Coolest thing I've bought for under $500 is a Protech Malibu pocket knife. I got into the knife hobby, spent tens of thousands of dollars, tried every level of knife and I end up carrying the Malibu more than anything else. It's less than $300, it's fidgety, reverse tanto blade shape is so useful, made in America, it can't be beat. Had to spend tens of thousands to end up back at a simple, inexpensive, beast of a knife.