Do you buy cheap knives anymore?

C

Chinikaylo

Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Messages
86
Ever since I really "got into" knives, I dont care much for cheaper folders. I edc a zt 0200 and absolutely love it. Whenever considering a new knife or looking at knives in general, if its below $50 I wave it off($50 being tops, im talking more about knives around $10, 20, or 30).

I think its because my next purchase is prob going to be in the $200-400 range(either a large sebbie or a bm630bk-503 if I could find one lol). I kind of feel "snobby" because I only want hgiher end knives now, as opposed to junk ive bought in the past. Anyways,

Do you buy knives that are around or under $50?

Are there any particular examples of good knives for around this price?

I think its pretty ironic that before coming to bladeforums I wouldnt buy a knife over $10 because I thought it was overpriced(it cuts stuff, what more do you need ;)), now I think a knife is of poor quality in some way if its below $50. Am I being unreasonable?
 
Oh, yes. I'll put it this way: I don't buy expensive knives anymore. These days, $50 is about my upper limit unless I find something really special.
 
Just to answer your question of if there are good knives under $50:

Kershaw OD-2
Spyderco Tenacious
Kershaw Skyline

Many more. I have high end knives but I don't turn my nose up at the more economical selections.
 
If I feel the need to buy a knife under $50. I look at some slippies or a nice little neck knife.
 
I usually carry a Sebenza but will still buy knives under $50 like Victorinox SAKs and Buck 110s.
 
i recently bought the meyerco kirby lambert shockwave, which was about 50 dollars or so. its an excellent knife. sometimes there are some really great deals on lower priced knives.
 
I carry my $20 SAK Farmer always, regardless if it's with my Sebenza or a Spyderco. To answer your question, yes I do buy cheaper knives still but I find they are usually a SAK or small Multi tool. I also think a SAK is one of the best bangs for your buck out there, they are cheap but of excellent quality. As far as my main EDC knives go, I know exactly where you are coming from. It's hard to be satisfied with cheaper knives after carrying a Sebenza, Military, Hinderer, or other high quality folder on a daily basis.
 
The last knives I purchased were Rough Riders for $5-6 each. Right before that, I got a ZT 0551 for $200. There are great knives at every price point in between. There are also a bunch of crappy ones as well... Point being, I buy based on value, not price.
 
I've been more disappointed with supposed "high end" knives than my cheap beaters. Breaking a $250 knife is the worst feeling in the world.

I recently rolled an edge so badly while -CARVING- with one of my Bark Rivers that I had to send it in to be reground entirely. I waited over a month to get my knife back, and when I finally did I took it out to do practice friction fire techniques. Guess what happened, after having my knife back for exactly one day? I bent the fxcking tip to a 90 degree angle! I wasn't even putting the knife through hard use, just basic wood working!! ARGH!

I'll never buy another knife over ~100 bucks. It just ain't worth it. I'd rather have two or three beaters than one princess. All those expensive "super" steels, exotic wood handles, hand stitched leathers sheaths... forget it! Just give me a simple factory made knife with cheap, proven steel and a sharp edge. At the most fundamental level that's all a knife needs: a sharp edge.

I'll stick with my Moras! I don't care if I break one of those!

Bottom line, forget the hype. Knife quality is what matters, not the price tag. At a certain price point, all you are paying for is expensive "fluff" attached to the knife, and not the blade.
 
Cheap knives are usually ruled out nowadays unless it's a Jeff White or a Rodger Needham (I like the styles of their knives and are both great guys to talk to, and I'm not calling their knives cheap, just well priced)

And there might be a Blind Horse knife that is below 50 bucks.

But besides those, nope, really don't look at cheap knives anymore
 
i buy knives ranging from $30 and up.

i really like some of kershaw's less expensive offerings like the skyline. if they offered one a little larger, and in m390, d2, cpm154, i would also pay the premium for that one.

i also like the med sized cold steels. especially the lawman and recon series.
 
Rarely if ever. I've found that my needs can be best satisfied by having a custom made to my specs.
 
I shop in all price ranges, but rarely over $200. My most recent purchases were a couple of Condor fixed blades for $25 each.
 
Yes.

I buy cheaper knives for EDC, but I use them to pry, hack, stab, and every now and then, cut metal. Having a 50 dollar tool that can do it all is better IMO then a 400 dollar knife that does nothing but cut. I don't see knives as investments or family heirloom so the choice for me is natural.

I'm running a good few years on a Sog. Its only on its last leg now because I got it caught on a door hinge installing the stop :rolleyes: I damaged the lock which while passes a spine whack test, will let go if I apply a lot of force. When it breaks, and I will break it, I will buy a new one.
 
I get busted for using the word cheap. I now try and say inexpensive.

A SAK and Opinel are inexpensive but not cheap IMO.

I fully understand having a nice knife, bike or car but it doesn't mean that inexpensive and cheap are the same thing.
 
I buy what I like. Unless it is part of my traditional box, I still think of my knives as tools. That means the must meet the price point to value test. Like any other tool, if I don't think I will get my investment out of it, I won't buy.

If it is a steel l like, a design I like, materials I like, and it is from a reputable manufacturer, I buy what I want. I don't care if it is an inexpensive knife like my Queen Country Cousin at $22, or my G10 Tyrade at $100. Neither of those were expensive my mind for what I got.

My only exception to the usefulness rule are my traditionals. They are a vice. I try to get useful knives, but sometimes I wind up with knives like the Dan Burke 1/2 whittler. I only use it to cut my cigars! But I do love that little rascal and actually like just carrying it around.

It backs up my JYD II combo, RAT 1, or any of my other heavier work knives.

Robert
 
Cheap knives are almost the only knives I buy. Only 3 times I can recall spending over $60 for a knife since the late 80's. It's all personal taste and what you want (and if you have a nice income).

I've waited 2-3 years for a model to drop in price even though I really wanted it, my conscience is always telling me how much the materials actually cost and that there are knives under $50 that can take care of any/all needs.
 
A few, the SRM 710 has been a nice EDC and box cutter at work. I also love my Kershaw Storm. I'll likely end up buying a couple of the Dozier KaBars as well as a few more Kershaws.
 
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