series nonetheless definitely a thumbs up for all of them! Keep all the videos coming neck you're doing a great job my friend!

[@christopheryoung9879]

Final four four years later? I wouldnt hate a budget knife showdown again

[@GuyInAHotdogSuit69]

Definitely on Team Rat 2, personally. The Cryo is just too heavy for its size and the very low saber grind makes precision cutting a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Beating a clip-point FFG is a difficult task, and the Rat 2 is just about as good as a 'cheap' knife gets, IMO.

[@YourHandleHere84]

I swear at one point near the end of the first pair up Nick started to channel Christopher Walken.

[@cornenothome4191]

5 parts of opinel to be precise and you can disassemble it.

[@daddaughteranddaggers3697]

Just found these budge challenge reviews !!! Thank s NIck

[@SuperDeinVadda]

My opinel is well worn in so I can flick it open one handed. But the only thing you can really cut with it is food that's why I'm looking at buying something else. But I can't decide ....

[@gratengelsker7614]

Thoughts on the kershaw cryo 2?

[@davidcarson7855]

since I have carried a 5.5 to 6 inch Voyager for over 20 years and either an Opinel 10 or 12 off and on since 1990--all of your knives are fairly small

[@hermanalcaraz2113]

Yo man. Love your channel. Love the accent reminds me of Seinfeld. Lol. No disrespect. If any was taken. Your knife of the month series. Lol. Great shit. Keep it coming brotha.

[@jonahjonah000]

"And that's a beautiful thing"

[@nathayelakgonzales4969]

I *have the Kershaw Cryo2 and the Opinel those are *nice

[@kylelindberg7771]

why is the length of the video 9:11?

[@anthonyschutz7201]

I don't know how the z hunter didn't win

[@jessebergunder]

Should redo this being that the budget line up is very different today

[@207bear4]

id be interested to see a nick designed '' edc'' blade

[@knightmarex13]

rather have a Kershaw Emerson than a Kershaw Cryo, similar pricing and you do lose the flipper but once that speed assist in that cryo breaks its a crappy flipper

[@ixiknivesixi1058]

Agh! Where is the CutJack?!

[@alejandrogranados2028]

I like a knife that has some weight to it, unless of course it's the (magnum by boker with the aluminum handle and tanto blade...) anyways back to the weight, I've always found that a knife with a metal body and a little bit of weight tends to out do the ones with plastic or micarta in the durability department , so with that being said I'll take the kershaw all day every day... just my humble opinion

[@claytonbigsby6975]

I will take the opinel all day anyday

[@curtisfox4917]

Cryo! Cryo! Cryo!....common Kershaw

[@bubumic2971]

Budget as in what price range ?

[@Nick-jr1hn]

i feel like crkt could have been better represented. i could be bias because i dont like the rat 2. id rather carry a kershaw shuffle 2 thena cryo. or any of the emerson wave knives from kershaw. or even a leak. but so far crkt hasnt let me down much also they have a small wharncliffe (i dont remember the name) that i like a lot better then the tufflite

[@TheOneAndOnlySame]

The Tuff Lite handles are made of Grivory. Yes, it is a "plastic" ("semi-crystalline polyamides with partially aromatic content") => www.emsgrivory.com/cz/products-markets/products/grivory/grivory-gv/ . It's not the same plastic that you see on 15$ knives tho. "Plastic" is not a very technical term, it is too encompassing and is synonymous of "crap" (because ABS or other cheap "plastics") .

[@eriksaari4430]

you can get three rats for the price of one opinel

[@Martyr9991]

With the Rat II coming out in D2 it's basically a no brainer. There is a Cryo 2 in D2 that's an exclusive from BladeHQ but I don't keep that in the same category as a full production knife.

[@tonypc84]

why is an assisted knife a demerit?

[@jairoluis2000]

i think rat2 to wins, but the cryo looks better imo.

[@ixiknivesixi1058]

Oh this is 2016. Maybe the CJ wasn’t around yet.

[@schiaucugabriel6202]

Personally I find that Harnds Talisman is a far better knife than the Rat 2. Same Aus8 but much more stylish, with G10 scales and most of all, ball bearings. Far more beautiful and better quality, for the same price as a Rat 2.

[@billsbullets]

Cryo 2

[@jacobmanalang8162]

rat 2. theyre both nice, cryo is slimmer but heavier. its gonna be the rat 2.

[@oneguysmoking7246]

If you can’t open a knife with one hand and open it quickly then what’s the point

[@leobrowneyes7683]

Buy a foldingknife from the brothers Herder from Solingen Germany.

