buying an expensive knife verse many "cheaper" knives.

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bui

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Apr 5, 2008
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Just picked up 4 relatively inexpensive folders, (Boker 101, Kershaw tremor, spyderco paramilitary 2 and CRKT m21-04g). I spent a little over 200 for all four and feel I got a good deal. All 4 seem pretty nice and I'm happy with the quality of the knives. My question is prior to buying them I went back and forth on should I spend more money to get a sebenza or something in that price range or get several knives. I ultimately chickened out and went for the bargain. Does anyone else have this issue; buying an expensive knife verse many "cheaper" knives. Also, does anyone have comments on the 4 i bought.
 
The para 2 is an AWESOME knife!

Although there are many blades I like and I will still get nothing has been able to replace my CRK Large Sebenza 21.
The Lg 21 gives me more satisfaction than several "cheaper" knives. [cheaper is subjective because the listed knives are still quality blades, but just not up to the tolerances and fine detail as a CRK]
 
I prefer saving my money and spending it on higher end knives. I buy knives a lot less often, but I enjoy them more and I own some knives now that I only dreamed of owning a few years ago.
 
buy both?

by that I mean - whichever would be harder to get, buy first, and the others later?

Then, you see, I get to have them all!
 
I shouldn't have said cheaper, I meant less expensive. My other issue with pulling the trigger on an expensive folder is I don't have access to holding one. I'm getting to understand the importance of going to a knife show or two so I can compare. The cheaper knives I can go to the local knife store and see if i like them or not. I would hate to buy a 400 knife and not like the way it feels.
 
bui said:
My other issue with pulling the trigger on an expensive folder is I don't have access to holding one. I'm getting to understand the importance of going to a knife show or two so I can compare. I would hate to buy a 400 knife and not like the way it feels.
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I had this exact same thought when I was considering buying a Sebenza. After thinking about it for a while and looking around on the sale forums I realized that if I got it and for some reason didn't care for it, I wouldn't have much trouble selling it for what I had in it or maybe a small loss. That convinced me to pull the trigger. Happily, I'm glad I did.
I have the less expensive ones to. My EDC rotation consists of a larger and small Sebenza, several Spyderco knives and a couple of Benchmade folders. The only problem I have now is deciding what to grab on my way out the door. :)
 
There are some really cool knives out there with hefty price tags that I would buy as artwork to display, just like any other piece of fine artwork. There are some finely made desks you could see that were made for Louis the XIV at the height of his power and prestige that I would love to own as well. Fact is, I do my work on a $60 table I picked up at Target, my computer was about $400, bought my truck for $3K... I guess I just don't have the money to blow on nice knives. I should probably buy a house or finish my Masters before I start blowing hundreds of dollars on a knife.

If you've got the money... hey, what are you waiting for? Buy whatever you want.

Prioritize your spending in whatever way gives you the most return on your money. If you got you some cuttin' to do, buy a knife that will do the job. If that's not the point of your purchase then do whatever you want.

I like double edge razors rather than the Mach 7s, partially because the blades are so cheap and I get a nice close shave out of them. I think I bought 20 years' worth of double edge blades for about $40, they're all packed up and stored, and I'm happy with that purchase. I might be fudging those numbers a little, I don't remember. Darby blades were about a dime apiece and I get a week or two out of one.

Anyway, carry on.
 
Imo...you might be happier getting less expensive knives because you can get more of them and you won't be out a lot of cash. On the other hand there are some more expensive knives that really are a lot better. Sometimes I regret some of my expensive knife purchases but I don't regret the cheaper ones.
 
It depends on what you call expensive and what you call cheap. For me, the principle of diminishing returns makes the Sebenza impractical. But I'd much rather have one good $100-$200 knife than a bunch of cheaper ones that add up to the same value. And I wouldn't consider the Paramilitary 2 to be a cheap knife. More of a midrange...
 
Expensive doesn't necessarily mean "the one" for you. My XM-18, Sebenza, Galyean Pro Turbulence, and Lionsteel SR-1 all get less carry time than my Benchmade 581 Barrage. Ergonomics and steel are more important considerations than the price tag.

