Going back to cheaper knives.

I haven't, and won't spend more than $125 for a knife. I use knives, and I'm not scared to break a tool. I am however a recovering flashoholic, and I did spend lots of money on lights. One day I said this is out of hand and sold everything custom exept my Milkyspit e2. I now love budget AA lights and primary cells for their simplicity. So while I don't understand the knife hobby, I know exactly what you speak of.
 
Yamsi12 great topic. My most expensive knife is $425 at this point. Looking to pick up either a SnG CC or CRK Inkosi and I think the climb in price will end there.

I carry anything from a PM 2, ZT 0804, Microtech Scarab, Emerson Persian. So the cost of those knives ranges from $100 - $400. Closer to an average cost of $200.

There are tons of $500 plus knives out there. I might take my time and look for the perfect knife between $500 and $750, save up for it, and pull the trigger. I will unload some flashlights and lesser-used knives to fund that purchase. I've been looking at Hoback and Farid Mehr.
 
mcflyfyter said:
I haven't, and won't spend more than $125 for a knife. I use knives, and I'm not scared to break a tool. I am however a recovering flashoholic, and I did spend lots of money on lights. One day I said this is out of hand and sold everything custom exept my Milkyspit e2. I now love budget AA lights and primary cells for their simplicity. So while I don't understand the knife hobby, I know exactly what you speak of.
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Lights? Electric or gas? Kerosene, propane, Coleman proprietary blend?

Lights are something you could say I have a healthy interest in. I've even squared this fact by converting kerosene lanterns into electric lamps.
 
I haven't had your experience but I can understand your feelings. A person likes what a person likes.
 
I feel like knife economics have kind of made it so no one is building a great cheap knife anymore. Everyone goes, my knife has titanium and a great design so I can sell it for minimum 120$. No one says "I want to design the best knife, and put it in everyone's hand for as cheap as possible, because everyone should have access to such a great, tough knife.

So for 30$ you're getting Zytel and 8cr13mov bexause that is what other competiting companies sell for around that price.

No one is saying I want to build the best 30 dollar knife. As soon as they build a good knife with higher quality materials, they go, "well for a knife like this everyone is is charging 120$ atleast, I guess I'll sell it for that after all"

I guess in short no maker really is willing to or wants to or maybe even able to undercut the market.
 
rcb2000 said:
The only 'cheap' knives that I still use/own, are Moras and Opinels.
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Same here. Depends on the word cheap also. Mora and Opinel in my mind aren't cheap. They're definitely worth the money and more. I would say anything under the $80-100 range is cheap for me. Not knocking anyone though, just my preference.

I do have a Gerber Counterpart ($15) that I got at a walmart because I had forgot my knives at home on a trip out of state and it's done decent for 3 years. For the last two years my wife has only used it in the kitchen but it has the most wear of any of my knives.. I wonder why?
 
Charlie_K said:
Lights? Electric or gas? Kerosene, propane, Coleman proprietary blend?

Lights are something you could say I have a healthy interest in. I've even squared this fact by converting kerosene lanterns into electric lamps.
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I was into flashlights. Thankfully I overcame that addiction, but I have been collecting Coleman gas lanterns and old oil lamps when I find them cheap. It is interesting That I went full circle, all the way back to oil lamps. I never really thought about it that way. A wick burning oil is about the best, most calming and peaceful illumination I have experienced. Heck, maybe I will give up knives and EDC a sharp chunk of obsidian.
 
highestpoint said:
Same here. Depends on the word cheap also. Mora and Opinel in my mind aren't cheap. They're definitely worth the money and more. I would say anything under the $80-100 range is cheap for me. Not knocking anyone though, just my preference.

I do have a Gerber Counterpart ($15) that I got at a walmart because I had forgot my knives at home on a trip out of state and it's done decent for 3 years. For the last two years my wife has only used it in the kitchen but it has the most wear of any of my knives.. I wonder why?
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SERIOUSLY!!! You forgot your knives? You are dead to me...
 
I seem to be going backwards.

Most costly knife I own is still under $200 clams but I seem to enjoy my knives that run about 35 to 45 dollars more.
 
I never left inexpensive knives. I regularly carry both a $200 Spyderco and a $20 SAK at the same time in different pockets. I also still love and carry a humble FFG Delica that outcuts many more expensive knives.
 
The more I think about it, I feel like there are a lot more knives a like around the $100 range but there are just a couple more budget friendly options that make me question spending the extra money. My OKC RAT 2 is the big one with the D2 RAT 1 being a close 2nd, and now that I've discovered the D2 zancudo for around $40 from Knifecenter it makes the $80 purchases seem a little excessive in terms of users (I buy with the intent to use all of them though). The cheaper knives are pure function though and they aren't much to look at, IMO.
 
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It depends on why I want a particular knife in the first place. I have several that I bought because I fell in love with the design, which doesn't preclude me from doing "real work" with such a knife but might very well make it an impractical choice. It could be $20 or $200 or whatever. Then there are others that I bought mainly to look at, and the butt-ugly ones that I bought strictly for cutting stuff. Overall, I find that most of my purchases are right around the $50 mark, but the last few have been $100 or so.

Knives aren't a financial priority these days, but I'll pass on something else if something really catches my eye.
 
mcflyfyter said:
I was into flashlights. Thankfully I overcame that addiction, but I have been collecting Coleman gas lanterns and old oil lamps when I find them cheap.
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Same here. Some from trade, some from the bay. I've got a little of almost everything.

It is interesting That I went full circle, all the way back to oil lamps. I never really thought about it that way. A wick burning oil is about the best, most calming and peaceful illumination I have experienced.
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There's definitely something about them that makes them worthwhile.

Heck, maybe I will give up knives and EDC a sharp chunk of obsidian.
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Well at least it wouldn't set off metal detectors.
 
I really enjoy price to performance value. For that reason I probably won't ever spend more than $150 for a folder (and rarely over $100). My rat1, endura, SAKs, opinels, moras, bucks, and kershaw all see plenty of time in my rotation. They work just fine for my uses. I also like basic steels that are easier to sharpen, as I'm not the best at it. I just got a manix 2 in s110v for christmas and I will probably end up paying to have it sharpened.
I have a strong affinity for sharp pointy things, and I appreciate a good cutting tool whether it costs $10 or $1000.
 
I just pick which knife I feel like carrying that day, really doesn't matter what I'm doing. Most times it's a more expensive one, but sometimes it's nice to use the cheaper ones, as they are what led me to the good stuff! Actually I have a Blur in my pocket today. I hadn't carried it in a while so I'm showing it some love.
 
Hey CM, congrats on three years sober. I'm very happy for you. 👍👍👍

exactly three years. Well done. Congratulations. I wish you many more.
And to get back on topic, its hard to find a low price knife thats still built well.
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115Italian said:
exactly three years. Well done. Congratulations. I wish you many more.
And to get back on topic, its hard to find a low price knife thats still built well.
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That depends on what's considered low price. If we're talking Ozark Trails low, then you're right. If we're talking Spyderco Byrd price range, then not so much.
 
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