Is it worth actually it to spend $100+ on a knife?

Z

zl1

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Are there really any major upsides to spending more for "quality blades"?
I'm considering purchasing a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 but $100 seems steep even though I'm very interested.
What I'm asking is, where is that point where you'd see diminishing returns?
 
the PM2 is worth every penny. there are many things you will notice over cheapos right away. the steel is higher quality and hold an edge much better than the creepy chinese junk . the fit and finish tend to be much better. no more wobbly blades falling out screws or offcentered blade. the only downside with the PM2 is that after you get one you will want to buy more and more!
 
Well, no you don't have to spend $100+ on a knife. There are plenty of good knives in the $30-60 range from Spyderco, Kershaw, Buck and Ontario. But of course you won't get the same blade steel, attention to detail, and in some cases ergonomics as you will with a higher priced knife.
 
you do realize where you posted this question... not only have many, many members here purchased $100+ knives at one point or another (as one can see simply based on posts), but they (and I) have done so repeatedly... and all that goes on here adds up to encouragement (or temptation) to go on doing so in perpetuity...
 
oh yeah, and the para2... love it. One of the easiest knives to carry, one of the best slicers (if not the best) I own...
 
IMO you have to answer that question for yourself. Buy the Para 2 and try it out. If you don't think it's worth the price I guarantee you'll have no problem selling it here on BF. And also, if a knife/maker/brand has a large following there's usually a reason why. So again, give it a shot and seen if the increased quality and materials justify the increase in cost for you.
 
A few items from the McDonald's dollar menu will suffice as a lunch. Compare the few dollars you spend at McD's to a more expensive lunch prepared by an expert chef using the finest ingredients. The chef lunch is going to taste better, be better for you, and be generally more satisfying, although it will cost more. Only you can decide where your "sweet spot" for pricing is. For me, the $75-150 range provides excellent design, materials, and assembly of a folding knife. Below $75 and I don't trust the quality. Above $150 and I don't want to risk ruining/losing/breaking the knife. Hope this helps.

Chris
 
I wondered the same thing starting out. Its really up to how far you want to take knives as a hobby. Do you appreciate quality in workmanship, a bump in performance with premium bladesteels, uniqueness in styles etc.? I found that I did so it is worth it for me. The best way to find out is to get that PM2 and if it doesnt do it for you, you can easily get your money back from it. As far as diminishing returns, these are in the end cutting tools and you could be plenty satisfied in more value priced folders as they essentially do the same job. The PM2 is a good start to see if you appreciate higher end attributes in a folder.
 
Thats TOTALLY between you and your wallet. Personally, for a long time I was reticent to spend more than $100 on a knife. I just couldnt justify it. Then I bought a benchmade 943, and saw the difference. Now, I own a Sebenza, a couple Striders, etc, and I love them all. My Para2 is one of my favorite knives, between the build quality, locking mechanism, blade steel, etc, I couldnt recommend it more highly. Just remember, its a VERY slippery slope.
 
If your considering the Para 2, all I can say is it's a steal for $100.00. Cutting edge is 3.125".
 
But this is how it starts...... You buy your first quality knife, and notice the difference big time. The next knife you buy you move a little up in price, and the trend goes. Before you know it, you don't think twice about spending 500$ on a custom folder
 
I have no doubt that there are MANY quality knives for under or well under $100 that would serve many just fine with regular use for the rest of their lives. Don't listen to anyone who suggests that sub-$100 knives are in any way automatically junk or less than quality. I often see where people buy expensive knives for $100 or more only to wind up hating them because of flaws and the manufacturers inability to fix them after repeated trips to the factory.

In deciding whether it's the right choice to purchase a particular knife, consider the following questions-

1. What are you going to use the knife for?

2. Will a less expensive knife serve you just as well?

3. Are you prone to losing things?

4. How would the loss affect you if you lost it, if it were stolen, or if you accidentally dropped it and it fell blade tip first onto a rock or concrete?

5. And last but not least, what can you afford without the expense being a financial hardship?

One of my rules has always been- "Don't buy a knife that you couldn't afford to lose." I don't have this rule because I lose knives, but like I mentioned in question #4, sometimes bad things can happen. You can't re-sell a knife that gets lost or stolen or broken or confiscated.

I would recommend that you buy what YOU want and what YOU think will serve your needs. You will find no shortage of people on this forum who will try to encourage you to spend YOUR money on a knife simply because THEY think it's a great knife. What's great for THEM might not be right for YOU. It's always easy for other people to spend YOUR money.

Two of the knives I carry (at the same time) and use regularly cost $300 each. But I know that I could have been equally served just as well by much less expensive knives. I bought the $300 knives because at the time I could easily afford them and afford to lose them. But I also own a simple Buck 110 that originally cost $25 and it continues to be a workhorse thirty plus years and counting.

Good luck.
 
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The cutting edge is only 3.0XX inches???? and the handle is 4.5+ inches?? That''s probably why I won't buy a Para 2. I like a 1/1 handle to blade ratio.
 
TotalDbag said:
The cutting edge is only 3.0XX inches???? and the handle is 4.5+ inches?? That''s probably why I won't buy a Para 2. I like a 1/1 handle to blade ratio.
Click to expand...

Part of the blade is taken up by the choil, the OAL of the blade is 3.438". The Para 2 is probably one of the most ergonomic knives I own, and at $100, it's worth every penny, IMO.
 
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If you have done your research and are happy with your purchase, then it's "worth it".
I really do feel that knives are kinda like shoes.
Your'e better off paying for quality stuff.
 
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