Buy high value or save up for higher end?

[JoepReinen]

What do you think?
Save up for a more expensive blade
Or buy a cheaper, high value knife like a Tenacious or a Cryo II?

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I'm going to stick my neck out with an original comment: it all depends.

If you want a basic, functional EDC knife, buy the more economical one.

If you want a knife that gives you chills every time you open it, or fondle its scales, or admire the blade, go for a higher end knife. I own both kinds, and love them all. But my higher end damascus knives are the ones I never tire of playing with, or using.

 

[Franciscomv]

I change form one position to the other every few months. Sometimes I buy only one or two really nice knives, sometimes I get a bunch of different more affordable knives.

I think a user or collector can really benefit from having a bit of variety. After you try out both ends of the price spectrum, you'll be able to decide whether you're the kind of fellow who enjoys having a high end knife on him all the time, or somebody who perhaps prefers to find good bargains, or you might just enjoy all sorts of knives.

 

[Bushido185]

I've found knife buying to be a progressive art form. I started with high value knives and have recently found I have exhausted most of those options and have since began buying higher end blades. Although I still can't justify buying a Hinderer when a Kershaw knockoff suits me just fine, for now.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

I vote high-value high-end knives!

 

[TheChunk91]

If it were me I would save up and get something nice, no matter how awesome some high value knives like the tenacious and rat 1 are they dont bring near the enjoyment or pride of ownership as something nice and high end. I always save up to buy 1 nicer high end knife rather than buy 2-3 budget knives, but to each his own

 

[kreole]

Both are good IMO. I consider a knife purchase successful as long as I learn something about my tastes from it or try something new. Value and expensive folders both give lessons like that, and there are some you can only get from one or the other.

 

[Acesn8s]

I would buy one of each, then see which one floats you boat the most. In time you will probably find that you enjoy some of each.

 

[powernoodle]

I get more joy from value knives, like the entry level Kershaws, than the spendy stuff. I have been blessed with zillions of knives of all types, but honestly I would rather have 10x $20 Kershaws than 1x $200 knife. I'm guessing that most guys are the other way around, but that's cool.


Just an example - Kershaw Tremor: $20.39 shipped online.

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[luke213]

Right now I've been mostly buying high value knives like the cryo 2 which mostly fit my needs. However when financially I can swing some more middle grade zt's etc I plan to add them to my collection. Generally though I think it has allot to do with use and what you can afford.

Luke

 

[RSpies]

Buy quality and you'll never regret it.
Buy cheaper if you want to look back in the future and think "I shouldn't have wasted money on this" when you decide to buy quality.

 

[Tallahassee]

Quality does not have to be expensive. Inexpensive does not have to be cheap.

I prefer user knives I don't have to baby. But if you have a Grail knife you are saving for, enjoy it.

 

[sdsg]

What I've been doing, since it takes me awhile to make up my mind on how to spend my money, I'll buy a inexpensive knife or two while I'm looking around for something more substantial. I almost always have something coming in the mail, right now a Ritter mini grip is on its way!

 

[IINJOY OUTDOORS]

I buy High value for myEDC ($25-$60) and buy high end just to own and maybe EDC every once in a while.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Quality does not have to be expensive. Inexpensive does not have to be cheap.

I prefer user knives I don't have to baby. But if you have a Grail knife you are saving for, enjoy it.

This. "You get what you pay for" is a tired phrase and a lot of people don't understand what it really means. Dollars spent are really "points" that can be allocated to different attributes of the knife in different ways. Some inexpensive knives put all of those limited "points" to use in a very efficient way to provide high satisfaction and performance at low cost. Others take a ton of "points" and throw them about aimlessly or on purely aesthetic aspects. A solid gold brick costs a lot of money, but it's a crummy knife if that's what you bought it to use it for (to use hyperbole.)

I like performance/satisfaction optimization in my knives, regardless of price point, and that usually means that my purchases are really inexpensive because, let's face it, the point of diminishing returns on a knife is actually pretty low on the price scale.

 

[mjolnir74]

Depends on what you plan on using it for. I don't cut dry wall or carpet all day, but if I did, I would use a boxcutter or inexpensive knife. For my needs, I really enjoy my Sebenza. I have less expensive knives, but carry it the most. I don't have a large collection and really don't have the urge to buy a lot of inexpensive knives that I'll probably never use. Buy what makes you happy and what you won't be scared to use.

 

[Finedges]

Quite frankly, I equate knives to food. If you're a Big Mac guy, $20 knives will satisfy. If you enjoy a prime rib steak or ahi tuna mixed in now and then, you may enjoy a quality blade as well. It's all up to you. To each his own. Pics regardless of choice!!!

 

[KnifeyMcStab]

I'm personally a higher end type but I also like quality stuff like the boker plus CLB designs etc.

 

[mtangent]

You'r simply going to end up with both. Some days you will want to carry high end, & some days you won't. Life isn't so boring that each day is the same.