Overpriced fixed blades?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
I feel like I must be missing something, because I don't understand some of the prices certain fixed blades command.

Brous, Strider, Microtech, Hinderer, and Medford spring to mind. Their fixed blades aren't made out of any kind of superamazing steel most of the time, and yet the prices for the blades puts them almost around the same cost as their folders.

Doesn't pricing them like this pretty much make them useless? What bushcrafter is going to drop $500 on a D2 Medford fixed blade when they can get a (still arguably very expensive) Busse, Tops, Spyderco, Benchmade, or Zero Tolerance knife for considerably less? Heck, I could drive for ten minutes, spend $180, and get an ZT 0180 RIGHT NOW. Any damn day of the week.

What's the market for disproportionately priced knives like that? Collectors? Maybe I'm too practical with my knife money, but I feel like half of the fun is getting something really awesome at a price that doesn't make you cringe when it is used. Folder prices in that range seem justified because of the meticulous work and fit and finish involved with all the little parts... But a fixed blade is one heat-treated slab of metal that sometimes has handles and a sheath.

I'm not trying to criticize or bash these makers - I'm legitimately just curious. They're free to charge whatever they would like and I'm sure they could justify it to our mutual satisfaction, but I haven't seen those justifications and it just seems grossly disproportionate to me.
 
I struggle to see where the actual value is at on some of the most expensive fixed blades as well. Considering that I have some beautiful Bark River knives in 3V with amazing handles and mosaic pins for which I paid less than $300. Not cheap I know, but they're everything I could want functionally and aesthetically. More $$ doesn't seem to get me anything more.
There are some amazingly beautiful custom knives that may be worth bigger $$ based on exotic materials but generally those are knives that are too pretty to actually use....safe queens.
 
Value means different things to different people, not really much else to say about it.
 
Name brand, not as much substance. Maybe build quality or materials(mammoth or stag) of handles. But as for me I'm a scrapyard fan; basic, tuff,functional and a great price point.
 
They are worth what people are willing to pay. What others like and prefer may not be what you or I can appreciate at the same level. Isn't life wonderful when we can actually say these things?
 
I think you answered your own question: collectors.

With the first group you listed, you're talking collectors paying for name... not to say their products aren't fantastic- but marketing, limited supply, and in some cases material and finish play a role...

In the second group you listed, you have some larger manufacturers (see mass produced so often cheaper) and Busse who uses special steel. Again marketing, limited supply, and in some cases material and finish also play a role here- but if we're talking fixed blades, I agree with your assessment and would pick a Busse every time vs any other brand at the same price point.

Also- I really hate D2 at high price points- I just don't get it... I have to find that thread about loathing steel types and update my feelings about it :-)
 
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Man, I didn't get blasted? I was kinda expecting some rage, and I'm not even sure why.

It's good to see I'm not alone in seeing many fixed blades as unjustifiably priced, at least from a user's perspective.
 
Choppers, CS TM and Recon Scout in 01, none better imho. Not even my VonTempske. General carry fixed blade, CS Master Hunter original. None better imho. I have a ton of others but these are the ones that get used the most. I also have a couple of Armstrong knives coming of 52100 and can't wait to try those. Very inexpensive for quality of build. keepem sharp
 
I get you, but there are also customs out there made from W2 or 1084 and similar that I completely understand dropping a ton of money on because the makers are virtuosos. Personally, I don't think that about the blades you listed, but if I did I guess I would understand.
 
Economics 101. Laws of supply and demand, what ever the market will bear. As long as people pay the price they will continue to market them. Oh, inflation, price increase.
 
Comeuppance said:
Man, I didn't get blasted? I was kinda expecting some rage, and I'm not even sure why.

It's good to see I'm not alone in seeing many fixed blades as unjustifiably priced, at least from a user's perspective.
Click to expand...

Starting a thread expecting to get blasted?? Troll!!:D Kidding. ^That does kind of reminds me of the 'miss the drama' car commercials.

