Are more expensive knives better ?

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smoky97

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Jan 22, 2015
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I have a Kershaw chive also a Kershaw cryo 2 . I use them everyday . Now i would like to get a Kershaw blur or knockout but other than made in USA are they worth twice as much ? Thanks.
 
Welcome to the forums. It really depends on your needs and what you value. The USA Kershaws have a better steel than the Chinese models, better fit and finish, etc.

The search function will give you lots of info on "worth."
 
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Generally, yes. Specifically the Blur is a great knife for the price. For under $60 you get a tool that is very durable, a usable steel, great warranty, etc. The 1670CF154 sees regular pocket time, fanataisc knives IMO. Hit up Kershawguy.com, he has the best prices out there on kershaw stuff. :thumbup: :D

Kirby
 
I think that the 'is more expensive really that much better' question doesn't really come into play until you get up around the $200 mark.

Anything under 200 you can pretty safely say the more expensive one will be noticeably better.
 
Depends. I find a sak does everything I need better than knives costing 7 times as much so for me the answer is no. More expensive knives are not better.
 
It really depends on your wants and needs. For me, the point of diminishing returns starts to hit hard after about $100-$150. Up until that point I can generally point to significant advantages that will translate pretty clearly into real world use. Above that, I begin struggling to justify the extra cost.
 
"Better" is subjective in the absence of specific criteria. Here's my opinion on the "yes and no" of this topic.

1. Blade steel is a key consideration. The focus in this way almost always seems to be on edge retention, but I'd say it's really about identifying which properties have the most value for you.

2. Blade form (shape, grind, length, thickness). Does the blade design suit your needs?

3. Handle. Does it afford secure grip (allowing you to 'lock in')? Is it comfortable in use? How does your hand feel after long periods of use?

From a purely performance standpoint, using the knife as intended (cutting), I think there's a sweet spot around the $85-$150 range. You can get great steels in great shapes and grinds, with comfortable handles, without having to get out of this range. S35VN, Elmax, S110V, and M390 can be had in great shapes and grinds in this range. Many of the best value buys are Spyderco, with a few thin bladed Benchmades joining the party (Valet in M390, etc).

Almost everything I have is priced above that range, but I wouldn't say these have been performance improving buys. They've been preference buys since getting into the range where there are diminishing returns on performance.
 
Welcome! You are actually asking two very different questions.

1) Are more expensive knives better? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Can a $1200 custom out slice a $8 Opinel? Probably not. Is a cheapo "gas station" knife not very good? Yes, its probably not very good.

2) Is that one Kershaw "worth" twice as much as the other Kershaw? Not an expert. Does it cut twice as well? Does the edge last twice as long? Is it twice as sexy looking? That's all very subjective and depends on what you happen to value in a knife.
 
More expensive knives will definitely allow you to get better steels, better materials, improved fit and finish, tolerances, etc. Here is where I see improvements by spending more. As far as my daily knife carrying & usage, my SAKs and Delicas can handle just about everything I need. But that doesn't stop me from buying CRKs & Microtechs.:D
 
Scurvy092 said:
I think that the 'is more expensive really that much better' question doesn't really come into play until you get up around the $200 mark.

Anything under 200 you can pretty safely say the more expensive one will be noticeably better.
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I pretty much agree with Fanboi1 - :cool:

best

mqqn
 
smoky97 said:
I have a Kershaw chive also a Kershaw cryo 2 . I use them everyday . Now i would like to get a Kershaw blur or knockout but other than made in USA are they worth twice as much ? Thanks.
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The title of your thread is much different from the actual question you want answered. "Are more expensive knives better?" Yes, to an extent... Except when they're not. It's your task as a beginning knife knut to find out the cases where they are not better. That's the quest we are all on.
Now, I can tell you pretty definitively that both the Blur and the Knockout are "better" (to me) than the Chive and the Cryo 2. I have had all of those knives and by far my favorite is the Knockout.
 
smoky97 said:
I have a Kershaw chive also a Kershaw cryo 2 . I use them everyday . Now i would like to get a Kershaw blur or knockout but other than made in USA are they worth twice as much ? Thanks.
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Depends on what you think better means, nobody can tell you what to think however.

Generally quality tends to go up with price, that being materials, fit and finish, design, tolerances etc.

That's not to say one has to spend $1000 to get a quality knife, but shouldn't expect to find it under a certain range like say $30 or so either.

One can find serviceable knives in a lot of different ranges, even the lowest price ranges, however serviceable doesn't mean it's a quality product, that just means it will actually cut something, but then one can cut stuff with a lid from a can of beans so in effect that really doesn't mean much.

So in the end one has to weigh what they value personally in a knife and choose for themselves.
 
To answer the first question: IMHO, No. I've a half dozen or so Kershaws. All but one (Skyline) are Chinese made and I think they are great knives. Well made, good steel that takes and holds an edge. I've never had a problem or complaint about Chinese Kershaws.

LLAP
Rich
 
better for beating the snot out of? probably not
better looking? possibly
better materials? probably

and yes country of origin also plays a role in price... in some cases you're paying an unofficial import tax (ex. Russia), and in other instances you're paying for a company's increased labor costs (ex. USA)
 
Sometimes yes.
Sometimes no.

That's the most honest answer there is. :)
 
I own both Chinese & USA Kershaws. Both are well made user knives. As was said earlier, steel is a difference as well as pattern. If you want a Blur you pay US prices. I have a Blur with S30V blade that I got for a pretty good price @ Christmas time and it's a regular carry for me.
 
Since price does not reflect only quality,but also many other issues,no.In the world of knifes,more expensive does not necessary mean generally better...
 
Wow now I have a lot to think about . Thanks to all for the great information. I appreciate it .
 
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