Are $400 knives worth it?

Magnaminous_G said:
What made you decide to sell all your knives?
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That I can only use one at a time, they just sat there doing nothing. A whole lot of cost with 0 benefit.

(I probably could have worded it better, I didn't actually sell "all" my knives, just "nearly all").
 
Sonnydaze said:
I've never understood this line of thinking. With a pocket clip, I've never worried about losing a knife. I don't know how it would get stolen as long as I keep my pants on. I carry my Umnumzaan as easily as a Spyderco Caly3.
Sonny
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I've lost several pocket knives carrying them (though none had pocket clips). I don't know how but it has happened. I'm not as worried about a knife being stolen from my pants but there is still a chance of it being pick pocketed. I realize I'd most likely know if someone was trying to steal something right out of my pocket but for an expensive knife, I'm just not willing to risk it when I have cheaper knives that while may not be as well made as the more expensive one, do just fine for EDC tasks. That being said, I don't even own any $400 folders or EDC knives, but it doesn't stop me from wanting a couple if only just to have them simply cause the knife appeals to me.
 
If you are a serial knife buyer, as many on this forum are, there is another way to look at it: is it better to buy four $100 knives in a year, or one $400 knife? Only you can answer that, but I know which direction I prefer.
 
I prefer to buy several $400 knives, but then I have to sell off stuff to pay for them.
sonny
 
Sonnydaze said:
I'd be really interested to hear which "production" knife you consider to be of higher quality...
Sonny
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Better for what?
Ergonomics? Edge retention? Blade geometry? Bushcraft? Slicing thick materials? Cold weather use?
You have to specify what categories of "better" you want.

But how about the Umnumzaan, to pick a CRK knife? I like it WAY better, and Chris Reeve at one point said something about it being the next evolution of the Sebenza idea.

Not that I consider the Umnumzaan the "best" either though.;)
 
Magnaminous_G said:
I have no problem with people spending their hard-earned money in whatever way they want. Heck, it's their money. But let's make a few points on personal finance clear. An investment provides a return or appreciates in value. Stocks are an investment. Property is an investment. Precious metals are investments.

A Sebenza is not an investment. It's an expense like the television you mentioned, except that a television is not a "bad investment"... rather, it's not an investment, at all. And I have seen plenty of threads in the "for sale" forums where Sebenzas were price reduced several times before selling. At best, a Sebenza is like a bank deposit account, but one that yields no interest and is easily lost or stolen. If people want to buy Sebenzas, then more power to them. But call a spade a spade. It's a rich man's game.

As for refusing to save for retirement because you might die early... I'm just speechless. If you were a new member who joined BF today, I'd swear you were joking or trolling. Tell that to the guy who's 55, lost his job after the recession, and can't afford to put gas in his car. Ask him if he regrets not saving more for retirement.
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Ping! Lost my job at 60, went unemployed 2 years, sold off my knife collection to pay the bills, took a much lower payiing job and am slowly re-acquiring the knives I loved. I wouldn't trade any of it for a well planned retirement portfolio. It's all real life experience. Spend your life worrying about saving for the future or live in the moment. I have most of the mid line knives now that I want and am saving for a really expensive one. When I have enough for a Strider I'll order up a large standard Sebenza. Or maybe the micarta inlaid Sebenza. Worth it? to me it is.
 
Ankerson said:
That also translates into use, if one is worried about damaging it they couldn't really afford it to begin with.
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Just like those a$sh*13 in parking lots that use two parking stalls instead of one because they don't want their BWM's to get scratched up.

I like to leave one of these on their windshields.
http://www.youparklikeanasshole.com/files/notice_1.pdf

As for is it worth it? Not for me, but I don't have that kind of money to spend on a knife. If you want it, and can afford it...go for it!
 
stabman said:
I think that this may have been a joke.

But this ain't: Happy Canada y'all.:thumbup:
(I mean "eh" ;))
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Yeah, sometimes the ridiculousness of forums throws off my sarcasm sensor. :p

Hope all the Canucks are enjoying the long weekend :very_drunk:
 
I think the sj75 is definitely worth it. It has displaced my minicqc7 as my edc and the fit and finish is on par with any Chris reeve knife I have (umnuumzaan and mini Seb) I say go for it, you can always resell it but I almost guarantee you that it will make you start selling other knives to finance more striders!
 
I have some expensive customs but shed my collection of those which are too pretty to use. If I own a knife I either use it or am planning on selling it. If you don't want a $400 knife that's fine but I think you are missing out on something. I just picked up a Regulus for exactly $400. Once you get a knife like that in your hand you either just get it or you never will. I never owned a production knife that I just can't stop playing with; opening, closing, fondling, admiring. It's a sickness that I don't want to be cured of. Plus the updates, communication, work in progress photos... a knife like that feels very personal.

Buy a custom that you like and, as others have said, if you want to get rid of it you most likely can make your money back or trade it for something else that strikes your fancy.
 
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It depends on its intended purpose. If its a limited edition that will aprreciate 30% to 100% after it is unavailable from the facotory then yes. If you intend to use the knife for non-extrem uses that knives were actually intended for then hell no! Enlan makes low cost folders that do all my routine cutting tasks without failure. I could and do purchase sprint runs of brand xyz to open the same letters and boxes. I buy both expensive and budget knives because I like them both but certain premium features like super toughness and extreme edge retention are not features I "need". I have strops and stones to take care of the edges. As far as "destruction proof" feature (does not exist), I don't use my knives that way. YMMV

unklfranco

Unklfranco
 
Some here who wouldn't spend $400 on a knife would easily buy 20 $20 knives over a year or two. Shoot, I've seen (name a production brand) fans who have 50 to 100 knives in their collection and wouldn't spend $400 on a knife. Does that make sense to me? No? I agree with someone who posted earlier that if I'm goin to spend that much I'll have a custom--- and although some may want to spend their $2000 on 50 production knives , I'd rather have 5 or 6 customs that I carry and use and can easily resell or trade. THATS JUST MY OPINION. Knives can be a piece of metal with a wood slab, and cut stuff. Knives can be a joy to collect. Knives can be investments, and fun. Knives can be a waste of money, and put you in the poor house. Whats your intention?
 
I know exactly what you're feeling.

When I bought my first Chris Reeve Sebenza I looked at it and asked myself the same question. I had a serious case of buyer's remorse. That's been a few years ago and I still carry my small Sebenza daily.

Quite simply - it's the best knife (folder or fixed blade) that I have ever owned. No more buyer's remorse.

It IS worth it to buy the best quality that you can afford.
 
It's an individual thing in the end so opinions will very based on finances, needs, wants, likes and dislikes.

It's a question that only one can really answer for themselves.
 
Another thing to factor in here is the psychology of the buyer.

The VAST majority of people that have spent over $400 on a knife really have to convince themselves it's worth it.
So it's not that they are exaggerating how good something is just to brag, many times they actually trying to convince themselves.

Then there is different priorities to different people.
My Sebenza really struggled to keep an edge on harder woods, after 1 week camping the blade edge felt like it was lightly serrated.

My cheapo Ritter Griptilian keeps and edge for longer under more stress.

When you open both knives though there is no doubt that the Seb feels smoother and better quality wise.

So if you spend more time opening and closing your knife rather than using it, a higher priced knife may well blow your whistle and ring your bells.
If you class a knife purely as a tool to get a job done though then there really is not much gain to be had performance wise going much over $100.
 
Ankerson said:
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.
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Exactly :thumbup: if you can afford it get it but don't expect fireworks and a halo around it when you open the box
 
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