I am getting sick of High-End Elitists... Grrr!!!

Yaknow, I like my $18 machete for what it is. And I like my expensive stuff for what it is too. Still like my wife, but we're only 15 months into this thing.

.... and I'm outta Kleenex.

Oops, that's trademarked like LinerLock TM.... I meant "I'm outta tisssues..."
 
Brian Turner, how about a Mad Chang Pygmy AJAK prototype for 5 bucks. Shipping included.
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Selling my knives cheap so more people can have 'em and my reputation for fine knives grows.
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Chang and the Rebels of the East!
Southern Taiwan Will Rise Again!
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I think Tom Mayo hit on what I've been thinking as I read this thread.
"High End" is a relative term. I own a Lile Sly II, MT HALO III, Randall 14, Al Mar SERE (serial numbered one of the first 600 made) and a WHOLE bunch of other neato knives that I happen to really like.
But I don't consider myself a "High End" anything.
*Yeah, I DO wear my Rolex camping. Where ever I go it goes, same with which ever knife I feel like carrying*
I also own a few Spidie knives and BMs, a Buck 110, SAK, USMC Ka-Bar, and I enjoy them as much as any of the others. Truth to be told, I'd probably sell the HALO before I'd let go of the Ka-Bar.(sentimental reasons)
The point here, Signor Stilleto, is that as we begin, we think ALL knives are expensive, but with time our budgets grow and so do our appetites, in the blade world, just as elsewhere there's always somebody "better." (using that word VERY loosely!)
There will always be people who spend more, have a prettier or more extensive collection, or whatever.
So do we look at these people and dismiss them as "Knife Gods?"
No way.
LISTEN to them, pick their brains, find out what's worth having and what isn't. Gather lots of opinions and try to seperate the wheat from the chaff until you feel like you KNOW what you want.
That's what I love about BFC.
I can teach those who know less, (all three of you!) and learn from those who know more.
Ain't life grand?
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I cut it, and I cut it, and it's STILL too short!


 
Chang - You the man! "JIA-YOUW!!" Hmmm, doesn't seem to sound right.. Awww, I mean -- Changbenzas, Changmade, whatever -- step on it dude!
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have spydies
will travel...
 
I too, started out with inexpensive folders that worked well. When I first became a Firefighter, I carried an inexpensive Buck folder, and then bought a Kershaw folder. Those knives served me well for several years. Then, one of my colleagues bought a SOG multi tool, and I thought the price was rediculous. A couple months later, I bought the Gerber multi plier(their original one..still carry it). I then got exposed to Benchmade in the early 90's, and again thought that $125 plus was rediculous for a knife. I saw the quality of the BM's, and bought the BM AFO, and an Emerson BM970 at the same time. I carry both of these knives while working, and they have been to hell & back, without so much as a minor failure.
My point in all this is you get what you pay for. My inexpensive knives did me well for many years, but they would never have held up to what my BM's go thru.
I say buy the best knife you possibly can afford, and don't worry what others think of you. If they want to be "eliteists", let them. You know what is going to work for you, so buy it, and use it, and don't worry what the dudes with unlimited funds think. sure, I'd like to buy a custom, but I simply cannot justify the expense. My knives are working knives, not "show & tell" items. Someday, maybe I'll get in on a custom.
Oh, as for the comment about forum members with ONLY 100 posts, and being a "newbie", I found that comment belittling. Just cause we have less than a thousand posts dosen't make us inferior to anyone. I just recently found this forum, or I'd have been here sooner.

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"ALWAYS respond CODE 3"..
the fastest way to get there NOW!
 
Damn browser!

[This message has been edited by CODE 3 (edited 07-29-2000).]

[This message has been edited by CODE 3 (edited 07-29-2000).]
 
I really like the posts by Crayola and Tom Mayo. Please read them even if you're just browsing through. With eloquence like that in Alberta, why couldn't it do any better than Joe Clarke?
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Mr. Mayo obviously knows knives, being a very well respected maker and noted proponent of the advanced and debated material, Talonite. Check out the lively debate going on on, so far, 10 pages of bandwidth. Is a Mayo talonite "high end"?
I don't yet have an original Walker or Moran, and probably never will, so I'm pretty much a piker myself.
About the CRK issue: The Sebenza clearly is neither the most advanced and exotic knife out there, nor the best, despite its fanatical following, and for years I sniffed at the Sebanza hysteria a bit, clutching my handmade one ofs and damascus beauties. And then I bought a Sebbie for the lock. And another. Fabulous working knives. And like any tool that you learn to depend on and value, it wins a special place in your heart. Like my old, limping car that saved my life more than once but has seen better days. My wife wants me to dump it; it would be like shooting my dog.
Is the Sebbie "high end"? Compared to Steve Schwarzer's work, for example, no. Compared to my Gerber Gators, oh yes. Will the Busse Nuclear folder be "high end" when it comes out? We expect it will be, but in a different way. And, if I can ever get my hands on one, I'll love it as much as my pearl and damascus Hayes. Well, in a different way.
Does Tom Mayo make a Talonite folder? Now that would be interesting - and high end
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Perhaps if you weren't so quick to dismiss suggestions as elitism, simply because you don't like the answers...

