What is the point (cost) of “diminishing returns” on a folding knife?

[Ajack60]

The point of diminishing returns is proportional to the budget you’re able to spend on this hobby. Some people don’t have the disposable income to drop a bunch of money on a knife, while some people do.

 

[Bob Denman]

Remind me which engagement ring will save you from starvation and freezing out in the wild.

That's the one that gets you a Wife with lots of money...

 

[King of the Cheese]

The point of diminishing returns is proportional to the budget you’re able to spend on this hobby. Some people don’t have the disposable income to drop a bunch of money on a knife, while some people do.

That’s why it’s a poll. I get everyone’s opinion and see if there is any meaningful result.

 

[pvicenzi]

While I have some fairly high-end knives, none slice any better than my 15 dollar Opinel.

 

[shqxk]

Nothing $15,000 Rexford can do and my $100 Cold Steel Recon 1 Drop Point can't... Actually my Recon1 should be considered to be a much stronger overall when it comes to weight to performance ratio. So the point of diminishing return of folding knife is Cold Steel.

 

[BTTLBRN]

Diminishing return to me is when the knife costs enough that I am not willing to use it for daily tasks; example "let me go grab my cheaper knife to cut down this cardboard, cut out a patch of drywall, etc." If you aren't willing to put into service whatever you are carrying at the moment, you have functional art - but it is just art.

 

[John Phillips]

Nothing $15,000 Rexford can do and my $100 Cold Steel Recon 1 Drop Point can't... Actually my Recon1 should be considered to be a much stronger overall when it comes to weight to performance ratio. So the point of diminishing return of folding knife is Cold Steel.

I wasn’t a Cold Steel fan the majority of my knife life but when I got my Recon 1 and AD-10, everything got flipped on it’s head. Crazy strong, crazy sharp, no blade play, ridiculous durability, beyond capable for almost anything, lightweight for its size, great ergonomics. I actually have a Recon 1 Tanto in my zombie apocalypse/bug out backpack. Completely agree with you, how do you beat a $100 Cold Steel Recon in S35VN? This might be the best example to draw a line in the sand for diminishing returns.

 

[NG VI]

Remind me which engagement ring will save you from starvation and freezing out in the wild.

The one she likes and doesn't feel insulted by

 

[David Mary]

The one she likes and doesn't feel insulted by

I would have to "think very carefully" about marrying a woman who would dump me in the woods because she doesn't like my gifts.

 

[NG VI]

I would have to "think very carefully" about marrying a woman who would dump me in the woods because she doesn't like my gifts.

Women are scary, David, but often worth a little terror

 

[XJ-linux]

The point of diminishing returns is proportional to the budget you’re able to spend on this hobby. Some people don’t have the disposable income to drop a bunch of money on a knife, while some people do.

I voted $300+, but I agree with this. The more cash you have to spend (and the knife price rises), the more the goal posts move (for me) as to what type and amount of "returns" are expected.

 

[Bob Denman]

It's more than just the features of the knife, or how well it cuts...
If you like it enough to buy it: go for it!

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Now that you can get top-tier steel like M390/20CV/204P under $100, the value proposition takes a pretty serious nosedive after that point.

 

[whp]

I have plenty of knives that DO. I can get by with pretty much anything. However, when it comes to F&F, nothing in my $250 domestic made holds a candle to my $400+.

Since I rarely disassemble and reassemble knives any more, I may not be as qualified as some here to judge, but look at Civivi knives before making judgements about the superiority of f and f of 400.00 folders. I look at my recent Civivi acquisitions, then at my Sebenza and XM 18 s acquired 7-8 years ago, and realize that my 400.00 plus knives are minimally better finished than my recent sub 100.00 purchases.

 

[jstn]

My most carried folders are in the $100-$200 range. PM2 S35VN, Manix 2, Caribbean, Cold Steel Recon 1. You can get a knife with great steel, a good lock, and excellent fit and finish for under $200, and oftentimes, far below. I don't really like carbon fiber, titanium, and M390 all that much so that helps keeps down what I spend on knives.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Since I rarely disassemble and reassemble knives any more, I may not be as qualified as some here to judge, but look at Civivi knives before making judgements about the superiority of f and f of 400.00 folders. I look at my recent Civivi acquisitions, then at my Sebenza and XM 18 s acquired 7-8 years ago, and realize that my 400.00 plus knives are minimally better finished than my recent sub 100.00 purchases.

