Is a 400+ dollar knife better than a 200?

yoko

yoko

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I dont want to come off the wrong way, and I keep learning more and more on this forum but................. Why are some folders and fixed blades soo high priced? 200 is high to me and those knives work great, is a knife worth double and triple that cost, is there a major difference that warrents that much of a price increase?

Thanks guys, once again I dont want any one to take offense
 
It's easy to understand when you think of it in terms of cars...... a brand new Toyota Camry is a really nice car that will get you from point A to point B comfortably, and is rock solid reliable. That's your $200 knife.

Those $400+ knives are the Mercedes, BMW's, and Audi's. Are they more reliable? Most likely not. Are they nicer? HECK YES.
 
Some say yes.
Some say no.

People have listed their reasons many, many times, but it boils down to:

"Yes it is!"
"No it isn't!"

They are a bit better, but only you can decide if it's better enough.
 
Some knives take literally 100s of hours to make, that would be one reason. Some steel is harder to work with than others and more expensive, heat treating costs are also expensive, machining, hand finishing, equipment costs, etc. lots of factors involved. In the end, knives will ultimately sell for whatever the manufacturer feels they should sell for.
Is a $400 knife better than a $200 knife? That is up to the individual to define what "worth" means. To someone that have a budget, no, other wealthier folks might not think twice dropping $2K on a folder.
 
The Logical One said:
It's easy to understand when you think of it in terms of cars...... a brand new Toyota Camry is a really nice car that will get you from point A to point B comfortably, and is rock solid reliable. That's your $200 knife.

Those $400+ knives are the Mercedes, BMW's, and Audi's. Are they more reliable? Most likely not. Are they nicer? HECK YES.
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I think this sums it up nicely. You're asking a fairly open ended question and everyone will have a different opinion on the matter. The nuances that come with different brands, designs, materials and methods of manufacturing make this very hard to pinpoint into one conclusive answer. Value will always be subjective.
 
Imho, the ONLY way to answer this question for yourself is to buy one and see. Most knives in that range keep their value so if you buy a user it's close to being completely risk free... The only risk I see is realizing you love it and needing more D:
 
In terms of utlitiy, the answer is "no". I'll take the Camry...function over form, and I'm not concerned with boys club bragging rights.
 
$400 Strider, I dont mind paying more because of the warranty. any problem that develops will be taken care of for free and normally in a short time frame.
 
It depends upon who is buying it and how much they want to spend. ;)
 
Doug S said:
In terms of utlitiy, the answer is "no". I'll take the Camry...function over form, and I'm not concerned with boys club bragging rights.
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.

Though apparently concerned with preemptively demeaning those who think differently than you, given how you chose to end that sentence... ;)

That aside, it's a perfectly defendable position. I love my Hinderers, but never yearn for them while carrying a Manix or ZT. Appreciation of craftsmanship is where the price difference is, and it's always worth noting that more expensive doesn't always mean better quality. If you can, always inspect before you buy! Nothing worse than an expensive disappointment.
 
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what do you have to spend?

$400? $200? $50? $15? I can find you a great knife that will do what you need to do in each of these price ranges easily.

Opinel anyone? Zero Tolerance, Spyderco, (enter any decent knife name here). All will cut stuff. Some better than others.

Some can pry stuff (again some better than others).

None will make you better at anything in life. None will make you cooler, or more manly (unless they are a brand that I like, then you are cooler and more manly by definition). None will make you a better fighter (unless they have traction tape, blade catches and all sorts of knobby protrusions and glass breakers).

Just buy what you like and use it. (unless it is something I don't like, then I will mock you fiercely).
 
Some knives are more "collectible" than others.

Others use more exotic materials.

So there are various reasons why one knife may be
more valuable than another, beside quality alone.
 
The Logical One said:
It's easy to understand when you think of it in terms of cars...... a brand new Toyota Camry is a really nice car that will get you from point A to point B comfortably, and is rock solid reliable. That's your $200 knife.

Those $400+ knives are the Mercedes, BMW's, and Audi's. Are they more reliable? Most likely not. Are they nicer? HECK YES.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure the $400+ knives would just be the same Camry, but its construction/assembly process is put under more scrutiny and is constructed with higher quality components, with a few minor tweaks here and there to make it run smoother than the "$200 Camrys" but in a way that isn't noticeable to the everyman.
 
More like one is a toyota and one is a lexus, with the same engine and suspension.

As mentioned, some knives have more exotic materials or features. But is twice the price for the same steel, the same lock or sheath style, the same handle material and the same blade thickness and length as easily justified?
 
My personal answer to this question has changed over the years. When I was delivering papers for a few dollars a week, a $5.00 Imperial knife was great. When I got a job mowing lawns, trimming the edges with hand clippers, and raking up for $5.00 a lawn, I saved up 5 lawns worth for a Buck 110. That's right, 38 years ago a 110 cost 25 bucks! Then came a job for 20 hours a week@ 2.65/hour and I spent 70 bucks on a Puma. Still have all those knives and now a few customs. Can't say the camp stew tastes any better when I cut the ingrediants with one of the customs, but somehow I enjoy the process more!!
 
It really comes down to if you like the knife enough to pay the price. If you're drooling over a $400 knife and you can budget it in, go for it. If not a $200 knife will cut anything you need it to and then some.
 
Though apparently concerned with preemptively demeaning those who think differently than you, given how you chose to end that sentence...
Click to expand...

You're right...I should have left off the end of that sentence. My apologies, and not that it matters, but just for the record I wasn't speaking of serious "collectors".
 
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