So, why high-end knives?

DrOpPoInT1110

DrOpPoInT1110

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Jan 28, 2009
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I know this has most likely been covered before but lets get a recent thread going. Just curious as to your guys' general opinions on high-end knives. Why do you like or dislike them? Lately, I have been getting more and more into the high-end stuff. I have been thinking about WHY though...beyond the fact that I think they're awesome knives. When I started collecting, I NEVER thought I would buy any knife over $100 but now, $100 doesn't seem that bad (i'm worried about this "logic" BTW). I think most of it is a sort of "natural" progression. As with any hobby, you may begin to wonder what more money will get you. Aside from getting you into trouble, you usually get better materials,better fit and finish, and (for me) higher pride of ownership. BUT, there are still people who are totally happy with mid-range or even low-end knives :eek::D. So, why do you feel high end knives are worth it or not worth it? Oh, and if you have any pics, it never hurts to add a bit of knife pron. :)
 
Some knives are high end for different reasons, many variables going on there and grades of knives.
 
Some people are perfectly happy and very well served by economy knives. Others get into the hobby to the point where it turns into a natural progression, you go from low to high. as your exposure to various knives increases, your tastes in steel, handle materials, design, and manufacturer becomes refined. Some won't own or carry anything but a CRK, others love the $20 Gerber. There is a point of diminishing returns at work, and it varies from person to person.
 
I want a Busse.... INFI FTW...

seriously, i don't know why, but I am totally obsessed with TOUGH knives. I think it has something to do with being give a bunch of Pakistani garbage as a kid that held an edge about as well as a tempered stick of butter

My edc is a kershaw (i have 9 of em) and my newest blade is a Becker. Both are awesome and incredibly tough,so i won't say that you CAN'T get a tough knife for under 100, but most of the universally recognize "bombproof" knives are in the 150+ range.

If i don't have the best knife on the planet, how can i hope to kill 1000 zombies in one swing?
 
I remember when I thought BUYING a knife over $100 was crazy, let alone using. Now I use my Para 2 all the time at work :D. The most expensive knife I've ever bought was $280, just a few months ago. I just like the qualities that come with a higher-end knife. Stuff like exotic blade steels and handle materials, fit and finish, and collectability play a big factor for me.
 
I personally notice a serious difference in most folders (excluding SAKs and the like) when you spend around $100 and up. Anything less than $100 (MSRP) usually is a poor steel choice, and has poor lock-up features.

I carry a CRK Umnum every day, and that thing is $425. Thats a lot of dough. Will it out perform other knives? Maybe. But I also like to think that sometimes it comes down to the pilot over the equipment. My previous EDC was a Microtech Socom. Held up just fine. Both of these knives were always accompanied by a Leatherman Wave. The Wave's been great. However, its really only been used to utility tasks, like boxes, mail, plastic, rubber hoses...stuff like that. While the steel isn't that great, it does its job fine.

Come serious work, would I prefer one over the other? Both is what I say. The Socom performed flawlessly in the tasks it needed to. And I wouldn't walk out the door with something I knew didn't have faith in.
 
Because humans desire to have the best stuff. Knife nuts knows that there is much better stuff than 420j kitchen knives and with the extra interest in knives they have, it makes them willing to buy the better stuff. ;) Otherwise I would not have bought my little spyderco ladybug.
 
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For me there was just a progression. I started off as a kid with "Made in Pakistan" garbage knives. In my teens I started going to gun / knife shows with the old man and was able to talk to some dealers and got into Kershaw and Spyderco knives. I eventually bought my first Benchmade and for a long time the Big Three were all I ever wanted or needed. I couldn't have imagined spending more than I did for my first Benchmade and that was about $130 I believe.

I had always wanted an OTF so when I had saved enough I bought an MT Ultratech. I bought a couple more Microtechs and then I started to notice some of the higher end Kershaws that were coming out. The Ti Leek, Ti, Mini Cyclone, and the Ti JYD II all looked great to me and I wanted them. When I got my hands on a Ti JYD I knew I had something special so I got my hands on the Ti Leek and the Ti Mini Cyclone as well. I didn't think I would spend more on any of these. Wrong. I ended up going to the NYCKS '09 and that was that. I was able to handle all kinds of customs and I knew right then that I wanted to thin out my production collection and start getting into customs.

I still own plenty of production knives and I still have those Kershaws. I still have my first couple of Spydercos as well. I think I've come to kind of a plateau in my collecting. I know that I can go to the next level of progression and start getting into some real high end / high numbers blades. I know that some guys have no problem dropping $3,000 on something special. I have yet to do that. I like where my collection is right now and I have plenty of EDC's ranging from a Boker Exskelibur to my latest custom that cost a pretty penny and everything in between. I know that I'll be buying more knives because the collecting is never done. I'm waiting on another custom that will hopefully be done this summer, a ZT0561, and a ZT0777. Something else will pop up that I'm sure I'll want.

Some stop the progression early and some only stop the progression when they die.
 
something about paying more but knowing the knife will last forever just makes it worth it. plain and simple..
 
Why do you start with a Honda Civic and progress to a BMW 5 series? It comes to maturity, passion, and education.

As you mature as a collector you learn to appreciate the finer, minute qualities of higher end blades. You gain the appreciation of fine craftsmanship and engineering that comes with a higher sticker price. You also learn about what makes lower end blades inferior, and the weaknesses associated.

Note. The higher the cost doesn't necessarily mean better quality. This leads to snobbery and is a great example of pretentiousness. Its really the education you gain over time.
 
For me there is a diminishing returns after a certain price point. Beyond that, the extra cost just comes from stuff I don't care about like inlays and other embellishments. I park myself right around 750 bucks. For what I want in that knife, which has already been commissioned, I don't much see the need in spending more. Why do I like them? I pick the steel and have a lot of creative freedom in many of the parameters. The knife that I will get in the end is one that I've had heavy input in, and unless should someone wish to copy me, be a true one of one.

