Is there anything a $400 to $600 knife can do that a $100 Knife can;t"

[Sikael]

Is this discussion still being had?

Nothing is more important.

400$ knives sharpen themselves. They also have heated handles and laser-scopes.

 

[CambodianCowboy]

There's a lot of good steel kicking around in a very competitive industry so a bad product gets identified quickly. In a "survival" situation, I doubt very few modern knives will outright fail. The operator is more likely to fail the knife than the knife failing the operator. Sure I can get by with a cheap knife but I love the look, feel and quality of the more expensive knives.....up to a certain point.

 

[Mannlicher]

Not really. And you can pretty much say the same about a $20 knife when compared to a $100 knife.

A more expensive knife, however, will in general be better built, have better fit and finish, and be made of more advanced materials. Better steel, carbon fiber/titanium/cocobolo handles, etc.

when it comes right down to it, a sharpened rock works pretty well.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Just sort of thinking this myself, not that I have anything in the 400$ range, but I have sat between the 50 and 200 dollar mark mostly.
What does more dollars get me? well its hard to say for sure. The most expensive knife I've bought in a while is the barkie that is yet to be delivered, and its also the smallest. Scale it up to the size of my buck 119, and it would be a whopper. I also don't think there is a per-inch price. Complexity, fit and finish, construction origin, and all those things are factors.
Have I noticed the difference between my cheaper knives, and the upper limits? in a lot of cases, yes. There is a big difference between say my pre-closure old timer beast, and my griptillian. and pretty much on par for the price. one is big, bulky and has an ugly grind, the other has a cheap plastic handle
I also look at where they put the money. most of my knives have pretty cheap sheaths, at least cheap to make, injection plastic, or the like. And so it looks like the rest went into the knife, if the grind isn't 100% is the value in the steel, or the temper? If you showed me a folder with 2/3rds of the value in the rare material in the scales, and the formula one wheel bearing pivot, and 100 hours of CNC work, I'd assume there wasn't much left for the important part. Or like a spyderco you get a cheap handle, with a blade finished just a much as needed because the steel does the talking. I think that to me is where the value falls. I also think some knives are very good value for what you pay, like most moras, I don't think my mora 1 is 1/7th the knife of my RC-3, even though the price might be near there. But I think that you could shoot out a lot of knives in the same price range and class as the RC-3 and find it a competitor. And the mora will eat any other 10 dollar knife for breakfast.

I guess at the end of the day, you can't say any 400$ knife is better in any real way than any 10$ knife, because it might not be. You have to look at all the aspects of that knife, and decide if you can get all those things from something cheaper, or that the maker deserves that price for any reason. There might be one. There might not be. All the knives I've ever bought have been the best knife ever, just like every car, and every other big ticket item. Its just a part of the way we think.

 

[DJC72]

Once a person gets serious about a hobby, their tastes grow for a more refined item. When I was in college, I use to think Miller Light was good brew, now I want a hand crafted beer or a Belgium Ale.

 

[Boris74]

Once a person gets serious about a hobby, their tastes grow for a more refined item. When I was in college, I use to think Miller Light was good brew, now I want a hand crafted beer or a Belgium Ale.

Not everyone is into the "hobby". For some people a knife is for cutting, slicing and chopping. If you ran across a bushcrafter on a 3 day get away in the woods and seen their shelter, pile of fire wood, fishing spear and fish cooking over a fire would you be able to tell if their knife cost $20.00 or $2,000.00? Some people will say they will know what the knife they used cost, but they won't. As one progress in their interests that require a knife they may upgrade to better gear, but that don't mean they are required to spend more money.

 

[supergnat]

Diminishing returns means there will be less difference between a $400 and $600 knife than there is between a $2 and $20 knife, but if you value the differences, then you might be happier with the more expensive knife.

What else is there to be said?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Is this discussion still being had?

This particular discussion has been going on since the dawn of discretionary spending and will continue until it ends. I suggest you not let it bother you.

