Does expensive = better?

H

Harlequin

Joined
Jun 2, 2004
Messages
9
When I look at the prices of some of these knives I'm floored. All the knives I own are under $100 and work just fine. Is there any real advantage to spending $300 on a folder? Sure gold inlays and titanium screws are nice, but really...
 
I guess it depends on how you define "better". Not everything that is expensive is always the best but if I'm looking at something really expensive, or at least significantly more expensive than a similar object then what I'm looking for are things like materials, workmanship, quality of finish and performance.

Is a Porsche better than your family sedan? Who can say, better in what way?
Will the Porsche carry your wife, kids and mother-in-law down to the shopping centre and bring them back with all the shopping comfortably? Probably not so, in that respect, it's not better. Will the Porsche take you safely down a twisty mountain road at 120 mph, (all other things being equal)? Yes, a hell of a lot better than the old family clunker. Is it better? Sure.

Obviously the same specifications don't apply to knives but the theory is the same. There is also the pleasure of owning a finely crafted tool made from high tech materials that simply feels good to use. What price do you put on that?

I don't know if expensive always equals better, but the best there is will never be cheap, whatever you're talking about.
 
Welcome, Read back through the threads and you will find this topic discussed many times. In most cases there is a direct relevence between cost and quality. There are some real great threads and top information in these pages. You mentioned the $100 mark, that generally means youve discovered that a 10 dollar knockoff just dont get it.Happy hunting.
guy
 
Generally you get what you pay for...generally.
I have seen knives costing hundreds of dollars that I felt would be over priced at $50. Then there are those inexpensive knives that beat ones costing several times as much. Brands such as Victorinox, Opinel, and Frosts and Erikksen (sp?) of Sweden are some of the best buys in the knife world. Chris Reeve Knives and William Henry Knives are much more costly, but the degree of fit, finish, and materials are what sets them apart. "Custom" or "handmade" knives can be outstanding buys, or a total waste of your money. If you buy a "cutom" knife without seeing it first hand, don't be surprised if it doesn't live up to your expectations. "Custom" or "handmade" doesn't always mean quality....buyer beware. ;)

Paul
 
I have always liked knifes (I am 35 years old) but never figured I would carry one every day. Up until a few months ago, I carried my Spyderco on weekends in my jeans (I wear a coat and tie to work on the weekdays)

Recently, I started to carry my Spyderco to work as I really find that a knife comes in handy. But, the knife was a bit over the top for the other employees...no one said anything, but the stainless look with the ragged blade looked intimidating.

So, I searched for another EDC. I took the same approach with the knife search as I did with my watch search. I view these gentleman accessories as companions. I spend a lot of time with my watch and know that I will spend a lot of time with my knife. So, my search went straight to Benchmade as this was the top of the line in my local camping shop. BUT, none of these grabbed me, afterall, I already had a Spyderco for the tough work.

I wanted a companion that I could be proud of and also invited the Sheeples to comment with interest, not fear.

I discoverd William Henry and decided to buy a Mother of Pearl/Damascus T-12. This became my EDC. When I am at my desk, most of the day, the knife is out of my pocket in plain view. I love to look at the Pearl and admire the craftsmanship. I also know that I can use my knife for all of the Office activities. I also eat with my knife EVERY night (as well as prepare dinner).

So, where is this going? I am not too sure...all I can say is that I paid more for a William Henry for the Materials used and the top notch craftsmenship. Also, the more 'expensive' knifes that are labeled Gentlemans Folders seem to fit in at the office. None of the Benchmades seemed to fit, even the limited stuff...IMHO!

So, I now have my weekend worker and my weekday EDC! I veiw my WH as a companion and I view my Spyderco as a tool.

I just receive my first customs...a Gedraitis Stag handle folding bowie, SIMPLY AMAZING!!!! I will rotate this in as my EDC. It is not stainless, so I do fear about my usage with food etc...

I also purchase a 1 of 1 William Henry (Abalone, Mokume, Damascus- in that oder from rear to front)....this knife is tucked away in a climate controled dust free environment :)

Done rambling...thanks for reading!

AC
 
Is there any real advantage to spending $300 on a folder?
Click to expand...

the word 'advantage' is highly subjective, but I do feel that having my $200 folder 'puts me in a better position then other people' (Collins Dictionary)
 
IMHO at the $100 -150 street price you've hit the point of diminishing returns.
Rather than paying for improved materials and performance your paying for aesthetics than don't add to performance (at least not proportionally). While you can certainly appreciate the higher levels of workmanship and artistry, you simply can't use it.
 
Just remember there is no free lunch, you get what you pay for. To me 300.00 isnt bad for a knife i love, considering ill have it forever. Besides when you own high end knives you can always sell it and get 3/4 of your money back.
 
Does expensive = better....Hell No!

Simple example, average price of a Swiss Army Knife $20.00, average price of a Case knife $40.00. I'm guessing at the ave prices but you get the picture!

Buck 110 & 112 folders are only $30.00 and they are excellent knives.

This forum is a good place to find advice on a knife before you buy...chances are that we have on or had one and know if it's good or junk!

Collecter
 
As a dealer and collector,
I think that you do get what you pay for, most of the time.
The seller, if honest will price anything near the competition to get the sale.
The more you spend the more you get, at least from the dealers we do business with. Of course buyer beware, especially on ebay!
Chef Edward

check our prices (free shipping) [URL=http://]http://www.chefdepot.com[/URL]
 
I agree with alot said here. A swiss army knife from Victorinox costs $20 bucks and will last you a lifetime of good use. A CRK Sebenza costs you $300 and will last you a lifetime of good use. A home shopping network special costs you $100 and will fall apart in a day...

