A Sanity Check Order of Knives for About 50 Bucks for My Birthday

S

Stahlmann

Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
382
I really needed a sanity check of sorts after reading so much about knives online this past winter. So many seem to believe that unless the blade is made from extra virgin Unobtainium 0427HiX-K2L(CXb5-XSa) and the scales from precision lapped chunks of meteors, a knife must indeed be "junk." Ya gotta wonder if they ever actually use a knife for anything other than buttering their toast?

I decided to place an order for about 50 bucks (closer to $53.00 including postage actually) in order to get free shipping (over $49.00) from an online retailer who provides a discount on your birthday (+/- a week), above and beyond any other discounts they might be offering at the time.

So for about $53.00 I scored a cool little Buck toothpick knife, regular and mini-sized sod-busters from Imperial, a cool little push dagger that fits my fist quite well from Schrade (I prefer it to my CS Safe Maker I) and a Bowie-patterned machete from Lasher Tool via Cold Steel.

Each arrived very sharp although the machete still needs to be honed/stroped. I've carried/used each of them except for the machete and they're performing quite well, thanks. Far better than I would have expected, given online comments about such cutlery.

Sometimes a "sanity check" is a good and important thing -- particularly when it comes to cutlery it seems... ;)

rVQg9rg.jpg
 
Last edited:
Happy birthday!

For me it hasn't been so much about the materials as much as it is about the brand. There have just been those manufacturers that I have never had good luck with, SOG folders for one. I have a price cap around $200. All my knives are users so if I pay too much for it I won't use it. One of my most trusted and abused knives was/is a Spyderco Tenacious I bought for $35 at Wally World. Carried it on duty for 5 years and cut many a seat belt with it.
 
mmyron1 said:
Happy birthday!

For me it hasn't been so much about the materials as much as it is about the brand. There have just been those manufacturers that I have never had good luck with, SOG folders for one. I have a price cap around $200. All my knives are users so if I pay too much for it I won't use it. One of my most trusted and abused knives was/is a Spyderco Tenacious I bought for $35 at Wally World. Carried it on duty for 5 years and cut many a seat belt with it.
Click to expand...
Thanks! What blew me away is the product quality level of the two sod-busters from Imperial. They literally cost the same as very cheap, American-made, drugstore pocketknives from when I was a child decades ago. Yet the quality level is so much higher! Same with the tiny Buck. What a cool little envelope-opener!
 
Knice $53 score - enjoy those knives and Happy Birthday!

I find if I pay more than a certain comfort level, I do not enjoy using the knives as much as if I paid less. For example, I have a Cold Steel 4-Max and a 4-Max Scout (or three) but if I am going to actually use the knife, I grab the Scout - every time. Arguably the 4-Max is a better knife because of "better" blade steel and better handle slabs but there is this certain I don't worry about it factor to certain knives that just make that particular knife more attractive to me as a use and thereby providing more enjoyment for dollar spent. I have knives sitting in the safe that hardly ever see the light of day but some budget-beaters that put a smile on my face every time I grab one.
 
Billy The Hungry said:
Happy Birthday, and great thread.

Many of us could get by with a $27 Ontario Rat.
It's about the passion, in our case. We love knives! And for those of us blessed to be able to afford the more expensive knives, all the better.

But those inexpensive knives are still great.
Click to expand...
If I wanted to get by on a single, low-priced knife, I would choose something with more bang-for-the-buck. Probably a Civivi Praxis.

Anyway, I really do hear what you're saying, but my point is this. If we adopt the "it had better be a Sebenza or better" mindset, we'll miss out on some really cool knives. Not just "really cool knives for the price", but some really cool knives, full stop. We also risk dissuading those who are just getting into the "knife-life" from enjoying some knives of astounding value.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, we're also at risk of not enjoying what SALTY SALTY most eloquently described as the "I don't worry about it factor." I'm not talking about thrasher knives either. I mean knives that are priced at a level where we won't be afraid to take them along with us, and then to really use them as needed.
 
Stahlmann said:
I really needed a sanity check of sorts after reading so much about knives online this past winter. So many seem to believe that unless the blade is made from extra virgin Unobtainium 0427HiX-K2L(CXb5-XSa) and the scales from precision lapped chunks of meteors, a knife must indeed be "junk." Ya gotta wonder if they ever actually use a knife for anything other than buttering their toast?

I decided to place an order for about 50 bucks (closer to $53.00 including postage actually) in order to get free shipping (over $49.00) from an online retailer who provides a discount on your birthday (+/- a week), above and beyond any other discounts they might be offering at the time.

So for about $53.00 I scored a cool little Buck toothpick knife, regular and mini-sized sod-busters from Imperial, a cool little push dagger that fits my fist quite well from Schrade (I prefer it to my CS Safe Maker I) and a Bowie-patterned machete from Lasher Tool via Cold Steel.

Each arrived very sharp although the machete still needs to be honed/stroped. I've carried/used each of them except for the machete and they're performing quite well, thanks. Far better than I would have expected, given online comments about such cutlery.

Sometimes a "sanity check" is a good and important thing -- particularly when it comes to cutlery it seems... ;)

rVQg9rg.jpg
Click to expand...
Just a quick update. I finally honed the machete. I was invited to go on a "hike" on a private ranch. After adding a bit of skateboard tape (I was afraid the polypropylene handle might get slick from sweat) I tossed the machete into my kit for the day.

Well, the "hike" turned into a rigorous bushwhack. Were it not for this machete we wouldn't have been able to use the (highly overgrown) "trail" we did.

I didn't lead the entire hike. But when I or anyone else was on point, they had this machete in their hand...

Nice job, Lasher Tool!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top