Once a beer drinker always a beer drinker.

[mickeyblueyes]

Well like most others i went and did it, I have the buying fever and bought 3or 4 knives from every manufacture thats mentioned in this forum. Then I went and bought a small Sebenza with cocobola inlays. I have had it a week or two and I just don't like it . Its made very well,its sharp but I have not cut any thing with it. I don't know, I have to find a outlet to sell it. I also had a Gold series 750 - 101 from Benchmade sent it back did not like it. I do like my Bone collector ,my mini grip, my spyders, The new rescue and the rake and many more. The microtech is ok, not to personal. Kershaws are fine, I have a ton of Case knives. I guess my point is if you give nice Champaign to a beer drinker he is likely not going to appreciate it. I like the feel of $75-$100 knives. Any one else??? I do like the better things in life maybe just not knives?

 

[KnifeKnut66]

Is it the added cost that is keeping you from using and maybe appreciating these knives? Being a beer drinker myself I can still appreciate the difference between say Milwaukees best and Sam Adams or PBR and Guinness.

Edited to add: If I'm just "looking to get the job done" than a twelve back of Bud will suffice. If I'm looking for a more pleasureable and refined experience I'll spend the extra cash and upgrade my selection. Both products will do what you want them too, just in different ways.

 

[Rupestris]

I won't say that i will (or can) limit myself to the $75 - $100 knife thing. Price has nothing to do with whether or not a knife works for me.

I can say that the Sebenza doesn't do it for me. I won't knock it. Its a great knife and while it costs almost as much, it is the Glock of knives. Tough as can be and as dependable as a sunrise.

No worries if it isn't your cup of tea. That is why there are so many designs and makers out there.

Even a beer drinker can appreciate a micro-brew that costs $15 for a six pack and chose that over a 30 pack of Milwaukee's Beast that costs just as much.

 

[KeithAM]

Sebenzas. Love 'em or hate 'em. The only thing I don't like is when someone from one side of the fence implies that the folks on the other side are stupid for their preference.

Quite a few people have posted something along the lines of, "I handled a Sebenza, and I wasn't impressed." I can understand that. It's an understated design. And a few have used them for a while and decided they weren't all that. That's okay. I use mine, and I really didn't appreciate them fully until I'd used them for a couple of years, and taken them apart and put them back together a few times.

You won't know how good a knife it is by looking at it or, worse, keeping it in a drawer. Of couse if you sell it without ever using it you'll never know. Sebenza means "work" in some African language. See how yours works and then decide.

 

[BP Green]

I didn't see what all the hype was about either until I bought and used my first Sebenza. Now I love it. Like beer or wine it is an acquired taste - at least that's how it was for me.

 

[Cynic2701]

The differences in higher-end beers is definitely an acquired taste. If you put a Hair of the Dog Fred batch #78 and a batch #75 in front of someone who isn't used to the style - barleywine - they probably wouldn't be able to tell you why its a good beer, and why batch #78 stands head and shoulders above #75.

Once you get used to drinking high IBU (hoppy) beers in the 70+ range, it's hard to go back to anything below about 45 IBU's. The same thing with knives: once you get used to higher end knives, it's hard to go back to knives that cost under $100. You just get used to the attributes and characteristics of well made $100+ knives.

When I'm out at a bar and they only have Miller or Bud or Heineken or whatever other macro-brew dross available, I refuse to order beer. In knives, once the "snobbery" takes hold, a lot of people may very well end up refusing to buy knives that are below $100--I sure do.

On the other hand, what knife purchases I do make are few and far in between. I can't afford to plunk down $400 a month for a new knife. I can definitely see the allure of being able to buy several knives for what one CRK costs. Personally, I'd just prefer save up and buy a CRK once or twice a year.

Value is in the eye of the beholder. I think that $50 beers are definitely worth it, as long as you know what styles of beer that you like or dislike. Same with knives.

 

[foxx]

I like fixed blades. They are less expensive, no mechanisim to foul up. I'll take more care of an expensive blade, and be more picky about it's details.
I like beer, it does have to be of some quality.
I could not see myself spending $400 on a folder, and then using it. I wouldn't want to scratch it. I spent $400 on a Rodent Waki, w/sheath. I don't abuse it, but I will go slice up some gallon jugs, or overgrowth in the yard. I like to use my toys, and drink my beer.

 

[KeithAM]

The differences in higher-end beers is definitely an acquired taste. If you put a Hair of the Dog Fred batch #78 and a batch #75 in front of someone who isn't used to the style - barleywine - they probably wouldn't be able to tell you why its a good beer, and why batch #78 stands head and shoulders above #75.

