Ever liked a cheaper knife better?

Let me put it this way: my Scallion is in my pocket right now, and has been used today for no less than 5 separate tasks, all of which it handled nicely. My Buck Akonua is in a box in my top drawer, probably wondering if it will ever see the light of day. One, albeit 'cheap,' serves me, while the other is only coveted. Guess which one I'm truly glad I own?
 
Joe Dirt said:
I ask this question because even though I have some nice G10 Benchmade's that I am starting to really go for the little Kershaw Scallion that I just got yesterday.

The Scallion cost me 1/4th of the cost of some of my Benchmade's have. It has "lesser" blade steel and yet it's perfect.

It has nice full liners, nice aluminum handles, and is black TiNi coated everywhere. I love it.

Can a $32 knife be better than a $120 knife? I guess so, in some circumstances.

Maybe I'm starting to just like Kershaw knives a lot more but I feel that sometimes companies are just asking too much money for a knife that is not that much better.

The Benchmade 707 has "better" blade steel and an Axis lock. Other than that it's no better than the Scallion that I have. Both have aluminum handles and full liners. Both feel really nice. Sure the Scallion is a little smaller but that's not my point. Is the Axis lock and better steel worth it? I'm not sure anymore. I've had a few Kershaw's and I'm starting to realize that the steel thing is a lot of hype. Not even I can tell between how long 420HC lasts vs. 154CM.

I'm going to see how some more "cheap" knives fair when compared to expensive knives.

I think the G10 leeks will be every bit as good as the products from Benchmade, if not better. The Spec Bump I sent out on the passaround was far better in many ways than any Benchmade I've ever had.

Do you ever like a cheaper knife better?
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NEVER! I wont even LOOK at a blade unless it costs over $200. :D :jerkit:
 
Damn. As I read this thread, I actually planned on posting how much I liked my Old Timer from Wal Mart.

Then before I posted, I went to chopping into a tub of frozen bbq, ice-pick style, and I noticed the TIP of my knife is missing. It broke off in there somewhere! The worst part is I can't even make my bbq sandwich, because I can't find the tip, and am not taking a chance on having it in my sandwich.

I'm not going to say a $200 knife would have endured that abuse, but it certainly wouldn't have a broken tip right now, because I wouldn't dare even try something like that with anything more expensive. Maybe that's the route I should go.

What a freaking, tragic coincidence. This thread, my knife, and that no good tub of bbq.
 
I can't bring myself to pay a lot of money for a knife when I know how good the Swiss Army and Opinel knives are.
 
I carry a Superknife 2 at all times and ocassionally a CRKT M21s or Spyderco Native. I carried a Cold Steel Gunsite for years, but I like something a little more disposable and small for EDC.
For everything else, I use Busse or Swamp Rat.
 
One that really caught me off guard recently was a Vic Soldier - it was around $40 CDN up here:) I bought it along the same line of thinking as my Buck 110 - it's a classic and should belong in my collection. AND I had made a trip to a rather distant knife shop and wasn't going to leave without "something"......:) This falls along the lines of the Byrds, Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter category from a price point. I'm actually having a lot of fun with this one:D Just using it for every day stuff - not beating it up like my Crow or Ka-Bar. I've got another SAK, the Recruit I think, and it's been in my pocket for a long timel. I got that one for about $15.00 CDN. Just like my LM Micra - plain handy to have around. Yes, I have a lot of folders in my collection, but every once in a while I pick something up out that catches my eye and get pleasantly suprised. Now, I picked up my first Spydie that way, an FRN/PE Delica - I bought it because there wasn't anything I really wanted at the time and figured it might be fun to find out about the hype around VG-10. Now, I think I've got around 20 Spydies - 4 of them are Delica 4's:eek: I'm sure I'm going to find others along the way....

- gord
 
i have read enough, now i have only one knife that is over $20. the one i carry the most, ok always, is a knife that a customer gave me. it is cheap, made in china, and i have abused it far more then the majority of you will ever abuse a knife. i have never put it through a door of a car, but i have done things with it that most would not do. i have cut tires with it, i have shaved wood with it, and dropped it about 20 times with the blade open,and yet i have only sharpened it once. any knife that i pay $5.99 plus tax has served me well in the past. so if you are a collector then buy a $200 plus knife. if you are a user then stick with what you like. trust me in the end noones going to say man that guy had nothing but cheap knives, and if they do then who cares because i won't be here to hear it. so for the snobs it is not the one with the more expensive toys, but the one who has done the most good in his life with the toys that he has that wins.
 
