What is expensive to you?

Rob Babcock

Rob Babcock

Joined
Jul 16, 2007
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I'm curious- I've heard some people express an interest in the Edge Pro Apex but consider it pretty expensive. So, on average, what is considered expensive at BF?

For example, I'm a big fan of Shun knives. In my working life as a chef I've had a lot of line cooks eyes bug out when I tell 'em a given Classic cost me $125 on sale or that an Elite costs $200. They think that's rediculously expensive. But there are laminates that cost ten times more than I've ever paid for a knife! I wouldn't call it a waste if I could afford it (alas, I can't afford that kind of bank- my entire roll didn't cost that much), and if I could demonstrate to myself that the $1500 blade cust a lot better than any of mine.

I really wanted to get the Pro model, but with starting classes in Jan and X-mas shopping coming up I decided to settle for the "cheapie" Apex model. Obviously some of it is relative to income, but it's often surprising how many people that earn six figures think $100 is a lot of money for one knive. There are probably BF'ers here that think $200 is too much for a sharpener but own $500 custom knives. [Obviously there are also guys & gals here so good at freehanding that they don't want or need a guided system- but some of those wouldn't bat an eye at a $100 Japanese waterstone or Tormek grinder, either.]

Like I said, no soapbox, just idly curious- how much would you consider worth it for a sharpener/sharpening system?:)
 
Wondering the same thing here, Let me know about your edge pro please, as far as price goes, I would consider something that does a good job and is consistent, would be well worth the money helping to achieve the best results, my range would be in the 100 - 200 dollar area.
 
Well, for me expensive is measured by my income as well as performance and also by the enjoyment I derive from it. Even a $100 knife is expensive, purely performance wise, measured against a Byrd for $20. But, yet, most of my knives are $100+ because of the enjoyment factor. Measured against my income, expensive depends on the frequency of the purchase. Every once in a while, it is no problem to afford a $100 knife. A $1000 knife I would have to buy with a frequency that is 10 times less often obviously and usually there are to many cheaper knife purchases coming along beforehand.
 
Well said, HoB. I don't really *care* what a knife costs so much as how well it performs. As a chef I'd never waste money by buying a knife just because it's expensive, or to impress someone. And as you say, a great $1000 knife would keep ten $100 knives out of my roll. As in all endeavors you reach a point of diminishing returns: is a $20,000 pair of speakers 10X better than a $2,000 pair? Is a Ferrari 6X better than a 'Vette? Is an HD Hattori 4X better than a Global? I'm not saying they are or aren't- if you can afford the spendier peice it may well be worth the expenditure, at least to you. But that last elusive 10% often moves the price tag one decimal place to the right.

I'm a big fan of $-for-performance or "bang-for-buck". An overacheiving $20 knife is a joy vs an average $150 knife. After all, for $150 you have certain expectations. To get a good chef knife, for example, for $20 makes you want to call or e-mail everyone on our contact list! A local kitchen store in my area recently got a lot Mui France forged knives for a rediculous price, and rather than try to gouge they passed along the savings. I bought 8 peices for under $100. They're a bit less "refined" as far as finish goes vs Wustof or Henckels, and don't have quite as even a bevel, but for 1/5 the price they were a screaming bargain. Best of all the steel is good. Once you get 'em sharp they stay that way thru hard use. I'd taken a few to work with me at my restaurant and they hold their edges very well.
 
Well, my most expensive knife is ~$150 (got two of the exact same model of them, too... life is odd like that) so spending $200 on a sharpener, when I already have two Sharpmakers, a Lansky, and various other accoutrement, is pretty ridiculous in my eyes. Then again, that would also be half of my monthly discretionary income.
 
Lucky Bob said:
Well, my most expensive knife is ~$150 (got two of the exact same model of them, too... life is odd like that) so spending $200 on a sharpener, when I already have two Sharpmakers, a Lansky, and various other accoutrement, is pretty ridiculous in my eyes. Then again, that would also be half of my monthly discretionary income.
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The Lansky is a great sharpener. I haven't used the Sharpmaker but will probably buy one after X-Mas (btw, why do you have two?). The Apex has capabilities those other sharpeners lack, but if you don't need them it's probably not worth the extra money (the main thing the Apex adds is infinite adjustibility as opposed to the preset angles of the Lansky or Gatco or the two angles of the Spyderco). I'm not baggin' on any of them- I've used the Lansky and it's a bombproof way to get a great edge on nearly any blade. But since I sharpen mostly kitchen knives I don't like the clamp system they use- it can mark the blade and it feels a bit cumbersome to me for longer blades (eg: 10" French knife).

I'm not disagreeing with you, Lucky Bob, I just haven't used the Sharpmaker yet. From what I've read at BF many Edge Pro owners buy the Spyderco for touchups, and I will probably buy it just to try it. There's lots of ways to get a good edge and everyone will chose the one that fits them best.:thumbup::D
 
Anything over $200 I would consider expensive, if it's well made. If not, than anything over $10 is expensive. It's definitely tied to the quality for me.
 