This is why I qualified with "domestic". I'm all for high end Chinese made to domestic quality at a lower price point. However, my ZTs in terms of fit and finish aren't close to my CRK. Great for $250 but the fit of my Inkosi is marketly better. Now, will it cut anything any better? No. A Mora will probably out cut all of them, but for the intangibles of why I currently buy what I buy, I tend to stick to the $300+.

That said, I have had a clamshell packed Buck 110 I bought at Academy in my pocket as an EDC for the last week, so I can appreciate the less expensive stuff too

 

[P. Ortiz]

I'd say that beyond the $150 price point, the functional returns begin to diminish quickly. However, that doesn't take into account any exotic materials used in steel, scales, etc. It also doesn't factor in the demand from collectibility/scarcity. Those last two can make almost anything worth more than the sum of its parts.

 

[whp]

This is why I qualified with "domestic". I'm all for high end Chinese made to domestic quality at a lower price point. However, my ZTs in terms of fit and finish aren't close to my CRK. Great for $250 but the fit of my Inkosi is marketly better. Now, will it cut anything any better? No. A Mora will probably out cut all of them, but for the intangibles of why I currently buy what I buy, I tend to stick to the $300+.

That said, I have had a clamshell packed Buck 110 I bought at Academy in my pocket as an EDC for the last week, so I can appreciate the less expensive stuff too

I just noticed before your post that you said domestic. I agree.

I also agree about the quality of ZT s. Though I ve only bought one since the 0551 was discontinued, and don t plan on buying another.

For hard use, work knives I now prefer Cold Steel. And these have been made in Taiwan. Like some of the better made Spydercos.

I, like some here, have a hard time using my 400 dollar knives for heavy work, although I feel they would probably hold up to it . But if I have a sub 100.00 knife, like my Recon 1, Lawman , or Ultimate Hunter that all seem totally indestructible, then I have to use them for work.

I ve been carrying the Civivi Governor for the last week. As a fan of the Rat 1 (Taiwan), I really appreciate the quality of the Governor.

 

[Bob Denman]

This is why I qualified with "domestic". I'm all for high end Chinese made to domestic quality at a lower price point. However, my ZTs in terms of fit and finish aren't close to my CRK. Great for $250 but the fit of my Inkosi is marketly better. Now, will it cut anything any better? No. A Mora will probably out cut all of them, but for the intangibles of why I currently buy what I buy, I tend to stick to the $300+.

That said, I have had a clamshell packed Buck 110 I bought at Academy in my pocket as an EDC for the last week, so I can appreciate the less expensive stuff too

Yup! The CRK Inkosi build quality is definitely "A cut above the rest..."

 

[NG VI]

My most carried folders are in the $100-$200 range. PM2 S35VN, Manix 2, Caribbean, Cold Steel Recon 1. You can get a knife with great steel, a good lock, and excellent fit and finish for under $200, and oftentimes, far below. I don't really like carbon fiber, titanium, and M390 all that much so that helps keeps down what I spend on knives.

Yeah, $200 gets you almost unlimited options (aside from a US-made framelock, there might be a couple under $200) even though I wouldn't say that anything beyond $200 is diminishing returns territory.

Like for the kind of knife I would take to a construction site, I'd say that's about $75. $50 gets you basically the same quality of knife but with far fewer options in terms of models and materials. There's a lot of knives with $45 FRN or simple G10 handles and D2, but a $60-$70 variant that lets you get micarta or less slab-sided handles or a more contemporary steel like 14C28N, something just a little better suited for most people's low-effort daily beater. Similarly, there are a good number of titanium framelocks available for $125. There are tons and tons of them once you pass $150, but it isn't like they offer nothing over the same materials for thirty dollars less. There will be differences in the amount and style of milling, which might just be an embellishment but could be ergonomically valuable.

So I'd say that under $300, while there are strata that different styles of knife and purpose will fall into, you don't see diminishing returns in the way that you do over $300. There are endless options for top shelf knives under $300 if you do not insist on carrying only tools that were handmade by the original designer to your detailed personal specifications.