Inexpensive folders with premium steel blades?

gga357 said:
I am really liking M390. I am hoping it will become popular enough to be used in inexpensive knife soon.
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M390 really isn't a cheap steel cost wise so I doubt that will ever happen.
 
The 06501, R571, 6751 are all 440 pot metal specials. I had not seen that model you pointed out, rather odd looking tip on that thing.
 
RevDevil said:
The 06501, R571, 6751 are all 440 pot metal specials. I had not seen that model you pointed out, rather odd looking tip on that thing.
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this is the model prior to the one hardheart posted about
 
Spyderco offered the Delica and Endura in ZDP-189 back when the only other knives offered in that steel were very expensive. Still a bargain for ZDP today.
 
Ankerson said:
M390 really isn't a cheap steel cost wise so I doubt that will ever happen.
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That depends on where one sets the line for "inexpensive". IIRC, the exclusive run of 710-1 in M390 was around $150, which I'd consider mid-price. The M390 Griptilian was a great deal less expensive at $89.95.

Perhaps an Endura or Delica in M390 could be had for less than $100, but that would be as cheap as it gets. Less than $75 would be questionable without the use of cheap wood and loose tolerances, but perhaps it could be possible in a fixed blade with FRN handles. Maybe a Spyderco Moran Featherweight made in Colorado instead of Seki City. Though I don't believe Spyderco facilities in Colorado are equipped to make models normally made overseas, so this could all be wishful thinking.
 
49 posts in 24 hours, you laid out a good one here Sami, that's what I call knife discussion. Almost half the knives listed are in my cabinet, almost another half are on my list, im excited to see what else shows up, keep them coming guys!
 
It may be small but the Spyderco ladybug is a available with ZDP and H1, either one under 40 bucks. Ladybugs may be small but they are the knives I use the most.

H1 while not the greatest at holding an edge on the plainedge models, is the most rust proof steel on the market. On the ther hand in serrated edge, it rocks.

Grizz
 
Slider817 said:
Just another Point, D2 is a great steel, and If you are into a more traditional look, Queen Cutlery almost exclusively uses D2, and their Sodbuster is around $20, and they have many much nicer models that are around $40-50

Svord Peasant Knife Uses L6 Carbon steel, a very high quality steel, and those can be had under $20

Higonokami a very traditional Japanese friction folder with a long history uses a very high end Carbon Steel Japanese Blue Paper Steel, and again those are under $20
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Svord and Higonokami, both great knives.

So's if they have nice steel at under $20, and a Rough Rider is $7-$10 for a pretty little slipjoint, then someone could make a nice "traditional" slipjoint with great steel for $27. Right?

:rolleyes:"Somewhere over the rainbow":rolleyes:


Can't find the Queen Soddy for under $33, still looks nice I guess. I'd love to try D-2.
 
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Ankerson said:
M390 really isn't a cheap steel cost wise so I doubt that will ever happen.
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I think if 2 million knife owners purchase 3-4 per year then economies of scale should force the price down to S30v levels. :cool:
 
gga357 said:
I think if 2 million knife owners purchase 3-4 per year then economies of scale should force the price down to S30v levels. :cool:
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I don't think you understand what I was talking about....

M390 isn't a cheap steel to make.....
 
RandomAyes said:
Yeah that's what I was wondering. They were $120 now more like $140.



Speaking only for myself, the GB is way overpriced for an import that's not even stainless.
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Have you ever held or used the Gayle Bradley? Ive had mine for a bout a month and would happily pay three times what i paid for it. ($110).
 
davek14 said:
Can't find the Queen Soddy for under $33, still looks nice I guess. I'd love to try D-2.
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I guess I was mistaken with that price, I bought mine a long while ago, but even for $33 to get a D2 knife is not a bad deal
 
Ankerson said:
I don't think you understand what I was talking about....

M390 isn't a cheap steel to make.....
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Understand, but it can't be all variable costs, there has to be some fixed costs that can be reduced with volume. I don't know the process, so maybe it is all in the process.
 
gga357 said:
Understand, but it can't be all variable costs, there has to be some fixed costs that can be reduced with volume. I don't know the process, so maybe it is all in the process.
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M390 is a complex steel so I really doubt it.
 
gga357 said:
I think if 2 million knife owners purchase 3-4 per year then economies of scale should force the price down to S30v levels. :cool:
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Ankerson said:
I don't think you understand what I was talking about....

M390 isn't a cheap steel to make.....
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Jim is absolutely right. "economies of scale" doesn't apply to this.

1) Never going to have that many knife owners buying that many knives all of one alloy.
2) M390 is an inherently expensive alloy. It will be pricey no matter how much you buy. And knives don't require a whole lot of steel anyway. Even assuming you could get the price of the raw steel down, the cost of the raw steel is a small fraction of the cost of producing a knife.
3) The costs of turning the M390 sheet stock into a knife won't go down. Wear resistant. Hard to grind. Takes time and wears down equipment. Both are expensive.
 
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