Do you guys use your most expensive knives?

I only use those under $200, but I started collecting only 7 weeks ago. That may be changing in the future. 😀
 
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I have CRKs, Hinderers, and a couple of Striders at the top of my collection and they all get carried and used at some point in a light duty capacity. But my daily beaters are my three Benchmade 940's and a couple of Spyderco Shamans. And then there's my "down and dirty duo" in my garage. I have a special drawer in one of my tool towers that has my fixed blade outdoor knives that I use routinely. When I cut my grass on my 3/4 acre I always belt carry my Esee Junglas machete on one side and my Esee 5 on my opposite side. I know it seems like overkill, but in South Florida it's a constant battle with fast encroaching tropical vegetation and I find these knives serve me well.
 
Yes, I use my most expensive knife.
I must add that I use it with care.

This is my custom (1 of 10) by Dirk de Wit (NL).
I've carried it a lot and still do, great M390 hollow grind.
Paid €1100 for it but it's a joy to carry and use it.

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sgt1372 said:
^Ditto.

As soon as you use your "most expensive" knives, they are not your "most expensive" knives anymore.
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Most underrated comment I’ve ever read. That’s why I’ll buy doubles sometimes (0095, 0452, 0801 etc) and even then sometimes they don’t get used. If I’m gonna have 30+ knives costing $200 or more, I don’t want to put a scratch on all of them. I’ll pick a handful (PM2, 0566, 0770, etc) and rotate through those 95% of the time.
Edit: I realize $200 for a knife is nothing to some people, but to me it is, and that’s why I find it hard to use them. I’m 50% collector/enthusiast and 50% user
 
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If I don't use it I get rid of it. My most expensive is my ZT 0562cf at around $260 and it is one that I carry and use often. The knea I don't carry are the ones I don't trust.
 
My most expensive one, a $300 Ochs Worx Solarstorm, no. Partly because of its value and I don’t want to mess it up, but partly because I just like the action and feel of some of my other knives more. This one is going to get passed on to somebody when I kick the bucket, so one more reason I’d like to keep it pristine.

My second most expensive, the Buck Sprint Ops Pro, is my most frequent carry when I’m out and about. It hasn’t really gotten any heavy use yet, but only because the opportunity hasn’t arisen. But the cheaper ones in the collection - or whatever SAK is handy at the moment - are the beaters for garage and yard work.
 
AntDog said:
Yes.

To all the people who don’t - I bet you’re building quite a collection for your relatives to throw in the trash or sell for pennies on the dollar…. Why keep it nice for the next guy? 😆
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This is such a specious argument against "collecting" and not using your "most expensive" knives. I have all of the knives that I need to use and they are all (for the most part) the "cheapest" of the knives that own.

I am a "collector" by nature and I have collections of "things" in various categories worth anywhere from $40k-100k each and I have appraisals, purchase receipts and inventories of these collections as proof of their worth that I have made known to my potential executors.

I collect knives, like the other things that I collect, for my aesthetic enjoyment in viewing, handling, listening to and/or driving them, as the case may be. I do sometimes carry some of my "most expensive" knives and may actually open a letter with one but I do not consider that "use."

My knife collection of currently 375 knives is worth at least $50-75k based on an average price of about $150-$200 each but their appraised and potential sale value may be closer to $100k.

My "relatives" may NOT have any interest in the knives for their own sake BUT they are no fools!

And there is no way that any of my relatives would "thow (them) in the trash or sell (them) for pennies on the dollar" knowing how much $ can be realized upon their sale, as much trouble as that may require, by simply offering them for sale here or on EB or ACK.
 
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My most expensive knife is a CRK Mnandi and is my EDC. It just checks all of the right boxes for me so it get used pretty much everyday. If I am honest then I need to mention that I am an office worker so my daily cutting chores are pretty lightweight compared to someone who replaces carpet every day and needs a knife to cut carpet to size.
 
Of course everyone is going to define expensive in their own way; for me, expensive is $500 and up. That being the case for me, yes I do use my knives in that category.

