I'll Start Off . . .
. . . with some Swedish Goodness.
The following are all available at
www.ragweedforge.com, a trove of quality at good prices.
Let's begin with the EKA Swede-92 (back lock). $37 bucks.
I have a couple of these.
Followed by its brother, the EKA Swede-82. $54 bucks.
The Swede-92 has a rubber/plastic handle that improves the grip when wet or damp. It has a slimmer (flatter) profile than, say, the Buck 110, but it has as much blade.
Superb steel. Excellent edge. I carry the 92 regularly, horizontal on belt.
The EKA Nordic is more expensive ($95 bucks), but it's a serious piece:
I don't have one of these yet.
They have several other models. You may find something else you like there.
I have it on good authority that their Swede-88 is also an excellent knife, but its blade is not quite 3 inches long.
I can also recommend some American Goodness. I have one of these:
Buck 297 Sirus - (signed)
Alongside a Buck 110 for size comparison:
Assisted open. Liner lock. About $55 bucks. Blade is about 3.25", closed length is about 4.25". Pocket clip. A real handful of knife. Also available in 154CM (Bos heat treat) for about $88 (298 Sirus). I have one of those, too. Very nice.
Not surprisingly, there are some other really nice candidates.
What you see here is a Case XX Folding Hunter. Around $65 bucks.
Beside a Buck 110 for size comparison.
With both blades open.
Note: the Folding Hunter blades do not lock open. Good springs, though. I would surely have no problem using it as a hunting knife.
Oh, and BTW, the Buck 110 is about $27 bucks at most Wal*Marts, or $37 bucks at other places. It is, after all, the original classic American folding hunter.
And finally, just to add a touch of the unusual, there's this:
Case XX Large Sod Buster (about $30 for black/stainless)
Plenty of handle
The one I usually carry is actually black-handled with a stainless blade. Looks like its smaller brother, here:
Don't be deceived by the simplicity of the Sodbuster. It's a lot of knife -- as much blade as a Buck 110. The Sodbusters don't lock, but have great springs. And, yes, they make fine skinners.