High end knives - an acquired taste?

Great thread and opinions: let me throw mine in the pile. to each their own, the journey i took was starting out with the china made smith and wessons and went up the ladder from Spyderco Tenacious, Kershaw Skyline, Benchmade 710. i still own 2 of those. i really like the Para 2 and own a couple of those even though i still own the para 1, i use all my knives but the journey has taken me into the higher end knives and midtechs and a couple of customs. Hey guys dont bite my head off, but i'm really into the Titanium fad. Just love the fact you can do so many things with titanium. Love all the options knife makers and companies are giving us these days the different locking systems, options on color schemes, and blade steels. I'm still in this hobby for the long haul to enjoy myself and if i have to spend some money on higher end knives even though i have some in the middle that suit me just fine.
 
You have a good attitude. Let the haters hate. And the knife-lovers love.

Rudeco said:
Great thread and opinions: let me throw mine in the pile. to each their own, the journey i took was starting out with the china made smith and wessons and went up the ladder from Spyderco Tenacious, Kershaw Skyline, Benchmade 710. i still own 2 of those. i really like the Para 2 and own a couple of those even though i still own the para 1, i use all my knives but the journey has taken me into the higher end knives and midtechs and a couple of customs. Hey guys dont bite my head off, but i'm really into the Titanium fad. Just love the fact you can do so many things with titanium. Love all the options knife makers and companies are giving us these days the different locking systems, options on color schemes, and blade steels. I'm still in this hobby for the long haul to enjoy myself and if i have to spend some money on higher end knives even though i have some in the middle that suit me just fine.
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red mag said:
@Steff27: May I ask what you cut with your work blades?
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Food prep, whittling wood to fire wood stoves and random cutting tasks when I'm helping out on an old farm.

It's the last point that wears the blades down due to accidental abuse. For instance, I was taking material off an old wooden barn door that wouldn't close anymore, overlooked a nail and took out a big chip in the blade.
 
There is no the recipe for everyone. I believe that everybody should buy knives in the price range, they are comfortable with.
I carried SAK for about 10 years. About eight years ago I bought my first one-hand opener: Gerber. Than another Gerber two weeks later. Next month inexpensive Emerson (Traveler, made in Seki), than Grip and Native. Than Spydies all the way and couple other knives. It took me few month to brake $100 barrier, may be a year to brake $200 barrier. I was able to handle Sebensa on show, but wasn't impressed with ergos and do not like the grind. For a long time I wanted one of WH, but when I saw it in the real life, even at the deep discount (the place was going out of business) I didn't want to buy it. Most of my knives in $150-200 range, where I am comfortable.
 
"an aquired taste?"

Yes, I think so. First we get a computer, second stumble onto a good knife forum, and third before you know it, after reading everyone's rave review about their $600 production folder, we suddenly aquire a taste for one ourself. I dare say if it weren't for forums, the EDC industry would take a severe economic hit. Without the Internet fan clubs, most of us would get bored, start using our knives and stop "collecting". Just my opinion.
 
dmattaponi said:
"an aquired taste?"

Yes, I think so. First we get a computer, second stumble onto a good knife forum, and third before you know it, after reading everyone's rave review about their $600 production folder, we suddenly aquire a taste for one ourself. I dare say if it weren't for forums, the EDC industry would take a severe economic hit. Without the Internet fan clubs, most of us would get bored, start using our knives and stop "collecting". Just my opinion.
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$600?? Mere pocket change, plebe. Try Jay Fisher's knives. They cost more than some automobiles. Besides, when some people shell out 5 to 6 figures for a stamp, $600 for a pocketknife doesn't seem like quite so much, even if it does become a safe queen.
 
Where I live, you could spend $600 on dinner for two and wine and all. Or buy a damascus Sebenza. "Honey, call Domino's, we're having pizza again."
 
Planterz said:
I wouldn't really call high end knives an "acquired" taste, because surely any knife enthusiast that only owns budget knives, but then holds a high end knife is going to covet one himself. Pretty much anybody can feel the difference between a $5 flea market knife and a Gerber Paraframe. Or the difference between a Paraframe and a Delica. Or a Delica and a BM710. Or a BM710 and a Strider or Sebenza. Whether or not they're willing to make those leaps in cost is the question.

For me it's less an issue of refinement, but rather one of safety. I like my higher end knives, but I'll never slight a person carrying a $30 Spyderco or Kershaw or Buck, because I know they're well made. It's the cheap junk I can't abide by. Just yesterday a kid at work (I think he's 18) cut the #$% out of his index finger. He was cutting up boxes with his cheap junk knife. He claimed to our boss that he cut himself with the rotary vegetable slicer, but I know that's BS. Firstly, the vegi slicer isn't quite that sharp, and secondly, the cut was right on his index finger where you'd get cut if a lock failed on you (I know this from personal experience - 3 stitches). Luckily the cut wasn't too deep (I'm sure his knife is dull as hell). I'm half tempted to give him a knife that won't fail on him, but 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.
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In this particular case, I think it would be worth the time to show the kid how to use a knife, any knife, safely...
While many feel a knife has to have a lock to be safe, there have been a lot of people ( myself included ) that have used slip joints for many years , and have never had an issue with the blade folding up on me, while using it.

Ankerson said:
I believe that people should experience the different levels so they can really appreciate the differences.

That's only if they can really afford the higher end knives though. ;)
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Absolutely. As a person progresses up the quality ladder, they will actually be able too see and appreciate the differences.
 
dmattaponi said:
"an aquired taste?"

