What’s your max?

comis said:
I think everyone here probably have different answer to that, in recent years, I think two main criteria justify my buy--value and whether I would regret it later(buying or not buying).
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All knife lovers have 2-3 things in common, Regret/Justification/Passion
Either for not owning, or missing out on a knife they desired,,,or extra money lost on a bad deal....
truth be accepted: its the love and passion of this knife hobby that gives us these experiences.
What a few $100, or $1,000/- is relative to each individual, collectively knife lovers go thru similar experiences imho.
 
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Aryan29 said:
All knife lovers have 2-3 things in common, Regret/Justification/Passion
Either for not owning, or missing out on a knife they desired,,,or extra money lost on a bad deal....
truth be accepted: its the love and passion of this knife hobby that gives us these experiences.
Whats a few $100, or $1,000/- is relative to each individual, collectively knife lovers go thru similar experiences imho.
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Good point, and that's why I also put value as one of the criteria. But honestly, most great value buy tends to be less expensive, and in some way, it kinda put the check and balance on my hobby expenditure.
 
I've got a couple of knives that I bought for just less than $150. They were milestone marker purchases for myself. The vast majority of knives I own are under $100 (well under). For me they're tools, and I have a hard time justifying the idea of buying a tool like a knife for much more than $150 (so far). When I see a really expensive knife I like and entertain the idea of dropping $150 or more on one, I do a little mental exercise and replace the word "knife" with something like "hammer" or "wrench". Then I can usually move on. It's easier for the ones farther from that $150 mental limit I have than the ones that are only $10-20 over it.
If I were less limited financially perhaps I could justify spending more. I don't really know. Fortunately, there are some really great tools available in my price range and I do enjoy seeking them out.
 
Hey DB, you recommended me a great knife at a great price; for that I’ll always be grateful.

I don’t think it’s about wealth; I have some very wealthy relatives who seek out the cheapest wine, watches, whatever but will drop a million on a nice yacht or house. I have friends who are massive landowners in one of the most expensive places in the UK; but drive old beaten up cars. Then have a super luxury three week exotic holiday.

It’s about valuing things differently; we aren’t badly off; a couple of houses, both by the sea, nice cars, long holidays, etc but the thought of going over $150 when something you recommended for $80 does it all, also doesn’t compute. It’s about value not price.

It’s definitely a bit like watches; I love automatics. But what does a Patek Philipe do that my $250 Seiko automatic Diver won’t do? Nothing. So that’s my limit.

Get hit by the collector bug and it’s easy to justify an ever rising budget as you get drawn in but what real use is a safe full of $500+ knives? Lovely to look at, to compare and for some, to show off on forums like this but for those that want a well made, sharp knife to do the job of a knife, you don’t need to go mad.

This isn’t a dig at collectors; only people who can’t help but get snobby about their chosen hobby.
 
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Polzeyboy said:
....Get hit by the collector bug and it’s easy to justify an ever rising budget as you get drawn in but what real use is a safe full of $500+ knives? Lovely to look at, to compare and for some, to show off on forums like this but for those that want a well made, sharp knife to do the job of a knife, you don’t need to go mad.
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With knives, the collector thing WILL NOT happen. I did it with guns and spent many thousands over a period of about 15 years. Now I'm in a downsizing mode on the collector stuff as I seldom even look at them. With guns however, I actually eventually make money on most of them. But I would probably have made more money investing the $. But it is a hobby.
 
22-rimfire said:
With knives, the collector thing WILL NOT happen. I did it with guns and spent many thousands over a period of about 15 years. Now I'm in a downsizing mode on the collector stuff as I seldom even look at them. With guns however, I actually eventually make money on most of them. But I would probably have made more money investing the $. But it is a hobby.
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Count me in as NOT a collector. My wife and I have a modest income, so what I buy, I use. Even when I look for used knives, I don't get hung up on a knife that hasn't been used or sharpened (since I fully intend to use it). I'm still learning, so I spend way too much time on this forum looking at knives!
 
I have spent $230 on a custom knife-shaped cleaver (my description, not the maker's), $220 on a ZT-0609 that I sold because I got tired of answering to "How much did you pay for that?", and $210 for a Spyderco Shaman in Cruwear and Micarta. With regard to those exceptions, I'd say my max is $199.99.
 
Being a lefty I was forced to make a decision about how much I'm willing to spend on certain knives. I find right handed frame locks ugly, uncomfortable, and annoying to disengage. Because of this, I'm not willing to drop more than $40 on a righty Kershaw. However, I'd have no problem spending $500 on a lefty Sebenza (if I liked how they looked).