^^^ that

for sharpening, I dunno. I have several stones, rods, pastes, but I know I could easily use just the $6 Norton economy combo stone I get from Home Depot to rebevel and hone for any and all practical edc uses.
 
hardheart said:
^^^ that

for sharpening, I dunno. I have several stones, rods, pastes, but I know I could easily use just the $6 Norton economy combo stone I get from Home Depot to rebevel and hone for any and all practical edc uses.
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Point taken. But let me restate/clarify one thing: I guess I initially mentioned sharpeners, but I'd like to widen the scope to include blades as well. As I discussed with my Shuns I'm curious what you think is a reasonable amount to spend not just on a sharpener, but on a knife.:)
 
I have the means to go crazy with this hobby but to me expensive is the $100 mark. I have found I have more fun tinkering with the knife/hatchet than owning it. I love my Green River Hunter that was kit and my CS Trail Hawk. They are fun and very functional. Now I might ask for a ML knife for Christmas or birthday, but I'm not going to buy it. I had asked for a Shun for Xmas, but changed it to a Sabatier 4 star carbon steel cooks knife. As for stones, I have asked for my first waterstone. A box from Lee Valley showed up yesterday! If this works out I'll add more stones and accessories. So this could get expensive.

There are other things more important to me. I gave a few hundred to charities this week.

tjg
 
reasonable...

Well, $20 and below will get you a knife that will perform cutting tasks and not fail. It will get you consistent build quality and a reasonable warranty. Still, I spend a fair bit more than that to try different materials and mechanisms.
 
Expensive would be different for different people. My idea is value for the money. Someone would not think anything of spending 100-200 for a knife so it seem that a sharpening system that is a good value would be a no brainier. I don't consider 200 for the edge pro to be expensive for the years of service it should provide.
 
Just bought my first "good quality" folder, and that cost me just a shade over $200. That is probably the most I will ever pay for a "pocket" knife. I like the looks of, and the recommendations about, the "Sebenza", but I just could not justify that kind of $$$$. (I'm disabled, and my budget for such is limited.) I plan to pay for an "Edge Pro" system, but that will maintain every cutting instrument I own, so worth the $$$. Beyond that, I think I would just be feeding my ego, which I don't have the money to do.
 
If I were in your situation and depending upon blades and sharpening devices for my livelyhood I would have a different view on what is expensive versus my situation where my blades fulfill only the duties required around the office, house, deer hunting camp and woods, home kitchen, fishing camp...

I use the GATCO system. For the money it produces edges that are sharp enough and durable enough for my hobbyist use. Sharpening is fun but I do not want to spend an inordinate amount of time or money for minimal return.

It is fun taking a minimilist set up along with my home brewed stropping system, spending a few minutes on touching up a blade and having that edge last for a long time between touchups or resharpening.

For me the fun is in using the edge that I have personally ground into a blade. I am efficient with my system after a bit of practice and that gives me pleasure and satisfaction.

I could spend more on sharpening gear and blades. I do not think, based on the performance of my blades and edges, that money spent would equate to sharper blades or more enjoyment in cutting tasks. I will save my money and use it on other gear that will enhance the enjoyment of those hobbys and tasks.

They say that a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money. It looks like knives and sharpening could become analogous. My pockets are not deep so I am going to stick with what works for me.
 
EXPENSIVE is something that I paid for that doesn't meet my expectations, of fill my needs, or doesn't last.

To me, a $100 Wal-mart rifle scope is expensive, a $750 Leupold isn't!

If I have to replace it or rebuild it after hard use it's expensive. If I have to stop in the middle of a job and sharpen my knife, it's expensive.

My $250 Dozier was not expensive. My $25 Gerber was.

Quality pays! Economy costs! I am a firm believer that buying the very best quality you can afford will save you money in the long run.

Old Italian proverb: "Cheapa U buy, cheapa U get!" :D:D
 
sodak said:
Anything over $200 I would consider expensive, if it's well made. If not, than anything over $10 is expensive. It's definitely tied to the quality for me.
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This is what I think too. A Sebenza, as fine as it is accepted to be, is just too rich for my blood. Paying .39 cents for a knife made in China (even if acceptably well-made) is, again, too rich for my blood (and too bloody for my conscience). Paying ANY money for a poorly made knife, regardless of where it is made, is too rich for me.

$150 to $200 (give or take a few bones) is ok for quality....to me anyway.
 
If you are looking for quality the PRO is the way to go .I got mine a litle less than ayear ago, acouple of thousand of knives later its still going strong , worth every penny.If the pro was a knife we would call it" tactical".:)
 
Rob Babcock said:
I haven't used the Sharpmaker but will probably buy one after X-Mas (btw, why do you have two?).
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Same way I got two ZDP Leeks... I put in a preorder for a Leek and a Sharpmaker, took forever so I assumed they had run out of their allotment of the limited run, and proceeded to make other arrangements for both of them. I come home from college to find a package from that shop, with both a SM and a ZDP Leek.

So now I have doubles of both >_>
 
Spending 80% on something else instead of what you really wanted in the first place. Buy once and buy right.


easier said than done :cool:
 
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