Midtechs and how I've moved on

I recently bought a Talos with the morph pattern, got it for 460.00 but to me worth every penny. Super smooth opening, very well made.Thats the kind of knife I can see getting for over 400.(It's entirely possible that here and there I'll see a knife that really interests me, but I'm definately done with the rampant buying stage.... Phew! Those days were rediculous )Me too exactly...
 
Nope. I tried a Sebenza before, after using it for a short time, I was like, why pay $500 for this, when I can get a Spyderco I like more for $150 or less?
 
Well..it is much like any other addiction, I need more and more to get my fix(better and better quality knives). Truth be told, I find myself looking at CRK more and more lately :)
 
I think everyone goes through their own progression. For me, I'm very much about function over form, and I started like many I'm sure with dozens of $75-$150 knives only to realize that I didn't really "care" much for most of them and was buying just to buy. I then started exploring higher end production and mid-techs, reducing my knives to only ones that really "spoke" to me and fit my use, at one time I was probably down to 2-3 folders.

Over the past 2-3 years I now have a mix of production and mid-techs and honestly I see little difference between most of them. One thing they all have in common is they all "speak" to me and excel at a specific use. There are a lot of $300-$500 mid-tech knives I've tried and were disappointed with. Many of them I don't feel have any better materials/fit/finish than $150-$200 production knives and are selling on the makers name/marketing alone. Plus these days a lot of production knives are using high end blade steels, and very good fit/finish that will out cut many mid-techs and customs with standard blade steels. However, some knives in the $300-$500 range still stand apart to me (CRK, Les George are examples I've found) and I think those are worth the extra money.
 
Ive kind of done something similar but on a smaller scale. I can't spend $300-$500 or more on a single knife. Even if I could I'm not sure I would. I started with inexpensive Kershaws but every time I bought a knife I was looking for the next knife. I finally eclipsed the $100 mark with a ZT0566. I like it a lot but it left me wanting, so I grabbed a ZT 0550 blem. One of my favorites but still left me wanting. Then about 6 months ago I sold off 5 cheaper knives and bought a ZT0770CF and I feel really content with where my collection is right now.

I have 18 knives. The three ZTs and an Elmax Blur split most of the carry duty but I still really dig some of the Kershaws. There are still about 4 budget Kershaws that I will carry, but I don't buy $30 knives just looking for a fix anymore.
 
I can't bring myself to selling my cheaper blades, my family worked hard to gift them to me as I obsessively started collecting.

I remember 30 bucks was a lot on a blade, then I met you all. How you have enriched my life though!

Now as I look into the more expensive options, I have had to learn about addressing my immediate gratification, and starting to save my money for something.
 
Im the same way, fir years I was happy usinf my crappy smith and wesson and kershaw fir wirk ant thought $100 is cazry to spend on a knife. Then I git sick of always touching up my knives every few says and decided to look for a better steel. My first 2 "nice" knives were soyderc centofante 3(a great lil ed knife that cuts like a demon) andbenchmade 530. I immediately noticed the difference in edge ho, ding and the quality. So I git a griptilian and then my fiest military (one of the best knives ever made, thank you Sal Glesser) and I was off. Then I got a kick fir carbon fiber and titanium and I was breaking the $200 barrier, then $300 when I got my 3 microtechs. Then about 6 minths ago, im looking in my knife case, yes there were knives I loved but most were just blah so I made a list if knives I really wanted and made my heart beat faster and I sold if mist of my 30 production knives for 6 ir 7 midtech and customs. Now I have a Hivack kwaiback midtech (a knife I wanted fir almkst 2 years and im abs in love with it), ADV Butcher, Thorburn/Van Heerden A2, Van Heerden m16, Shirogorov hati, zt 777, spyderco southard, camillus jolt (best $65 you'll ever spend, the unidirectional cf is worth the money alone) and I have a David Clark fortitude and Brad Southard Tolj midtech coming in soon. I tell ya, I could not be happier I djd what I did, yes I miss my socom elite, select fire, guardian tactical (I might still get one later) and my military collection, especially the cf m390 sprint but I pick up my kwaiback or a2 and the action is amazing, incredible smoothness, great materials and I love the design and it puts a smile on my face. Its been a while since a spyderco or benchmade put a smile on me, yes they're great knives and I still love them, knce im dkne with my list, im getting a few militaries back fir sure but I really have no regrets. So like OP said, don't be afraid to sell if yoyr collection and get what you want, life is short, wirry , ess and try to get as much happiness as you can.
 
yeah, and now im back to productions. To me there are so many good options under the $400 mark that I have no reason to buy anything more expensive than that. Every time I do I dont want to carry it because of the cost. If you are the type that has no problem pulling out a half a grand out of your pocket and hacking at crap with no worries then sure go for it. For me I became obsessed with keeping things pristine because I knew eventually I would get bored with a design and I would want to sell it. Now that so many great knives are available at great prices I am finally able to enjoy the hobby again. But I think my days of buying customs is over. I understand why people like them. Heck I still like them. But I dont have the kind of income that allows me to enjoy them.
 