Once you get used to drinking high IBU (hoppy) beers in the 70+ range, it's hard to go back to anything below about 45 IBU's. The same thing with knives: once you get used to higher end knives, it's hard to go back to knives that cost under $100. You just get used to the attributes and characteristics of well made $100+ knives.

When I'm out at a bar and they only have Miller or Bud or Heineken or whatever other macro-brew dross available, I refuse to order beer. In knives, once the "snobbery" takes hold, a lot of people may very well end up refusing to buy knives that are below $100--I sure do.

On the other hand, what knife purchases I do make are few and far in between. I can't afford to plunk down $400 a month for a new knife. I can definitely see the allure of being able to buy several knives for what one CRK costs. Personally, I'd just prefer save up and buy a CRK once or twice a year.

Value is in the eye of the beholder. I think that $50 beers are definitely worth it, as long as you know what styles of beer that you like or dislike. Same with knives.

It has nothing to do with snobbery for me. And I don't think most CRK owners on these forums act like they're superior or have superior tastes. They don't show off their knives any more than folks who like some other brand. For the most part, they tout Sebenzas in the CRK forum, and talk about them in General mostly when other people bring them up, like in this thread. The notion that CRK owners are snobs is a bad rep thrown on them by a few naysayers who, for some reason I'll never understand, carry a grudge.

I also enjoy carrying and using a $20 Victorinox Cadet, and plenty of other inexpensive knives. I own about 100 knives, from Opinels on up, and only 6 CRKs. I like all of them. And while I can appreciate a fine microbrew, I can also enjoy a PBR.

 

[ono724]

Comparing a high end knife to "high" end beers is ridiculous

 

[JW Knives]

Its funny to read this post. I am in the process of deciding between buying the Paramilitary2 or the following: Spyderco ladybug, Boker Trance, Spyderco Persistence and Kershaw Ososweet

They both cost the same!

btw I can get both for about 120 canadian.

 

[KnifeKnut66]

Comparing a high end knife to "high" end beers is ridiculous

Are you just here to stir up crap or do you actually have something constructive to add to the conversation?
It's np more ridiculous than comparisons to high end watches, cigars, whiskey, cars or broads. People appreciate what they do and for you to come in here with a blanket statement is both insulting and ignorant.

 

[BikerTrash]

Right now I can't bring myself to spend much over $200 on a knife, yet I have no problem buying 3 $150 knives, go figure.

As for beer, I like 'em all, but I prefer craft beers and double IPAs. The more hops the better.

 

[ono724]

Are you just here to stir up crap or do you actually have something constructive to add to the conversation?
It's np more ridiculous than comparisons to high end watches, cigars, whiskey, cars or broads. People appreciate what they do and for you to come in here with a blanket statement is both insulting and ignorant.

I don't find nothing ignorant about a true statement. I find comparing beer to watches and cars just as ridiculous. Are you offended? insulted? Your comment about comparing "broads" to cars/beer/cigars is far more ignorant and insulting. I can appreciate a high end watch, or knife, or car, but that doesn't mean my taste buds will allow me to appreciate a fine wine or whiskey. It's like comparing apples to oranges...

 

[Cynic2701]

I don't find nothing ignorant about a true statement. I find comparing beer to watches and cars just as ridiculous. Are you offended? insulted? Your comment about comparing "broads" to cars/beer/cigars is far more ignorant and insulting. I can appreciate a high end watch, or knife, or car, but that doesn't mean my taste buds will allow me to appreciate a fine wine or whiskey. It's like comparing apples to oranges...

Any and all comparisons of one object to another, if epistemic validity is our goal, are ridiculous.

It is equally ridiculous for you to claim that it is possible for you to appreciate the quality in one type of object, yet be unable to determine quality in another.

It is not ridiculous to admit that you may not be able to taste the difference in high quality alcohols. Even if you can't taste the difference between, say, a DIPA and an unoaked barley wine, you cannot deny the possibility that another person may have the ability to differentiate the two by taste alone. I would find it hard to believe that you could not differentiate an apple from an orange by taste alone.

The comparisons made here are judgments of quality, not of quantity. What we are discussing with our comparisons is not that a knife and a beer are analagous: we are in fact making comparisons in our individual ability to determine and make judgments of quality in knives.

 

[GIRLYmann]

"Once a beer drinker always a beer drinker"
- mickeyblueyes

 

[jimnolimit]

i happen to be more performance oriented. i rather buy a product that can give me 90%-95% the performance for 50% of the price.

i think i understand the OP and i believe his point is that he can't appreciate the fine details at a cost 2-4 times the price, nether can i. i understand the art and exclusivity of a high-end product, but i really enjoy "great bang for the buck".

