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

Oh and by the way, if you think of what $100 is worth, it's not that much for a knife. A good pair of running shoes, or, even worse, a pair of uggs boots is $100 or more. Two tanks of gas would probably exceed $100, depending on your vehicle. In a week, a person can easily spend that much on food. When you think about it, $100 for a knife is a pretty good price for a knife.
 
hardheart said:
$40 Spyderco Native with S30V steel. Browning Ice Storm linerlocks with aluminum scales and VG-10 blades made by Mcusta for $50. Walmart CRKT Ripple. There are tons of examples until you force the naysayers to nitpick what is good steel and what is bad, and the minimum length of the knife. Until then, I will say that Case, Victorinox, EKA, Opinel, Queen, and other brands happen to not be gas station garbage. They use steels that are not hard to machine, and many of them are fine blanked. If you have to have G10 and blade lengths over 3.5", then there are a lot of Kershaws that fill the bill under $40, and they even have AO.
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I was being sarcastic regarding the gas station garbage:P. I've yet to see a gas station carry a mora or a case knife. They are so inexpensive, I don't understand why more places don't replace their crap with an opinel, a case or a mora. I personally have and LOVE using Case, Opinel and Mora. They are some of my most used knives. The steel on them is great, and the fit and finish is decent.
 
Minibear464 said:
Oh and by the way, if you think of what $100 is worth, it's not that much for a knife. A good pair of running shoes, or, even worse, a pair of uggs boots is $100 or more. Two tanks of gas would probably exceed $100, depending on your vehicle. In a week, a person can easily spend that much on food. When you think about it, $100 for a knife is a pretty good price for a knife.
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Don't forget to factor in that a $100 knife could last a life time where as the items mentioned above only last a day, or a week, or 6 months. The uggs may last a year or two...but that is debatable. I have an old boker I received as a present. The price on it was about 60-70 bucks (i think) 10 years ago. Not many things you can use every day for a decade and it still be in tip-top shape...and it only cost $60
 
100$ is cheap for a good knife. A good knife properly cared for and used daily will probably last several lifetimes. I have a case bulldog that my great granddad gave to my peepaw who gave it to my dad who gave it to me and I will give to my son. I saw one like it on eBay for 375$ and scooped it up I considered it a good deal. I don't know what GGrand payed but I bet it wasn't much and he prob thought he paid too much. Perspective is everything it's priceless to me now!!
 
I've had about 12 Para 2's, by far my favorite Spyderco. I had some in S90v that sold for greater than $400, just because they were NIB and of the #1 desired blade-steel in this model.
And I also like the $100 basic PM2 with S30V, preferably in digi-camo.
They are super-knives. Get just one; you'll get more.
Sonnydaze
 
michaelm466 said:
This is what I think:

IMG_2371.jpg
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Although I have only the blue one to date, I agree whole-heartedly with your conclusion.
Definitely worth it to me.
Only trouble is, now more expensive folders don't simply have diminishing returns, but negative.
I have no grail to seek, because the darn thing is in my pocket! (But I still keep trying...)
 
Two things to say, apparently contradictory, but not to me:
1. Buy a PM 2, you won´t regret it, I have two and counting.
2.Notwithstanding the former, consider the Ontario RAT-1, at 30 bucks, as a good all around knife, I have three and plan to get more.
Conclusion: Life is too short, enjoy it at its fullest, and for us, buying and using knives, is one of its little pleasures.
 
Think I'm going to get a Paramilitary 2 Satin/Digi Camo
How's the Camo hold up :)?
 
It depends on your income and how much you value the hobby.

Myself, I collect fragrances and there are luxury quality fragrances by more exclusive companies like Creed that cost well over $100, unlike most of the colognes in stores for $30 to $60. Me? I see them as worth it.

Same thing with guns, there a cheaper guns for those who want to get the job done. And more expensive ones for serious collectors.

All in all, you fit into either one of these categories.

1. You are upper class and wealthy. To a degree, you don't need to worry about spending $100 on a knife.

2. You are middle class and you may be able to afford this hobby, but you probably won't be able to fund any other hobbies.

