High end knives - an acquired taste?

I started with Kershaw, SOG, Cold Steel, and the like, then moved up from there. I think that's a fairly good place to begin for most people that like knives.
 
Note - the following is in reference to fixed blades. I grew up in a "financially challenged" situation. Now in my late 50's I can buy any knife I want and have in my possession several nice customs (Breeden, Andrews, etc) None are over $200 and I like them all. But some of my favorites include the Gerber Gator fixed blade (under $40.) Love the handle and proportions and feel of the knife. And now its in S30 (around $55!) Then there's the Ontario SP2 that I just picked up new for $40. Again, an awesome knife to use plus a nice sheath and 1095 carbon steel. And then there are the Moras. Plus I occasionally pick up a vintage USA stick tanged fixed blade because they work well (don't baton them!) and are really cool. I like the variety and to me there are quite a few fixed blades with sheaths that I enjoy using under $60..................................................... But I do have a couple Turleys on order:thumbup:
 
To those who claim we with expensive tastes put down those who prefer cheaper knives: you are wrong. In fact, it is those who prefer cheaper knives who tend to put down those who prefer finer quality knives. There is room on this planet for both types.

I have a friend who is such a miser he pinches every penny till it screams. But he enjoys saving a few pennies, even though he has a ton of money. I enjoy my money by spending it on knives and such. Neither of us understands the other, but we respect each other's perspective.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
To those who claim we with expensive tastes put down those who prefer cheaper knives: you are wrong. In fact, it is those who prefer cheaper knives who tend to put down those who prefer finer quality knives. There is room on this planet for both types.

I have a friend who is such a miser he pinches every penny till it screams. But he enjoys saving a few pennies, even though he has a ton of money. I enjoy my money by spending it on knives and such. Neither of us understands the other, but we respect each other's perspective.
Click to expand...

IDK, I see a lot more of the attitude from people who own high end knives thinking that people who don't, don't understand the fine craftsmanship of higher end knives than anything else around here.

I have not seen anyone put down a collector of custom knives, but I see plenty of people hinting at people who don't like high end stuff just don't know enough about quality knives.

I have no problem with people who collect whatever knife they like, but there seems to be an element among the people who collect almost exclusively high end stuff that think those who prefer low end knives just don't know knives.

Then again, I come from a dirt poor family and even though I can afford just about any knife I want, I have a hard time dropping $500+ on a knife. $500 still seems like a lot of money to me even though it's really not that much to me anymore.
 
I started with POS flea market pieces and moved up to Gerber, then SOG and Cold Steel. Now I'm buying Bark River, Treeman Knives and others. If I had known about this site back in 99 and 2000, I'd have learned enough to skip the crap from the marts.
 
mcrow said:
IDK, I see a lot more of the attitude from people who own high end knives thinking that people who don't, don't understand the fine craftsmanship of higher end knives than anything else around here.

I have not seen anyone put down a collector of custom knives, but I see plenty of people hinting at people who don't like high end stuff just don't know enough about quality knives.

I have no problem with people who collect whatever knife they like, but there seems to be an element among the people who collect almost exclusively high end stuff that think those who prefer low end knives just don't know knives.

Then again, I come from a dirt poor family and even though I can afford just about any knife I want, I have a hard time dropping $500+ on a knife. $500 still seems like a lot of money to me even though it's really not that much to me anymore.
Click to expand...

What was it Loveless said? "I wouldn't pay $1000 dollars for a knife even if Jesus Christ himself was selling it" or something along those lines.
 
Street Samurai1978 said:
What was it Loveless said? "I wouldn't pay $1000 dollars for a knife even if Jesus Christ himself was selling it" or something along those lines.
Click to expand...
close...

"Why would anyone pay $3,000 for a hunting knife? They say, because my name is on it. I'm carrying an awfully big rep. If I were a gunfighter, I'd be hiding in a cave somewhere. But I wouldn't spend that much money for a knife if it were autographed by Jesus Christ himself!"
 
