Help: $400+ folders vs. not-so-expensive ones

Justin Uthadude said:
Did I accidentally say those things weren't of value? I'm sorry. I meant to say they don't increase the function of the item, which is why I quoted the OP saying 'when all I want is function '.
As we speak, my friend and I are pushing some fellow veterans in wheelchairs back to their rooms from a bingo game here at the VA hospital. All of us were born when there were only 48 states - hardly teenagers.
So your comment :
Your world view is amazing and fulfills an unfortunate stereotype of privilege and protection from reality ! Or maybe you are simply a normal teenager ?
Gave us quite a chuckle. Thank you for brightening our day !
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Yeah -you are very welcome ! Glad to cause a laugh . I'm that old and then some and a veteran ,but lucky enough to get by with a cane . So now I'm just confused ...but that's nothing new .;) Normal maintenance retains function in my view so your analogies seem wrong to me .
If you did a lot of expensive and unnecessary remodeling on the house , lawn and car - just for the bling value and because you want to ...That would be more like the excessively expensive knife collection .
 
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Knife ownership when it's a hobby is a journey for most of us. We start because we need and use a knife and then we continue because we simply "like 'em". Where you jump into the hobby is usually based on your comfort level in terms of cost for a knife, but the price tends to increase over time as you gain an appreciation for what you are actually paying for (form and function).

The knife hobby is similar to a firearm hobby for me. I started out with very functional guns and gradually went for both form and function which generally means I was spending a lot more money per firearm. The increase in cost reflected my understanding of what I was buying, using, and my ability to pay for them. I believe overall that they're worth it (guns). But the $200 gun shoots just like a $1000 gun (perhaps not as accurately, but functionally it shoots). But for me, there are a lot of other considerations built into paying for the $1000 firearm. Same goes with knives and the journey takes you where it takes you in terms of cost and your appreciation for the objects (tools) you are acquiring.
 
Justin Uthadude said:
Washing your car doesn't increase its function

Mowing your lawn or painting your house doesn't increase its function

Functionally, you probably don't need to own more than two pair of shoes

Yet, many people do these things.

Some people like nice

Some people like quality
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Great points. I think the answer for me lies in where I like to put effort (read: money) into attaining quality beyond function.
I loved washing and waxing my muscle car. I now own a Tacoma that I love too but for different reasons, and I never wax it.
For me a knife is a tool, like a work truck. It’s all about reliability and function.

I think that there are many people who love knives the way I love sports cars and spend money on that hobby like do.
I think many people are like me in that I’m in a financial situation that allows me to have everything I could ever need (or even want) beyond basic food/clothes/housing/etc., but maybe not putting lavish expenses into things. I have all the vehicles and firearms and knives and flashlights and snowmobiles and MacBooks and outdoor/hunting gear and exercise equipment and yard tools/equipment that I could ever need. I don’t have a 2018 Ski-doo, I don’t have a brand new truck, my AR isn’t a noveske or Larue, and I have no personal desire to have expansive fancy knives. If/when I come into more finances (I’m in my late 20’s, I’m climbing “the ladder”) the first places I’d spend money for added quality would be newer vehicles and probably some fancier firearms and optics. I don’t think really expensive knives are gong to be one of my hobbies, I like high-value functionality there. But many of you here have helped me see how many value more high-end luxurious knives. I’m not agreeing to disagree, I’m agreeing totally. I think such knives are fascinating and really cool. I’d just rather spend money on a Mark 6 rifle scope or a newer MacBook or another 1,000 rounds of 9mm.
Not saying anything bad about expensive premium knife buying/collecting.
 
I just realized that it might be a tad self-righteous and hypocritical about "overspending " on the more expensive knives without recognizing the fact that once you become a collector , almost by definition you are way beyond pragmatic functional tool buying . I mean , buying 10X $100 knives excess to actual functional need is no better (or worse), pragmatically, than a single $1000 knife .
 
V84mystang said:
Great points. I think the answer for me lies in where I like to put effort (read: money) into attaining quality beyond function.
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I lean this way myself and trending more along this line as time moves forward. But I have quite a few knives of good quality and the number is beyond any practical usage. But I am not a collector.

DocJD said:
I just realized that it might be a tad self-righteous and hypocritical about "overspending " on the more expensive knives without recognizing the fact that once you become a collector , almost by definition you are way beyond pragmatic functional tool buying . I mean , buying 10X $100 knives excess to actual functional need is no better (or worse), pragmatically, than a single $1000 knife .
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Agreed. But I might add that the collector will probably not be content with a single $1000 knife versus the accumulator like myself would be pretty satisfied with ten $100ish knives.
 
22-rimfire said:
I lean this way myself and trending more along this line as time moves forward. But I have quite a few knives of good quality and the number is beyond any practical usage. But I am not a collector.