If you make $90,000 a year, a $100 knife isn't much. If you make $30,000 , then you may have to give up other luxuries to pay for it.
 
tadpole25 said:
It depends on your income and how much you value the hobby.

Myself, I collect fragrances and there are luxury quality fragrances by more exclusive companies like Creed that cost well over $100, unlike most of the colognes in stores for $30 to $60. Me? I see them as worth it.

Same thing with guns, there a cheaper guns for those who want to get the job done. And more expensive ones for serious collectors.

All in all, you fit into either one of these categories.

1. You are upper class and wealthy. To a degree, you don't need to worry about spending $100 on a knife.

2. You are middle class and you may be able to afford this hobby, but you probably won't be able to fund any other hobbies.

If you make $90,000 a year, a $100 knife isn't much. If you make $30,000 , then you may have to give up other luxuries to pay for it.
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I read your thread! Are you by chance on Basenotes? I like to collect fragrances as well, but my most expensive cologne is Pure Malt. Just received samples of DHI and Aventus though!
Back to the topic!
$100 isn't the problem. Value for me definitely is. You're right on point!
I'm set on purchasing a Paramilitary 2 now. If not, I'm also looking strongly at the blue benchmade mini-griptilian.
 
You could spend however much money and the knife could be either terrible or great. Most important thing is to do your research and buy according to your needs and wants relative to your experience.

When I first got into knives I thought people were crazy to spend $400 for knives, and really it isn't that much considering the cost of full customs. But now all I do is buy expensive knives, if I'm in the market for them of course. Why? Simply because they are better, and to me its worth the premium.
 
Yes, the quality feeling you get from a good knife is worth it. I have a Sebenza and it's definitily worth it. Life is too short to carry junk knives.
 
I know I might get flamed for this, but I actually think the more you actually USE your knives, the cheaper you want to go to a degree(Chefs are an exclusion to this). Hear me out...

For bushcraft, I prefer Moras, and Condors - they make fine cutting edges and IMHO there is NOTHING that a $100 knife can do better than these $10-$35 knives for the tasks I use them for. I know this because I actually use my knives, a LOT - more than most even on here and they have never let me down.

For skinning, you can get a Havalon Edge and 200 + surgery scalpel blades for it for less than $100 bucks. 1 of these scalpels can skin an entire buffalo. Steven Rinella(google him if you're unfamiliar - best selling author , has a hunting TV show, professional guide, etc)uses one and I highly doubt anyone skins more wild game than him outside of a professional taxidermist. Hell you can pick up multiple time-tested BUCKs for less than $100. And regardless of what anyone says I'd love to see someone outlive a 103 skinner - I'll buy them the $100+ skinning knife of their choice.

And on top of that - none of these knives will break the bank if real-world things happen - like you *gasp* lose them(yes, when you take your knife on long camping trips it actually does happen). Or perhaps they are stolen, sold by an angry ex :p, whatever! Using an inexpensive knife also gives you a sense of freedom in the field that I enjoy - You don't feel guilty being a little rough on a knife that costs about as much as a pizza and you've gotten 5+ years out of.

So to answer the original question "is it worth it to actually spend $100+ on a cutting edge", I personally would say that it isn't . Simply because there are SO many quality options at well below that price. Others will disagree because its all about your personally perspective - there are people who like to COLLECT knives and therefor view them as such, something to be viewed and enjoyed as a collectable / investment. That's what they value so more power to them - I'm just here to play devils advocate with my experience.
 
zl1 said:
I read your thread! Are you by chance on Basenotes? I like to collect fragrances as well, but my most expensive cologne is Pure Malt. Just received samples of DHI and Aventus though!
Back to the topic!
$100 isn't the problem. Value for me definitely is. You're right on point!
I'm set on purchasing a Paramilitary 2 now. If not, I'm also looking strongly at the blue benchmade mini-griptilian.
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I am on Basenotes, but I won't say my username on there, other than the fact that I'm an active user on there.
 
