Anyone get disenchanted?

I think when anyone is contemplating upgrading their carry gear weather it be a knife, light, multi-tool or hand gun it should be mandatory to go and read this thread. LoL

I have wasted many of dollar on seeking the perfect set up when I had it right to begin with.

-Swiss Army Tinker small.= I have 8-9 swiss army knives and love this one the most it was my first cellidor model and should have been my last.
-spyderco UKPK. = I have 10 spyderco knives totaling to $500.00+ dollars but love the UKPK the best it was my second spyderco after a endura which I still have
-Leatherman Wave. = I have a number of multi tools with 2 more on the way as I type this but I always go back to the ole standby Wave when looking at my selection
-4sevens mini123. = I have 5 high end flashlights totaling to $300.00+ dollars and my 35 dollar mini is carried everyday
-Fisher space pen. = I have tried a few cheap pens but I actually got this one right from the get go and do not intend to try anything else
-Glock 26. = first Glock I ever bought and I could have stopped with that. Now I own 5. in IDPA I can hold my own with my 26 just as good as my custom G34 in Sharpshooter
-Beretta 21A bobcat = First Conceal carry gun I ever bought, sadly I sold it and wish I never did. I will own another one day until then I will just mope around crying about it and wasting money trying other guns to replace it. lol


Hope someone reads this and can look thru the Hype of all the new Guns, Lights, Knives and Gear that the industry puts out every year and see what truly is a Good item and not just media hype.
 
I have to agree with Carl mostly on the things issue and I have my moments where I have purchased excessively for no particular reason other than I thought it was a good brand. Gosh. Ask my wife if I like things? I just got a tablet computer (or better phrased that I was talked into one at Verizon). The sales guy said... get rid of the Kindle. I say, my Kindle is so much lighter and I am more likely read a book on it. The Kindle stays and it's a 3G version of the Paperwhite. I actually intend to move away from hardbacks and paperback books almost completely as time goes on. Haven't figued out what I will use the tablet for other than email and maps yet. The larger screen is nice for that, but I can do both on a smartphone.

Never took the leap with motor cycles. Deep down, I knew I'd probably kill myself and what's the good of buying something that you feel you'll probably kill yourself with it? Wife pretty much said the same thing as she knows how I drive. I'm still interested in a scooter that will be comfortable at normal highway speeds.... but I can't see what I need it for. Groceries? Nope Trip to the mall... nope. Walmart trips? Nope. What if I buy something that I can't carry on it? School? Nope. Drive to work? Nope The only thing I could see myself using it for is rides out in the country sight seeing and messing around... This would be in places like the Great Smoky Mt NP. Be a lot of fun there. So, how often do I actually do the sight seeing thing? ...couple of times a year. Not a justification for a scooter at $5K. I can burn a lot of gas in my car or truck for $5K.

Knives.... hobby interest and I am steadily buying more expensive knives with some really inexpensive ones thrown in for the fun of it. But for the most part I can get by with my favorite SAK (111 mm) and frankly it's always in my pocket so it gets 90%+ of the use regardless if I have a custom knife on me also or a high middle end folder like a ZT, I still grab the SAK. Have to admit, I really like my ZT 0770CF. It works for me just like a good GEC slip joint works for me. So, what am I saying here? Knives are still a growth hobby for me as firearms have slipped a few notches.

Guns.... yep. I like the better stuff. Wouldn't even consider buying a Hi Point. But my true love are 22's and I have a fair sampling of available 22 revolvers, a few semi-autos, and a number of pretty good rifles. I consider a CZ "pretty good" where as some might consider most of their models to be really expensive for "just a 22". Yes, I did the Python thing.... a Python was my very first centerfire revolver.... I sold it to buy 22's, :) Now I have a Colt Trooper Mark III in 357 that I really like as well as bigger caliber revolvers.

Fishing stuff... now I do like pretty good gear here and I'm willing to buy the better basic equipment. I keep spare rods and reels. You do ocasionally break one and it is usually because I wasn't paying attention... like closing a car door on a rod tip. Reels wear out.

Boats... would love to own a nice boat for the lake. But I know that I would not likely use it more than once a month at best. Why spend $25K, or $18K for something that I would use so little and they certainly don't hold their value. I am not a person who enjoys working on motors.... hence I see a boat as a money pit for maintenance, accessories, and so forth. A middlin $ canoe would be okay and I wouldn't feel bad leaving it unused for a year. But how often I would use this.... not often, couple of times a year more than likely.

Watches.... my Dad was a Timex guy and I guess I'm a Casio guy. But I still want a better mechanical just because for the most part. Have the quartz electric area covered with two functional watches.

