I like "crappy" knives.

S

Showler

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Jul 14, 2013
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140
I've always felt that lesser quality knives were better for me. I hate wasting money and personally using even an $80 knife makes me cringe. I fuss over ruining the finish, chipping the blade, popping a screw loose, and just making the knife less "perfect" in general. Don't get me wrong, I like more expensive knives and will use them for lighter stuff but I don't feel guilty if I used my cheap $10 chinese POS to tear down a few boxes rather than if I had used my sebenza or mini griptillian.
I also don't mind if my crappier knife gets lost or broken in the process because it wasn't like flushing my wallet down the john.
 
You say you hate wasting money but buy knives and don't use them?

Dont worry, your not gonna jack up your sebenza or mini grip cutting a little cardboard.
 
Just because a knife is inexpensive doesn't mean it is crappy. A $15 Sanrenmu or Enlan knife can serve you as well as many American offerings in the $40-$50 price range. The steel won't be as nice, but fit and finish will impress for the cost.
 
I used to be the same way, now i use a $400 knife every single day for things a lot rougher than cardboard. I enjoy having the very best tool possible for the job, and more importantly to me at least, is the value of carrying something that was handmade by an artisan for me specifically.

I look at those $10 knives now and can't even see myself putting on in a tacklebox. They're just trash as far as i'm concerned

if that's what you like though, more power too you
 
Im rough on my knives too, ive got a cliphanger that literall doesnt have any teeth left on the serrations, concrete work is brutal on tools.
 
I mostly agree with jeffsenpai's post. While I do not think the 15$ knife will serve JUST as well. I was surprised at what I got for my money from Enlan . With a little hot rodin' A Enlan can be a pretty sweet knife. The problem with Enlan and the Sanremu is consistency,they can be hit and miss. I found that the heat treat and F&F on 40-50$ American knives is pretty consistent.
 
I get what you are saying OP, after all a knife is a knife like a $20 Casio will tell time just like a more expensive watch.. To each his own.

As for myself, I got some cheaper knives sitting in the shelf for the most part... Life is too short to not use my finer knives.
 
If it looks cool then why not. When I was getting into knives, I had always wanted a Sebenza or a strider pt. I never saved the money because I thought it was too much. Then I realized why keep buying 40 to 100 dollar knives every paycheck and just save for what I really want. To each his own
 
I actually agree with the OP. I've bought numerous expensive "duty" knives for work but it's the inexpensive (not going to call it cheap) Kershaw Cryo that finds itself on my vest. It's a great little knife but ultimately I'm less worried about breaking it or misplacing it since I know they are readily available for $35. Off duty I allow myself more luxury but I find myself constantly grabbing my pocket to ensure my $200+ knife is still there.
 
I think a lot of people feel this way. I carry my griptilian as an edc but I won't abuse it because it's like a $70 knife, but I won't think twice about going to town on a $10-20 knife.

I wish I could hard use my expensive knives but I just can't bring myself to do it, maybe if I make more money in the future I won't feel bad about whaling on a $200 ZT.
 
Lower-end knives definitely have a role, especially if other people might be using your knife. I learned the hard way that if someone wants to borrow a multitool they get the GI Gerber and not the $100 SOG or Leatherman. That said, I still have a lower limit. Knives that might be the top of the collection for some people ($35 Schrade frame lock) I buy so that I don't have to worry about it when I am doing a project where a non-knife guy might be using it. I won't be ordering any Bud K specials, though, because I still value safety and utility in my tools.
 
Out of all the knives I own I carry a $15.00 Winchester or my $30.00 CRKT. They feel good in my hand, have solid locking mechanisms, and slim profiles. I see knives similar as I see cars. As much as I admire Porsche I drive around in my KIA or Bronco. But if I had a Porsche I would drive it everyday.
 
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I keep coming back to my $10 Mora and the $30 Boy Scout knife my folks got me as a kid.

Also, I have a knife that takes disposable razor blades that was my grandfather's.
It had really old razor blades in the handle when I got it, and I have been sharpening and stropping those back to shape instead of throwing them away.

Call me cheap, or sentimental, It gets the job done.
I'm a sucker for good knives that hold a good edge.

And I have lost $100 knives and $20 knives, depending on their sentimentality I kick myself.
 
When my $400 knives get chipped I fix them. When they get scratched, the scratches tell a tale of purpose and character. I don't own a single knife I haven't used. In fact, most of them wouldn't go for half of retail on the secondhand market due to how abused some of them have been.

When a $20 gas-station knife can run through a tree like my Busse and look just as good doing it... That'll be the day I buy a "crappy" knife.

Whatever tickles your pickle. I like Powerman 5000. It could be said I'm a fool for doing so, but... Meh :-)
 
Nothing wrong with having a beater. Just make sure you're not buying a hunk of junk with a lock you can't trust, or the money you save will be wasted many times over with a trip to the ER.
 
Cheap and crappy are not synonymous.

I regularly carry a 500+ custom slip joint. I have castrated cattle with it. I have used a $900-1000 big knife to chop and......eek.........throw.


But I also love a $12 Opinel. A $30 machete chops well enough for a lot of uses, and I will often grab one instead of an expensive knife.


Nothing wrong with an inexpensive knife. Make it sharp, and use it.
 
Cheap and crappy knives are not the same. $10 rough rider, SAK, or Opinel from what I hear are all knives you can pick up in that price range which are dang good knives. $10 smith & wesson, Tac Force, Mtech knives are crappy and in my opinion belong in the nearest trash can and not your hand.
 
I have found that certain inexpensive knives have a lot to offer, and have been satisfied if not happy with those I have taken a chance on. I use them all, and don't feel disadvantaged when doing so.
 
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