I'm going to try to avoid going down that path for a while... I just bought a Griptilian a couple weeks ago and it was my first quality knife. Yesterday I got a ZT 561 from a forum member and I'm afraid I'll bump right up towards a Sebanza next.

I bought the Griptilian first because it seemed to be a classic everyone had or has had in the past and I wanted to try one. Had to try a Zero Tolerance model of some sort next. I think I can feed my habit for a long time just by buying and selling/trading knives in the sub $250 dollar price range to try all the popular ones out. I'm afraid if I venture into the more expensive knives most of my shopping around will be in that price range.
 
I own a few 'mid-tech' knives, but I certainly haven't given up on regular production knives. There are a lot of great production knives out there. In fact, some of my favourite knives are affordable production models. I enjoy them all, regardless of price, steel, handle materials and like them for different reasons. It simply comes with the territory when you're into knives. To be realistic, one doesn't need a bunch of knives. One can easily get by for years with one knife. In this hobby, we buy knives because we want them, not because we need them.
 
DShiflet said:
Nope. I tried a Sebenza before, after using it for a short time, I was like, why pay $500 for this, when I can get a Spyderco I like more for $150 or less?
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I like my Sebenza and Umnumzaan just fine. But I just do not enjoy them as much as my Yo2 S90V and fluted Ti Military.
 
I think I look more for a knife that has features I like or I want to try... Regardless of production, midtech, or custom. The only thing that has changed for me is the top end gets higher dollar as I get more picky with what gets me to pull out the wallet. However I just grabbed a Kershaw for $30 that I think is awesome.. And I have no issues storing it next to my customs in the edc tray.
 
I did the progression all the way up to 1300 dollar knives(only owned customs). Then I realized it just wasn't worth it. I like to use my knives and I realized I just wouldn't use a knife like that to its full potential. So I still buy customs here and there but at a way lower price point. I still like customs but have gone back to more production and midtech knives. And in all honesty with higher end production knives alot of the time u get just as good if not better fit and finish and materials. Obviously this is not true of all. And a lot of customs are made for the look first over function. Thick blades funky grinds and what not so to sum it up for me I'm back to just buying what I like I don't exclusively buy anyone type custom mid tech or production. I can enjoy anyone.
 
I've tried them all.

All I own now are high end production knives. Some of the high end production knives today are every bit as good as midtechs and customs, and sometimes the production knives are better.

Almost all of my favorites right now are the high end production knives coming out of Spydercos Taichung facility. My Tuff (with CPM 3v steel) and Southard (with CTS 204p steel) are every bit as nice as most midtechs or customs I've handled. Fit/finish is excellent, as is the material selection and blade steel.

So for me, I'm done with midtechs and customs as far as performance is concerned. The only time I consider one these days is if I just really like the design. Right now, I'm drooling over a Grimsmo Norseman...
 
I'll never say never, but the things I value can all be found in high end production knives. The customs I've owned had bigger sticker prices and were more exclusive, but they were no better in terms of materials or F&F. I'm content where I'm at right now and don't see that changing too much.
 
I went the other way.. Got sick and tired of new $500+ knives with poor fit and finish so I started to pick up Midtech or Production models of the same knives.. that were flawless.. and if there is an issue I get good, quick, Warranty Service without all the hassle of one man shows and egos.. No more customs for me..

Doh, only read the first page before posting but it looks like I'm not as weird as I initially thought.. :-)
 
Been there for sure..... I don't get much satisfaction from production knives anymore, not that they are unable to tackle cutting tasks, it is they no longer affect me on an emotional level. That said, $2000+ customs don't do much for me either as I feel the dollar value increases against the maker name, and I am not a collector..... the hobby has settled me into a 1k maximum sweet spot. I prefer to use and carry all my knives, so I cannot bring myself to devalue a knife worth more than 1k from use and carry. Also, I could live with myself if I lost a $600-$1000 blade, but to loose a 2-3k knife would be a whole different level of pain for me. All I need in a complete knife experience is available at 1k.....
 
Benchmade'a Axis lock got me. I got an Umnumzaan within a few months of collecting and loved it, but I caught myself on the framelock. I liked a few Spydercos, but then there was nothing I was interested in. When the 908 Stryker came out I had to have it and I fell hard for the Axis lock. I sold my Zaan and got a Grip that I will do Wilkens grips for. I loveusing and carrying my knives and I don't worry about a $200 knife, yet it's still nice enough to start conversation. I'm big into custom scales on Benchmade knives now. I've got a set coming for the Grip and I've got plans for my Contego and perhaps a 710. I will at some point be interested in LE's, but I dont have any draw to customs. I like options and I like to be able to easily sell knives off that don't get pocket time.
 
Heading this way myself. I go through my collection and just wince at some of the stuff I thought was awesome 5-10-15 years ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top