A dilemma.

I

Ipistol

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So i want a new knife. Im kind of tired of cheaper knives for my own personal carry (the videos i intend to do are a different story). But i cant bring myself to purchase any more expensive knives and i dont know why. Can you guys try to help me see the reason behind why i would spend 100+ on a knife. The high end steels mean absolutely nothing to me, a sharpened piece of tin would probably stay sharp long enough to do my cutting tasks for the day i very very very lightly use my knives i like them for more of a fun factor. Would get another bali but they are all way too much money imo.

I dont know if im just not ready for expensive knives or what. I have a itch for a new blade really bad, maybe im not knowledgeable enough yet to tell the difference between the 30$ knives and 150$ ones in terms of construction quality. Maybe i need a inbetween price?

So ive made some further decisions. Ill give something in the like 75$ range a shot but i want it to be kind of classy not too i wanna chop down the forest pocket machete. I want like a 3.5 inch blade and sturdy feeling knife that is acceptable for office carry.
I dont have a issue with pocket machete as long as it carries nice and stealthy lol. 4 inch blade limit in my neck of the woods.
 
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If you don't have one you could look at a benchmade grip. Great knives for the price. I find the biggest differences in price ranges translate to better steel, sometimes a bit better, sometimes way better. Overall quality typically gets better too as far as fit and finish, lock up, smoothness. And overall feel and function.
 
Let's see quality number 1, along with if The SHTF would you trust your knife not to fail? I look at it like this I cud get say 4-5 50 dollar knives and would they get me by my edc chores sure, but how long will they last???You can spend 50 bucks or 20 bucks whatever on a knife and it may last a few years, but you spend a little more and you have a lifetime investment. Also my SHTF thing if you needed your blade to do something that would no doubt probably save your life or the life of your lived ones, and I don't mean. Just a SD situation say a car crash and your trapped in your vehicle, or something like that would a cheaper knife get you out? Or would it possibly fail? Also remember you only get one life my friend so buy what you want, if you want a 2,000 knife and your bills are getting paid and ur not hungry buy it, no regrets...
 
I suggest finding a store that stocks Spyderco, Benchmade, or Pro Tech and handling a few for yourself. They're smoother, the materials are better; just everything about a quality modern folder is better than the cheap models.

Until you handle them for yourself, it is really hard to describe the benefits.

Fill out your profile, there is probably a store that stocks at least one brand of quality folders in your area, and someone here can point you in that direction (the part where it asks your location).
 
I was in the same boat as you not to long ago. Ive always loved knives, but never understood the fascination with knives over 50 bucks. Well, then I discovered TOPS knives, and now I get it. Do some research on what makes a knife quality, and then handle some quality knives, and you will understand why people spend so much on knives. Every person should have atleast 1 knife they can depend their life on.

TOPS street scalpel is what got me into higher end knives. 2.5" blade, .25" thick steel, gorgeous micarta scales, jimping in the right places, and a great kydex sheath. Ive had several different sheaths made for this one, for maximum versatility. My scalpel lives on my backpack strap for quick access while commuting around town via bicycle.
 
Yeah, that's a rather large gap. Let me tell you that there are huge differences between knives at those price points. By no means am I an authority on this subject. Up until a few years ago, I had no idea who Chris Reeve or Rick Hinderer were.

If you're looking for some kind of middle ground, various companies offer knives across the spectrum in terms of price. Take for example, one of my favorite brands, Kershaw. For the budget-conscious user, they have knives like the Clash, Tremor and Brawler ($20-30). Then you step up to their made in USA line which includes the Leek, Blur and Knockout ($50-60). And finally the hard-use, heavy duty tanks marked under their Zero Tolerance line. There's the 0301, 0550, 0801 and more ($150 and up).

Remember, half the fun of being a knife nut is trying out different styles to find what really speaks to you. In the end, only you can fully justify your purchase. Best of luck on the hunt, bro!
 
I should add at one point I was in the same boat as you. I figured, hey this knife cuts, good enough. Then as I started to spend more I realized the more expensive knife cuts too, it just cuts better, for longer, while being more comfortable and better looking while doing it. If you want a comparison I would say head to a knife store and test out a few blades. Pick up and handle a gerber bear grylls folder and a CRKT m16 or something similar. Notice the difference. Then pick up that same CRKT and a griptillian or something similar. Notice the difference. Do the same with that grip and a sebenza. It will all be fairly clear after that.
 
What do you carry now. I think you should answer that so people know what you are carrying and what is and isn't a step up from that in people's opinions. A nicer but not too pricy knife to me screams Spyderco Delica, Dragonfly, Used Benchmade mini grip, Kershaw Skyline or Buck Vantage in S30.
 
cchu518 said:
What do you carry now. I think you should answer that so people know what you are carrying and what is and isn't a step up from that in people's opinions. A nicer but not too pricy knife to me screams Spyderco Delica, Dragonfly, Used Benchmade mini grip, Kershaw Skyline or Buck Vantage in S30.
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I switch between a old gerber ez out a cold steel ti lite and a sog flash 2.

