Has a knife ever destroyed your sense of value?

[R.D.Hatch]

Got to agree with SharpieB. I've gone from a whole bunch of Strider,Emerson,Hinderer,CRK knives.
Now I find I have gone back to Buck and find them every bit as useful and enjoyable as the current flavor of the month maker and steel.
To each his own and your mileage may vary.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I know a lot of people move steadily up in terms of quality and investment but has anyone ever had a knife completely ruin that progression? For instance, if you got a ZT for mid-tier Kershaw money would you ever be able to buy Kershaw again?

This. My ZT 0850. Hardly an inexpensive knife at $320, but the build quality is so immaculate that it's basically rendered everything more expensive just silly.

Obviously you'll have to pay more for exotic materials, but I just can't justify spending more money on a midtech that I know will be a lesser knife.

 

[Ganzofan]

pretty much all Spyderco, guns seem cheap in comparison

I think that's why Spyderco are the most faked knife and also with the best quality fakes with real TI and other quality material used, cause the PROFITS are ASTRONOMICAL!!!!!

 

[Planterz]

pretty much all Spyderco, guns seem cheap in comparison

I think that's why Spyderco are the most faked knife and also with the best quality fakes with real TI and other quality material used, cause the PROFITS are ASTRONOMICAL!!!!!

Either you're trolling, or you don't understand the premise of the thread. Or both.

 

[RBid]

Knives Ship Free used to have a storefront not far from where I live (I grew up in Tualatin, OR), so I’ve had a lot of great opportunities to handle a tremendous range of knives.

Once I got into the $100-$250 price range, I stopped feeling the urge to go far beyond that. I handled a lot of knives above that price point, including CRK knives. I’ve had a few chances to handle customs out in the wild. The thing is, they don’t call to me. I picked up a Lionsteel Ti-Spine and a Microtech DOC to cover a couple of minor collection desires, then stopped buying knives.

The one that really seemed to kill my need to buy more is the ZT 0562. It’s just... so damn good.

 

[Low_rez]

I know that many companies, certainly including the three quoted below, put out knives that are CRAP. But Boker and Kershaw definitely make some good, quality knives as well - and even CRKT occasionally puts out a good knife.

Yes, they do make a tiny few every year. But they put out a large line of crap every year as well. They believe in quantity over quality.

 

[miltmaldo]

Sense of value hits you hard when you loose a sebenza.

 

[BladeScout]

I know a lot of people move steadily up in terms of quality and investment but has anyone ever had a knife completely ruin that progression? For instance, if you got a ZT for mid-tier Kershaw money would you ever be able to buy Kershaw again?

If you by that mean, whether buying a semi-expensive and/or good quality knife ruins me for cheaper knives, which work just fine - then no.

I have more expensive knives (like most here) but not too long ago bought a Terävä 110 Puukko (and a Skrama).

The 110 is dirt cheap (in the vicinity of $30), has a good handle, a nice scandi blade with secondary bevel and will do any chore most would ask of it under most (normal) circumstances.

Bluntly spoken, a 110 (and a Squirt) is really what most of us could get by with.

The rest of the knives are just because, they are dang nice, because we are geeks and because they are there and we (sometimes) have the disposable income to put our mitts on them.

Will the Terävä outperform my CPK FK - nope (not that you can in any way compare the two - different materials, grind, price, quality, everything but for the sake of the argument in the thread).

Will it outlast the CPK - most likely not.

Could I in theory get by with just the 110, were I not a knife buying geek - in theory, yes

Does the CPK FK make my appreciate the humble cheap Terävä an iota less - nope.

.

 

[wazu013]

I've been traditional knife collector for the better part of 45 years. A few years ago my wife bought a ZT301 for me because we're NCIS fans and I always commented on the knife the main character flashed from time to time. I have to say that when I got that knife in my hand it surprised me as to how it was built and the materials used for the same amount of money or less than I would spend on collectable slipjoint. It's really helped me enjoy the knife industry and allied forums more than ever.

 

[Pilsner]

My experience is happily contrary to the idea posited in the OP.

Most recent knife purchase was a Condor Kephart, the cheapest fixed blade in my collection barring Mora. Absolutely love this knife. Sanded off the blueing, Danish oiled the scales, reprofiled it, and it is now a very pleasing and functional knife.

I do need to wet mould the sheath, which has practically no retention, but that is hardly rocket surgery.

Also, a couple of years ago I bought a RAT-1. Again, one of the cheapest folders I own, but what a superb knife it is.

 

[rje58]

Again, I respectfully disagree. The percentage of 'Crap', 'Quality' and 'Average' is debatable, but Kershaw and Boker both have differentiated product lines with different price points, QC levels and materials choices. I won't disagree that the number of good quality CRKT knives I seen is a small percent, but even in just the limited number of knives I personally own, I can cite multiple examples of good quality knives from both Kershaw and Boker. And don't forget that in almost every way - a ZT is a Kershaw - just like an Acura is a Honda and a Lexus is a Toyota.