 

[LX_Emergency]

The answer is:




it depends on which knives you're comparing.

Some $500 knives will cut better than some $100 knives

Some $500 knives will be stronger than some $100 knives

Some $500 knives will last longer in cutting than some $100 knives


But there's no general rule here. A Spyderco Para might outcut a whole host of $500 knives.....but some $500 knives will outcut the para by miles. Or be more comfortable in use or whatever.

Your question is like asking if expensive cars are all better than inexpensive cars.

A cheap sportscar will outrace an expensive pickuptruck on the freeway.....but an expensive pickup truck might to better than a cheap pickup truck in the dirt.

Some knives are made for performance. Others for show...others....I don't even know why some of em are made...who knows?

 

[Sikael]

Some of the people who shake their heads and offer not-so silent reproach to the 'elitists' who prefer more expensive knives, also have huge collections of their own. Some of those cheap knife hoarders have spent considerably more on a large number of blades than members belonging to the Secret Society of Seven-Hundred Dollar Steel.

What is it that those 2-or-300 budget knives can do (besides rust, fall apart and generally disappoint ) that one good Sebenza, Rockstead, Shirogorov, Midtech, or custom can't?

I think it makes more sense to spend 2500$ (for example) on 5 very nice knives than it does to pay 2500$ for 50 knives in the 50$ range that just get piled up in a pointy heap of zytel and Chinese steel. I know some of the people acting self-righteous about the buying habits of others have made purchases I find pretty baffling myself. I don't, however, have any inclination to question or debate them about it. To each their own.

In the spirit of the OP, though, I'll ask: who needs 200 budget knives? Or 50? Or 20? 5 different knives of varying styles and sizes should fill every need, so why the extras?

In terms of wise spending, you may get much of your 2500$ back if only one or two of your 5 nice knives are heavy users. The 2500$ heap of budget badness, on the other hand, is a tough sell.

I don't actually care to make any converts. If you're happy with that Gerber or CRKT, that's fine, those knives have their place. Judging others for their purchases seems rooted in insecurity. You're trying to convince others to more easily convince yourself, fishing for approval. Fishing for approval is fine, Trolling for approval is not.

 

[Landshark99]

This particular discussion has been going on since the dawn of discretionary spending and will continue until it ends. I suggest you not let it bother you.

That is why I do not understand the need for this discussion once a month or more. The answer is simple like anything else in life that we consume, cars, refrigerators, watches, shoes, food, wine, beer etc etc if you can appreciate the differences and can afford the more expensive whatever, then buy it if not buy what you want. Very little of this is based on need it is all about want.

 

[Krissig12]

This particular discussion has been going on since the dawn of discretionary spending and will continue until it ends. I suggest you not let it bother you.

This roller coaster of a "discussion", with its outcome always the same, is not worth the price of admission, nor is it necessary for us to keep riding it. Insanity, after all, is defined as continuing to do the same thing again and again expecting different results each time. Are we all insane? I'd like to think not.

 

[Sikael]

(...)Your question is like asking if expensive cars are all better than inexpensive cars.

A cheap sportscar will outrace an expensive pickuptruck on the freeway.....but an expensive pickup truck might to better than a cheap pickup truck in the dirt.

Some knives are made for performance. Others for show...others....I don't even know why some of em are made...who knows?

Watches are the perfect example. Some will pay huge sums for that beautifully engineered Swiss craftsmanship (I wonder if Rolex or AP or Patek Philippe use CNC now?), but it's not going to work any better than my smart-phone for telling time (at least in tower-range and above water). Still, I get it, and I'd love to own one If I end up rich. It's a status symbol; a personal totem; a fashion accessory; a time-telling instrument of remarkable precision and reliability.

