I'm ready to buy high end....which one?

Sebenza or XM-18 are a pretty safe bet. Buy one on the secondary at a lower price and if it doesn't speak to you, you can resell and buy the other. I've owned and appreciated both. Both of them are capable of any reasonable job for a folder. I enjoy fidgeting with my Sebenza more, it cuts better, but the XM is designed for the possibility of prying if that's something that appeals to you.
 
I picked up a CRK inkosi maybe 4 months back and it is one of the first knives that impresses more and more as I carry it.

Built quality is outstanding... When I first got it, the action slightly underwhelmed me... But as I have used it, it gets better, and better, and better. Just a superb tool!

I will add mine is modded with a hole instead l a thumb stud.. I know crk loyalists hate on tht kind of thing... But for me, it was the only way I was willing to try one... And glad I am that I did:) I love it

My olamic 247 is another great high end that I have really enjoyed.

Maybe start with deciding what opening/lockechanism you want and go from there? CRK is different from Hinderer or Olamic... But if you want a flipper CRK won't satisfy...
 
I suppose it depends what you want to spend. I was thinking of saving and getting something high end, possibly a custom job. Then I realised that instead of using it I'd probably mother the knife and it would be a safe queen.
So I stick to a price range I'm comfortable to carry and use without worry. My most expensive are Benchmade and Falkniven, I feel comfortable with those. Just something to keep in mind.
 
I own a plain Jane sebenza, a Medford 187F, and a hinderer sparrow. The seb is so different from the other two and one to use for everyday carry. The sparrow goes camping for the weekend and the 187f for stabbing and working at the ranch. All are awesome quality knives, kinda depends on what you plan on using them for to be alive to suggest one.
 
My vote goes to Crk. I’m not a huge flipper fan. Medford isn’t something I would personally spend money on. There’s plenty of people who don’t like Crk. They’re slow opening and boring to many folks. For me there’s no other knife that scratches the itch for me like them. Inkosi and sebenza are the two I own. As others stated the build quality and tolerances are second to none. You’ll have to find what suits you tho. If you get a Crk and don’t like it, sell it and pick you up a hinderer and try it.
 
Welcome to the Above $250 Club. You will now be inundated with advice from all sides. You'll have people tell you to research and make up your own damn mind...which, to me, and maybe I've doing it wrong, is part of what a forum is for: Asking for opinions that may lead to purchases. You'll get people ground heavily in their tribal brand camps that will completely gloss over your requirements. You'll have someone chime in about the foolishness of spending $X when you can get the "same thing" for $Y. You'll have someone tell you that spending $X isn't "high end" and you really have to spend at least $Y. I think some may expect you to spend 4 or 5 thousand dollars on a bunch of knives then sell off what you dont like. I'd love to have the time and money to do that:)

Heres my personal experience, which is worth as much as the digital ink I'm writing it in: Keep doing your homework...including taking in the responses you get here and go for it. I've been collecting knives for nearly 35 years. I just bought my first Chris Reeve. I have wanted one for the last 20. I missed the boat on the Sebenza 21. I "settled" for an Plain Jane Inkosi and actually found that I like it better. It was for intents and purposes a "grail". I dont generally spend $450 on a knife. I have a couple thousand dollars of $200+ ZTs and probably $10K in various Himalayan Imports khukuris that I have accumulated over the last 17 years. I spend money on knives, I just dont spend a bunch on ONE knife.

The Inkosi was a reward to myself for finishing up a business degree after putting it on the back burner for over 15 years. I can honestly say it is the best fit and finish of any knife I have ever handled. Its simplicity is its elegance. Its minimalist design is its longevity. Every line has a purpose. Every cut into the material for a reason. It's a knife meant to be used, cared for, taken apart, and eventually serviced by the mothership. The whole business model of CRK is to offer a product that will last a lifetime and be backed up by the company to keep it ticking. I plan on carrying this knife off and on for the rest of my days as a reminder of what one can do if they put their mind to something. I can afford more than the Inkosi, but it MEANS more to me than the dollars I spent because it was a goal. That makes it a grail to me.

I can't speak for the other knives on your list. I'm still licking my wounds from buying my Inkosi. However, I think regardless of the brand and knife you go with, I think it will open your eyes to what is available just a touch higher than what you have been buying. I'll be 39 next month, and I just got my first CRK. Who knows, maybe by the time I hit 60 I'll feel OK with spending $600+ on a "real" knife;)

Good luck!
 
If you like thumbstuds, go for a CRK 21
If you like flippers go for a used Shiro
I own a lot of the brands mentioned above, and you cant beat CRK or Shiro for the price. Medford is a no go, based on the knives you own and enjoy, Hinderer might be a tad heavy, not to even mentioned Medford.
 
If you can, find a good knife shop and handle a few. of those mentioned I have owned Hinderers and Sebenza's. They are both well made knives but very different. Of those 2 I would choose the CRK. I think the Sebenza is a very nice all around cutting tool and it carries very well. In the end buy what appeals to you. It likely won't be your last purchase. A lot depends on what you plan to use the knife for, and buying the knife that matches those needs.
 
C Cowboyfromhell666 , here's something to look at while you're trying to decide ;)

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I got one from Andre Thorburn about a year ago. It's super nice.
Costs a bit more than a days wages, but it'll dig rocks out of the garden with the best of them...
 
One warning issued for insults.

Give your opinion on the question. Do not give your opinion of another poster.
 
I'd go for either CRK or Hinderer. Having owned many from both makers my favorites are the L Inkosi, Umnumzaan (both stunningly perfect knives), or the 3.5 XM-18 skinny models. I just got a skinny sheepsfoot 3.5 and its amazing. The bearings are crazy fast and the thinner blade with the sheepsfoot grind cuts amazingly for a Hinderer. The regular 3.5's are amazing too but if you care about cutting performance, the skinnies are the way to go.
 
This thread is doomed to be locked but, I’d recommend a CRK to cowboyfromhell. At least he can tell his friends he has one of the greatest knives ever, over and over again.
 
CRK is good but they will be stiff compared to what you have and the breaking in period may be hard for you.... but that is worth it ;)

mid you want something that is less of a “gentleman carry” (based on look not capabilities) go for Hinderer
The new tri way pivot can also be interesting for you the try different mechanisms
I am not a fan of the flipper on the XM18 but the non flipper are all good


Medford will be my last préfères one
 
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Figured I'd add my two cents. My all time favorite knife is the ZT0561. If you can find one there great. The hinderer xm24 is about equal to it. In the flipper category. But if you want a true high end knife its CRK. Does it deploy fast? Nope. Is it stab throw a car door heavy? Probably not. Is it flashy? Not really. What a CRK is. Solid built on reliability, tight tolerances, smooth action with the industries best warranty and community and a knife that holds its value for the long term. In fact some older models have even gained value. A company that values all of use in the knife community the same, right and left handed alike. If they make it in a right handed model I can have it in a left handed version. That my friend is what truly separates CRK from the rest. You want to go top of the line high end. That imho is top of the line high end.
 
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