Everybody has different ideas of what a good quality knife is, so I can agree to disagree and respect your opinion. But my opinion is different - at least to a large enough degree to express it.

Yes, they do make a tiny few every year. But they put out a large line of crap every year as well. They believe in quantity over quality.

 

[22-rimfire]

The knife world is fairly diverse these days with a wonderful range of product available that will fit just about any budget. I do like to use more expensive knives, often because they just make me feel good. But I appreciate the sub-$75 knives too and owning more expensive knives just expanded my horizons a bit rather than spoiling me.

My price range has gone up over the last 10 years on folders. Bread costs more now than 10 years ago too. But relative to most here, I still only buy modestly priced knives. They satisfy my needs. Hell. I use SAKs more than any other type of knife...

I haven't really changed much in the fixed blade department in terms of price range, but I certainly have refined the kind of knife I like versus the shotgun approach to knife buying. I started with a bowie clip blade preference and have moved to a sabre type shape for general use. Added: I think you do get a little spoiled after you buy and use some of the $250+ fixed blades, especially with higher end steels. I know that I am simply not satisfied using Mora's, but I own some. They don't contribute anything to my inner knife knut self.

 

[Converge]

Converge Watch the language, dude. Family forum here.

Sorry, I hope I didn't offend any virgin ears.

Gimmie a friggen break.... 5 year olds hear and see worse on a daily basis now a days. Get real man. This is the internet.

 

[Pilsner]

Sorry, I hope I didn't offend any virgin ears.

Gimmie a friggen break.... 5 year olds hear and see worse on a daily basis now a days. Get real man. This is the internet.

No man, it’s the rules for GKD, which you signed up for when you joined the site. If you want to use that sort of language, come and say hello to us in Whine & Cheese. We will make you so very welcome.

 

[BladeScout]

Sorry, I hope I didn't offend any virgin ears.

Gimmie a friggen break.... 5 year olds hear and see worse on a daily basis now a days. Get real man. This is the internet.

Its possible to get the point across without resorting to profanity.

We try to avoid profanity, as GKD is supposed to be family friendly and some dont want their kids reading foul language.

You just got a warning for inappropriate language.

If for nothing else, its the rules, as others have stated.

 

[Halfneck]

Opinel.

Took a carbon steel #8 on a Boy Scout trip where I couldn't take a fixed blade. Used it for all kinds of camp chores and wood carving with no impact on the knife at all. A couple of times I thought I might break or bend it as the blade was flexing like a filet knife, but it was fine. Dulled a bit more than my usual knife, but it was easy to get scary sharp in no time with the Spyderco Doublestuff I bring along in my pack. End of the week it was still going strong and had a nice patina starting on the blade - still have it.

Made me seriously look at the knives I carry and what I was spending on them. In some ways I used that Opinel #8 harder than my other knives because it only cost me $14 and I was in a "If it breaks, it breaks" kind of mentality. Of course being the knife-nut I am I have still found a way to express that with Opinels with the Ebauche versions. I am in the process of finishing the final touches of the walnut handle version. This will be the 3rd one I have finished the handles on and I'm digging it a lot. The last one was in Olivewood and I found out that when working/sanding Olivewood it breaks me out like poison ivy. Even though once finished it was fine to handle it still made me mentally itch - gifted it to a good friend.

 

[rje58]

Which probably is either a partial explanation for, or a symptom of, the sorry state that the world is in today.

As others have said, this is a privately owned forum that you have been invited to, and the owner gets to make the rules.

Gimmie a friggen break.... 5 year olds hear and see worse on a daily basis now a days. Get real man. This is the internet.

 

[Lapedog]

There are some cheaper Chinese knives I have owned which blow me away with their build quality. Their smoothness is up there with the best ZT has to offer and the knives are for like 20$. Knives like the Bestech Warwolf (which is now 50$ but at one point was under 30) or some of the Real Steels. They’re a real steal considering the quality you get.

Another one was this Katsu Japanese made framelock. 100$ for thick titanium slabs, cf inlay....granted “only” vg10 blade. One of the smoothest actions I own. Kizer wouldn’t even sell this knife for $100.

Katsu on the right.

 

[22-rimfire]

...EDIT - Sorry, I replaced the harsh terrible language with more appropriate words because of all the children that are apparently here. Please forgive my ignorance.

You should know better. Just because many use inappropriate language does not make it "right".

 

[goldie]

After using a Cold Steel Trailmaster and Drop Forged Survivalist extensively in the woods it made me realize I don't need to spend 400.00 to get a good fixed blade. For the asking price of the drop forged, in 52100 its unbeatable for the price. just wrap the handle in rubber or leather and your done....