Can't find time for the budget blades?

I thought about getting a gec for a while, although the definite carbon steel blade I'll be picking up here pretty soon will be an Esee Izula II. Although the retention on the edge may not be excellent, it's reported to take a pretty great edge like you said. Since I'm not a consistent hard user, I feel I'll enjoy it quite a bit.
 
I had a knife I EDCed for 10+ years, even though I own 300+ blades in my collection it was my no thought grab and go daily user... when it finally backed out a pin and was no longer really usable, rather than replace it with another of the same, I decided I'd switch from buying fixed blades to buying a few folders to update my EDC rotation...


long story short, 50 or so knives later, some costing multi hundreds of dollars, I ended up with another copy of the same old trusty knife I carried for 10+ years the first time.... and it cost me a whole 35.00

I now own a lot of really nice folders...none of which will ever again see the light of day in my lifetime.

Ya like what ya like, and ya can't really fool yourself into believing otherwise for very long....for some people that may be a 350.00 midtech or semi custom....for me it was a 35.00 beater /shrug
 
Hawgsnawt said:
I had a knife I EDCed for 10+ years, even though I own 300+ blades in my collection it was my no thought grab and go daily user... when it finally backed out a pin and was no longer really usable, rather than replace it with another of the same, I decided I'd switch from buying fixed blades to buying a few folders to update my EDC rotation...


long story short, 50 or so knives later, some costing multi hundreds of dollars, I ended up with another copy of the same old trusty knife I carried for 10+ years the first time.... and it cost me a whole 35.00

I now own a lot of really nice folders...none of which will ever again see the light of day in my lifetime.

Ya like what ya like, and ya can't really fool yourself into believing otherwise for very long....for some people that may be a 350.00 midtech or semi custom....for me it was a 35.00 beater /shrug
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When I got my CRKT Shenanigan that was gifted to me, that's how it was for me too. Grab it without thought because it was there and worked for me. Luckily it's still in pretty good shape, definitely got a lot of life left in it. Do you think it was because of how great the knife was, or because it was kind of muscle memory to have it in the pocket? I feel that with a couple knives, especially the ones I carried everyday for a while until my collection had improved.
 
I own an awesome CNC setup, state of the art CAD programs and have lots of titanium and carbon fiber in stock on the shelf; I can make all sorts of custom exotic and artsy knife stuff.... and I tend to carry my stock Spyderco Persistence as much as anything I own or have made! Hehe, go figure :D
 
MidnightSun said:
I own an awesome CNC setup, state of the art CAD programs and have lots of titanium and carbon fiber in stock on the shelf; I can make all sorts of custom exotic and artsy knife stuff.... and I tend to carry my stock Spyderco Persistence as much as anything I own or have made! Hehe, go figure :D
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Haha, that's awesome. If I didn't prefer a size close to the Tenacious, that's probably what I would've gone with!
 
My budget oscillates based on my recent spending and current account balance. Depending on how I'm feeling about cash on any given day of the week, I might say a budget knife is $40 or I might say a budget knife is $150... These days, I'm leaning towards the latter.

In fixed blades, though, as there are no moving parts, it's all form and steel. $150 covers an incredible range of quality and value in the fixed blade world. I picked up a 3V Master Tanto for $160 shipped, which I would call an incredible value for what I got. I also paid $23 for a CRKT Dragon which I also carry and use quite a bit.

With folders, it's all over the place as well. Some days it's a Kershaw Launch 6, some days it's a Boker Plus peanut, some days it's a Rough Rider. Anywhere from $8-$200, with the decision based more on what I'm doing that day than anything else.
 
Comeuppance said:
My budget oscillates based on my recent spending and current account balance. Depending on how I'm feeling about cash on any given day of the week, I might say a budget knife is $40 or I might say a budget knife is $150... These days, I'm leaning towards the latter.

In fixed blades, though, as there are no moving parts, it's all form and steel. $150 covers an incredible range of quality and value in the fixed blade world. I picked up a 3V Master Tanto for $160 shipped, which I would call an incredible value for what I got. I also paid $23 for a CRKT Dragon which I also carry and use quite a bit.

With folders, it's all over the place as well. Some days it's a Kershaw Launch 6, some days it's a Boker Plus peanut, some days it's a Rough Rider. Anywhere from $8-$200, with the decision based more on what I'm doing that day than anything else.
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Haven't quite got to fixed blades yet. Although I'm sure I'll get my taste of them soon enough. Probably an Izula II as a "test run." I'd probably be more concerned in picking a knife that suites my day's tasks, if my days fluctuated more than they did. Wit h most of what I'd do on any given day, I'd be content with any one of my rotated edcs in my pocket. Although I've got more ideal blades for when I'm intentionally outdoors camping and what not, or unpacking stuff for someone if they've moved. I'd say my range is $20-$120.
 
Budget blades are the way to go for some situations. I bought a Spyderco Cat as a travel knife. It was so nice I wondered why I previously bought the Chaparral. However, if I lost the Chaparral that would be a tragedy. If I lost the Cat I would not like it, but I would not be out a lot of money. Similarly, I bought a BM Mini Landslide that uses N680 steel for a salt water knife. It is a real jewel but only cost me about $27 (they are about $10 more, now). My original reasoning was that if I lost an expensive knife over the side of the boat that would be a bad thing. But, if I lost a cheap knife, then I would not be so put out. It turned out, however, that the Mini Landslide was actually as nice a knife as anybody could want and it does not rust, either.
 
DocT said:
Budget blades are the way to go for some situations. I bought a Spyderco Cat as a travel knife. It was so nice I wondered why I previously bought the Chaparral. However, if I lost the Chaparral that would be a tragedy. If I lost the Cat I would not like it, but I would not be out a lot of money. Similarly, I bought a BM Mini Landslide that uses N680 steel for a salt water knife. It is a real jewel but only cost me about $27 (they are about $10 more, now). My original reasoning was that if I lost an expensive knife over the side of the boat that would be a bad thing. But, if I lost a cheap knife, then I would not be so put out. It turned out, however, that the Mini Landslide was actually as nice a knife as anybody could want and it does not rust, either.
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I see what you mean. I find it can be quite stressful to be carrying one of my nicer knives, just for the concern of losing it. That's why what's seen most of my pocket time isn't much more than $40. Wouldn't not hurt to lose the Tenacious, but would hurt a lot more to lose my Manix 2.
 
pinnah said:
The appeal of expensive knives is entirely lost on me.
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I wish I could say the same. Not that I don't appreciate my more affordable knives, in fact since I find it easier to use them, they probably get more day-to-day appreciation then my higher end blades. Might just be the anticipation built up between wanting a knife and getting it that takes much longer for the more expensive acquisitions. When you finally get it in hand, it just feels so good.
 
I've said this before.

I don't buy budget or expensive knives. I buy knives I like.

If I like it I use it.

This is a trip down a winding trail, not a straight climb to a peak. Starting out with the idea that once you hold a "Brand X" blade you'll never want to sully your hands will a lesser one is a mistake.
 
Danke42 said:
I've said this before.

I don't buy budget or expensive knives. I buy knives I like.

If I like it I use it.

This is a trip down a winding trail, not a straight climb to a peak. Starting out with the idea that once you hold a "Brand X" blade you'll never want to sully your hands will a lesser one is a mistake.
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I mean I don't buy any knives I don't like, but as I gain more and more respect for the quality and materials of the product, which in turn means an increase in price, I find I don't carry my budget blades as often, just with the options I've made available in my collection. I still carry most every knife I own, just get a more spread out playing field and preferences change.
 
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