Did CHEAP Knives Reel You In?

thats how I got into knives. I still buy cheap knives occasionally to beat on and not worry about. My CRKT M16 has a AUS 118 blade on it. It is a limited edition of 500 but still I didnt know they are now going to crap blade steel. I was thinking of getting another one as I love the design. Its my EDC. I just dont like tearing up the finish constantly on this one as it is #1 of 500. Hmm I may have to go knife shopping today. I really want another KABAR someone stole mine.
 
In all fairness to CRKT, if one does one's homework, one may still get a very decent knife. Just make sure the blade you're getting is AUS 8. Some M16s (like the M16-13z) are made of AUS 4 crappola steel and I wouldn't waste my money.

Gerber's the one to stay away from.
 
There are three kinds of knives.

#1. POS knives

#2 Decent knives

#3 Good knives

Don't waste your time or your money on any catagory but the last one and you'll never suffer dissapointment.
 
first knife was a victorinox when i was a scout, of course.

when i was in the PRC i picked up a cheap steel frame lock that lasted four or five days before the lock failed and folded over on my fingers. threw it out immediately.

second knife was a "SWAT" cheap chinese copy from ebay. difficult to open and a lot of blade play.

third knife was a knockoff of a cold steel from a street vendor. thought it was the real thing, blade wouldn't keep an edge.

Fourth was a Kershaw Leek and now I can't stop. S30V, G10, ohh yeah.
 
Yeah, I started out carrying Case knives, folding buck knives, etc... The kind our Grandpas used when they took us hunting & fishing. Only U.S.-made of course. Then I started collecting better & better knives. I had a big assortment of Knives from $300 Benchmades to $25 Case knives. Recently, I sold all but one Benchmade and one Spyderco; the rest are Kershaw knives.

No other company has impressed me more with their customer service, knife quality & design, and assortment:thumbup:

I love this hobby of ours:D

Jeremy
 
Kershaw makes it easy to become addicted thanks to their overly generous "when in doubt it's our fault" interpretation of their limited warranty. Plus the speedsafe was brilliantly marketed. I think a lot of people grew up wanting switchblades simply because they were verboten and all over TV.
 
I'd have to honestly say that cheap knives do appeal to me, mainly cause they don't cost big money. But better-quality knives like Bucks, Gerbers, CRKTs, Kershaws, etc. are better-built (even if the steel isn't anything more than AUS6) and I get more pride from whipping out an M16 in front of my friends to cut up my steak in the cafeteria than I would from whipping out a knife that even to the untrained eye is obviously crap.
So yes, cheap knives are tempting but I have to school myself in the art of ignoring them.
PMZ
PS--Good point by the way---cheap knives are often photographed in ways that make them look to be of better quality.
 
I had a cheap SAK classic for about $20. I see some quality in the cheaper knives such as $40 Leathermans (no not the multi-tools).
 
Confederate said:
One of the great differences between guns and knives is this: a crappy gun generally will look and feel like a crappy gun. There are many knives, on the other hand, that are attractive to people who don't know the difference and these knives sell. That's why most of these manufacturers carry fairly heavy models that suggest quality.

K15.jpg


This Maxam is a strange knife in that except for the
blade, it's a pretty good knife! It opens with a solid "Click"
and the lock engages the blade more positively than many
quality liner locks. I mean, it's a great little knife until they
actually put the blade in!
Click to expand...


Wow...... That is the same kit knife , completed that I have been buying. :(
 
My first knife was POS too; i got it for $8 in CANADA. @ and change inch blade, dunno what kind of steel. Had the word "Bushmaster" stamped on it. I love that knife, and wouldn't trade it for the world. I EDC'd it for a good 4-5 years.
 
I got my frist knife on my 4th birthday (and Mother's Day), after I ended up in the hospital from being run over by a car. It was a small Puget Power knife my dad got, and he dulled the blade up pretty good before giving it to me. Since that day, I've been hooked. Eventually I got into Swiss Army knives, and once I branched out from there, I took some time to get somewhat educated on "good" knives. I've learned that price has nothing to do with a good knife. Sure with a more expensive knife, you're paying for better (harder) steel, and interesting handle materials (G-10, Micarta, titanium, etc.), but IMHO you can't go wrong with a $20 VIC Soldier, or an $8 Opinel, or a $19 Doul-douk. I have learned to appreciate many varieties of good knives; some are cheap AND good. On the other hand, from a collectors point of view, I won't hesitate to drop a fair ammount on a knife that is aesthetically pleasing, even if I never use it for SD or EDC. I like a variety. Just do a little research, and you won't go wrong.
 
