Funny realization about knife purchases

HikingMano

HikingMano

Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
7,702
I've always wanted a Sebenza, just could never see myself ponying up $330 for a folder (I want the small Sebenza for EDC). But I recently bought a Rodent Waki that came up to $540 after shipping and sheath:confused::o.

If I force myself to be objective, that was a relatively poor decision from a utility perspective. This Waki will never see 10% or possibly even 1% of the use the Sebenza would see...yet I barely hesitated in selling off other knives and gear to purchase the Waki.

But from a subjective perspective, it was money well spent because I've always wanted a fully functional beast of a sword. I've never owned a sword before, but I do have quite a few folders that fit the EDC role well enough (currently, Ritter Mini-Grip). So to me, dropping that much coin for the Waki was worth it because it filled an empty niche.



So I just found this realization funny; anyone ever go through anything similar? :)



And, for the record, I don't think I'll be buying any more sharp pointy things for the rest of the year, but the Small Sebenza will be mine within the first half of next year....:D
 
You are not alone! We have all done this and similar things. Human Nature.
 
LOL, yeah.

For a long time I could never see spending more than $100 on a knife, and at $100, I thought I was really "high society".

It took 4 years of hand wringing to buy my first HI Ang Khola.

Then, when I decided I wanted a Busse Battle Mistress, and gave very particular specs on what configuration I wanted, a guy came online that day with an offer. I snapped it up and didn't even try to talk him down!

Most amazing thing is I didn't feel bad in the least.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
LOL, yeah.

For a long time I could never see spending more than $100 on a knife, and at $100, I thought I was really "high society".

It took 4 years of hand wringing to buy my first HI Ang Khola.

Then, when I decided I wanted a Busse Battle Mistress, and gave very particular specs on what configuration I wanted, a guy came online that day with an offer. I snapped it up and didn't even try to talk him down!

Most amazing thing is I didn't feel bad in the least.
Click to expand...


I was the same way about my Battle Mistress when I got mine, when I saw I jumped all over it, I knew what I wanted and I paid top dollar for it too, but it was in perfect factory new condition so I was happy with my choice.

HI Ang Khola. :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
Sometimes you just gotta have a certain blade at a certain time. The Sebbie has never had some deadline that you had to meet. Missing out on the Waki will be like missing out on the Busse AK and Ruck. After a certain amount of time you won't ever see them at retail prices again. If I could've held off on getting the Waki myself I would've.

Suppose that CR decided to offer their last set of Sebbies and all of the Sebbies on the secondary market were selling at twice the retail price. How quickly would you come up with that $330?:D:thumbup:
 
Haha, pretty much KGD. I don't do many of them, so it's ok; that was my one impulse buy for the year :D
 
Happens every time Ray Laconico puts one up on the makers for sale forum. I have managed to resist the last couple of ones that have come up, but I know I will not be able to much longer.
 
Kaizen1 said:
Sometimes you just gotta have a certain blade at a certain time. The Sebbie has never had some deadline that you had to meet. Missing out on the Waki will be like missing out on the Busse AK and Ruck. After a certain amount of time you won't ever see them at retail prices again. If I could've held off on getting the Waki myself I would've.

Suppose that CR decided to offer their last set of Sebbies and all of the Sebbies on the secondary market were selling at twice the retail price. How quickly would you come up with that $330?:D:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Ah, yes!! An excellent point I neglected. That really was a crucial factor in me jumping NOW for the Waki. Very good point, can't believe I missed that.

The Sebenza is always available, so I keep telling myself, "I've got a lot of time to save up for it." But you're right, in that hypo, I'd definitely work out a way to scrape it together :D.

stevewest said:
Happens every time Ray Laconico puts one up on the makers for sale forum. I have managed to resist the last couple of ones that have come up, but I know I will not be able to much longer.
Click to expand...

I feel your pain, Ray does amazing work :thumbup:. Same deal with my NWA Sierra Scout...once I finally handled one, I couldn't resist any longer.
 
Last edited:
I have come to the realization that I would rather have 3-4 $100 range knives than any Sebenza or Strider. That's just the way I am, I like to have a steady rotation of knives or else I get bored.:o
 
5.56 said:
I have come to the realization that I would rather have 3-4 $100 range knives than any Sebenza or Strider. That's just the way I am, I like to have a steady rotation of knives or else I get bored.:o
Click to expand...

I'm the same way. I would rather have 3 $100 knives than one $300 knife
 
It just depends on the knife in question and my means at the time. I have no steady rule about buying 5 $100 knives over 1 $500 knife or vice versa.
 
Rebuilt 4 barrel carburetor for a '60's muscle car? $450 and up, much more for correct matching factory application.