 

[RetiredGuns]

First thing that everyone has to understand whether like it or not $400 to some is $50 to others. Envy even in it's slightest form tends to pop up in discussions like this. I am in the middle myself as a Marine of 20 years I demand performance but appreciate high quality. I'm also a Dad with kids, college tuition, yada yada and luckily there are so many knives that meet my demands. Were the funds available to purchase $600 knives with no affect on my family your darn tootin' I'd try a few. I do however prefer certain things. I don't like overly tactical looking knives regardless of price or popularity. I don't like heavy knives for EDC period and I don't like all metallic scales so some of those temptations are squelched.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

I do not have any idea what you are saying. I am a simple guy. The point being, their is a old expression, a person has champaign taste with a beer pocket. Thats the phrase I was working off. Meaning a person likes the finer things but can only afford the cheaper ones. The only point I was trying to say is that to me the feel or a mid price Benchmark or Spyderco feels better in my hand than a more expensive Sebenza at this point. Perhaps its the Rubber or Bone vs Titanium , I dont know. I have had a bunch of Rolexes through the years, sold all of them except for one. They are well made, make you feel good when you wear it, but the mechanical ones don't keep great time and they cost $600 + every couple of years to service. A Casio G shock keeps better time does 10x more and cost 1/100 th the cost of a Rolex. Which makes more sense?

Any and all c
omparisons of one object to another, if epistemic validity is our goal, are ridiculous.

It is equally ridiculous for you to claim that it is possible for you to appreciate the quality in one type of object, yet be unable to determine quality in another.

It is not ridiculous to admit that you may not be able to taste the difference in high quality alcohols. Even if you can't taste the difference between, say, a DIPA and an unoaked barley wine, you cannot deny the possibility that another person may have the ability to differentiate the two by taste alone. I would find it hard to believe that you could not differentiate an apple from an orange by taste alone.

The comparisons made here are judgments of quality, not of quantity. What we are discussing with our comparisons is not that a knife and a beer are analagous: we are in fact making comparisons in our individual ability to determine and make judgments of quality in knives.

 

[elkins45]

Almost all knife purchases discussed on this forum are driven by want and not need. A $400 folder is a luxury item by definition...and some folks' budgets can absorb that kind of luxury more easily than others. There's a cost to value curve for every knife buyer and each of us have a dollar amount where that curve flattens out.

I don't own any 'mid-tech' knives like Striders or Sebenzas, but I do have a couple of Spyderco sprint runs that were close to $200. Those knives are up there near the top of my curve. Paying twice as much for a different knife certainly won't bring me twice as much performance. For other folks a $50 Delica seems like a real extravagance because their $5 flea market folder seems to work just fine. Would they have a 10X better experience if they paid 10X the price? I don't know...it's an individual perception.

I do own a single custom valued over $400, but custom knives are in a different category to me that machine made items. That knife, I might add is undoubtedly the most expensive piece of cutlery I will ever own.

 

[jackknife]

I do not have any idea what you are saying. I am a simple guy. The point being, their is a old expression, a person has champaign taste with a beer pocket. Thats the phrase I was working off. Meaning a person likes the finer things but can only afford the cheaper ones. The only point I was trying to say is that to me the feel or a mid price Benchmark or Spyderco feels better in my hand than a more expensive Sebenza at this point. Perhaps its the Rubber or Bone vs Titanium , I dont know. I have had a bunch of Rolexes through the years, sold all of them except for one. They are well made, make you feel good when you wear it, but the mechanical ones don't keep great time and they cost $600 + every couple of years to service. A Casio G shock keeps better time does 10x more and cost 1/100 th the cost of a Rolex. Which makes more sense?

I have to agree with ya Mickey. I've tried both ends of the spectrum, and I find after a certain point, there is diminishing returns. I like quality, but there is a difference between real world practical quality, and perceived quality because of either high price, snob appeal, or tinsel wrapping that hides the plain underside.

Many years ago I used to collect Randall knives, and some other custom makers. But then I used to ride BMW motorcycles in the belief I was riding a better bike than a mere Honda. I found out I was wrong on both counts. The customs got sold off and the Beamer went down the road.

We humans are a funny breed of animal. Wrap something up in enough hype, and put a high price tag on it, and they will buy. Does not matter if the thing is not any better than product B at a lesser price, or even not as good. You can even sell an inferior product at a high end price if you have a magazine say nice things about it, or even get a celebrity to front for it. Too much of the time you're paying for the ambiance.

No, I gotta go with Mickey on this. I've had the high end watch, high end bike, high end knives. Now I carry a sak or a Buck, wear a Timex Expedition. Both work perfectly.

Carl.