get what you pay for?

Let's compare 2 knives with a huge price difference but same materials, etc.:
Spyderco Techno - Full ti frame lock with CTS-XHP steel. Excellent fit and finish and quality. - $170
Hinderer XM-18 3" Ti frame lock with G-10 and CTS-XHP Blade steel - $750 - $800

Price difference is $580 - $630

The question is "Why?"

Well, the Techno is going to be way easier for you to get in your hands. There are thousands, probably tens of thousands of Techno's. There are maybe a thousand Hinderers.

The fit and finish on the Hinderer may be better. But a lot of it is availability and the fact that you have to be some kind of service member to even order one direct from Hinderer where as I can go order 5 Techno's right now.

Both are great knives. The Hinderer is likely better. Is it $580 - $630 better? That depends on the person.

Let's take a look at Chris Reeve Knives.
s35vn is now becoming a steel that we see in a lot of knives. As was s30v when that's what he used. Yet you can get a knife in s30v and s35vn for $50 - $100 and the Sebenza is $350 - $410 for just a standard one.
Again, supply and demand, there are probably less Sebenza's than there are Spyderco Natives and Native 5's. On top of that is Chris Reeves amazing tolerances, fit and finish, attention to detail, and of course the CRK name.
Are they $300 apart in fit and finish? Maybe not. But there are reasons they're that much higher. Is it worth it? That's up to the buyer. I believe they are, you may think I'm crazy.
It really depends.
 
It is the hobbyist factor. Hobbyists will always find ways of justifying the purchase to themselves.

Look at any hobby and you will see what to an outsider seems like exorbitant prices for the high end stuff. Watches? Cars? Audio equipment? Shoes? Clothing? Consumer electronics? Yup, the hobbyist factor is alive and well.

Is it worth the price of entry to go for the high end stuff? Probably not. I have a hard time believing the tolerances on high end customs are that much better than the tolerances on swiss army knives built by robots with lasers. Some of them being the thick brutes that they are will not even cut better than the swiss army knives.
 
Something else to consider is the MSRP. Without the internet, many of the knives talked about the most would be bought in a a B&M store with a 40-60% higher price. Then you pay the same price as a CRK or an XM straight from Hinderer.
 
sideways said:
It is the hobbyist factor. Hobbyists will always find ways of justifying the purchase to themselves.

Look at any hobby and you will see what to an outsider seems like exorbitant prices for the high end stuff. Watches? Cars? Audio equipment? Shoes? Clothing? Consumer electronics? Yup, the hobbyist factor is alive and well.

Is it worth the price of entry to go for the high end stuff? Probably not. I have a hard time believing the tolerances on high end customs are that much better than the tolerances on swiss army knives built by robots with lasers. Some of them being the thick brutes that they are will not even cut better than the swiss army knives.
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Keep in mind there is an element to artistry to knives as well. So, not all knives are expected to be great slicers and some may have poor ergos but that doesn't mean they're not worth the money.

You can buy a knife because it's a gallery piece, you can buy a knife because it's a great tool or a mix of the two.

Personally, I don't see the purpose of using most $800+ knives for EDC, but that's just me. At that price point knives become more gallery pieces than tools but everyone has a different view on that.
 
smcjoecohen@yahoo said:
Anyone that says it's a stupid question would be a jerk IMO. You're trying to find out info on a subject you're new to so any questions are good ones. Knives are the same as any other product. You can get an Aero leather jacket that costs $1100, or a Wilsons leather for $120. They're both leather, they are the same quantity of materials so wahts the dif? You know the answer, like a Polo cotton T-shirt is $45 and a Walmart 6 pack of cotton t's is $4.99. There is also additional value added depending on the maker, or artist and his popularity. I'm willing to pay for a Hinderer or Strider. Partly because they are well made, and part because I love the designs and the fact that they are very well made. A lot of people think paying over $100 is crazy, I must be a real lunatic!
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Someone has their panties in a bunch here. Take a deep breath. There are milions of extremely well made premium quality knives that could go head to head with the best customs out there. Just like both of your examples display, name says alot.... to those who care about it. Why do you think Buck 110's are so popular? A damn good knife that doesn't break the bank. The majoity of custom knives are by folks that could never demand such prices. We just don't know about them beause they don't have a famous name. Do I think you're crazy for dropping the coin you do on customs? Yep. Because, after seing the differences, I don't see the reason to spend so much. You, on the other hand, do, and probably would see the vast majority of my knives as crap. You and I don't have to agree. And most people agree with me. Doesn't mean you're wrong. Just means that your idea of value and mine are different. I still argue that a $10 More could keep pace with a $100 esee for 99% of the public, and therefore will always reccomend the Mora. To each their own.
 
As said, there are a whole lot of reasons for pricing on knives.

Hinderer, at direct prices is a really great value for the product.

Worth and value are two different considerations. Often a knife may be worth what you pay (meaning you can resell it and not loose money).

The value of a knife may not necessarily correlate to the worth of the knife.

I have knives that are worth only a few bucks, but value wise are a great value!
 
hardheart said:
Something else to consider is the MSRP. Without the internet, many of the knives talked about the most would be bought in a a B&M store with a 40-60% higher price. Then you pay the same price as a CRK or an XM straight from Hinderer.
Click to expand...

I think this is a great point that is often overlooked. If the highly regarded spyderco southard were being sold at B&M stores for it's msrp of $399.99 would that hinderer aftermarket price seem that bad?
 
mcrow said:
Keep in mind there is an element to artistry to knives as well. So, not all knives are expected to be great slicers and some may have poor ergos but that doesn't mean they're not worth the money.

You can buy a knife because it's a gallery piece, you can buy a knife because it's a great tool or a mix of the two.

Personally, I don't see the purpose of using most $800+ knives for EDC, but that's just me. At that price point knives become more gallery pieces than tools but everyone has a different view on that.
Click to expand...

There you go justifying it. ;) I agree though, artistic value is definitely a valid justification and as with all things art the values will be hard to peg.
 
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