Firearms on the other hand are different story entirely. Funny though how my first handgun cost less than this custom I have commissioned. That changed after I got my second firearm.
 
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Pocket jewelry! Seriously though, I appreciate the function of a better knife and and the better materials and I'm more than willing to pay the money for those elements alone. I also like the beefier blade stock some higher end knives use. It makes the blade deployment work better and looks super cool.
 
Tim616 said:
Just get a sebenza and you shall understand
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I already own a Sebenza and a few other high-end pieces. I am just curious at to other's reasons. I think the Sebenza is a great knife but it isn't my favorite (still up there though).

four_shore said:
something about paying more but knowing the knife will last forever just makes it worth it. plain and simple..
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I agree. What I like about a lot of high-end companies is that they offer a refurbishing service. For a very small price (compared to the price of replacing that knife) you can have your knife looking like the day it left the factory again. To me, it makes it so much more worth it.

harkamus said:
For me there is a diminishing returns after a certain price point. Beyond that, the extra cost just comes from stuff I don't care about like inlays and other embellishments. I park myself right around 750 bucks. For what I want in that knife, which has already been commissioned, I don't much see the need in spending more. Why do I like them? I pick the steel and have a lot of creative freedom in many of the parameters. The knife that I will get in the end is one that I've had heavy input in, and should someone wish to copy me, be a true one of one.
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I am with you on the inlays and embellishments. They do look nice on some knives, but I am very "new school" in my tastes. I like modern design and features. Ergonomics, overall design, and materials (blade steel, handle/frame material, scale material) sell me a knife. The amount of file work, engine turning, or cosmetic add-ons don't do it for me. So far, my spending cap has been just shy of $600 but I have been looking at having a custom piece made eventually. So far though, the XM-18 is VERY close to being the perfect knife for me.
 
Bishop2Queen's6 said:
Why do you start with a Honda Civic and progress to a BMW 5 series? It comes to maturity, passion, and education.

As you mature as a collector you learn to appreciate the finer, minute qualities of higher end blades. You gain the appreciation of fine craftsmanship and engineering that comes with a higher sticker price. You also learn about what makes lower end blades inferior, and the weaknesses associated.

Note. The higher the cost doesn't necessarily mean better quality. This leads to snobbery and is a great example of pretentiousness. Its really the education you gain over time.
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BIG +1 to this! To me, you begin noticing and appreciating the finer details rather than expecting a HUGE difference as you move up in price.

I LOVE my high end knives but I don't understand why people bash others who don't or would prefer lower end pieces. I'm sure they were there at some point themselves.
 
I started out in the 1950's and thought a switchblade was THE coolest.

I grew up and 'thought' I knew blades up to a few years back.

Then I joined a few knife forums and got taken to school.

I am of the FIRM belief that life is too short to carry cheap guns,knives etc.

And too short to drink cheap bourbon or smoke cheap cigars.

I worked hard to get "there" and I see the quality of "high end knives" and all other well made tools that a man put his soul and reputation to make.

You dont get that stamped out in china by a guy making 3 cents an hour.
 
Bishop2Queen's6 said:
Why do you start with a Honda Civic and progress to a BMW 5 series? It comes to maturity, passion, and education.

As you mature as a collector you learn to appreciate the finer, minute qualities of higher end blades. You gain the appreciation of fine craftsmanship and engineering that comes with a higher sticker price. You also learn about what makes lower end blades inferior, and the weaknesses associated.

Note. The higher the cost doesn't necessarily mean better quality. This leads to snobbery and is a great example of pretentiousness. Its really the education you gain over time.
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Another +1 on this post too.
 
Being a student of Kali, I have found that my ideas of what I want in a knife have changed as I learned. In some cases, the only way to get a knife with all the features that I want, is to have one custom made. Other than that, the higher end knives tend to be better made, and the workmanship can be appreciated. I expect better performance from the better knives I get, not that different from what I expect in a more expensive guitar.
 
I've been up and back down that ladder. I started out my knife addiction with the norms like Buck, Gerber, Kershaw, Spyderco, Cold Steel, and ect. During that time I really fell in love with the Kershaw Leek above all the others. Its blade shape along with the Speedsafe opening is what i liked the most about the Leek. I eventually sold my Leeks along with the others thinking I had to have the high end knives. I have had Sebenzas, Umnumzaans, Hinderers, and even a Demko custom. Although they were all great knives I couldn't bring myself to use them much for fear of damaging or loosing them. Plus I found they couldn't do a thing for me that my trusty Leek couldn't have done and it was a $40 knife. I have recently sold all my high end knives and started to rebuild my Leek collection. As soon as received my first new one I realized how much I missed and love the Kershaw Leek. :)
 
vwb563 said:
I've been up and back down that ladder. I started out my knife addiction with the norms like Buck, Gerber, Kershaw, Spyderco, Cold Steel, and ect. During that time I really fell in love with the Kershaw Leek above all the others. Its blade shape along with the Speedsafe opening is what i liked the most about the Leek. I eventually sold my Leeks along with the others thinking I had to have the high end knives. I have had Sebenzas, Umnumzaans, Hinderers, and even a Demko custom. Although they were all great knives I couldn't bring myself to use them much for fear of damaging or loosing them. Plus I found they couldn't do a thing for me that my trusty Leek couldn't have done and it was a $40 knife. I have recently sold all my high end knives and started to rebuild my Leek collection. As soon as received my first new one I realized how much I missed and love the Kershaw Leek. :)
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Wow! Don't think I could ever sell my high-end pieces for Leeks but I guess you just REALLYYY like them. :D
 
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