Going back to cheaper knives.

I have to some extent. My EDC stuff is now in the sub $75 range because that is where the quality and usability ratio fits in for me. Now it is cool if people want to carry a $1,000 knife....but I bet that knife won't do anything better than a $75 one will do.
 
I don't spend that much on knives in general but I do consider the nicer ones "man jewelry" and kind of "justify" the added cost that way. My most expensive knives are a kizer nomad and a sage 2 so still far from spending a ton of cash but it's far nicer than the rat 2 and dragonfly I have for work EDC. If I wore a suit to work, I would be wearing a nicer knife, that's for sure.

So far, budget knives ($50 and under) really don't do it for me though I'll gladly use them for cutting stuff. I gladly take care of the nicer knives and enjoy looking at them like a piece of art which I don't get with the budget knives I own.
 
Balls Deep said:
This going to sound like blasphemy but I actually sold my zt560 because I just never carried it. I have an irrational fear of losing knives over $70 so I don't really carry them. Ive also found that while higher end knives certainly offer better edge retention, stropping, steeling, and resharpening just don't really bug me all that much. And for around $70 you can still enjoy cpm154 (launch 5) s30v (manix 2) and d2 (new rat1 and avispa knives)
Click to expand...

That's funny. Ive taken pics of my 0560BW with the intent to sell it, but haven't listed it yet. Ive never once carried it. And Ive also put a titanium deep carry pocket clip on it as well. Still hasn't seen any pocket time. Its a great knife, just not seeing any use and is sitting in a drawer.
 
yamsi12, I am going through the same thing as you. I started like you. My large and small sebenza 21's are my favorite knives and i i dont worry about using them, but it is reasonable to think twice before using a knife like that. I have re-discovered good inexpensive knives and really like them. I was very surprised to discover that i really dont hate speedsafe. I also like that i can modify an inexpensive knife without worring if i will mess it up. I would have never guessed it, but i now love to carry my cryo g10 or my, hold on to your butt, cold steel finn wolf.
 
I have three CRKs, a Kizer, and a half dozen more in the $200 range. The knife I use, though, is the one I always have on me, which is an EK&T Companion strung to my neck. Since I also carry a Pioneer X (just in case), I sometimes go days without a knife clipped to my pocket, particularly if I'm in a less liberal country than the Netherlands. ("Why do you have three knives?" I envision a cop saying—though it's never come to that.)

So, in short, the one most convenient, which is seldom the most expensive.
 
I'm experiencing something similar now, but not so much with giving up on high end knives but favoring inexpensive, but not cheap knives, over more expensive but still affordable knives. Specifically, I'm ditching two HK folders that run about $100 each and a $50 Kizer (nothing wrong with these knives at all, BTW) and carrying instead a $20 CRKT Drifter.

I am going to pick up a couple more inexpensive knives, like a RAT II or the Zancudo or the little Ka Bar Dozier to fill the basic, everyday roll, but then go a bit more upscale for my other purchases. I have an Al Mar Nomad, a Spiderco Worker sprint run, and a Spider Monkey, and I'm eyeing the BM 940-2, and also CRK small Inkosi. Then there's my GEC habit to feed.

Basically, the mid-range is dropping out in favor of inexpensive and not-so-inexpensive offerings.
 
I'm all about carrying what you like. I find my ideal mix of attributes and perceived value usually falls in the $80-160 range, though I have spent more and often spend less.
 
I always have at least 2 knives on me, a modern folder clipped to my pocket and some kind of lockback sheathed to my belt. Today I had an Olamic 247 clipped and a 20 something year old Schrade LB8 sheathed. One I paid quite a bit for, one was inexpensive so many years ago. But both are just knives I like that are in my rotation.
Cost and price are defined amounts, worth and value are subjective.
I say carry what you are comfortable with. I just can't see using a knife less because I like it more or it cost more, and using a knife more because I like it less or it cost less.
 
LOL... my "cheap" knives are my ZT's and Spyderco, but then again I value higher end knives and think that they are worth the price
 
I'm in the opposite trend as the OP. I've gravitated toward higher end knives over time. The ones that have most of my attention currently are : Spyderco Nirvana , Chaves Redencion and I'm looking at some Sebenzas now.

Some less expensive knives I like and still use : Manix2 , Yo2 and my 710.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Cheaper to me means under $1000. So yes, I've been returning to cheaper knives.
Click to expand...

You know, I read these messages, and I can't help but wonder about what sort of professions and careers some of you guys have, that allows you to say this stuff so freely.

I've seen the prices on ZT knives, and it makes my head spin how some refer to such as being a cheap knife to them. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to work hard to earn that kind of money, and can't afford to drop it all on a single knife. My high dollar knives are in the $60-100 range.
 
