"Inexpensive" Knives are KING !! ??

Chocula said:
Why is it that we are so willing to "pay for quality" (ie waste money on expensive knives) but not help poor or less fortunate people? What are we so afraid of?
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Is that from the Bible or something? :D

Before we start getting all maudlin and teary eyed, I'd like to interject that for "the most part" I agree with NutnFancy's opinions on knife costs. High cost doesn't always = high value.

Sometimes it does though. My Hinderer XM's are unbelievable as are the 3 large 21 Sebenzas I purchased. Never a bit of buyer's remorse on these.

On the other hand I bought a large chopping knife. Paid over $450+ for it and my $150 Junglas cut circles around it! No exagerration, it's flat out better.

I've owned all of the budget Spydercos and only kept the Resilience because of it's gigantic blade. High value for low $$ knife IMO.

If these are made like Cold Steel models, in Taiwan or Japan, even China. They are imported back into the States, marketed, distributed and sold with taxes being paid to our govt. and wages being earned by dealers, advertising companies, delivery entities, customer service reps. etc...

So, a lot of that money from foreign assembled knives does come back into the banks of our govt. and countless other companys and employees who are set in place to deliver the knife to the end user.

Most of my knives are made in the USA right now, but not by design, it just worked out that way. I do like "my" expensive knives, they're really well made and will last longer than me. Just my $.02 :)
 
foxx said:
So, should I buy a cheap chineses made product, that doesn't give an American a job? Sure, I listed the Ka-Bar's Cutlass and Kukri, which are made in Taiwan, those are $40. Who made that money? If I spend $200 on an American made knife, and a guy can feed his family, what's the problem? I'll gladly buy American products, instead of handing out money to the poor or less fortunate. Hell, I'm out of work, poor and less fortunate. Go ahead, buy an American product so I can get a job!
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Okay, I'll agree to disagree with what you've said here.. I too want to spend my money on American only products but the reality most things aren't USA only.. consider the source for example, would every piece of this US made knife come from US soil?? Highly unlikely. Remember when things are farmed out of the country it does provide American jobs, WHAT !!! That's right, it takes Sales, Marketing, Warehousing/storing, shipping of this product that provides American jobs..

If its US only, then you better stop buying gas... or most of anything else for that matter..

We have everything here in the USA to make it once again the powerhouse, but we fall short because of NAFTA and other trading alike..

ETA: I should have read Cziv post above and I could have saved my breath.. but I jumped to post anyway.. :D
 
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IMHO, part of the "chip knives are just as good" is the fact that a lot of users do not utilize potential of high end steels. Putting 20-25 per side edge on a knife, or keeping factory edge that thick doesn't give much of a chance for the latest super steel to shine.
 
I had to sell all of my CRK and Strider knives b/c I was too afraid to really use them. I've sold 5 of them over the last two years b/c I would not go to them when I had to cut something more demanding than paper (which, in reality, I don't need to do all that often). But I was really bothered by the fact that I did not use the knife as expected. It was just too much of a mental block for me to use them b/c they cost so much. I still have that problem a little bit with a couple of my favorite knives (paramilitary 1 and ppt), but not to the degree I did w/ the CRK/Strider knives.
 
I like Becker knives.
High quality low price.
Some may scoff.
Show me better for the money.
 
trailbum said:
I like Becker knives.
High quality low price.
Some may scoff.
Show me better for the money.
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bum, you know I love Becker.. but, apples to apples there are much better considering micarta/sheath upgrades.. unless of course you're doing the upgrades/mods yourself then I agree........

with that said Buck is something I've been looking at with an eagle eye..

knife/cost = pound for pound is what I'm talking about.. :D
 
I ALWAYS carry a kershaw vapor and love it,but i am looking for a higher end folder
if anyone has one to get rid of
 
TheLastDaze said:
Okay, I'll agree to disagree with what you've said here.. I too want to spend my money on American only products but the reality most things aren't USA only.. consider the source for example, would every piece of this US made knife come from US soil?? Highly unlikely. Remember when things are farmed out of the country it does provide American jobs, WHAT !!! That's right, it takes Sales, Marketing, Warehousing/storing, shipping of this product that provides American jobs..

If its US only, then you better stop buying gas... or most of anything else for that matter..

We have everything here in the USA to make it once again the powerhouse, but we fall short because of NAFTA and other trading alike..

