Buying knives on working man's wages

I don't think your average every day working man if he needs a decent knife to work or w/e with is going to buy a custom knife for like $300 to $500 dollars. Hes going to go with production knives or a mass produced, a brand name like a Kershaw, or Gerber, what have you. No offense guys I might be wrong here but some users here are spating out prices of 300 to 500$ like it is no big deal. For a folding knife or maybe even a fixed blade for the every day joe $100 max. Fixed blade maybe a tad more, but not by much.
 
I also have about as many using knives as I need - but I still come across the odd piece that is well made, value-priced and begging to be purchased and put to use. Using a custom knife isn't about need for me - neither my livelihood nor my survival depend on a blade ( fanciful imaginings of suddeny finding myself in a "survival" situation aside). It's about enjoyment.

Using a well made custom knife is FUN - so I go out of my way to find excuses to use the knives that I purchase for that reason. It will always be a small percentage of what I spend on knives for my collection, but I don't really see those types of purchases coming to a complete end. Lets' just say my user roatation is full, but expanding. :)

Roger
 
Of my 60+ knives all are used or will be used if I can get them sharp enough. No knife cost more than $150. I carry between $300-500 of knives in a tool bag.
I buy used and new. I would love to purchase a custom knife and would pay up to $300 if I thought it were THE knife.

Here's my question, perhaps a silly one: does one get to 'try' a custom to be sure that it feels right? I know that there are questions of steel, materials, blade shape, grind, etc. But if it were to feel wrong I wouldn't be likely to use it.
I see many beautiful knives for sale but have never grabbed one. Is there a trial period to allow for handling the knife? or any other testing? and if the knife seems to have a problem ( a vague and possibly subjective term) do makers typically try to resolve the problem?
 
Last edited:
annr said:
Of my 60+ knives all are used or will be used if I can them sharp enough. No knife cost more than $150. I carry between $300-500 of knives in a tool bag.
I buy used an new. I would love to purchase a custom knife and would pay up to $300 if I thought it were THE knife.

Here's my question, perhaps a silly one: does one get to 'try' a custom to be sure that it feels right? I know that there are questions of steel, materials, blade shape, grind, etc. But if it were to feel wrong I wouldn't be likely to use it.
I see many beautiful knives for sale but have never grabbed one. Is there a trial period to allow for handling the knife? or any other testing? and if the knife seems to have a problem ( a vague and possibly subjective term) do makers typically try to resolve the problem?
Click to expand...






most reputable makers and dealers will gladly exchange or refund a knife....it has happened to me before and they were more than helpful....granted i would check with that maker about their policies before hand....ryan
 
peterinct said:
A lot of people I know, that don't collect knives, think it is absurd to spend even a couple hundred dollars on a knife! Those same folks will go out to a bar and drop $100 -200 in an evening however:D...go figure!

Peter
Click to expand...

exactly , I have friends that will think nothing of dropping $250+ on dinner for them and their wives , yet can't grasp me spending $250+ on a knife.

I told them once " Tomorrow morning , where will that dinner be ? In 10 years I know where the knife will still be " :D

The way I read Bobby's question: " what is the average price range that you can or will pay for a good quality custom knife that you will not be afraid to use?"

So rather than the avg non-knife person , since we are all knife people here , I got the impression he was asking what " we " , the people who buy custom knives , what we are willing to spend on a user. Of course the people who only buy productions ( nothing wrong with that ) , might not be able to justify the cost of a custom as a user.

Which is, and I am guessing here , the reason he posted in the custom area vs gen knife area.
 
Hmmm.... based on this feedback I'm spend waaaaay too much on 'em...

But as they say over at Busse forum: No regrets!
 
I see the appeal of the custom knife and could see myself buying one. I'm wondering what the reasons are that any of you may go the custom route. For example: (and pls. note I not saying any of the following is a poor reason):): better functionality, eye candy, investment, status symbol, pure pleasure, meets a need not available on the production market?

IOW what made you go custom?

Just curious.
 
This is from an old deer hunter who also makes knives. It is not unusual to find a hunter with a firearm and scope valued at $1500 or more, sometimes a lot more. That being the case, spending up to $250 or so on a quality hand made hunting knife to compliment the rest of your gear is understandable. From my experience, a lot of people do it willingly.
 
annr; to answer your question as to why buy a custom: because as soon as you see it, it jumps out and grabs you. it's not "eye candy", it's a more profound feeling than that.
you can get excellent fit and finish and function in a production knife, but rarely, perhaps never, get the same inner experience of joy, that "the right custom for you" will bring.
start looking at knives by custom makers whose reputation is for exceptional work, and eventually one will "grab" you, and you will be powerless to resist.
but it is an expensive hobby.
roland
 
rprocter said:
annr; to answer your question as to why buy a custom: because as soon as you see it, it jumps out and grabs you. it's not "eye candy", it's a more profound feeling than that.
you can get excellent fit and finish and function in a production knife, but rarely, perhaps never, get the same inner experience of joy, that "the right custom for you" will bring.
start looking at knives by custom makers whose reputation is for exceptional work, and eventually one will "grab" you, and you will be powerless to resist.
but it is an expensive hobby.
roland
Click to expand...

roland,
Works for me!:) and makes sense. I always like quality and know the exhileration of a good find or match. There are worse things to spend $ on.:D

What about a 'custom custom' where you say I need 'x shape'; 'x grind'; 'x dimensions'; not quite sure on the steel; but I'm trying to do this with the knife; here are some handles that work for me....some that don't work? Do makers get this specific?

