Hypothetical survey. $100 to spend.

[Nick Hyle]

It really depends on the specific knives, of course.

That said, most of the things coming up on my want list are $80-$150 knives from great companies that use good materials, not a lot of $40 imports on that list. But there are some - Red Class Benchmades etc - I still want because they are good knives.

F'rinstance - off the top of my head, I think my last few months of aquisitions were (more or less in descending price) BM 710HS, BM 520, Spyderco Chinook, Sog PE II, Spyderco D'Allara 2, BM Offsider, Spydie Walmart Native, BM Instigator.

And I'd guess my next half dozen knives will probably look something like that, too. Some expensive, some mid range, some budget.

But it really does come down to the knives. If I had to choose between a Rukus, or a Manix, or $200 worth of AUS-4 or 420HC CRKTs or Bucks, I'd be grabbing that slab of S30V.

But I'd take $200 worth of Centofante 4s or Tasman Salts or Benchmade Red Gamers and Snipes or NRA Pardues and Steigerwalts over an S30V Kershaw Bump or Spydie Spyker or BM Gravitator or Opportunist. There are knives I want and knives I don't. Some of the knives I don't want have top materials, some of the knives I do want just aren't that expensive.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I would personally go for the one $100 dollar knife but not necessarily with the best steel....just a good steel but with a nice handle material like a Lone Wold Paul or similar.

 

[Hair]

I'd rather get one higher-end knife.

I have a lot of higher-end knives, and a lot of cheaper knives. I enjoy both. A better knife gives me a better thrill than a cheaper knife, but if I get a cheaper knife I have money left over for more cheaper knives, so it evens out. Either decision gives me a different thrill. The thrill of quality, or the thrill of variety.

When I am really in a "knife mood", I will carry/use a higher-end knife. When I am not in a knife mood, but still need a knife, I will tend to carry something I wouldn't cry over as much as I lost. Knives like the Kershaw Vapor and Buck Mayo Cutback are fine knives, but fairly expendable. But in the end, it is my higher-end knives that I really love and they are the reason I am into knives, even though I started with junk knives.

In general, if I have 100 bucks, I will buy a $100 knife. Yet, I still have a lot of knives that cost far less, even as low as a dollar or two. I have a lot of junk knives, and I love them all. But I buy those when I don't have $100 dollars to spend on knives. Maybe I only have 200 bucks left before payday and spend 170 on needs (food, gas etc...) I will use that last 30 on knife like the Mayo Cutback rather than save it towards a Strider.

But if I have 250 bucks left after needs, I will get either a high-end knife, or put the 250 towards something like a Strider as 250 is a good chunk (while 30 is not).

Here are the next 8 knives I want to buy:

Spyderco Military (Black, Combo Edge)
Benchmade 610 Rukus
Benchmade 710HS
Kershaw Spec Bump
Buck Mayo TNT
Strider SMF
Lone Wolf Harsey Tactical
Emerson Commander

None of them are cheap. However, these won't be exactly the next 8 knives I *will* buy because there will be times that I have an extra 20-50 bucks at the end of the week and will opt for a new Chive or an inexpensive slipjoint instead of saving the money for whatever expensive knife is next on the list. This may not be the fastest way to getting the next 8 knives I want, but I do think it makes me happier, because sometimes I just want a new knife. And less expensive knives can still make me very happy.

But it really does come down to the knives. If I had to choose between a Rukus, or a Manix, or $200 worth of AUS-4 or 420HC CRKTs or Bucks, I'd be grabbing that slab of S30V.

But I'd take $200 worth of Centofante 4s or Tasman Salts or Benchmade Red Gamers and Snipes or NRA Pardues and Steigerwalts over an S30V Kershaw Bump or Spydie Spyker or BM Gravitator or Opportunist. There are knives I want and knives I don't. Some of the knives I don't want have top materials, some of the knives I do want just aren't that expensive.

I agree! Currently, the knives I want tend to be more expensive, but that is mainly because I spent so much already getting all of the less expensive knives I wanted.

However, I disagree with lumping Buck (which makes fantastic knives) and Buck's 420HC (which is a great steel) with CRKT and AUS-4. IMO, Buck's 20-60-dollar knives are better than BM's Red Class knives. But it's just a matter of opinion, so I ain't mad at ya

Also, I do want a Spec Bump. Otherwise, great examples. You really explained how I feel.

I won't spend 200 bucks on a box full of knives I don't want (which may differ from what you don't want). And I will spend that 200 on a Rukus. But at the same time, I would much rather spend 200 bucks on some Opinels, Moras, SAKs, and a Buck, Kershaw, Spydie etc... instead of on a Bradley Alias (not knocking the Alias, I'd just rather have a lot of knives before it).

 

[T.K.C.]

So, have you decided what you are going to get?

 

[Lavan]

So, have you decided what you are going to get?

Yeah, two Lovelesses instead of one Scagel.

 

[Franciscomv]

This is a choice I make everytime I buy knives, and the outcome is always different.

For example, my last purchase was a $150 customized BM Ares, but the one before was a Spyderco Endura, a Spyderco Centofante III and a Native III for a grand total of around $120 for the three knives. I use my SWAK a lot, but I also enjoy my expensive customs.

You don't need to spend upwards of $100 to get a great knife, and I sometimes feel like buying a few SAKs or moras or other inexpensive knives instead of a single expensive one. And there are some bargains out there (like the new Delica and Endura 4) that I just need to have!

So I guess it depends on my mood.

 

[bh49]

Aw shoot, I anticipated this. OK new rule. You can make it ANY price you want so long as the ONE vs. TWO for same money applies and as long as the blade steels remain the same.

In other words, make it TWO 420 or 440 ...properly...heat treated knives as against ONE knife that is ZDPS30VG10154CMSGPSAUS8 !!!!

There!

NOW which?

Still, ONE KNIFE

 

[kamagong]

I'll take the $100 knife. I admit I'm a steel snob. You basically made the decision for me by limiting my options to 420 or 440 steel.

 

[dniice87]

id rather take the $100 knife anyday

 

[FoldersForever]

I would continue saving until I could buy a $300 knife. I already have all the $100 knives I want and I have no interest in $50 knives.

 

[kozak6]

Although the blade isn't a super exotic super steel, I'd pick up a nice Benchmade 42.

 

[mr.trooper]

Spyderco Dodo and a Vic Solo ALOX.

 

[ginshun]

Steel snob here. Asuming I like the designs of the knives, I'll take the $100 S30V / VG-10 / M2 / D2 over 2 fo the $50 440C any day of the week.

But then I could just go out and buy an endura and a native and have the best of both worlds too.

 

[T.K.C.]

I would spend the $100 on the ZDP 189, S30V etc.

 

[Redguy]

I'm a poor guy, so I can't afford not to buy the best I can. I'd rather have one good knife than two or thee mediocre ones.

Fortunately there are many very good knives under $50.

 

[Redguy]

BTW congratulations Lavan, very good thread.

 

[AmadeusM]

That's a tough one. I guess it depends on which girls were on stage that night.

 

[Vivi]

I'd get a Native and 2 or 3 SAKs.

 

[Larry S.]

You have $100 to spend on.....either.....

1 $100 knife with "hyped" steel
.........or...............
2 $50 knives with GOOD heat treated 420 or 440 and different blade styles.

Can be folder or fixed or in scenario two, one of each.

Keep savin'!!!:thumbup:

 

[BladeGoblin]

I'd save that 100.00 and wait until it was 500.00 then buy.

Or I would buy anything by Spyderco.