Some things to think about, cost vs quality

[Ankerson]

i see knife buyer in 3 categories: Users, Collectors, and Posers...each segment values knifes in different ways...

...for most people it is just a budget issue...for some it is "buy the best you can afford"; i personally temper that philosophy with a mental cost/benefit analysis...

i think the core issue (which Ankerson has illustrated) is that people should STFU about complaining that their $35 folder doesn't "deliver" like the $95+ folder that they really want, should have bought, could afford but don't want to afford...

you really want it, save more to buy it...wishing does not make it so...

Anecdote...met someone on a camping trip who had an obviously expensive fixed blade on his belt...we were all doing tasks that required blade use; this dude would not use the "prima donna" on his belt, asked him why, SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO SCRATCH IT UP...f-en Poser; i let him use a taiwan-made SOG Field Pup (a $27 find) while i hacked and batoned my zt200...i do hate posers of all kind...

I am glad I wasn't there I would have given him a hard time, why carry the freaking thing if you aren't going to use it?

My terms are: Users, Mall Ninjas and Keyboard Commandos. LOL

I believe in it as well, but I also believe in not overpaying. Buy the best you can afford, but don't blindly assume that price = quality. I've got knives that cost $300+, but I wouldn't trust my life to them like I would the one I paid $150 for and carry daily. Granted, it's list price was $229... don't know if that counts though.

Sure it counts, retail is retail, but most don't pay retail these days.

 

[Sep]

Actual use needs to be factored in. If I'm entirely honest with myself, I have no need to go beyond 420HC steel or SAK Inox. I've carried SAKs and Leathermans for ages and they perform just fine for my cutting tasks. However, I understand that my tasks are different than yours, and it's entirely possible that yours tax a knife far more than mine. So, I don't say anything about people buying $300 pocket knives because they probably really need it.

Most people can get all their computing done on a $300 netbook or Walmart desktop special, but the stuff that I do typically lands me $1500 laptops. I would be annoyed too if some guy who does nothing but twitter and facebook complains that I'm wasting money.

 

[bearcut]

I have all the high end brands that are usually touted as ‘the best’ on this forum, Busse, CRK, Strider, etc.

I see very little difference between the performance and craftsmanship of those brands versus the performance and craftsmanship of my $175-250 knives. Certainly not a 50% increase.

$150 still buys a lot of knife.

I’m not in the business of buying and selling my knives, so I tell it like it is.

And yes, the economy is going to pot. People are starting to re-prioritize their spending.

Knives are luxury items, not staples. People need food, gas and shoes. They don’t need $400 knives. The economy is starting to bear that out.

Gee, I’m even seeing break even, (or less), prices on pre-owned INFI these days.
‘Bout time.

I’m looking for even better deals in the future.

 

[Ankerson]

I have all the high end brands that are usually touted as ‘the best’ on this forum, Busse, CRK, Strider, etc.

I see very little difference between the performance and craftsmanship of those brands versus the performance and craftsmanship of my $175-250 knives. Certainly not a 50% increase.

$150 still buys a lot of knife.

I’m not in the business of buying and selling my knives, so I tell it like it is.

And yes, the economy is going to pot. People are starting to re-prioritize their spending.

Knives are luxury items, not staples. People need food, gas and shoes. They don’t need $400 knives. The economy is starting to bear that out.

Gee, I’m even seeing break even, (or less), prices on pre-owned INFI these days.
‘Bout time.

I’m looking for even better deals in the future.

I am seeing that too, a lot better deals on INFI.

I am just waiting it out to snap up a lot more of them over time.

Busse is clearly in a class all on it's own so they don't really get grouped in with the rest. They are not production knives either, they are Semi-Custom made to order. You could argue that they are really custom knives.

 

[BWSkipper]

My Pop's taught me this much at least. You get what you pay for but sometimes you buy more than you need.

 

[philwar]

I like both folders and fixed blades, and own around 60 knives or so, including machetes and short swords. There are more on the way.
I like the idea of really tough and strong folders, but deep in our hearts we all know it's nonsense, it can never be true. That doesn't mean people shouldn't spend a lot of money on folders, just that there's a limit to how strong a folder can be. And money has very little to do with toughness where folders are concerned. Some of the toughest folders of today can be had for less than 30 bucks, and I'd really like to see those compared to the most vaunted models out there. I've seen people baton a 7 dollar CS Kudu with no problems.
So really, if we're honest, these are not the reasons for buying whatever we're buying. They are rationalisations after the fact. First we like it, then we need to explain to ourselves and others why we we buy it.

