I just can bring myself to it

Rick,
my idea is putting money away like that for some custom someday. As you can guess, it's "easier" with euros (the two euro coin is worth 2,5 usd or more, so putting away money is faster - although heavier). I hate coins too, so I leave them in a small purse in my car (for parkings and so on), or put them away when I get home, and always pay with bills. I'm thinking about setting the goal on one specific coin (one euro, or two) and put them away until time's up for a custom knife or high end knife of some sort.

Carl,
I know you didn't mean it in a bad way, and I had guessed you were referring to the Classic on her keyring (or something like that). Still, the expression made me laugh :D

Fausto
:cool:
 
I like Gus' reply also.

I'll add from my own mistakes learning experiences that some of the Case knives are also in the price ranger of a GEC knife... or higher. When I bought my first Case/Bose I was reluctant to spend so much on one knife but they are among my favorite production knives. The enjoyment that I get from the knives is worth the difference in price between those knives and a $40-60 regular production Case knife. And you have to watch out for those "inexpensive" knives too. They can also add up quick if you collect them and you might enjoy one expensive knife more than a couple inexpensive knives.
 
There was a time I wouldn't spend more then $ 20-30 on a knife, I use them as tools that's probably why I used Opinels for so long, a Boker for $36 seemed like a big deal at the time. But one day I came across a GEC # 54 moose that I really liked, I pined over it for about four months and in a moment of weakness at around 12:00am I ordered it online, that was a first for me. My wife kept telling me to order it because I never buy anything for myself I did the math and justified it as its .24 cents a day ( for a year) , most people waste more on a bad cup of coffee each day. Here is where I become a enabler, it was worth every penny now I've spent .12 cents a day on it. Since then I have purchased a Case and was gifted a Case and both can get the job done both look and feel and are excellent in every way. I guess all I'm trying to say is sometimes its nice to treat yourself to something nice, something tangible, I've wasted more money on a bad meal that I s#%t out the next day. Life is short if you see something that you like go for it, that goes for a women that strikes your fancy also :-)
 
More good advice, (i love this place) I think for now I will be satisfied with what I have. It is a small collection but it has good knives in and I can still use all of them fairly regularly. Saving little by little is also a good plan, as for a pretty woman I've snagged the one I like and I'm keeping her.
 
Blade_Crazy said:
More good advice, (i love this place) I think for now I will be satisfied with what I have. It is a small collection but it has good knives in and I can still use all of them fairly regularly. Saving little by little is also a good plan, as for a pretty woman I've snagged the one I like and I'm keeping her.
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Me too, today's our anniversary, and it's a special one we have a six month old. I didn't think my life could get any better, but the little one brings us great joy.
 
That's awesome and congrats on the little one, my wife and I are looking at starting our family soon. We are both very excited.
 
I'm actually having more fun and enjoyment with more modestly priced knives than I did with customs and higher-dollar production pieces.
 
Blade_Crazy said:
That's awesome and congrats on the little one, my wife and I are looking at starting our family soon. We are both very excited.
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Thank you very much, I feel very lucky. I thought meeting my wife and marring her was the greatest thing, but starting a family with her has topped everything I have ever done, everyday is something new, I look forward to see what each new day brings. I wish you and your wife the very best it's a great ride, enjoy it.
 
Gus and Carl put it very well.

It is not hard to find a good knife that works well and looks good while doing it, and still pay $50 or less. Case is a good example, and you should also check out Boker.
 
In the end, it is a tool that needs to be able to cut, slice, trim, or shave something. To each his own. I'm an Ebay junky, always on the prowl for vintage knives I can get without breaking the bank. Some of my favorites I bought fairly inexpensive. It does not happen on demand though, and I've waited years for some of them. I rotate carrying Case, Rough Rider, Schrade, Western, and Camillus knives. My cutting needs are not demanding at all. I just like to carry a cool knife. I don't use every knife I own.
 
I was a Case junkie for a long time, they made the only knives I ever wanted. When I first heard about Great Eastern Cutlery, I wanted nothing to do with their knives.
I had Case, I was set. AS time went on, I started to look at their knives and I couldn't justify the price tag. They were twice as much as some of my favorite Case knives. But, I wanted to try out some new things, so I ordered a Canal Street, it was less than stellar, but the company made it right and I enjoy the knife. So then I broke down and ordered myself a GEC.

Worst mistake I ever made. They are all I buy now.

