Buying a lot of Knives vs 1 Expensive Knife -Philosophy?

My collection is driven by the chase for the ultimate in efficiency. The fewest number of knives, for the least amount if dollars, while still satisfying EVERYTHING I need my knives to do. (But keep in mind that "everything" includes at least a couple high dollar knives to admire)

That means:

- my collection is ever changing as long as any individual knife is imperfect (so far I've had a hundred and 10 are staying)
- I don't collect for numbers, but still have a good number of knives- 20-30 at any time
- certain cheap, high value knives have earned their place, while for other duties expensive knives were the only way to go


Ultimately I think many collectors on bladeforums would agree; we collect some for duty and some just because we want them. When those two categories cross paths, you got a winner ;)
 
Funny enough, this topic has been on my mind lately. I look back at the last year and think man I have had a TON of knives ranging from a $35 Kershaw to $500 plus customs. Recently due to some medical issues with my family, I've had to sell most of my knives. I'm down to a few. Those few being a couple ZT's, a Kershaw JYD, and an Ontario Rat 1. I've had them all, cheap to custom. Honestly, it's all about what YOU can afford and what makes YOU happy. Right now, I can't afford those customs. Do I love them, absolutely! Are they worth the money? Depends on your situation really. Does my Kershaw cut as good as my Curttis f3, why yes it does. Do I really NEED a $500 custom knife with super steel that holds an edge forever? No, I don't, and I doubt most of us on here do. Some are knife collectors, some are knife enthusiasts, and some are knife users. I put myself in the enthusiast category. I love knives. Will always have them. I don't consider my self a collector which is why I doubt I'll be buying any more customs. I'll continue to buy what I can afford. Doesn't mean I don't drool over a custom Strider or a Jake Hoback. I do. But I honestly just can't justify spending that kind of money right now. Hopefully that will change. :)

I do however understand both philosophy's. A CRK is going to last you the rest of your life. It really will. If it's dull, you can sharpen it or send it in. If it's falling apart, they will fix it. If your $35 Kershaw falls apart, they will fix it. Sure you'll have to sharpen it 10 times more but in the end the point is you can get a quality knife for a cheap price with a lifetime warranty. The quality difference is definitely there, but that's why I love the ZT line so much. Sure some of their limited run knives are up in there in price with a CRK but the quality is just as good if not better in some instances(777). I think I've settled on high end production knives as my main source of purchasing. Quality over quantity. Talk to me tomorrow and that might change. LOL
 
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Another point of view- I like to buy knives, I'm not a collector, definitely a user and I don't care about collecting a certain knife cause its limited edition or hard to find or anything like that. I have alot of knives, more than I'll ever need and of those I have 2 or 3 of my absolute favorites so in all honesty I could make it years (if not the rest of my life) without buying another knife but I will buy more, and more and more and more... I usually buy more less expensive knives because I like to buy them and i can buy more of them when i pick less expensive ones. Picking out my next purchase and saving for it and shopping around is part of the fun for me and when I buy cheaper Items I can do more of that than if I save up and buy fewer more expensive pieces.
 
we collect some for duty and some just because we want them. When those two categories cross paths, you got a winner
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+1 to this. If I had a sig line, this would probably be it. I have some in both categories, only a few that cross paths and end up in my pocket most of the time.

I personally set a price limit as my "point of diminishing return" where I know I won't get enough use out of the knife to justify price. I am currently loving knives in the $100-$150 range and I don't find myself needing to go higher than that. I do like some of the value folders, but I just don't carry them when I have 15 other knives that I spent more money on sitting in the drawer. So the value folders get traded, and the more expensive ones get carried.
 
BladeCommander said:
+1 to this. If I had a sig line, this would probably be it. I have some in both categories, only a few that cross paths and end up in my pocket most of the time.

I personally set a price limit as my "point of diminishing return" where I know I won't get enough use out of the knife to justify price. I am currently loving knives in the $100-$150 range and I don't find myself needing to go higher than that. I do like some of the value folders, but I just don't carry them when I have 15 other knives that I spent more money on sitting in the drawer. So the value folders get traded, and the more expensive ones get carried.
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Thanks, glad we agree!

