At What Price Point does a Knife become a Safe Queen?

[Cobalt]

I know this point will be different for everyone, but was wondering what the average would be. Will there be a bell curve where there is a point like this. I am going to put a poll up to see what the numbers will be. Honest polling should show an interest. I am still not sure where that number is for me.

 

[Maroco]

$700-$800 for a folder.
$1200 for a fixed blade.

 

[Cobalt]

$700-$800 for a folder.
$1200 for a fixed blade.

Funny, I kinda feel that price point does vary between folder and fixed. But for this case, an average of both would work, I think.

 

[Maroco]

1000 sounds about right, then!

 

[ebidis]

My most expensive knife cost about $600, and it’s not a safe queen. I routinely carry knives that cost between $300 and $500. So I really don’t know what my limit is yet.

 

[Chowser]

No safe queens here, but I do have a few folders that mostly just go for pocket rides.

 

[SharpBits]

Depends on the knife. I have cheap knives that stay home and more expensive ones that get used. However, I'm nowhere near the rarified air of the prices listed above.

 

[jbmonkey]

once discontinued and super rare...I start questioning whether I should use it if I havent......if I have been using...I'm far more careful with it. I don't have numbers in general.....its more each knife gets looked at on its own.....

there is no real logic in how I do it...it's far more emotional and silly....I'll admit that......

 

[not2sharp]

I have safe queens that cost me less than $5. It all depends on context. Is the knife rare, is there a personal link, is it a practical knife that can be safely used. It is not just the price that determines whether something gets used.

N2s

 

[sgt1372]

I own knives that cost between $50 - $1000, which average about $350 in value. Almost all of them are safe queens.

The one's that I do carry are worth less than $400, which is what I'd be comfortable "losing" if I lost or damaged the knife while carrying it.

 

[ShaiHulud]

I don't believe in safe queens, I'll use them all --- hell, loan me a 10k folding knife and I'll stick it in ice cream, then soil, before carving a stick with it

 

[rddp]

I'm too absent minded to carry anything above $200. Too many lost EDC in my life. I once lost a Cattaragus ebony spearpoint easy open at the beach and looked for it for hours and hours. Much to the irritation of my then girlfriend ! Needless to say I lost her too not long after. They were both keepers ...
I'm always intrigued and amazed at how expensive this hobby has become.

 

[JRRsix7]

It's not about price for me. I've been carrying a $1,600 JG Arctic Scout recently because it's super light and nice in shorts, but I have $30(or less) knives from when I was a kid that are "safe queens" due to being sentimental. Way too many factors go into what is a "safe queen" other than price.

 

[madcap_magician]

Basically I collect two fixed blade makers (CPK and Vehement Knives) and one folder maker (Les George), and my life is such that none of the fixed blades are actually really practical or useful to me in my everyday life, so they by default become safe queens. I don't see a point in just using all of my collected knives just to use them when the one folding knife I carry does everything I need. I carry a plain version of one of Les's models and collect fancier versions. I like CPK and VK, but I don't see any need to use any of mine when I got them for collecting and when the folder I carry does all of the actual cutting chores I encounter.

 

[Cobalt]

No safe queens here, but I do have a few folders that mostly just go for pocket rides.

Is there a price point you stay away from that could conceivably be considered the safequeen level?

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Good question..... I Still don't know what knives cost???

I have a few prices in my head at any given time.

1. Knife prices from maybe 5 years ago
2. Replacement cost at "Todays Prices"
3. What would it cost if I made it......

4. and I guess another cost is what would Somebody Else pay for (this)?

 

[MrStabby7]

I think there are alot of factors that go into what becomes a safe queen but just going off of price alone it would be really hard to turn a $1000 knife into a user/beater.

 

[DennisM]

Thats subjective based upon financial situation and how materialistic the person is. Allot of people are in a financial position where they have to set their priorities and a knife is more of a desire than a need. They may have had to save a LONG time to get a $400-$500 blade and cherish it vs use as intended. Or ... be like me growing up with NADA and just because I am okayish financially now - I haven't forgotten my roots. I am very anal about how I care for things. In most cases ... things I put more than $200-$300 stays a piece to admire vs use.

 

[jeffbird]

Any horse that is too fancy to ride is too fancy to own.

 

[tinfoil hat timmy]

if I buy a knife I intend to use it and sharpen it and wrap the handle with sticky stuff until it's dead