Better to Have One Premium Knife or Several Good Knives?

There are a lot of modestly priced knives that perfrom well. There are also likely some expensive knives that don't perform very well (just guessing). To me it is a matter of performance rather than price.

Then again, if you want your knife to be "a work of art", maybe how well the knife cuts or chops doesn't matter.
 
Umm...no, John Hinckley's gun was an RG 22 (same make, different model). Mine was a cowboy gun, very close in appearance and in quality to the ones I had as a kid.

Anyway, I've heard many people say they go with quality over quantity, but then I wonder, what makes a knife depedable? Aren't CRKT, Kershaw and Cold Steel production knives depedable? Or Spyderco and Benchmades?

Dr. Bill states that "less expensive knives do not give you the confidence you get from using a WELL MADE knife--almost without exception--you get better ergonomics, better steel and heat treatment, etc. (not always--but much more likely)." Actually, I hope if I shell out several hundred dollars for a knife, that the heat treat will always be impeccable.

But is it true that you'll get better ergonomics from an expensive knife? And is it true that production knife companies are only interested in making money while custom knife makers are not?

In the gun world, Colt and Korth made some very expensive revolvers. These guns were engineering marvels with exacting tolerances, outstanding craftsmanship and optimal accuracy. But the accuracy gains were in fractions of an inch, the craftsmanship didn't make them better and the guns were no more dependable than their cheaper cousins, the Rugers and S&Ws. (In fact the Rugers were arguably more dependable because of their solid frames and they were definitely not as finnicky in timing.

I'm not taking a position here, but I am interested in finding out at what point users reach a level of diminishing returns, and that point is bound to be different for different individuals. As some board members are trying to figure out how to spend their Christmas stash, where will they draw the line? I'm also curious if those who love premium knives ever buy or enjoy "playing" with cheap knives.
 
very subjective.

i would suggest performance has a much slimmer margin of error than does fit/finish.

quality is almost entirely dependant on one's budget. ive spent 400.00 on a folder, but probably wouldnt spend 600.00. ive spent 700.00 on a fixed blade, but probably wouldn't spend 1000.00.

i think production companies such as benchmade, spyderco, and emerson make excellent quality products. are one's returns diminishing when the money spent exceeds the price range of these companies?

depends on what you expect. if you expect it to cut better, then absolutely.

if you expect fit/finish to be better, then the dollar amount at which returns are diminished is substantially higher.
 
I guess its a feel thing. I have handles so many thousands of knives that I just seem to have a feel for what to me is a quality knife. The edge must be good, thats the first thing I look at. If the edge looks good and even and is pretty darn sharp, its passed the first test. Steel type? I have seen great performance from steels that folks around here turn their nose up at so HT has to be a big part of it. Trouble is its often to late before you find out that the HT failed on a particular knife. Therefore at some point it comes down to experience with certain Companies to do it right. I just don't think there is a numbered standard where quality begans and value ends. There is a lemon in every lot and a winner as well.
 
It's clear that there is a point of diminishing returns in knives and everything else. What's also clear from reading your posts is that those returns tend to be subjective. One subjective return that can't be measured is quality and attention to detail.

With all the knives currently on the market, some are cheaply made and cheaply priced. They're purchased by people who don't particularly need or like knives. Or by people who just can't afford better.

Who buys the mid-level production knives? This group is comprised by both knife enthusiests and consumers. These knives are the workhorses and perform cutting chores from adequately to exceptionally.

This is where the objective, practical returns begin diminishing for many people. As knives begin veering up in prices, the consumer base drops dramatically and the returns become more sujective. There's nothing wrong with this any more than there's anything wrong with buying fantasy or cheap tacticals. In short, how much of the returns are between the ears?

This affects everyone. That's why there's marketing. So in many ways actual, practical returns are irrelevant.

As an aside, there's a thriving market in the UK for deactivated handguns. In a country where citizens are prohibited from possessing guns or anything that might have a point or a sharp edge. Anyway, these deactivared, useless, handguns often sell for as much, if not more, than working versions in the US. This shows, I think, that many of us have a deep-seated appreciation for quality and craftsmanship.

Me, I tend not to go above $75 for a knife. I'm going to spring for a $40 Spyderco Native just to see for myself how much better the S30V blade does over the more pedestrian steels I've been using. If it wows me, I may raise my sights a bit, who knows?
 
Makes sense to me. I have tried the s30v and the D2 blades and they are a step up from some of the other steels. However I keep coming back to the Carbon knives and a few of the SS ones. I like 154CM and AST34. When it comes down to it, i prefer ease of sharpening over long edge retention. I guess its a personnel thing and the carbon knives are usually not real high dollar. The Mora's. Russel and OH Knives are right up my alley.

I do however like to try the new steels in search of that perfect combination of quality and value. BTW, I value your opinions even though I am a bit hard headed.:)
 
To Confederate

Spending $ on ANYTHING does not guarantee you get what you paid for.