Seriously though, I've always just assumed that the demand set the price.
I would really like to own a Busse and some customs, but can't imagine spending that kind of money on a knife right now. I mean, a Team Gemini cost more than all my fixed blades put together!

As far as value, I think it is pretty cool that some of the knife makers here (that haven't become as widely known yet) have such reasonable prices on their knives. Christmas before last, I got my Dad a custom Burning Bush fixed blade with figured walnut scales and a fitted leather sheath for around $150. I thought was great considering the price of comparable production knives.
 
I really like my Microtech folders, so I figured I would get a Currahee to to go with them.

Um, wrong. Sorry. Not in this life time. $250 for a 4.5" blade of D2? Seriously?
 
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Free-marketplace economics. They charge what people are willing to pay. As long as people are willing to pay their prices, they will continue to sell at those prices.

"Overpriced" is relative to ones own financial situation. If you can't afford something, then you might call it "overpriced". But to the guy who can spend $500 on a knife and never miss it, a $500 knife is easily affordable.

And I would not assume that everyone who buys an expensive fixed-blade does so just as a collectors piece. I've seen US combat troops carrying some knives from the very brands you mentioned. Maybe they were gifts from parents with money, or maybe the soldiers bought them themselves (it can be nice to be single, with no kids, and have lots of extra money).

I've seen hunters go into the wild with $10k shotguns when a $200 shotgun will kill a duck just as dead. Some people buy what they can afford just because they like it, and because they can afford it.

I carry a fixed-blade that cost $300 (pic below). I've used this knife at work for several years (shipping, construction). I've used (and continue to use) this knife hard and it shows it. I've never once been reluctant to take it out of my house and put it to serious use.


P1000953750x563_zps6974cd30.jpg
 
Hi kilgar, What blade is that?

Back to OP, I stick with Mora or Glock 81 since they are hardy, affordable and ever so available.
Of course I also own some expensive fixxies but for what I pay for, I want to see myself In it.
That means a custom or a maker that made what you want to use and not collecting dust.
 
JayGoliath said:
Hi kilgar, What blade is that?

Back to OP, I stick with Mora or Glock 81 since they are hardy, affordable and ever so available.
Of course I also own some expensive fixxies but for what I pay for, I want to see myself In it.
That means a custom or a maker that made what you want to use and not collecting dust.
Click to expand...
Hello

It's a Wilson Tactical model 25. It's a semi-custom (they were hand-made only after an order was placed). Overall length is 10", full-tang, blade is D2 steel and 5" long. The blade is also just a little under 1/4" thick. I say "they were hand-made" because they stopped offering this model years ago.

The tang used to stick out beyond the handles and formed a big lanyard loop but I didn't like it so I ground off. I also ground the sharpening-notch at the end of the edge because I prefer them.

Although I like the knife (it's my #1 knife out of several), in my current economic situation I wouldn't pay that much for ANY knife. At the time I bought it I was rolling in extra cash so I indulged myself on a knife I really liked and wanted. And being able to carry it with me all the time and put it to heavy use at work made it all the more of a worthwhile purchase in my opinion.
 
Knife making is a time consuming process. Time is money, and vice versa. Branding plays a part, but not what I'd consider the main factor. Try making one and let us know how it goes
 
B34NS said:
Knife making is a time consuming process. Time is money, and vice versa. Branding plays a part, but not what I'd consider the main factor. Try making one and let us know how it goes
Click to expand...



That's pretty much the response I was expecting.

Counterpoint: I can get some pretty sweet fixies CUSTOM MADE from better steel by makers on the forum for less than many of the Brous, Medfords, and Striders.
 
I have a couple of Essee"s and honestly don't see what more a person could expect from a fixed blade. Its tough, sharpens like a razor, and carries comfortably. I can split kindling with it or skin a deer with it. Maybe Im just not sophisticated enough to appreciate a more expensive fixed blade.
 
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