Now, with keeping in mind what I said above. When it comes to carrying and using expensive knives, I look at things value-wise, in the exact opposite way than most on this thread have said they do.
A lot of people have stated that they can't justify using what they consider an expensive knife, but at the same time have a bunch of "value" knives they have no problem carrying and beating on. I usually just don't buy those knives anymore. Instead I save up to get the exact knife that I want built for me. So I don't see the difference in purchasing and carrying four different $200 "users", versus doing the same with one $800 knife that some consider to be a "safe queen". I get much more enjoyment from the hobby by looking at things this way.

I'm not saying what I do is the RIGHT WAY to do things. It's just the right way for me.
I have a budget I am able to stick to. I ask the wife (an accountant) "How much is in my 'knife budget'?" she tells me, and I plan my purchases accordingly. It makes for weird dilemmas a lot of the times. Like right now, I am holding off buying a $17 Rough Rider and at the same time saving up for what could potentially be a $2000 custom.

At the end of the day, this is a hobby and all that really matters is that you do what makes you happy........ Well try not to put your family in the poor house at the same time. That's just selfish.;)
 
For me setting a budget and staying within that budget is critical …. I feel its always better to set a smaller budget and work your way up. My current max limit for a production knife is $500; though I try my best not to exceed $400. My current annual knife budget is $2400 (it has increased steadily over the years :)).
 
The last new knife purchase was made with my wife’s approval, a Spyderco D’Allara 3 at $139.

The most I have ever paid for a knife was $160 and I have a mental block of $200 but, I start to cringe if the price gets anywhere near that amount. I feel good about a knife purchase if I keep it under one C note.

Right now there are only two folders over $200 that I can think of that I want to own. One is a small Insingo from CRK and the other is a Lionsteel TM1. I am more interested in the Insingo than the TM1.
 
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OogieBoogie said:
Count me in as NOT a collector. My wife and I have a modest income, so what I buy, I use. Even when I look for used knives, I don't get hung up on a knife that hasn't been used or sharpened (since I fully intend to use it). I'm still learning, so I spend way too much time on this forum looking at knives!
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It’s definitely a fascinating forum. Clearly cultures between the US and UK differ a lot but it’s nice looking at the high end stuff as well as more normal knives.
 
Landshark99 said:
one can be a snob on either end of a hobby
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...... yes this.

I can't and won't deny that we have a healthy household income that allows me to indulge my interests without remorse. I do try an balance this between my three main afflictions.... buy the knife.....buy the gun/gun accessory or buy the thing I have been wanting to bolt onto my Landcruiser..... :D It's a never ending circle.... ;)
 
Andy the Aussie said:
...... yes this.

I can't and won't deny that we have a healthy household income that allows me to indulge my interests without remorse. I do try an balance this between my three main afflictions.... buy the knife.....buy the gun/gun accessory or buy the thing I have been wanting to bolt onto my Landcruiser..... :D It's a never ending circle.... ;)
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Try a family obsession with surfing (requires a house by the sea and 5 week tours of the coast of Europe), skiing (usually Wengen in Switzerland), a VW California camper to run and buy bits for, MTBing (the largest money drain since we sold our old powerboat), archery, Coastguard kit (they give us good stuff but most of us supplement it with better stuff), wild camping (£250 sleeping bags and £150 sleep mats are suddenly the norm) and then the kids doing a zillion activities (sailing, karate, scouts, etc) which all need dads taxi on constant standby.

All good and mostly fun but it’s hard getting any sort of balance at times.
New custom made surfboard should be ready this week; just another thing to shell out for!
 
I noticed that my knife wish list really hasn’t changed over the last few years.

I think this is a good thing. It tells me that I am pretty happy with what I have and I am not chasing after the latest and greatest.

I have added two things to the list though. A Spyderco PM 2 just to see what all the fuse is about.
And, a CPK EDC fixed blade. I would like to try a good quality fixed blade and feel that the EDC would fit the bill nicely.

The fact that my list has stayed basically the same tells me the budget is about where it should be. Even though a couple of listed items are outside that amount.
 
Too much. I'd rather not say what the two most expensive knives I own cost. But, since those two I don't buy many expensive folders, and all the ones I carry are under $500.

I've started back in on full custom fixed blades, since I think you can get an amazing piece for a lot less than you would pay for comparable levels of craftsmanship in a folder.
 
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