Buy expensive knives, carry cheap ones. My dilemma.

[Baker_11]

And for the record im carrying an XM-18 today... along with a beater haha

 

[22-rimfire]

It sure does crufflers. I have a comfort range (price wise) on knives. I do like impulse buying, but I generally know what I'm getting. It is all a matter of degree and I don't mind sharpening a knife. I do mind cutting some boxes up and not being able to finish properly before needing to resharpen. I personally like VG-10 steel. I use a SAK more than anything else and certainly it doesn't have super steel.

We all buy and use what we like.

 

[crufflers]

I don't have any play in even my cheaper knives because if it has play I fix it or get rid of it, the cheaper steel doesn't bug me because I enjoy sharpening. I'm just too nervous to ruin my hobacks or other more expensive knives.

I can adjust a Thermite or Tenacious to have no play, but then the knife wouldn't open or close without a prybar and lockjaws, hahahah.

 

[footballplayerchris]

Depends on the use, but yeah my Thermite will cut cardboard and packing tape fine, but dulls fast. Cardboard is pretty damn abrasive. Cheaper steels have to be sharpened way more often, edges roll or chip easily, etc... It isn't like there are no budget knives that punch out of their price range though... uhm... Blurs in various steels, etc... Personally I don't like the Chinese alphabet steels or VG10. I've rolled and chipped both.

You're spot on. At my job, the difference between a $35 dollar knife or a $220 knife (Thermite vs 0452CF) is whether or not I'm going to spend my lunch hour sharpening or not.

I've never had a problem with VG-10. I like it quite a bit. Not discounting your experiences though.

 

[Balls Deep]

This is a fun thread and I'll throw in my 2 cents. Being in touch with your personality is important. I have a really hard time carrying my folder knives that are over $60, not for fear of hard use of breaking, but for fear of losing. I get uncomorrotable having more than $20 cash in my pocket for the same reason. Now my higher end fixed blades and kitchen knives, no concerns there. If I'm at home it's hard to lose a kitchen knife and if I'm in the woods I can find Altus knife again, it's not like it was taken. The important thing for me is I have my knife experience. Also work can be a huge factor on knife carrying, I'm a counselor and do a lot of work in schools, non threatening is the name of the game for me. My Swiss army tinker gets the most carry these days but on the weekend it's usually all about the lawman.

Also, I recognize my post my seem a little paranoid and that's probably cause it is. Ironically I've never lost a knife so my fear isn't really based on anything

 

[footballplayerchris]

This is a fun thread and I'll throw in my 2 cents. Being in touch with your personality is important. I have a really hard time carrying my folder knives that are over $60, not for fear of hard use of breaking, but for fear of losing. I get uncomorrotable having more than $20 cash in my pocket for the same reason. Now my higher end fixed blades and kitchen knives, no concerns there. If I'm at home it's hard to lose a kitchen knife and if I'm in the woods I can find Altus knife again, it's not like it was taken. The important thing for me is I have my knife experience. Also work can be a huge factor on knife carrying, I'm a counselor and do a lot of work in schools, non threatening is the name of the game for me. My Swiss army tinker gets the most carry these days but on the weekend it's usually all about the lawman.

Also, I recognize my post my seem a little paranoid and that's probably cause it is. Ironically I've never lost a knife so my fear isn't really based on anything

I like where you're coming from. Half the fun for me is knowing I have an expensive knife in my pocket. It just feels good. The same way it feels good to drive a $100,000 sports car (I wouldn't know).

However, paranoia never led anyone to be under-prepared. I like your style man.

 

[Rapt_up]

I hear you, my solution was to sell anything I wasn't going to carry and use.. really pared down the collection and well... now I have a couple customized production folders and a few custom hard us fixed blades and I don't feel bad about using any of them.
because they were chosen that way. I often buy the ones with scratches and belt finished blades bcause that's what I like and it will encourage me to use them.

 

[crufflers]

I often buy the ones with scratches and belt finished blades bcause that's what I like and it will encourage me to use them.

I hear that. I love grabbing a deal on a stripped, scratched user that I can beat on. No excuses to be had there.

 

[Violet_Patina]

I had this dilemma for a bit, but on a smaller scale. I have a couple of nice knives that I love to pieces, but couldn't bring myself to carry. I was worried they might get damaged or lost. There was also the question of their effectiveness. I tend to use my blades really hard, and my 90 - 100$ folders, while sturdy, might've been a little wimpy. Eventually, I broke down, and ordered a Mora Classic No. 1. After a month (Or three) the blade had an incredible patina, and the thing takes an edge like nothing else. Make a "Forever investment" in your hard use knife. Preferably smart looking, and you know you can't break. I normally have the afore-mentioned Mora and something like an M-7 bayonet. The latter may seem a bit overkill. That's because it is. Basically, a knife doesn't have to be pristine to look good. A tool should be used, it's simple as that. Or, you can just decide that it's a free country, and if you just like to look at knives, that's just how it's gonna be. Either way, you get to play with knives, so it's a win-win.