Kershaw's are a fad. Either you've already passed through the fad, you're in the fad, or you want to take part in the fad.

Luckily, my first two "decent" knives were a Chive and a Leek. I've since realized that they just aren't that great, and I'm over them.

Give it a year, you'll go back to Benchmade.
 
I have a cheap knife (in some drawer or somewhere around the house) I gave like 5 bucks for it. It is a made in USA knife. I love everything about the knife. Holds a good edge and has stag handles. verry little blade play and two great shapped blades. (Damm ! I am going to start doing a better job at keeping up with my sharp objects!) ( I love my kabar- dozier folder the cheap 20 dollar one )
 
TFin04 said:
Kershaw's are a fad. Either you've already passed through the fad, you're in the fad, or you want to take part in the fad.

Luckily, my first two "decent" knives were a Chive and a Leek. I've since realized that they just aren't that great, and I'm over them.

Give it a year, you'll go back to Benchmade.
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Benchmade's are a fad. Either you've already passed through the fad, you're in the fad, or you want to take part in the fad.

eventualy, you will drop your knife in the river and loose a weeks pay. I've since realized that they just aren't worth it, and I'm over them.

Wait till you actualy start using your knives, you'll go back to affordable ones.
 
dawg said:
My EDC is a fixed 4" blade Frost Swedish Army knife that I got for $8.95. I love the dern thing.Feel naked without it. (Not that I don't throughly enjoy being naked but........) Anyways, sent out for 6 more just so I'd never run out. I have never seen a blade hold an edge like this knife. The grip has a kraton like feel.Perfect ergonomics for my hand, and does any job I put it too well.
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where can i find one of those?? and what name should i look for ??
 
I kind of agree about Benchmade's being overpriced. I've been looking at a Griptilian for about a month now, went and played with it a few times, and finally decided that while it may be well made, it is most definitely not worth $95 retail. Yeah, I know you can get it much cheaper on eBay, but that's not really the point. There is a certain amount of elitism built in to that brand, sorry to say.
 
jhansman said:
I kind of agree about Benchmade's being overpriced. I've been looking at a Griptilian for about a month now, went and played with it a few times, and finally decided that while it may be well made, it is most definitely not worth $95 retail. Yeah, I know you can get it much cheaper on eBay, but that's not really the point. There is a certain amount of elitism built in to that brand, sorry to say.
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You get what you pay for.
There is no Elitism in buying quality tools, unless you go around puffing out your chest and saying you are the coolest because you have an expensive item (Only an insecure jackass would do this, just like guys who buy fancy cars for no reason except bragging rights.)

- I have noticed this same behavior often in all the fools who constantly try to say stuff is overpriced, just because they don't personally want to spend X amount on a knife. They must also be really insecure.

Different strokes, for different folks.
 
I love them cheap and I love them not so cheap. But the ones I love best have an AXIS lock. My EDC are a Rukus and a 10 $ 1-inch Gerber. I love them both
 
Well, like it or not, some things are overpriced. You may think me a fool for stating the obvious, but there it is. I've paid plenty for quality tools, but not more than they're worth. I agree, BTW, with the car analogy; guys especially like to overspend so they can look cool.
 
I enjoy a quality knife at low prices the best.

Today I went to a sporting goods store and saw a quality Seki Cut Bob Lum piece in D2 steel for 14.99, new. Clearly a labeling mistake by those teenagers, as I found it for 82 (plus S&H) bucks online, and this sporting goods store overcharges like crazy, 50-80% higher than knifecenter prices.

I can say that I really really enjoy this knife. Too bad it was the last one.
 
yeah sometimes i favor my jester on a keyring to and leave the BM 710 at home. cheap and small and handles all i need it for.

cheap knives cut. unless you're using them all day, day in day out, a cheap knife works and some are nice designs. kershaws are nice.
 
often,I'm mainly into fixed blade knives and think Ontario knifes are a great value for the money
Patrickjames
 
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