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SureFire Knives
- Thread starter stolas223
- Start date
Do you own a Sebenza?
Do you feel they are overpriced also?
I don't own either one, I just wondered.
I keep toying with the idea of getting a Seb but can't bring myself to part with $500 for a low-tech framelock.
{Yeah, yeah, I know they're super well built and strong, blah, blah, blah.}
Any Sebenza owners out there have a Surfire too?
Do you feel they are overpriced also?
I don't own either one, I just wondered.
I keep toying with the idea of getting a Seb but can't bring myself to part with $500 for a low-tech framelock.
{Yeah, yeah, I know they're super well built and strong, blah, blah, blah.}
Any Sebenza owners out there have a Surfire too?
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Yes, $300 is too much to spend on a folder, IMHO.
Not long ago, I took out my stainless steel Ruger Single-Action .22LR to play with it and to check it over. As I hefted it and admired the quality and workmanship, I wondered if there was any Sebenza on the planet that would impress me so much that I would trade my Ruger for it. I surely couldn't conceive of it.
For $125, I can buy a Spyderco Native and a Buck 110 Alaskan, both with quality S30V blades. The Spyderco should be able to cut just as well as a Sebbie. Further, I can take my stainless Ruger, which I've used, and sell it today for substantially more than I paid for it. That can rarely be said for a Sebbie. Why? Partly because the premium steels keep changing, getting better. A Sebbie made just a few years ago isn't going to be the hot item one made today will be. Plus, knives tend to get scuffed up a bit, but even if kept in pristine shape, the knife will depreciate. Not so with a firearm.
Finally, I find the Sebenza and the Surefire to be rather plain in appearance. I could see spending $450+ for a knife with exotic handles, fine Damascus steel, engraved silver or gold inlays that would inspire awe. Men have for generations appreciated such flouishes in their arms.
But to each their own. I've Googled many Sebenza photos and they're rather Spartan. They've definitely got a following, but if I suddenly found $500 in one of my old coats (not likely), I'd probably buy a .40 Glock or a fine S&W 686 revolver and still have enough left over for a box of ammo AND a Spyderco Native!
I agree. The cost of a good revolver vs. the cost of a good knife is hard to explain sometimes.
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- Jul 30, 2006
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We've also had lots of other discussions. Many times.
You can certainly compare them. But, you may like the answer.
What I have a hard time understanding is the cost of those very expensive European double barreled shotguns. A double barrel shotgun seems to me to be a pretty simple device. However, there is a market for them.
You can certainly compare them. But, you may like the answer.
What I have a hard time understanding is the cost of those very expensive European double barreled shotguns. A double barrel shotgun seems to me to be a pretty simple device. However, there is a market for them.
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- Jul 30, 2006
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I had an acquaintance a few years ago who was into competition shotgun shooting. He told me that you could get 95% of everything you could get from a $800 shotgun. He said that to get above the 95% performance level, the price of the shotgun went up exponentially. He said it was all about the balance.
Beats me, I got an old Stevens double barrel that I bought for $125 or so some 30years ago. It's as good as I am.
Beats me, I got an old Stevens double barrel that I bought for $125 or so some 30years ago. It's as good as I am.
$300 is too much for a knife?? news to me as my EDC is a emerson CQC13 custom worth ~ $1200, i really like it too lol. why do i carry it when a spyderco Ti ATR or manix will do most it will at wayyyyy less cost? i dont know, i suppose 'cuz i can lol. & i am a "collector".
i have had a couple of sebs and still have one but they have never really been one of my favs, great F&F though, as good as many customs.
the only surefire knife i have ever handled is the alpha, i liked the one i saw quite a bit and almost bought one a couple of times but always found something i liked more, thye ones other than the alpha i dont like at all, imho they are right on the razor edge of being overpriced for what ya get, for ~ $300 lotsa nice stuff around.
i have had a couple of sebs and still have one but they have never really been one of my favs, great F&F though, as good as many customs.
the only surefire knife i have ever handled is the alpha, i liked the one i saw quite a bit and almost bought one a couple of times but always found something i liked more, thye ones other than the alpha i dont like at all, imho they are right on the razor edge of being overpriced for what ya get, for ~ $300 lotsa nice stuff around.
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I CALL BS.
The Knife vs. Gun Price debate really shows just how much the price of production knives like Reeves, Emerson, Strider and Busse are jacked up for profiteering (Hey its american, gotta love it!)
Case in point my Brand NEW Glock 30 with night sights set me back $550 with two clips. A lefty Sebenza, SnG or a Busse Hell Razor would all set me back around the same. They are all "Cool" knives with name brand flava ala Gucci or Fendi and a HK Snody BM will do the same job for a fifth of the price (OR a Ranger RD7 in the case of the BUSSE). The problem is you don't get internet cool credits for buying a good solid dependable knife.
People are under the delusion that spending the money for one those knives qualifies them as in a prestigious club.