Fixed blades are a bit different. I really don't want to start the CRK/Busse/noss4 debate again, so let's just say that some knives can take more abuse than others, and this is no problem as long as knives that fail are not advertized as indestructible, or words to that effect. More important here is, what is the knife designed for? Will paying more get you correspondingly more quality, or functionality?

In the end though, here too we first want something, and then we'll justify our desire by coming up with rational 'reasons.' If those 'reasons' were in fact why we bought the knives, debates about brands and models wouldn't get so heated and emotional, after all, it's only rationality right?
But those debates are not about rationality, they touch upon our desires. And boy, are THEY ever personal...

 

[Ankerson]

I like both folders and fixed blades, and own around 60 knives or so, including machetes and short swords. There are more on the way.
I like the idea of really tough and strong folders, but deep in our hearts we all know it's nonsense, it can never be true. That doesn't mean people shouldn't spend a lot of money on folders, just that there's a limit to how strong a folder can be. And money has very little to do with toughness where folders are concerned. Some of the toughest folders of today can be had for less than 30 bucks, and I'd really like to see those compared to the most vaunted models out there. I've seen people baton a 7 dollar CS Kudu with no problems.
So really, if we're honest, these are not the reasons for buying whatever we're buying. They are rationalisations after the fact. First we like it, then we need to explain to ourselves and others why we we buy it.

Fixed blades are a bit different. I really don't want to start the CRK/Busse/noss4 debate again, so let's just say that some knives can take more abuse than others, and this is no problem as long as knives that fail are not advertized as indestructible, or words to that effect. More important here is, what is the knife designed for? Will paying more get you correspondingly more quality, or functionality?

In the end though, here too we first want something, and then we'll justify our desire by coming up with rational 'reasons.' If those 'reasons' were in fact why we bought the knives, debates about brands and models wouldn't get so heated and emotional, after all, it's only rationality right?
But those debates are not about rationality, they touch upon our desires. And boy, are THEY ever personal...

How very true. :thumbup:

It's like the Ford vs Chevy debate. LOL

 

[saw45]

Total BS

 

[mmarkh]

To be perfectly honest, some just cant afford it. some day I may be able to get a $700 knife, but considering thats a truck, insurance and phone bill a month, thats not going to happen for a LONG time.

When I see a knife for $150, I think its a little pricy, but its worth it. $300 on a knife is about my max. I don't look for customs, as they just don't do it for me. I could have had a few customs by know, but their just not my taste.
That said, makers now are coming out with some very nice looking knives at decent prices, like under $200 dollars, and even some under $100 so for people to say customs are too expensive, I don't believe that.

I think you are looking at customs in the wrong light. You can get a custom made to your liking and some up and coming makers are reasonably priced.

 

[Quapaw]

That really depends on the use of the knife, can it take abuse or not. Or is it just a pocket ornament to show off to friends because it looks cool?

I have broken more than a few knives over the years when someone shows me a knife and says man this knife is sick man, it's really a awesome knife, want to try it? Well then after a few mins they get it back in 2 pieces or more, then I continue to use my knife at the same task at hand. A lot of those had little thumb holes in the blade, but will remain un named.

Some knives will break very easy, while others will take a lot of punishment.

I have personally had folding knife blades shatter, and they where not cheap knives either.

Testing will really separate the good from the bad in a lot of cases.

Do you think a $30 knife can be driven with a hammer though a nail or a screw to cut it off? Maybe, maybe not, or will the blade shatter or break when it's hit with a hammer?

Nobody ever asks me if I want to use their awesome new knife.

This has been my experience, also. Shattered blades are one reason I am not enamored of exotic steels, which tend to be a factor in higher costs.

That said, when I go out to dinner & a movie with the Significant Other I don't want to put a greasy work knife in my good pants. I want a purty knife; a recognizable brand that I can show off in case I have to hammer the blade through a steak at Chili's. I don't mind paying a bit extra for looks. Pretty is a quality, too. Just, usually, different from tough.

 

[MikeC]

Ditto on TKC "buy the best you can afford" and I will also say this it doesn't always hold true as there are exceptions to every rule but theres a reason the old adage of You get what pay for is worded that way.

I have found through personal experience of hunting and fishing in south Louisiana over the years that better quality high end gear and tools for the most part are more durable and tougher than lower to mid range gear.

My experience has been that all gear if really used in the field is at some point going to get abused either by accident, on purpose or out of necessity like having to use a gun stock for a paddle. With the cheaper or lower end gear if you will these types of abuse scenarios tend to break stuff if it isn't really well made, I have snapped more folding knife tips that I can to think about, mostly on buck 110s. Was I doing non knife stuff with them they broke, yep, not on purpose but most of the time I was miles from a paved road and it was the best tool for the job I had on hand at the time. So the thought of spending some extra money on higher end stuff for me is a yes because most of the time it is going to perform better and almost without question last longer than lower end lesser priced gear/tools.

