What kind of folder do you really want?

Your approach is good, maybe more sensible than mine. My approach is learn to be as self-sufficient as possible, one of the reasons being to eventually rid myself of any reliance I have on money. Another is simply related to more survivalist attitudes. If I can live off the land, I'll be much more prepared for certain catostrophic events. For a while I planned to try and get a good computer related job (I have some certifications) and find a place where I could work one or two days a week in short shifts. Making a strong amount per hour and relying very little on money, this would be a very free lifestyle, one I'd be attracted to. I have very little passion for computers these days so I don't see myself pursuing that. I've just been working any job I could find, usually for about 6.50$ an hour.
 
I agree with you Vivi, that happiness is about more than money.

But I like my job. A lot. And I am pretty happy.

Keep in mind that you do not need your bass guitar. You do not need your skateboard. You have an Opinel, and a SAK or two. Do you need all of them? Would one of the SAKs be enough? You have extra knives because you want them.

Don't they make you happy? Would you be less happy without them?

You do not buy only what you need. You own extravagent things that many poorer people would never dream of wasting money on.

A Dozier K-6 is my skateboard. I used to drive a Ford Focus. It was a nice car, but boring. I now own a car that is much more fun to drive, even when driving slow. When driving from place to place, yes, it really does make me more happy. Especially since the places I drive (work included) are places I want to go.

I am not trying to put you down, but rather, do not think of me as some vein money-loving bastard and you as a simple hermit with no desires or wants.

We are the same. We both buy what we need, and once that is done, buy what we want. You own things you do not need just as I do.

I do not believe that happiness is freedom from desire. For me, I am the most happy when there is something I desire and I am working to it. That is the "journey". And it is often more fun than actually getting the thing I wanted. There have been times in my life when I wanted nothing. I only bought what I needed and nothing more. And there is nothing I would have wanted anyways, even if I were rich. I had no desire, and no hobbies. Those were the least happy times in my life.
 
I only work 23.5 hours every week (almost never work on weekends). Plus, I have almost 3 months vacation every year. I wouldn't say I'm exactly working myself to death. Also, I can enjoy my Sebenza at work too you know :D

Learning to live off the land sounds cool though. I often think about what I would do if I survived some catastrophe and civilization was wiped out. For one thing, I think I would be happy I spent my money on the highest quality knives and other equipment while I could ;)
 
I am at the point in my life I can afford any knife I want. I have knives from all three A B and C. The price no longer means better to me. I'll take a good A knife over a C knife I don't like any day. Lately I've been carrying mostly A class and until this thread never gave it a second thought.
 
Ikarus said:
I only work 23.5 hours every week (almost never work on weekends). Plus, I have almost 3 months vacation every year. I wouldn't say I'm exactly working myself to death. Also, I can enjoy my Sebenza at work too you know :D

Learning to live off the land sounds cool though. I often think about what I would do if I survived some catastrophe and civilization was wiped out. For one thing, I think I would be happy I spent my money on the highest quality knives and other equipment while I could ;)
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I do agree with spending what you've earned and using what you get with it. I'm not the type to let my possessions sit around unused just to keep them pristine.

Hair said:
I agree with you Vivi, that happiness is about more than money.

But I like my job. A lot. And I am pretty happy.

Keep in mind that you do not need your bass guitar. You do not need your skateboard. You have an Opinel, and a SAK or two. Do you need all of them? Would one of the SAKs be enough? You have extra knives because you want them.

Don't they make you happy? Would you be less happy without them?

You do not buy only what you need. You own extravagent things that many poorer people would never dream of wasting money on.

A Dozier K-6 is my skateboard. I used to drive a Ford Focus. It was a nice car, but boring. I now own a car that is much more fun to drive, even when driving slow. When driving from place to place, yes, it really does make me more happy. Especially since the places I drive (work included) are places I want to go.

I am not trying to put you down, but rather, do not think of me as some vein money-loving bastard and you as a simple hermit with no desires or wants.

We are the same. We both buy what we need, and once that is done, buy what we want. You own things you do not need just as I do.

I do not believe that happiness is freedom from desire. For me, I am the most happy when there is something I desire and I am working to it. That is the "journey". And it is often more fun than actually getting the thing I wanted. There have been times in my life when I wanted nothing. I only bought what I needed and nothing more. And there is nothing I would have wanted anyways, even if I were rich. I had no desire, and no hobbies. Those were the least happy times in my life.
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Glad you have a job you enjoy. I'd say the same if I had a job. :p

I'm not trying to project each of us into rigid stereotypes. While I don't know you well, I can certainly say I don't buy strictly within my needs. That's not so much what I'm talking about. Do I need my bass guitar? No. Do I enjoy the time I spend with it? Yes. I'd be happy without it though. For as long as I can remember I've held onto the belief that if you can't burn down all the material possessions you own and still be happy, you're life is sorely lacking something.