Charlie_K said:
You know, I read these messages, and I can't help but wonder about what sort of professions and careers some of you guys have, that allows you to say this stuff so freely.

I've seen the prices on ZT knives, and it makes my head spin how some refer to such as being a cheap knife to them. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to work hard to earn that kind of money, and can't afford to drop it all on a single knife. My high dollar knives are in the $60-100 range.
Click to expand...

Your point is well taken... For me, I am very fortunate to earn a good living and I can afford to spend several hundred dollars on a knife, on a cell phone, a leather coat, whatever....

But, I have paid my dues... got up at 5:00 am every morning for 30 years and did "what the man said".. Now, as an older man, I appreciate quality, higher end stuff but I damn sure remember when good function at a good price beat the living shit out of wasting money!
 
Charlie_K said:
You know, I read these messages, and I can't help but wonder about what sort of professions and careers some of you guys have, that allows you to say this stuff so freely.

I've seen the prices on ZT knives, and it makes my head spin how some refer to such as being a cheap knife to them. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to work hard to earn that kind of money, and can't afford to drop it all on a single knife. My high dollar knives are in the $60-100 range.
Click to expand...

just depends where the money goes, I had someone scoff at how expensive my 940-1 was, but I pointed out he was wearing a $300 dollar watch :O :D

my point is some people place more emphasis on a high quality knife, some don't and it doesn't matter to them as long as its good enough not to fall apart.

fair enough, no one needs a 940-1, or a fancy watch, or even a car, but boy does it make our short lives more enjoyable hahaha
 
I Will most certainly pay whatever it might cost to own a knife consisting of whatever specifications and asthetics I may want. I'm nearing the 800.00 mark with my most recent acquision. Everything is relative. I hold tools and weapons in the highest regard I can afford.

I also have not owned a car since 2004, so I might be a bit of an oddball.
 
Last edited:
Charlie_K said:
You know, I read these messages, and I can't help but wonder about what sort of professions and careers some of you guys have, that allows you to say this stuff so freely.

I've seen the prices on ZT knives, and it makes my head spin how some refer to such as being a cheap knife to them. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to work hard to earn that kind of money, and can't afford to drop it all on a single knife. My high dollar knives are in the $60-100 range.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying, I am not in the 6 digit income bracket but I do have some knives,,,, let's just say, higher priced.
Again, as I said, value and worth are subjective. We all assign our own personal value to materialistic things. We have been doing this since we were young. Some of us oiled our baseball mitts and some of us left them out in the rain. Some of us have precision home entertainment systems, etc..... and some of us have precision cutting tools. If someone is well off enough to have it all, more power to them. If someone is only able to aquire the basics in all things, I can empathize. But with modest means we "all" have some certain things that we assign a very high value to and try to aquire the highest quality possible. Now, keep in mind this is a knife community.
 
I've already found my carry combo of choice so it doesn't matter what I buy now; I default to my usual set-up. I guess that makes me free to buy whatever catches my eye and the cost is only relevant to my means. I'm not really actively seeking any knives that work better than what I already have.

I have lots of old favourites that I enjoy carrying from time-to-time and they don't cost much at all. For example:

doukdouk02_zpsdhyavch8.jpg

Cognet Douk-Douk

I say buy what you like and enjoy what you have! :thumbup::cool:

-Brett
 
Charlie_K said:
You know, I read these messages, and I can't help but wonder about what sort of professions and careers some of you guys have, that allows you to say this stuff so freely.

I've seen the prices on ZT knives, and it makes my head spin how some refer to such as being a cheap knife to them. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to work hard to earn that kind of money, and can't afford to drop it all on a single knife. My high dollar knives are in the $60-100 range.
Click to expand...

My wife and I do ok but I would say the bulk of my extra money goes retirement well before knives. Knives are the occasional treat these days which has honestly helped me to appreciate them more.
 
Cheap has its limits. Some form of quality and reliability needs to exist. I buy knives in the $200 plus range but still dip below the $100 range too. I enjoy a good endura or cold steel folder. All my tradtionals are below $50.
 
I use high end for things where I notice the difference, for daily use and carry I find the easy to sharpen steels are more beneficial that raw retention, I appreciate a good build but that can be found for sub $150. Anything more is just luxury, nothing wrong with that but I have to be careful where I spend money. In kitchen knives, which can be sharpened whenever needed with full equipment and tend to require a razor sharp edge for longer, I might splurge on and buy the luxury. But they will never be beat on or lost.
 
I'm single with no kids (vasectomy). I don't drink or use. I don't go out, whatever that means. The extent of my social life is AA meetings. Knives are at times, the only thing that I'm passionate about.

That's how I do it :D

(I currently own one knife over $1000 out of less than 30 total)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top