Back in the 1970's(I think) Colt released some PHYTHON revolvers --that did not have Rifling cut into the barrel.You think it would have been impossible for that to happen--but it did.THEY ARE ALSO ILLEGAL TO OWN

and in reagrds to my commets that you addressed
Dr. Bill states that "less expensive knives do not give you the confidence you get from using a WELL MADE knife--almost without exception--you get better ergonomics, better steel and heat treatment, etc. (not always--but much more likely)." Actually, I hope if I shell out several hundred dollars for a knife, that the heat treat will always be impeccable.

LIKE I SAID--ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION

But is it true that you'll get better ergonomics from an expensive knife?

UNLESS YOU HAVE USED AND OWN SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF CUSTOM KNIVES(LIKE I HAVE)--YOU CAN TAKE MY WORD FOR IT--THAT THE ANSWER IS YES.IF I COULD GET A BILL SIEGLE QUALITY KNIFE FOR $50 FROM A FACTORY--I WOULD.BUT I CAN'T.

And is it true that production knife companies are only interested in making money while custom knife makers are not?

PRODUCTION KNIFE COMPANIES ARE IN THE BUSINESS TO MAKE AND SELL KNIVES-MAKING $ IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

MOST CUSTOM MAKERS ARE NOT FULL TIME MAKERS AND ARE MUCH MORE CONCERNED WITH THEIR REPUTATION AND QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT THEY PRODUCE.
 
Well. My suggestion is a practical one.

You could buy ONE knife for 500 bucks made out of a piece from the Space Shuttle.
This knife might perform 100% of what you need it to do (it is capable of doing 675% of your needs) and it might feel like an extension of your hand and so on.
In your pack you also bring a multitool for the small things you encounter.
Suddenly you loose your fancy piece of the space shuttle and you are three days into a three week trek out in nowhere. The rest of the trip you have to make do with the multitool.

Or, you could buy TWO of a medium price (100 bucks) knife that also performs 100% of your needs (but only capable of 300% of your needs). This way you can abuse it more, you have a spare. If you loose one you have a spare. Your spare knife is the same as the main one. You can get a knife for your friend/companion/whatever that is the same as yours. You still have money left for something fun, like a folding saw.

Remember that a khukuri is made from a discarded leaf spring from a truck :) and they work too.
 
I think that there are quite a few ways to look at this question. Are any of them all right or all wrong? I think NOT.
 
I like knives that are functional and don't cost much. I have 3 knives that cost me more than $40 and 5 (including the other 3) that cost over $30. Granted, I usually buy used, so I save some, but I would much rather buy inexpensive, functional users over premium knives any day of the week.
 
Go and buy yourself a bucket full of Mora or Hultafors knives. Ask someone travelling to Sweden to go and buy some.
 
i by the most of the highest quality knives i can afford, which will be none for a while seeing as i used all my money.
 
Confederate said:
...Who buys the mid-level production knives? This group is comprised by both knife enthusiests and consumers. These knives are the workhorses and perform cutting chores from adequately to exceptionally...
Click to expand...

This is a very useful definition for me.
It really helps me focus on what I am buying.

I find the price range for me for mid-level production knives is about 50.
And I am comfortable buying a good quality knife for that price.

Good thread.
 
udtjim said:
Thats just it. What is excellent quality to one might be cheap junk to the next guy. There is a point to me where you are no longer buying quality but only name recognition. We tend to collect what we like and what we can afford to collect.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree with you more:thumbup:
 
For my use of a knife and my budget, the point of diminishing returns in a knife is around $100. I usually carry a couple "winchester" cheapies (which are good enough for what I use knives for) along side a more quality one (kershaw scallion, BM 551 Grip). I like having a cheap knife at hand for tasks that might be considered abusive, and if it gets damaged, broken, or lost, it's no sweat at all.
 
Since the OP said he was't talking about bottom of the barrel knives, I'd take a few decent blades over one amazing blade. Maybe it's because I grew up poor but I look for value. In other words, performance for the price.

A Sebenza or Bose might be a thing of beauty but if that's your only knife what do you do if you lose, or break, it? For the price of a custom you could have maye ten Spydercos. A Tasman Salt & a Catcherman in the tackle box. A Rescue in the tool box & both glove compartments. A Delica for the office. An Endura for camping. A Moran for hunting. A Jester on each keychain.

A Busse may be indestructable but what if you take a spill or a dunk and lose it? I'd rather have a Hartsook on every keychain, a Kalaa on me at all times, a Woodsman in with my camping gear, a Nighthawk in each trunk, a Pathfinder with my garden/yard tools and a 119 next to the bed.

Same holds true for lights. Is Surefire nicer than Inova? Yeah. Are they five times as nice? Maybe not. For the cost of one top of the line Surefire I could have a Microlight on every keychain, an X1 in the drawer of both my work and home desks, an X5 under the pillow, a T1 in both glove compartments and a T2 on my belt and in my bag.

Two is one & one is zero. YMMV

Frank
 
You can buy a Fallkniven F1 for around $100 and I would choose that over a dozen medium quality knives--BRKT if I had a little more money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top