Value vs Function for everyday carry.

A man was walking down a dark, deserted street, and a thug with a pistol jumped out of an alley and snarled, "Your money or your life!" The man whimpered, "Take my life ... I need my money for my old age."

Knives or guns, watches or cars, you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot, but if you save it all for your old age, your survivors will never be able to fit what you deprived yourself of into your coffin.

:D
 
I don't feel deprived. Lord knows I've got plenty of toys. I don't feel deprived by not owninng, say, a Sebenza or a Busse, but realize others might "need" one. On the other hand, I've bought my share of backpacking gear others would consider obscenely expensive ;)

With respect to an EDC "user" sort of tool, I want something I feel I can afford to lose. All my EDC stuff, except maybe my ARC LSH-P flashlight, meets that criteria . . .
 
I was torn between a top of the line Bell moto helmet and a cheaper "look alike" once- the salesman asked me what my life was worth to me... I still have that helmet- even though I sold the bike.

If you think you will depened on what you carry for your life- buy something that will not fail. If just knocking around, an average knife is fine. I own both- for different uses.
For a very tough knife for reasonable money, I am VERY impressed with Swamp Rat Knife Works.
 
My old grand daddy told me two things to always get the best you can afford: tools & weapons. Your livelyhood depends on your tools, your life could depend on your weapons. FWIW

Gene
 
My cap jumped directly from $20 to over $300. :O

The unfeeling knifestore man wouldn't sell me a Sebenza any cheaper.

What's a knife-nut to do?

Cheers
 
My problem is that I can't find an expensive knife that fulfills my EDC needs better than my $30.00 Adventurer SAK. I would like a $100 model that had the main blade made out of BG-42, but I am not willing to sacrifice my screwdriver blades to get it. I've got other knives that I can carry for supplemental purposes, but my pants get to heavy if I carry it all. I don't worry about losing my Spyderco Starmate, but it lacks utility as a primary EDC. I wish Spyderco would produce an upgrade for my SAK that is light enough for me to use as an EDC.
 
My EDC is a Busse NO/E, with a BM/E in the BOB for backup, and pocket blades in three of four pockets- all worth over $100. I don't lose them and they don't get taken away. IMHO, the gamble is that I will never need more than a $10 blade. Truth is, I alrady have. I'm with the $10 Helmet group or the "tools" group where compromise is considered foolish. Just my crummy nature, I guess.
-carl
 
I'm really enjoying this thread. Along the same lines I'm looking to purchase a defensive carbine. My LE issue longarm is a Bushmaster M-4 carbine with which I have received extensive tactical training with due to my previous assignment, and previous to that, infantry service in the USMC.

A Bushmaster similar to my issue piece - $840.00 shmackaroos :eek:
A Ruger Mini 14 - $480.00 :(
A tuned "shorty" SKS (which I already own) - $165.00

All of these guns are fun to shoot, ammo is cheap, and their all "street" proven designs. I like the Bushmaster, but Practically speaking, is it REALLY worth nearly eight times that of my SKS for 50 yard shooting?

I still want one though....
 
Hmmm, it seems the cheaper we get a knife, or the older it is, the less we're afraid of it.

I'll tell you what-

When I scratched the handle of my Benchmade I was bummed.

When I chipped my Sebbie I damn near fudged my drawls!!
 
There's a similar thread raging at one of the other forums I frequent: www.tdiclub.com (a diesel VW forum).

The question there is Ford Excursion vs. Volkswagen Toureg for 6 people plus gear. Most of us have sidestepped the question and chosen the mercedes/freightliner/dodge sprinter. I'm trying to think of the knife analogy: Excursion = Becker; Toureg = Strider (maybe--something a little exotic but very capable) and Sprinter = Swamp Rat? Any of them would do the job, but the Sprinter is bigger and better than the other two and only costs a little more than the Excursion. It's also got a longer track record (in Europe) than the Excursion or Toureg.

P.S. Before you slam the Toureg--YES! It is a Barbie SUV, but based on everything I have read it is a damned capable one (if you care to drop the $52K+ for the loaded V8 version). I'd only consider it if they bring the 10 culinder TDI to the USA, but then I'd still rather have this sprinter.

sprinter_iglhaut.jpg


P.P.S. TACMAN, I'd go with an M4 variant because you are already intimately familiar with it. Personally, I want a Springfield Armory Squad Scout ;)
 
my priciest EDC is a spyderco merlin-i need a knife that will cut the heck out of anything i see regularly (boxes, twine, hoses, whatever-i'm not trying to cut down trees with it, though it can handle sawing tasks rather well for a folder-love that hawkbill blade), and don't care about carrying much more. 50 bucks including shipping. i'm getting to the point where i think i am more inclined to build my own knife than pay much more, at least until i see a better income. i would buy and carry a $1000+ knife if it were the best possible solution and didn't break my bank, but i think before i get to that point, i will have better luck shaping my own blades. my intent in my future hobby in knifework is to come up with largely practical designs, and to sell them at the most reasonable price i can-because i don't think i will ever become a master, and i'd hate to sell something for more than i'd be ready to pay.


