Save the pennies and go for a high quality one ... youll not regret it. The cheaper ones dont have the edge retention and balance of the pricier ones (as with most knives). The sheer cutting strength of these suckers on a downward swipe is phenomenal, right up there with a small sword. Harder to conceal, but still a lovely weapon.
Very true soul. Even a cheapo knife in an emergency can be better than no knife at all, and can be sharpened just as well as a better one, albeit the edge doesnt last. Skilled blade users have always fascinated me, and its interesting as hell to see the different weapons used in relation to each individual martial art. At the end of the day though, a $5 el cheapo knife can make one just as dead as an expensive spyderco ......