Once you go nice, can you go cheap?

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bcjjones

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Feb 27, 2016
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So I bought a kershaw filter. First off anyone have one of these knives? I bought it for 4 reasons. It was on sale for 12 bucks, and I wanted to know if I would like stone wash, assisted opening, and aluminum style grips.

In addition to any opinions on the knife I had a few questions. Why do people de-assist knives? Also this seems like a pretty nice knife for the price. My real question is, I own 2 spyderco paramilitaries and of course they are very nice. Once you get your hands on a nice knife like those, do yall still buy "budget" knives? Or is the quality overall too poor to be satisfied with?
 
It depends on the person. I personally can. I have a few Spydercos and Kizers and I still enjoy my Kershaws and CRKTs.

I can only speak for myself, but I prefer non-assisted knives since you can control the speed of opening. My assisted knives have an unfortunate characteristic in common, and that is that when they're opened they draw a lot of attention since they could be mistaken as autos. Not to mention that they're just generally loud.
 
Congrats on the new steel! Pictures would be cool!
To answer the second question, it does indeed depend on the person. For example, i recieved my first Sebenza in the mail awhile ago, being a $500 knife. About a month later, i decided to pick up a NO.10 Opinel shortly there after. That was $9.99, and i have rarely been so pleased with a purchase.
 
Depending on what i've got on the schedule, i might have a Hinderer or a lowes Husky brand folding box cutter in my pocket. I would like to say i beat on them equally but thats not true. I dunno, i kinda like having some knives i dont really care about damaging. Its also good practice to keep sharpening those abused <$20 knives too which is always fun.
 
That's a good question. I'm theoretically still open to buying cheaper knives, just for the fun of it. For example, it seems like once a year or so, I feel the need to buy a Cold Steel XL Voyager, just so I can open it and giggle like a little girl at that ridiculously large blade. However, lately, I usually end up thinking "why not just save the money and put it toward another CRK, Benchmade or ZT?"
 
its all personal preference man. Sometimes its the whole acquisition process that does it, sometimes its making up your mind to get something nice that really speaks to you, or sometimes its getting something that you're going to use and feel good about its wear and tear.
 
The most expensive I have are Benchmade balisongs and a Microtech. But those usually roll with an Opinel in my pocket. I love those cheap Opinels.
 
I have ZTs on one end and Smith & Wesson on the other. Just bought a Cryo to use as my work knife and couldn't be happier with it.
 
Yes you can. I have steadily gone from high end stuff (for me anyway) back to cheaper stuff. Don't miss the expensive stuff at all. I was always afraid to get it dirty and worried about trying to sharpen those tough super steals.
 
I used to collect really high end/custom Microtech knives. Almost had 30 pieces. But all they did was just sit under glass and every once in a while I took them out and toyed with them. Blah....a few years later, I started to sell them off and bought several high end/custom 1911 pistols. That, and several knives that I use. The knives that I have...I carry and use them ALL. For the most part, I have Spyderco and Sebenzas. Go figure....and they are BOTH high quality knives. A Sebenza might run me close to $700 in some cases....while the Spyderco will run me $150, and the steel on the Spyderco is 20X better.
 
Well the Kershaw link looks like a cheap knife that I will have to have, I almost bought one in all the 4 different variations today. Then I stopped and thought about it, and will save the money for something I really want, like a Hinderer XM-18 or a mini Bodega. I just added the Links to the wish list for later. Thanks Blade HQ.
 
Yes, you can.

I have spent a good bit on high end production, and one off custom.

I still own, and buy the cheap ones, like Opinel.

I like them a lot.

No reason not to carry and use a good value knife either.
 
dogstar said:
I personally go nice and cheap.
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Same here. I actually started off with higher end stuff, but the more I learned about what actually made them tick I began to realize just how many knives with high performance features were out there for not a whole lot of money. Personally I like having an arsenal of good knives that are all better suited for different ranges of tasks vs. one or two ultra-premium ones. I focus on expanding the range of situations or tasks that I'm equipped for rather than taking the narrow approach. :)
 
Answering the question "once you go nice, you you go cheap?":
I think not. This question is comparing quality, and I don't think I could handle a cheap knife as enjoyably as a well made nice one. I'm not one to get beater knives, since scissors do that all too well for my needs.

Answering the question "once you go expensive, can you go cheap?":
Definitely. I currently use a $450 knife, but I have to admit I don't like grime on the blades. Mud, random specks, and all of that is fine, but fingerprints after someone else has held it? Heck naw. I have a $25 Schrade that even then I hate getting grime on like packaging tape adhesive, but if I got that muddy I wouldn't wipe it down as detailed as the $450 knife. Wiping off a knife might seem prissy, but I'd rather not live like a dirty pig.

At the end of the day, I feel like once you reach something like a top model ZT, everything purchased above this price is for reasons other than performance. For a sub $300 price, you'd probably get essentially optimized materials (elmax, m390, etc. steel), titanium/CF handles, well executed lockup, excellent build, and great aesthetics. Above this price, you get the materials, as well as much better aesthetics, and in some cases (Like with Tighe or Reeve) mastered fit and finish. Though, as with everything, diminishing returns with respect to price.
 
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Well, I have gotten a few knives in better steel and learned to get them pretty sharp with diamond equipment. I've gone back to my mid range steel in a work knife since I can use less elaborate (and free) sharpening equipment at work.
 
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The most expensive knife I own is beautifully made, features the best steel of anything I own and functions perfectly. I sits in a drawer while I admire how knives a 10th the cost function and cut so well.

I think a really nice knife can be a great learning experience that allows you to see why a Gerber Paraframe is junk while a Kershaw Skyline is genius. There are many cheap knives that have nothing cheap about them, just like there are some pricey knives that are deeply flawed. Owning something really nice helps you draw those lines.
 
RX-79G said:
The most expensive knife I own is beautifully made, features the best steel of anything I own and functions perfectly. I sits in a drawer while I admire how knives a 10th the cost function and cut so well.

I think a really nice knife can be a great learning experience that allows you to see why a Gerber Paraframe is junk while a Kershaw Skyline is genius. There are many cheap knives that have nothing cheap about them, just like there are some pricey knives that are deeply flawed. Owning something really nice helps you draw those lines.
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This is a good, insightful post. I have to agree.
 
Cost is relative on a knife as is "nice". Like RX said, having a better knife allows you to make judgments relative to a lesser priced knife. That is one of the reasons that many here recommend some low cost knives as "good knives". But it is relative and the $20-$30 knife will seldom (or never) be as good as a $200 knife. That doesn't mean the lower cost knife doesn't function as a knife or is "junk". So, yeah, I buy lower priced knives after owning "nice". I never would have purchased a Mora if this was not the case. I didn't start with Mora's.
 
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