Petrified Fish Buun Review: A $35 Folding Knife That Earns Its Place

Introduction

Budget folding knives usually ask you to accept a compromise somewhere. The Petrified Fish Buun is interesting because it asks for very little. It is a compact flipper with a D2 tool steel blade, textured handle scales, stainless steel liners, and a liner lock, and it sells for around $35.

Petrified Fish is a mainland China based brand that started a few years ago, building its reputation on inexpensive knives assembled from quality components and loaded with features. The Buun is a good example of that approach: the spec list looks like something from a much more expensive knife, and the execution holds up in daily use.

Who This Knife Is For

The Buun is built for everyday carry. It handles the ordinary jobs that come up through a day and through light outdoor use: cutting cordage, opening boxes, slicing tape, breaking down packaging, and trimming material in a hurry. The blade measures 3.3 inches, the handle 4.5 inches, and the knife is 7.9 inches overall, which keeps it compact enough to disappear into a pocket while still giving you a full grip.

It is not a bushcraft knife, and it is not marketed as one. If your work involves batoning, heavy carving, or sustained wood processing, this is the wrong tool. For general utility, repairs, and light duty carry, it is very much in its element.

The flipper tab makes it a natural choice for anyone who values fast, one-handed deployment. The blade comes out with a quick push of the index finger, and there is a thumb hole as a second option if you prefer that technique. Riders who like a knife with a little presence in the hand will appreciate the 5.1 ounce weight, since that mass is part of what makes the action feel so positive.

Main Strengths

The strongest argument for the Buun is balance. It pairs a blade steel that holds a working edge with a grind that stays easy to maintain, and it wraps that in a build with no obvious weak points. For the money, that combination is difficult to beat.

Blade Performance and Edge Retention

The blade is made from D2 tool steel with a thickness of 3.6 mm at its thickest point and a full flat grind across most of its length. The profile is a modified drop point, somewhere between a drop point and a hybrid point, and it is an unusual shape that works well. The belly slices cleanly, and the majority of the blade length is cutting edge, so there is very little wasted steel.

Out of the box the knife arrived razor sharp, and it has stayed that way through months of use. D2 holds an edge for a reasonable stretch of work without becoming a chore to bring back. That balance matters more than raw edge retention figures: a steel that sharpens easily is more useful day to day than one that holds forever but resists every attempt to restore it. The full flat grind helps here, giving a wide, consistent bevel that is straightforward to work on.

In practice the blade has handled cordage, boxes, tape, packages, and heavier material without complaint, including cutting through plastic and ballistic fibre during field repairs. D2 is mildly resistant to corrosion rather than fully stainless, so a little attention keeps it in good shape, but it is a fair trade for the edge behaviour.

Build Quality and Deployment

Fit and finish is where this knife surprises most. The scales line up with the stainless steel liners precisely, there were no scratches or imperfections on arrival, and there is no blade play at all. The liner lock engages firmly and has stayed put through extended use, with no sign of the blade working loose.

Deployment is smooth and fast. The flipper tab sits on top of the blade and the action benefits from the weight of the blade itself, so a flick of the finger sends it out cleanly with no hitches. There is light jimping on the spine near the pivot, enough to give your thumb purchase when you are pushing the blade into a cut, and a textured pattern inside the thumb hole that adds grip for the alternative opening method.

The handle scales are comfortable in hand: smooth without being slick, with just enough texture to stay put. The deep carry pocket clip integrates directly into the scales and is reversible on the G10 version, and there is a lanyard hole at the rear for anyone who wants it. The model number, 868, is stamped on the blade alongside the steel designation.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Buun weighs 5.1 ounces. That weight is a large part of why it flips open so convincingly, but it is worth being honest about: there are lighter knives on the market, and if you prioritize the lowest possible carry weight, this is a point against it. Whether that matters is a personal call.

The pocket clip is integrated into the scales, so moving it to the opposite side on the G10 version means removing the scales first. The knife arrives set up for right side carry. This is a small job, but it is worth knowing before you buy. The Micarta version’s clip is reported not to be reversible, so if swapping sides matters to you, the G10 version is the safer choice.

The brand’s own website does not list warranty details, and availability of Petrified Fish knives has historically run through marketplaces and the company’s own store. If a formal warranty program is important to you, that is worth confirming before purchase. On the plus side, the company’s reputation since its launch has been built on inexpensive knives with quality components rather than on aggressive marketing.

Care and Maintenance

D2 is only mildly corrosion resistant, so a little routine care goes a long way. Wipe the blade down after use, keep it dry, and avoid leaving it stored somewhere damp for long periods. A thin protective film on the blade is enough for most users.

Sharpening is one of the easier parts of owning this knife. The full flat grind gives you a broad, consistent bevel to work with, and the steel responds well to standard sharpening without demanding specialist equipment. Touching the edge up before it goes fully dull keeps the work short, and the blade geometry makes it simple to maintain a clean angle by hand.

Buying Advice

At around $35, the Buun sits in genuinely affordable territory while offering D2 steel, stainless liners, a liner lock, a reversible deep carry clip on the G10 model, and a flipper action that feels well beyond the price. The knife is available with either G10 or Micarta scales, and the G10 version comes in black, grey, and green.

If you want a knife that opens quickly, arrives sharp, stays easy to sharpen, and does not need to be babied, this is a straightforward buy. Choose the G10 version if you want to be able to move the pocket clip. Choose Micarta if you prefer that handle material and plan to carry the knife on the right side as it arrives. Either way, budget for a small sharpening stone or a honing rod to keep the edge in condition.

Conclusion

The Petrified Fish Buun is a no-nonsense, budget friendly knife that delivers on performance. It arrives razor sharp, the edge is easy to maintain, the build quality is excellent, and the deployment is smooth. It is a capable daily carry blade for everyday chores, personal safety, outdoor adventures, and light duty tasks.

It is not the lightest knife you can carry, and it is not the most stylish, but at this price it looks good, comes in multiple colors and handle options, and has proven itself reliable over months of real use. If you are shopping in the budget folding knife category, the Buun is worth serious consideration.