Are extremely expensive knives also extremely good?

[Quiet]

OP, you can ask the same question in other forums, for cloths, guns, watches, cars, trailers, boats, and girlfriends (use FB for that one). The cool thing about knives is that - even the expensive ones - are cheaper than the other stuff.

You're in your twenties. Just wait 10 years and you'll understand better what it's all about - I recommend avoiding the expensive girlfriends and stay with expensive knives instead

This is the Way.

 

[jbmonkey]

I don't really feel the op is crapping on expensive (all relative) knives. he sees the benefit in a certain price point as he's bought and uses higher than true entry level, as folks have pointed out. feels like he just isn't seeing the benefits of moving up to the next level....least not yet anyways. maybe he never will...who knows.

I can remember when I thought a sebenza was crazy expensive and didn't understand why folks grabbed them faster than they were made. over time and as the prices got higher I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing them when they were a steal compared to today.

 

[pvicenzi]

Sometimes.

 

[l1ranger]

I can remember when I thought a sebenza was crazy expensive and didn't understand why folks grabbed them faster than they were made. over time and as the prices got higher I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing them when they were a steal compared to today.

they dont usually get cheaper do they.
whether someone sees the value in something more expensive or not is all personal. we see these from time to time (maybe too much of the time), and i highly doubt anybody changes anybody's mind about it.
I got by for a long time with Buck knives and I bet I could again if I had to - doesn't mean there isn't value in something more expensive, or that they are necessarily bettter.
See this in lots of things many consider hobbies, especially when it comes to "gear" - some only value utility, some its pride of ownership and maybe some show-off bragging - and the rest of us fall somewhere between those two

 

[DavidABQ]

Up to a certain point a more expensive knife is better than a cheaper one. For me it is an issue of want instead of need. I have a $35 Buck 501I bought years ago of the the Bay and to be honest it is everything that I need in a knife. That didn’t stop me from buying a CRK Mnandi. I really like the Mnandi but does it do a better job than my old Buck 501? No, not really.

 

[DMG]

Spendy knives like CRK are Man Jewelry, that make the owner feel good. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, and we all like to feel good. But a CRK does not open an Amazon box or cut an apple any better than does a Spyderco Delica. In fact, the CRK doesn't handle the job as well as the Delica, as the Delica opens easier and has a slick, full flat grind.

I own about 5 CRKs, so I consider myself qualified to speak on the subject. An issue arises, though, when CRK lovers start to genuinely believe that their knives cut better than other knives. This is a brain worm. Its objectively false, and there have been many grumpy arguments here over the years on the subject.

So embrace the Man Jewelry if that is what you are into. It's fun for the CRK aficionado. And notice Man Jewelry makes of about 90% of the "here's what I'm carrying" glamour-pic threads. But don't be drawn into the nonsense that $600 cuts better than $89.

A CRK won’t cut better than a delica but it will probably outlast it by a few hundred years. Or so I tell myself

 

[not2sharp]

A thread like this that stays civil would be a welcome change. All I can say is I’m grateful the Dept of Needs doesn’t control the knife hobbyist community, car manufacturing, house building, etc… Life would be boring.

My primary need for knives involves entertainment. I enjoy researching old knives and the endless variety of these tools. For daily use I primarily relied on an old set of kitchen knives and a Camillus made stockman that has been riding in my pocket for the last 28 years. I do occasionally use something else if the opportunity arises. Knives represent practical pieces of history, art and technology. The more expensive knives emphasize most of those aspects, but as to whether they cut better, it would depend on the task and the suitability of knife for that task.

N2s

 

[SharpBits]

A well designed knife, at any price point, will cut well. A poorly designed knife, at any price point, will cut poorly. Price is not the deciding factor of whether or not a knife cuts well.

 

[SharpBits]

Old picture, but this is a $500* blade. Yes, it gets used. Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

*This is expensive to me, but not to others.

Edited to add: This is made by David of David Mary Custom who has a forum here on BF. Look him up! https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/david-mary-custom.951/

 

[EatingSarma]

I don't feel called out. I am wondering at the hypocrisy on display. Why do you need an Izula when a Mora will cut better and it's cheaper? Why are you using a Cold Steel Recon 1 when an Opinel will cut better, and it's also cheaper? I thought you were all about "I don't see the reason for people to spend a bunch of money!" Sooooooo....why did you?

You keep attempting to overlay your opinion and bias on other people, and that's not how that works. Also, I don't recall where you uploaded your credentials. Can you please point me to where your opinion of what "hard use" constitutes was somehow decided as being the fact, or do you not have those credentials handy?

Your "IMO" doesn't serve as any sort of benchmark.

As if Opinel could handle what Recon1 can... rest of rambling you wrote deserves no reply so you won't get any.

And someone who doesn't feel called out doesn't write essays like you just did.

 

[EatingSarma]

Essentially, every reason you state for liking the Recon 1, could be applied to the Opinel #Pick One.

See, this is the problem with folks attempting to get on their high horse about expensive knives. You aren't the first to make the attempt, and you won't be the last. In every case, there's hypocrisy in evidence, and is the case here as well. Ah well.

It's interesting to me that your metric for "dudes don't use their knives" is people showing pictures of knives here that aren't trashed like yours. Had it ever occurred to you that some of us take care of our nice things?

We get it, you don't read. Read again and then write something that makes sense. I spoke about dudes I know IRL, not stuff on the forum I didn't visit for past several years...
Yeah, they take care of them so well they still have factory edges years into owning them.

About Recon1 and Opinel comment - just LOL!

 

[Quiet]

As if Opinel could handle what Recon1 can... rest of rambling you wrote deserves no reply so you won't get any.

And someone who doesn't feel called out doesn't write essays like you just did.

It totally could, if you're using a knife as what it's meant to be used as.

Also, it's not really the flex you think it is to try to dismiss a post because you find reading more than a sentence or two difficult.

"THESE GUYS, THEY DON'T EVEN USE THEIR EDUCATION!"

 

[Quiet]

We get it, you don't read. Read again and then write something that makes sense. I spoke about dudes I know IRL, not stuff on the forum I didn't visit for past several years...
Yeah, they take care of them so well they still have factory edges years into owning them.

About Recon1 and Opinel comment - just LOL!

You attempted to belittle a significant portion of this forum's membership because you are unable to afford nicer knives than what you own. When you start trying to assign motive or use your small anecdotal observances to paint an entire membership base with an insulting insinuation, you seem to take the response you've earned poorly. Odd.

 

[EatingSarma]

It totally could, if you're using a knife as what it's meant to be used as.

Also, it's not really the flex you think it is to try to dismiss a post because you find reading more than a sentence or two difficult.

"THESE GUYS, THEY DON'T EVEN USE THEIR EDUCATION!"

Please do go on. At this point you're becoming entertaining.

 

[Quiet]

Please do go on. At this point you're becoming entertaining.

This is the exact response I expected. Enjoy your knives.

 

[Boru13]