What’s your price range for handmade fixed blades?

Joseph Bandeko

Joseph Bandeko

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 9, 2021
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Hey guys and gals I was wondering what y’all’s price range is that you typically stay within and why? for handmade fixed blades.

Seems that most of the knives sold on this forum are in the $120-$350 range and that seems to me to be a bit low, especially since for that kind of money you can go and get a production fixed blade in ”better” materials that will preform the same or better and the fit and finish will probably better. (Knife makers please do not think I am taking a stab at any of you)

anyway I’m very curious to hear all of your thoughts.
 
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I buy many from JS and MS makers and my sweet zone seems to be knives in the $450-$800 range. For me it isn’t about the latest and greatest steel of the month, it’s about craftsmanship you get from a handmade knife vs a production (not that there aren’t a few exceptions).
 
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I have a couple. From the price range of an SAK up to around $225, then from around $400-700. It's the in-between that I tend to steer away from. When a regular production knife from one of the big companies starts too creep above the $200-250 mark, I start to weigh the opportunity cost vs. kicking in the extra bread towards something a little more low production/high quality.
 
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My "sweet spot" ("don't worry about it, buy if you like it" level) is anything up to between $250-300 (including sales tax & shipping, if any).

Until recently my max limit was $500 but w/inflation I just raised it to $550 in order to buy a knife that I "really" wanted. So, anything between $200-550, I need to "think about" before taking any action.

However, there are a few knives that I'd "like" to buy in the $750-$1000 range which I am considering buying just to "complete" my collection but that's a "slippery slope" that I feel needs to be resisted because it would just be too easy 4me to spend that kind of $ on knives that I want but really don't need.

Note: These parameters apply to my buying any knife, rwhether production or custom.
 
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Jsega51 said:
I buy many from JS and MS makers and my sweet zone seems to be knives in the $450-$800 range. For me it isn’t about the latest and greatest steel of the month, it’s about craftsmanship you get from a handmade knife vs a production (not that there aren’t a few exceptions).
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yes I absolutely understan the craftsmanship at that price range and up. But at about that price and down you start to see in handmade knifes less and less quality fit and finish and things like belt grinds instead of hand rubbed finishes (I’m not blaming the makers) and again at that point you can start buying machine produced blades that are the same level of quality for less money.
 
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I don’t have a happy zone. I seem to be able to enjoy all kinds of knives at all levels of pricing. For me they are all tools and some are vintage or antique and should be measured in terms of practical usefulness, creativity or historical relevance. Even a horrible early 1960s-70s flea market special can be interesting as it may provide a basis of comparison against similar knives of other eras.

When you focus on pre-conceived notions of price brackets or steel types you tend to walk by a lot of great knives while wearing those blinders.

n2s
 
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Most of my customs were sub $200
I think most I payed was $300 or so for san mai and for a largish Bowie/hunter

Customs are a different ball game. Most of the time I order what the maker is comfortable using.
I got 1095 to Elmax, it just depends. Design is more important to me than the type of steel.
Hard to explain but I'd rather have a one off in D2 than some pattern in M390 being made in the hundreds.
BTW, fit and finish tend to be better than production. If not, you can always send it back and most makers will be ok to make you happy.

Of course as far as handmade/customs go, this is the low end of the price range. I stay around this price range because I actually carry/use my knives and I'm not going to cry if I drop my knife on the floor and break a tip (which I've done!).

I consider a knife a personal tool and like to carry one that is unique to me.
Pride in ownership and all that etc.
YMMV
 
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EDIT

I swear the title got changed or something happened. BF has been funny lately.

I'm not into custom fixed really. I own 3 and all were $100 or so.
 
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I don’t really have one. I mean I’m not interested in knives above a certain price range but usually that’s because they are customs and that’s not my thing. My collection is from about $50 to $700 so I guess with knives that’s my sweet spot. Although if pressed to give a number I’d say $400. There seems to be a lot of knives at or around that price point that offer excellent value compared to more expensive options.
 
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Bunker Hill Blades said:
yes I absolutely understan the craftsmanship at that price range and up. But at about that price and down you start to see in handmade knifes less and less quality fit and finish and things like belt grinds instead of hand rubbed finishes (I’m not blaming the makers) and again at that point you can start buying machine produced blades that are the same level of quality for less money.
Click to expand...

I guess I don’t understand what you’re asking? It’s hard to compare handmade knives to production knives since they aren’t the same. I’ve had several handmade knives in that lower $250-350 mark and yes that’s about the start of the pile and you’re usually buying from a new maker so the builds sometimes aren’t that spectacular, some are however.

That’s why I stay above that price range where quality of fit and finish and materials are better. Most of the “handmades” I’m talking about are forged knives so the labor is more involved vs a stock removal method or someone who has blanks cut by a factory.

A portion of the cost of a quality handmade knife is paying for the maker’s abilities. It’s an investment into that maker’s business and artistry.
 
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When the $500 mark is breached , I get a stomach ache. But most of the knives I’m interested in are between $100 and $300 with a few exceptions (like CRK).
 
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