Netbook? $300. AR 15 parts kit with everthing but a SN'd lower? $450 up. Four new tires mounted and balanced? $400 and way up.

A single edged pocket knife?

It's funny what we do spend are money on, and then look at the complexity of the object, compare that to the relative value as enhanced by mass production, and really think about the result.

We pay a huge premium for knives because of low production. The engineering and complexity of the average computer or carburetor is much higher - but the prices can be much lower as the expenses get spread out through literally millions of copies.

Knives built in the hundreds per year? Not so much. The maker's actual time and relatively minimal overhead don't dilute to any great degree. So, a small Sebenza still costs more than a netbook computer.

That's the brilliance of finding a market niche in America.
 
rksoon said:
Ah, yes!! An excellent point I neglected. That really was a crucial factor in me jumping NOW for the Waki. Very good point, can't believe I missed that.

The Sebenza is always available, so I keep telling myself, "I've got a lot of time to save up for it." But you're right, in that hypo, I'd definitely work out a way to scrape it together :D.



I feel your pain, Ray does amazing work :thumbup:. Same deal with my NWA Sierra Scout...once I finally handled one, I couldn't resist any longer.
Click to expand...

Words of truth indeed!

rksoon think like this way: You WERE going to spend it on SOMETHING. Now you spend it on beautiful piece of work, yes its niche but its still better than using that money something else less usefull like... hmmm.... buying a el-cheapo laptop...
 
Doug C said:
You are not alone. :)
Far from it. :D :thumbup:
Click to expand...

:D


5.56 said:
I have come to the realization that I would rather have 3-4 $100 range knives than any Sebenza or Strider. That's just the way I am, I like to have a steady rotation of knives or else I get bored.:o
Click to expand...

This is why BF is great:), I'm entirely opposite. I've found that I don't really like to rotate knives, usually I'll stick to one for EDC for a good period of time...maybe switch it up on the weekends sometime. Usually, when I feel like the current favored knife doesn't do it for me anymore, I research and shop around until I pick out a knife that I really think will work even better for me.

So I'd rather drop that $300 for a good knife that'll get used for a long time, rather than 3x$100 for 3 knives, out of which maybe one will get all the use because I don't rotate. Case in point, not couting SAKs and Multi-tools, I only own 5 folders currently: BM Mini-Grip and Ritter Mini-Grip, Spyderco Delica, Boker Sublcaw, and ZT0200. All others I've given away or sold; and really, the Ritter Mini-Grip is the one that gets used all the time now.

Same deal with fixed blades for me, I usually prefer to use one or two exclusively for most activities. Although, for some reason I have a harder time selling off my fixed blades.... I think it's because the ones that don't get used are distributed in various emergency kits. It probably also has a lot to do with me "assigning" different fixed blades to different outdoor activities...whereas with my folders, any decent folder will usually handle any normal EDC task I encounter, if that makes any sense.

The Waki doesn't really conform to anything above, I just wanted it :D.

tirod3 said:
It's funny what we do spend are money on, and then look at the complexity of the object, compare that to the relative value as enhanced by mass production, and really think about the result.

We pay a huge premium for knives because of low production. The engineering and complexity of the average computer or carburetor is much higher - but the prices can be much lower as the expenses get spread out through literally millions of copies.

Knives built in the hundreds per year? Not so much. The maker's actual time and relatively minimal overhead don't dilute to any great degree. So, a small Sebenza still costs more than a netbook computer.
Click to expand...

Yes :thumbup:. Especially as you start to get into the custom and rare production piece world.


silenthunterstudios said:
Sell the sword, get a small Seb and a Camp Tramp. You won't feel so bad then ;).
Click to expand...

Haha...noooo...I am never selling this sword! It's just too damn cool.


thejamppa said:
rksoon think like this way: You WERE going to spend it on SOMETHING.
Click to expand...

Hahaha....like....uh....food.... :D
 
Great thread.

It's funny how I took almost 10 years to buy a sharpmaker, because it cost "so much" and I didn't want to take that money away from my knife budget.

I'm also taking forever to buy a decent tool cabinet to store my knives, even though it would solve a lot of my storage problems.

At one time, I had more money in steel in my pockets on any given day than the car I was driving was worth.

Sometimes, I wonder if I were single and without kids, would I even eat anything more expensive than ramen noodles and potatoes.

Heck, I've been wearing the same cheap watch for almost 10 years, watch TV on a $10 yard-sale-purchased 32" buy my clothes at the DAV Thriftstore, and I carry a $500 William Henry knife to cut my apples at lunch.

I guess it's all a matter of priorities.
 
I find myself spending 60$ 3 times on half decent knives that are really shelf queens then spending 180 on a knife I really wanted...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top