And as for the law of diminishing return and $100-150- for me, that's currently occupied by ZT. Just right in every category.
 
Jake_Lucas said:
My collection is driven by the chase for the ultimate in efficiency. The fewest number of knives, for the least amount if dollars, while still satisfying EVERYTHING I need my knives to do. (But keep in mind that "everything" includes at least a couple high dollar knives to admire)

That means:

- my collection is ever changing as long as any individual knife is imperfect (so far I've had a hundred and 10 are staying)
- I don't collect for numbers, but still have a good number of knives- 20-30 at any time
- certain cheap, high value knives have earned their place, while for other duties expensive knives were the only way to go


Ultimately I think many collectors on bladeforums would agree; we collect some for duty and some just because we want them. When those two categories cross paths, you got a winner ;)
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But calculate your total cost to get that the fewest number of knives. :) The cost of those fewest knives and the $$$ spent to get there may be vastly different figures.
 
Jake_Lucas said:
Thanks, glad we agree!

And as for the law of diminishing return and $100-150- for me, that's currently occupied by ZT. Just right in every category.
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I agree ZT really fits the bill with no sacrifice of quality, warranty, materials, etc.
 
How far is one supposed to take this idea?

The person buying several cheap Chinese knives is told to save up and buy a Griptilian...
The person buying several Benchmades is told to save up and buy a Sebenza...
The person buying a Sebenza is told to save up and buy an R J Martin...

At a certain point it becomes man jewelery ;)
 
It all depends on how much money you have to play with and at what price point you start to feel bad about using/carrying the knife.

I have quite a few of what I consider expensive knives and I carry a few but when it comes to the day to day cutting tasks my Kershaw Leek gets the nod 90% of the time and it is not one of my more expensive knives. Just very handy and very comfortable to carry with good enough blade steel for EDC, in my opinion.
 
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Yeah. We all win because we are all right. Personal preference. My personal preference is that price is not my top determining characteristic. Instead, design and workmanship are key. Now a days you can fine beautiful production stuff and crappy customs. Price is not as strong of indicator of quality or design as when I started collecting/buying/using in 1990's
 
I have cheaper knives (Kershaw, Case) that I like.
I have expensive knives (Spyderco Native 5, Benchmade Adamas, Griptilian, Delica 4, I guess you could say Leatherman is expensive for what you get too)

The cheaper knives get beat on more than the expensive ones, but I have no safe queens.
I like them both and will continue to impulse-buy the cheapies.
The more expensive knives give me pride of ownership, and usually a warranty to back it up when it doesnt give me the "hell-yeah" feelings.

1 Expensive over multiple inexpensive for me.
 
In terms of pure function, one knife is pretty much as good as another. A pencil writes just as well as a Mont Blanc. I expect a high end knife to have more than just an ability to cut. I have different knives for different occasions. I wouldn't be losing a Sebenza in a concrete pour but I wouldn't be carrying my SRM701 in my suit pocket either. I don't believe in the "one" knife, and part of the pleasure I get from knives is choosing the one from my collection best suited to its application. I usually go for handmade/custom anyway, for the exclusivity and "the love" that went into making it. My true EDC is one I made myself. I borrowed (with permission) the Michael Morris Friction Folder bottle opener tang, but the knife is convex ground from 5mm damasteel stock with an extra large diameter pivot. It lives in my motorbike jacket (I ride every day) and is there in case of emergency, it can open a beer, cut a seat belt, the tang can break a window and with thick G10 scales and a large pivot can be used as a pry bar (to save a life). It sees regular use but gets very little attention. I keep a Spyderco Bug in my desk drawer for envelope opening etc. I rotate my special occasion folders (usually to match my ties). When camping I use a joonas kallioniemi puukko for whittling but always have a couple of Moras and a Heavy Duty Hultafors handy for lending. I usually also bring my Boker plus bushcrafter for abuse/lending but may also bring one (in rotation) of my more expensive bushcrafters to use(not abuse). I rotate my "big choppers" between a Giedymin 10" Bladed bowie or an Owen Bush 12" bladed seax and when I finish my rehandled cold steel trailmaster, that will go in the mix as well. My tweaked Martindale Golok lives in the car (convexed edge and handle adjusted for comfort). I have a few knives, nothing outstandingly expensive (no William Henry's, Ron Lakes etc.) but nearly all reek "quality" and rarity. If I went more upmarket, I would probably have less in my collection, but they all get used, some more so than others. And then there's the ones I've made myself.
I guess I'm a "lots of knives" guy but not many are particularly cheap. I also hold to the philosophy that the "best" knife is the one you have when you need one.
 
