Are $400 knives worth it?

Yes, some knives are worth it. When one considers that you can buy a very nice .357 revolver for $400, buying a knife is an interesting proposition. I've been thinking, for example, of buying a Cold Steel XL Estrada! Now that's one chunk of knife! You pull that out of your pocket and people can't believe you got such a knife in your pocket. And it's beautifully crafted and polished.

The thing is, does the knife just grab you? If you do, of course it's worth it. And if you want to pay that much for a tiny knife, well, it's your $$$. The thing about the Espada XL, though, is its size and intimidation factor. It's polished, and the fit and finish is astounding. In an end-of-the-world apocalypse, the Espada would be worth its weight in gold. A Sebenza...well, not so much. An Espada also would cut very well, and chop. It also would be a great knife for self defense. Again, not so much with the Sebbie. Finally, a Sebbie might very well cost you $400+. An Espada XL can be bought for $269 and, in my opinion, is a much better knife.

An expensive revolver is expected to shoot better than less expensive ones. Not so with knives. Sebenzas are made with exacting detail, but they cut no better than $40 knives. For several years a Spyderco Native with an S30V blade sold for $40 whilst a Sebenza with an S30V blade sold for 400+. Both cut equally as well, though some gave the "edge" to the Native. But the Sebbie has a nice titanium frame which, alas, doesn't affect its cutting ability.

The bottom line is that money sometimes doesn't have a lot to do with performance. Some expensive custom knives with Damascus blades are absolutely gorgeous. Not so much with the Sebbie. And some knives are old and made by knife makers long dead, and they have increased in value. Me? I don't much care for the Sebenzas if you can't tell, but I don't have $400 to blow, either. And many people do, and until the government makes us manufacture knives with rounded tips, they'll buy anything they want...and many of them will buy Sebenzas! Still, there are, in my opinion, many drop dead gorgeous knives out there that are easily worth $400

DamascusHunter_3.jpg


This knife is NOT worth $400, and I don't know how well it's made. I spent $65 on
it because I liked its looks. And so do many of those who I've showed the knife to.

.
 
For me no.
I do everything on a budget so i can actually do everything. My other hobbies are guns, woodworking, metal working, landscaping, book collecting, etc. Budget is king!

Doesn't keep me from drooling over a $400 knife though.
 
As has already been said, what does worth it mean to you? I own and use knives from inexpensive up to and including my most expensive, a CRK Umnumzaan. I like them all to varying degrees.

I used to be afraid of messing up a knife I spent $35 on because I thought that was a lot of money for a knife. Now my Zaan is one of my EDC user knives. My Toyota cost over $20,000. I drive it every day over all kinds of roads. Many people like Rolex watches. I do not, but that's me. It's worth it to them, and if they can afford and enjoy wearing them, why not? It's not always about showing off a status symbol, either. I like what I like, and I know I'll enjoy owning my knife more if I carry and use it. In the end you can't " take it with you," anyway.
Jim
 
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.
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+1. This.

I used to be completely against the Sebenza type knives on principle. I just felt like they were an obscene status-symbol, bleeding dry the wallets of young guys with too little self-control and too little self-esteem... and usually too little money, frankly.

Now I've modified that view... slightly. I realize that there are folks who genuinely appreciate the engineering quality and detail in a fine folding knife. These are true knife enthusiasts who know their knives and materials. For them, it is about the respect and love for artisans and makers who dare to reach the pinnacle of excellence.

On BF, I honestly think the former group outnumbers the latter group by a factor of 100. So on a moral level, I still dislike the Sebenzas for their negative social impact, especially on young people. A Sebenza isn't just a knife; it represents something. Much like a BMW represents something. And that "something" is something I don't like. But I've started to understand the latter group a bit better... and accept them.

Just my dos pesos.
 
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mctrinket said:
If you're talking about a big hunk of high-end steel...then, yes, absolutely. $400 is cheap.

Also, folders are typically more expensive. Just like watches. It costs money to do it and do it right.

Buy a cheap knife; get a cheap knife.
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After spending eight years and way too much money in this hobby, the best EDC that I've found is an auto-lock OLFA.
For an everyday utility knife, it's got the best blade steel, blade geometry, sharpenability (as in, grinding on a new edge), handle design, opening/closing mechanism, and locking mechanism that I've ever seen. It just doesn't have a pocket clip, and it doesn't make sandwiches very well.
The best utility knife in the world will cost you $10, and once you've ground through enough of a blade to need a new one, that will cost you a whole $0.50 (or less, since you can buy a 50 pack, several lifetimes worth, for about $20).

I still enjoy owning high end folders as examples of premium technology and craftsmanship, and it is possible that the ZT0560 may do one or two things better, but as far as pure cutting implements are concerned the point of diminishing returns starts very, very low.

(Also, a good machete is better at chopping wood than a big knife, my Chinese mechanical watch tells time better than your average Rolex, 50lbs of oatmeal is worth $10, and bottled water is usually just someone else's tap water).
 
Magnaminous_G said:
+1. This.

I used to be completely against the Sebenza type knives on principle. I just felt like they were an obscene status-symbol, bleeding dry the wallets of young guys with too little self-control and too little self-esteem... and usually too little money, frankly.

Now I've modified that view... slightly. I realize that there are folks who genuinely appreciate the engineering quality and detail in a fine folding knife. These are true knife enthusiasts who know their knives and materials. For them, it is about the respect and love for artisans and makers who dare to reach the pinnacle of excellence.

On BF, I honestly think the former group outnumbers the latter group by a factor of 100. So on a moral level, I still dislike the Sebenzas for their negative social impact, especially on young people. A Sebenza isn't just a knife; it represents something. Much like a BMW represents something. And that "something" is something I don't like. But I've started to understand the latter group a bit better... and accept them.

