CIVIVI Folding Pocket Knives: Nitro-v $46.80, Teraxe $52.50 or Voltaic

It's not a big step down from M390, but it is a step down. Nitro-V is a good steel too. I don't know offhand how many knives I have, or how many different steel variations, but Civivi makes a great product. Reate, Kunwu, Piratech, We/Civivi/Sencut, Rike and Miguron are all Chinese brands, but I would take value and quality over most American knife brands, depending on materials of course. Not trying to compare a 14C knife to a Magnacut knife, but apples to apples any of these brands will beat most other brand for less. I have Chris Reave knives, Hogue, Protech, Heretic, Microtech and others, and for the price some Chinese brands are hard to beat. I would take my Kunwu Chads, Djangos or Pulsars over a Chris Reeves any day of the week. Same goes with Giantmouse, although they are Italian and not Chinese, and they can use Magnacut. About the only affordable, good knives, now a days are Chinese. Although, Kershaw's new Bel Air and the Hogue Deka and Sig lines are not crazy priced either. You can get a Maxace Medusa for 108 bucks, great auto OTF in a good steel, and it has better action than my Microtechs, for a 1/4 the price.

Here's a link to a real steel comparison chart. And if you want to know why so many American companies and knife designers work with Chinese OEMs, Bladeshow ATL is in June and I'll be there with some of them.

EDIT: it's blocking the Knife Nerd site, but it is the go to for steel comparisons by the majority of the knife community. Just Google it, the guy that made it came up with Magnacut, which is the newest "big thing", and it is good, but Elmax, ZDP189, and Vanax are pretty nice too, depending on use.

Agree on the Chinese knives. I own models from all the brands you mention with the exception of Kunwu and Piratech. And I am always looking for value too. One of the knives I carry often is a Gerber Slimsada. Not the best knife I own but likely the best picked up for $20. Some complain about disengaging the lock but it is not a big deal for me.

As for M390 vs Nitro-V I guess I am mostly talking about edge retention. I have used M390 daily for months without noticing a drop off in sharpness. I can not say that about 14C28N. Not sure I carried anything with Nitro-V for long but am guessing it would be similar.

Thanks for the Knife Nerd site. I will check it out when I want to do a deep dive.

Oh, where did you find the Medusa for $108? I sure would like one at that price.

I mispoke, the Neptune not Medusa. I have both, and mixed them up, my bad. Brain fart. Sorry to get your hopes up, I wish a Medusa was a 108 bucks. LOL. It is in and out of stock on the main Maxace site. They had a resupply the other day on the silver handled drop point and dual edge, and the dual edge went quick. And as far as the Gerber goes, no matter the price if it works it works. I have been carrying the Kershaw Bel Air lately, and it replaced the Kunwu Django I was carrying, but had a budget CMB Predator before that and it is amazing for the price.

But you're dead on for edge retention with 14C, it doesn't hold one for as long as M390 or K390 for that matter. Nitro V is a little better with holding an edge, but gives up a little in toughness versus both 14C and 390. I have strops all over the place, so am always stropping them after I use them so I don't worry about it holding an edge for a long period. If I was going to use the knife for camping, hunting or fishing I would definitely want something like a better steel like you mentioned, especially if you are in a humid or salty environment. But most folks, including me are just using for packages, maybe cutting an apple at work, or cutting lighter stuff. So if you strop it every once and a while even a cheap steel may serve your purpose. I bought the premium version of the Kubey Tityus in titanium and it still came with the 14C steel, where some of their other premium versions come with S35VN, 45VN, S90 or 20CV, but it was only 100 bucks versus the others at 175 or so. Whitemountainknives still has their Kubeys on sale for a big discount, and they include the premium versions. Even their cheap stuff is good quality, for the materials, and the actions are great. The premiums are on another level though, and the Vagrant, Tityus and Royal are some of my favorite carriers. And Whitemountainknives has some of the best prices and exclusives around, no state tax and free shipping. Plenty of 10% off coupons like Neevesknives, but they don't stack for the sale items. I have bought probably 70 or 80 knives from Justin, and he's pretty much my go to since he carries most makes. The only place I don't check his prices first on is Giantmouse knives, and that's only because of the military discount GM gives.

And no, not a WMK employee, and no affiliate links for them, just good people.

Oh, now a want a Neptune. I watched a Youtube review and like the looks of it. Looks like the plain double edge is out of stock though.

Asking as an absolute beginner: these or the 50 USD Cold Steel 4 Max Scout?

Ridiculous price for a Chinese blade. Im not conflating "Chinese" with garbage quality although that's absolutely true 95% of the time on simple products like this. In this case a good quality blade, from China, should cost at MOST $30. Anything more is usury.

For $55 I'd prefer to buy a non-Chinese blade of equal quality.

remember when chinese blades were affordable? as far as i know, every blade from civici is made in china, and none of its cheap.

i'll leave it to others to post about quality or lack thereof. I'm simply pointing to a map and letting others decide if it matters to them.