Best Knives Under $50: Folders, OTFs, Fixed Blades and Balisongs Ranked by What Sells

By South Summit Team. Updated September 12, 2026. Every pick was in stock at the listed price when this was updated.

Fifty dollars covers most of this store: over 800 knives in stock are under it. The problem is that "best knife under $50" depends entirely on which kind of knife you mean, so this list is organised by type, with the most-ordered knife of each type and the reason it wins. Every pick is in stock at the listed price. Browse by type from the knives collection.

Quick comparison

How we ranked these

Every product on southsummit.com carries a 30-day order score recalculated daily from real orders across our store network. The picks below are the in-stock items with the highest score on the day of the last update, in that order, and each one is checked against its listed specifications. This is not a hands-on torture test and nothing here is sponsored; it is what buyers chose with their own money, explained.

Best assisted opening knife under $50

1. Cartoon Icon Spring-Assisted EDC Knife - Betty Boop Red

The best-selling assisted folder on the site: 3.5-inch drop point, 8 inches, about $16.

A drop point has a curved belly and a tip near the centerline: the general-purpose shape, and the best slicer in the out-the-front range.

At 3.5-inch blade, 8 inches overall it sits in the mid-size class, which makes it the everyday-carry class: enough blade to cut, small enough to forget in a pocket.

The Betty Boop finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: everyday carry with a clip, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

2. Heritage Oath Rapid-Assist Pocket Knife - Onyx Black

The plain black assisted knife buyers pick when they do not want a graphic, about $21.

The clip point takes a section out of the spine near the tip for a finer point, with enough belly to slice. It is one of the few OTF shapes that cuts like an ordinary pocket knife.

At 3.5-inch blade, 8 inches overall, 4.2 ounces it sits in the mid-size class, which makes it the everyday-carry class: enough blade to cut, small enough to forget in a pocket.

The edge is partially serrated near the handle. Serrations chew through rope and strapping and are harder to sharpen; buy plain edge if you maintain your own knives.

The Celtic finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: everyday carry with a clip, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

Best manual pocket knife under $50

3. Ballistic Flow Manual Pocket Knife - Micarta Steel

The best-selling manual folder: micarta handle, about $16.

Best for: a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

4. Heraldic Drift Ball Bearing Pocket Knife - Blue Micarta

A ball-bearing flipper in blue micarta, about $16. The smoothest opener under $20.

Best for: a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

5. Heritage Ridge Damascus Folding Knife - Wood & Brass

A 5-inch Damascus-pattern clip point with wood and brass, about $50. The top of the folder range.

The clip point takes a section out of the spine near the tip for a finer point, with enough belly to slice. It is one of the few OTF shapes that cuts like an ordinary pocket knife.

The natural handle material (wood) is the traditional choice and the reason this one photographs like an heirloom; it needs a wipe of oil now and then.

At 5-inch blade, 10 inches overall, 14 ounces it sits in the XL class, which makes it a display and collection size; the blade length puts it outside most carry thresholds.

The Damascus finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: display and collection.

See current price and stock

Best OTF and automatic knife under $50

6. Godfather Presence Italian Stiletto Automatic Knife - White Marble

The best-selling automatic: a 9.75-inch Italian-style stiletto with a 4.25-inch blade, about $20.

A spear point keeps the dagger silhouette with a single sharpened edge, so it deploys as straight as a dagger and cuts better for everyday tasks.

The handle is ABS plastic, which is how a full-size knife reaches this price. Plastic flexes, and flex is where misfires start, so keep the screws tight and treat it as a light-duty knife.

At 4.25-inch blade, 9.75 inches overall, 5.4 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

7. Kawaii Milano Collector's Automatic Knife - Hello Kitty Pink

A 9-inch Hello Kitty Milano-style automatic, about $18.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 3.75-inch blade, 9 inches overall it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

The Hello Kitty finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

Best fixed blade under $50

8. Cedar Line Heritage Full-Tang Hunting Knife - Dark Wood

A full-tang 4.25-inch drop-point hunting knife in dark wood, about $32.

A drop point has a curved belly and a tip near the centerline: the general-purpose shape, and the best slicer in the out-the-front range.

The natural handle material (wood) is the traditional choice and the reason this one photographs like an heirloom; it needs a wipe of oil now and then.

At 4.25-inch blade, 9.25 inches overall, 9.21 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use.

See current price and stock

9. Ridge-Line Heritage Fixed Blade Hunting Knife - Bone & Rosewood

A 4-inch clip point in bone and rosewood, about $16. The value fixed blade.

The clip point takes a section out of the spine near the tip for a finer point, with enough belly to slice. It is one of the few OTF shapes that cuts like an ordinary pocket knife.

The natural handle material (bovine bone & rosewood) is the traditional choice and the reason this one photographs like an heirloom; it needs a wipe of oil now and then.

At 4-inch blade, 8 inches overall, 8 ounces it sits in the mid-size class, which makes it the everyday-carry class: enough blade to cut, small enough to forget in a pocket.

Best for: everyday carry with a clip, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

Best butterfly knife under $50

10. Camera-Ready Showpiece Balisong Knife - Pink Marble

The best-selling balisong, pink marble stainless, about $16.

The dagger profile is symmetrical, which is why it is the most common OTF blade: it tracks straight through the front opening. It is a push-cutting and point-work shape rather than a slicer.

At 3.5-inch blade, 9 inches overall it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

The Pink Marble finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

11. Shadowline CNC Flow Butterfly Knife - Matte Black

The CNC-handled flipper, 10.125 inches, about $23.

A spear point keeps the dagger silhouette with a single sharpened edge, so it deploys as straight as a dagger and cuts better for everyday tasks.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 4.625-inch blade, 10.125 inches overall, 5.96 ounces it sits in the XL class, which makes it a display and collection size; the blade length puts it outside most carry thresholds.

Best for: display and collection.

See current price and stock

Best throwing knives under $50

12. Grim Precision Throwing Knife Set - Matte Black Steel

A 9-inch three-piece spear-point set, about $19.

A spear point keeps the dagger silhouette with a single sharpened edge, so it deploys as straight as a dagger and cuts better for everyday tasks.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 4.75-inch blade, 9 inches overall it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

The Punisher Skull finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

Which type should you buy

Assisted or manual folder if it is a daily pocket knife: the widest legal carry, the easiest maintenance. OTF or automatic if you want one-handed deployment and are in a place that allows it; see the automatic knife rules by state. Fixed blade for camp, hunting and hard use; it needs a sheath. Balisong for flipping and collecting. Throwing knives are a sport, not a tool. Each type has its own ranked list linked below.

What $50 buys in a knife

Across every type at this store, $50 or less means 440-class or unnamed stainless steel, aluminum, steel, micarta or natural handles, and liner locks on folders. The steel is adequate and easy to resharpen; the difference between a $16 and a $45 knife here is handle material, blade shape variety and fit, not the alloy. Knife steel types explained covers what the names mean.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best knife under $50?

For a pocket knife, the Cartoon Icon assisted folder or the Heritage Oath. For a fixed blade, the Cedar Line. For an automatic, the Godfather Presence stiletto.

Is a $20 knife any good?

For everyday tasks, yes. The best-selling knives on this site are $12 to $20 and they are reordered constantly. Spend more for handle material and blade shape, not because a $20 knife will fail.

What is the best knife under $50 for self-defense?

That is a legal and personal question this store does not answer; choose a knife for the tasks you actually do and check your local rules on carry.

Prices are South Summit prices at the time of writing and change with stock. Rules for carrying and owning these items differ by state and city; check your local rules before ordering.