Some things to think about, cost vs quality

[tirod3]

With knives I can spend more than I should. Buying a tool, I appraise it's need, ability to do the job, and how much I can spend vs. how much I will use it. I now understand why my dad bought certain tools dearly and later in life seemed to buy junk. The reason was he bought basic items with quality and little used specialty items cheap - they were one shot deals. For example, I have a Estwing hammer, and Harbour Freight brass punches. I got a set of decent A/C guages, and the cheapest vacuum pump I could find for nearly the same price. I'll use the gauges a lot more than the pump - and the pump will "pay" for itself in three uses. If it survives that, I'm a head.

When I was putting up 30 square of metal roofing I picked up a 14.4V Dewalt hammer drill from a pawnshop for $30. I didn't expect it to survive putting in 2,4000 screws. It's fine - it was a quality tool. I also picked up a sheetrock anchor installer for $10, and it failed the first time out.

I have a SnG but EDC a Vex - simply because it really cuts well. The TiN blade is slick, scratch free, and easy to pull through the cut. If I am out of doors in the winter - the SnG goes. It's far superior under extreme conditions. Frankly, tho, the Vex would do as well.

Some of us buy $1,500 custom tuned .45 1911's, and others pick up a $260 LCP. Both can do the job - but the buyer had to prioritize a lot of items and make a decision (like a used P7 was still too much money.)

High end knives approach art, and as the price goes up, less tangible factors become more relevant. As price drops, utility value becomes the main factor, and aesthetics become relatively unimportant. Getting both is what a lot of us want, and what the industry strives to produce. Belittling a knife because it favors one over the other misses the point - but does reveal the perspective of the observer.

 

[UpChUcK]

I appreciate quality in a knife as much as the next knife knut. But everyone is different and may not be an "enthusiast" like many here with different needs and different economic situations. Sure I'd like to get a Busse and some customs but I'd rather make sure my family is taken care of first and if I have anything left over after expenses and putting money in savings and retirement, then I may buy a knife. The most expensive knife I've bought was a ZT0300 for $236 and I splurged then. I am one of the ones you allude to in that I try to stay in the $50 -100 range. I use my knives as tools and I do expect as much performance as possible. But I feel that just because it cost more, it doesn't necessarily mean it performs better. If I were independently wealthy, then I would probably spend more on higher cost knives. But as it is now, I'm more than happy with a $75 knife. Heck, my favorite EDC knife is a $35 Kershaw Skyline.

 

[walleyeguy7]

production: <200
100% custom: whatever

 

[Fonly]

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.

Its not the making of the knife, its the fact that im just not into customs. If I want something unique I will make it my self, which I have done all ready.

 

[Any Cal.]

Some very interesting and accurate observations so far. There are two things that happened to me fairly recently though, that color my opinion.

A couple years back I was trying to buy a tent for a certain application. Money was no object, and I started looking at the 5-600 dollar tents, thinking I would get what I paid for. After hours of searching and looking, I couldn't find what I needed at the higher price range. As the price went up, they became so specialized as to be useless to me. I ended up spending $130 ish on a less expensive brand, and am thrilled with what I got. The higher price could have bought more, but it didn't buy what I needed, and actually would have been counter productive.

The second was when I was looking for a frame lock. There are millions out there in varying price ranges, but I had an extremely difficult time finding one that had what I wanted in a knife. No hollow grinds, a higher hardness blade, all metal handle scales, etc. As it turned out, I ended up with a Kershaw Shallot, with a street price of about $40, which I bought even when prepared to spend considerably more money.

I have absolutely no problem with spending money on the best, but think that money is often not an indicator of what the best is. If you are looking for what is best for you, price is immaterial, other than a factor in deciding if what is best for you is available to you or not.