Price of Knives

[cncpro11]

I have a stack of old blade magazines from the early 90's to present day that I like to read thru.
It is amazing to me the ridiculous prices people were charging / paying for knives 20 years ago compared to today.

The quality of blade steel and handle materials, along with much more consistent manufacturing processes, is far superior, and you are paying about the same.

 

[upnorth]

Am I on target or have knives gotten carried away by inflation like everything else? How many of you would pay hundreds of dollars for a knife? How many have paid that and regretted it? How many wish you had paid that much?

I recently saw that the price on my Rucksak SAK has gone down about 6-8 bucks, since I bought one from the same chain store about 15 years ago. I only have 3-4 knives that are close to $200.00 and I like them all. Axes are actually a great deal. Good for a lifetime with care and you can get some of the very best for a bit over a hundred. Don't get caught up with the prestige of knife X, just buy what works for you. That $75.00 Becker BK-2 will likely be around for your grand kids to split kindling with.

 

[RemyKaze]

I recently saw that the price on my Rucksak SAK has gone down about 6-8 bucks, since I bought one from the same chain store about 15 years ago. I only have 3-4 knives that are close to $200.00 and I like them all. Axes are actually a great deal. Good for a lifetime with care and you can get some of the very best for a bit over a hundred. Don't get caught up with the prestige of knife X, just buy what works for you. That $75.00 Becker BK-2 will likely be around for your grand kids to split kindling with.

Yeah seriously. Almost all the modern stainless steels used in decent knives are going to look nearly the same decades down the road, and most of the carbon steels like 1095 and 5160 wear very slowly and are usually found in thicker blades, so the same could be said there. A lot of these higher priced knives, even when used daily, are a great potential investment since it's unlikely they'll need to be replaced often.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Really depends...I would grab my $20 Kershaw just for everyday work. Weekends going out, I'll carry my Benchmade or Spyderco. There ain't much guys can spend money on...for me it's my motorcycle or my blades. I've seen friend spend $500 on a Lebron James sneakers..my wife spent $2800 on a handbag???? I really rather be spending money buying knives which gives me a natural high, verse drinking & smoking or whatever social drugs that is out there...I've seen friend gamble thousands of dollars away, and would not spend a few buck on their own mother.

Weird world but everyone price their own value differently....

Imagine the knives we'd have if we didn't buy motorcycles! Gotta have it though, no drinking or drugs here either. :thumbup:

 

[John_B]

Well, I guess you can consider a knife or firearm as a durable good. I mean 1 good handgun can last you more than a lifetime and your decendants can enjoy them as well. So it most be the same for a $400 knife.

I Think.

I haven't been in the market for an outdoor knife for a long time. The little I still manage to go fishing, I have an old K Mart Sharp brand belt knife and a couple of boning/fillet knives I bought from a fishing pier shop. Only knives I buy now are work knives. I'll post another entry on that.

I see knives in ads selling for $50 up to $400 and more. I realize any item in the world can be made pricier with extra features of all types, etc. But somehow, I cannot see myself paying $400 for a knife. Even if I were a full time hunter/trapper, etc. I don't think I could see that kind of $. In my mind, $50 to $75 would be my range, maybe $100 if I had it.

Am I on target or have knives gotten carried away by inflation like everything else? How many of you would pay hundreds of dollars for a knife? How many have paid that and regretted it? How many wish you had paid that much?