 

[Dekz]

I only read the original post, so my apologies if this has been covered.

In a lot of cases with these really expensive knives, you can find other ones that offer ~85% of the performance for ~45% of the price.

Some people can/choose to spend the extra money to get that last 15%, most don't.

 

[bomber258]

Age has brought me some wisdom,life is TOO short to carry cheap ANYTHING.From knives to cigars + trucks + motorcycles + guns.My life might count on any one of those at any time,the best I can afford - PERIOD.

 

[Ankerson]

Age has brought me some wisdom,life is TOO short to carry cheap ANYTHING.From knives to cigars + trucks + motorcycles + guns.My life might count on any one of those at any time,the best I can afford - PERIOD.

On knives I just save up until I can buy what I want, I just refuse to go into debt buying knives.

 

[Josh K]

Age has brought me some wisdom,life is TOO short to carry cheap ANYTHING.From knives to cigars + trucks + motorcycles + guns.My life might count on any one of those at any time,the best I can afford - PERIOD.

Yes, your life may depend on a fine smoke.

 

[pilote]

Some people can/choose to spend the extra money to get that last 15%, most don't.

...succinctly put, and key to this conversation...

also agree, don't go into debt buying knifes...the knifes we pretty much all talk about here are luxury items; we can get by in our daily lives using tools that cost way way less...

 

[udtjim]

Well I have been buying things for abut 60 years now. I don't care if you are talking Knives, Guns, tools or just about anything else. You will find the high dollar stuff and the cheap stuff but IMO the best value does not lay at either end, but somewhere in the middle. There are some quality low cost knives and some quality but over priced top end stuff. At some point on the scale, you stop paying for quality and start paying for the name and snob appeal.

100-150 dollars will buy you some mighty good quality custom fixed blades made by JK, Koyote, DPK and quite a few others. I have bought a bunch of Buck knives over the years which always delivered my dollars worth of knife. Most people do not need or seldom use the big dollar knives, Most of these knives lay in a safe. Now that said, If a guy has the money and likes to collect the big dollar stuff then more power to them, However it is seldom because these knives will outperform a goods knife which costs a lot less.

 

[Fascion]

Pretty is a quality, too.

I couldn't agree more. This is not "1984" and we aren't (all) mindless drones. I mean, how boring would this place be if the only thing any of us had was GenericKnife029 simply because it was was deemed to be the best overall design and value?

How about the shirt you have on right now? Did you buy it solely because of the performance and durability of the materials involved... or did it just look good on you? Even if you answered the former, odds are good that you compromised in some other area for looks alone. Why that color? Why a button-down instead of a pull over? Why short sleeve instead of long? We live in a world driven by appearance -- from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive and the houses we live in. Why should knives be any different?

As Sep alluded to earlier, most of us don't need high performance steels, top of the line handle materials and fancy locking mechanisms (at least not on every single knife we own) but if you can afford it, why not?

 

[slimshaneee]

I struggle with these things.

I have a few $600 folding knives.

You know which knife outperforms them all in slicing ability? My yellow handled sodbuster. $20

It causes an inner battle with me. Some days I tell myself I don't "need" these expensive knives and think I am a fool. Some days I like to admire the design and workmanship of the more expensive ones, and rationalize owning them by reminding myself I used the money I would have spent on cigarettes to buy them. Also I don't drink (too often) don't smoke, don't have toys (boats, atv's) I don't have a car payment (by choice and planning)

Knives are what I choose to spend my money on. I sacrifice spending on other things so I feel better about blowing too much on knives. After all for my needs I've got to admit the sodbuster does everything I need, in many cases does a better job too

The cool thing about knives is you can afford some of "the best" knives in the world. For less than one car payment of some of the better cars in the world.

 

[Ankerson]

I struggle with these things.

I have a few $600 folding knives.

You know which knife outperforms them all in slicing ability? My yellow handled sodbuster. $20

It causes an inner battle with me. Some days I tell myself I don't "need" these expensive knives and think I am a fool. Some days I like to admire the design and workmanship of the more expensive ones, and rationalize owning them by reminding myself I used the money I would have spent on cigarettes to buy them. Also I don't drink (too often) don't smoke, don't have toys (boats, atv's) I don't have a car payment (by choice and planning)

Knives are what I choose to spend my money on. I sacrifice spending on other things so I feel better about blowing too much on knives. After all for my needs I've got to admit the sodbuster does everything I need, in many cases does a better job too

The cool thing about knives is you can afford some of "the best" knives in the world. For less than one car payment of some of the better cars in the world.

I hear you, I don't drink so I spend my extra cash on knives and Photography stuff.