Before the internet I was prey to knife predators and bought crap. Now I am knife savvy and am well informed before making a purchase. Praise to the net!
 
Well I started out with a Barlow about 25yrs ago then I had a bunch of those hollow handle knives that are junk and some pakistany lock blades. Now I carry Benchmades, Cold Steel, and Spyderco folders and a few Cold Steel fixed blades and hope to get a Falkniven A1 and a CS Trail Master. I like Kershaw too and have had some CRKT and Gerber knives also. I am not sure what range those knives are in but that range works well for me. Oh and how can I forget my Victrinox I had when I was in the Air Force that I abused and used and it kept on working.
 
my first knife was this
vn55292a.jpg


this knife has been one of the best knives i have ever had and i will never get rid of it in any way. ive had it since i was 6.

i have a couple of S&Ws and a couple of CRKTs. i have no complaints about them at all. Kershaw is my favorite by far. my cheapest knife is prolly like $10 and my most expensive is $300.
 
simple answer, yes...I think cheap knives get alot of people started, then they visit places like this and learn about nice knives...and the hobby grows!
 
Cheap knives are awesome. They got me started on my knife craze. First knife was a K-mart Northwest Territory lockback. A little bigger than a buck 110, Then a giant sized liner lock schrade. Followed by my first Buck. The Buck Goliath. Well over nine inches long. Wierd how i played with such huge knives when i was only about 8-9 years old. Hoever cheap dollar knives still save my ass sometimes when i forget mine at home. Or need a beater for the day.
 
its funny because cheap knives are usually whats used in stabbings...9 out of 10 times a domestic stabing or knife assault happens with a kitchen knife, and I can say the majority of people don't own proffetional kitchen cutlery...So for the most part expensive knives are not used in assaults like that...Im sure many of people died or got seriously hurt from the QVC kitchen sets...or 12pc flea market knives...

this is about 90% true based on crime facts, and 10% my assumptions...the assumption part is that most peopel do not have nice kitchen cutlery...you guys can't comment since your all knife people and Im sure many of you do infact have nice kitchen cutlery, lol, I am talking about the masses...
 
I carried a two bladed "jack knife" starting when I was about seven as did every kid that I knew. No one thought anything about it. We used them to play games with which would probably have been somewhat dangerous if they had been sharp.

When I was ten or twelve I had a switchblade which again no one thought anything about. They were readily available anywhere and cheap enough for a kid's budget. I don't remember anyone ever using a knife as part of a confrontation. I do remember the switchblade accidentally coming open in my pocket more than once.

Sitting next to my computer right now is a Cold Steel Ti-Lite in AUS 8A, which is blatantly reminiscent of that old switchblade, a CRKT Convergence, and a CRKT Rollock, all three of which I play with regularly and which could be categorized as cheap fun. The Ti-Lite would make a decent back up but carrying it would be asking for trouble today. It takes me two hands to open it anyway. The Convergence too.

I'm a golf course greenskeeper and carry a cheap Chinese Barlow slip joint similar to what I carried when I was seven for repairing ball marks and digging out weeds. Also carry a cutter that doesn't go in the dirt, last one being a Ka-Bar Dozier and currently a mini Junk Yard Dog, both of which I would consider low budget knives but not cheap.

As to expensive knives, I look on them the same way I look on how much money I carry in my wallet, limited by what I feel like I can afford to lose. I would love to have a Sebenza but I would never carry one at work and rarely in a more casual setting.

I have only been hanging out here for a few months but already I have greatly increased my knowlege of knives in general as well as in particular. I think my concept of "cheap" is changing. I have nothing but good to say about the people who share their opinions and expertise here. But yes, I certainly have gotten here by the low budget path.
 
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