The prices are up on everything these days and quality costs you even more. Case makes a nicer knife than I can, but they can't top GEC.
I've been to Case and I've seen their work, it's great, it's American, but it's very New. GEC is also a great American company and yet with it's newness to the knife game, it still feels older than Case.
Their knives just feel a little more hand made, but thats because they are. The shield are pinned, the bone is from an American cow, (Yes I asked, I care about where they get their cow bone)

When I feel regret for buying a new GEC, I'll stop buying them
 
I know what you mean, after two years of use it equates to .12 cents a day, it was worth every penny. It's the only GEC I own.
ef9b0876.jpg

Four more months and it's .08 cents a day:-)
 
I think it's my Scottish roots and my deep belief in avoiding debt (I'm addicted to Dave Ramsey podcasts), but high-dollar knives have never really interested me. Another factor could be that most of my "toy" budget goes to music gear ...... but even with that, I'm pretty frugal.

I'm actually in the midst of a big sell-off right now, getting rid of some knives and music gear I don't need.

Now, of course, it's time for an admission that throws all this on its ear: One of the reasons I'm trying to raise cash is the simultaneous purchase of a GEC model 73L (used, found here on the forum for just $55!) and I also had a vintage microphone customized. :o But after those purchases are covered, no more I tell you, no more! :D

-- Mark
 
Andrew, maybe I'm misreading you, but it almost sounds to me like you want us to talk you into buying a more expensive pocket knife. Here's my opinion on the matter...

I can see where you're coming from, but I can also tell you that there is a sense of satisfaction in owning a really nice pocket knife. $100 could get you a couple of Cases. Or 4-6 Rough Riders or Steel Warriors. All get the job done. But there's nothing really special about most of them. RRs and SWs are made in giant factories in China. You can't really get much pride of ownership from those. Cases are nicer...or can be, if you get lucky ordering online, or can hand pick one in person. Otherwise, it's a coin flip on getting a nice one and one that has wobbly blades or mismatched handles or something. The Bose designed ones are nicer of course, but they're also more expensive.

Is a $100 twice the knife as a $50 one? Normally I'd say no. A Spyderco Paramilitary is not twice the performer of a FRN Endura. But I would hazard to say that a $100 GEC is twice as good a knife as a $50 Case (or at least nearer to it). Better fit and finish, better handle matching, better steel, and just plain feels better in the hand. Perhaps you've never handled a GEC or one of the Tony Bose Cases (like the Sway Back Jack), but have only seen pictures online. Because when you hold one, and open/close the blades, you can literally feel where the extra money goes. You can feel it when you can't feel the blades wobble side to side. You can see where it goes in the bone or wood or stag. You can see it when you don't see light between the liners and springs. In comparison, the cheaper knives literally feel cheaper.

I would also say that spending more on a vintage Case (or other brand) is worth the extra cost. Partially due to the fact (or, at least, the opinion) that older ones were made better. And partially due to the feeling of holding a knife that's older. I can't speak for others, but I get a kick out of carrying pocket knives that are older than I am. I kinda feel that it connects me to the older generations, being relatively young myself. I'd rather spend $80 on a 6332 or 6318 from the 70s (or earlier) than spend $50 on 63032 or 6318 made in this century,

Of course, I still own plenty of modern, inexpensive knives. The RR and SW knives I use when I don't care what happens to them. They're made by the thousands in factories in China. The new Cases I own, I use when I want to carry something nicer, but not so nice that I'm worried about getting a scratch on a bolster or a chip in the bone. But when I want to really enjoy what I carry, I'll pop a Case/Bose in my pocket, or a GEC, or a vintage Case (or other). Even the Camillus and Schrades I own, though of recent manufacture, are from a bygone era, since both companies closed their doors a few years ago. A Schrade 34OT might be one of the most common pocket knives, but they're not making them any more...at least not by American hands. And though I can just buy a new one if my old one disappears (since they're so many of them), it's still irreplaceable in a way. A few years ago there was nothing special about a Schrade Old Timer. But now that they're not being made anymore (I'm ignoring the Chinese ones with the Schrade badging), all of them are special. And I find a level of satisfaction from those such knives that I can't get from a knife made in China, or that's still being produced in the USA (or anywhere - let's not forget the Germans and Swiss).

I won't suggest buying only higher-end knives, but I do believe you owe it to yourself to own at least one GEC or a Case/Bose knife like the Sway Back Jack. They're too nice not to try, and I can almost positively guarantee you that you'll get more satisfaction out of them than you do with your run-of-the-mill Case, despite your lighter wallet.
 
