Sounds like a traditionalist type person? In the $150 range I do not know of many traditional type folders, many liner locks with pocket clips of superb quality though. Spyderco, Benchmade, and ZT offer some great knives with steel far superior to most older models.
I remember a Buck with three blades and black scales my dad carried for years that I have many memories of him using. His had gotten hot at some point and had his thumbprint melted into it.
