What automatic knife is a good steel and sturdy? I don't mean a hand forged, expensive as a diamond ring sorta thing.

Check out Spyderco in Golden

Protech.
C.G.B.

I don’t like autos, but the side opening ones are much better than the out the front ones imho. Kershaw are the best value of the worth a damn category.
https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/automatic.html

This may be in the 'diamond ring' category, but I like DiamondBlade. Sharpest damn knives on the planet as well.

I've carried broker Kalashnikovs for years, I really like them and they are a great value for the price.

I should have posted this earlier, sorry! I received a Beast Blade auto knife as a gift from our daughter and SIL. It has a damascus blade and is really hard, as well as being very sturdy. These knives are made here in Colorado and when my SIL puts them on display at his NAPA auto parts store they fly off the shelf.

I've got a Pro-Tech that I've carried for years and really like it.