I want a folding knife that can get away with most most of the things I know better than to do with a folding knife. That leads to specific criteria:

• Price: under $100, lower is better. I might break it.
• Lock: crossbar, backlock, compression, or something similarly strong. Not liner/frame/button. I might want to trust the lock more than is prudent.
• Steel: tough stainless like AEB-L, 14C28N, or Nitro-V. I might baton through salt-driftwood with it and put it away wet. See toughness chart.
• Blade: Ideally 3.25-2.5" (85-90mm) and a tip that isn't dainty. I might pry with it.
• Pivot: washers, not bearings. I might get mud in it.
• I dislike thumbstuds, but will accept them if they're not in the cutting path.