The One Million Dollar Utility Knife...

The last post made alot of sense. I think we all have bought high priced knives that really weren't that much better than what we already had. Sometimes they wer worse than what we already had. Knife lovers are so used to justifying spending llarge amounts for knives that we reflexively say that spending alot is good. The truth is that sometimes it's good and sometimes it isn't.I can't say that my two $200 knives (Socom & Commander) are better than my Starmates, BM 710s, or Carnivore, all of which are $100 dollars cheaper.

We knife lovers also have too admit that the deeper we get into collecting, the more our perspective shifts. the fact is that for most people, a Spyderco Delica or Cold Steel Voyager is a high end knife. A cheap good knife for people would be Schrade lockback for $15 at Wal-Mart . An AFCK or Military to an average persom might as well be a handmade Kit Carson or Ken Onion
Once agin I'm not putting down expensive knives, we just need to keep perspective.
 
I tend to be very dollar concious and try to get alot of bang for the buck.Great deals are easy to come by if you look around and I get satisfaction by scoring a great knife purchase.If I had a lot of cash I would probably own anything that caught my eye.The problem is in knives that are hyped for performance beyond reality and priced accordingly.These seem to draw voracious support and I think David might be wondering if this a result of justifying the expensive purchase.(there I go trying to read your mind again Poff)I think the question is valid.I dont really know the answer except if it feels good to the purchaser go for it.If it makes a person happy great;even if they have to defend their purchase.Their defense only makes me feel better about my bargain purchases.I make knockoffs of some knives that are out of my range for my own personal use and have drawn a couple of conclusions.There is very little "magic" in knives.If you are paying the extra bucks thinking a certain knife will make you a better soldier.It wont.if you are paying the extra bucks thinking a certain knife will impress your fellow soldiers.It might.If you are paying the extra bucks because you like the knife and it will give you peace of mind having a knife that you feel is the best for what you do.Then maybe that is O.K.too.Peace of mind is often hard to come by and hard to put a price on.As far as being vocal about the purchase for guilt:maybe they just really like the knife.Who knows.I'm just glad Tim Herman isn't moderating this forum as he doen't seem to find many posts worthy of his high standards.
troy
 
Puhhhleeeease!

Ok- I'll be the first to concede- I have not gotten "value proportianate to expenditure" out of every knife I've ever bought. That's right, even my beloved Goddard Jr. in plain edge, numbered, and hand engraved by Wayne himself has not opened enough envelopes to justify it's price tag. I feel so dirty and shameful...

C'mon, "many of the respondents can't understand the question"? I highly doubt that. I feel I know what Marion was getting at and still feel it's a moot point at best for this group. We all LOVE knives dearly- that in itself is the reason for most to make their purchases. It is for me.

I fail to see the point in asking such a question, as it is a personal one, and not for any one of us to judge. If you buy the latest-super-secret-recon-seal-ninja tactical, and everyone including yourself knows it's never gonna leave your pocket, who cares? If you feel "guilty" about it's "value proportianate to expenditure" then deal with it. Or perhaps you shouldn't have made that purchase in the first place. But you will not find me saying "Hey man, don't you feel bad about that $150.00 pocket knife you'll never use to it's fullest capacity?"

If some one steps forward to say they've felt "guilty" about any knife purchase here, I'd be surprised- but more power to them. This same point could be made about cars, houses, boats, whatever you'd like. It just seems a bit out of place given the demographic of hardcore knifenuts here.

If you feel bad about your purchases, I'm sorry. I work hard to pay my bills, nobody is going to convince me how to get better value for my discretionary income. I could probably afford a Porsche if I REALLY wanted to, but I don't have one. Why is that? Maybe I'm not ignorant of this "value proportianate to expenditure" theorem after all. Hmmmm... why then, could it possibly a choice? Go to work, support your family, pay your bills, try to be a good person, and enjoy your hobby.

And, hey, if you ever need therapy to cleanse the guilt that's been steeped in denial, you know where to come.
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i think he is just doing it to get more posts
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he seems to think the more posts one has the better.

tim
 
The thing that interests me about this thread is that virtually no one is directly answering the question. Direct answers would be: "No, spending a lot of money on a knife never influences me to praise it more highly." or "Yes, I find I'm likely to say great things about a knife that cost me a bundle, even if I wouldn't go out and buy it again."

One of my reactions is to get real quiet about that "great" knife I bought when it fails to live up to my expectations. I probably don't spread the word on its shortcomings all that much. If I spent a lot on it, I'd probably be even quieter. When I get the loudest is when I got a real good deal on it. Did I tell you about the time I found a Randall at a Goodwill thrift store for 95 cents?
 
Ben and Jeff-
You two are my saviours. I thought I had said those exact things, but sparser.

Thank you for gracing my thread, and making it worth someonne's time.

You have woderfully clarified my thoughts.

Tim-
Stirring the pot again, are we?

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Information and Resource Page, including other cobalt materials.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Mr.Poff,

I know exactly what you speak of, and I witness it here almost on a daily basis. Too many times do people have to resort to the sophomoric "car analogy" in response. I have coined a phrase which aptly describes what you speak of- "The Emperor's Clothes Syndrome". People will often reply with "I choose what makes me happy", but if you will notice these same people are the ones who always spew forth platitudes such as "you get what you pay for" and other drivel.
Anyway, it's refreshing to hear your opinion through the flock, Mr.Poff, and remember you are not alone.

JK
 
Originally posted by Jedi Knife:
I have coined a phrase which aptly describes what you speak of- "The Emperor's Clothes Syndrome
Click to expand...

The secret is out – Jedi Knife is…. Hans Christian Anderson!

