Browning Daybreak fixed blade, $20 at Dicks

I finally ran across an affordable knock around fixed blade in the size and price range I was looking for. It was the Daybreak on a pee stop at Dicks. I just happened to see red sale tags and they were marked down from about 32 bucks so I figured I would give it a try. At least it's not another Sharpfinger which seems to be the only non-tacticool knife I run across anymore. Yeah it's Chinese but the Chinese Schrade canoes I got last thanksgiving have served me and my father well so I figured I would give Chinese steel another go based on fair results from that knife. Time will tell if it's a junker or a keeper but so far I'm pretty happy. Feels good, handle heavy. And sized right for a lot of daily tasks my canoe or toothpicks aren't good choices for. Reviews on usage to come, but for a 20 dollar knife with a decent leather sheath I'm more than satisfied. It even passes the paper test with flying colors, but I doubt I could shave with it.

 

For size reference and show of balance point.

 

Good looking basic design... hope it holds up for you -and I'll be looking for that review after some hard use.

 

Any idea steel used? looks like a nice knife for 20 dollars.

 

No clue on steel used. And so far no real use. It's in the truck handy for anything that comes up though. I will dig around and try to find out what steel. I was curious when I bought it, but being a Chinese blade who really knows.

 

Judging from their price point, I'd guess 420 or 440. Their Featherweight Skinner at @$75 is AUS-8, so 420 or 440 is more likely.

 

like the pins, nice looking.

 

On cheap chicom knives you can test the heat treatment by putting them sideways on a anvil and hitting them as hard as you can with a 2 or 3 pound sledge to see if they shatter.

 

I put it to use today, light use...I cut off the grass rope (light rope, around 1/4") around the cats scratching post and pulled a few staples with it. It cut about 25 times through the tattered old rope and maintained a decent edge. I will sharpen it back to my satisfaction, but it performed well enough. Pulling staples was easy, the blade shape let me get the tip under it easily and raised the staples enough to grab with pliers. That old grass rope is hard on a blade

 

WestKentucky

Handsome little knife for the money.

 

nice looking little knife, i might have to try find one.

 

Not going to knock the OP's knife, but for future reference, for others reading this, there are other options in that price range for a knife that size.
My suggestion would be Buck's Paklite series, 141 and 140 blades.

You can find them between $17-22 delivered on Amazon, they are made in USA, and use Bucks 420HC, which IME is a great EDC kind of steel. Takes one heck of an edge, and holds it as well as other non-super-steels.
Of course for small fixed blades, there's also the Swedish made Mora companion(of which i own... 6? 7?). It's my go-to inexpensive fixed blade. Usually in the $12-15 range on Amazon and one heck of a great knife.

Either way, there are options. Again, I'm not knocking OP's choice. I have no experience with it and it may be a good knife. I Just want to put it out there for others who may be looking for inexpensive, small fixed blades and want to keep it to American made, or at least made by ally countries with known quality manufacturing standards.