How does the Price of a Knife Affect You?

Riz! said:
How do you feel about flippers? I love the action, but i cant stand the feel of the flipper tab against my index knuckle. This is one of the reasons I love my Militaries. I had a couple zt flippers when they first came out. The tab and the sabre grinds are what made me decide to move them on. I like this blades and versatile handles.
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Good point. Never had much experience with flippers. Actually the only one I had was a Skylight (terrible example I know) I gave to my teenage son. I don’t recall disliking the flipper. I gave it to him because he showed a great amount of interest in it after I let him carry it for a few days.

It’s funny how this post and the one above are opposites. But that’s why we have likes, dislikes and opinions to share. I wish I could find a 562CF to feel in hand. I know what I’m getting with the PM2.
 
WedgeAntilles said:
I have PM2s (plural) and a couple 0562s as well. They're not the same category in my book. Th steel options may be as good, but for overall build, I find the 0562 to be much sturdier. I'm a stickler about blade play (it's why I ditched my Benchmade 940) and it's pretty easy to tune an 0562 to not have any blade play while still having great action. My PM2s are much more fickle. And it's maybe that I haven't run any of them long enough, but I can either have a no blade play lock up, or good action, but not both. So if that's a factor for you, that's where the extra money is.

For me, that's why I've been willing to spend premium amounts on ZTs, CRKs, SHFs, a lefty Hinderer xm18, and a couple Grimsmo Norseman. Can I get blades of the same materials for less money? Absolutely. But I take the whole build into account. Ergos, action, fit, finish, blade play, etc. I'm not saying focusing on only cutting performance is wrong, it's just the limitation point I regularly see that caps people at 200 or less. A PM2 or BM940 can cut as well, but the whole package is different.
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Thanks for that detailed post.
How do they differ in the pocket? I live in a warm climate.
 
rampco88 said:
Thanks for that detailed post.
How do they differ in the pocket? I live in a warm climate.
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I live in the South as well. Both are a bit large in the pocket, but that's from a guy who primarily carries CRKs which have a pretty then pocket feel. The 0562 is big, and the flipper tab is real. But PM2s tend to be wide in the pocket, not from scale to scale, but blade spine to handle spine. The extra height caused by the spyderhole adds quite a bit. But I used to pocket carry my pistols, so knives in the pocket have never bothered me, even in the heat.
 
Price affects me a lot…We don’t all have the same budget and there are some knives that are just too expensive for me to buy. Typically I’d rather have more decent “budget” knives than a high cost whatever…

For example: I think I paid roughly the same amount for all these combined:
CJRB Feldspar
CJRB Taiga
Buck Odessa
Buck Langford
Civivi Backlash
Civivi Ortis

As I paid for one:
Protech Godfather

They all make me smile, but I will think hard about spending $100 on a knife and REALLY hard about $200 and have only paid more than $300 once.
 
It takes something really special to make me break ~160. I find that the diminishing returns really starts to kick in pretty hard around that point. I understand why they cost what they do though, it's like how you can go through a book for spelling and grammar errors very quickly and get 95%+ of it, but if you want 100% it's going to take a lot more time and effort. I'm just generally not interested in paying that much more for what I would get in return at that point. I would still love to own a Sebenza one day though lol.
 
Sliding scale. I try to stay in the $250 range, but the most expensive one I have is 300+. I do not see myself ever owning a $500 knife. That being said, I will pay more for the maker, country and perceived features. I usually will only buy USA made knives, and most of them are autos.
 
Well last night I went over the $185 threshold for the first time and bought a Benchmade Shot Show exclusive mini Adamas for $225. Right now with my current finances anything over $300 for a knife seems too spendy. However in time I’m sure inflation combined with pay raises the needle will move.
 
Price isn't the end all but, I do have a lower threshold that I won't go under ~$50. Quality has a cost to some degree. Geography certainly plays a bigger part beyond a certain dollar amount as well. Totally subjective of course. I definitely won't pay a price with more than two digits for something not made in a first world country. Regardless of the quality. I've watched enough Shark Tank to know the score. I also can't stand flippers ant any price. The rest of my decision making is pretty irrational. I can justify just about any cost if the want is strong enough. I just paid sucker price for a TRM Neutron because I had to have it. Just one man's opinion. And we all know what that's worth. ;)
 
kobold said:
It's all about priorities. Think about Maslow's hierarchy. Right now I am spending my disposable to update the home stereo system (not trying to cut corners, it sounds awesome). It will provide a lot of enjoyment and be useful in ways a knife can't be.

Even though I am completely happy with my knife collection I still like this Borka Stitch - it's so expensive, I didn't even bother to find out its actual price.
But I would still buy one, but only when all other, more basic needs are taken care of. If that means never, so be it.
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I am the same way. Just picked up a set of speakers from a friend.
DMG said:
…aside from my Carothers, I take it easy on $300+ knives.
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Carothers is on my list also. As is an Insingo.

I don’t think I have ever spent more than $160 on a knife and feel that two bills is my upper limit. However, I am willing to make an exception for CPK and CRK.
 
I get real, real nervous at $150-160. I only have two that high and I don't use either one. My sweet spot is $40-60. At least if I lose it I can replace it.
 
brianv said:
I get real, real nervous at $150-160. I only have two that high and I don't use either one. My sweet spot is $40-60. At least if I lose it I can replace it.
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At that price point they can be replaced easily.

The last two I purchased had a street price of about $20 each. With prices like that I can give them away with little to no worries.
 
I typically have a limit of about $150 per knife max. I have sold a few in the past and purchased a $250 knife. I will never spend more than $250.

With inflation going up like crazy and my wages not matching inflation and the cost of living, I essentially get a pay cut yearly. With that said, the price of knives in the last 3 years have just been outrageous to me. It has become cost prohibitive. Now even most FRN Spydies and plastic handled Benchmades, are over $120. I just can't do it anymore. Sucks because I love the stuff, but I'm not paying $144 for an all black plastic handled mini-Bugout. Also, not paying $135 for a plastic handled all black Native 5.

Everything is just so high priced these days. And no, I'm not buying China made knives. I just don't do that.

I've gone back to Victorinox knives and Case knives. Everything else has become too expensive.
 
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sabre cat said:
I am the same way. Just picked up a set of speakers from a friend.

Carothers is on my list also. As is an Insingo.

I don’t think I have ever spent more than $160 on a knife and feel that two bills is my upper limit. However, I am willing to make an exception for CPK and CRK.
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The good news is that if you find a used CRK or CPK on the BF exchange and decide that the juice isn’t worth the squeeze, you can probably sell it for about the same price.
 
On the low end, if I figure I might be wrestling sheep, I put a $7 Paraforce in my back pocket where it won't hurt too much if I land on it or lose it. I have never gone below $5.
 
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