Are extremely expensive knives also extremely good?

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When I saw extremely expensive knives referenced in the title, I was definitely expecting something other than the 940 Osborne. I don't even think of CRKs as extremely expensive, but some variations do get up there in price. But we all define expensive differently. But there is absolutely a diminishing return as you move up in price. For US made knives, once you get over about $200 the return starts to diminish. Over $500 it starts to rapidly diminish. But this is typical of most goods. Often the higher price is going into more expensive materials that actually don't make a knife "better" in any tangible way. Damasteel and timascus are going to cost a lot more than S30V and G10, but are they "better" materials? No, but they absolutely do cost more.
 
Have to agree.

In the last few years, I've acquired a dozen or so modern folders with SRP's between $50 and $275. The most i paid for any one was just shy of $200. Some were free promos, some were used, more than half were on sale. Benchmade, Case, Hogue, Civivi, Buck, Boker, Kershaw, Utica, Spyderco, Beretta, SOG, etc. Various modern steels. All with some quirks, all do exactly what I need a knife to do. Some are better at deployment, maybe bits of fancy in the looks department, but hard to pick a favorite (lie - it's the Bel Air).

I went so far as to gussy up my Bugout (that I got on sale just before their price jump) with some shiny pattern Ti scales (that were on clearance) to make the final cost still $15 less than Benchmade said the basic version of the knife should sell for. I almost get the appeal.

What I can promise to myself based on this informal testing is that there ain't no reason to ever spend more than I already have on a manufactured cutting tool. I don't care who's name is on it. No disrespect to Chris Reeve, but I'll probably never own one of his knives.

What I might be tempted to do is find the funds and the excuse to commission a bespoke example from an individual cutler with a quality reputation, but that's a ways off. I have other hobbies to feed.
 
EatingSarma said:
ESEE Izula and Recon1 tanto are what I usually carry. I haven't bought a knife in years until recently and I never felt like I need anything better. I know these 2 knives are nothing special but they work for me.

I met several CRK or Benchmade fans over the years who were basically putting their Inkosi and Osborne and what not into my face while insisting that I absolutely need one...

What's the deal? I've seen and held these knives and they are nothing special IMO. Some Benchmade models even feel like toys.
CRK guys kept going on how easy it is to disasemble their knives... why would I do that?

Is there any real benefit for something so expensive? I don't care about titanium handle and I don't care about flipping as I simply won't flip my knife... I just want it to cut. I have a friend who is perfectly happy with his D2 Ontario Rat and uses it more than I use my knives.

Also, I've never seen these dudes actually use their knives for anything, fair share still have factory edges, and I've seen one use keys to open something while his knife is safely tucked in his pocket...

What's the real deal here?
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Yes
 
EatingSarma said:
Also, I've never seen these dudes actually use their knives for anything, fair share still have factory edges, and I've seen one use keys to open something while his knife is safely tucked in his pocket...
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Here you go.

S

Thread 'What did you use your sebenza for today?'

Either I'm crazy, or tapatalk is playing tricks on me. I thought there was a thread about this topic, but went back to June and couldn't find it. Anyways, it would be nice to see what you all do with your sebenzas daily. I'll start.

Cutting grapes up for my iguana this morning.
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EatingSarma said:
ESEE Izula and Recon1 tanto are what I usually carry. I haven't bought a knife in years until recently and I never felt like I need anything better. I know these 2 knives are nothing special but they work for me.

I met several CRK or Benchmade fans over the years who were basically putting their Inkosi and Osborne and what not into my face while insisting that I absolutely need one...

What's the deal? I've seen and held these knives and they are nothing special IMO. Some Benchmade models even feel like toys.
CRK guys kept going on how easy it is to disasemble their knives... why would I do that?

Is there any real benefit for something so expensive? I don't care about titanium handle and I don't care about flipping as I simply won't flip my knife... I just want it to cut. I have a friend who is perfectly happy with his D2 Ontario Rat and uses it more than I use my knives.

Also, I've never seen these dudes actually use their knives for anything, fair share still have factory edges, and I've seen one use keys to open something while his knife is safely tucked in his pocket...

What's the real deal here?
Click to expand...
I recall you spouted a lot of nonsen shared opinions in this same manner back when you were posting a few years ago. If inexpensive knives are all you need or want, good for you. Many of us want or need better, and your thinly veiled insinuations aren't going to go unchallenged, bud. Now, I'm betting that you hardly use your knives, which is why spending more for nice knives seems like a foreign concept. If you've never seen "these dudes" using their knives, then that's because you aren't paying attention. Enjoy your Izula and Recon 1 tanto.

