One Higher Priced Knife or a Few Lesser Ones?

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Lock1454

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Jan 4, 2009
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I'm kind of torn... I have the itch (and have for the couple weeks or so) to buy some new knives, but I don't know whether to get a few lower priced bargain blades (along the lines of KaBar Dozier, Ontario RAT Folder, Buck 110, SOG Flash I/II, etc.) or one higher quality knife. If I were just planning on getting junk cheapos, then it'd certainly be an easy decision to go with the higher priced quality knife; but I think most would agree that these knives listed, for the most part, are pretty nice even though they don't carry a hefty price tag.

So torn =( A bunch of new fun toys, or just one?
 
If you're going to use them & not plan on reselling them,I'd say go with more.

I used to have approx. 40+ folders priced from $30-$150 each.I sold most of them & took a loss on just about every one.I now have a handfull left that I wouldn't part with for anything.

My next purchase is going to be a Sebenza(which hold their value,even if they're a little scratched up).I fear my tastes are only going to go up from there.:o

Good luck :)
 
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well... if you already have a number of midrange knives, and not yet a more upper-class product, then perhaps this time opt for one more luxurious knife.
 
you know a sebbie and a nice slippie really is all you could ask for, or if your like me replace the slippie with a small fixed blade like an RC-3 from rat and you have your working knife and your nice sheeple friendly uber folder. i find that no matter how many knives i go thru the nicer a blade i want to carry on a regualr basis. i have a griptillian and and an endura for abusive chores and i carry an emerson k-bit and an ontario RAT soon to be replaced with the real deal. eventually i will buy a sebbie just to use and i probably wont ever remove it from my edc rotation. nice knives are really just that nice knives :D i think the important thing is that your content with your purchases and that they make you happy it is after all your passion. good luck with whatever you choose but i for one will continue down my less is more path.
 
Well, if I ever got a Sebbie, good heavens I'd lock it in a safety deposit box and never look at it for fear of something going wrong with it ;P

By high price, I was talking more along the lines of $80-$125 range. Although I do like having more toys, I do think I'll have to go with a more quality knife this time around. My only knife of any quality that is worth mentioning is a BM 551, all my other knives are bargain blades (Tenacious, etc.). Although... Maybe I'll make it a $100ish knife and a RAT Folder, for some reason I am fascinated with that knife O.o
 
Get thee to a wally-world - and buy a Buck 110 ($27 + s/t now). Great American made user. And... if you really like it - get thee to yon Buck Knife site - and check out their 'Custom Shop'. You can order a 110 with nickel silver bolsters, no rivets, Asian water buffalo scales, and an S30V blade - made just for you - for ~$120. Then you'll have a user and a looker.

While you are at W-W, look at the new Kershaws they have - OD-1, Barrage, and the Zing - which I brought home with me Saturday night ($40 + s/t). Made in the USA, too - real oddity for W-W.

I love those Wm. Henry's and CR Sebbies - but, I couldn't carry a pocket knife that expensive. They really are nice, however.

Stainz
 
I'd go for multiple low-mid price knives and here's why. You get to try out different steels/ grinds/ blade lengths/ handle materials/ locking mechanisms. Once you put each to good use you'll have a really good idea what works for you. There is no one-right-answer. Some guys like scandi grind, some like flat grind. Some like G-10, others stag. Some like ZDP-189 others like 1095. Play around, have fun, figure out if you're an axe, khukuri or machete man, then spend bigger bucks. YMMV.

Frank
 
Quality....from experience, cheaper knives arent as satisfying to accumulate.
 
Mmm Silver, that's what I was planning on when I set out to start my minor collection, but as Ozy said, I feel a little like "Eh?" when I look back at the knives I have. However, I feel as if I'm not going to be satisfied with myself if I go with either option... I know I'm going to end up getting both a higher knife and a couple bargain blades =( Right now, thinking the BM 940 Reverse Tanto, Ontario RAT Folder and Dozier (Clip or Drop point)... Maybe I should start jingling a can on the street to fund this purchase =P
 
Get the fewer higher end things. You're not like, going to carry your whole collection of 50 knives with you everywhere. If your collection of just 5 is of all knives you love, you're going to have a beautiful, well crafted item with you at all times.

I'd rather just save up and get the things I just really want. I eventually buy the one I really wanted anyway and sell off the item I compromised with.
 
Go for the more expensive stuff. Greater pride of ownership, higher re-sale value if you ever decide to sell, and just flat out better knives for the most part. You get what you pay for.
 
To be honest, this year I am buying more expensive knives than I did last year. Last year most were $10-$70, This year, I have a $130 ordered, getting a $200+ and after that will likely be another expensive knife. Although, I am getting a few cheaper end this year. Most of the cheaper ones are folders. (Kershaw, Spyderco, BM, and a Boker are on the list)

So.. even though I am getting the higher ones right now, that is because I got a lot of the cheaper (Price, not quality) last year. So, if you have a lot of cheaper knives, get the one big one. If you don't, I'd get more cheaper end to test locks and steels and such.
 
Nonsatiation Assumption
”more is better”
If bundle A has more of at least one good than
bundle B (and not less of either), than A is preferred
to B

I vote for a BUNCH of cheap knives over one expensive knife

I struggle with these type of consumer decisions everyday of my life ;):mad::eek:
 
SilverFoxKnows said:
I'd go for multiple low-mid price knives and here's why. You get to try out different steels/ grinds/ blade lengths/ handle materials/ locking mechanisms. Once you put each to good use you'll have a really good idea what works for you. There is no one-right-answer. Some guys like scandi grind, some like flat grind. Some like G-10, others stag. Some like ZDP-189 others like 1095. Play around, have fun, figure out if you're an axe, khukuri or machete man, then spend bigger bucks. YMMV.

Frank
Click to expand...

What Frank said.

Lately, I have been trying out some brands that formerly I didn't touch. What I have discovered, are a lot of excellent knives for very reasonable prices. I like knives, lots of knives and I have fun collecting and using them.
 
If you take care of your stuff. Example = careful not to lose, don't use improperly, get something nice.

If you are abusive to your stuff. Get the cheap ones
 
I don't buy cheap knives, but I don't buy top-end ones either. My minimum requirements are: stong enought to use it in the wilderness, fairly rust-resistant, easy to maintain/sharpen, good customer service. I don't care about the 'collectability' of the knive.

My ideal is just to own 5 or 6 knives that I can depend my life upon. Unfortunately as it goes with most of us, I happen to buy too many knives.
 
I think there is fashion in having an only knife that had seat in your pocket for years and is like a part or your's hand fre every task and use. But unfortunately I cannot avoid myself buyng a new knife time to time: so now I have a sort of collection of mid (100-200 ss) knifes. I still think in selling sometime most of them and holding only e few faovourites (steel ergonomics fashion are personale taste).
 
SilverFoxKnows said:
I'd go for multiple low-mid price knives and here's why. You get to try out different steels/ grinds/ blade lengths/ handle materials/ locking mechanisms. Once you put each to good use you'll have a really good idea what works for you. There is no one-right-answer. Some guys like scandi grind, some like flat grind. Some like G-10, others stag. Some like ZDP-189 others like 1095. Play around, have fun, figure out if you're an axe, khukuri or machete man, then spend bigger bucks. YMMV.

Frank
Click to expand...

+ 1 on this.

Make a list of what you like, and make a pros and cons list of your BM. It will help you decide.
 
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