That being said, I'm thinking a true custom knife made to my exact specifications would be better than all the rest.
 
Noctis3880 said:
Expensive doesn't necessarily mean "the one" for you. My XM-18, Sebenza, Galyean Pro Turbulence, and Lionsteel SR-1 all get less carry time than my Benchmade 581 Barrage. Ergonomics and steel are more important considerations than the price tag.

That being said, I'm thinking a true custom knife made to my exact specifications would be better than all the rest.
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agree, but I'll add what kinda person you are. Someone whos okay with using the knife or will baby them. If latter, but multiples so at least you do get both satisfaction + usage when you actually need a knife.
 
PassinBy said:
agree, but I'll add what kinda person you are. Someone whos okay with using the knife or will baby them. If latter, but multiples so at least you do get both satisfaction + usage when you actually need a knife.
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I don't really understand the idea with multiples or safe queens. If I wanted something pretty to look at that I keep locked up in a safe, I'd much prefer precious metals or gemstones. I personally don't have much of a problem with using a $725 knife. In fact, I might even go so far to say that I didn't baby the knife enough, and ended up scraping my R.J. Martin Overkill against the concrete floor slightly(still enough to put some small chips near the tip):D. I wonder if knife makers would prefer their knives to be used or babied.
 
When I started getting into knives it was all about buying the next coolest looking one , usually under $100. Then I started learning more about them, the metals , styles I prefer etc. After that I did a complete 180. Now I strictly will purchase only customs, I do keep my range around the $500. I don't think have any of the original knives I started with and there are only five out of my 20 knives in my current collection that are production. I guess I just like the uniqueness of them and knowing that a craftmen actually hand made them. I do EDC all my knives , so no safe queens. They don't get much hard use though.
 
As Zippo said, "cheaper" is relative. There are also legitimate uses for a less expensive, but still quality, knife. Whether it's the way to go or not depends on you and what you want. If you want a Sebenza, you should try to get one. I suspect that you'll regret it some day if you never own one because of the cost. If you just want a quality knife that won't fail you, both the Spyderco and the Kershaw fill that requirement. I can't say anything about the other two because I've never had them.

I have both Sebenzas, and Paras. Both get carried, but when it comes to a knife that I'll use for anything, anytime, with no fear of failure, one of the Paras is what I'll carry for a folder. I'm not worried about the Sebbie failing, it's just not as comfortable to carry and use as my Paras and if something does happen to the knife, I'd rather replace a $125 one than a $400 one.
 
It's different for everybody. My most prized knives are the ones that are really hard or impossible to find / replace. Price is secondary to this attribute.

Pete
 
I have both high end and others, and I carry all of them off and on.

I carry based on what I plan on doing that day or if I am at home I just grab one and use it.

I do find that I use my high end knives more though like my Striders and Demko Customs, I got them to use, not to sit around so they tend to see more use than most others.

If you spend $400+ for a knife and don't carry it because something might happen to it then why have it at all.
 
$100-150 is the sweet spot for me. knives in that range usually offer good quality and if i loose it, no biggie
 
bui said:
My question is prior to buying them I went back and forth on should I spend more money to get a sebenza or something in that price range or get several knives.
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If you're a knifenut, then eventually you will buy the Sebenza. It's possible that you'll think it overrated and sell it, but I am pretty sure that you'll eventually buy one.
Hence in the end you will have bought both the cheaper knives and the luxury one.

BTW, from your set the Paramilitary is excellent. You might find an upgrade to a Sebenza not offering enough tangible benefit.
 
I've just reached the next phase in my addiction.

I always thought i'd be OK with my Benchmades and Spydies, but i started to "stray" into the Sebenzas and Striders.

It's hard to stop buying!
 
Cheaper knife for work, rock solid for EDC.
I suggest the same with a CCW and the holster you carry it in. Nothing bugs me more then a person that will spend $700+ on a carry and buy an uncle mike holster? WTF?
Same with a knife. At work, for boxes and scraping shit etc, a cheap knife does the job. Any other time its a MIcrotech otf, Emerson auto or Emerson tanto (old production knife). Have them carried all over the world.
 
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