BD1 is not premium and not talking about proliye but rather in folders on or around $100-200. And by the way out of those the 3V, 20CV and Damscus would be premium. S35VN and XHP would be medium in my book.
Look at Spyderco/Benchmade have some awesome steels at ~$150-200
The only premium steel folder i see is that one that Demko design forget name but something like 20max or something like that. And while it may be the thoughest folder its way to have to be an EDC. At that weight might as well have a fixed blade
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I really like Spyderco too, Benchmade not so much. They always have "different" designs and use steels others don't. That being said, I'm not sure I know what in the sam hell they're doing as far as pricing. For instance the Lil Temperance. I was excited when I seen it was being released, but then my catalog came in and I saw the pricing, the LT isn't the only "are you kidding me?" priced folder. They instituted MAP last year at 60%. The LT which weighs 4 oz, has a just under 3" blade, S30V steel, and has an MSRP of $319.99. At map that's $191.99- no that is not a joke. I wish it was. Add in that it's made in Japan (the only place that has given me consistent problems with gritty actions and bad grinds) and the LT is a complete no go for me.
So I can get better "premium" steel, more of it, on a knife that requires more machining time, that's got skeletonized liners, and is made in the USA for $75 less? This isn't the only knife either. I have no clue who's doing the pricing but they're betting that on some fairly outrageous pricing when compared to knives in their own line up (let alone a competitor) that those asking prices will fly. They won't for me but I'm only one guy.
Now that CS has switched to CTS-XHP, I hate to say it but I haven't bought a single Spyderco. My first was a Recon 1 but the Broken Skull has been my EDC since the day it arrived. It beat out all of my Spydies, including the PM2, Endura, and Manix 2. Weight, edge retention, and size are just right for my uses. I still own quite a few Spydies but every time I want a new folder the comparison occurs and CS gets my money. Not only that but CS's XHP holds a edge longer for me than Spyderco's S30V. Ankerson's tests also seem to have the same outcome. Below are some "Premium Steel" Spydies and Benchmade test results along with the S30V.
CTS-XHP - 540 - Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter - 63.5 RC - .020" behind the edge
S30V - 300 - Spyderco Military - 60 RC
CPM M4 - 500 - Spyderco Gayle Bradley - 62.5 - .022" behind the edge
S90V - 460 - Military - 60 RC
S90V/CPM 154 - Para 2 - 460 - ? RC
S90V - 600 - Benchmade 940-1 - 59-61 RC - .018" Behind the edge
M390 - 400 - Benchmade 810-1401 Contego 60-62 RC
Unfortunately Ankerson hasn't ran as many tests on Benchmade's and Cold Steel's offerings. If it isn't heat treated to a high enough hardness premium steel loses the advantage that it should have. So you are literally paying more for less performance. Add in that the prices for CS folders that are in the same size range as Spyderco's offerings run between $10-$20 less or more and things really get difficult to justify. Benchmade is even worse, now that they've disco'd their HK line I have almost no interest in anything they make.
I didn't want to give Cold Steel a chance and I thought it was a bad idea for them to switch to a more expensive line up of steels. They were the "budget hard user" company and switching seemed silly. I was wrong, and I'm so glad that I gave them a try. Price to performance and performance in general is just as good as every other maker. Fit and finish has been very good although I can't say that it beats Taiwan Spydies, they are just insanely well finished. I just wish they made more US offerings, other than that CS has my business unless something drastic happens.