Not trying to impress anyone with these "things". Most people would not even know I own a knife more expensive than a SAK, a watch more expensive than a G-Shock Casio, or a gun beyond a 22. Folks do notice my fishing gear, but I would guess they are like me and like pretty good stuff. I have grand children younger than my pickup that I drive all the time... even ones in high school. Bottom line is that I like fairly good quality stuff, but I have to understand what the quality does for me rather than just buying a certain brand.
 
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The OP is talking about expensive stuff that doesn't work as well as the cheaper stuff does. As a lot of the subsequent posts state, some of that expensive stuff is actually pretty damn good. And, while mid-range gear is usually good enough for most people's needs, the cheapest crap is crap. And, a lot of that expensive gear is expensive for a (good) reason.

I try to keep my acquisitions in the mid-range, as it suits my budget better, and the quality is often more than sufficient for my lifestyle. I've been known to go a bit overboard at times, although a lot of that can be corrected after the fact (by selling gear). And I've regretted the cheap crap I've bought much more than the expensive crap.

Expensive stuff that falls apart is no good, but expensive stuff that performs similarly to mid-range gear is sometimes worthwhile, as it can bring more happiness than mid-range gear, which thereby reduces the wandering eye/empty wallet effect of wondering whether your gear is good enough, and constantly buying slightly improved models. E.g., a Sebenza might not cut too much better than a Spyderco, but since you expect it to, you aren't constantly looking for a "better" knife, so you don't buy so many.

Sometimes buying expensive quality gear at the outset saves a lot of money and frustration in the long run. Imagine if you had bought a handful of really good knives in the beginning, instead of hundreds of cheap knives, and then dozens of good knives, and then a handful of really good knives.
 
I got over 130,000 miles out of 2 BMW bikes, and the paralever fork and ABS braking saved my bacon several times. I crashed a Triumph and haven't returned to riding, but I dont regret my choices. I'm not a big fan of BMW cars, though. I can understand the pragmatic skepticism over bling indulgence, but sometimes I can see those feelings as a little bit of the 'sour grapes' rationalization too.
 
Hmmmmm......Well, I come at this from an interesting angle.

I'm a medic. When I need my gear to work, I need it to work. My boots are Haix, clothing is 5.11, etc. I carry a nice flashlight. My watch is a well made, great product for the money Timex IronMan. When it dies I'll get a Gshock, but I can't get the dang thing to die. Inexpensive but not cheap.

The thing is, I spend most days on shift with 22+ of 24 hours in boots. In July I'm working 10 24 hour shifts and 8 12s. See where I'm going? I was tired of buying $80 boots every nine months. The Haix were $300, but I can send them in for refurbishment for $75 and they will look like brand new. My socks are Darn Tough brand, $9/pr but lifetime warranty. My boots can not decide to fall apart when my hands are full wading through a creek or hiking in a half a mile to my patients. (True story. If you fall off a horse, please try to do it next to the road) Dark as heck in the middle of nowhere is not the time for a flashlight to fail. I design my knives around the same principle. My gear has to work every time or I or others could get hurt.

Off duty, I buy good shoes and have an ll bean watch with lifetime no questions asked warranty. Perfect for me. When we bought our new washer I bought one I could fix instead of an all digital one. Not top of the line, but I can fix mechanical, not digital. My car is a 1993 Civic. Crappy, yes. 38 mpg and a breeze to work on, heck yeah.

So I guys that's my philosophy. I don't buy based on name and I could care less for name brand whatever. I buy good stuff that will last or that I can fix when it breaks.
 
not2sharp said:
Unfortunately, we live in a disposable society. A couple of generations back it was important to buy good quality items from well established brands. It assured that you would have ongoing access to spare parts and service so that you could always count on carrying a reliable product. But those days are largely gone. Just try to find a local repair shop for most of the things you own. 99.99% of the stuff cannot be economically repaired, it is just not designed that way. The infrastructure for quality products is not what it used to be and you can probably get a lot more reliability and efficiency from disposable products.

n2s
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I agree things are not made to get fixed anymore. Even cell phones, most of those components on the electronic board have a 1 year estimated lifetime.
 
The law of diminishing returns, my favorite economic principle. I've backed off in alot of my gear. Used to be a Sebenza, now I carry a spyderco. Less than half the price for 95% of the fit and finish. I still try and will pay for quality...sadly it's often hard to find anymore. Lots of companies have chased the dollar and let their products suffer. (if you were around, Gerber in the 1980's made some of the best knives available. Now....not so much.) I carry a zippo, because I can make it work, but I carry a bic as a backup. I wear a G shock watch. New bands every couple of years. This one is my third, my first is still in a closet somewhere working, the second I put on a velcro band and is probably still keeping perfect time some where on the bottom of the Atlantic...not sure if I'll ever need to replace my current one. Since I found the first G shock, on the bottom of a lake still working, I've spent less than $200 total on watches/bands/batteries in the last 15 years. My craftsmen tools haven't yet let me down...I'm not a mechanic so I can't justify anything beyond their lifetime warranty. (I think I broke a screwdriver once.)