ETA: I should have read Cziv post above and I could have saved my breath.. but I jumped to post anyway.. :D
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You hit the nail on the head with this one. It is rare that you find companies that use ALL american made parts. Plus, what i have noticed in the trading section of the forums here is that most of the "quality blades" that are up for trade have literally never been used. It really seems like the folks that buy the "high quality" products are too scared to actually use them. The Spyderco Tenacious for instance, is a fantastic blade. I have had top quality Spydercos too. Paramillie 2's, Sage 1, Gayle Bradley, and others but the knife i carry in my pocket is a Tenacious mainly because i can beat the ever loving crap out of it. It has done a great job holding up under my abuse and if it does break, i spend a quarter of what i would have spent on a nice knife to get a new one. I know many people that think more money means better. Not the case. In the end i guess it is all a matter of opinion.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
Those people just need to learn to do without things they THINK they need, or learn to budget. Lets not get in to an argument here, (we can do that in PM's if you like) but I don't believe that ridiculous comments like this should go unanswered. As a habitually unemployed father of 2 , I can tell you that no one NEEDS to shop at wallmart.
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Thats the biggest bunch of bullshit I have heard in a long time.I hate snobby ass people
 
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Kershaw skyline. I've heard the leek is awesome, too- but I haven't gotten to use one well enough to have much of an opinion.
 
Yeh, what is wrong with Wal-Mart? People in the Philippines would be ecstatic to have access to a store like that.
 
singularity35 said:
Yeh, what is wrong with Wal-Mart? People in the Philippines would be ecstatic to have access to a store like that.
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Yeah they could come over and ruin your country too like they did the US.

Wal-Mart is a Plague....
 
foxx said:
By afraid, do you mean that we feel a need for "expensive knives". As if a cheap knife would fail and we could suffer or die? Would you care to elaborate on this?
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It was more of a rhetorical question, food for thought. Your reason may be true for some people. Personally, I do not give to charity because I'm afraid I'll encourage parasites. Buying good knives makes me happy and encourages hard work and good results.

Quality is scaled differently by different people. Some people just have two levels: "good" and "bad". Others have more levels: low, decent, good, great, excellent, etc.

Regarding Walmart, it is a natural and expected result of the market. It has its place.
 
All across America, Wal-Mart has come to small towns, and put small business out of business. Then came Sam's Club, their motto being "We're in business for your small business".
I worked for both at one time, and my home town had plenty of small business owners go under. The one's that survived Wal-Mart's cheaper prices, then could shop at Sam's Club. Their motto should be "One way or another, we're taking your money!"
They but vast quantities of cheap disposable goods to sell at the lowest price, cutting out competition, for those goods. They take away business from a private business and yet don't offer a better selection.
Wal-mart only sells the top 25 books, they don't do full service auto, hardware section is a joke, yet all of these take away from small business.

Have we gotten off topic or what?
 
foxx said:
All across America, Wal-Mart has come to small towns, and put small business out of business. Then came Sam's Club, their motto being "We're in business for your small business".
I worked for both at one time, and my home town had plenty of small business owners go under. The one's that survived Wal-Mart's cheaper prices, then could shop at Sam's Club. Their motto should be "One way or another, we're taking your money!"
They but vast quantities of cheap disposable goods to sell at the lowest price, cutting out competition, for those goods. They take away business from a private business and yet don't offer a better selection.
Wal-mart only sells the top 25 books, they don't do full service auto, hardware section is a joke, yet all of these take away from small business.

Have we gotten off topic or what?
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You forgot to add the part like when all the other businesses are gone they jack the prices through the roof then close that store down to build another one just outside of town to avoid the taxes they would have had to pay with the same high prices.

What is left is nothing but empty buildings were all the stores used to be and a dead town.

Then they move on to the next town and do it all over again...

Like I said, they are a Plague and no good for the US at all.
 
I went through that phase first and it ended in less than a year. I do concur with the OP about some $100 knives and their value but after my 4th year as a Knife Guy, I'm more in line with you too. My knife number is shrinking but the cost is going up. Bu make no bones that some $300-$500 knives represent amazing values as well ;)

Ankerson said:
People justify things in different ways.....

Personally I am not into the Wal-Mart mentality and never have been.

I don't mind paying for quality, never have.
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jim you are making excellent points -well said. My vote goes to the cold steel pocket bushman definitely an ak47 of knives.
 
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