Yes, I think so. First we get a computer, second stumble onto a good knife forum, and third before you know it, after reading everyone's rave review about their $600 production folder, we suddenly aquire a taste for one ourself. I dare say if it weren't for forums, the EDC industry would take a severe economic hit. Without the Internet fan clubs, most of us would get bored, start using our knives and stop "collecting". Just my opinion.
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Blade Magazine has been around for a long time, I have several copies from the early to mid 90's and people were paying the same if not more for high quality production knives.
Trust me when I say that people wouldn't get bored without internet fan clubs, they would just buy more magazine subscriptions and re-learn how to talk on the phone and write letters.
 
I've had cheap knives and also a few high ends and customs. And IMO I can make any knife work for me, whatever knife is in my hands is the best one. I like some designs more then others but I can take any knife and be just as happy as with another. If its got a nice full tang that's really all I care about. If all I had was an old hatchet blade for a knife I'd say ehh and do what I had to with it. Just my 2 cents
 
I recently got my first "high-end" knife after being in knives for a long time. I've been though many stages of knives, from the "military" to "gentleman" and everything in-between. It took me all that time to figure out what works best for me as a knife. Once I had that figured out, I had to decide if I could sell off some toys and step up to just one quality folder that I could depend on day in/out and was best for my needs. I think I found that knife now, but I still love so many of my collection for various reasons. But now with my first higher end folder, I get what it's all about. It's about the precision, and it's not something you can see or understand from a picture or someone else's words. You have to feel it.

That being said, what my definition of 'prefect knife' and others is will be vastly different and wide. I enjoyed my collecting and the please of getting little gift packages in the mail like it's Christmas year round. Buying/Selling/Trading.. all fun things, but not always the most economical. I would have loved to have grabbed a CRK earlier in my life, but now is never too late (btw, that's my new go-to). I want to have that one knife like grandpa did, that you knew it by sight it was grandpa's and he always had it with him. Not some flavor of the week knife.

Anyway, my .02 is buy quality stuff but treat yourself to a good "high end" knife earlier in your hobby than later.
 
Give someone who knows nothing about wine several glasses, from cheap to very expensive, and he will probably have a difficult time discerning the difference. Over the years, you can acquire the knowledge to appreciate a fine wine (whether that is worth it is another question).

I think the same is true with knives. The difference between a Kershaw and a Sebenza may not be apparent to the novice, but experience and knowledge over a period of time will enable someone to understand what we mean be F&F, high tolerances, aesthetics, etc. Again, whether the difference is worth the money is another question, one each person must answer.

To me, high quality is worth the money. But I'm an enthusiast, I take pleasure in the subtle differences in fit and finish. Even if I can't afford a Rexford or a Scott Cook Lochsa, I can appreciate the sheer beauty and technical achievement.
 
This is an interesting topic. I find myself appreciating all knives after a certain "quality point". When I got "back" into knives, I had a benchmade. Then I got a few spydercos, including manix 2 xl, para 2, military and military sprint, a ZT0550. I don't have a lot of expendable funds for knives, but I have some so I thought the natural progression was to move up. I ended up trading most of my others away to fund a Sebenza 21. Then I bought an XM-18. At one point I had both a Sebenza 21 and XM-18. Suddenly something happened. I wanted a new Sebenza 25, bad. I liked the XM-18 but not enough to keep it. I ended up trading the XM-18 for a Sebenza 25+$400. I have never been much of a collector. I like trying new things and holding on to what I really like. The 25 is that knife for me. It is likely the only one handed folder that I will ever need.

But, due to this forum, I traded a fixed blade that I had for a new folder. I was looking to get another Spyderco military but the only good offer I got was for a ZT0550 gen 2 with a custom rival scale. I didn't expect to like it at all since I got rid of the last one I had because it was too bulky. Well, I have had it for 3 days now and I must say, I really like it. To know that this $150.00 knife feels just as solid (almost) as my sebenza (or the XM-18) I had, makes me appreciate it more. I am not saying that the 0550 is in the same league but it isn't that far off actually. An apt analogy could be a Corvette (0550) to a Porche 911 (Sebenza). I guess what I am trying to say is tastes and experiences change. You don't always keep getting higher in price, sometimes it is worth going back down the price ladder to really appreciate the "sweet spot" in production knives. To me, this 0550 is the best $150.00 knife I have ever had-A fantastic value. Just like the Sebenza 25 is the best $440 knife I have ever had. Sometimes you need to experience the best to know what is not only a REALLY GOOD VALUE but also REALLY GOOD!
 
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Being 100% honest, I think starting with "garbage knives", and trying to use them, will help them appreciate build quality more.
I started off mainly with Gerbers, and looking back at them and then looking at what I have now, the quality gap is significant.
It gives me more appreciation, but I would never say "GET A GERBER!"
 
It took me around $5000.00 of buying 50 to 300 dollar folders to really appreciate a Sebenza. Working your way up is a good way to go. And it will leave you with a lot of users.
High end anything is a matter of taste. A Nissan GT-R Will probably blow the doors of an Aston Martin, but some people like the fit & finish, the walnut decor on the dash. You know, some of the finer things. And the GT-R is a LOT less in cost....Around half?
I cut boxes all day today with a Microtech Socom Delta. I could have done it with a $20.00 knife but I used the Delta because It felt good.
Cheers.
 
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