High quality gear and accessories do not have to be expensive. Over the last couple years I have had the pleasure of getting to use some outstanding products that were fairly inexpensive, yet yielded an incredible amount of value and utility. Below are 4 quality products that will not break the bank, and will perform very well.

Most of the readers know I really like ZT knives. This new ZT is a beauty of a design from a collaboration between ZT and Dimitri Sinkevich a noted Belorussian knife maker. This new knife known simply as the 0456 has Titanium handles with blue aluminum accents and pocket clip. The blade opens with the KVT ball bearing system ZT uses on many of their knives.

Earlier this year, Coast Products launched a pair of affordable folding knives. either of which may suit one of your needs. The first is the DX318 while the second is the RX360.

Without a doubt, multitools like those from Leatherman and Gerber can be extremely useful. I’ve always kept one in my go bag and they have proved extremely useful to me in both my personal and professional lives. But all of the typical ones failed as knives. Sure, each of them had at least one cutting blade, but they were frequently pretty poor blades.

Popular discount gear supplier LA Police Gear (LAPG) announced the company was jumping into the knife market with three new blades: one fixed and two folders.

The AXIS Striker family of folding knives has been a successful line for Benchmade. The knives are made in a wide range of blade styles and opening types. Now the company is offering a limited edition version of the knife that kicks things up to the next level.

Gerber announced the company would release a commemorative edition of the 06 Auto knife in July. The new knife will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the knife’s introduction and service to the US military deployed in combat overseas.

Kai USA Ltd announced it has released two new outdoor tools under the Kershaw brand that are not knives. One of these is the Kershaw Knife Adjustment Tool and the second tool is the Kershaw Ration.

Yes, I am a gun writer – or an outdoor writer, to use the proper term. If you assume this means I read quite a bit, you’d be right, but not every gun writer out there is also a reader. For me, reading is paramount. The only thing capable of fighting my desire to get out and shoot is a good book. So I was pleased to find fellow outdoor writer Bryce M. Towsley’s newest book “Prepper Guns” is both well-thought out and detailed.

An announcement was made during this year’s NRA Annual Meeting (NRAAM) regarding a number of firearms industry businesses banding together for a common cause. The organization is called VFOB, which stands for Veteran’s Family of Brands. Of course, their name is also a reference to the military term FOB, Forward Operating Base. In the military an FOB is a secure base meant to provide support for operations. They’re important for a number of reasons, including the fact that they increase reaction time to the surrounding area. When VFOB’s founders sat down to discuss finalizing the name on the last day of SHOT Show 2016 they made it clear they wanted the organization to be seen as a source that could be trusted by consumers and relied upon by the military community: a firearms industry FOB. Now, in just a matter of months, their vision has come to fruition and is growing by leaps and bounds.

With just shy of 500 years under their gun belt, Beretta has announced the opening of a retail store here in the United States. The firearms industry magnate is known for its well-made, reliable long guns and pistols, but that isn’t all they make. In fact, there is an entire line of products available bearing the Beretta family name.

Whether you’re a bush pilot, a hunter, or simply an outdoors aficionado, you should have a good quality survival kit. When you picture that kit in your mind you undoubtedly envision a first aid kit complete with tourniquet and HALO Seals with a side of knives and fire starters. But there’s more to an all-out survival kit than only those smaller tools – there’s so much more. For example, you’ll do far better in the mean woods if you have a good gun on your side. Make that a lever gun and you’ve definitely attained bush pilot survival status. That’s just what Skinner Sights is after with their new Bush Pilot Survival Kit: survival with a side of badass (am I allowed to say “badass”…I suppose I just did, twice).

Browning introduced a pair of folding knives for 2016 that clearly target the hunting market. They are called the Hunt ‘n Gut knives.

Zero Tolerance has always made knives I find appealing. Most of the designs are very beefy and will take a lot of abuse with no ill effects to the blade or locking mechanism. This new design is no exception as far as being able to take abuse and keep on working. This new ZT is a limited edition knife.

Browning introduced a variety of new knives this year, and there are a number of new outdoors knives in the mix. Here is a look at a pair of the new blades that Browning is now offering.

Kinetic Concealment announced the company is now selling a folding knife with a price point that makes it affordable for most anyone needing a blade.

Along with other knife companies like Kershaw and CRKT, Benchmade announced a lot of new knives and other products for 2016. Here is a look at a few of them.

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools LLC announced a number of new knives for 2016. Here is an overview of several of the knives that have been introduced.

Browning is now offering a new knife under its Black Label line: the Speed Dial Pocket Deploy. As the name suggests, the knife has a fast blade deployment that happens as it is drawn from the pocket. This is the same technology used by Krudo Knives in that company’s SNAG system.

For years gun cases have been seen as nothing more than a receptacle used to transport firearms from Point A to Point B. Of course, they’re far more than that  for many of us. As someone who shoots and hunts for work, I can attest to the fact that my gun cases are about a lot more than just holding a gun. Cases end up holding paracord, knives, holsters, ammo – you name it, if it’s gun or hunting-related gear, it’ll find its way into the gun case. Enter the newest offering from Allen Company: the Gear Fit gun case.

For 2016,  KAI USA LTD announced a number of new Kershaw knives. Among the new folding blades are a pair of SpeedSafe opening knives: the Grid and the Identity.

Ontario Knife Company recently introduced a pair of new folding knives. The first is the Dozier Arrow knife, and the second is the Carter Prime.

Columbia River Knife and Tool introduced a wide range of new products for 2016. Among them were a variety of knives and other tools in its Tactical line. Here is a quick look at three of them.

There is more to building a complete kit – especially one meant for self-defense and/or survival – than just guns and ammo. Finding the right knife or more accurately, knives, is an important part of having everything you need (and not just for the proverbial SHTF situation but for the everyday stuff as well). If you’ve ever tried to find the perfect knife you know just how hard it is, though. For that matter, I imagine I am not the only person with a rather large crate of unwanted knives taking up a corner of their gun room. Now there’s a new option from Bear OPS: the Bear Swipe III.

Taylor Brands annouced a pretty unique item today from Schrade: Their new “Guide Master Sling Shot Full Tang Fixed Blade Knife”.  For a shorter moniker, SCHF39 is the model number.  What caught my attention was the fact that the knife’s sheath has a built in slingshot, spring loaded BB magazine, 2 sharpeners, a ferro rod, and a storage compartment.  The blade is made of 8Cr13MoV steel, which is good material for the value.

Kershaw recently introduced a new automatic opening knife called the Launch 6. This is the newest addition to the company’s Launch line of automatic knives. It has a 3.75″ blade, and the knife measures 5.1″ when open. According to the company, the opening button was recessed slightly to reduce the possibility of the blade opening unintentionally.

Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) recently introduced three new wooden knives that serve as both a project and training tool for your children. The kits are easy to assemble working models of three different edged tools: a traditional pocket-style folding knife, a fixed blade knife and a multi-tool.

Winchester was founded in 1866 and as you all know the legendary company is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. That celebration kicked off at SHOT and will be continuing throughout the year. Next on the celebration agenda is an anniversary safe which was part of the company’s booth at SHOT Show this past January.

New for 2016, Kershaw introduced the Barge knife: a folding knife that is actually designed to pry. At some point, nearly every knife owner has used their blade to pry something – even with the knowledge that this should never be done. As a result, many knife owners have broken (or at least bent) the knife point or full blade.

Everyday No Days Off posted this on facebook. I hope this was done as a joke. Who dances with a 5.11 sling pack? I found it humorous that he carefully puts his AR pistol down. He needs to practice a bit more if he wants to be more proficient. The finale with the pumpkin was just odd.