Weird trend: starting to prefer cheap(er) knives...

I'm not sure I'd rather have three $50 knives rather than one $150 knife but I "think" I'd rather have three $150 knives rather than a $450 knife. Mostly because if I bought a $450 knife I know I'd still be buying more $150 knives too!

You can get a LOT of knife for $100 - $200 street price these days . . .
 
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>>>>>Weird trend: starting to prefer cheap(er) knives... <<<<<
Well I can't say that I acually prefer cheaper knives although I can certainly appreciate them. I have a Spyderco Tenacious which I consider to be a inexpensive [never say cheap] knife. Not too shabby for the price paid, but nowhere near as nice as my Spydie Sage, Para, or Military.
 
My two users. Boker Trance and Case Sodbuster. Both knives around $30. Non-user, WT #2. :)
 
Benchmade Monochrome, eh? And I thought I knew every good deal under the sun...thanks, I'll check that out!:)

IUKE12, you're correct, maybe "prefer" isn't the word I should've used. I don't prefer a Kabar heavy Bowie over a Camp Tramp or Scrapper 6 (which are outstanding blades) but I sure don't use any of my knives to a point where I would need INFI steel-like ruggedness. The Kabar does enough, and for $40 shipped, sure does it well.

Maybe even $35 is too much money...you can sure get a lot of a mileage out of a $15 Buck Diamondback fixed blade (3 inches of 420HC Buck-treated steel) and a high-quality $7 Chinese Sanrenmu 2" folder in 8Cr14MoV steel (one of the best hidden deals around, IMHO).

If I can go even lower w/o sacrificing quality, I'll sure try.
 
Cheap knives are the ones that usually wind up being around when you need them. I leave a beat up Spec Plus bowie in my truck... it sees far more action than my Battle Mistress. I'm just not going to leave a $500.00 knife in my truck. So it stays in the safe... I use it for fun sometimes... but the cheap knife is the one that is always around.
 
ahh yes.. another perk of not having expensive knives.. you dont feel like crap for beating them up or losing them.
 
I have a theory that hobbies in general will often follow a pattern. There is a "discovery" phase where you first start to appreciate something. Then there is a phase of exponential growth in the price you are willing to pay. This can't go on forever, and you eventually realize that you're paying a ridiculous astronomical price that isn't really justified for your own personal use of the item. After this, you may still appreciate super-fine quality and expensive priced items (buying them on rare occasion), but in the final phase your emphasis has shifted back down to maximizing your enjoyment per dollar, rather than the ultimate "holy grail" items for that particular hobby (which become so expensive you almost hate to use them for the purpose they were designed).

This has happened to me with computers, guns, knives, and wine. I'm guessing it's happened to some of you as well.
 
soupah said:
Benchmade Monochrome, eh? And I thought I knew every good deal under the sun...thanks, I'll check that out!:)

IUKE12, you're correct, maybe "prefer" isn't the word I should've used. I don't prefer a Kabar heavy Bowie over a Camp Tramp or Scrapper 6 (which are outstanding blades) but I sure don't use any of my knives to a point where I would need INFI steel-like ruggedness. The Kabar does enough, and for $40 shipped, sure does it well.

Maybe even $35 is too much money...you can sure get a lot of a mileage out of a $15 Buck Diamondback fixed blade (3 inches of 420HC Buck-treated steel) and a high-quality $7 Chinese Sanrenmu 2" folder in 8Cr14MoV steel (one of the best hidden deals around, IMHO).

If I can go even lower w/o sacrificing quality, I'll sure try.
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I took a look at Sanrenmu's website (gave me a virus alert, btw.) and I will not buy from them. I'm seeing too many designs that have been copied from other makers.:thumbdn: If you feel like taking the risk of getting a computer virus, you'll see what I mean if you look at their sight. Just do a google search, and you'll find it.
 
In the past few months, I awoke from a SEVEN YEAR Sebenza coma. I FIRMLY believe that it is due to other production companies stepping it up a notch.... If you were to look back in the archives seven years ago, you'd see archieblue as a Benchmade HATER... and that is because every single one that I tried, and WANTED to buy was unacceptable ALL things considered. The past few years I've been increasingly impressed, and in all honesty, NEVER let down by a Benchmade offering other than designs that don't appeal to me. The Spydercos that have passed through my hands have as well been excellent. The ONE Kershaw that I like the design of has also been more than acceptable. I would be HARD pressed to buy another Chris Reeve Knife (OK MAYBE a Mnandi) or Strider SnG with the quality that Benchmade and Spyderco are putting out lately. My favorite knife... as you may know, is the Spyderco Military... There is NO WAY I could EVER be convinced that a Sebenza is worth more than Three Militarys. Titanium lasts forever, and G10 or Carbon Fiber is new and questionable??? I ain't gonna live forever, and if my kids are ANYTHING like me, they'll lose it anyway!
 
