Morakniv Companion 14071 Dala Red, fixed knife

In short: For the price of a family dinner at McDonald’s, the Morakniv Companion ($16) serves up a well-finished, Swedish-made knife with a sharp blade straight out of the box. The finishing on the steel, combined with excellent ergonomics, makes it a no-brainer for somebody who wants a reliable blade they don’t have to baby. While it doesn’t have a wood handle, it fits the archetype for an affordable, dependable, fixed-blade knife.