Microtech/Columbia River the SAME??(har har)

[diamdave]

Couldn't pass on a great deal from CDNN on a Columbia River Apache 2 Limited Edition for $25. They also had a Mini-Socom silver/clip/plain edge for around $70. Two excellent knives. Upon closer inspection, I observe the following:

Both have about 3" blade length

Ats-34 vs 154cm (nominal difference if any)

Both have 6061 aluminum handles. Yes, the MiniS has rubber grip inlays.

Both knives incredibly sharp. Good thumbstuds, Apache initially smoother, MiniS lines up better and is lighter. Both have traction
grooves.

...so, I ask you, what makes the Microtech about $45 dollars higher in price?
Hey, I LIKE Microtech, this is the second of theirs I've owned. And yes, the liner is a bit thicker, but both seem to work just fine.
Is it name only? Is the intangible "but its a Microtech" worth just under three times the price of the other knife? Who knows. comments?

 

[NFMee]

I think this is a question that has been addressed before, but I will throw in my bit.


Why are two apparently similar, and almost equally functional knives valued so differently?

the most common knife which raises this question is the Sebenza. it's $300, yet it looks plain and doesn't seem to be any different than a Ti Salsa, which is about 1/3 the price.

the answer comes from the economic law of diminishing returns. It just costs a lot more to make a knife with such precision, with the best materials, and to do it every time.

Ask yourself this: Why would you drive a Mercedes, when the Honda will get you there just as well? Because there's just something about the Mercedes, in the design, the build, the performance, that makes getting there more pleasurable, and that's what you're paying for.

In your case, close examination of the two knives will find that it is in the tiniest details that the MT excels, and in its design. it's in a thousand things you don't see, like the slight difference in bevel curve which makes the MT cut better, which took them a long time to figure out, and was harder to grind, or the smoother edges at joints, which require hand finishing. If you just want to cut a piece of line, then they are identical, but if you want to cut 1000, you might start to care.

 

[TheBadGuy]

diamdave, As much as I like and respect CRKT. I will pray for your forgiveness for comparing them to Microtechs

 

[TheMightyGoat]

I think 154 CM is slightly more expensive, but I may be wrong. Which knife was made of which?

 

[diamdave]

Hey Bad Guy, mea culpa Like I said, I know Microtech is better, (somehow) but a percursory look at the materials and dimensions don't necessarily display it. I'd trust both of 'em on a late train ride home, the Microtech a bit more. MightyGoat (hey, my wife is a Capricorn !) the the MiniSocom is 154cm. Now then, tell me how to sell my Gary Bradburn D2 spearpoint to finance all of this and more....

 

[TheBadGuy]

You have to remember that demensions are only a small part of the knife. I don't think CRKT has any knife that compares to the lowest end MT. Which would be either the Mini Socom or Option II. Also, you have to remember that design is a big part of the price. Keds and Nikes are probably made of the same material, but one is $40 and the other is $120. Design and quality cost ya extra. CRKT puts out some great knives, but I am hooked on MT's!!

For good measure