Are expensive knives worth it?

[braillediver]

Perception is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

The answer is simple, it’s been said thousands of times here on this forum and millions of times if you add in all the other knife sites on the inter web. (Ooh, I like makin’ up my own, unsubstantiated statistics, I can see where that can become addictive.)

Anyway, for the 1.5 millionth time, “Only you can answer that question. The question of value is totally subjective and varies from person to person.

A brand new starett 1” vernier micrometer is the most basic micrometer you can get. No digits readout just a vernier that most people don’t know how to read. They go for anywhere between $100-$170 online from that place that starts with a smilin’ A.

Does the $150 starett really outperform the $10 harbor freight one? Is it worth the higher retail price? If you asked me I’d say it sure is, if you asked my buddy he’d buy the $10 HF one and use it till it breaks then replace it.

I still have the Staretts my Old Man left me. Between the calipers, micrometers and dialtest indicators there’s probably close to $1K in precision measuring tools.

Were they worth it? Of course they are, at least to me. My Old Man always told me to buy the best you can afford when it comes to tools, spend the money and buy it once, cheap out and by the time you get a quality tool you’ll gave spent 2-3 times what you would’ve if you bought the best you could afford from the start.

Ain’t got the money? Save up for it, you’ll find its worth it at least IMHO.

the other corollary that also gets thrown around here a lot, “It’s your money, spend it how and on whatever you want. “

BTW, I didn’t answer the poll because I think the poll is biased toward the forum it’s posted in so your poll really serves no purpose other than to cause friction between the two different factions, the ones who do and the ones who don’t.

I don’t think the sometimes vote will amount to much. You either do or don’t there is no middle ground. Knives like Sebenzas, you either love them or hate them as soon as you handle one. Expensive knives don’t grow on you, at least not in my experience.

The TL;DR version.

No point in voting, I don’t think the results will be accurate but rather skewed leaning towards the general feelings of the overall forum you posted it in.

 

[dsalazar]

You get what you pay for. To a certain extent. Sometimes you do pay for name. But usually name has been built up by quality product. There are exception.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

Uuh, yaaa!

If for no other reason, because it is a beautiful, well made item.

 

[Horizon7]

Are you having trouble reading the extremely informal data as well? Perhaps sit down yourself (not in front of YouTube or insta).

This is why we can't have nice things.

It's an issue for a very small amount of knives. Mistakes happen, just like any big manufacturer.

The real problem is the blatant bashing of a respected manufacturer that the vast, vast majority of customers have no problem with. Then, the trolling of said satisfied customers. Be careful of whom you choose to agree with on this. Obvious trolls don't make good bedfellows.

You clearly don't understand the topic at issue.

 

[Quiet]

You clearly don't understand the topic at issue.

Dude. Seriously, take your garbage ZT witch-hunt somewhere else. Criminy.

 

[22-rimfire]

The point of diminishing returns is a significant one when choosing a knife. You have name brands, various locking mechanisms, various steel from what has become fairly basic like VG-10 to really higher end stuff. M390 comes to mind, but there are arguably better steels used in folding knives.

If the price point on the ZT bothers you, take a look at LionSteel and Steelwill. Good stuff! You won't really be able to tell any difference from a ZT in terms of overall features and quality. You will still be pushing ZT pricing.

I have been there and back and I am settled into medium priced knives ranging from about $75 to $200 (mostly under $150). Really like a recent addition in the Kizer Vanguard Duke (liner lock, 3" flipper in VG-10) priced below $100. Steel could be higher end, but it functions nicely, cuts well and sharpens up well.

 

[hexenjager]

Dude. Seriously, take your garbage ZT witch-hunt somewhere else. Criminy.

Did somebody say witch hunt?

 

[aji1]

Unlike with, say, audio equipment, spending more is not necessarily going to make the item better at the tasks you put before it. The sound quality of my $400 Westone W40s absolutely destroys the $90 Shure headphones I had previously, and the Shures are leaps and bounds ahead of, say, stock Apple earpods. This kind of linear quality relationship relative to price does not exist with knives, as my $45 Stedemon is going to cut a thing just as well as my $170 Spyderco Vallotton - the most significant difference* is that the Vallotton feels better to operate and looks better with the more elegant design and materials.

I agree with you in general, but I have a lot of money invested in both recording and playback gear, and, honestly, I can’t think of a market, save the actual snake oil market, that is more thoroughly infused with snake oil! I can provide tons of examples. Like with knives, there is a relationship between price and quality, to a point, but the curve bends quickly and there are lots of exceptions. Tons of blinded tests to prove it, too.

On topic, value is in the eye of the beholder. In knives, or audio, buy what you like and can reasonably afford. And do your homework first.