I can understand going to cheaper knives. My two main edcs cost well above $500 each but that doesn't stop me from appreciating (and wanting) less expensive knives. I pick my knives based on how I like the design, not by how much it costs. I'm currently eyeing a couple of <$40 knives for my next two purchases.
 
I really really really want a Benchmade Kulgera 930--problem is: I already have a $100 BM 525 in my pocket and another $100 BM 525 and another $125 BM 520 that are sitting on the kitchen counter---that are all perfectly serviceable and serve me well.

I just can't justify another $125 for I wanna nother cool knife-itis.

Did just spend $19 on Amazon for a SAK Alpiner---to try something new.
 
I guess we all learn sooner or later that price doesn't guarantee quality. Some of my best knives cost the least amount and do their job just as well as the more expensive knives I have owned. I have even come full circle and have started to prefer a good slip joint over a locking blade.
 
I always look for dollar value and the Mora fixed blades are about as good as cutting gets in their size range. For folders, No folder made is worth more than 100.00 IMO and that's my absolute limit on folders. I just can't see more dollars worth of steel that is worth it. Most of my user folders are in the 30-60 dollar range. I buy a few customs that have good steel and pretty wood and may go a bit over a 100.00 on a few of them. I buy nothing that I don't plan to use. For investing, I will take firearms over knives.
 
Good thread.
I glad to see that others think the same way I do about the quality of knives theses days.
When I started the thread below, I didn't get the sense others agreed with me.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595334
"I just received a Benchmade Mini Pika II from Thebladeshop for $24 + $6 shipping. I'm amazed at the quality that you get for the money - Sharp, great fit and finish attractive design.

This knife got me thinking about all the discussions about blade steel and handle materials and are they really worth the additional cost."
 
udtjim said:
I always look for dollar value and the Mora fixed blades are about as good as cutting gets in their size range. For folders, No folder made is worth more than 100.00 IMO and that's my absolute limit on folders. I just can't see more dollars worth of steel that is worth it. Most of my user folders are in the 30-60 dollar range. I buy a few customs that have good steel and pretty wood and may go a bit over a 100.00 on a few of them. I buy nothing that I don't plan to use. For investing, I will take firearms over knives.
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As a folder lover I'm completely opposite of you on the price range :D

I absolutely refuse to spend more than $75.00 on a fixed blade, but I have no limits on a folder. To me a fixed blade is simple enough to make, a slab of steel, well grounded with an edge, and then two handle slabs glued and pinned onto the slab of steel, then polish the blade. It just sounds simple to me. Now I'm not trying to put down anyones work/liking of fixed blades, it's just a preference of mine.

I have always loved folders for their compactness, ease of carry (and legality) and because there is a lot of design that can be put into a folder. I guess that's the young engineer in me :o I like the complicated gizmos you can put into a folder to make it work. The more high tech and thought out the better. The mechanics, design, and performance are reasons why I love my folders. I love my chris reeve sebenza for it's extreme tolerances and high quality workmanship. I also love my 552 ritter grip for it's price tag and the axis lock. Both great knives, lots of mechanics and design put into them for an excellent final product.
 
Cheaper knives definitely have a place, but there's no question in my mind that spending a little (or a lot) more for a item of higher quality is usually the better approach. Better steel, better heat treat, better handle materials, better fit and finish, better resale value. It's not always the case that an expensive knife will out perform a lower-end one, but, at least in my own experience, you generally get what you pay for.
 
Gunfucius said:
I took a look at Sanrenmu's website (gave me a virus alert, btw.) and I will not buy from them. I'm seeing too many designs that have been copied from other makers.:thumbdn:
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No doubt on the copied designs, but there are also "original" ones for sale by Sanrenmu...and anyway, I would submit that within the confines of a 3" framelock folder designs, there's some room for originality but much is bound to be repeated.

Oh, I should mention that I've never gone to Sanrenmu's company website...I buy them new off of eBay based upon a review of them on the BristishBlades forum. $12 shipped.
 
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