Use of a $300 Knife?

Tony8179 said:
The discussion of what can the $400 knife do better than the $40 knife. The plain and simple answer is that it does nothing better. The answer to those that know or collect knives is that the edge will hold a better edge for a longer amount of time, won't chip or roll as easily, the materials are usually better, and the fit and finish are usually better. There is also the pride of ownership. That goes with almost anything that someone owns. You always want to be proud of the things that you surround yourself with whether it be people, your work, or objects like knives.
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Winning. You can lock her down now.
 
jerm03 said:
So for those who own expensive knives, what do you do with it that a much less expensive knife, such as a SAK, will not do?

If you like to admire the workmanship, and know it has the best steel that is fine. But how do those things translate to everyday use? Do you really tighten screws and cut boxes with it?

Thanks,
Jerry
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A SAK will do every task that a more $$ knife will, maybe an exception being self defense (IMO a dumb idea) like others said, it brings some people joy.

Personally, expensive knives don't bring me joy. I worry about losing them, damaging them, having the stolen or whatever, maybe I'm neurotic but worrying about where I park my Lexus is stress enough ;)

As for $$ knives transferring to everyday tasks, IMO I see pricey knives having less utility then cheep ones, again do to fear of breakage or damage.
 
If you can't afford to enjoy expensive goodies, then make do with what you have.. It's like asking why buy a Porche when a, I dunno, RX7 will do the trick? Because you can, is the answer.. Its a hobby as well.. People like NICE things.. we feel good (for a few days :D)..

I have a few knives in that range, nothing I think is expensive.. So it also comes down to perception.. WHAT IS EXPENSIVE? To me, a knife over $1000 is expensive...

I also love my SAKs.. great in the pocket :D

As for breaking or damaging a safe queen, again it comes to what is expensive.. If you make $25k a year, yeah you prolly are affraid to use a $400 knife.. If you make $80K.. $100k.. or more.. than its just another knife.. sucks huh =_-
 
Reliability is a primary reason for the Toyota. However, I don't drive a Caddy or Mercedes even though I could. I am not persuaded they will do what I do better than the Toyota, and their cost is not worth it.
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Toyota does make an exellent appliance.

However, it's hard to get excited about a washer or dryer. I would hardly argue that a Corvette is an applicane, and while it serves the same basic function it's QUITE a bit different and in practical reality there are myriad reasons people buy them (racing, status, style, Etc.). Same thing with the knife.

I think thats the crux of your problem understanding. You have a utilitarian spirit (not bad) and just appreciate things like horsepower, style, Etc. less the reliability - just like with a knife you prefer utility to style, cachet, Etc.

To each their own in the key there I guess :). I personally don't like SAK's because I do not like non-locking blades, and multitools are handier.

And the only $300 pocket knife I have, the blade comes out of the front. Your SAK can't do that :).
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jerm03 said:
But what will those expensive knives do that a SAK will not do except give you the joy of ownership? The SAK will cut boxes and tighten screws. while I doubt any of you use your knives for that purpose.

Thanks,
Jerry
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A knife made with better materials will, at worst, do an equal job *longer* than a cheaper knife. That's why I'm a carbon steel snob; if you're talking about SAKs or other Wal-Mart knives, they are going to use crap steel that dulls in a heartbeat compared to carbon steel. (And yes, I know there are high-performance "stainless" steels out there; I'm talking about the cheap crap.)

And while I'm not going to use a $300 knife to tighten screws, I'm not going to rely on a SAK for that either; I'll use a screwdriver.
 
sloth357 said:
If you make $25k a year, yeah you prolly are affraid to use a $400 knife
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Thank you for putting "prolly" Was bouts to bust yer chops :D:thumbup:

Also loved the, "for a few day days" comment :thumbup: Funny how that "need" subsides after a few days huh? :p
 
sloth357 said:
As for breaking or damaging a safe queen, again it comes to what is expensive.. If you make $25k a year, yeah you prolly are affraid to use a $400 knife.. If you make $80K.. $100k.. or more.. than its just another knife.. sucks huh =_-
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It might also depends on you definition of use. I used my spydie to peel off a stuck oil filter seal when I was doing a little work on the car today. Would you have done that with a 400$ knowing ahead of time its (at the VERY least) going to get covered in motor oil or dirt from your hands and quite possibly banged around at bit, then not cleaned for another hour of so. If you would have, more power to you but I imagine your part of a very small minority. If your definition of use is small food prep and breaking down boxes, then I think those willing to 'use' their knives grows substantially.
 
