Interesting topic, Whitty. Lets use your example of Kershaw / ZT / Hinderer and take a look at three different knives and what they offer to a knife knut. At the low end of the scale well use the Kershaw Cryo 2, middle of the scale the ZT0562 and at the top, a Hinderer XM-18. I have all three of these and can offer insights on each model. This is probably going to be a wall of text, so you might want to skip to the end.
Im using the Cryo 2 vs. the Cryo because the longer blade makes it easier to compare directly to the 0562 and XM-18. The original Cryo is so much smaller, its really a different class of knife. These same comparisons would be valid for any number of China manufactured Kershaws. For the street price of around $40, youre getting a very effective cutting tool. The primary differences between the Cryo 2 and the ZT/XM are in two areas: materials and fit/finish. At the Cryo price point, the lowest cost materials are used that are still acceptable for a cutting tool. The 8Cr13MoV steel is, in my opinion, the cheapest steel option thats viable for a daily use EDC. The Stainless handles are effective, but lack grip and are the heaviest material choice, while still being durable. This weight, to me, is a disadvantage. 0.71 ounces per inch this knife is pretty chunky, but unavoidable at this price. The handle has a few hot spots and feels best when used with a glove. Ive often felt its good thing that the Cryo 2 is AO as these particular materials at this level of finish probably wouldnt make a good manual flipper. The Cryos lock bar stabilizer is a nice touch, more of a Rick Hinderer trademark in this knife than a feature given the solid, stainless handles. The Cryo 2 brings effective service as a cutting tool that will require frequent sharpening and wont be as comfortable to use as possible. This is fairly common at the entry level price; ergonomics and edge holding are compromised for the sake of meeting a price target and providing a look. This knife delivers a Hinderer design at the lowest possible price.
As we move to the ZT we find, in my opinion, the biggest gap in quality between any of the three knives. At a street price of $200, you get a significant improvement in materials and F/F over the Cryo. Some would not consider this upgrade to be worth 5 times the materials and F/F offered by the Cryo, and from a strictly logical sense they might be right. The quality in blade steel from 8Cr to Elmax is significant but does Elmax bring 5 times the performance over 8Cr? Probably not, but in my opinion the Cryo is a folding pocket tool and the ZT 0562 is a KNIFE! The finish and grind on the blade is worlds apart from the Cryo. The heavy steel handle is gone, replaced by high quality G10 on the presentation side and Titanium on the lock side. The weight to length ratio is reduced to 0.67, which for me really hits the sweet spot. The pocket clip is significantly improved and this knife needs no torsion bar to fire out when the flipper tab is engaged. In my opinion, this is the ideal price point to experience the best mix of quality and value from a knife. Above the range of $150 to $250, knife quality tends to peak and return per dollar spent begins to diminish. That doesnt mean a market doesnt exist for higher priced knives.
For a little over $400 you can get into a basic Rick Hinderer XM-18, but were faced with a conundrum. At this point we no longer experience a significant upgrade in materials or F/F; in fact were probably faced with a wash between the RHK and ZT. Blade steel becomes mostly a matter of preference, as does the G10 presentation side scale and titanium lock side. One could even say the ZT has a better pocket clip. Its entirely possible that, from a standpoint of flipping, the XM will perform worse than the 0562. Above $250 the quality improvements in knives become very incremental and typically arent logically worth the increased cost, but logic rarely matters to many knife knuts. What begins to factor in at the XMs price are pride in ownership, exclusivity, rarity, and personal attention to details. Also, the XM brings a level of factory customization that doesnt exist in the other knives. Want a unique XM? RHK offers factory hardware and parts that allow you to personalize your knife. Of course, the same can be done with the other knives, but its all third party as opposed to OEM. Some of the increased cost brings a brand identity and the mystique associated with a knife that, until recently, was very hard to obtain. Although these items are hard to justify with a balance sheet, they often mean a great deal to knife knuts. The 0562 isnt a 5X better knife than the Cryo, but a compelling, logical argument could be made for it being 2X or 3X. You cant even start a logical argument for a clear uplift between the ZT and XM. I personally dont feel that my XM is a better knife than my 0562, but Im OK with that. I like the way the XM feels in hand, somehow its just a little different in a good way. Im glad I own all three knives and appreciate them for what they are.
As we move upward to mid-techs and customs, hand finishing and unique features become a factor. Ive never really broken the $500 price barrier on a knife, so I cant speak to the pride of ownership of high dollar production knives like a Rockstead or a true, full blown, made-to-order custom knife, but someday I hope Im fortunate enough to experience that too. Although I cant usually justify it with overwhelming pros and cons, I really enjoy the feeling that comes with expensive knives. Thanks for reading this far. Any penance you may owe for life actions has been significantly reduced.
