Kind of went through something similar not to long ago, was looking at my collection of fixed blades and noticed the dust on most of them so decided to thin out the herd, only sold the ones which I knew I wouldn't use. So now I have funds for some new firearms! Only sold the more expensive ones since it's not really worth selling off cheaper knives to me(the knives I sold were all between $50-200 each). It's true a cheaper knife can usually do what a more expensive one can do but then it's not always about how much it costs.
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Ever fell out of love with "expensive" knives and sold them all?
- Thread starter uofaengr
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Opposite direction for me, I moved out of the Ed Brown/Bill Wilson/Les Baer/et al crowd when I got into blades. Most of mine are CRK and up, but lately I've been drawn to the Benchmade's (just acquired a 940-1 for my son) and Spyderco's (on the prowl for some of the HAP40 sprints). That said, my Medford Viper is staying on board in my RFP (between uses).
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I'd say do what makes you happy in this hobby. If you end up selling most of your pricey knives and regret it, you can always buy them again. For me, the hobby is about finding a knife a really like carrying every day. And I mean EVERY day. I've carried everything from SAKs to full on customs and have been pleased, overall, with most of them, but came to the conclusion customs just aren't worth it for me. I've enjoyed using productions more for a number of reasons, but that's just me. While I'm currently carrying a ti SR2, I've been eyeing a number of less expensive knives and am sure I'll be pleased regardless of what comes next.
I'd worry less about price and focus on the features you like.
I'd worry less about price and focus on the features you like.
Holy crap do I relate to that!
Yes and no. If the maker is just griding blanks, or uploading a design into CAD, and the knife is CNC'd, it is not worth an exorbitant price tag, unless it is truly groundbreaking design that can flat out wipe the floor with the rest of the knives on the market in its class.
But for a hand forged piece-yeah. There is artistry there, and it is much more worthy the respect and the higher price tag.
But for a hand forged piece-yeah. There is artistry there, and it is much more worthy the respect and the higher price tag.
GronK
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I'm backing off from knives and going back to another expensive hobby (guitars) so will be selling off several. I will keep at least one Sebenza and a couple of higher line Spydercos while selling off the cheaper moderns and a mess of traditionals. The less expensive ones were purchased out of curiosity whereas the good ones are total keepers.
The only justification I can think of for expensive knives is that they feel like more than just a cutting tool. Spyderco's, Benchmade's, ZT's.....these companies have the best craftsmanship and build, excellent reliability, some nice designs....but in the end they are just soulless, nameless cutting machines. I don't need to cut heavy duty items for a living, so I would be better off with a box of razor blades.
With expensive knives, I feel like they have a soul to them. Not just any expensive knife though, ones made by a master knifemaker, like Brian Tighe, Chris Reeve, etc. That way, I can take out the knife, and say "this man made and designed this by himself". Made with heart and skill, instead of computer generated numbers and skill. I only have one expensive knife, but the design and designer struck me as so extraordinary, and the interviews of the designer showed him to be such an awesome person, I had to have it. 3rd knife I had ever bought and already got my grail knife.
That's my take on it. Just my opinion, to each their own! Nobody can tell you what to enjoy
With expensive knives, I feel like they have a soul to them. Not just any expensive knife though, ones made by a master knifemaker, like Brian Tighe, Chris Reeve, etc. That way, I can take out the knife, and say "this man made and designed this by himself". Made with heart and skill, instead of computer generated numbers and skill. I only have one expensive knife, but the design and designer struck me as so extraordinary, and the interviews of the designer showed him to be such an awesome person, I had to have it. 3rd knife I had ever bought and already got my grail knife.
That's my take on it. Just my opinion, to each their own! Nobody can tell you what to enjoy
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Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I could not disagree more with this statement. So many large knife companies work side by side with designers who in turn put their "soul" and "name" into the design. I could ramble off 100 for you right now, but will let this video with a designer do the talking. Gayle designed this knife by himself and spyderco's factory made it. Same with SO many other designers. Anyone who thinks this knife has no soul because a factory manufactured it isn't in touch with the reality of knife making and the fact that some designers don't have the resources to produce their own visions without assistance from a larger quality company.