bladeboss said:
I have cheaper knives (Kershaw, Case) that I like.
I have expensive knives (Spyderco Native 5, Benchmade Adamas, Griptilian, Delica 4, I guess you could say Leatherman is expensive for what you get too)

The cheaper knives get beat on more than the expensive ones, but I have no safe queens.
I like them both and will continue to impulse-buy the cheapies.
The more expensive knives give me pride of ownership, and usually a warranty to back it up when it doesnt give me the "hell-yeah" feelings.

1 Expensive over multiple inexpensive for me.
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Fits me overall. But where you draw the line of "expensive versus cheap or inexpensive" is the key. I consider your "expensive" list to be middle priced for the most part.. But it wasn't so long ago that I would have said a Delica or Native was "expensive" too.
 
leghog said:
But calculate your total cost to get that the fewest number of knives. :) The cost of those fewest knives and the $$$ spent to get there may be vastly different figures.
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Definitely true, and the discrepancy between those figures is just the cost of playing the game of knives :)
 
When I first got into knives, and begun to learn about new (to me, mostly) brands and discovered on-line dealers, I'd order four or five affordable knives each time. It allowed me to try out a greater variety of designs from each maker and it also made jumping through hoops at the customs office worth it.

I loved VG-10 FRN handled Spydercos, most cost around $40 back then. I remember getting an Endura 3, Native 3 and Centofante 3 for 120 dollars or so shipped. Case slipjoints were also high on my list, especially CV models with yellow synthetic handles.

After a while, I had all my needs covered and I wanted to try out better materials and more exclusive designs. So I got in touch with custom makers, and bought more expensive production knives (CRK, ZT, Spyderco sprints, Microtech, etc.).

Nowadays, it depends on how I feel. On some months I'll buy relatively affordable knives, and on others I'll go for fewer but more expensive ones.

I never focused on priced exclusively, quality has to be there.
 
au5t3n5 said:
Isn't that how everything is? Your $50,000 Patek is not going to tell time any better than your $8,000 Rolex. And your $8,000 Rolex certainly isn't going to tell time better than your $20 Timex. By buying more expensive knives, you are not only enjoying your hobby, you are supporting niche businesses, and if you purchase customs, supporting the life of those makers - who coincidentally are the ones doing collaborations for your cheaper knives, like Hinderer does for ZT, Ken Onion does for Kershaw, etc etc.

I have both cheap and expensive knives, and use them all. If I'm going out late at night or somewhere where I could lose a knife, I carry a cheaper one.
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Couldn't have said it better myself. :thumbup:
 
Buying a ton of less expensive knives vs buying 1 CRK, Strider, Hinderer, or Custom knife. Your philosophy?

Philosophy is less is more. Knowing that another person maker made ones knife is rewarding or satisfying. Unique. Special. Quality.
 
I could go out and buy myself a pair of expensive handmade custom shoes that would be great with a suit, but they ain't gonna help me much when I have to go shovel the driveway in winter. Not gonna wear 'em while doing some dirty work around the house, mow the lawn, go hiking or canoeing, or when I lounge around in shorts in the backyard while enjoying a nice BBQ and some frosty pints on a hot summer day.

No sir, I'd rather have a bit of a selection to choose from than to have only one high-end piece of anything. The only caveat, to me, is a fine woman. ;)

-Brett
 
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