midnite-penguin said:
For skinning, you can get a Havalon Edge and 200 + surgery scalpel blades for it for less than $100 bucks. 1 of these scalpels can skin an entire buffalo. Steven Rinella(google him if you're unfamiliar - best selling author , has a hunting TV show, professional guide, etc)uses one and I highly doubt anyone skins more wild game than him outside of a professional taxidermist. Hell you can pick up multiple time-tested BUCKs for less than $100. And regardless of what anyone says I'd love to see someone outlive a 103 skinner - I'll buy them the $100+ skinning knife of their choice.
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I have heard those stories from different sources outside of the hype about the scalpels and they aren't quite as good as the hype as the blades have to be changed a lot during the process, and that's from an eyes on source.

You get what you pay for in the end and scalpel blades are very low carbide content so edge retention will be very low and on a very large animal like a Buffalo......
 
midnite-penguin said:
I know I might get flamed for this, but I actually think the more you actually USE your knives, the cheaper you want to go to a degree(Chefs are an exclusion to this). Hear me out...

For bushcraft, I prefer Moras, and Condors - they make fine cutting edges and IMHO there is NOTHING that a $100 knife can do better than these $10-$35 knives for the tasks I use them for. I know this because I actually use my knives, a LOT - more than most even on here and they have never let me down.

For skinning, you can get a Havalon Edge and 200 + surgery scalpel blades for it for less than $100 bucks. 1 of these scalpels can skin an entire buffalo. Steven Rinella(google him if you're unfamiliar - best selling author , has a hunting TV show, professional guide, etc)uses one and I highly doubt anyone skins more wild game than him outside of a professional taxidermist. Hell you can pick up multiple time-tested BUCKs for less than $100. And regardless of what anyone says I'd love to see someone outlive a 103 skinner - I'll buy them the $100+ skinning knife of their choice.

And on top of that - none of these knives will break the bank if real-world things happen - like you *gasp* lose them(yes, when you take your knife on long camping trips it actually does happen). Or perhaps they are stolen, sold by an angry ex :p, whatever! Using an inexpensive knife also gives you a sense of freedom in the field that I enjoy - You don't feel guilty being a little rough on a knife that costs about as much as a pizza and you've gotten 5+ years out of.

So to answer the original question "is it worth it to actually spend $100+ on a cutting edge", I personally would say that it isn't . Simply because there are SO many quality options at well below that price. Others will disagree because its all about your personally perspective - there are people who like to COLLECT knives and therefor view them as such, something to be viewed and enjoyed as a collectable / investment. That's what they value so more power to them - I'm just here to play devils advocate with my experience.
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I agree very much with this post. I don't have expensive knives, like many on here do, but I have some decent ones and some cheap ones. I find myself using the cheaper blades more often when I really have to work them. I also echo the "sense of freedom" theory. I almost don't want my better blades to be disfigured by the stresses of everyday tasks. Even though they'll still function the same, their aesthetic beauty is diminished. It bothers me to think like that which is probably why I have yet to spend a lot of money on a knife. My work knives are cheap S&W and no names because they get worked a lot and it wont upset me as much if they break or get lost. I do have a Ka-Bar Tac Tool, which is on the higher end of my purchasing scale, that I almost felt bad using. But the thing is a beast and perfect for what I need it for.
 
Ankerson said:
I have heard those stories from different sources outside of the hype about the scalpels and they aren't quite as good as the hype as the blades have to be changed a lot during the process, and that's from an eyes on source.

You get what you pay for in the end and scalpel blades are very low carbide content so edge retention will be very low and on a very large animal like a Buffalo......
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The truth is probably somewhere in between. I would imagine the scalpels will dull quickly if you accidentally hit bones.

It doesn't really matter much because at the end of the day there are MANY inexpensive knives that are fantastic for skinning wild game. The person who taught me how to process deer used an old BUCK 112 - has any knife skinned more deer than the buck 112 @ $45 bucks? I doubt it.
 
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