Use and abuse are not the same however, so knives that I know will be subject to more rigorous tasks are chosen carefully. I work as a construction superintendent, and my knife is used daily - not the same mind you as the hands actually doing most of the labor. Even still, I open packages, do light demo, there is constant cutting to be done. I have a steady rotation of knives that are used in that capacity. Since November of last year, my carry has been a Spartan Harsey; it is part of an internal one-year challenge to myself. However, prior to that, I always have a CRK, Medford, something in that bracket in my pocket.

There are knives that I know are capable of such work that I choose not to use in a work setting, mainly due to finishes/etc; but they are still subject to light duty/around the house tasks.

I can remember when I graduated from the Spyderco-level priced knife to something more expensive the trepidation of using something that cost quite a bit more; after the first few months and sharpenings, it has become second nature.

That is just my 2 pennies however, everyone's experience and comfort levels will be different.
 
A knife that isn't used isn't really a knife!
And I sure as Hell didn't buy those knives just to look at them
 
This was my work combo for many years (shipping dock, construction). They each cost $300, which is the most I've ever paid for a knife.

That being said, I'm not the type of person who thinks "I use my knives, that makes me better than people who don't". I say, to each their own. Whatever people want to do, or not do with their knives is no business of mine, and certainly not a reason for me to look down on them, or mock them, or question their reasoning.

I own several knives that have never, and will never be used. I receive enjoyment from merely owning and handling them. And that's all the "use" I need to get out of them.


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I personally do. In fact I'd say that the most expensive ones are often some of the ones that see the most use. That being said, I pass no judgment on those who don't. There's no wrong way to hobby. The "use your shit" crowd these days can sometimes get a bit overzealous to the point of becoming obnoxious. Relax, it's just stuff, and that goes the same for people of both opinions.
 
These days I use most of mine. I do find that some of them are just not my favorites and I believe they will most likely pop up in the for sale section over the next few months.
 
This isn't my absolutely most expensive knife, but it's up there, and I use it all the time:

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It is a Ray Laconico custom (not the Jasmine model but pretty close to it) in CPM Magnacut steel. It is ground super thin behind the edge and cuts like a laser. The knife is just a joy to use in every respect. Simple, clean, beautifully made, and with a focus on cutting performance first and foremost. This to me represents the best of custom knives. I have no patience for decked-out, over-the-top customs in fancy materials with overly thick edges that work more as pry bars than as knives. A knife must cut!
 
sgt1372 said:
This is such a specious argument against "collecting" and not using your "most expensive" knives. I have all of the knives that I need to use and they are all (for the most part) the "cheapest" of the knives that own.

I am a "collector" by nature and I have collections of "things" in various categories worth anywhere from $40k-100k each and I have appraisals, purchase receipts and inventories of these collections as proof of their worth that I have made known to my potential executors.

I collect knives, like the other things that I collect, for my aesthetic enjoyment in viewing, handling, listening to and/or driving them, as the case may be. I do sometimes carry some of my "most expensive" knives and may actually open a letter with one but I do not consider that "use."

My knife collection of currently 375 knives is worth at least $50-75k based on an average price of about $150-$200 each but their appraised and potential sale value may be closer to $100k.

My "relatives" may NOT have any interest in the knives for their own sake BUT they are no fools!

And there is no way that any of my relatives would "thow (them) in the trash or sell (them) for pennies on the dollar" knowing how much $ can be realized upon their sale, as much trouble as that may require, by simply offering them for sale here or on EB or ACK.
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Use em, don’t use em - it’s your prerogative. I just think it’s a waste. To me it’s like buying a $300,000 Lamborghini, airlifting it into a climate controlled garage, then sitting in a lawn chair cracking a brew looking at it.

I personally love it when guys don’t use their knives. They’re NIB when I scoop em up cheap on the secondary. Love it. Thank you.
 
AntDog said:
Use em, don’t use em - it’s your prerogative. I just think it’s a waste. To me it’s like buying a $300,000 Lamborghini, airlifting it into a climate controlled garage, then sitting in a lawn chair cracking a brew looking at it.

I personally love it when guys don’t use their knives. They’re NIB when I scoop em up cheap on the secondary. Love it. Thank you.
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Well, if you're still around in 15-20 yrs before I kick the bucket, you're welcome to buy all or part of my collection from my estate at the then FMV of the knives for the benefit of the trust that I've established for my heirs. :)
 
Not for a while due to the poor rand dollar exchange rate and thus difficulty in replacing
 
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