Overpriced fixed blades?

Comeuppance said:
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.
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I think part of the attraction is fad, part of the attraction is reputation. People buy what they want to buy and if they have the money then they pay the price. Having the reputation makes people want to buy them. I have a medium interest in fixed blades, mostly as users. It seems to me that Becker, Blackjack and Bark River all make quality products at relatively modest prices. I'm not sure how the more expensive brands are significantly better to be worth higher prices but to some extent that is up to the buyer.
 
Things are worth what people are willing to pay. Nothing more.
 
There seems to be a few custom-makers who keep producing very nice-looking fixed blades...mostly with steel that isn't so amazing. The money they ask is pretty high for their damascus blades and various burl handles. Their name-recognition increases and so do their prices. And, folks keep on buying them.
Yes, they are beautiful, but not terribly practical. I have several of them, but won't ever subject them to any use/abuse.
I guess, that for a dedicated woods knife, I would take a $200 fixed blade from SurviveKnives and feel quite comfortable in my decision.
 
I also think fixed blade knives from certain brands are grossly overpriced. Yeah there's a little more material used, but there are fewer pieces and no moving parts.
 
"Top brand" knives are to men what "top brand" fashion is to women.

(no sexism intended, just a generally-accurate generalization)
 
I agree, I see a lot of fixed blades by some of the makers you mentioned, and I would never pay those kind of prices for sub standard materials and fit and finish (for that price range). While they aren't for me, I can understand some people buying them just for the name.

I do have expensive fixed blades, but they are mostly my custom bowie collection. Those are in a whole other league though. I do have a few higher priced users, ones I EDC at times. Like the one pictured below - S110v at 62.5HRC . That is an incredible fixed blade, that I had no problem shelling out LESS than what a lot of the brand name production companies you mentioned charge. I don't mean to be judgmental, but when spending that kind of cash for a fixed blade that's meant to be used, might as well get something extremely useful.

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I think there are two primary reasons (the second being the most significant I think):

1. Increased quality. As many others have said, the difference is quality is very minimal, but some people will shell out lots of dollars for to have the "best of the best".

2. I think this is the more common reason: pride of ownership. While there are 10,000+ people who own a (insert production fixed blade here), there is something really special about being the only person you know who owns a (insert very expensive and exclusive maker name here).
 
This is just applying the "mid-tech" folder insanity to fixed blades. How many production companies now are making top quality folders out of premium blade steels for HALF as much or less than we see "mid-tech" knives sold for, some of which are probably never worked on by the guy whose name is on them. Heck, we now have knife makers selling subscriptions so their fans can be first in the know and in line for their offerings.

It's marketing, and customers willing to pay the price. People buy that fixed blade strider, medford, spartan, etc. for $400+ because it's more unique, maybe they like the design or the company views/attitude, tacticool, etc. Just like mid-tech folders, as long as customers keep fighting to pay $500 for a production knife out of average blade steel, companies will certainly keep making them and pricing them at those levels.

I'd take it a step further.... lots of big production companies sell their fixed blade knives at similar prices as their folders. Perhaps that's because they won't sell nearly as many of them. I'm happy to be corrected if wrong but I doubt one larger slab of cheaper steel, 2 g10 slabs, and a sheath cost as much as a folder with premium steel blade, carbon fiber/titanium handles, titanium bits etc. not to even mention the huge amount of extra machining/assembly/adjustment/quality control time that goes into a folder.

I'll pick on ZT:

0620cf folder : 2 slabs of titanium, 1 slab of CF, M390 blade, titanium and steel bits, fasteners, washers, clip, etc. $240
0180 fixed: 1 slab of vanadis 4, 2 slabs of G10, fasteners, sheath $220

Just so I don't get jumped on by the ZT fan boys, I'll pick on BM too.

BM 810: M4 blade, 2 liners, 2 g10 handles, axis lock, various steel bits, washers, clip, etc. $180
BM 183: S30V blade, 2 g10 handles, fasteners, sheath. $180
 
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Very few know how to design a great knife, those who do can command a premium price for their work.

A brilliantly designed knife, by someone who knows how to use one, made from mediocre materials will be a far better tool than a poorly designed knife, by a duffer who has no clue how to actually use a knife, made from unobtainium on the best equipment.
 
I agree with the OP...& i even think many of the spyderco fixed are pretty pricey. Their 5" Perrin "bowie" however, is still a lotta knife at a reasonable price.
 
