"High Line" production folder?

The thing about High Line production knives (when it is a variation of an original) is that the company, any company always (from my experience so far) puts more time into finishing a High Line piece even if the change is as simple as putting on a different color handle. The reason can be as simple as "keeping a closer eye on things just because there's less knives to inspect" to "Hey guys, if we're going to charge $100 more for this, we better get it right". On every high line production that I own, which is about 6, just a guess, depending on what you consider a high line, the seams are better than the originals, there are less grind marks, and there is NEVER a problem with lockup. That is what does it for me.
 
There is a highly respected manufacturer who has a few different lines that are designated by color. Each line is supposed to be a different overall quality level, with the comensurate price differences. When looking at the knives in the high end line, almost all of which were priced higher than any Spyderco folder, I was struck by the distinctly mediocre steel used in many of the blades. No, I do not agree that anything less than a premium steel (S30V, VG-10, D2) is acceptable in that type/price of knife. Almost all Spyderco models these days use top of the line S30V or VG-10, a much higher overall percentage than other manufacturer's "premium" lines. And many of these Spydies are half or a third the price. Sorry, AUS-8A or even 440C types of steel do not cut it on a premium knife IMO, I don't care how it's built. There's no excuse for not using top notch blade steels these days if you are supposed to be a top notch production manufacturer. Spyderco does, and frankly, I am surprised how many knife models of other high reputation makers don't. I won't buy 'em...there's better choices.
Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. :cool:
 
To me "high line" is a combination of fit, finish, materials, and design versatility. The Sebenza is a prime example.

Paul
 
Totally agree with you Paul. Then why is less than premium blade steel often times used by some makers in their higher end/priced offerings? Not a good link in the quality chain to neglect.
 
For me it's the complete package.

Some would put handle materials first, but I would put fit and finish first with handle materials a close second. The more natural the material the better, exotic woods, ivory, bone, ect.

I've seen some supposed high end knives with low end steels (420J SS), but to me these days with all the steels available it only makes them high end wanna-be's. So blade steel an important third on the list.

Personally I would also add difficulty of construction to the list, dovetail bolsters for example.

For me you might be able to get away with one of the list (except fit n' finish), but the others on the list would have to be darn impressive to make up for it.

In the Spyderco range I would nominate the Howard Viele, the Schrimp Persian and possibly the Kiwi (only because I'm not a fan of jigged bone, the Santa Fe Kiwi on the other hand, major drool time).
 
selfinflicted said:
Totally agree with you Paul. Then why is less than premium blade steel often times used by some makers in their higher end/priced offerings? Not a good link in the quality chain to neglect.
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That depends on what the "less than premium" steel is. Right now S30V and BG-42 are hot steels. That doesn't mean that ATS-34, 154-CM, 440C, 12C27, and the like are totally outdated. Now if they are using 420, 6A, 440A, or a similar steel, that might be a valid argument. It all depends on the knife's intended use and just how high the price is.

Paul
 
So what makes one production folder "high Line" and another not?

Does a "high line" steel make a knife high line? Can you have a "hgh line" knife without a high line steel?

If you have a cheap steel in a knife with lotsa "glitz", is it still high line?

Does "high line" simply consist of "asking" for more money?

teach me.

sal
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What makes a production folder high line is superior quality of design, materials, and workmanship. If any one is missing, it's not really high line.

High line steel does not make a high line knife. Although the FRN Native with S30V blade is an excellent knife, it is not a high line folder, because it is FRN. FRN is great, but it's not high line. Properly used, G-10, Micarta and Titanium are high line for production folders.

Cheap steel and lots of glitz will not make a knife high line. It might, however, result in an expensive knife that's not really a good value. For example, a limited edition folder with jigged bone scales with a 420 blade is not high line, even if it costs as much as a high line knife.

High line does not consist of asking more money.
 
There's no doubt that Sal already knows the answers. He apparently wanted to see what we think the answers are.
 
I think that high end is a combination of a number of qualities including blade steel, (440C or ATS-34 or more), unusual handle materials, new technology or design (such as the integral ti compression lock, ball bearing), and the degree of hand work or time put into each knife. I think that spyderco has many high end knives that are worth much more than MSRP.
Matt
 
I think materials are the first thing that puts a knife in the "high line" category. Very few of us (forumites) have access to a knife shop stocking a range of $100+ blades (yes, I'm making an assumption). So premium materials that we've heard about somewhere - S30V, carbon fiber, titanium, etc. etc. etc. - are an indicator of a quality blade that we can't handle before buying. Cheaply constructed knives tend not to come with these materials. Lots of makers with second-rate reputations have entered the "high line" market by putting out a few blades with preminum materials and/or collaborating with a well-known maker to put his name on a few models. (I don't put Spyderco in this category - the collaborations came after the company reputation was well established).

So materials open the possibility of a "high line" product. HOWEVER, quality becomes the deciding factor. If I'm going to pay big bucks for a blade, the fit and finish better be darn near perfect. Example - I'm a big fan of HI khukuris. Every so often, someone complains on the forum about a little dimple or a blade that's less than straight. In my mind, things like that come with a blade that's hand forged without modern technology, for about a hundred bucks. They perform great, but they're not High End. However, if I get the same thing from Chris Reeve or Jerry Busse, it's headed back to the factory. People have complained on this forum about a Spydie that wiggles a fraction of a millimeter. Again, on a $50 Delica, that's OK with me. But on a $300 Sebenza, I pay for someone to spend a day tweaking it to perfection, if needed. Most BladeForum people who are really into high end knives seem to pay attention to how a folder is put together and have really tight personal tolerances. They don't just care how it looks. Regardless of materials, if the rubber doesn't meet the road perfectly, your reputation is going to suffer.
 
High line to me means the following.

1. High end materials. The Steel has to be a good one to start. The handle needs to be well finished and stylish or special in some way.
2. The knife has to have a desirablity factor.
3. The knife has to be very well made and finished, OR has to have a very very good reason for not being so.
4. The product need reflect an ethos and style that makes my heart jump.

Examples
1. Sebenza, High end materials (yes), desirability factor (yes), well made and finished (heck yes!) ethos and style (yes)
2. Strider AR as above but the well made and finished? Its strongly made and average at best in the finish dept. But its a Strider so that is forgivable (and expected).
 
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