Ever revert back to budget/value knives?

Well the first good knife was for hunting. Helle Eagan. 55.00 now they as just over 100. First folder Spyderco Endura. Just got in a Delica this week from Cutlery shop exclusive very nice like 89 or so. I do have 3 Dan Tope mid techs. Ranging from 149.00 to 229. He has a good following now and the prices are higher. Around 22 in total. Have a Microtech OTF. useless. and a Blackjack 1-7 Which I will most likely never use. Its a fighting knife.

Rich K
 
All of the knives I've ever bought were in the OP's category. I don't think I've spent more than $113 for a knife (which included shipping and sales tax) and that was my recently acquired Bugout Ver.2.
 
Hell, all the time! The excitement of searching/buying/waiting/receiving/opening/breaking in a new knife isn't just limited to high-value pieces. I have a $20 Mora on order to help me chop fish bait with my kids that I'm pretty darn excited about!
 
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There is a ton of value in Civivi knives. For me they really bust the appeal of many other flippers. If you want higher-end materials then WE is compelling. Earlier I got into Reate but I just don't see the value there anymore.
Only reason I would buy a really inexpensive knife would be if the design was something intruiging. Otherwise, the very low cost price-point like $20 is kind of silly when you're passionate about knives. Might as well spend an extra $20 and get something better.
I like a lot of what Cold Steel makes. They are a good value. They often need some tweaking and I like to tinker.
Most Spydercos have gotten too pricey for me. However, I might snag something on closeout.
Truth is I really need more than the Dragonfly wharny in my pocket right now. Plenty of value there.
 
A few years ago I probably wouldn’t have spent more than $100 on any knife no matter the quality or materials. Now I have a few premium knives that were $180-$200 and that’s the most I’ve paid for any knife but they had premium materials and limited editions and I use them. Most of my knives are in the $70-120 range and I enjoy them as much as any knife at work or play. Then I have some smaller pocket knives in the $30-50 range that are just as useful. Most all my knives are USA made and that’s what I prefer but value isn’t necessarily the amount of money you pay. I could spend hundreds more for the top line popular knives but I doubt I would realize any true advantage just because they cost more and were in high demand. So I haven’t reverted to budget because I’ve most always been budget minded nor have I indulged the highly embellished art knives.
 
I enjoy some of my lower price knives more than knives that cost 2-3 times the price, I have never been taken down a route where I crave higher priced knives, I still buy knives in the 150+ range and the 20-40 price range. If I like a knife I will buy it regardless if it's cheap or expensive. I'm really not a knife snob. Obviously I have my limits though, I enjoy budget knives and by budget I mean well made knives at a low price point. I don't like cheap poorly made knives. I own a few cheap knives that are complete garbage and I hate them, like my schrade piece of crap which sounds like cats making love when you deploy the blade.
I actually just put in an order on Heinnie Haynes for 4 Hultafors 4 Moras and a RAT 1 in D2, with a combined price for around £120. Whcih means I just got 9 good knives for the price of 1 Spyderco Endura SS.
I love the fact that I can lay down £120 and get 9 decent knives. Of course I don't regret spending £120 on my SS Endura, Or £150 on my PM2 I picked up a Kizer Shamshir for £150 recently as well. I think for me personally I need to feel comfortable with damaging my knife because I don't baby any of them. I don't have safe queens if I can't use my knife as a tool I don't want it.
There are exceptions of course, I might buy a limited edition or anniversary collection knife with the intention of sitting on it for a few years and then sellign it later, or passing it on to somebody as a gift. Aside from those examples I don't like the idea of buying a knife for £1000, because I know I won't feel comfortable putting it to work and scuffing it up, I will end up babying it and treating it like an ornament left on a shelf.
I'm not rich, maybe if I was a rich man I would buy a Higo or limited edition WH as a beater and just knock it around with no concern for scuffing it up. I think I have made a subconscious decision in my own mind, that around 120-150 is where I feel comfortable using my knives and getting them dirty, going above 200-300-400+ I start to feel like maybe I shouldn't be scratching up these expensive tools.
I have no issue using my Endura SS as a beater, my Endura looks like it's been through a war zone and I paid £120 for it and that doesn't bother me. So I still buy knives that are considered cheap, and I think you can find some great knives for a good price, you don't have to spend £150 to get a good knife, The RAT1 in D2 is a good blade and it's cheap.
If you consider a £200 knife a budget knife, then you are a richer man than me lol.
 
I only have 1 expensive knife. Cheaper knives are more than enough for majority of people though. Best value isn't called best value without a reason.
 
The short reply is that I buy what I Want and use what I Need. So far I have rarely needed to use an expensive knife.

n2s
 
I have a Civivi Hooligan in my carry rotation. I’ve learned that a high price tag doesn’t always mean high quality.
 
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