Ever liked a cheaper knife better?

murphyleather4.jpg

Here are 2 cutting machines made outta some sort of carbon steel that were under $20.
Leather by me ;)

You don't have to spend a bundle for a good knife.
But you can :D
 
Though I've considered buying a much more expensive knife, I'm starting to realize that a big part of my enjoyment of knives is the "newness" or novelty factor, in terms of getting a new knife. I wonder if I won't get more enjoyment out of buying several less expensive (cheaper) knives for the price of 1 much more expensive knife. I suspect I'm not alone.For example on Christmas day would you rather have several decent presents or only one really nice present? (Plus it's also somewhat reassuring to know that if I lose or break a cheaper knife, I won't be as upset vs. if it were more expensive.)
 
This is a great topic. I have several expensive (by my standards) knives. The one I ALWAYS carry is my Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops Auto, semi serrated, tanto, black. I love this knife and I only paid $75 (a bit much, locally) . I usually like to carry an auto and this one holds a nice edge and I'm not worried about losing it. Thats probably why I havent, yet....
 
Lavan said:
This is HERESY! Anyone who thinks they can clean fingernails without ZDP-189 has just not cleaned fingernails under adverse conditions.

It is ESSENTIAL that we develop the habit of throwing away all our knives when a better STEEL comes along. It is the American way.

"cutting apples" indeed!!! :eek:

Anyone who has cut an apple with SGPS will never return to lousy, stinking 420 stainless.

Unless of course the user is one of the unwashed peasants who think a Swiss Army Knife is actually a real knife. Look at how many they make! Would they have to make so many if they were any GOOD?

I rest my case. (Not "Case" but ...case)

:)
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AMEN! Give you old knives to me, I'll dispose of them properly. :D
 
I love my Leek. I like Delica, too. I like them more than some of more expensive ones. As some people have already said, it's not the price that makes a knife dear to one. It's how it was built, how it was used, and likes.
I love the knives that feel comfortable and are easy to use in my hand. You never know that until you really use it. I have knives that I thought good to handle while I was handling them at the shop, but later found that somehow they're not for me in actual use. Sad.
If I add one more, in actual use, I found I prefer Microtech Mini Socom Elite to my Leek or Delica. That knife feels more comfortable in my hand than other knives.
 
Schade 152. 20.00 at Wal mart for years. Best buy in a blade that I ever saw. Always liked high carbon steel anyway. Oh well said:
Loved the old Schrade 152. Good news for me is that I can get Camillus 152 which is a virtual clone near as I can see for I think $38.95 retail. Allways liked Camillus anyway.
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Out of my Spydercos, the one that gets carried the most these days is my Centofante 4, a really great knife for $43!
 
I just picked up the Kershaw storm II for $30 and I have to say I was leary and worried that it would be crappy just because of the price. It is a great knife. It feels like a good quality build with some quality steel and it matches my grip perfectly. It is really nice to know that the people on this forum arent bashing products on account of price. I am not much of a knife guru but honestly when I see some of the prices on small folding knives like darkops or Emerson or even some of the benchmades I am wondering why someone would want to spend so much more for them...especially when a knife is meant to be used and is one of those little objects that can easily be set down and lost.
 
Krull said:
Here's mine all EDC's.

Spyderco Salt 1-Trade but value at about $47.99

Victorinox Cadet-$19.99

Douk-Douk-$20.00

Know what? the Bloody SAK and Douk out-cut the $50.00 to $120.00 knives I've had! :p
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I've had the same experiance!

I used to collect custom knives, and I was one of the biggest knife snobs around. If it was not a 200 dollar custom, (this was the '70's, early '80's) I would sneeer at it as being inferior. I also used them. I started to notice I had to sharpen them as much as my "beater" knives. One day I lined up alot of cardboard, hemp rope, newsprint, and did a test. It was eye opening to find that a Buck 301 stockman, a Schrade 8OT, and a Douk-Douk, all outcut some very high end knives, including one from the chairman of the American Bladesmith Society!

I packed up all the customs and sent them down to A.G. Russell to be sold off. Now my favorite knives are the Douk-Douks, Opinels, Sak's, and Mora's. If I need heavy duty I use an Ontario 12 inch machete. I'll never spend over 25.00 dollars for a knife again.
 
Classic example: Both the Byrd Meadowlark and expecially the Pacific Salt rank very, very high on my personal favorites list.
 
I've never liked a cheaper knife more than a good $100 folder, but I've found them just about as useful. Vics are great, and my Opinel works well enough. But I have to say I have yet to handle a speedsafe Kershaw with a lock I would trust (haven't gotten my mitts on a stud lock yet) I did like my Vapor and its lock, but the blade developed surface rust quickly and the clip screws came lose very easily.
 
Oh, yeah ..... after using some pretty high end tactical-style knives and other one hand locking openers for several years, I "rediscovered" the basic slipjoint, with it's selection of nice, slender blades, each suited to different tasks.

For probably 90+% of the stuff you do throughout the day, a well chosen $20-$25 slipjoint is a great tool .... also reminds me of my dad, grandfathers, uncles, and all the other older guys who've made a mark on my life, and all carried slipjoints.
 
Totally, Joe Dirt!

I have one of those new Boker Sub-Com folders and it totally makes the case that if the design of the knife is good, it doesn't need a knifeknut-approved steel to perform. The Boker team and Chad Los Banos took 420J2 and proved that geometry is more important than steel type (though Boker's switching to AUS-8 for those who can't be convinced).
 
I have quite a few high end knives,so to me the "less expensive" knife is my military, I use the heck outa that knife, that and my VG-10 Endura 4. I use them alot because of their practical blade shape and if I loose em I wont feel as bad. I also like Mora's and Helle knives for fixed blades, they make great garage work knives and trunk knives for me, but they make good all around knives as well.
 
Sure.
I gots a 182 Buck in ats34 that lives clipped to my wallet.
I'd be nekkid without it.
Matter of fact I lost my original about a week ago and ebayed one in, which I recieved yesterday.
$30.. I feel whole again.. :)
 
Ever liked a cheaper knife better?
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Yes. Just recently in fact. Read my review of the Ken Onion designed Kershaw Storm II. A $30 knife and it compares to many of my high dollar knives in all aspects. And its made in the USA!

STR
 
I was in a store last weekend, looking for a Delica. They had no Delicas, but there was a blue-black Kershaw Chive in the case that was calling to me. I handled it. I liked it. I handed it back because I was really looking for a Delica and the Chive's blade was "only" "lowly" 420HC :rolleyes:. Now I'm kickin' myself: The damn thing's still callin' to me. I think I'm going to have to go back and get it.
 
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