The Knife vs. Gun Price debate really shows just how much the price of production knives like Reeves, Emerson, Strider and Busse are jacked up for profiteering (Hey its american, gotta love it!)
Case in point my Brand NEW Glock 30 with night sights set me back $550 with two clips. A lefty Sebenza, SnG or a Busse Hell Razor would all set me back around the same. They are all "Cool" knives with name brand flava ala Gucci or Fendi and a HK Snody BM will do the same job for a fifth of the price (OR a Ranger RD7 in the case of the BUSSE). The problem is you don't get internet cool credits for buying a good solid dependable knife.
People are under the delusion that spending the money for one those knives qualifies them as in a prestigious club.
Actually, I call BS on gun prices. I have a Glock, and really, Glock or otherwise, guns are way overpriced for the materials, required absence of heat treating, mass CNC production, injection molding (if any,) etc. I understand that a substantial portion of costs are due to liability insurance, nothing more.
Now, hand grinding and fitting out on an hourly rate by a craftsman, he charges what he needs to support himself at the rate of demand on the market place. Gun or knife, hand work doesn't come cheap if that's what you want. Mass production of difficult materials like titanium has it's costs, too.
Nonetheless, a good knife can be had for less than $30, and good guns for less than $250. It should be even less.
Which doesn't answer a thing about Surefire knives, so I'll jumpstart the discussion. I believe the last time it came up, the model in question was $475+, which was not very comparable to a SnG or Sebenza for similar materials. Most of the design elements are ok, some had concerns about the integral wrench function, wire clip, pivot area being weak due to the arc cutout, etc. It did cut, but the secondary stuff was not so good in application.
Surefire makes great lights, but the knife thing is out of their area of expertise, just like buying a Benchmade flashlight with integral radio would be an exercise in poor judgement.
Don't look at the cool, look at the tool.
Now, hand grinding and fitting out on an hourly rate by a craftsman, he charges what he needs to support himself at the rate of demand on the market place. Gun or knife, hand work doesn't come cheap if that's what you want. Mass production of difficult materials like titanium has it's costs, too.
Nonetheless, a good knife can be had for less than $30, and good guns for less than $250. It should be even less.
Which doesn't answer a thing about Surefire knives, so I'll jumpstart the discussion. I believe the last time it came up, the model in question was $475+, which was not very comparable to a SnG or Sebenza for similar materials. Most of the design elements are ok, some had concerns about the integral wrench function, wire clip, pivot area being weak due to the arc cutout, etc. It did cut, but the secondary stuff was not so good in application.
Surefire makes great lights, but the knife thing is out of their area of expertise, just like buying a Benchmade flashlight with integral radio would be an exercise in poor judgement.
Don't look at the cool, look at the tool.
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There knives are nice but WAY too expensive. I can buy a custom for the prices they charge
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The initial question had to do with whether the Surefire knives were worth $300+. The gun comparison is a logical one. True, even handguns can be overpriced. That, of course, is debatable, but again, people can buy a handgun, use it on occasion, and sell it for more than they paid. So even if they're overpriced, they continue to retain their value.
Again, what is the return of a Surefire or a Sebenza? Do they cut better? No. Is the blade steel superior to other good S30V blades in more inexpensive knives? Again, no. Are they beautiful works of art? Not the standard runs, no. And are they more durable? No, it can be argued that they are less durable than the massive Buck, and no more durable than the lighter Spyderco Native. The Native's space age materials are quite capable of making it just as durable.
Surefire makes excellent flashlights, and who knows who makes its knives?
But with many good knives sporting fine quality S30V blades are going for $100+/-, paying more, to me, is a waste, unless you're a collector.
Again, what is the return of a Surefire or a Sebenza? Do they cut better? No. Is the blade steel superior to other good S30V blades in more inexpensive knives? Again, no. Are they beautiful works of art? Not the standard runs, no. And are they more durable? No, it can be argued that they are less durable than the massive Buck, and no more durable than the lighter Spyderco Native. The Native's space age materials are quite capable of making it just as durable.
Surefire makes excellent flashlights, and who knows who makes its knives?
But with many good knives sporting fine quality S30V blades are going for $100+/-, paying more, to me, is a waste, unless you're a collector.
In the case of my "Surefire" fixed blade knife, it was made by Strider. The knife / flashlight combo listed for close to $900.
I bought it from a dealer who was selling them for about $450. I think he caught hell for selling them at a discount.
I don't agree with your opinion of the standard Sebenzas. They are better than you make them out to be.
However, for many cutting jobs a lot of us could get by just fine with a cheap box cutter. So, who needs a
$30 or $40 Spyderco?
I bought it from a dealer who was selling them for about $450. I think he caught hell for selling them at a discount.
I don't agree with your opinion of the standard Sebenzas. They are better than you make them out to be.
However, for many cutting jobs a lot of us could get by just fine with a cheap box cutter. So, who needs a
$30 or $40 Spyderco?