Petrified Fish Buun 868 Review: A $35 Folding Knife That Performs

Introduction

The Petrified Fish Buun 868 is a compact folding knife that sells for around $35, and it is one of the more convincing budget blades you can carry every day. It arrives sharp out of the box, it opens quickly from a flipper tab, and it handles real work without the loose tolerances that so often show up at this price.

Petrified Fish is a Chinese brand that launched around 2020 and built a following for inexpensive knives made with quality components. The Buun 868 follows that formula closely: D2 tool steel, stainless steel liners, and a handle that feels more substantial than the price suggests. It comes in G10 and Micarta handle options, with the G10 version offered in black, gray, and green.

The numbers keep it firmly in the everyday carry bracket rather than the heavy camp knife category. It weighs 5.1 oz, the blade measures 3.3 in, the handle is 4.5 in, and the knife runs 7.9 in overall when open. Blade stock measures 3.6 mm at its thickest point.

Who This Knife Is For

This is a knife for people who want a dependable daily carry tool without spending a lot. It suits day to day chores, general safety tasks, outdoor trips, and light duty everyday carry work. The blade shape and grind make it comfortable cutting cordage, opening boxes, breaking down tape, and slicing through packaging.

It is not a bushcraft knife, and it is not marketed as one. If your priority is batoning, heavy wood processing, or long sessions of carving, a fixed blade is the better answer. The Buun 868 is at its best as a fast, sharp folder that lives in a pocket and handles whatever the day throws at it.

It is also worth considering for anyone who likes a knife with a bit of presence. The weight helps the blade fly open with a flick of the finger stud, which is a genuinely satisfying detail if you open and close a knife many times a day.

Main Strengths

The first strength is the action. The flipper stud on top of the handle works extremely well, and with a little momentum the blade snaps out instantly. There is a thumb hole on the blade as an alternative opening method, but the flipper is the faster and more natural option here. The deployment is smooth with no hitches, and the liner lock has engaged cleanly every time without ever popping loose.

The second strength is the edge. The knife arrived razor sharp and has stayed that way through months of use. D2 tool steel holds an edge reasonably well while still being practical to sharpen at home, which is a better balance for most people than a steel that lasts longer but fights you on the stone. The full flat grind covers most of the blade, which keeps maintenance straightforward and makes the knife an efficient slicer.

The third strength is the overall value. For $35 you get D2 steel, stainless steel liners, a reversible deep carry pocket clip, a lanyard hole, jimping along the spine for control, and a handle that fits the hand nicely. The G10 scales are smooth without being slick, and they stay put during use.

The fourth strength is build quality. There were no scratches or imperfections on arrival, the scales line up with the liners precisely, and there is no blade wobble at all. For a knife at this price, that level of fit and finish is the standout feature.

Design and Build Quality

The Buun 868 uses stainless steel liners with a stainless steel liner lock, and the pocket clip integrates directly into the handle scales rather than sitting on top of them. That gives it a clean, low profile in the pocket. The clip is a deep carry design, and on the G10 version it can be moved to either side for left or right handed carry.

The blade itself is a modified drop point with a hybrid profile that sits somewhere between a drop point and a spear point. It is an unusual shape, but a useful one. The belly cuts and slices well, and a generous portion of the blade length is actual cutting edge.

Small details are handled thoughtfully. There is a textured pattern inside the flipper area that gives your thumb something to grip, D2 is stamped on one side of the blade and the 868 model number on the other, and there is a lanyard hole at the rear of the handle. It ships set up for right side carry out of the box.

Blade Performance and Edge Retention

In practice the blade has cut through everything it has been asked to cut. That includes cordage, boxes, tape, and packaging, but also less typical jobs: trimming bent plastic after a vehicle bumper was torn loose, and cutting ballistic fiber tent poles so a broken pole could be repaired and a trip salvaged. The sharpness and the blade belly made those repairs quick rather than frustrating.

D2 is a tool steel, and it offers mild corrosion resistance rather than full stainlessness. With a little routine care, wiping the blade down and keeping it dry, it will hold up well over years of use. The trade off is worth it here, because the steel sharpens to a very keen edge and does not demand a lot of time on a stone to get back there.

Because the majority of the blade is ground flat, touching up the edge is a simple job. A few passes on a water stone or a honing setup keeps the knife cutting the way it did on day one, which matters more than raw edge retention figures for most everyday carry users.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main consideration is weight. At 5.1 oz the Buun 868 has real heft, and there are lighter knives on the market. Some of that weight is what makes the fast flipper action possible, so it comes down to personal preference. If you want the lightest possible pocket knife, this is not it.

The pocket clip is the other thing to know about. Because it integrates into the scales, switching the clip to the opposite side means removing the scales first. That is a small job rather than a difficult one, but it is worth being aware of before you start. Reports also suggest that some Micarta versions do not allow the clip to be repositioned at all, so if ambidextrous carry matters to you, the G10 version is the safer pick.

Finally, warranty coverage is not clearly documented by the brand, so it is worth confirming the details with the seller before you order. Availability is generally good through major online retailers and the brand’s own website.

Buying Advice

At $35, the Petrified Fish Buun 868 is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a sharp, reliable folding knife without spending much. It delivers D2 steel, a full flat grind, a solid liner lock, and excellent fit and finish for the money, and it comes in several colors and handle materials so you can pick the version that suits you.

If you value a fast flipper and a substantial feel in the hand, this knife makes a lot of sense. If you want something feather light or you need a heavy duty wood processing tool, look elsewhere. For day to day carry, light outdoor use, and general cutting tasks, it covers the job comfortably and it looks good doing it.

Conclusion

The Petrified Fish Buun 868 is a no nonsense, budget friendly folding knife that genuinely performs. It arrives razor sharp, the edge is easy to maintain, the build quality is excellent, and the deployment is smooth. It has proven itself reliable and capable, and for $35 it is hard to argue with what you get.