Comeuppance said:
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.
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Very true, but then again that has more to do with availability and sometimes popularity. I always look at what's happening with custom makers as I think they're the ones pushing the industry forward. The other guys wait to see what sticks and sell it to their production run hungry user base for whatever price they all agreed on was cool.
 
Medford is a joke. His fixed blades look like $9 fantasy trash, which makes sense because he doesn't carry a knife. The guy doesn't even use his own products. Hilarious.

Mick Burger fixed blade knives are goofy tactical mall ninja designs. I saw one that looks just like a $6 knife on amazon.

There are too many companies making good knives to waste time and money on garbage. Queen makes a nice range of fixed blades in D2. They are under $70 too.
 
Great thread!!!

I also see the merit in questioning exorbitant prices on fixed blade knives. The "artsy fartsy" (admittedly very high quality) type fixed-blade knives are especially perplexing.

Even some of the more practically minded "bushcraft" knives such as the Ray Mears "Woodlore" knife are priced ridiculously (and with a 10 year wait list comprised of those ___ more than willing to pay it!). The same quality and utility/function can be had for hundreds less, yet people continue to pay (and pay and pay and pay....).

It's amazing to consider the market value of these "idols" that people line up to buy. As has been said elsewhere before, "A fool and his (or her) money are soon parted."

To expand the idea, I simply do not understand the same pricing scheme of high-end folding *pocket knives* - it's utterly ridiculous as well. Considering prices of $400, $500, $600 and more for a POCKET KNIFE? Some thing in which it's primary use is small cutting tasks in generally non-life-threatening situations. In no way does the utility match the cost. However, utility is likely not the reason for owners of these knives primary need.

I can appreciate the quality with which expert craftsmanship is employed, but seriously - $400, $500, $600 and more for a POCKET KNIFE?!? I know, the "defenders of the faith/ _____ brand" are gonna come and flame me. Oh well. Justifying a foolish position does not remove it's foolishness.

I've lived in and visited places in the world where a large percentage of the people use knives and edged tools daily to meet their basic needs. They would most benefit from the superb materials and designs found in the knives we pay with and extol the virtues of. However, what we spend on our EDC is more than what they earn in a month.

I guess I'm simply too pragmatic in how I use money. It's likely I pay for some area of excess in my life well beyond what is actually warranted.... but our 12 and 17-year-old vehicles may speak otherwise....
 
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Comeuppance said:
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.
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Totally agree here. The only people who will actually buy these knives are people who, A) are collectors (even though arguably they are not collectable in the real sense)
B) people who buy them but will never ever dream of getting them dirty
C) People with way too much money
D) People who are fooled by marketing hype
Finally, people who actually don't buy them but may have them issued to them/gift etc given to review or paid review

Let's face it D2 is D2 and it is cheap to source. Labour costs are high etc putting up prices. For example the UK price for some Medford fixed blades are like over 600USD!!! I'm sure my 400 buck knives will cut and break just as well. YES I own a Strider and have had it for over 15 years now, busted the tip, use it everyday but I only own one and that's it. OK all JMHO. Let me see someone prove me wrong by posting some videos of real outdoor wilderness use (shake one handed camera action I don't care) of these arguably overpriced knives and I'll say, ok the market is there other than foe the collector.
 
I reckon some of Mr Medford's fixed blade knives look damn uncomfortable as well unless wear three pairs of gloves or you have hands of a TITAN LOL
 
A fixed blade is certainly easier to produce than a folder, but I think with the big names you are paying not only for material and production cost but also for the name on and the design. They cost what they cost because people are willing to pay that much, simple as that.

But still a good fixed blade knife is NOT easy to make, there are certain knives that stick out because they are so well made and designed, they just fit your hand like they were made for it. That is also what you pay for with certain makers.
 
Supply and Demand + Production vs. Small Batch/Mid-Tech vs. Custom

I bought a custom a few weeks ago and it cost me 20x more than the Mora Clipper I just bought Friday. They both do the same thing, but they are completely different.
 
Guys, everyone knows about supply and demand, you don't have to keep repeating it ad nauseum. Moreover, it's not a good answer to his question.
 
A couple of posters have said that these are better designs. How so? How is the woodlore a better knife than a mora for example? I don't see these knives as being better. Just fancier and would be more in the "pride of ownership" realm than anything. Which in itself is a bit silly. You feel pride but everyone else in the world seeing you pull out an ungodly expensive knife thinks you're nuts. Still trying to figure out how pride of ownership works when no one cares what you own. If it's simply the fact that you spent a lot on a thing, then you're flaunting wealth and I think that's funny. :D
 
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