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

In your opinion, what cost range is the point of diminishing returns of a folding knife?

  • <$50

  • $50-$100

  • $100-$125

  • $125-$150

  • $150-$175

  • $175-$200

  • $200-$225

  • $225-$250

  • $250-$300

  • >$300

Results are only viewable after voting.
kobold said:
I often compare value relative to the Doug Ritter RSK.
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Which is why the answer (at least when it comes to performance) is right around $150 which was what I answered. Could you change the g-10 out for full CF? Sure. But we are talking about a weight difference of probably half an ounce at best. Could you change the 20CV out for maxamet or magnacut? Probably. But in terms of real world use you can cut cardboard for 3 hours straight instead of 2:45? Diminishing returns at best.

Now in terms of things that could be viewed as diminishing returns outside of performance is where it gets really subjective. No way to quantify the real world difference of how an action feels, handle material look, etc.
 
I don’t cut cardboard for fun, l use my knives often for work. Better steel is more expensive but will work longer before I’ll have to waste time to sharpen it, which translates in more money in my pocket When I use more expensive knife.
To me bottom line of working folder would be at least $250, everything else above is subjective but justified if you like the knife/model so I don’t know how easy is to determine the point of the DR…
 
I thought about this for awhile and based on "functionality" alone, I voted <$50. As an example, an Ontario Rat 1 (D2) and a Spyderco Tenacious (8Cr13Mov), which I own and are considered very good folders, can both be purchased for less than $50.

Knives that cost more than $50 are almost certainly "better" by some measure BUT, the question (as I understand it) is at what price point do you begin to experience "diminishing returns" in the functionality of a folder, and IMO that starts at $50 and, based on that, 99.9% of my knife collection is way overpriced!

LOL!!! ;)
 
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Cant speak for others, my ''pride of ownership'' comes with fixed blades.

For my pocket knives I want something under $100 that I'm not afraid to lose or abuse because I use my edc for all kinds of things a knife shouldn't be used for.

I also want a steel that reprofiles easily, and not a super steel for said abuse.
 
It is a bit of a loaded question since you are asking knife people, but to me its whatever you can afford. Ive started collecting when I was a kid maybe about 9 or 10 years old. Back then a $7 pot metal balisong from the junk shop would make me happy until it broke. Saved up for a bear and son eventually that Ive beat to hell and made a lot of modifications on. However, now as an adult, totally different. There are many knives to choose from and some are in those price points and some are not. Growing up liking balisongs, you dont get much back then <$100, but nowadays theres several options in that price range that seem quite fun. Decent balisongs generally dont go for <$2-250. But if its just your regular knife even a benchmade minigrip will do nicely. And I didnt get one of those until like a year or two ago as I had considered the axis lock flimsy.
 
Mannlicher said:
the point of diminishing returns is directly proportional to my desire for the knife.
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I want a Ferrari. That doesn’t mean spending more than $35,000 on a car means I’ll get equal or greater return for every dollar after that 35K as I did for the first 35K.
 
I'll probably take flak for this, but to me an EDC is a tool. And as such, it is expendable if necessary. So give me a decent blade steel, firm lockup and solid handle and I'll use the hell out it on a daily basis. I'll keep my fine knives at home where I can handle and fondle them all I want without inflicting damage. Count me in the $50-100 Chinese/Japanese/Kershaw/Cold Steel crowd.
 
These threads make me think about all the money I spent on knives, then I get a little depressed. It reminds me of a guy I worked with who had a $100 framing hammer, but he used a nail gun, like the rest of the crew. I spent some real jack on knives that didn't do anything that I don't do with the Buck 110 that I carry now.
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Take them with a grain of salt. Many of those respondents would argue with me if I said water was wet because of who I am and have even made it know they would vote for the least popular option to try and skew poll data.

I’ll bet.
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i agree with you. water is wet.😆

the market determines the prices being set and holding or not, really in the end. course we all have our opinions that don't always match the market.
 
shane45-1911 said:
For me, there's not much more to be gained functionally beyond $150 - $175 bucks. Anything beyond that, I am paying for the premium steel flavor of the week, or the maker's mark, or some exotic handle material or unobtainium bearings, etc.

I own lots of knives that I have paid much more than that, but if this is about diminishing returns, the 175 dollar mark appears to be the turning point for me. Anything more expensive than that, tends to move towards slightly better fit and finish (although not always), and/or other ergonomic "upgrades", and of course - the vanity/exclusivity factor, and pride of ownership.

There is nothing I can do with any of my $500+ knives that I can't do with any of my $150 knives (assuming half-decent steel and quality heat treat).
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Well said !!
 
Just based on function alone and limiting to more average to large size folder , some XL but not Espadas : $150 -175 for me .

This is way inflated over what I actually paid for most of mine , but trying to imagine today's realistic cost for those even still in stock .

Way higher for collector prices of "old , pre-sale" Cold Steel .

I could go much lower or slightly higher , depending on many factors .

IMO: Kinda just another one of those imprecise poles , meaning something different to everyone . My answer was somewhat random . 😇
 
Life is too short to worry about this kind of stuff.
If you can afford the knife, and it interests you: buy it! 👍
 
After going through a Spyderco phase, where several of the knives I bought had problems out of the box, I have learned I am just as happy with a damn good inexpensive knife, i.e. Ontario Rat 1, Kershaw Link, Cold Steel Recons, etc.

So for me personally, around $150 would be my max. Realistically, closer to $80.

I'm more into Axes these days anyway.
 
Billy The Hungry said:
After going through a Spyderco phase, where several of the knives I bought had problems out of the box, I have learned I am just as happy with a damn good inexpensive knife, i.e. Ontario Rat 1, Kershaw Link, Cold Steel Recons, etc.

So for me personally, around $150 would be my max. Realistically, closer to $80.

I'm more into Axes these days anyway.
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It's unfortunate that people look at you funny when you EDC an axe at the office, because I'd really like to.
 
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