 

[Lapedog]

Real Steel Megalodon 2017 or 2018. Each comes in m390. They come in around 160-200 depending on where you can find them on sale. Better steel than the zt, but costs less. Tc4 titanium instead of usa grade. The high end Megalodons have better qc than the rest of the real Steel knives, per what they say.
Its similar to a 0452. In fact I think it's trying to replicate it in a way when they made the 2018 version with a similar blade and carbonfiber show scales. The 2017 is a full flat grind though. Great flipping action and drop shut close. I have and enjoy both. They also have a 2018 version in N690 for a lower cost if your not a steel snob.

I and many others recommend these models.

2018:

2017:

Note the original 2017 I have is on roller bearings. The currently make them with ceramic ball bearings and have an action more like the 2018 version... The roller bearings are more hydrolic.

Tc4 is 6al45 is grade 5 titanium.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti-6Al-4V

 

[DB_Cruiser]

I voted "sometimes". To be fair, I only have two knives in the $130-$150 range. I am not yet comfortable spending more than that. Most of my knives are sub $20 value blades - as in low price, high value. They fill that idea of utility for me and some have a pedigree of sorts. Of course this is just my opinion, and I accept that others might think they're junk. I own mostly Opinels, Svörds and Moras with carbon steel blades. If you maintain them and use them as knives were intended to be used, they do a fine job. I don't regret buying any of them.
My two most expensive knives are a Helle Dokka and a Spyderco Chaparral. Fit, finish and materials are miles beyond my cheaper blades. I bought these knives to fill my need to have a tool I would love using while doing the things I love to do. To make those moments a joy. And they do. So sometimes you do get a lot more for your money by buying up from your usual.

 

[Ironbut]

The short answer is yes but in my opinion there is a point of diminishing return.

Absolutely! After that, it comes down to what makes you smile, and that's OK too.

There are certain things I try to avoid. Among them is bad mouthing another man's hunting dog & another is criticizing what a guy chooses to spend on a pocket knife.

 

[DB_Cruiser]

Absolutely! After that, it comes down to what makes you smile, and that's OK too.

There are certain things I try to avoid. Among them is bad mouthing another man's hunting dog & another is criticizing what a guy chooses to spend on a pocket knife.

Yeah, man! Don't bad mouth my hunting dog, cuz then you gotta talk to the wife!

 

[Pilsner]

I agree in knife terms with the law of diminishing returns. A well made, properly QC’d production knife with 1st class materials, including blade steel of course, is going to serve you very well. A vanilla PM2 in S30V or a [now discontinued] Benchmade 710 in D2 are prime examples. I have some more expensive knives, and they don’t really work better than some of my less expensive ones - those two for example. However, the joy of certain items is key to an enthusiast. It is a matter of human emotion, nothing more and nothing less.

I voted ‘sometimes’, by the way.

 

[Stang Bladeworks]

Im curious to hear if the OP got the ZT and if they feel it was worth it. For me the jump from kershaw to ZT is worth the extra money but like many others here I can justify spending money on knives maybe too easily.

 

[not2sharp]

My EDC is a simple stockman knife and I have carried the same knife, in the same pocket, for over 20 years. It gets really comfortable when you do that. The knife simply disappears into your pocket and magically materializes in your hand whenever you need to cut anything. Most of the time you are not even conscious that it is there, and it probably takes care of 99% of my cutting needs.

We don't need much in the way of knives; our ancestors got along just fine with very basic cutting tools and they had a far greater need to cut things than any of us. So when we look at better grades of knives we are talking about specialized uses, intangible qualities, fun and matters of taste. You are the only one who can decide what those things are worth to you.

n2s

 

[TonySal]

My EDC is a simple stockman knife and I have carried the same knife, in the same pocket, for over 20 years. It gets really comfortable when you do that. The knife simply disappears into your pocket and magically materializes in your hand whenever you need to cut anything. Most of the time you are not even conscious that it is there, and it probably takes care of 99% of my cutting needs.

We don't need much in the way of knives; our ancestors got along just fine with very basic cutting tools and they had a far greater need to cut things than any of us. So when we look at better grades of knives we are talking about specialized uses, intangible qualities, fun and matters of taste. You are the only one who can decide what those things are worth to you.

n2s

Well put sir!

 

[Night Rider]

Spend what you can afford and choose what You Like after doing a little home work. I got hooked on knives starting with a Kershaw Blur and was quite happy with it's performance then one day I handled a ZT at Cabelas and it went home with me even though it was 4 times more expensive than any knife I had bought up to that point. You should go to a brick and mortar store and fiddle with some, you will have your answer.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Custom is the way. Find a maker who isn't flavor of the week on Instagram. Adam Vigil and Phillip Patton come to mind. Have the knife that you want built to your needs.

 

[Makael]

Respectfully, do your research before you buy an expensive knife like a ZT.

10 percent of blade forum members have had lock failure issues with their ZTs. That's extremely dangerous. There was a poll done here not too long ago.

Also, go to YouTube and search "ZT lock failures." Many videos there.

I would recommend Spyderco or any knife made by WE or Reate.

Didn't read the posts in that forum many people own multiples so percentage was way lower than 10 percent. Trolling 2 threads on the same subject. Shame..