Quantity vs. Quality

[Ajack60]

Most people on this forum are knife nuts. Not everyone is satisfied with just one knife. I know I’m not. So, if my budget will only allow for one knife, I’d probably get bored with it and want something else which would be out of my budget until funds are available. If I had 4 or 5 less expensive knives, I wouldn’t be as prone to sell them all at one time and would have more choices for use.
IMO, it’s a matter of buying within your budget and being happy enjoying the hobby.

 

[comis]

I do enjoy collecting knives--I have my shares of CRK, Hinderer, Strider, and other higher cost knives, but also a good amount of Opinel, Mora, Victorinox.

If all I ever have is $100, then I think I would go with 5 x20$ knives(or a combo of few knives within the 100$ budget).

I think there is a place for budget knives. Everyone has to start some where, and many of these are gateways to the hobby. Budget knives doesn't mean they are cheaply made, in the contrary, sometimes the best value could easily be found in those less expensive options.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Quality isn't always the most expensive. It may cost more initially but be a better value in the long term.

 

[Triton]

I would suggest that these answers might also change over time. I don't really collect knives but I do have a reasonable extensive collection of large bladed weapons. Early on I was all about quantity. I would definitely buy the equivalent of 10 one hundred dollar knives instead of the equivalent of one 1000 dollar knife. However, over time as I got to be a little more discriminating my tastes changed. I was no longer interested in having additional 100 dollar knives but instead saved and purchase the 1000 dollar version. I do make exceptions if there is a 100 dollar knife that is particularly unique I may still purchase it, but I no longer purchase multiples that are merely variation on the same theme.

 

[Kabancheck]

Vote for one knife, but actually l never look to the knife purchase from that point. Usually l want some knife, and then I look at the price and my ability to afford it right now (no matter is it Victorinox Classic or Microtech Halo). If yes I will take it, if no it will go to the wish list, and some times die there )))))

 

[DangerZone98]

I get what you are saying but the poll results might look a bit different of the options were: 1 $1000 knife vs 5 $200 knives etc.

I do enjoy owning a wide range of knives.

Agreed. Of course not all $200 knives are bet-your-life good, but I’d argue that most in those price range from reputable brands (Spyderco, Zero Tolerance, etc.) will serve you well. Heck, I still use my $95 Recon 1.

 

[Shorttime]

I found that $150.00 is the most I'm comfortable spending on a knife. Any more than that, I'm afraid to carry and use it like it's meant to be used.

It's impossible for me to answer with one of the choices, because I'll look at anything up to that limit, although lately I've been well below it. Sure, there are plenty of other deal-breaker features, but (perceived) value for the money is what makes the final decision, for me.

 

[Henry Beige]

If I like a knife, if I can afford it, and if it seems to be a good value, I will buy it. The most I have paid for a single knife is just north of $150. I have held off on buying $200 knives, but bought the same knives with alacrity when I found them at half that price. I don’t often buy multiples except at Christmas time, when I will sometimes buy a dozen $20 knives as holiday swag for friends and family.
The last knife I ordered was in the $100 range, but I will just as readi buy a $7.00 Okapi if it catches my fancy.

 

[Korean Hog]

I'm with a lot of the others.
Best to have a bit of quality and quantity if you're really getting snagged into the knife hobby.
What I mean is slowly building a collection of $100-$500 dollar knives over time- like maybe one or two a year.
Most of the collections you see on BF aren't going to be stuck in any particular price range.
I see a lot of collections in the $5.99-$1000 range. Or Jarbenza all the way to Sebenza
For knife enthusiasts, I see the most happiness in roughly the $60-$250 range.
The chances for regrets of all kinds generally increase either below $50 or above $250

These are just my opinions and perspective. Plenty of dudes get stuck in a fairly narrow price range be it high or low.
I personally have no issue carrying and using more expensive blades like CRKs, Busses, customs, whatever...
To me, the money's spent, it's gone, and I'm not a friggin knife broker or a blade peddler.... might as well get my money's worth.

Tell you what though, I get as much use and enjoyment out of my $50 knives as I do much more expensive blades.
I tend to fall in love or disgust with a blade before I see the price. The only price point that turns me away is anything higher than $50
where the only thing adding to the cost is aesthetics. I'll gladly pay a little more for better steel or a comfier handle and/ or sheath.

 

[000Robert]

I'm with a lot of the others.
Best to have a bit of quality and quantity if you're really getting snagged into the knife hobby.
What I mean is slowly building a collection of $100-$500 dollar knives over time- like maybe one or two a year.
Most of the collections you see on BF aren't going to be stuck in any particular price range.
I see a lot of collections in the $5.99-$1000 range. Or Jarbenza all the way to Sebenza
For knife enthusiasts, I see the most happiness in roughly the $60-$250 range.
The chances for regrets of all kinds generally increase either below $50 or above $250

These are just my opinions and perspective. Plenty of dudes get stuck in a fairly narrow price range be it high or low.
I personally have no issue carrying and using more expensive blades like CRKs, Busses, customs, whatever...
To me, the money's spent, it's gone, and I'm not a friggin knife broker or a blade peddler.... might as well get my money's worth.

Tell you what though, I get as much use and enjoyment out of my $50 knives as I do much more expensive blades.
I tend to fall in love or disgust with a blade before I see the price. The only price point that turns me away is anything higher than $50
where the only thing adding to the cost is aesthetics. I'll gladly pay a little more for better steel or a comfier handle and/ or sheath.