[video=youtube;Qk0IxU-fuW4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4[/video]
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Sigsog226
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Oh i know it
i used to have 5 guns and about 50ish knives. But the bills piled up, baby on the way, and all that life stuff. So i sold everything except my first knife to make ends meet. Then about a year after i got me a great job and started a new collection of knives (around 15 of them now, but better quality ones). Just getting the itch it build the firearms up a little. And i sometimes i think, 'if i sell a bunch of knives, i could buy something completely unnecessary! Like a Tavor'.It's an amazing little knife, isn't it? The Delica is a knife that just makes me happy whenever I use it.I'm going through the exact same thing. My HAP40 Delica hasn't left my pocket since I got it and now I look at the rest of my expensive collection and wonder why I need any of them. I have no problem getting my new Delica covered in sticky orange juice, but if I tried that with my small Sebenza I'd be giving it a spa treatment shortly after. I guess I'm just crazy.
I feel like I'll end up somewhere around here. Might keep the other CRKs to pass down to another generation. The Sebenza is actually a decent working knife when you put it to use. Just not the best one.
If I was ever gifted a custom handmade piece, I'd cherish it and doubt I'd use it.
I'd argue that many of Sal Glesser's designs have a lot of soul to them. I mean the Stretch was designed with intentions of being his ideal EDC. The Military was designed with intentions of if his son was in the military what would be the ideal knife. Some of the quirky designs really make sense when you hear the stories behind them so if you like a story behind your knife, a lot of Spydies offer that and at a reasonable price.
I appreciate CRK for the level of detail and the engineering/manufacturing achievement that it is; however, they are CNC machined like most other knives. It's a production knife just like a Spydie but on a much smaller scale, and the maker's "soul" shows through the same via the design. I get what you're saying though.
A lot of great points being made so far.
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I recommend the Stretch to so many people but many can't warm up to the blade shape (until they actually use it). I believe its Sal's take on the original spyderco hunter design if used in a true EDC role.
"The popular Spyderco Stretch has evolved over the years, and what initially began as a small, basic Hunter model in the 1980s has matured into an elegant, performance drop point folder, available in a variety of handle materials and blade steels"
TONS OF SOUL!!
[video=youtube;QE5D2hJhacU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE5D2hJhacU[/video]
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It's hard to beat a ffg spidie. They cut so well. It seems like a lot of the more expensive folders have 4mm and fatter blades. Wedging stuff apart isn't as nice as cutting stuff apart.
@GlockandBalls
You bring up some excellent points. Allow me to rephrase my thoughts:
Based on this post, I would say that expensive knives worth their price incorporate innovative, functionally superior design elements that have been created and tested in a knife originally made by the designer(s) own two hands, through skills they themselves have learned (Could be multiple designers too, as long as it is innovative).
I would explain this to you, but Bladeforums has some sort of glitch or word limit so I had to delete the explanation. Long story short, your post made me realize that there are inexpensive knives with style (Klecker Cordovan), and expensive ones that are made flawlessly but don't quite do anything functionally new (Rockstead knives). I had listed the Stan Wilson NFF as an example.....darn, I thought I had a good explanation too.
Bladeforusm y u do dis
I'll just leave it at that I guess :/
You bring up some excellent points. Allow me to rephrase my thoughts:
Based on this post, I would say that expensive knives worth their price incorporate innovative, functionally superior design elements that have been created and tested in a knife originally made by the designer(s) own two hands, through skills they themselves have learned (Could be multiple designers too, as long as it is innovative).
I would explain this to you, but Bladeforums has some sort of glitch or word limit so I had to delete the explanation. Long story short, your post made me realize that there are inexpensive knives with style (Klecker Cordovan), and expensive ones that are made flawlessly but don't quite do anything functionally new (Rockstead knives). I had listed the Stan Wilson NFF as an example.....darn, I thought I had a good explanation too.
Bladeforusm y u do dis
I'll just leave it at that I guess :/
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Appreciate your open mindedness. I would however say that these "expensive" custom knives are not always functionally superior. The triad lock by cold steel (arguably the most soulless company out there) is possibly the most functionally superior lock design ever made. They are one of my favorite "knife making" companies out there because the overall performance destroys most all of their competition at any price point. I'll take one of their new CTS-XHP blades (whether it be a recon talwar, ak47, lawman) over most customs anyday because despite the questionable marketing, they are bullet proof designs at a fraction of the price. All that said, I do appreciate something rare and hand made, but it by no means indicates superiority in cutting tasks, lock up, deployment, ergos, blade centering, or durability.
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I go back and forth between guitars and knives myself. I think knives are less expensive though. My problem has been selling pieces from one hobby to fund the other, and then later regretting it.