The most amusing part of this sob story was in thinking CRKs or Benchmades are "extremely expensive."
 
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XJ-linux said:
It depends on what you want out of a knife. A 1980’s Yugo is a good as a 2025 Mercedes if you simply want to get to point B. It’s better if you factor price. It’s worse if you factor safety. YMMV
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I like this comment best. It's a great analogy. Because depending on the brand or maker of knife you're talking about, the price could mean any balance of attributes, be it design, materials, finish, ergonomics, performance, etc., and the same price for two knives won't always get you parity of attributes between them.
 
if all what you want from the knife is that it cuts, just use the ones you already have. It's challenging to give you a good answer to your question if your job specification for the knife is so vague.

If the blade steel characteristic (edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance) doesn't matter I wouldn't spend more than necessary. However, if one of the 3 attributes is important, you may have to pay already more to get a steel that can do the specific job better. But it really depends on how you value edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance. E.g., you can get really cheaper knifes with a very good toughness, and even corrosion resistance in 14C28N, or even cheaper in 420 HC with excellent corrosion resistance that outperform a more expensive supersteel wrt toughness. When edge retention is more important, a cheaper D2 is already good in this realm, but you can spend more on a supersteel and you will have to sharpen your knife less frequently.

Then there is size of the blade, and the thickness - more steel will cost usually more money, but if chopping is the major task for the knife, it may be worth spending more on a bigger and heavier knife.

And let's not forget the grind. If you want a convex grind for a good combination of structural integrity and acuteness of the edge you have to pay usually more for it than for a simple flat grind.

It is horses for courses, and if you use your knife frequently for a specific task the money you spent more to get exactly what you want may be worth it.
 
John Phillips said:
I started as a benchmade fan because their quality was better than your typical $40 knife but when I bought and used a CRK, everything changed. They aren’t even in the same universe in any regard. I still have my Benchmades and still love my 940s, but my Chris Reeve knives are by far my favorite and I own many knives that are much more expensive than Chris Reeve. There’s no coincidence they won so many awards over the years at Bladeshow.

Get a Large 21 Sebenza in your hand and you’ll see what I mean. I’d rather have one Chris Reeve for $500 than 10 cheap $50 knives.

Almost all of my “cheap” knives over the years either broke in some fashion, had terrible edge retention, and had zero guarantee. Compare that with CRK, won’t break or malfunction, holds a great edge, hollow ground blade last much longer and allows more sharpening over time without sacrificing too much steel, zero blade play in any direction (ZERO), premium materials and steel that will last a couple decades,INCREDIBLE warranty and customer service, holds their value even if used because everyone knows what they are getting, extremely easy to take apart, clean and reassemble after field dressing game or hard/dirty use, and I could go on and on.

Just get a gently used 21 or Large Inkosi one and carry it for a year. Thank me later.

One of the only “cheaper” feeling brands that has continually surprised me is old Cold Steel models. No warranty but damn they are ROCK SOLID, RAZOR SHARP AND CRAZY STRONG.
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I had large Sebenza in my hand too, and I dislike the handle. I dislike frame locks in general too. Recon1 tanto also has hollow grind and S35VN steel and 0 blade play in any direction (triad lock is solid). And I hope to never need any warranty (shipping to CRK and back would be a bitch)...
So, yeah, Recon1 is far far away from real premium, but it's not in range of $40 knife.

I know how much better and more expensive titanium is than G10, I know how tight CRK tolerances are, how easy it is to disassemble and clean, how they have their own threadlock and other stufff, I've heard all those from them 1000 times now... and I also see their knives in pristine condition, no traces of use, only sharpened at most.
And my knives are banged up.

Recon1 has schratches on blade and dings and some wear on G10 too. Izula's coating is fairly messed up. I can't see myself stab V pattern into tar can and prying it up to make an opening with Sebenza, yet I did that shit with both, Izula and Recon1, I even cut wires with those.

I also use Recon1 in cold weather without any gloves. G10 is warm, would Titanium be the same? I never used or even held Sebenza in cold weather, but titanium is still metal. I like the surface texture of CRK titanium, and I know it's excellent quality. But I'd not use it for such things.
 
IMO, there are plenty of “buy it for life” choices at the $80 to $200 range, roughly. Be it production or hand made. I’m very happy with my Moras, Spydercos, and old school Cold Steels. The improvements that you gain past 200 have more to do with fit and finish and moderate advantages in edge retention and rust resistance, IMO.

Once in a while, I’d gladly spend a lil over $200 to enjoy a quality piece from a skilled craftsman, even if you can technically get the same knife made by robots at a lower price. The knife economy is hard, yo.
 
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