Street Samurai1978 said:
What was it Loveless said? "I wouldn't pay $1000 dollars for a knife even if Jesus Christ himself was selling it" or something along those lines.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much my take.

That's not a dig on collectors of high end knives, that's just my personal value of high end knives.
 
The irony is that if something - anything - were autographed by JC, it would be worth a fortune. You could take it to Pawn Stars to sell it.

MT Damascus said:
close...

"Why would anyone pay $3,000 for a hunting knife? They say, because my name is on it. I'm carrying an awfully big rep. If I were a gunfighter, I'd be hiding in a cave somewhere. But I wouldn't spend that much money for a knife if it were autographed by Jesus Christ himself!"
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't pay that much money just because somebody's name was on it. If i really liked the design and the materials a knife was made out of, and if i really wanted it, then sure, why not? You only live once. I bought a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII just so I could get trashed off it (it was only $1000 at the time, and the ponies had been good to me that week) with that very philosophy in mind.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
The irony is that if something - anything - were autographed by JC, it would be worth a fortune. You could take it to Pawn Stars to sell it.
Click to expand...

Only if they could authenticate the signature. Then it would sit in a display case for a long time, until just the right collector happened along.....:)

When you look at high end knives, the names become more important than the material or workmanship. You are paying a premium because the thing was made by a popular maker. Unfortunately, popularity can be a passing fad, and who is hot today may be all but forgotten tomorrow.

n2s
 
I started out with a Mora scout. Then from there I went into some Chinese stuff, then kershaw's, and now I am in the Spyderco area. I am slowly working up to the bigger and better knifes, but I can tell the difference between the spyderco's and the cheapo knifes. I think it is a partialy acquired taste, just like people that borrow our nice knifes just use em like they didn't cost much, I think that you need to know that it is of high quality to treat it will a full respect. But if you are just handed a nice knife as a starter, you would still have some sense of quality in the blade.
 
I enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts. For the sake of clarity, my original post wasn't meant to cut down anyone's knife. Some of my most used knives are under $100 and they held up fine. The topic was an idea that stemmed from threads where people felt underwhelmed when buying a higher end knife. Again, thanks for sharing.
 
BladeChick777 said:
Starting out, I wouldn't have known the difference between a Large Sebenza and my Kershaw Nerve.
I would say building up is best.
Maybe start out in the mid - semi high end range?
I actually love that I've tried so many knives. =]
Click to expand...

I have to agree. Started (again) a few yrs ago with a Caly3 at 100 bucks...and went up since then. The only cheaper knife is my JYDII blem from KershawGuy.
My folders these days, after 70 or so, are CRK's, Strider, Grayman, Three Sisters Forge...and, of course Spyderco (I love 'em.)
 
Planterz said:
I don't think he's going to last much longer at this job. I just hope I'm not the one that has to fire him, as I was the one that fired his dad from this job several years ago.
Click to expand...

Not your fault. Runs in his blood-line.
 
I would not recommend someone go straight to a high end product. I have never bought a knife over $120 and have been happy with my knives. I don't even really like Sebenzas, they just seem over priced more than anything to me. I think they have a good blade shape, but other than that they don't impress me much. I have been competitively shooting conventional pistol for about five years, and a lot of people will recommend a $1000-$1500 gun to a beginner so they don't go through all the trouble of upgrading. I use a $300 Ruger with a little trigger work that I started out with and have made it to Master class with what many would consider a beginner or low end gun. I guess what I am saying is that lower end products can serve you well, so why spend all the money in the beginning if you may not need to.
 
Of course it's an acquired taste...I got the taste for them, and then I acquired some.:D
 
I started with a PM2 S90V CF, sold it and have bought 4 large Sebenzas and 1 Mnandi bark Mammoth. My bucket list includes Sebenza 25, more Mnandis and a couple of Hinderers.

Acquired taste or not but I buy what I like and what makes me HAPPY.
 
As someone with some pre-collection knifes that are total rubbish, sometimes its good to get knives you dont like or want, so that you know what you dont like or want in more than just theory.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top