Pros/Cons of high end folders??

It really is all relative. When I first started liking knives enough to carry one when I was young I couldn't imagine spending up to $100 on a knife. Once I got over that stigma I couldn't justify to myself that a knife over $100 was better than any knife I had at that point. Once I got my first auto for about $150 I thought I couldn't spend any more than that. Fast forward a few years and now I can completely justify (to myself) that it's okay to spend $750 on a knife. Whether I decide to use it or not is an afterthought. I usually like to carry what I buy, but sometimes I just can't bring myself to do it.
 
It all depends on what you like, your income etc. I have a friend that literally will not pay more than 5 dollars for a knife. He buys the mtech specials for $5 when they go on sale at Big 5.

Me, I regularly EDC a $300 knife. Some days I EDC a $20-$100 dollar knife. I have knives that cost only $60 that are safe queens that I will never use.

It's just collecting stuff/hoarding. It doesn't really matter how you do it, as long as you are as OCD as possible about it. =)

-Freq
 
The Pros you listed are concrete while the cons are subjective.

Whether it's expensive or a huge deal when lost is proportionate to your income. People buy knives proportional to their income will not consider knives to be expensive. And will not "feel" it when it's lost or broken. However, if you spend $400 on 1 knife when you are working minimal wage job, and sure you have enough the money to buy it, but it's extremely disproportionate and of course you are going to care if it's lost. Knife collecting is interesting since the very item is a blue-collar tool but we see plenty of high prices.

People on these forums that flash their $600 knives and such may or may not have the income to support their buying habits. So if you list cons as "expensive", and will "hurt if lost" you probably don't have the proportionate income.

edit:
ok, yeah you a college student.
 
OrangeJoe said:
I bet the average 20 year old college student has spent enough on his LATEST game console + games to afford both an X18 AND a Sebenza.
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So true. My roomates bought an Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively with the money they saved up while I bought a Large Sebenza 21. I'm 21 years old and it was totally worth it. On top of that I still get to play my roomates Xbox 360 and PS3. Life is good :D
 
kawr - Me too, I'm 22 years old and in grad school. I easily have over $1000 worth of knives sitting in front of me as I type this. In fact, the Busse Boss Street I'm flipping around in my hand cost me 240 + 50 for the sheath.

I saved up a good while for each and every knife. But, I don't own a television or xbox360 or anything else like that.

The most expensive thing I own is a first edition copy of the 1934 Random House printing of Ulysses.
 
Pros/Cons of high end folders?

Hmmm, the obvious con is that it takes much more money to buy them and to be honest I can't think of any other drawback to those folders. What it comes down to for each individual is whether that con is a deal breaker or not.

I have a RAT-1 that I think is a great knife and I really can't see an expensive knife being THAT much better. I also have an Endura 4 that is a good & capable knife. Would I consider paying more to buy a Spyderco Military? Yep, if I had the spare money then sure, I'd like a nice S30V knife like the Military.

Would I pay $400 for a Sebenza or Umnumzaan? Probably not, but that is just my choice - I certainly wouldn't put down anyone for being willing to spend that much. Considering that I have a flashlight that I have spent well over $400 on there is no way I can scoff at those that spend $400 on a knife they really want.

I have a flat mate that told be he wouldn't consider spending more than NZ$20 on a knife. When you consider the freight cost it actually works out that he thinks an Opinel #6 is too expensive a knife to own! A Mora would also be dearer than he is willing to spend. To my mind that means he just isn't willing to get a knife that isn't junk because he doesn't think reasonable knives are worth the cost. He is right . . . for him. For me, I don't think it is worth buying junk - I'd rather save my money and spend more on quality that will last me for years/decades.
 
Pros:
-Fit and Finish
-Quality materials
-Pride of Ownership
-Collection value

Cons:
-Losing it
-Having it stolen
-Breaking it
 
RevDevil said:
Pros:
-Fit and Finish
-Quality materials
-Pride of Ownership
-Collection value

Cons:
-Losing it
-Having it stolen
-Breaking it
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+1:thumbup: All these plus Warranties.Very good ones to really sad ones (if any at all).

