Are "High End" production knives worth it? The video

I expect many of us like variety or we'd not likely hang out here or be in the hobby, but all is pretty much dictated by the width of our wallets. I have another hobby (acoustic guitars) and like knives have traded up a few times maybe giving up 2-3 pieces to get that one that is praised beyond compare only to regret it not because the item was in no way living up to it's reputation, but more so of what I gave up. I also imagine that most of us are in the hobby for a combination of collectability and use so if a person gives up 3-4 or more knives to get "the one" then they have a few less to handle, open, look at and use. If money is not an issue then it certainly lessens the regret but I venture to say that chasing "the one" is never quenched.
I get a little uneasy feeling when I look in the safe and see knives that are just too pretty to pocket but yet I can't seem to get rid of them. I carry a darn G10 Dragonfly and an old crusty USA Schrade slippie almost every day and I know darn well they serve my purpose. Would I like to have a Sebenza, Strider, Hinderer - sure but not at the price of selling/trading off my entire collection!
 
the vid was good, but I will admit I do not like sebenzas in the least. had them handled more than a few and they just do nothing for me.
 
Great point,I have sold a bunch of Mid-end knives so I could purchase a Busse awhile back and I felt underwhelmed upon receiving. There great knives dont get me wrong but you need to purchase it knowing what your getting. Dont let all the hype make your purchase for you.Great Post!
 
Great video! A lot of people don't really understand CRK and you brought it up in the video. People who aren't/new into knives won't understand/appreciate the small differences that make a CRK a CRK.
 
Nice video.

High dollar knives are high dollar because they cost more to make. It might be materials (Titanium, unubtanium, etc.), it might be tolerances (Chris' has lotsa zeros after the decimal before hitting numbers), it might be labor (carving, engraving, etc.).

Sometmes those differences are difficult if not impossible for even the trained eye to detenct, generally impossible for a new student.

Just because you can't see the difference, doesn't mean it isn't there, sometimes it just means you can't see it. :D

sal
 
Tostig said:
If there was no internet, no forums and no hype ( whether justified or not ) these knives that are all the rage these last few years would not be anywhere near as popular as they are now.

Popularity used to take time, it used to take years to get your name established , for folks to clamour for your voice , wares or whatever else it is one has to peddle.

Personally I'm thinking more and more to the minimilist approach but it wont be so I can have they same knives etc everyone else does in a vain attempt to keep up with the jonses or fit into some mythical club.

I like what I like and dont really carewhat anyone else thinks about what I like. :)

Tostig
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wow, thats very true. i guess id only have a couple of buck brand knives, but since the invention called the internet, look what happened.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Nice video.

High dollar knives are high dollar because they cost more to make. It might be materials (Titanium, unubtanium, etc.), it might be tolerances (Chris' has lotsa zeros after the decimal before hitting numbers), it might be labor (carving, engraving, etc.).

Sometmes those differences are difficult if not impossible for even the trained eye to detenct, generally impossible for a new student.

Just because you can't see the difference, doesn't mean it isn't there, sometimes it just means you can't see it. :D

sal
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I agree with this 100%. :thumbup:
 
Sometimes we the sharple can't see the flaws in knives either, be nice to have a knife-maker do a little writeup on flawed, poorly designed knives to help someone knife shopping.
 
TheCarbideRat said:
Sometimes we the sharple can't see the flaws in knives either, be nice to have a knife-maker do a little writeup on flawed, poorly designed knives to help someone knife shopping.
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Oh you know that ain't never going to happen... :eek:
 
TheCarbideRat said:
Sometimes we the sharple can't see the flaws in knives either, be nice to have a knife-maker do a little writeup on flawed, poorly designed knives to help someone knife shopping.
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If you want me to rip on a m-tech I'm sure I could do that :D
 
I love high end knives but the Mtech Twist is tons of fun for 25 bucks :p

The reality is if you buy it and it does what you want and expect it's a good buy :)
 
Great vid and thread So-Lo.
I've had a couple of Seb's for a couple of years now and i am still learning to appreciate the quality even now.
Spyderco Endura ce has been so bloody reliable, easy to carry, and use that it's still my main go to.
Having said that my CRK's still blow my mind and i just know there's another one in my near future...maybe an Umnum this time...it's an itch that needs scratching.
It's like you say...the differences are subtle overall, but they are still there nonetheless.
But i'm not about to sell six Spydies to get one CRK either.
 
I've found that with almost every item whether it be knives or guns or bicycles or (your hobby here) at a price level of about 50% of the generally accepted upper price limit, one will see 85-90% of the quality level. Another way to say it is to say increase in quality is inversely proportionate to the increase in price after about 50% of the price scale.

That's not to say that those increases aren't perceptible or important. If one has the funds a $2500 custom 1911 will perform better than a $1000 model. A $400 knife will perform better that a similarly designed $200 knife. As stated earlier, it may take the keen eye of an enthusiast to recognize and appreciate the small differences of the high end product over the mid-high level product.
 
I didn't watch the video but do EDC a Sebenza. It was a huge amount for me to spend on a knife but I feel that it has been worth it. Before I got it I had several folders that I carried but would always be looking for one a little bit better. I have not bought another folder for EDC in about three years because the Sebenza is everything I need. If I was still looking for the perfect knife I would have probably spent as much or more than the price of the Sebenza on other knives. I'm not saying a Sebenza is the perfect knife I'm just saying that it is perfect for me. Maybe I'll see something again someday that I'll have to have and if I do I can probably sell the Sebenza for close to what I paid for it.
 
Like anything of this sort there will always be diminishing returns as the price goes up. Yeah, a Rolex is nicer than a Seiko, a Bentley is nicer than a Hyundai, and a Sebenza is nicer than a Delica. Does a Bentley get you there 20 times better? Does a Rolex tell time 50 times better? Does a Sebenza cut 8 times better? No.

I routinely carry $200-400 worth of knives at any given time, because I like nice knives. I carry them in my $15 shorts while wearing my $10 t-shirt. It's all about what you're interested in.
 
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