I have my share of "less expensive" knives that I bought when I didn't have the experience that I do today. Added together, I actually spent a pretty good buck on them.

In hindsight, I wish that someone had harped on me about the differences in steels and designs, and done what was necessary to make me reconsider these purchases. I might have taken the money I spent on my UC Hibben throwers and axe, put it together, and bought a single knife that I'd still be using today.
Or on a day that I really needed my knife to be sharp and strong, it would have been, because someone made sure that when I spent my money, I did so as well as it could have been done. Instead, I had a glorified tongue depresser in my pocket.

Instead of complaining about the attitude, maybe you should try looking past the attitude to see what people are actually trying to say. There are some people here who, although they don't come off as well as you (or they) might like, are trying to help with their comments.

And Chang - If that's an offer, I'd be honored to join the brotherhood!
 
I understand what you are trying to say, Mr. Turner, but I do not feel that I have been at all dismissive. I have absolutely no problem with people saying "a Sebenza is a great working knife." It probably is, and I have yet to get my hands on one. I have a problem with people saying that because a Sebenza is a good working knife, a knife of lesser make is "no good". If the knife in question is indeed poorly made, people should at least show the courtesy to each other to say so in a civilized, but not belittling, tone.

R E S P E C T, find out what it means to me...

I am not trying to be hostile. Please check out my other posts on this thread and remember that I am doing this only to help others.
 
To a large degree, you get what you pay for in knives as in most all other of life's venues.

I think that folding knife performance, when measured on a performance-to-price ratio, peaks out with Benchmade and Spyderco's better offerings (710, 800, Starmate, Military). It's a steady climb up to there, with a slower rate of performance improvement per dollar spent past there. That's how it goes with quality goods in general.


 
HJK: Thank-you ever so much for your kind words offered on behalf of my eloquence. I apologize for Joe, and in advance for King Ralph, incase he ever gets into the international scene. Perhaps I should apologize for Ol' Stockwell also, but I don't want much to do with him so I'll let him apologize on his own
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Some great news for all Canucks who are knife nuts is that I, Crayola the knife knut and fledgling knife maker, will one day lead our vast country, along with its bounty of ice and Sorel boots, and make many a great change in the areas of justice and sane knife laws. Stick with me, O Torontonian brother, for Canada ain't seen nothing yet, and when I'm at the helm, I'll shine like the northern lights, stand tall like the great pine trees, flow like the Frasier river, let all my colors shine (and that is a lot, for I am a big box of wax crayons).... Oh Boy! I forgot, no politics on the forums, unless it is the Whine and Cheese! I'm sorry. But, for those of you who didn't enjoy this post of mine, re-read my original response, as I recommended that when you start reading a response that has nothing to do with the question posted, you should take a grain of salt and dismiss it!!!!!! I was testing you!!!!

P.S., As far as knife content goes, I am worried about "upgrading" from Benchmade knives for two reasons. First of all, If I buy a Sebenza, it will undoubtedly lead to Mayo and Ralph and Carson customs, and that is a lot of money! Also, I fear that having bought a Sebenza, I will no longer wish to buy a Benchmade, and after buying an Apogee, never again will I buy a Chris Reeve knife!!! Woe is me
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"Come What May..."
 
Yeah, but try not to mention the F company, aka the funny colored wood scales company. Most folks have to work hard to remain polite if you ask about those knives.
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->C. Chang, every one of your posts gets me rolling. I read the original Changmade thread and I was in tears!



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Oxymoron: MT addict with "spare cash"
-Matt
 
Matt, which one was the original. I forgot. Is it the first Changmade with the metal ruler for a blade? The one that had a blade about 14" long? I lost it at school, shortly after I was showing it to my principal.


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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
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Here is the FIRST Changmade EVER. It was lost shortly after. Man, this could be very valuable if found!

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
Well... it is a folding knife. You figure it out.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
Yeah, that would be the model I know as the Changmade IPO "Sebenza". Did you win any awards from Blade on that one? I never heard. Can I get one with a black blade and MOP inlay scales?


Although the Changomatic was probably the funniest part of all.

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Oxymoron: MT addict with "spare cash"
-Matt
 
Hey, cheap knives like the Sebenza suck!

Is that what we're talking about?

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[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 08-03-2000).]
 
Well, there are two sayings for this problem. First: "To each is own", and: "You get what your pay for". When I started out with knives I only bough cheaper ones, and I didn't do it for collecting purposes. And they were great, for the things I used them for. I mean I was not punching through car doors, but for what I paid they did the work. As I got more involved with the knife community, I started to buy collectable knives, and I don't use them. Sure they cost a lot of money but I like having them. I still buy medium priced knives for everyday work, but that's my choice. I buy them not because I feel privileged to use and purchase an expensive knife, but I do it because the material they are produced with cost more. But this is a choice, and you should feel no different if you purchase a less expensive knife. Also it is a matter of priorities, if you have a family and people to take care of you obviously have more expenses and can't afford to spend money on knives. But for somebody who really has no expenses you can indulge on things that you like. I feel that buying an expensive knife is a matter of choice. If you don't have a problem paying $1,000 for a knife and then digging holes with it than that's fine.
THANK YOU!!!
-JOE-
 
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