Planterz said:
Andrew, maybe I'm misreading you, but it almost sounds to me like you want us to talk you into buying a more expensive pocket knife.
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No I wasn't necessarily looking to be talked into a more expensive knife. I was just throwing it our there to see if anyone else had similar feeling about expensive knives vs more moderately priced but still nice knives.


I may someday be comfortable buying 100+ dollar knives (I only own one as of yet and It was on a considerable discount so i still paid less than 100) but for now I am happy buying my 30-60 dollar case knives.

So more than building myself up for a purchase I was looking for conversation on cost vs quality and how we find over all satisfaction in what we (knife-nuts) have vs want.

So you still answered my question. Thanks :D








Sorry for the broken thought process there, I am at work and trying to multi-task. I'm not very good at it :p
 
Nothing wrong with that. You're only 22. At your age I don't think I spent more than $50 for a knife and it took a long time to even consider spending $100.

- Christian
 
Planterz said:
You can't really get much pride of ownership from those.
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I don't mean this as a put-down to Planterz (or anyone else). But I never really understood that saying, "pride of ownership." Seems like there's a mighty thin line between that, and materialism. I'd like to hear more about the difference.

-- Mark
 
I think pride in ownership is in the item more than the price tag, For example I put more pride in ownership in my 40-50 case trapper than my Damascus mini pocket hunter (tagged at 130). This is because my dad gave me the trapper and I bought the pocket hunter, there is sentimental value in the trapper and just purchase value in the pocket hunter.

One of my bigger regrets (as far as knives go) is loosing a knife my grandma (who passed on a few years ago) gave to me. She had bought it for her trip to Brazil and when she got back state side she let me have it. It was just a scout knife pattern and I very much doubt it cost much mire than 20-30 dollars but I would trade every knife in my collection to have that one back.

Again i believe pride of ownership is in more about how you feel about the item more than how others or price tags will value it.



Also not trying to put down Planterz just giving my .02
 
Blade Crazy, that's not an unreasonable way to think at all. With planning for kids I would say you are doing it right. :thumbup: Quality can be found cheaply, no doubt in my mind.

mnblade said:
I don't mean this as a put-down to Planterz (or anyone else). But I never really understood that saying, "pride of ownership." Seems like there's a mighty thin line between that, and materialism. I'd like to hear more about the difference.

-- Mark
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Mark, there is a thin line, I think for me personally, pride of ownership comes from me saving, working hard to get the extra money to spend on a knife that i've been really wanting. I don't show off my blades, I don't store them in a safe, I use them. All of them. And when i do, i'm usually glad I made that choice. Which makes me proud to own it. not sure if this is actually materialism as you define it, but that's my take on it.


Great responses in here everyone, I'm really liking this traditionals forum. :D


Tony
 
johnny twoshoes said:
I was a Case junkie for a long time, they made the only knives I ever wanted. When I first heard about Great Eastern Cutlery, I wanted nothing to do with their knives.
I had Case, I was set. AS time went on, I started to look at their knives and I couldn't justify the price tag. They were twice as much as some of my favorite Case knives. But, I wanted to try out some new things, so I ordered a Canal Street, it was less than stellar, but the company made it right and I enjoy the knife. So then I broke down and ordered myself a GEC.

Worst mistake I ever made. They are all I buy now.

The prices are up on everything these days and quality costs you even more. Case makes a nicer knife than I can, but they can't top GEC.
I've been to Case and I've seen their work, it's great, it's American, but it's very New. GEC is also a great American company and yet with it's newness to the knife game, it still feels older than Case.
Their knives just feel a little more hand made, but thats because they are. The shield are pinned, the bone is from an American cow, (Yes I asked, I care about where they get their cow bone)

When I feel regret for buying a new GEC, I'll stop buying them
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Johnny,

Its funny you mention that, because its something I would care about too. Did you ever ask about their stag?

Thanks,

Kevin

To the OP, Blade_Crazy, I don't think you are out of line. I also think the wise regulars here have already covered what is truly important. With that said, speaking of knives, its all a personal thing. Where you are in your life, how much money you have, what your day job is...etc etc. There was a time I had to leave my high dollar knives at home for a folding box cutter do to work regulations. I didn't like it at first, but I didn't feel like a bum carrying it.

Actually, I have used and carried knives from flea market 1$ specials all the way up to 3k plus. Never did I think into it to much. I say, buy what you like, use what you like, and don't worry about a thing. Of course post pics in the what traditional are you totin' :D

My 2cents
 
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