Price doesn't tell you too much. You have to check for quality.

Your $100 dollar knives if made well are great, and will work just as well as that $300 dollar Sebenza. The Sebenza may have better materials and fit and finish, and that's where the money is going, but a $50 dollar Spyderco Calypso Jr. will cut just as well...and maybe slice a little better with that fully flat ground blade.
-Kevin
 
Nope. Like dullone said, diminishing returns hits hard at $100-150. I do get more satisfaction from my $450 folder (which I have never regretted buying) than one of my ~$100 ones, but as far as overall function goes, I don't think I've gained much.
While very crude in comparison, and not much fun to play with, my $8 Opinel outcuts any, and all, of my other folders.
Nothing wrong with wanting something nicer, and "better", though :)
 
I don't have too much to add to what's already been said... :rolleyes: But, I am glad this topic was posted, as it's something that I've been thinking about lately. The $100-$150 mark for diminishing returns sounds about right, although I think that fixed blades generally have a higher quality ceiling than do folders. Case in point - Swamp Rat fixed blades evidence a higher quality than do Buck fixed blades. The price point for these knives is $140 and $70, respectively. However, a Benchmade Griptillian can be picked up on the 'net for around $55, as can a Spyderco Endura. IMHO, those two are comparable for fit, finish, and cutting ability. From what I've seen, higher price can, indeed, translate to higher quality in the realm of fixed blades. Same with folders, but to a lower degree. What do y'all think?
 
As many have pointed out, but I'd like to reinforce from experience, cost is relative to the user and task at hand.
Suppose you only have your jewel-encrusted Sebenza and need a cork screw...that SAK just became priceless.
On the other hand, those same jewels might help getcha something else much more valuable, though.
 
A lot of the pricing of knives is probably determined by production method. Larger companies like Buck or even small companies like Benchmade are able to use production methods that are unfeasible for smaller outfits. Thus these smaller group end up doing more customizations by hand and CNC, which bumps up the price of the knives considerably.

Knives have to be taken at face value. It is hard to generalize about price ranges.
 
I'll mirror what guy g said.

Yes it does. And you already know this because you're here participating in this forum.
 
Trout Tamer said:
From what I've seen, higher price can, indeed, translate to higher quality in the realm of fixed blades. Same with folders, but to a lower degree. What do y'all think?
Click to expand...

I disagree. I think the difference is more prominent in folders then it is elsewhere. Look at a Becker, a Swamp Rat and a Busse. As you go up in price you are deffinetly getting a better knife, but I don't think the differences are all that drastic. Now look at a Griptillian, a BM710 and a Sebenza. I think those knives are pretty drastically different from each other. All are nice in there respective price ranges, but there are large differences in quality of fit/finish, materials, etc.


I don't think a $300 knife is going to necessarily cut any better then a $100 one, but in most cases it will deffinetly be a nicer knife. Some people appreciate having a very high quality tool with excellent fit and finish or with fancier handle materials. Others are fine with a lesser knife as long as it is good enough to do the job at hand. If someone is just interested in a good user knife and isn't interested in the other things then I think knives around the $100 range are perfectly adequate for them. For me and many others it's worth it to us to spend the extra money to get a knife with a higher level of fit and fish, nicer materials, etc.
 
I have to agree with Owen and Dullone in that $100-150 is where quality and price tend to be maximized. Obviously, a Sebenza, which runs around $300-400 is a superbly finished knife, but I don't think a Sebenza is 3x better than a Spyderco Military or ATR. Custom knives are in another category altogether. If a person wants a specially made knife, then you have to pay the price. Similarly if you want an art knife, pay up. A good custom can be a joy to own, but that simply due to the love of the craft of knife making, not any real utilitarian advantage.
 
When youy buy a custom or high-end knife your buying quality, performance, and a knife that is the way you want it. Ordering an custom knife allow you to find a knife that meets your exact needs, everything from blade materials to blade grind.

The price you pay for a knife is something you have to decide. You need to take into account what you want from it. It it going to be your last quality knife? Are you buying it becouse you like the lock, blade steel, handle.... Remenber your bying the knife for yourself not anyone else.

So, back to the question at hand. For me yes, when I buy a knife it's because it has something in it I want from the knife. To me all knives are expensive (from spydercos to customs). I have enough that do I need another? Sometimes, Yes and sometimes No. I could have walked out of the Blade show with all my money spent and had knives that I was very happy with. But, I didn't. The cost to me wasn't worth it.

Hope this helps.
 
Ultimately, price = quality only if you take into consideration what you are getting for your money. In the realm of knives, this could dictate to construction methods, fit and finish, quality control, overall durability, etc...If you are an educated consumer, (I think most of us here are), and if you know what you want in a knife, then the amount of money that you spend on your purchase is not really relevant. After all, it`s whatever makes you happy. Some people find immense pleasure in owning a $5000 custom art piece. I, on the other hand, do not see the appeal. Although, such pieces are indeed beautiful, I find beauty in practical implements that can be had by the common man. Factory knives have come a long way. There are huge selections out there and more than enough blades to compete with the highest end "using" custom knives.
 
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