Yes and No. I have a mental block with hard using a knife I spent over $400.00. It's just me and my own hang ups. I will baton the crap out of a knife that is $300.00?? I have started to discover that I am a guy that should sell his expensive knives and buy two $250.00 knives.
 
mat_890 said:
It might also depends on you definition of use. I used my spydie to peel off a stuck oil filter seal when I was doing a little work on the car today. Would you have done that with a 400$ knowing ahead of time its (at the VERY least) going to get covered in motor oil or dirt from your hands and quite possibly banged around at bit, then not cleaned for another hour of so. If you would have, more power to you but I imagine your part of a very small minority. If your definition of use is small food prep and breaking down boxes, then I think those willing to 'use' their knives grows substantially.
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Sure, no problem, if it won't take it then it's not worth having in the 1st place now is it.

My high end knives really get more use than my less expensive ones.
 
Funny. I've got $10 Chinese knives, a $30 SAK, $500 Ruanas and $800 Randalls. Which gets used the most? A $100 Gerber Freeman folder in S30V. The ZT0303 also gets a fair amountt of use, as does the AG Buck 110 in stag. A Buck Vanguard in S30V gets a respectable amount of use too, as does my Ka-Bar USMC 1217.

I guess I don't think too much about what it cost when I need a knife I just grab a knife. Yeah, sometimes it's even one of the really expensive ones.

Laugh all you want, but there's a lot to be said for pride of ownership.
 
mat_890 said:
It might also depends on you definition of use. I used my spydie to peel off a stuck oil filter seal when I was doing a little work on the car today. Would you have done that with a 400$ knowing ahead of time its (at the VERY least) going to get covered in motor oil or dirt from your hands and quite possibly banged around at bit, then not cleaned for another hour of so. If you would have, more power to you but I imagine your part of a very small minority. If your definition of use is small food prep and breaking down boxes, then I think those willing to 'use' their knives grows substantially.
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Ankerson said:
Sure, no problem, if it won't take it then it's not worth having in the 1st place now is it.

My high end knives really get more use than my less expensive ones.
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I agree with Ankerson's answer. If I can't do with my $400 knife what I will do with my $40 knife then why carry the $400 knife at all? Here's the thing though, as a responsible knife user I don't use my knives for anything buy cutting. Other tasks require other tools. Kind of how I don't cut with a screwdriver I won't drive screws with a knife tip. The only other use my knives see besides cutting is spreading some condiments and openeing the occasional beer bottle with the butt end of the handle.
 
The few high end knives I I have are self defense oriented, I have on occasions used to defend my self and others, it is at does times that I want the best possible knife i can get whit me. I think any on would. I take my knives to war whit me. If I'm going to war I won't take a jetta for its gas mileage.
 
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A custom blade maker can turn out an ok low end blade that looks like any other and does the jobs factory blades do. A reputable custom maker can also spend much more time, 10 times as long on a blade and triple edge harden, triple temper, super cold quench and personally test a bade. It looks the same. The extra cost can be much like buying insurance. You may never need it, but if in a bind it covers you and saves your bacon. Depending on your lifestyle.

Many knife owners go camping hunting are farmers etc where it is possible to get lost, be in some survival situation. It can become important for a blade not to break when prying, or able to cut metal, or thick rope, above and beyond what is normally asked of a blade. Taking metal to its limits- can take skill time money and can be reflected in the price.
Even if one never puts the blade to the ultimate test, it might be important to think ‘what if’ and feel secure, again, like insurance.
 
I have traded or sold every 300.00 plus knife I have ever had, no use for them. I just can't, not use and beat the snot out of my knives...same goes for guns, I have had Wilson 1911's, S&W #3 Russians, 2nd gen Colts and the list goes on and on, the ones I keep....are the ones that work and I don't hesitate to use.

My Knifes
-Any Beckers
-Any ESEE
-Cold Steels in Carbon V
-Himalayan Imports Stuff

What is the common thread? All excellent builds, all bulletproof.
 
Ankerson said:
Sure, no problem, if it won't take it then it's not worth having in the 1st place now is it.

My high end knives really get more use than my less expensive ones.
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Ank, after posting with you for years, and seeing all that you do with expensive, great knives, I am god damned 100% sure that you are the minority brother.
 
Not everyone buys an expensive knife to use it. I didn't buy gold bars to spend them.
 
If Victorinox would make a slim liner lock knife with G-10 scales, a pocket clip, all the goodies and high grade steel for $50, a lot of knife makers would lose a lot of sales.
 
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