Agreed. But I might add that the collector will probably not be content with a single $1000 knife versus the accumulator like myself would be pretty satisfied with ten $100ish knives.
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Yeah ! "Accumulator " is WAY better than "hoarder " .;)

I actually started out more high end ,but eventually decided I enjoyed playing hard with my toys and not just fondling . Plus my knife budget is much lower these days . So , I too would buy the 10 X $100ish to play with . But , unfortunately I would NOT be "satisfied" for very long ! :p
 
I m in the high value camp.
Einstein said that compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. I say marketing might be the ninth wonder of the world.
If I keep the second concept in mind, I might be able to take advantage of the first.
It would be nice to have enough accumulated to spend money on incremental differences accompanied by large amounts of marketing.
I m trying to get there.
 
Well, a Kia will get you to your destination as well as a Ferrari, but the quality of experience won't be the same. My Opinel #8 Carbon cuts as well or better than many of my more expensive folders and I do enjoy using it, but I find using quality folders like my Sebbie 21, Buck 110/112, Benchmades (all of 'em) and my most recent acquisition, a Spyderco Para 2 are classier.
 
If you are going to carry something on you every day why not treat yourself to something quality. Why carry a cheap dollar store wallet when you can get a nice quality wallet. Same with a knife or anything that you carry every day.

And what is weird is these same people who carry cheap stuff on them and use them all the time step into their $60K automobile which eats up all there income. Makes no sense to me.
 
I am a knife newbie but I tend to set maximum $$$ spend thresholds with all new hobbies/interests that I blow thru eventually as I get more knowledgeable about the subject. Wine, guitars, flashlights, watches, knives and when I was a kid it was comics and sports cards.

I never though I would spend over $50 on a knife a few months ago but my last knife was $100 and I am starting to look in the $150 range. Quality/performance is key for me.

I am a musician and many years ago I told myself that I would never spend over $1000 on a bass guitar. I did. Said the same 5-6 years ago that $2000 was the absolute most.... I ended up flying from Toronto to NYC to pick out the wood for a custom bass that cost multiple times more than my self imposed maximum. No regrets either.

What I like about the knife community and specifically Blade Forums is that most people pay the big $$$ for knives due to quality, performance and possibly rarity, not to impress their friends as they mostly could care less (ok, lots of oooohs and aahhhs on the internet maybe. ;)).
 
colubrid said:
If you are going to carry something on you every day why not treat yourself to something quality. Why carry a cheap dollar store wallet when you can get a nice quality wallet. Same with a knife or anything that you carry every day.

And what is weird is these same people who carry cheap stuff on them and use them all the time step into their $60K automobile which eats up all there income. Makes no sense to me.
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Well, the thread was comparing the likes of Benchmade and Spyderco to knives that cost 4, 5, and 6 times more. I don’t know that anyone here would call a Grip or barrage or PM2 “cheap stuff”. So I disagree that we’re talking about opting for dollar store quality here.

I carry and use knives every day like pretty much everyone here. And I use them hard. They’re almost a consumable item. I get where you're coming from. But for me, I don’t think it makes sense to “treat” myself to a $500 pocket knife just to break it or lose it, I’ve lost knives before and $100 is easier to replace for me. My personal needs.

And if I had a $60k automobile I don’t think I would have started this thread. ;):D:)
 
The more expensive ones are just so nice to have. They feel better in every conceivable way.

It's like wearing a Seiko vs a Rolex (or whatever high end watch you like). The Seiko looks great and will tell time just as well, if not better... now refer directly to the point above ^
 
A lot of the more expensive ones are just better all around (most, but not all).
Are they better enough for the extra cash? Only you can decide that.
 
V84mystang said:
Well, the thread was comparing the likes of Benchmade and Spyderco to knives that cost 4, 5, and 6 times more. I don’t know that anyone here would call a Grip or barrage or PM2 “cheap stuff”. So I disagree that we’re talking about opting for dollar store quality here.

I carry and use knives every day like pretty much everyone here. And I use them hard. They’re almost a consumable item. I get where you're coming from. But for me, I don’t think it makes sense to “treat” myself to a $500 pocket knife just to break it or lose it, I’ve lost knives before and $100 is easier to replace for me. My personal needs.
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I think my dollar store grade is different from Colubrid's. Things would be damn boring if everyone was like me. Good knives may well be like sex to a virgin, if you never experienced it, you're not missing anything and have nothing to compare things. But that doesn't mean you wouldn't like to try it out when the time is right.

stabman said:
A lot of the more expensive ones are just better all around (most, but not all).
Are they better enough for the extra cash? Only you can decide that.
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Speaking in generalities, they are "better" for the most part, but I don't know if they are "better enough". On the other hand I have splurged on a $500-$600 folder and I think it's better. I love it, but I don't think it is better enough for me overall. I still like owning it. I satisfied an urge I had for a couple years.
 
