Expensive Knives - Do you use them?

I don't buy safe queens, so all my knives, including my custom fixed blades, get used, and some of them are over $300 commissioned pieces. That said, they are meant to be used HEAVILY in the field where I demand the performance of great carbon steels with good heat treats.

But for day to day tasks? Honestly, I use an Opinel No. 8 and Buck 186... both are sub-$15 knives, so go figure.
 
The most expensive knife I use is my Bradley Alias II (~$175). I own maybe three more expensive knives, which I keep mainly for their aesthetic and collector's value.
 
Moxy said:
For me, a poor college student (lol), any knife greater than about $80 bucks is considered expensive. My EDCs are usually sleek folders, the Kershaw Leeks being my favorite. I have 4 of them, yet I never really use or carry my rainbow or Damascus leek. I've also got a couple of expensive balisongs too that I like to flip but it's very rare I'll ever use them for anything heavier than cutting tape. So of all my knives I probably only use about 20% of them. My girlfriend likes to give me crap about buying more knives for that reason, haha. Of course some rare production knives or customs are more art than knife but where is the cut off for you? What is the most expensive knife you have that you'll use to the point of needing resharpening?

-Tony
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I get in different moods, sometimes I will think to myself "Life is too short for safe queens!" and EDC a $200+ folder for a while. Then I will get scared and revert back to a $60 Recon 1 for a bit, until I get bored again.

Since I lost my Al Mar Sere 2000, $160 bucks down the drain and no funds to replace it, I have been kind of gunshy, so for now it is the Recon 1..
 
I have expensive knives that I haven't gotten around to carrying yet, but they will all get used (I will make a small exception for doubles, no sense using the spare). How will you know it's worth the extra money if you don't put it through it's paces?
 
I regularly carry and use a S90V Manix 2. It was <$200 when I bought it new, but I've seen new ones go for $400 in the exchange. Of course I didn't know it would prove to be such a collectible model when I started using it:)
 
I use all of my knives. I refuse to buy a knife unless I can use it.

I've re-ground the tip on my LH Sebenza--the first time I dropped it on some tile tip first, and later on I dropped my knife off of my friend's roof on a cement sidewalk.
 
Most expensive so far is my Sebenza. In my opinion, you really don't get as much enjoyment out of it if you just let it sit in the collection- not seeing how well it performs. I'm a broke college student too, but it is most definitely worth saving up the cash for.
 
I regularly use my Sebenza and a couple of custom slipjoints. I get much more enjoyment from using my knives than I do from looking at them.

There is nothing wrong with your Kershaws. Fantastic knives and an excellent value. They're better than the CRKT and Cold Steel I carried through college.

I hate to tell you this, but you're doomed. It's obvious that you're a natural knife nut. It might not happen for a while, but I see Striders, CRKs, and maybe even some customs in your future.
 
I am twice your age Moxy and my most expensive knives are my large Gryptilian and CRKT M-16 Big dog, titanium. I just can't bring myself to buy an expensive folder because I know it will be periodically fondled and then put back in it's box. I guess I prefer to have 25-30 good knives rather than a half dozen great knives. Don't get me wrong, I do love my $25-50 value folders.
I just sold my boat last week and I thought that this would be the time that I would spring for a more expensive knife. Nope, LOL, I ended up getting a Cold Steel pushknife and a Spyderco Native, FRN. Two more excellent users, oh well.:rolleyes:
 
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I have enough knives that I only use about 20%, and only really really use a couple. That said, (by your description of expensive) they are all expensive knives. The top 3 are a Ti Spyderco Military, ZDP and carbon fiber Spyderco Stretch, and the #1 is a S90V and carbon fiber Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

A knife is a very durable tool as long as you use it as a knife and not a pry-bar, screwdriver or wire cutter. I don't think I could use up any of these knives in less than decades. It's been said that a knife only lives when it's in a pocket and being used, not in a drawer waiting.
 
I use some pretty expensive Tim Wright kitchen knives ($300-500+ at today's prices) MANY times daily. Do those count?

Syn
 
I have several $500 plus knives which I use as EDC's. Life is too short to not carry the stuff that you like.
 
I EDC my LG 21 Sebenza ( the most expensive knife I own) quite often and use it with no regrets.
 
I have a 400$ custom skinner that gets bloody all the time, can't beat the edge of a well crafted blade. Unless a hog is hanging up, then out come the 50$ gerbers (I don't want fat ruining my handles)
 
I do. From my $400+ Grayman knives (which get used heavily) down to my $180 Emerson folders, my knives get used.
 
knives are tools, they are made to be used. Not to sit on a shelf. If it is expensive it most likely has a good warrenty so even if it breaks some how you can always get it fixed. I use my $200 knives the same way i use my $50 knives.
 
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