BTW, my understanding is that there are some SERIOUS pricebreaks on excursions in many areas, due to the lack of sales. i'd heard something about 25k for a new one right off the lot. sounds pretty strong to me. i've been promoting the idea to a friend who wants a big pickup truck, offering to help with cutting out the rear and putting a cage in. a civilian APC :D
 
My EDC was a handmade from Gene Ingram, which cost about $80.00. So for every day, I set my limit at $100.00. I use all my knives though, with a personal spending limit of $550.00. Some people think I'm crazy going camping with a $550.00 knife, but I buy my knives to use them. It's all personal preference.
 
I didn't read all the posts,So just let me say,buy the highest quality you can afford with anything in life.Most of the time the more money the higher quality.I once was considering a 50.00 Motorcycle helmet for a 10,000.00 Motorcycle I had bought and was new to that hobby.The salesperson asked if I new the difference between certain helmets ratings etc.The bottom line he said is buy the best you can afford.I told him it seemed wasteful to pay 150.00-300.00 on just a helmet when I could get one for 50.00.He said well if you think you have a 50.00 head then buy a 50.00 helmet.I decided my head deserved better protection so I purchased a helmet of better quality.So I ask you this,if you can afford better quality why not when your life may depend on it? If you can't see possibly losing or damaging a 1,000.00 knife don't buy one for edc.However,I don't mind spending as much on a knife as I would on a gun,because they are both important tools imho.
 
Each man's opinion is as valid as the next.

If you lose the $500 knife and can't afford to replace it, then it wasn't the right knife.

If you break the $50 knife and can't finish the job, then it wasn't the right knife.

So, you have to decide and make your own compromises.

I have friends who won't spend more than $60 on a knife and buys them 2 at a time because he "loses" and breaks them.

I have owned carried and used the same knife for more than 10 years. My knife is not damaged or abused, so I won't mind spending more for a knife, especially if it is a lot tougher and capable of more utility.
 
Originally posted by Sundsvall
Each man's opinion is as valid as the next.

If you lose the $500 knife and can't afford to replace it, then it wasn't the right knife.

If you break the $50 knife and can't finish the job, then it wasn't the right knife.

So, you have to decide and make your own compromises.

I have friends who won't spend more than $60 on a knife and buys them 2 at a time because he "loses" and breaks them.

I have owned carried and used the same knife for more than 10 years. My knife is not damaged or abused, so I won't mind spending more for a knife, especially if it is a lot tougher and capable of more utility.
Click to expand...
Great post, IMO. Sorry to quote the whole thing, but there wasn't a part to single out.
Know what you expect out of a tool going in...

I've got a $450 folder that has seen alot of use, with no complaints. I may never spend that much again, simply because I've come to prefer a fixed blade whenever possible, and they're generally cheaper.
You get into the diminishing returns thing quickly when you go over $100, but for me it's not all about justifying the cost (I probably can't justify a folder more expensive than the Spyderco Endura). It's about personal enjoyment and satisfaction. My $450 CF EDC is not 3.75 times as good as my $120 BM 710, but I enjoy using it ten times as much, and don't regret a penny that went toward it.
My cap now is probably between $250-300...whatever it would take to replace my TTKK if something happened to it.
 
I carry a 20 doller G-Multi tool
Got a small buck too 30 bucks .
I have been carring some kind of spanish made blane as of late.
I also carry a balisong some times .
I will break it /lose it
Use to carry a swiss army knife but when I could get a knife with pliers ....

If ya mean a self defence blade ....Well that could be anything from a S-razzor to a keshaw dagger
regards
Chris
 
"How in the world can anyone justify an EDC that
cost more than $100 is simply beyond me."

I carry a knife that costs more than $100. I justify it this way:

"I'm worth it."

--Mike
 
$100?

Hang around long enough and you'll realize that's just a phase!
BWHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
:D
 
If you can afford to carry a knife that cost more and you like it-why not? Carry it and use it just for the sheer joy of it.
I have been carrying one of my Carson model 4 folders for 2 years and have used it pretty hard. The guys that come to the NY show have seen it and know it's got it's share of scratches,etc.
Ok, the knife cost me $425 2 years ago and has been in my pocket everyday, approximately 730 days. That works out to just about 58 cents a day! The longer I carry it the less it costs:D
Not only that, there's another benefit. I consider Kit a good friend now, I speak to him every few weeks and have spent time in person. Just about everytime I use the knife it reminds me of my friend. That's one of the reasons I dont buy knives from makers at shows that arent friendly, but that's for another thread sometime.
 
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