next step

[wongKI]

Mine was cheapies, Mtech, SAK, Spyderco.

Still with Spyderco now, and really wanting to open up to fixed blades.

 

[udtjim]

When I see a knife that I like and can afford I buy it. I am not worrried about some artifical progression.

 

[elkins45]

I think for most people it goes something like this:

Smith & Wesson >> Gerber >> CRKT >> Cold Steel >> Buck >> Kershaw >> Spyderco >> Benchmade >> Strider >> Chris Reeve >> Custom

There's lots of variation among buyers and variation amongst the offerings by the manufacturers and some people take a side path to Case XX or maybe RAT or Busse. Some people start at SAKs and end up at SAKs again after they go through the cycle.

Very perceptive and probably very accurate post. Let me say, however, that not too many years ago Gerber would have ranked much higher on that list.

 

[elkins45]

When I see a knife that I like and can afford I buy it. I am not worrried about some artifical progression.

What's artificial about it? People naturally become more discerning as they learn more about a subject.

How do people learn that $5 knives aren't good enough until they've used one? I've been into knives since I was a little boy, but if you told me 10 years ago that I would pay over $200 for a hunting knife I would have called you crazy---yet there's a Dozier Buffalo River Hunter in my pack today.

There was a time when I thought my Frost (not Mora Frosts) was a pretty good knife. People learn stuff as they get older.

 

[DennisStrickland]

kershaw, b.m., s.o.g., &spyderco are all bringing new models to the market. i snagged a brad. m4 last week.i would wait a few months & see what jumps up & how they are received by forum members.