Price you absolutely refuse to pay no matter how good the knife is

L

LostCause

Joined
Apr 1, 2022
Messages
840
So, the price that you would never pay over.

For me it would be 300€ max for a large fixed blade in really amazing steel.
Folder would be 200€ max, good steel and lock-up required.

I just don't think any knife above that price range can justify it's price with it's performance. And buying safe queens is not my thing.

So where do you draw the line? How much is too much?
 
I paid 1K for my last Wilson Umnumzaan. Put it in my pocket and carried and used it for several months, then sold it for what I paid…. Price is subjective. I carry and use a $500 Inkosi everyday and today chipped the blade doing yard work. Sharpened up and move on. I only use Kline screw drivers , some folks think 20+ dollars for a screw driver is insane…Don’t even get me started on fluke meters…..


How much is too much? Depends on how bad I want it.
 
Last edited:
Anything more expensive than premium Benchmades/Spydercos is really the point of diminishing returns. Beyond about $450-$500 I think you’re just paying for fidget-factor and limited supply. Hinderer is about the limit on functional return on investment for me. I can’t say I’ll ever refuse to pay MORE.. and have.. but the knives that stick around longest are all under $250. That says something about practicality.
 
Sure, there is a point of diminishing return.. But that doesn't mean that I won't spend more than that. Atm I have a couple around $800-1k, probably 8 or 9 in the $500 range, but the bulk of the collection are all between $150-300..

My most used folders are CRK, Spyderco, BM, Hogue and TRM. None of them realistically do any better than another, it's just a matter of taste.

At this point I don't pay for name or materials necessarily, I just pay for designs that I like.
 
When it's more than I want to risk carrying it around in my pocket. Stuff happens to knives. I don't want to be in the postion of being nervous about losing it. And I'm of Scottish descent. So I tend to watch my pennies.
I start getting iffy about price when it gets above $100. And I start skipping the catalog page at about $160.
 
knarfeng said:
When it's more than I want to risk carrying it around in my pocket. Stuff happens to knives. I don't want to be in the postion of being nervous about losing it. And I'm of Scottish descent. So I tend to watch my pennies.
I start getting iffy about price when it gets above $100. And I start skipping the catalog page at about $160.
Click to expand...
One of most reasonable responses.

Imagine losing a Rockstead or Sebenza...
 
All personal to each individual I guess. For a production knife around 300 UK pounds, a custom if I wanted it I'd pay more. This is for a fixed blade as I'm not into folders beyond a point.

I'm just getting back into archery after 30 years (used to be an instructor) and although I'm buying 2 cheap recurve bows for me and the missus once I get my mojo back Ill be spending a lot more than I would on a knife. I guess it's what you feel an increase in cost beyond a certain point provides re performance.

I'm some things such as the above example (archery) and work tools the price is worth it and can be felt ime. With knives beyond a certain point for me at least they can't. I've done it with kitchen knives my best performing knife costs about 300-350 and outperforms more expensive knives for me at least. Same with other knives beyond a certain point imo you're paying for a name or aesthetics, availability, workmanship etc...
 
Last edited:
I try to buy knives second hand/gently used. That being said, for an old-time slipjoint, I don’t believe I’ve spent over $50….$75 would be my max. A used Case slipjoint would have been my most expensive purchase. For a modern day folder, $150 would be my max. A used PM 2 was my most expensive purchase there. Probably 15 total slipjoints/folders, all in for less than $750 I would imagine. Not exactly “high-end stuff,” but that’s more than enough for me. If I want anything new additions, I gift a current one to one of my kids/grandkids and pick up a new one.
 
About 700+, 600usd would be pushing it but if it's something I really wanted I'd just bite the bullet. But yes that is the limit for me for limited production knives.
 
I haven’t found it yet. The most I’ve paid for just a knife so far is $1,150 (secondary market prices). The most expensive accessorized knife I EDC carry cost me $1,450.
 
It’s tough for me. I was into watches long before I got more interested in knives. So for me $300 seems almost cheap for a quality dopamine hit.

That said, aesthetics are big for me at higher price points. I think there are loads of knives that can perform as well as I need them to, so if I’m going over $300 it has to be aesthetically pleasing. Example - I’d probably never buy a plain Jane sebenza, but I’d happily pony up for one with beautiful inlays. I want my knives to be well made and perfectly functional but right on the edge of being too pretty to use.
 
Same as MolokaiRider MolokaiRider .
I used to think 60$ was a high price for a knife.
About 300& a little north if I find one I really want.
There are alot of nice choices within this range.

Though I’ve been browsing Chris Reeves thanks to this place. I just can’t seem to bite on that price tag. Especially that I’m not allowed to gravity open it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top