Average lifespan of
computers and other gadgets such as cell phones, ipods, etc. 3 years
automobiles somewhere around 10 to 15
hand tools,
Need I continue. The average lifespan of most stuff is limited and yet cost much more than does a knife or knives for that matter. This topic has been done here a bunch I did it once myself when inquiring about folder longevity because folders by their very nature are bound to wear out quicker than fixed blades because the knife comes already broken.
You'd be suprised by the number of people that had folders they still carried and used that were over 10 years and some approaching 50 and over. Had one guys post of a picture of a sebenza one of the first I think it was like 13 years old, it was, is and remains his EDC and it still looked pretty good. The blade had worn down a little bit but not much.
What I found was that a lot of people had some pretty big expectations about folder longevity and made some very valid points as to why this is realistic. It all boiled down to these advances in materials, manufacturing, engineering and the fact that we live in modern civilized world where our EDC for the most part doesn't actually see that much use. Its not like were living in the dark ages are all living out in the woods where the knife is main tool that we count on for our survival.
Also and this ties into the advances in materials, manufacturing and engineering thing, but boutique steels, advances in heat treat (Busse, Paul Bos), cryongenics, etc, and the creation of such things as edge pro, sharp makers, et al combined with a little education as to how to properly sharpen a knife have combined to go a long way towards blade longevity beit folder of fixed.
Gone are the days where you sit with your Grand Paws wetstone and grind the blade in oblivion, plus with high end steels we've got today these knives are holding a serviceable edge for a long time. Now, if you want the thing to cut the hairs on a knats beehine, then yea your probably gonna take off a little more material that the average user. Overall though I think the whole knives should be cheap argument is completely flawed and should actually be the other way around. Knives should be expensive, if for nothing else all the things I mentioned i.e. advances in materials.
Because now you in reality most people don't need to buy more than a few good knives and in all likely hood their covered with quality cutting tools for their rest of their lives. Can't tell how many well over a $100.00 power tools, I've had crap out on me over the years and they were only around for a few years or so. Now that I think about it, all but one old circular saw hasn't last more they say a few years, probably five (5) max.
Can't get more than about five years out of a 4 wheeler either beit honda or yamaha and those dang things ain't cheap, nor are they cheap to maintain. Now that I think of it same thing goes for guns. If you spend any time shooting one your gonna shot the barrel out of it, so shouldn't they be cheap too? I don't about you but I'm not buying cheap knives are guns, as I think the old adage of you get what you pay for holds true in this arena for the most part. Also if the fit does ever hit the shan and the balloon goes up, I want the best tools I can afford so they will be durable and hopefully offer the most longevity as I won't be able to run to the store and buy more, order one online, by mail or email or phone a local maker to have one built. I'll have what I've got when the even happens and that'll probably be it for a while. So no, no, no, Knives should not be cheap.
Given the fact of what your getting these days, such as INFI, BETA TI, ZDP 189, Bos Heat Treat, etc. I think knives are inexpensive for what were getting. How does that old Vagina Slimes, err I mean Virginia Slims ad go, We've come a long way baby.
