Are expensive custom knives worth it?

If you've got $100M to buy an original Picasso, $1k for a knife wouldn't matter all that much. ;)

I'm a collector of production knives and would not buy a custom knife at any price.

The most I'll pay for any production knife is $400 (including tax/shipping) and the cost of any knife that I'd use (or have used) to cut more than just paper would NOT exceed $100.

Most of the knives in my collection cost more than $100 but even so I still have many cheaper knives available for selection, including but not limited to my Swiss Army knives, Buck 110/112, cheaper production Kershaws/CRKTs, Artisan Cutlery blades, Byrd Spydercos and a variety of cheap kitchen/fishing knives that are all good enough to cut/slice anything that my Stanley utility knife or a simple box cutter can't handle.

The actual "need" for Ti handles/frames and premium steel blades for any normal cutting task is exceedingly overrated but that doesn't prevent me from collecting such knives even though I will never "use" them.
 
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Well, I bought a $25 dollar Lightning OTF and recently, a $270 Gaurdian Tactical 035 Recon OTF.
Uh, there is a massive difference in quality so, yes..worth it.
 
I only bought one custom knife and it was only a notch or two above junk. It arrived dull, the blade tang wasn’t even on both sides, the sheath was very cheaply made, it looked like a 5 year old made it.
 
After watching many episodes of Forged in Fire, I would buy ONLY from proven and well-known custom knife makers. For others, I think I am more willing to trust production knife manufacturers.
 
SW-EDC said:
Well, I bought a $25 dollar Lightning OTF and recently, a $270 Gaurdian Tactical 035 Recon OTF.
Uh, there is a massive difference in quality so, yes..worth it.
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A significant difference in quality is expected when considering a $25 knife vs a $270 knife; but, with all respect, those examples are still on the inexpensive end of the spectrum; and they aren't custom bowies.

To address the original question, as has been said, "how much is too much?" is a very subjective thing. Would I spend over $1000 on a bowie that I planned on using? No, probably not...but I am not enamored of the style, and the form isn't the most functional FOR ME. I only have one knife that I consider a bowie - a Randall that I ordered about 20 yrs ago - and I've never used it (for the above stated reasons). I have purchased, and used, more expensive fixed blades...but, again, it comes down to what you want. For what you've described, I would put the most emphasis on function, while still keeping an eye toward aesthetics. There's nothing wrong with wanting nice things...or with wanting them to still be nice after years of use. Figure out how much you are willing to pay for the knife you want, keeping in mind your intended usage and degree of risk. I look forward to seeing what you end up with.
 
Superfine custom knives looks better when they are not used. Draft village smith style knifes may look better when they are used a lot. So, it depends how do you use your knives.
 
Sure it is reasonable. What do you think those mega-ball winners spend all their money on, Corvettes?

Until I get the winning ticket or Readers Digest shows up at my front door I'll stick with my Spyderco Bill Moran.

 
It all depends why you are buying a custom. Because you cant not find what you need in a stock item to fit your needs or you want a show item. I have 6 custom made Bows (traditional - wood and fiber class). They are pretty. They are made to give me better performance at my draw length. Bought them to hunt with.

Rich K.
 
IMHO, once you get over about $150 you start getting into diminishing returns on objective quality, and start getting more into subjective quality -name brand value, etc.

To have a hand crafted knife by a well known craftsman holds a certain value independent of the actual objective quality of the knife, and I think you will find many knife aficionados that have such knives that have never even been used for anything other than showing off. I know of one knife collector with a quite extensive collection of customs, who does not know what steel most of his knives are even made of, and doesn't care. But he knows who made them and they look pretty.

And don't get me wrong, I am not saying there is anything wrong with that. Some knives are literally works of art and should be appreciated for their aesthetics.
 
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knifejuggler said:
More specifically, how much is too much to spend on a custom knife that you intend to use? Should you really pay over $1000 on a handmade bowie knife that you plan to take in the woods with you?

The reason I ask is that I was recently looking into have a custom bowie knife made. I saw prices that ranged from about $200 all the way up to $5000 or so. A lot of them were somewhere in between, around $2000. Take Gaetan Beauchamp, for example, absolutely beautiful knives, but I can't help but think they look a little too pretty. To pretty for use, that is. Are these considered "Art Knives?" How much is actually too much for a goodlooking bowie that I plan to use and expect to be fully functional, if not tough?
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I'm a LOT prettier than any of those knives and worth considerably more. I have no problem dragging my butt around the woods without fear of usage and scars.
 
Only you can answer this question ,
some people happy with $5 knife some with $10,000 .
spend what you comfortable with and use it , enjoy it .
knife should be used ( in my opinion ).
 
Virtually any outdoor tool is going to get marred somehow with use. The first scratch on your hard won rifle, fly rod, canoe, or knife is going to be painful. Take that into consideration when you are shopping. Everyone has a different pain threshhold, but I leave nonfunctional outdoor cosmetics for the wealthy.
 
knifejuggler said:
More specifically, how much is too much to spend on a custom knife that you intend to use? Should you really pay over $1000 on a handmade bowie knife that you plan to take in the woods with you?
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No, I would not. I would not pay $1000 for a knife that I intend to take to the woods and use (at today's prices).

The cost of things as has been mentioned is totally relative to your ability to pay for it and your personal sense of value. If I paid $5000 for a knife, there is no way I would even cut an envelope open with it. Hence, I would not buy it, period.

I collected guns for years and I know about amassing a pile of value or worth. So, big deal.... you have a collection with a liquidated value that would allow you to buy a house? How does that help you when you want to go to the grocery store and buy groceries or pay this month's mortgage or car payment? With knives, I absolutely will not buy a knife that I am unwilling to use.

I have been through this with knives costing much less than $1000. It is not something that I am willing to deal with any more. Willing to use and using are two different things....
 
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Since OPs real question doesn't seem to be so much "is this worth the price" it seems to be a question of at what point is it an art knife and not a user. I feel OP wants a user but want to spend the money for a high quality user and some people have mentioned specific names for that which is great. For the OPs question that I see I can't answer it without viewing the knife or knowing more about what the design of it is. I will say the more ornate and flashy it is the closer I would put it to art knife particularly as the price goes up materials used are important too as some are not as well suited to use as others.
 
It comes down to your priorities. I do not need a gold plated tools to deal with simple everyday problems; so I tend to carry knives that I need not worry about. Whenever those perceived needs change I am prepared to go with better knives that are best for the task. The prices may be set high or low, but the value of the individual knife depends on its suitability for the task.

n2s
 
People that use knives for a living buy quality knives but would never pay anywhere near the amount as people that collect knives for a hobby would.

Every full meat worker at a slaughter house (I live near an abattoir), full time retail butcher, full time hunter I know uses something like a rather inexpensive Dick knife. Top chefs pay litle more for their knives.
 
If your a collector only, then yes. If you’re a user, then no. Anywhere between $200-$500 you can get an awesome performing custom knife with sheath.
 
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