[@butre.]

if someone would make a modern one-hand opening folder with opinel's steel and blade geometry for $80 or less I'd buy it today.

[@Druide-ie1pc]

My EDC Budget Knife, ist the Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, in BD-1 Steel. The Best Knife you can get.

[@bryanstone654]

Hi Nick, Consloation matchup for third place..Opinel 0008 versus TuffLite..Who wins?

[@hastings9452]

What is an assisted opening blade?

[@hastings9452]

Why can it be a bad thing?

[@Bordodai]

It has a spring that flips it open. A good way to make cheap knives easy to open.

[@Mastermindyoung14]

another thing to break

[@NickShabazz]

+Hastings It's like Reinier said, there's a spring to help open the knife. Watch my full Cryo review, or my ZT 0770 review, for more. Or the "How to fix rattling in a speed safe knife" shows how it works.

[@stanpines9011]

Renier Van Der Westhuizen nederlander detected

[@svent1000]

the opinel.

[@ccoddington]

3 x China vs.1 x France - and the winner is!

[@kevinkelly6524]

Rat2

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Have never held an Opinel. Hard to not like a low price+quality parts tool. But the danged thing looks too bulgy to carry in a pocket. I don't want to buy from China, unless it's a tool that has no competitor outside China.

[@onefastnitro]

cryo

[@tikkidaddy]

Nick has Sebenzitis henderous disease, which causes him to have a general dislike for "budget" knives, even when budget knives outperform the clearly superior knife in independent testing...but that's ok, he's not too picky LOL! Great choices dude!

[@corporalleroywillisphosing7871]

Opinel knives are great until you drop one and the blade shatters.

[@14981fc]

broken tip maybe, but shatters?

[@corporalleroywillisphosing7871]

@@14981fcThey're very thin at the joint and the carbon steel ones are fairly brittle.

[@user-sc6uw4cw9w]

I can open an opinel with one hands without any flicks or smh My opinel has no mods

[@scottmoore5839]

I prefer higher quality made knifes, but if I had to pick it would be the Kershaw.

[@davidadkins8738]

Watching this before the end, my prediction is Ontario RAT II.

[@nonya5475]

Nick, thanks for the reviews. Please stop shaking stuff all around. Makes me car sick lol.

[@stoneblue1795]

I saw that too!

[@bryanstone654]

Esee Zancudo with D2 steel for $35ish would have won the whole thing. just sayin

[@NickShabazz]

That's on my table right now for review. :)

[@bryanstone654]

Nick Shabazz please keep in mind that at this time the RAT 2 isn't available with D2, and that the zancudo with D2 has 2 versions, FRN and carbon fiber. thanks.

[@VomitYou]

Rat 2

[@frankod100]

spyderco tenacious takes em all down for the cash

[@NickShabazz]

+Frank Depalma Jr Check out the Polestar, another nice option with some nice upgrades.

[@Bordodai]

I think you should have had the cheap stainless steel Spyderco Dragonfly in here. I think it would win. But I guess you're only doing this with the cheap knives you happened to have on hand. but based on what you have here the Rat will win I guess.

[@NickShabazz]

+Renier Van der westhuizen I couldn't find a Dragonfly under $35 anywhere, so it's disqualified. But it's a great candidate, for sure!

[@Bordodai]

Ah yes. I get that. You replied to me in the last video about people in 3rd world countries not being able to afford premium USA prices. I get that. My best knives are custom South African knives by SA knife makers. Everything imported where I live in South Africa comes with a heavy premium. $35 for a dragonfly sounds cheap to me. I payed about $83.60 US for the Dragonfly a year ago. The exchange rate and importing adds up. Not cheap for me but in USA I guess $35 is a lot considering what you can get for that.

[@NickShabazz]

Interesting! What's South Africa like in term of carrying a knife? Are there laws? Does anybody care?

[@Bordodai]

There's no laws in any part of SA (to my knowledge) for the sale, owning or carrying of knives, even automatics. Guns on the other hand are a big deal here and it's hard, and takes long to get a licence, not like USA, but knives are not seen as a problem.

[@NickShabazz]

Interesting! I've always been curious about some of the South African knife makers, I might have to learn more!

[@1113jackson]

Without watching, I'm gonna guess, rat1.

[@didierguillaumin4539]

Opinel !

[@Nanchi]

Ontario wins in my opinion

[@PH-hk8mb]

I like cold steel but if I want a knife I’m gonna use my knife my opinel my rat 1 my voyager etc if I want utility I have utility folders with removable razors save a lot of time and money and why didn’t you compare the rat2 to the stainless opinel? You knocked it for being carbon when you can get a stainless for the same price as the carbon