Many people try to 'buy skill' in their gear and such. Tiger woods had played more rounds of golf by the time he was twenty than most people ever will. Dropping big money on a new set of clubs won't make you an expert. Spending a couple thousand on a custom rifle isn't gonna help you make the 300 yard shot if you don't put in the range time. Same deal with knives, that Busse chopper isn't gonna turn you into Daniel Boone if you spend most evenings watching TV and eating chee-tos...or cruising Bladeforums. You may have the best pack for the Appalachian trail, but the trail doesn't hike itself. Owning a Porsche doesn't imbue you with driving skills, an expensive camera doesn't make you a great photographer, etc.

My philosophy is to buy quality, but only as much as I require. I also try to be honest with myself. I want to know the reason I am buying something...the real reason...and sometimes I buy things just to inflate my ego....don't we all?

Grizz
 
Experience has taught me about value. A $15 Mora is a great value for what it can do. A cheap Chi-Com made red dot is money wasted no matter what it cost.....

I've gone the custom 1911 and Hi-Power route. I've owned a Python Ultimate, an original Python Hunter and had more custom rifles done than I can count. I've dumped all of 'em over the years because I've learned that Glock 19, a 10/22, an 870 and maybe a 'Smith M&P 15 will do all that I require from a firearm.

I only have a couple of handmade knives left - both from Robert Hankins. They do what a knife is supposed to do - they cut like lasers and cost less than upper end factory knives. The rest of my knives are factory (Esee, Becker, TOPS, Benchmade and Kershaw) or semi-production knives like Bark River and Battle Horse. I have purchased (and sold off) my very last custom. I've owned knives from a whole host of famous (and lesser known makers) and none of them cut like my Hankins, Bark Rivers or Battle Horse knives do.

I currently have three dead Seiko watches sitting in my dresser. Had most of them repaired at least once. They're still dead. My next watch will be a Timex.

Optics are where I draw the line on economizing. Leupold, US Optics and Trijicon are all pretty expensive. They all also work well enough to be totally worth it.

I've finally gotten to the point in which the "snob factor" is not only meaningless, but actually somewhat repulsive to me. I now base my purchases upon product performance in terms of reliability and durability balanced against the cost. Hell, I can buy about a dozen Glock 19's for what one 1911 from a top custom gunsmith will cost. Is it really worth it? Not to me.
 
When I was younger, and had more disposable income, I went thru a stage where I bought high-end watches, pens, and knives, you name it. It was a pleasure to procure and use it all, no denying it!

Then the years marched on...older...married...kids...college. You know the drill. I gravitated back to Timex, Buck and Old Timer knives, etc. Simple, affordable, well made. The expensive stuff sits in boxes and drawers. Lost its allure.

Perhaps that "acquisition" phase of life is necessary, not for the items themselves, but for the experience and perspective.

One concession: I still have a chrome Cross pen that I use regularly. It's a bit beat up, but works well and is like an old pal.

Next step: divesting myself of all that expensive stuff...another chapter....
 
Carl,
Great topic.
I think it is easy to get disenchanted if you are not a sentimental old jerk like me. Most of the things I have, have stories that go with them. I try to pass those stories down. Does a brand always represent the latest, greatest, superwhatever? No, but there is usually a story that goes with the decision to buy it. We live a few short years, but we can pass our stories along to those who follow.

Edited to add examples. My youngest son is 6 years old. We have a box we keep our knives in. He knows Grandpa Dennis's first knife, a case fixed blade. He knows my first hunting knife, an Uncle Henry folder. He knows Grandpa Ed's hunting knife, an Marty Brewster custom. He knows Bubba's (nickname for older brother, Nathan) hunting knife, a Kabar little finn.

I do not think any of these is the super edition, but Luke knows them all and the tales that go with them.
 
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That's why I'll research here or other forums for feedback.

And I like the Honda reference, I sold a 2008 civic last year (2013) and it went from $21000 to $15000 in 5 years (I put 85k miles on it), it had another 10 years easy, but I needed a new car. Hate Hondas but love them at the same time. Very few cars you can drive that long and still hold resale.
 
I like it. Funny. I have put over 170,000 miles on my little 4 cyl Toyota pickup in 13 years. Needs a little work right now but it's worth it. I expect, yes EXPECT, to get 250,000 miles out of this thing. I used to drive it to work every day, now it is for mostly highway driving when I'm alone, light hauling, or I'm looking for better gas mileage as compared to my work vehicle (van). I imagine it's worth $3k still. But I don't really care. I do know what it would cost to replace it with a new one.
 
