Quality vs. Price??

So I'm looking to make my second purchase this weekend of traditionals. Two websites I look at are New Graham and Knife Collectors. Simply judging from prices, I take it that GEC would be considered top end and possibly Schrade would be lower end?

Or perhaps I should put it this way... does price always equal quality when it comes to Traditional knives?


BTW- I settled on a Gent's pattern. I think I really want a toothpick! Not sure why... but I want one!

The two websites you are perusing are BF dealers (I think you mean Collector Knives) (and are therefore OK to mention). I have bought from both and both are good outfits.

My opinion on Schrade vs. GEC is that even if you are talking about the original Schrade (which went bankrupt in 2004), GEC will come in with a higher quality rating.

I do not believe there is a linear relationship between "price" and "quality". But there is a relationship. Example: IMO a $100 knife will likely not be twice as good as a $50 knife, but it will be better.
 
I will say that maybe the most quality for the money is found in Queen or S&M knives from before 2006, when Bill Howard left there to start GEC. Keystone series IX and X, and File & Wire series I - III have ATS-34 blades and very high build quality and materials, and Queen's D2 offerings in ACSB, CSB and Cocobolo were exemplary. Available on the secondary markets, for under $100 they compare very favorably with GECs, and can sometimes be found for considerably less than a C-note.
 
High quality and very low price, Case Sodbusters. Slightly higher quality and triple the price, a GEC Bullnose Sodbuster. Impeccable fit and finish, and uber high quality, along with very low prices, any alox SAK (their crinking is second to none). So what does this all say, well, not much...IMHO, there is very little to distinguish between price and the quality of a knife.
 
Northwoods knives are also very nice. I've seen them offered in various steels. The one I have is beautiful.
 
Northwoods knives are also very nice. I've seen them offered in various steels. The one I have is beautiful.

They should be. All the current ones are made by GEC.
 
I think Case represents a very good knife for the dollar. Especially if you can go to a brick and mortar store and pick one out. Lots of nice patterns, very good fit and finish, and choice of steels.

The 300 series made Buck pocket knives are a great value of quality vs price.
 
I will say that maybe the most quality for the money is found in Queen or S&M knives from before 2006, when Bill Howard left there to start GEC. Keystone series IX and X, and File & Wire series I - III have ATS-34 blades and very high build quality and materials, and Queen's D2 offerings in ACSB, CSB and Cocobolo were exemplary. Available on the secondary markets, for under $100 they compare very favorably with GECs, and can sometimes be found for considerably less than a C-note.
second that.
especially the D2 cocobolo. i have a Queen Congress excellent f&f.
 
IMHO it is difficult to beat a Rough Rider traditional knife for quality at the price.
I have no experience with their modern folders or fixed blades, so I cannot comment on them.
 
No, I don't find that price always equates to quality. Expectation and quality might be a better consideration...;)

GEC is likely the best made production Traditional at the moment but as Jeff pointed out, Queen knives from the early part of this century are remarkable and very well worth getting, they usually cost less than GEC too. They certainly represent a section of my knives I would never wish to sell or lose. CASE Buck, Böker and RR all produce credible and desirable knives too. Vast majority of us on this forum are not mega wealthy 'collectors' for whom money is no object so spending a hundred or two is a significant thing (especially with postage cost and 25% import tax to be added....:eek:) We may have expectations that if we have to spend more the quality should match. But does it frequently?? :confused: With GEC the output is very small so there may also be expectations of future value going up or in the case of some SFOs going up astonishingly quickly -the latter is usually due to perceived trend and nothing more. But if somebody has turned a pretty penny on selling on 'sought after' quality knives they are going to convince themselves that GEC or whoever the flavour is, is worth the extra. Even more so the buyer of these must have items, nobody likes to admit they've paid through the nose... All this can and does fuel the idea that knives must be perfect (most idiotic word in the language) and fault free.

Opinels for example, are simple, extremely effective - brilliant slicing steel ,carbon or stainless - useful, ultra pedigree Traditional and inexpensive. They don't cost much and they're excellent quality because they are simple, tried&tested. An example of a knife with immense user potential and decent quality that is inexpensive. Naturally other knives are more complex to make, demand various materials which increases cost and they may be of better or inferior quality at this higher price. Sometimes I daydream of what 3 knives would I take with me if I had to walk across Europe over some weeks/months and they are all good quality but inexpensive: Marttiini Lynx puukko in carbon, Opinel No.7 or 8 in Sandvik stainless and Buck 309 Small Stockman in Yellow delrin. All easy enough to replace but all a satisfying carry and possible to sharpen on the go with a small diamond rod. 1 fixed for firemaking or cutting sticks, 1 for food prep and a small 3 blade for pocket carry that's bright colour easy to find. All are quality, all inexpensive.

At the end of the day we HOPE that higher price correlates to higher quality, but it remains essentially a hope. It is gratifying to have high quality beautiful knives and these are generally more costly but not all costly knives are so wonderful if we are frank with ourselves. Caveat emptor indeed.

Thanks, Will
 
I think Case represents a very good knife for the dollar. Especially if you can go to a brick and mortar store and pick one out. Lots of nice patterns, very good fit and finish, and choice of steels.

The 300 series made Buck pocket knives are a great value of quality vs price.

I second that.
 
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