In fact, I'd be looking for form and function, maybe with less in the way of fancy or exotic trimmings but the same quality, appeal, and value of a good custom. Does this sound reasonable?:confused:
 
annr said:
I see the appeal of the custom knife and could see myself buying one. I'm wondering what the reasons are that any of you may go the custom route. For example: (and pls. note I not saying any of the following is a poor reason):): better functionality, eye candy, investment, status symbol, pure pleasure, meets a need not available on the production market?
Click to expand...

The reasons for me are that I get a much wider choice of materials, and if I like a knife but would prefer it with a half inch longer blade, I can ask a custom maker to do that for me.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Hi Bobby,

I saw your knives in Chicago. Absolutely well-made and competitive pricing. I liked the ti folders at around $400. You have the skills to make them as good as one needs--and even better!

But, here is an observance: You mention how this 'affordable user knife' system worked for your mentor, George Herron. Without question, it did, and he provided just that. That was a different era, though.

I submit, though, that today's larger buying community is less interested in user knives than they are in quality collectible knives (that, of course, can be used).

For example: Regardless of how good a user you make (and you do), I have already met my limit on quality user knives (I own 5 or so). So, I am still not a candidate. But... I am always looking out for a top quality collectible knife with something new/exciting/designed-well/proven etc. The Collector market is larger than the user market.

I wonder how successful a full-time maker can be if they attempt to sell only user-grade knives. I would bet it's darn hard. The Collector market is larger than the user market, in my experience.

Bobby, I am using this post as a discussion point, and really don't want to discourage your great intentions. It would be interesting to understand your philosophy on this, and other's viewpoints.

Thanks.

Coop
Click to expand...

Coop,
You make a good point, but I have seen at least one who has found a strong hold on the user market and yet still puts out a higher grade line for nice collectibles...Bob Dozier. He sells a ton of $200 to $300 users and still puts out an extremely nice collector for around $800 to $1000. I don't own any of his high end knives, but I do have a user. It is well made and he does one of the best kydex sheaths out there.

Just my 2 cents,
Jay
 
I thought I would mention here that I have managed to find a custom folder for a very good price.

It looks like a very well made item, nothing fancy but excellent lines. It sells for under $400.

So.... I guess if you look hard enough, you will still find excellent deals on handmade knives.

I won't mention the gent's name, cos I don't want him to be buried in orders and have to close the books, like so many of my favourites have done :D
 
Lycosa said:
Gentlemen, my father-in-law works in maintenance at Con Agra and I use him as a gauge for working men and what they will spend on a knife. He tells me; $20 dollars or less, is the average. $50.dollars is Rare! I don't even show him what is in my drawer!
Click to expand...

you know I never thought about this but the "average guy" won't spend over 50 bucks for a knife we are obsessed with knives its our hobby, our love, or for some our lives we are willing to spend more because we love this stuff and we know what a knife is really worth.
 
hevy ev's said:
you know I never thought about this but the "average guy" won't spend over 50 bucks for a knife we are obsessed with knives its our hobby, our love, or for some our lives we are willing to spend more because we love this stuff and we know what a knife is really worth.
Click to expand...

True , very true. However the question was toward the avg custom knife buyer.

In today's economy, what is the average price range that you can or will pay for a good quality custom knife that you will not be afraid to use?
Click to expand...

The avg non knife guy won't spend any more on a knife than a non-audiophile will spend on a set of speakers , or the non-watch guy will spend on a watch.
 
$200 is my general limit, but I'm on a tight budget. If I know the knife will be used friequently and for a vital activity, then I can stretch that.
 
Kohai999 said:
For a folder, it is $500.00 or less.

For a fixed blade, $300.00 or less.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Ditto,

Except Microtech Socom DA's; I have a very, very soft spot in my heart for these and have violated the above once or twice;);) in order to secure one.
 
Here are some small skinners that I sell for $100.00 w/sheath. Ats34, rc 59 and cryoed.
Handle is linen micarta. I think this is a fair price and with-in the working mans budget.
I do beleive you can get a good custom for $100.00. Its like art depends on who signs the work.

 
Here is my EDC when I'm out and about and when I have a steak, roast beef, chicken, or pork chop at home. The knife cuts almost anything and is easy to sharpen and has a great look to it and because it is take down, would be easy to keep clean when necessary. Certainly above the high end of what most people posting have said they would use as an EDC but fun to have as a custom user.

standard.jpg


made by Brian Lyttle. SanMai damascus of O1 and Nickel over an O1 core. Stabilized Maple Burl handle.
 
I'll spend about $250 on a user without much thought.

My EDC is made up of Krein, Strider, Emerson, and CRK. All are used frequently, so I just busted my $250 budget ;)

User Folders - $500

User FB - $400
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top