I've become so disenchanted that the first of this year I quit buying newly manufactured traditionals. The large number of knives that need to be returned for whatever reason: ie: poor F&F, poorly done scales/handles, weak springs, blades not centered or even close to centered. Just the total lack of QC. The cost of sending a knife back; ie: postage, insurance and my super pet peeve- restocking fees. Then the things that simply disgust me; ie: pins buried so deep in a handle that dirt and debris collect in this huge cup drilled out of the handle. One could grow tomatoes in these holes. This surely is a weak point in adhering the handle. Then there is the fight that ensues when the dealer or manufacturer won't fix, repair or even take the knife back. Don't even get me started on Boker and there deceitful marketing practices. I'll end it here as I could go on and on and on.............
I'm in the vintage and hands on buying market alone.

I'm so sorry for the rant but this thread has been in the front of my mind since the day it was posted!
 
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Oh yeah. I'm in that phase right now. Its difficult to keep myself from selling all of my high end type stuff and get cheaper but good quality stuff, but I know I'd regret it.
 
ALLHSS said:
Oh yeah. I'm in that phase right now. Its difficult to keep myself from selling all of my high end type stuff and get cheaper but good quality stuff, but I know I'd regret it.
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Well, there is "cheap", "inexpensive" and a well performing tool. I have been down the road of paying more believing I was getting more. More overall quality, more attention to fit and finish, and a more responsive customer service department. Like any other product, this simply isn't so. Sometimes it is true, but paying more isn't a guarantee you will get more.

That being said, there are a ton of good, hard working traditionally patterned knives out there in stainless and carbon that make me happy that don't cost an arm and a leg. IME, often the fit and finish on some of the lesser price brands exceeds the higher end stuff.

I am also on the wagon of "if I can't see it and handle it, I'm not buying" for domestic knives.

Robert
 
Sid Post said:
Do you get disenchanted with a Ducati motorcycle? First, understand what you are getting with your purchase. If you want low cost of ownership, very little maintenance, etc. you have made a poor choice. People don't buy Ducati's because it has the reliability of a Honda, low cost of a Suzuki, etc.

Teutonic reliability or needless bling? Bleeding edge technology usually comes with some drawbacks. High price and lower reliability are just a couple out of many. On the flip side, why are so many taxis in Europe a Mercedes Benz?

If you are buying a mechanical watch for high reliability better timing precision, again you have made a poor choice and purchased for the wrong reason. For me, it's less about being a watch and more about being a piece of functional art. Whether someone else likes my "art" or not is irrelevant to me personally.

In the end, I want quality. What qualities I value depends on what I am buying and why I am buying it. There is a place for a cheap gel pen or rollerball and there is a place for a nice fountain pen. Understand why you have each and where they perform best to avoid disenchantment with having the wrong tool at the wrong time and place.
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Well said, Sid.
 
Ed T said:
I do not think any of these is the super edition, but Luke knows them all and the tales that go with them.
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I'll flip ya! Heads or tails? Tales it is!!

I like good tools. But I don't go overboard on it, but the trend is to get better stuff. So, yes, often the less expensive stuff works nearly as well, but often won't last as long with use. So, value is a personal judgement. I wish I could pay Black & Decker prices and get DeWalt quality..... and both are manufactured by the same company as I recall.
 
22-rimfire said:
I like it. Funny. I have put over 170,000 miles on my little 4 cyl Toyota pickup in 13 years. Needs a little work right now but it's worth it. I expect, yes EXPECT, to get 250,000 miles out of this thing. I used to drive it to work every day, now it is for mostly highway driving when I'm alone, light hauling, or I'm looking for better gas mileage as compared to my work vehicle (van). I imagine it's worth $3k still. But I don't really care. I do know what it would cost to replace it with a new one.
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I had a 1978 Toyota Hilux pickup truck (w/ 20R 4 banger) with over 430,000 (434,000 IIRC) miles on it. In the summer of 2012 my son sold it for me while I was in Afghanistan. The man who bought it changed the oil in my driveway and drove it off.
 
Le Fermier said:
I've become so disenchanted that the first of this year I quit buying newly manufactured traditionals. The large number of knives that need to be returned for whatever reason: ie: poor F&F, poorly done scales/handles, weak springs, blades not centered or even close to centered. Just the total lack of QC. The cost of sending a knife back; ie: postage, insurance and my super pet peeve- restocking fees. Then the things that simply disgust me; ie: pins buried so deep in a handle that dirt and debris collect in this huge cup drilled out of the handle. One could grow tomatoes in these holes. This surely is a weak point in adhering the handle. Then there is the fight that ensues when the dealer or manufacturer won't fix, repair or even take the knife back. Don't even get me started on Boker and there deceitful marketing practices. I'll end it here as I could go on and on and on.............
I'm in the vintage and hands on buying market alone. I'm so sorry for the rant but this thread has been in the front of my mind since the day it was posted!
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Yup. Why I buy mostly vintage knives too. About the only knives I'll buy new now are Victorinox SAKs. They've nailed QC and CS.
 
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