POS versus Quality

Originally posted by cockroachfarm
And to be honest, those flea market POS knives will always have a soft spot in MY heart - they got me started as a knife collector.
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I'm right there with you. I started out collecting junky knives at the local hardware store and flea markets.

Now, it doesn't even phase me to put down $500+ for a knife. Just makes my wallet cry...:)

Dan
 
I still collect those $3 fleamarket knives but mostly they're old Colonials and Imperials. They make up the bulk of my collection, but I like them because there were so many variations. But of the 30 or so high dollar knives, $100 + they are my EDC's once again that's my choice. If I lose a carry knife, (which seldom happens, but it still does) I'm out a lot of money and it could be months to a year before I replace it. Bottom line when the chips are down it's run what ya brung and for me it'll always be a quality knife. IMHO:)
 
I used to like the $5 to $10 POS blades..you know, those fantasy knives, or survival knife with the sawback spine and survival kit in the handle. Then i became more aware of knives, esp when i got my first sharpening set. Some knives needed almost constant sharpening, and wel dull very quickly. others didnt. Then i learned about places like this. My education level increased immensely, and now I buy MT's :) Masters to MT...whats next??? :) oh yeah, customs when I get enough to afford them :D

Some people just dont use their knife enough to care about the quality. Quite honestly, many people use keys to open packages and stuff, so almost any knife is better. And lock strength, well, most people dont really abuse a knife unless it is a FB. Most people dont do a spine wack test, cuz they don't see why that is needed! How many times have you accidently gotten the back of your knife smacked with something?? how many times was it cuz you werent paying attention? I have never needed something that can pass the spine wack test. its nice to know it can, but not vitaly important unles you are knife fighting or something. I love slip joints and traditional pocket knives. They don't lock, and you rarely hear of people complaining that they closed on their fingers. In general, the public doesnt buy expensive knives...why buy a $100 knife when a $10 knife does the job as well for them? Most people dont realize that some steels hold an edge better. Most people dont realize when their knife is dull. Most people dont really want to spend $100 on a knife. this forum has over 10,000 members, but what is the populatuion of the US?? this is a small fraction of the public, and many people just dont really understand quality in a knife. If it cuts and looks cool, and is cheap, they buy it. They dont understand what a higher quality knife is like, and why it costs more. And they usually dont care.

The general public likes SAK's, and buck 110's, and the cheaper, showier knives. they don't really use them much at all, more for carry and show and tell.

Now for us, we like our knives to be sharp, look good, feel good, cut even better, sharpen easier, etc. Camillus, Old Timer, Boker, all sell great knives at low prives. D2 Arclight for $50, 420 HC for $20. for some, the 420 is just fine, others want the D2. All depends on the usage.

Personally, i like a knife with the strong lock, nice fit and finish, etc. I do pay over $100 for a knife, I have a $275 damascus piece. I have spent $105 on a piece of 6" long damascus to make 1 knife from. Why? because I know how quality affects a knife. I could prob get 420 hc barstock from somewhere, but I would rather use ATS, D2, 154, CPM stuff, etc...why? because it performs better. why use ironwood over pakawood? Looks nicer. performance difference, prob not much.

some people dont feel the need to pay $100 for a knife, or $1000 for a knife. As long as it gets the job done, they are fine with it. to them, there is no reason to spend $100 when a $10 item will work. showing someone why there is a difference in price and quality is good. find out the materials used in the 2 knives, and make up a price list of what each costs. then look at how they feel, perform, etc. then do some cutting testing, etc. prove to the person that the more expensive knife is generally better, but educate them on it, and show them.
 
Originally posted by Taz
Most people dont do a spine wack test, cuz they don't see why that is needed!
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I did when I first got my BM 730 Ares, (don't ask why.)lock held up great now I have what looks to be random file work on the back of my BM. I'll never do that again. :mad:

And another theory about the POS knives is that most people haven't a clue how to sharpen a blade, which makes it easier, and cheaper to replace a $3 to $5 knife when it gets dull, than a $100+ knife.

That's 20 knives, unless you buy them from the Home Shopping Nutwork cuz at a hunnert dollars fer 100 knives that comes to :confused: I'll repost when my kid comes home an does da math.:D
 
"The Bitterness Of Poor Quality Remains Long After The Sweetness Of Low Price Is Forgotten"

First saw that quote on DDR's website, and have always felt the same way. I've never regretted buying quality, whether it be knives, tools, boots, packs, watches, anything...I don't have a lot of stuff, but I've got really good stuff:D
 
Bying the best you can afford is a good practice. It is also a good practice to look for quality over price. I too wear a timex everyday and even my "expensive" watch, a Seiko kinetic, only cost $400. There is a difference between buying inexpensive pieces where there is quality or buying a cheap POS. I drice a Civic Si. I believe it to be of good quality. I would not think to drive a Dodge Neon because I do not believe, from what i ahve seen, the quality is there.
 
Wow

Thanks for the input people. You've been most helpful. Can't wait for Monday when i arrives.
 
Taz covered my thoughts pretty well.I carry Bm,Spydreco,Emerson,MT,CRKT etc.I am always asked by guys on the job "whats a good knife,followed by,how much?"I usally tell them a Delica or similar knife,for oh about $45.