When I receive my CPK DEK1, she will be a user, my #1 EDC knife. She will mainly be reserved for backup self-defense or saving someone's life if needed. But I'll use her on regular stuff once in a while...if I feel like showing her off.

 

[Korean Hog]

When I receive my CPK DEK1, she will be a user, my #1 EDC knife. She will mainly be reserved for backup self-defense or saving someone's life if needed. But I'll use her on regular stuff once in a while...if I feel like showing her off.

I think, within reason, you should use everyday or very often what you're going to use in an emergency.
You're quicker and more proficient with something you use all the time vs. something saved purely for emergencies.
That fight or flight adrenaline already makes your dexterity kind of crappy from the get-go
Credit cards don't exactly apply here guys, take it easy...

Just my IMO-not really telling you what to do with your knife.
Like I said though, the money's spent, get your money's worth!
When you get your new knife, admire it and get some good pictures of it all shiny and new.
Then, "tear the band-aid off" or "cannonball the cold water" and start using the knife for as many knife tasks as you think you can.
You'll enjoy it more that way and be much better prepared to use it an emergency

 

[000Robert]

I think, within reason, you should use everyday or very often what you're going to use in an emergency.
You're quicker and more proficient with something you use all the time vs. something saved purely for emergencies.
That fight or flight adrenaline already makes your dexterity kind of crappy from the get-go
Credit cards don't exactly apply here guys, take it easy...

Just my IMO-not really telling you what to do with your knife.
Like I said though, the money's spent, get your money's worth!
When you get your new knife, admire it and get some good pictures of it all shiny and new.
Then, "tear the band-aid off" or "cannonball the cold water" and start using the knife for as many knife tasks as you think you can.
You'll enjoy it more that way and be much better prepared to use it an emergency

Good advice! It's best to try and stay calm during emergencies but anyone can be startled. I have a bad back now so running is pretty much not an option. I would be better off fighting. I probably will use her more mainly because I wouldn't be able to resist showing her off. But I will try not to scratch her up.

 

[Just Tom.]

Here is a $100 knife collection, though some go over the $20 mark. These are all classics, the newest model being the Douk Douk, which began production in 1929. Swap the Mam for a Mora if you want to include a fixed-blade option. You would’t be ashamed to pull any of these out in front of your coworkers.

 

[K.O.D.]

Most of of my knives are $150 plus ( in today's prices). However, I'd rather spend money customizing a Spyderco than on a something over $300.

It had been a long time since I bought a sub $100 knife, but my Civivi McKenna has changed my mind on lower prices knives.

I generally don't care for g-10, and the McKenna is my only knife with it.

 

[coxhaus]

When it comes to kitchen knives I would rather a lot of acceptable different types than a couple of really high dollar knives. My acceptable kitchen knives are Wusthof Classic and Henckels 4-star and 5-star knives. So, I would rather have more $100 knives vs a couple of $400 or more knives. Forget the $20 kitchen knives.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I'd buy five of the $20 knives and give 'em away.
Never really had much of a knife, that I liked, for less than $200 or more...

 

[SALTY]

Would be interested to see the results if a 2x$50 option was added.

Almost always would I take two 50$ knives over a single 100$ knife.
the last 10 knives I’ve bought have been all been 250-850$ range.
I love knives. I don’t discriminate. A good knife is a good knife. A good knife for a good price is my knife.

If you had a 2-knife choice of $70 + $30, I'd pick that one. I am thinking about second-hand LNIB Spyderco Delica + Buck 110. I'm not sure what one knife you can get (NIB or LNIB) for $100 that is better than this 2-knife combo.

I have knives of values that cover a spectrum but I tend to carry and use my $50 knives the most. With careful shopping and some good fortune catching close-outs and what not a decent beater/use can be had for $30 and a better knife can certainly be had for $70.

So, when the Cold Steel Voyagers in AUS-8 were on close-out ($30) I grabbed me a bunch ... use and abuse the daylights out of them!
For $70 there are some decent folders to be had and some very functional fixed blades. $70/30 would have been my vote but 2X$50 would also work.

 

[number9]

I'm voting one $100 knife. But five Rough Riders could be kinda fun.

 

[K.O.D.]

As I've moved into my 40's, and been a member more than 7 years, I no longer feel the need for the latest, greatest in most things.

I prefer steels that hold a good edge but aren't super difficult to sharpen. Probably why most of my knives are CTS-XHP, S35VN and S30V.

Sometimes, in the search for something, the latest, greatest happens to fit the bill. Like my SIG p365.

I greatly value symmetry and ergonomics. Many $10, $20 knives suck in this regard. Rough g-10 will help with grip, but a well shaped handle will do more.

 

[Natlek]

I've seen at least a few people on this and other forums talk about not being able to afford medium or high cost knives, but then they regularly talk about all the budget knives they spend on (which could have covered the cost of one better knife).

That's foreign to how I think about things - I'd rather have one thing I really like than five that were cheap. But I'm not really a 'collector', so quantity doesn't mean much to me. I'm just curious with this survey to see how people think about this. Thanks!

-Tyson

I can afford to buy quality/high cost knife and use it .But I can’t afford to buy quality knife for my son from million reason .There is a good chance that he will lose it on the first fishing trip, that knife will be damaged very soon even more chance .So cheap knife is right for him . If he lose it I will buy him another one , this time more cheap then previous
My point is, to each his own.I guess everyone knows what and for what he needs it .