Dreamtech sits in the part of the market that barely existed five years ago: real tool steel, a button lock, and a price under fifty dollars. The lineup is small and the differences between models are mostly handle material and blade shape, which makes it easy to pick once you know what the options are. This guide covers the whole range, what the specs mean in use, and which one to start with.
Who Dreamtech is for
If you want a knife you will not baby, that opens with a button instead of a thumb stud, and that you can replace without flinching if it goes down a drain, this is the category. What you get at this price is D2 tool steel, G10 or aluminum handles, and a pocket clip. What you do not get is titanium hardware, a bearing pivot polished to a glass finish, or a warranty department. For a knife that lives in a work pocket, that trade is usually correct.
The lineup
Dreamtech Black G10 Folding Knife ($39.99)
The baseline and the easiest to recommend. 4.25 inches closed, a 3.25-inch satin D2 blade, black G10 scales, extended tang, lanyard hole and a pocket clip. The size is the point: big enough to work with, small enough that it is not a decision to carry it.
Dreamtech Black G10 Button Lock ($36.99)
The cheapest way into the button lock, in the same black G10. If you have never used one, this is the model to learn on.
Dreamtech Blue Button Lock ($49.99)
The button lock with an anodized aluminum handle rather than G10. Slimmer in the pocket and colder in the hand, and the blue is the one people actually notice at a table.
Dreamtech Brown Button Lock ($49.99)
The same knife in brown, for anyone who would rather their knife not look like a gadget.
Dreamtech Jade Button Lock D2 Tanto ($49.99)
Tanto grind in jade green. The tanto's reinforced point is the reason to pick it: it survives prying and piercing that would roll a finer tip, at the cost of being worse at slicing curves.
Dreamtech Black Button Lock D2 Tanto ($49.99)
The same tanto in black, which is the version that sells to people who carry at work.
Dreamtech Black G10 Linerlock ($39.99)
For anyone who would rather have a liner lock than a button. Mechanically simpler, one less thing to clog with pocket lint.
Button lock or liner lock
A button lock puts a plunger in the handle that drops into a notch in the blade. You press it to close, which means one hand, no fingers near the edge, and a satisfying click that explains most of the category's popularity. A liner lock bends a leaf of steel behind the blade instead; it is simpler, thinner, and you reach into the knife's path to release it. Buttons are more fun and slightly more to keep clean. Our lock comparison goes through all three.
What D2 steel gives you
D2 is a tool steel, not a stainless, and it behaves like one. It holds an edge noticeably longer than the budget stainless in knives at this price, and it takes more work to sharpen when that edge finally goes. It is semi-stainless, which in practice means it will not rust in a pocket but it will spot if you leave it wet, so dry it after a day in the rain. For a working knife that gets sharpened a few times a year, D2 is the best value in the steel chart.
Which one to buy first
Start with the Black G10 at $39.99 if you want one knife that does everything, or the Black G10 Button Lock at $36.99 if you specifically want to try a button. Choose a tanto only if you pry and pierce more than you slice. The aluminum-handled models are the ones to pick if you care how the knife looks, and they cost ten dollars for that.
Frequently asked questions
Is D2 a good knife steel?
Yes, for the money. It holds an edge longer than typical budget stainless and is harder to resharpen. It is semi-stainless, so dry it off rather than leaving it wet.
What size are these knives?
The Black G10 is 4.25 inches closed with a 3.25-inch blade, which is the middle of the everyday carry range and legal to carry in most of the United States. Check the rules where you live before you carry any folder.
Do they come with a pocket clip?
Yes, every model ships with one.
Button lock or liner lock for a first knife?
Button, if you want to enjoy using it. Liner, if you want the simplest thing that works.
How do these compare to QSP or Bestech?
QSP and Bestech sit a tier up in finish and steel choice, and cost roughly twice as much. Dreamtech is the one you buy when the knife has to survive a job site rather than a collection. See best QSP knives and best Bestech knives for the comparison.
The bottom line
The Black G10 at $39.99 is the one to buy first: D2, a pocket clip, and a size that disappears. Add a tanto only if your work calls for the point.
Related reading
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