The Cheapskate Club Membership Thread

Definitely a value-seeker here. The most I have paid for any single pocket knife, shipping included, is probably a little under $140. I only own 4 knives that cost over $100, and 3 of them were Bladeforums annual Traditional forum knives (the 2013, 2022, and the 2014 runnerup). $100 was usually my hard limit, and those 4 were very specific exceptions.

However that's out of probably 150 knives accumulated over time, so clearly based on quantity, I am a wasteful profligate overspender. I have only bought two knives since since maybe 2017 though so I guess I have that part under control, too.

Very few of those inexpensive knives were made in China, oddly enough. Less than 10. Four of those are from the Boker Magnum line because I am a big fan of the Chad Los Banos designs, two SMKW Rough Riders, and a Taylor Brands Old Timer. And a Spyderco Delica from Taiwan, if that counts as part of China.

Most are US (Case, Buck, Queen, GEC, Canal Street, Kershaw, Benchmade, Zero Tolerance) and Swiss (Victorinox). I still paid under $100 for the Benchmade and Zero Tolerance knives. Bought those from a legit dealer that was no longer going to carry those brands, and they were on a super low close-out price. I would have skipped them if not for the great deal.

Clearly, if I added up the cost of all of those, I could have spent overall less money and had a much smaller number of much more expensive knives. Lesson learned, collecting addiction forever cured.

So I guess I am Member #41.
 
jc57 said:
based on quantity, I am a wasteful profligate overspender.
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Counting the ones I kept, the ones I have given away, and the ones I bought as raw materials for re-handle/mod projects, I estimate I have spent a little less than $2000 on cheap knives since 2017. If you divide that by 72 months, it comes out to less than $30 a month, which is pretty cheap as hobbies go.
 
For decades I have carried a small multi-tool. A few years ago I somehow ended up with a really cheap folder in a kitchen drawer. This past August I tried to use its dull edge and got fed up.

"Dang it, it's time for a good knife!"

Then I found BF. Here I am now, 12 folders and 3 fixed knives later.

I mostly stayed within $100 - $150 for a folder, preferring bang for the buck and finding deals both new and here on the Knife Exchange. Then I went bonkers last month. I spent $200 on a folder (on sale!) and about $250 each on two fixed knives.

It's now time to close the wallet. Time to use and learn more about the ones I have and then sell the ones that don't fit my needs.
 
Hi, fellas, thanks for your enthusiasm! Feel free to start other cheapskate threads. I would prefer there not be a strong hierarchy of leadership and keep things free flowing. Just specify the title that the posts are cheapskate related. No membership required, but we can remind people how to join. It'd be good to keep this thread focused on membership.
 
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dogstar said:
Hi, fellas, thanks for your enthusiasm! Feel free to start other cheapskate threads. I would prefer there not be a strong hierarchy of leadership and keep things free flowing. Just specify the title that the posts are cheapskate related. No membership required, but we can remind people how to join. It'd be good to keep this thread focused on membership.
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Apologies to dogstar. At #8 it is possible I will treat this like the "last post wins" thread in W&C.
 
I was always curious as to how many knife nuts were high end fan boys, spending hundreds f dollars on a knife, then having some kind of lightbulb moment where you realize how insane has all gotten?

Like when in side by side testing, a 10 dollar Mora out preformed a 200 dollar Randall small hunter. Like when you have a feeling like waking up from a feverish temporary insanity and can't wait to sell it all off.
 
I’m in. 73 and only income is social security. I collect and enjoy fixed blades. Fun hobby. I only buy cheap knives but I probably enjoy them as much as the collector of expensive knives. I am very happy for the folks that collect the expensive knives. I must say that I am rather amazed at the quality of some of these Pakistan made knives. Good edge, excellent fit and finish. Yep, I realize I am going to catch flack over that statement. I like large fixed blades. Just saying.
 
My parents were born over a hundred years ago and went through the depression. They taught me to look for the least expensive thing that will reliablly and properly do the job. I still do that.

Count me in.
 
I guess I’m 52. Oh how I wish I was still 52. No health problems, and I’d just gotten a new tattoo.

I have one $300 knife, which is probably what turned me into a cheapskate - it sits in the drawer because it’s just too nice to actually use. I have a $200 Buck that gets carried regularly, and everything else is well below that, most below $100, and a good bunch of those below $50. I don’t see myself spending over $100 again unless it’s something pretty extraordinary.
 
I got a Victorinox Tinker last summer at a yard sale for fifty cents, so I definitely qualify. It was in great shape other than missing the toothpick and tweezers (as in most yard sale SAKs). Maybe yard sales shouldn't qualify, I dunno.
I whittled plugs for the toothpick and tweezer slots and I carry a needle in one, haven't figured out what to carry in the other yet. I've been carrying it exclusively since.
 
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I’m cheap with knives but I think I spend more than healthy on sharpening stones. Not sure I qualify. But 20 quid of sharp is better than 100 quids worth of dull. Besides there’s not much chance of loosing sharpening stone, I hate the thought of loosing something I can’t either easily or afford to replace. Besides I see a lot of knife reviews were knives that look obviously unused are apparently amazing. Brings out the cynic in me.
 
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I'm borderline. I do a ton of research on stuff and rarely make impulse buys, on anything. The only time I ever "run out and buy" is if I absolutely need it. I always try to get a deal, and do the research to make sure I don't regret the purchase.

I hate the feeling I get when I buy without researching. As I mentioned in another post, 2 days before Christmas my TV and stereo receiver blew. Due to the fact that I had relatives staying with me and a huge party two days later, I ran out to best buy and bought replacements. I regretted the TV, a Samsung. It was too small, and the interface very sluggish. BB let me exchange it, and I'm very happy with the 65' LG I ended up with. Still miffed that my onkyo receiver doesn't have a universal remote, which my 10 year old Yamaha upstairs has.

They were on some special sale, so at least I got a good deal.

Cheapskate knife of 2022 was a Civivi Riffle.

I guess you can call me a cheapskate in that I really put a lot of thought into my purchases, and get the best deal possible.
 
This sounds great! I am too long in the tooth to be spending hundreds per knife, and don't have the budget to do it even if I wanted to. To top it off, I'm one of the guys that has discussed the fact here in different threads that there is no one to leave my life collection to. So I am buying them for me, and for no other reason than my own enjoyment. No heritage pieces or safe Queens.

That being said, I haven't lost my love of good cutlery. And we are certainly living in an age where there is a ton of it available now and more coming by the shipload it seems everyday. So knife buying has become a kind of minor vice of mine. I work in construction so I actually use the knives I buy.

But one of the great joys is to have a nice knife, have it admired a couple of times by a coworker, and handing it to him and telling him to put it in his pocket.

This could be fun!
 
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