I'm not in the habit of breaking my knives.I've never lost one or had one stolen/confiscated.
 
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JTR357 said:
+1:thumbup: All these plus Warranties.Very good ones to really sad ones (if any at all).

I'm not in the habit of breaking my knives.I've never lost one or had one stolen/confiscated.
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Indeed, I forgot to include the all important warranty aspect.
 
i used to find it hard to justify spending over x amount of dollars for a knife. i still remember when a 20 dollar knife required lots of thinking before purchase. thank god those days are long gone!

the pros and cons are many, sometimes whats a pro to one will be a con to another. if you have just the slighest flair for nicer knives, precision, etc, you WILL want more and more once you get your first.
 
The coolest thing about high end knives (for me anyways) is that your knife will/should be made to your exact specs if you are buying it from the maker. I shied away from high end production knives ($350+) because I can get a custom for that price or $150 more that is exactly what I want. Plus you develop a relationship with the knife maker and often you'll get a discount for repeat business and/or referrals.
 
OrangeJoe said:
I bet the average 20 year old college student has spent enough on his LATEST game console + games to afford both an X18 AND a Sebenza.
Click to expand...

I live at home and I don't drink anymore, I got in way too much trouble from age 14-19. i dont really spend anything on ladies unless theyre my girlfriend, and i dont own any video game consoles or games (I only play one game and its for my PC). I don't have an iphone either, just an LG banter. I do however spend lots of money on healthy food and some supplements, because im weird like that.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I think I'll definitely consider getting something high end/custom in the future :) no one answered the other question, how much is a DDR Trigger Maze? I couldn't even find it for sale online
 
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Once they are up to over $300, I figure I might as well get a custom model.
This is a personal view - I don't consider any folder as hard use. For a strong knife, I want a fixed blade with a tough steel.
I consider a hard use knife to be something like a 16" AK khukuri - it will go through maple and keep a shaving sharp edge - better than my hatchet.
 
OrangeJoe said:
I bet the average 20 year old college student has spent enough on his LATEST game console + games to afford both an X18 AND a Sebenza.
Click to expand...

I'm a 19 year old college student who owns 2 Sebenzas, but don't own ANY new game systems after Game Cube and Playstation 2.

I have my priorities straight for this habit. ;)

After sampling knives from quite a few reputable companies I have narrowed my collection down selling off many to justify the knives I keep and both Sebenzas are still here.

As many have said already it is all subjective varying from person to person. Honestly if I needed the money I could sell off my collection and keep my Delica or Tenacious and be a pretty happy camper.

Although the higher end knives serve a satisfaction like no other. :D
 
mk.ultra said:
Thanks for the feedback guys, I think I'll definitely consider getting something high end/custom in the future :) no one answered the other question, how much is a DDR Trigger Maze? I couldn't even find it for sale online
Click to expand...

Check Darrel Ralph's site ;)
 
jakeyjake4528 said:
i used to find it hard to justify spending over x amount of dollars for a knife. i still remember when a 20 dollar knife required lots of thinking before purchase. thank god those days are long gone!

the pros and cons are many, sometimes whats a pro to one will be a con to another. if you have just the slighest flair for nicer knives, precision, etc, you WILL want more and more once you get your first.
Click to expand...

Too true. Funny how our perspectives change with experience - but I must admit that I'm more likely to carry an Endura or Opinel than one of my highend folders since these are more than sufficient to meet my EDC needs and the pleasure I get from using them is from how well they cut, not from how much they cost.
 
Here's my opinion... They are not worth the money unless you value them more than the price of their parts. When you get a sebenza for example, sure the fit and finish is outstanding but at the end of the day it's just 3 pieces of steel(blade and 2 Ti slabs around 2.5 oz total!) and for the same price you could go and buy an old car that is made from half a tons worth of steel! It just depends how much value you personally place upon those 66 grams. Some might consider a great deal but [regardless of the fact that I have 2 sebenza's sitting right next to my laptop xD] think they are not worth the money at all, it's not going to stop me buying more though!
I consider them like designer clothing... 95% of the price is for the name printed on them.
 
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