I'd guess about 20-25% will go for "that" much money:rolleyes: most just want something for 10-maybe 20 bucks.Know what? the guys who buy the pos are just as happy as the ones that spend the bucks.I can't be happy with a pos,they can't be happy spending a hundred bucks a pop like I do.

The best thing I've found to do is when Smokey Mountain has a good close out,like Delicas for $25,or CRKT Mirage for 10 bucks is to stock up for when guys come around asking for a good knife "cheap".

For Me I will gladly spend more if the increase in performance is enough to justify the increased cost.Which is why I use a bic pen and a Timex watch(although I seldom wear/carry either):) . See for me if the pen writes and the watch keeps good time thats good performance, since both these do this very well at a cheap cost thats what I use. A cheap knife only offers a cheap price and very poor performance. Now if someone takes a year to build a watch it will cost thousands of dollars but will it keep better time than my Timex,which hasn't have to have been reset in years?See alot more money for little increase in performance means it ain't for me.
 
There's just something about a junk knife that's....well, seedy.
I don't even like to touch them. It's like 'that's not really a knife.' Perhaps many of you know the feeling.
 
Originally posted by ASP
There's just something about a junk knife that's....well, seedy.
I don't even like to touch them. It's like 'that's not really a knife.' Perhaps many of you know the feeling.
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To each his own, I guess. When my EDD (Every Day Driver) was a black Ferrari Testarossa, I never lost my appreciation and respect for a value-packed Honda Accord or a tons'o fun Chevy Corvette.
 
The 1,200 dollar one would most like go on a shelf or in a case to be displayed, not used. I've seen knives go for 5,000.....of course they were totally decked out with real 'recycled' ivory (ivory taken from old harvests, mostly from ivory sculpture) with diamond encrusted bolsters....etc. of course these aren't going into linty pockets, but into disply cases to appreciate in value. It all depends on what your money and your belongings mean to YOU. Not anyone else. I know someone that has a plain Sebenza In a glas case...some may think that is 'wierd'...but to him a few hundred dollars is worth that.

Regards,

Steve C.
 
Clawhands, go poll the Suspects and see how many of them carry knives costing $1200 or more. Then ask the ones that do how many knives in this price range that they carry. The results may surprise you.
 
I use a Lamy....
I wear a Tutima cause only watch fanatics know who they are
I carry a Benchmade Auto Stryker cause DAMMIT, it's fun to flick...
 
No I tend not to buy POS stuff, and that goes beyond knives.
Also POS doesn't necessarily mean cheap. Intel P4s are POS (well the northwood is catching up because they've started fixing it I believe), and they're definately not cheap.
There are cheap knives that have good quality and that's currently what I'm having (I don't have much money).
 
melchior, another idea is to loan your roommate a sharp, quality knife to use for a week, then take it back. Once he goes back to using his POS, after having experienced a quality knife, he might notice and understand the difference, he might not.
 
I buy whatever knife, watch, pen, car, etc. that I like. I'm not very concerned with other people's value judgements. I don't go around judging other peoples' choices in these things, and I don't prefer for other people to judge mine. I particularly don't like people who ask me "how much did that cost?", because the question nearly always seems to have ulterior motives behind it. Maybe it is the way I was brought up, but I'd never think to ask someone how much one of their possessions cost--it seems like an invasion of privacy to me.

Basically, I like to enjoy my stuff in solitude, and give everyone else the same privilege. So I guess what I'm saying is that you should carry whatever knife you are comfortable with, and just not discuss what it cost with your roomate. It's doubtful you're going to change his opinion, and equally doubtful he will change yours.
 
Oh...I thought that was just general drooling. :p :p

Sure, drool on the Casio all you want, but ask me how much it cost and you're in big trouble. :rolleyes:
 
You know what I get a big kick out of?

People all have their own tastes... I try not to be 'thing oriented', but sometimes it is fun to display what you've got...

I have friends who I sit around for hours with, sitting around the fire and comparing 'goodies'..

I am quite sure when I go to to bed after such discussions, that MY stuff is better than Jake's stuff.... but I realize this is subjective... We both like knives, guns, gear... but we also have differing opinions of what is 'the best'

I think this makes knife/gun collecting very satisfying... If everyone agreed what the best knife or gun was... it would not be much fun to collect 'em.

I personally like it when someone I am friends with tells me "oh that's ugly" because then I can sit back and think to myself.. "Well, I think it's beautiful"


Good Stuff

-Dave
 
Bear in mind, too, that a person's attitude towards price may drift as time goes by. I started collecting knives in the $50 range: basically Bucks and Spydercos. I remember seeing an ad for a William Henry knife that cost $250. I was horrified, amazed. I couldn't imagine that the William Henry could be "five times as good" as my Buck 112, and was sure that I would never carry a knife that I couldn't afford to lose.

Flash to the present. I don't have many $50 knives left in my modest collection. Most cost more twice that amount, and I also own a small Sebenza (and have a large on the way). So ... your attitude may be subject to change. After you get your toes wet to test the water, you may find yourself swimming before you know it.
 
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