DocJD said:
I just realized that it might be a tad self-righteous and hypocritical about "overspending " on the more expensive knives without recognizing the fact that once you become a collector , almost by definition you are way beyond pragmatic functional tool buying . I mean , buying 10X $100 knives excess to actual functional need is no better (or worse), pragmatically, than a single $1000 knife .
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Exelent point! It makes no sense at all to say “spending $600 on a knife is ridiculous and impractical!” if you have 6 or more $100 knives, all the while claiming practicality. I guess you’d have the advantage of redundancy. But it’s still well past what your practical needs would be.

I actually probably only own 1 knife that costs more than $100, out of my oh-so practical collection of 8-10 knives.

Just to be clear: There are 1 or 2 knives that cost well over $100 that I’d like to have “just because”. I don’t want to sound like a total “affordable knife snob”.
 
You know, just as having a "Collector mentality" can affect what seems affordable in a knife, I think that same mentality tends to refine ones taste in knives. I collect knives but I also use my knives. I only have two knives that I consider safe queens that I haven't carried...and someday I'll probably carry them too.

The collecting bug first bit me over 10 years ago. Prior to that, I always had knives around but paid little attention to what they were. I was a true "Practical User" that many of you have described yourselves as. Then my GF (now my Wife) bought me a nice knife as a gift and I've never looked back.

Over the years the stretch in what I'd pay for a knife kept growing and as my disposable income grew, I rarely thought twice. To date, I've never broken the $700 barrier, but can picture doing so sometime. I'm at a point now where I've quit buying ~$100 knives because I'd rather skip 5 of them for one $500 knife. That point of view developed from my Collectors mentality. In fact, I'm more likely to get excited over a great, new $25 bargain knife (Kizer Tangram Sante Fe) than about yet another $150 Spyderco. I don't need another $150 knife; I already know what to expect from them and am rarely impressed.

You don't have to be a collector to have the Collector mentality, there are lots of Users around here who don't think twice about using a >$1000 knife. Without the Collector's mentality however, you'll likely continue to view a knife as a functional tool and the incremental improvements between a $100 knife and a $500 knife will never be justified, regardless of how loudly the Collectors shout about how sweet it feels.

That's the fundamental disconnect between those who view knives as a functional tool and those who view them as a sweet little hunk of love that your hand has an affair with. Ne'er the twain shall meet...
 
Hey - I believe the key term of your thread is “practical difference” since you used it several times.

As a member of the choir my response to the original post - IMO if the knife is going to be used for practical purposes there isn’t a big difference. The basic purpose is having a tool for cutting.

If the knife is going to be used for demanding tasks or used in harsh conditions a knife in the $50.00 range will probably won’t cut it (sorry for stupid pun).

The more expensive knife will last longer, folders will have smoother actions, good steel holds an edge better, etc. Perhaps some of those attributes could contribute to practicality.

The singular value of practically is way behind me. Now I highly value well thought out design, detailed workmanship, quality of materials, and durability. I just really appreciate owning, handling, maintaining, and using a really great knife so I don’t mind spending more.

Try to get your hands on a really good knife and spend some time with it. Cutting aside, there really is a big difference.

The knife-thang can get expensive but at least they aren’t perishable items. My head spins when I see my older friends go through $350 bottles of scotch and smoke $50 cigars. Same with my wife and the kids’ shoes.

Have fun cutting stuff!
 
There was a time for me when the thought of spending $100+ for a knife was out of the question. Then I bought my first Benchmade and I was hooked. It wasn't long before I owned several CRK, Strider, Hinderer etc. Then on to customs that were north of $1K.

Despite a rather top heavy collection I remain humble. I still love my very modest and affordable SAKs, Kershaws, Bucks, and vintage bargains. My $100+ Benchmades and Spydercos often meet and exceed the fit and finish of certain customs and $400 knives. Great warranties too.

One thing I do know, my tastes in knives are constantly shifting, evolving, and changing and I find myself going back to certain brands that just seem to fit my wants and needs. I carry a $20 SAK Cadet wherever I go to compliment my main carry knife of the day.
 
The diminishing return curve, is super steep. starts around $250 for folders and $150 fixed in my opinion.
 
It’s the same sort of thing with watches. A modern quartz watch will function better, ie. keep more accurate time. And it will be generally cheaper. But people still appreciate a mechanical watch that’s more complex, and offers tactile, aesthetic and subjective advantages even if not being more functional in a technical sense.

Same with cars. A 450hp mustang will function just about as well as it’s similarly powered German or Italian counterpart. But the overall experience of the higher quality cars is why people pay a lot more. Are they getting more function for spending 5-10x more? No. Not at all. Because it appeals to them in ways that are not simply straight function. Things like the way it feels, sounds, etc.

If all you care about is plain function you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune. But if you appreciate the intangibles like quality, smoothness, finer materials and a higher level of attention to detail, then you won’t mind spending more to get it. It matters to you, or it doesn’t. It’s up to you.
 
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