 

[crufflers]

Eventually, I broke down, and ordered a Mora Classic No. 1. After a month (Or three) the blade had an incredible patina, and the thing takes an edge like nothing else.

I have three MORA's and they are great. If you have not checked out the ALLROUND, take a look. That thing is like a light saber Slices like crazy and it is bigger... 8" blade IIRC. There is a 5.8" or so version as well that I want. $25 well spent IMHO. I use it mostly in the kitchen but OFTEN. My companion is almost black with patina. The Allround is very stainless.

Stripped SOD user, Mora Allround, Companion

 

[rje58]

If you are carrying a Sig or an H&K, you're doing it for a far different reason than you would carry a $400 knife - I hope!

Over the past few years I have carried my RAT 1 more than any other knife - way more than my ZT0550 or my Spyderco Gayle Bradley - I don't own any expensive knives.

The analogy doesn't make sense to me - I'm not betting my life on my RAT 1 the way I would be betting it on the High Point.

Truth be told, the High Point, while not my first choice, would likely get the job done.

In my eyes buying a 400 dollar modern knife but carrying a $30 Rat would be like buying a Sig or H&K but carrying a Hi-Point

 

[22-rimfire]

If you are carrying a Sig or an H&K, you're doing it for a far different reason than you would carry a $400 knife - I hope!

Over the past few years I have carried my RAT 1 more than any other knife - way more than my ZT0550 or my Spyderco Gayle Bradley - I don't own any expensive knives.

The analogy doesn't make sense to me - I'm not betting my life on my RAT 1 the way I would be betting it on the High Point.

Truth be told, the High Point, while not my first choice, would likely get the job done.

Pretty good perspective and analogy. No High Points in my accumulation. Don't care what they cost. I am not betting my life on a knife either otherwise I wouldn't most often carry a SAK. It is also my most often carried knife in the woods too, although I usually have a modest sized fixed blade on my belt there.

As far as expensive vs less expensive... I just carry what I like which most often is a SAK which is not expensive to an adult.

Going with the analogy further, I do carry a Colt revolver sometimes and most would not.

 

[crufflers]

The analogy doesn't make sense to me - I'm not betting my life on my RAT 1 the way I would be betting it on the High Point.

True, knives are not guns... but at least they are both weapons that can be used for defense. The analogy thing is so overdone, I don't know why so many people love comparing cars to guns, etc...

Nothing wrong with carrying a S&W Shield 9mm with a ZT0550... but I wouldn't recommend a S&W Shield with an S&W knife, hahahah.

You are making me want to try a RAT1

 

[rje58]

Understood - I don't have any High Points either.

But my Ontario RAT 1 or Spyderco Endura or CS American Lawman does everything I need most days. So inexpensive knives are mostly what I EDC. I like variety though so I pull out the ZT0550 or PM2 and carry those occasionally. I almost never carry my Gayle Bradley - it's too pretty.

 

[crufflers]

Understood - I don't have any High Points either.

But my Ontario RAT 1 or Spyderco Endura or CS American Lawman does everything I need most days. So inexpensive knives are mostly what I EDC. I like variety though so I pull out the ZT0550 or PM2 and carry those occasionally. I almost never carry my Gayle Bradley - it's too pretty.

I don't have many CS. Closest thing I have is a 4" Talwar. I love my PM2. It doesn't get as much pocket time because it is pretty wide/high, and just too much ZT competition.

 

[NG VI]

This is a fun thread and I'll throw in my 2 cents. Being in touch with your personality is important. I have a really hard time carrying my folder knives that are over $60, not for fear of hard use of breaking, but for fear of losing. I get uncomorrotable having more than $20 cash in my pocket for the same reason. Now my higher end fixed blades and kitchen knives, no concerns there. If I'm at home it's hard to lose a kitchen knife and if I'm in the woods I can find Altus knife again, it's not like it was taken. The important thing for me is I have my knife experience. Also work can be a huge factor on knife carrying, I'm a counselor and do a lot of work in schools, non threatening is the name of the game for me. My Swiss army tinker gets the most carry these days but on the weekend it's usually all about the lawman.

Also, I recognize my post my seem a little paranoid and that's probably cause it is. Ironically I've never lost a knife so my fear isn't really based on anything

You don't need to catch a bullet to know to stay off a live range, I'd say your consideration is understandable.

I definitely consider ease of loss and replacement when I'm choosing carry knives vs stay-at-home models.

 

[rexromic]

Use your d*mn knives

Best answer!

 

[bdmicarta]

It is perfectly acceptable to buy a knife just to look at and never use it. I have a collection of those, all fixed blades. But I buy folders to actually carry and use. Fortunately my price range is reasonably close to what knife I am willing to carry and use, and my normal use doesn't put much wear on a knife.

 

[cchu518]

I like carrying 60 to 150 knives. BUT one of my favorite edc's is a 20 kabar dozier. Just a great slim edc.

 

[ExtraTang]

OP,

I have the same dilemma. A lot of these high price knives are made of outstanding quality, yet I can't muster up the courage to actually use them.