I dont even know where i would begin to look for a more expensive knife, i mean kinfecenter bladehq places like that of course but i mean i dont know what i would get. I live in Camden county new jersey. Not a knife shop around really the army navy stores all stock cheap Chinese no name or mtech stuff.
 
SOG Flash II is already a good mid-range choice in my opinion. I like mine. I also like many Cold-Steel products, though I do not own or have handled a Ti-Lite.

The old made in USA Gerber stuff really isn't terrible. Most of their stuff nowadays is besides the Gator line (just my opinion.) But I have an old EZ Out that I still like to carry sometimes.

Ontario knives makes a great folder, the Rat-1, for around $30. Many, many on here will tell you it functions like a knife with a much higher price, and I agree.

Some less expensive knives perform as well as some of the more expensive ones, really. It might be rare but there are gems.
 
Ipistol said:
I switch between a old gerber ez out a cold steel ti lite and a sog flash 2.

I dont even know where i would begin to look for a more expensive knife, i mean kinfecenter bladehq places like that of course but i mean i dont know what i would get. I live in Camden county new jersey. Not a knife shop around really the army navy stores all stock cheap Chinese no name or mtech stuff.
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Buy a Griptilian, or Endura, Delica, Centofante 3 or 4. Something under $100 with vg-10, 154cm, or s30v steel. Even D2 would work. Try it out, carry it a bit, and if you don't see a difference send it back. You can do this with online stores.

The difference between what you carry and what I have suggested is one of convenience and safety. Gerber and SOG are not really interested in a safe knife, so much as a knife that is "safe enough". Out of the three you carry, you will have to resharpen many more times per week or month, and will end up wearing down the blade faster.

VG-10 steel will hold an edge with constant hard work for a few days. S30V will hold an edge for a week or two. Gerber might hold an edge for a few tasks, perhaps a day, by comparison. When I say hold an edge, I mean it will slice paper and cut through things without you having to try hard, which is MUCH safer than struggling with a quickly dulling knife.
 
RemyKaze said:
Buy a Griptilian, or Endura, Delica, Centofante 3 or 4. Something under $100 with vg-10, 154cm, or s30v steel. Even D2 would work. Try it out, carry it a bit, and if you don't see a difference send it back. You can do this with online stores.

The difference between what you carry and what I have suggested is one of convenience and safety. Gerber and SOG are not really interested in a safe knife, so much as a knife that is "safe enough". Out of the three you carry, you will have to resharpen many more times per week or month, and will end up wearing down the blade faster.

VG-10 steel will hold an edge with constant hard work for a few days. S30V will hold an edge for a week or two. Gerber might hold an edge for a few tasks, perhaps a day, by comparison. When I say hold an edge, I mean it will slice paper and cut through things without you having to try hard, which is MUCH safer than struggling with a quickly dulling knife.
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Ill have to get searching
 
RemyKaze said:
Buy a Griptilian, or Endura, Delica, Centofante 3 or 4. Something under $100 with vg-10, 154cm, or s30v steel. Even D2 would work. Try it out, carry it a bit, and if you don't see a difference send it back. You can do this with online stores.
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Heartily second the Griptilian and Endura suggestions.

In addition to edge retention both are wonderfully ergonomic.
 
Get yourself a Benchmade Bone Collector.
It's only a little more expensive than the Grip, but it feels like a knife costing much more.
It 's absolutely worth the price.
 
Just buy a Strider or a Sebenza and be done with it. :)
 
IMO, for edc you're not missing anything. I've owned knives in the price range you're asking and some that were heavily touted on the forums. They all sit in a drawer. The reason, my SAK does everything I need a knife for and it does it BETTER then all other knives I've owned. Not to mention it's a lot more people friendly then say a spyderco military. I sharpen it about once a month which means stropping for less then 5 mins which is not that much maintenance. So edge holding isn't a problem for me and from you're post you use your knives less then I do which is multiple times a day at work. So what are you paying for? Better fit and finish and better materials. That's it. In the end, they all cut stuff. So if you want a spendy knife get one but you really don't need one.

And for the SHTF scenario, I'd take a multitool over a wannabe fixed blade anyday. ;)
 
Stick with spyderco and benchmade. By one according to the size of blade and handle as well as pocketability as that will be important. Generally the axis lock on benchmades are the smoothese opening but spyderco have the best ergos in that they have a knife and handle size combination that will fit someone out there perfect.

Personally I need to have at least one of each in the 60 to 100 range.

Don't forget to spend like 30 on a sharpening kit like a lansky 4 rod crox set...
 
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