Just my dos pesos.
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Interesting viewpoint. I've owned a large and small Sebenza, both of which I ended up selling here because they just didn't speak to me. It had nothing to do with the price. I'm not rich by any stretch and very few people ever see or even know about the knives I own. I pretty much only share them here on BF and even then it's only a knife here or there that I show. I pay for these things because I truly appreciate the craftsmanship and design.... All the way down to my $20 Douk Douks!
most of the knives I own are at about the $200 mark. A couple of my favorites were much less, but that doesn't make them less valuable to me. I have to admit that the hunt for a specific knife is sometimes more fun than the knife itself. I even have a few that I shelled out a ton of money to ship from Europe, not to mention just finding them and translating web pages in the quest to get them. They are still prizes in my collection though most people here could care less about them. 2 years ago I probably wouldn't have spent the money, not to mention the research, on a lot of the knives I own, but it's fun and I can afford it. $400 for a knife? Sure, why not?!

Price isnt what dictates a user for me but sometimes availability is. I use almost every knife I own at one point or another but if I know I can't replace it, I'm usually very gentle with it.

Of course, everyone here has a different idea of what too much is to pay for a knife. Even if you buy an expensive knife, not to use but just to appreciate its aesthetics or beauty, there's nothing wrong with that (as long as you are able to afford it). Anyone who says different...... Well, different strokes for different folks!

Buy the dang knife already!
 
if you expect it to blow your mind when you touch it you'll be sorely disappointed. Does it feel higher quality than say, a $50 knife? Depends on the knife but most likely it will. Does it feel $350 better? Only you can say.
 
It may be worth it to you. This is one of those personal and subjective things that are up to you. Just as a rule of thumb, the more money you have, the more you can comfortably spend. Then again, the more money you have, the less need you have to blow it on conspicuous consumption or "useless" collections.

At least knives aren't ceramic hippos, you know?

If I had it all to do over again, I would certainly pare down what I bought. It wasn't until I started buying knives and using them that I got to appreciate different qualities of knives. How do you know in advance which one is going to work for you?

At this point I wouldn't mind putting some money in a paper wheel sharpening system and tune up what I have the best I can. After that, it's time to add another kitchen knife block, a few specialty knives, and then kitchen tools. I'm pretty sure I'll go back through my kitchen knives and replace several with higher quality items. I'm not sure I'll spend $400 on a single knife... that would be tough. I can bone a chicken, slice a steak, pull a pork shoulder, chop vegetables, and I don't go a whole lot farther than that. I don't carve radishes in rosette patterns. I'd rather have a set of $3 corn cob holders than a $400 radish art knife.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a $400 pasta maker, though.

To each his own.
 
Yes, it's totally worth it. It will take you to faraway places of magical dreams. Where women scream your name in rapture and men hail you with respect and honor and join in chorus as they sing of your awe inspiring, legendary feats with your knife. And those men who mean you ill will, shall cower in fear at the sight of you with your $400 knife...that was just waiting to be said...

but in all earnest...

If its more than a tool to you, embodies a certain spirit, belief, ideology or you just choose to let it represent your character...if you can appreciate the time and dedication it took to craft that tool in your hand...if when you use your knife- the thought of how much you spent on it and what other thing you might have been able to buy does not cross your mind, but is instead filled with joy at having a wonderful tool in hand that connects with you while functioning at it's intended purpose...if yes, then it's worth it. It's for you to decide.

By the way, I have a CRK Umnumzaan that I'm selling on the exchange for about $400- and it's worth it.
 
$400 is a very reasonable price for a knife that you will enjoy and actually use.
 
For 400 I can see spending that much on a custom hand made knife but not on a production model. A production knife maybe 100 dollar bill would be reasonable. There are many makers that offer folders liner and frame locks for 400. Support a maker and buy a custom hand made knife
 
I personally would never pay anywhere near that for a folding knife. However for a really nice fixed then it would be more reasonable for me to
 
I personally believe there are knives worth $400 out there, and I've been carrying one in that price-range (a wee bit less, actually) since early 2006. That being said, I'd love to find a knife in around the $150 mark that kept my interest for more than a few days before I was taking it out of my pocket and going back to my "go-to" knife. I also believe anyone on this Forum can afford a $400 knife if they really want one. They just have to discover the lost art of saving up for it. For me, the neat thing about saving up for something, is that it gives me the time to decide if I really want what I've been saving for.

I'd be very interested in knowing how many Forum members have gone back from owning Striders/CRKs/Hinderers to mid-priced knives. And when I say this, I mean no longer own $400 knives at all, not just not carrying them.
 
For me, definitely. I can pick apart ANY piece of gear. I don't buy any outsourced knives & certainly prefer USA made. Ive had broken Omega springs. I don't really like some of the tiny screws that Spyderco uses. I don't like Kershaw's designs. I think ZTs are ugly. Sebenzas are perfectly made & I LOVE the minimal overall design. Same goes with Striders. To me they are worth it because they are readily available & really pull off what they are all about. I don't have money falling out my arse, but at the end of the month I could eat out less, go to the bar less & ride my bike making a $400 knife actually very affordable.
 
If you pay $400 fora knife and are happy with that purchase, yes.
Worth has so many definitions that vary among people, so as long as both sides of the transactions are honest and happy, sure.
 
I don't think I have ever bought a knife and felt like "it wasn't worth it" when I had it in my hand. Every $400+ knife I've had it has blown my mind when I first held it.
 
If you can afford it, which sounds like you can, I'd say go for it. I was in your shoes once & now every time I pick up said $400+ knife it brings a smile to my face. Every time I take it out it cheers me up. Just make sure you pick out the one you really really want so you can appreciate its build quality and the features your paying extra for.
 
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