My knives serve at least three functions, as tools, weapons, and personal totems. It took me a while to find knives I liked enough to fill that final function, and I didn't know I was looking until I found them. That sounds like ridiculous new age crap , but it was 100% true for me. I don't believe in the spiritual, but I think knives have a deep significance to humanity on a very basic, instinctive level. Knives may be largely responsible for much of our survival as a species and evolutionary development (flint knives = mastery of fire)... but that's off topic. I'll end it by saying some knives can trigger a deeper emotional resonance in the owner. It assumes a significance that goes far beyond cutting abilities. And of course, it's an entirely personal thing that doesn't necessarily have a relation to cost -- it can be a 100$ Spyderco or a 75 000$ Loveless.

 

[frankster]

I am rather new to this forum and did not intend to bring up a topic that has been repeated many times in the past. I honestly asked this question because I recently got acquainted with high dollar knives. I handled a couple of the $400 plus knives and yes they were very well made and sharp. I'm not a survivalist nor do I use a knife for things they are not intended for (chopping, pounding, hammering, etc). I simply was asking for an explanation form folks who are highly knowledgeable in the knife world. I sincerely apologize if my question offended anyone.

 

[Landshark99]

I am rather new to this forum and did not intend to bring up a topic that has been repeated many times in the past. I sincerely apologize if my question offended anyone.

No worries no one is offended.

 

[Krissig12]

I am rather new to this forum and did not intend to bring up a topic that has been repeated many times in the past. I honestly asked this question because I recently got acquainted with high dollar knives. I handled a couple of the $400 plus knives and yes they were very well made and sharp. I'm not a survivalist nor do I use a knife for things they are not intended for (chopping, pounding, hammering, etc). I simply was asking for an explanation form folks who are highly knowledgeable in the knife world. I sincerely apologize if my question offended anyone.

No one is offended, but I am curious why you didn't just use the search function? Would have given you plenty of reading material on the subject.

 

[Sikael]

I am rather new to this forum and did not intend to bring up a topic that has been repeated many times in the past. I honestly asked this question because I recently got acquainted with high dollar knives. I handled a couple of the $400 plus knives and yes they were very well made and sharp. I'm not a survivalist nor do I use a knife for things they are not intended for (chopping, pounding, hammering, etc). I simply was asking for an explanation form folks who are highly knowledgeable in the knife world. I sincerely apologize if my question offended anyone.

It's all good. It's just ones and zeroes. With a few months of counselling and rehab I'll probably survive the thread-induced trauma.

 

[Aias]

This particular discussion has been going on since the dawn of discretionary spending and will continue until it ends. I suggest you not let it bother you.

I appreciate your wit, sir. Well done. As for the topic in question, my Beckers are probably as good as my Busses--but I always reach for my Busse first. I prefer it. It may be better as I reach the upper stresses of use... But I never really get there--I just prefer one to the other for small reasons that add up. To how much? I just can't tell...

 

[leghog]

Once a person gets serious about a hobby, their tastes grow for a more refined item. When I was in college, I use to think Miller Light was good brew, now I want a hand crafted beer or a Belgium Ale.

Depends on how you define refined. My tastes run to vintage Camillus, Ulster, Schrade, Western, etc. that I still find for less than 30 bucks (most often less than 20). I edc a 50-55 year old Ulster 180 peanut sold as a Craftsman 9507. Last year I bought it for a whopping $9 USD. I consider my tastes matured and refined. I know what I like --- vintage American production slip joints with blades of great geometry in good steels with good heat treat.

 

[Sikael]

This roller coaster of a "discussion", with its outcome always the same, is not worth the price of admission, nor is it necessary for us to keep riding it. Insanity, after all, is defined as continuing to do the same thing again and again expecting different results each time. Are we all insane? I'd like to think not.

Apparently we are, because another rational gent tried the exact same thing two or three days ago, with likely the same results.

(...)But we also have to be mindful of when productive conversation has reached the end of its path and its time to do something else. They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior over and over looking for a different result each time. At this point the thread is heading that way.

You have to try, I guess.