What is your point of diminishing return?

I sold both my damascus DDR folders (at a significant loss) because I no longer carried them... my most recent DDR is most tailored to my needs than any previous. This is the only tactical folder I own at the moment.

 
Back in the early 1980's, there was a gun shop called "Pony Express" here in Los Angeles. They carried Jimmy Lile made customs and had 3 or 4 of the 1 to 100 numbered "First Blood" knives all made by Lile.....

They were $1700 and that exceeded my knife value mark.....Yeah, I read they go for $40k+ now.... :(
 
I can get all the fixed blade I need (production or custom) for 200 ish. That's not to say I haven't drooled over some more expensive blades (winkler, busse, AA forge, etc). As far as folders, I don't know- not my thing.
 
My limit is $500 for a folder, but I believe that the point of diminishing return is around $150. I can pick up an S30V or S35vn blade with either carbon fiber or titanium handle easily. Anything above that is just unnecessary.
 
Most I have spent is $130. At this point I could see spending up to $200 or maybe a little more, but I'm not sure I will. I do consider myself a value shopper and $200ish would be the point of diminishing returns in my eyes. I don't know as much about knives most of you, so I could change my tune when I learn more.
 
Anything that costs more than a Glock 19 is unappealing because I would rather have a new Glock than a knife! :D
 
Screwdriver said:
Back in the early 1980's, there was a gun shop called "Pony Express" here in Los Angeles. They carried Jimmy Lile made customs and had 3 or 4 of the 1 to 100 numbered "First Blood" knives all made by Lile.....

They were $1700 and that exceeded my knife value mark.....Yeah, I read they go for $40k+ now.... :(
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OMG! I remember LOVING those knives when I was maybe 7 years old and my dad would bring me there with him. I tried to talk him into buying me the Rambo knife repeatedly, with no such luck! I'll have to let him know what they're worth now....thats freakin nuts!
 
Bob W said:
$120-150-ish max for factory-made or mass-produced knives.
$150-300 is the sweet spot for affordable custom-made knives. :thumbup:
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Ditto for me.

I like knives. They cut stuff. Anything priced above this is because its mostly art. I don't collect art :)
 
$100. Nothing I need or want costs more than that. I only have two knives that cost a little more than that and I never carry them. Most of my regular carry knives are under $40 and do all I ever want or need.
 
Since I'm a user, and not a collector, my diminishing returns kick in pretty early.

I'd say its ~$40-50 for folders and ~$60-70 for fixed. Although currently I can't think of any folder I'd be interested in over $50. I've considered having a custom fixed knife blank made for me out of CPM-3V, which was quoted as more than that obviously, and that's as far as I can ever consider going as of right now.

And really, after using a fair number of things, I'm astounded by how well a $12 mora, $8 Opinel, and $13 Svord meet many of my needs. That may be why I see the diminishing returns kick in so early.
 
I'm definitely a user... not a collector. For a folder that will see EDC and use, I can get the perfect folder custom made to my needs for $1500 or less. A knife that costs $2500 will not do the job any better.
 
Jasonsdman said:
My limit is $500 for a folder, but I believe that the point of diminishing return is around $150. I can pick up an S30V or S35vn blade with either carbon fiber or titanium handle easily. Anything above that is just unnecessary.
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Exactly this.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I'm definitely a user... not a collector. For a folder that will see EDC and use, I can get the perfect folder custom made to my needs for $1500 or less. A knife that costs $2500 will not do the job any better.
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To be clear, I wasn't saying anything bad at all about collecting, those that collect, or those that have higher diminishing return points. I was just saying that from my somewhat limited very utilitarian perspective on knives, I personally see my version of diminishing returns pretty early on. It sounds like you are actually in somewhat the same mindset, just with the desire to pay for exactly what you want, rather than fussing around trying many different production models before you find what works best for you (and that's actually the one thing making me think about getting the one custom I mentioned), so I totally get that.

Nice thread, its been very interesting to see everyone's viewpoints :D.
 
ocnLogan said:
It sounds like you are actually in somewhat the same mindset, just with the desire to pay for exactly what you want, rather than fussing around trying many different production models before you find what works best for you (and that's actually the one thing making me think about getting the one custom I mentioned), so I totally get that.
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You totally read my mind :thumbup:

I've tried LOTS of production knives since I found Bladeforums and all they did was help me zero in on what I wanted from a knife.
 
1000 USD.

I guess.

Not that I ever spent near that. My most expensive and only 400+ knife so far is a Hoback Midtech Kwaiback (425 USD) pimped by Randy Johnson (100 USD).



As soon as a knife gets around the price of an intercontinental plane ticket or holiday, I rather see something of the world. And the only knife I can think of paying 1000 USD for some day is a custom Busse. Also, I could never justify 1000 USD for a knife to my bisexual Brazilian girlfriend. And I like to keep her happy :D
 
$350 is the most I've spent so far. And it was worth every penny. A gorgeous little knife. And I carried it on a regular basis. The past year though I've been carrying one of my own and liked it more so that wonderful little knife stayed on the shelf. And then came some financial setbacks and it was sold along with most of my collection.
 
For folders that point is around $200 for me, but you can get premium steels and just about any combination of scales for around that mark. I've paid more than that for, but that's about the sweet spot for me.
 
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