MDP, I do see your point, and am surprised by some of the responses you have received. It is certainly a real phenomenon that is spreads across any luxury industry, and I do consider most of my knife purchases to be a luxury. One Sebenza is all any man really needs, after all
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James Segura
San Francisco, CA
 
James,

I too am surpried at some of the responses I have recieved.

I had thought that this topic would easily be agreed to, that all had experienced this.

I feel like saying more, but I am going to refrain, knowing that if I say more I may be unbearably tempted to lash out.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Information and Resource Page, including other cobalt materials.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
I use my Terzuola ATCF every night at work. What I paid for it is none of their business. I use and carry it and other knives for the pure pleasure of it. I have talked prices with a few who are into knves and guns and can appreciate quality.
Besides, in the course of a year, most of these guys probably spend just as much on their own hobbies(liquid lunches) as I do on knives.


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Phil. 4:13
Dave
Wharton,NJ

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
 
Hey, that's Hans Christian Andersen to you and not Anderson
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I may be leaving Denmark as fast as I can, but I still have some pride in my heritage as a Dane
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No offense, I just had to get it of my chest...
Well, back to the topic
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I have personally spent a great deal of money on knives, but as I always make it a point to give the knife a good once-over I am usually never disappointed...What will happen though is that I will, if asked about the price, say that I got it substantially below the price I actually paid for it. Not to make it seem that I am any good at bargaining, but to mask how much money I actually spent on it. Most people here don't understand why anybody would pay the equivalent of 300 dollars for a knife...

Regards

Joshua "Kage" Calvert

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"Move like Water, strike like Thunder..."
 
I have seen what Marion is describing very often. For example if someone critizes a high end blade the person themselves will often come under attack and the issues they brought up not dealt with at all. This is a direct sign of insecurity. You don't see this with low end blades as who cares if they didn't make the best purchase with $30.

-Cliff
 
My darkest secret is if I paid full MSRP for an item. My wife might fret if I buy another knife, but as long as I can say I got it at a substantial discount she'll get over it quickly. I get much greater satisfaction out of buying something if I believe that I have gotten a better deal than most people. I virtually stopped buying knives until the internet offered chances to get substantial discounts. This presents great challenges when you start looking at custom knives. It also means I will probably never buy another production knife where the manufacturer prevents discounts. I'm just morally opposed to it. I'll look for a chance to trade for one.
 
On only one occasion did I buy a knife that didn't live up to my expecations. It was a custom folder, bought over the internet, and had extremely sloppy fit/finish, gaps between blades and backspring, extremely dull, etc. I don't feel inclined to bash the maker in public, and have never done so, but I certainly won't accept a poor knife just because I had paid a lot of money for it. So I returned it to the maker for a refund, explaining the problem much to our mutual embarrassment, and that was that!

Ryan



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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
I am of an age, where a large part of my future already lies behind me....
Furthermore gold's melting point is at approx 1950°F, so I cannot take it with me (too hot there),so:
Why shoudn't I pay a little bit more if I like it?
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D.T. UTZINGER
 
marion,

no pot stirring. just trying to figure out what purpose a thread like this has. it all seems to be opinion to each person so why all the bandwidth for such? after all, you got on me for wasting such bandwidth i was just curious if this was another case of the "you quit wasting precious space here for your non important rambling but it dont apply to me" things.

I have to post just to bubble this to the top.....
Click to expand...
i rest my case. also over 100 new posts since your silly "who has the most posts recently" only what, a week or 2 ago?

lately i have seen very few informative topics or posts on knives, maybe this is partly the reason for my negativity. sorry
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jedi,

this thread is sophmoric drivel.

tim

[This message has been edited by HermanKnives (edited 02-14-2000).]
 
Eye, I for one am sorry if our responses have brought you to the point of wanting to "Lash Out!" In all honesty, I did have to look at your original post several times to try to understand it. I just have never had the problem as it's been presented.

I don't have a lot of knives, although my wife says I do. I will give knives away, but I've never sold, traded, returned or regretted buying any of them. Now, maybe I'm in denial, but I love my knives, and I want more, better made, more expensive. Now if that's wrong I'll just have to deal with it.

Now, Tim what do you want to talk about?

As for me, Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
 
Tim
"lately I have seen very few informative posts on knives" you are joking right?
It seems to me you should take your own advice.If you are so upset by this "drivel" why must you spend so much time in the thread.wouldn't you be better off finding a more informative post.Btw I'm not a doctor but I do know being upset and negative isn't good for a heart condition.Just trying to help.
troy
 
Hi Eye, what I believe is the answer to your post is this: when a man buys a knife & has paid too much for it, #1 He's embarrassed with himself about doing it, #2 He then has a natural tendency to try to defend his purchasing it, & #3 Will defend the knife's qualities as part of justifying himself buying it & by doing so try to make himself feel better about the situation. Think about it, the old joke about a man refusing to get directions when he's lost is mostly true & is part of this mindset. I believe that if you do an impulse buy & pay too much, as long as you're not depriving your family or yourself of the necessities of life, No Big Deal. Anyway, I think most of us can look back & grin at some of the things we jumped at & paid too much money for. You might as well laugh about it, because if you don't you'll end up crying about it
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There has been some "Is this thread necessary?" discussion here. I myself thought I said all that needed to be said on the subject in my post waaaay up near the top of it.

However . . . The best response to a thread which one doesn't think is terribly useful is usually to merely disregard it and move on to something in this huge forum, or in the infinitely larger Net, which one finds is more interesting, and not to chime in with a sour note in a thread that others with different tastes or priorities may be enjoying.



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
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