Are $400 knives worth it?

K

kram115

Joined
Jan 21, 2011
Messages
130
The most I've ever spent on a single knife is $200 and that was because it was a long discontinued Spyderco. I was planning on getting the tuff but the dimples killed it for me so now I have an extra ~$250 to play with. I'm running out of stuff I want and I really like the looks of the strider sj75 but I've never paid that much before. Convince me it's ok to drop $400 on a blade!

Edit: Wow, thanks for all the quick responses! A little more info to guide your advice: I'd be spending the same amount no matter what, just on multiple knives instead of one. I generally only use my knives to open packages and other light tasks so the overbuilt nature of a Strider is wasted on me; I just love the look! Also, I'm more asking is the sj75 worth it's price? Thanks again, and keep the advice coming!

Update: Got a SJ75 and it was worth every damn penny. Absolutely my favorite knife ever.
 
Last edited:
That's totally subjective. For me, it would be No. I couldn't see myself EDCing a $400 knife. I'd be afraid of losing it, or damaging it, but that's me. Money doesn't grow on trees around here and with a young family, knife purchases are carefully thought out.
 
If you can afford it without hurting your other financial obligations, then go for it. If not, pass.
"Worth it" is entirely in the eye of the beholder.
I sometimes carry expensive knives. But I also love a good $20 SAK. Both are "worth it."
 
No "knife" is worth $400.00 imo, yet most of mine cost as much and more. It's just pride in ownership of something that's a little different than the rest.
 
Go for it, you can always sell it later and if you get it off the exchange you probably wouldn't even lose money. I thought I was crazy when I bought a SnG, but it was totally worth it. Now if I can just convince myself that I need an XM-18.
 
Guyon said:
If you can afford it without hurting your other financial obligations, then go for it. If not, pass.
"Worth it" is entirely in the eye of the beholder.
I sometimes carry expensive knives. But I also love a good $20 SAK. Both are "worth it."
Click to expand...


True, if you will not miss that $400 then go for it, if you will then just don't because it's more than one can afford.

It's really that simple.
 
I have a couple of $400 knives and IMO - one is totally worth it and one is not. But that is my opinion. Worth is in your mind.
 
I can carry a fixed blade in my AO, so I don't buy expensive folders. I just think I can get an excellent EDC blade without paying for an expensive hinge and lock. In the end, I spend less and have a stronger knife. Just my $.02.
 
First let me say that I own 3 Striders and I like them very much. But I've gotten as much, or more satisfaction carrying and using less expensive knives.

As Guyon said if you can afford it without hurting yourself financially then go for it, but don't expect a $400 knife to be magical.
 
Lots of them are, yes. I can think of a few which aren't. But, I can think of more off the top of my head which are very much worth the work that goes into them.

All I can say is, do your research?
 
That is a question only you can answer. Where do you draw the $ line; $100, $200, $300, $400, $500 etc... My lines are getting rather fuzzy, but I can honestly tell you that for me, I feel more comfortable using $100 (or less) knives a lot more than the $400 variety. But many proudly carry Sebenza's and they are pretty expensive folders to me. I whip out my SAK. If I mess it up (chip the blade badly or whatever) usually doing something I shouldn't with a knife, I get one of my spares.
 
I look at knives almost like cars. All knives are designed to cut, just as all cars are designed to get you from point a to point b. It is a whole lot more fun to drive a Corvette than a Vega.
 
I've been buying knives for over 20 years and I still couldnt answer that for sure. Bottom line is I end up carrying and using my production knives more. Wish I could be more blase about carrying an expensive knife but I struggle with it. I DO carry my customs but not as much. That said, I am now looking for a custom that will be a dedicated user. End of story. I will say that a $100 production will perform just as well as a custom knife costing hundreds of dollars more. As long as its a Spyderco. :D
 
JPD1998 said:
First let me say that I own 3 Striders and I like them very much. But I've gotten as much, or more satisfaction carrying and using less expensive knives.

As Guyon said if you can afford it without hurting yourself financially then go for it, but don't expect a $400 knife to be magical.
Click to expand...


That also translates into use, if one is worried about damaging it they couldn't really afford it to begin with.

Like I posted before, if the person won't miss that money at all then go for it, if they will then get something else.
 
Buffalohump said:
I've been buying knives for over 20 years and I still couldnt answer that for sure. Bottom line is I end up carrying and using my production knives more. Wish I could be more blase about carrying an expensive knife but I struggle with it. I DO carry my customs but not as much. That said, I am now looking for a custom that will be a dedicated user. End of story. I will say that a $100 production will perform just as well as a custom knife costing hundreds of dollars more. As long as its a Spyderco. :D
Click to expand...

Spydie's are good knives.

I am also at your point. I can generally afford what I want to afford. But there is that little voice in my head that says... why use a $300 knife when I can use a $75 knife?? I generally can't handle the $10 > $20 knives that many buy. If I damage an expensive one, I am probably going to be kicking myself in the butt for the next couple of days or longer. It would be a constant reminder of making a bad choice. BUT, like you, I want to carry a better knife and use it. I just purchased a Dozier K-42 fixed blade with a 2.5" blade ($250-$300 price area) that I have intentions of carrying as an EDC and using but not abusing the heck out of it. I'll still have my SAK for those uses where I might cause damage.
 
Last edited:
IMHO if your buying a knife as a tool then no. At a certain price point the price tag exceeds the functionality of the tool. However, if your buying a knife as a piece of art then yes. The mona lisa has horrible edge retention but look at the price tag on that :)
 
I think there are users and collector's pieces. Where my conflict comes in is I hate the thought of knives just sitting around not being used. So I like to carry them all but I use the pricey ones gently. Actually I use most of them gently. I dont have a lot of call to abuse knives, as a desk jockey.
 
I find the trick is to just buy it. After using it for a while, I find I forget just how much I spent on it, and use it regularly.
My advice is to go for it! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top