That's more or less what I'm about. I'm not and never have been strongly opposed to people buying within wants...I feel life is something to be enjoyed and this is one way to enhance that joy. Enhance being the key word. For many people these things are looked upon not as an enhancement, but as the source of their joy. That is what I am arguing against, because I have never once witnessed anything that has convinced me that idealogy holds any truth to it, but I've seen much in my life that has shown me the converse; that living your life that way can actually detract from your joy. I don't begrudge you for buying a 500$ knife anymore than I'd look down upon myself for buying 5 #10 Opinels so I have extras in case I lose my EDC one. Merely I advise you and I advise myself not to look to our purchases as the source of our joy in life. I don't think it's wrong for us to enjoy our knives and appreciate their design and functionality, but I do think it's bad to let your mood and perspective of life be dependant on material items like these.

I don't feel what I do for my friend because he's spending lots of money on electronics the way he is. It's because he's looking towards these things to give him a source of meaning and joy in his life, and like I said before I've never been given a reason to believe that's genuinely feasible. He's one more tally mark against that notion, by my observation and his own admission.
 
Fascinating conversation. Hitherto, life has necessitated that I be frugal. However, part of being frugal for me is learning what I need and want, then saving up for the purchase by choosing to forego cheaper expenditures. In a sense, I go without what I want in order to get that which I like more. I know that material goods cannot bring contentment in life. Conversely, living in constant lack isn't a very pleasant place to live in, either.

For carry knives, if I had the disposable income, I'd like to buy a custom or two from group C. However, that not being an option right now, I choose group B. Namely, I EDC a D2 Griptilian from Cabela's. It serves my needs and lots of my wants in an EDC folding knife.
 
One knife? Group C of course, whether or not I could 'afford' it, since under this forum's premise, it's the last knife I'd be buying anyway. $500+ for my "LAST" knife... I can live with that.
 
There was a time on another forum where I made a post with pictures of me breaking material things that were close to me. Things like favorite T-Shirts I purchased at memorable concerts or some of my first Karate trophies to earn. Other people started joining in and soon we had a thread full of photos of us breaking things. I would propose a similar thread for this forum, but with a little more intelligable outcome. We all take one of our favorite knives and donate it to a soldier or someone else with more "need" than ourselves. The reason I gave that forum for my initial post was to test the attatchment I felt towards those objects and what I would feel when they were gone. I, and many others, found it to be a liberating experience. It's like cleaning your house of all the things you know you have no need for and seeing all that usable space open up inside. It's even more exciting when the liberated space is within.
 
I have given away hundreds of dollars worth of knives. Does that count?

I admit it would be very hard for me to give away one of my Doziers. The knives I gave away were knives I no longer used or cared about, not my favorites.
 
Well, there you go. Pick out the 5 knives that are your favorites, the last ones you'd want to depart with. Ship one off to a Soldier. Otherwise you miss out on the purpose of the activity. :D

Either way, I applaud you for giving all the other knives away. I try to give things I no longer use to others as well. Good habit to keep.
 
At this point in my Dozier collecting, I just can't give one away. In years, I would be more willing. I enjoy giving, but amassing a nice Dozier collection is my main hobby/goal right now.

Selfish, materialistic, shallow? Yes on all accounts.
 
Hair said:
The knives in group A and B are all fine. But I can afford better, I enjoy using better, and I want better. After using a Sebenza, a 710 never really gave me the same feeling.
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That's pretty much exactly where I am right now as far as knives go. I can't see myself getting rid of all my less expensive knives, but I don't see myself buying a bunch in the future, either. I can't put my finger on what feels different about my other knives now that I have Sebneza. It might be in my head, but the others do feel different.
 
Hair said:
Torz- I think Dozier, Krein, and Ingram are definitly in Group C, or even higher. They are "cheaper" because they are fixed blades, but in terms of quality and performance, they are definitly in Group C.

The scale in the first post is for folders. You can't really apply fixed blades to it because fixed blades cost less for the same level of quality and materials.

But I am with you. All I buy and use right now are Doziers, and I am interested in Tom Krein and Gene Ingram.

I might start collecting Sebenzas just to have some folders, but I won't use them when I can use a Dozier (which is superior in ever meaningful way, IMO).
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Yeah, you're right - I started writing and forgot this thread was really about folders! I guess the FB's I mentioned could go in group C, but I was looking at that $450 price range specified. But yes, as far as quality goes, I think those knives are as good as any that are made, so the C category could apply.
 
If I had to choose a folder I would have an 01 steel blade, dropped point 4" long, frame lock/bronze bushings or set up like my W.R. Clark pivot with nice G10 scales or nice stag scales. Pocket clip and I would be good to go. keepem sharp
 
Vivi said:
Based on my life I have to disagree with the idea that the enjoyment you get out of an object is based on the object itself....
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Well said, grasshopper! ;) An object is just a means to an end .... imperfect, impermanent, and empty of any real importance.
 
Off topic but I want to comment. Living your life happily should be the goal. How you do it doesn't really matter does it? I'm not going to tell Viv or Hair either one is doing it wrong or they need to give something up they like and want to be happy. I live my life the way I want to and I'm very happy with it so much so I wouldn't trade it for anyone elses.
 
I find myself mostly seeking knives from the Group B category for several reasons...

It is difficult to get the better blade-steels in the Group A category.
With very few exceptions, you will have a hard time finding a $30.00 dollar knife with S30V, VG-10, BG-42, 154CM, D-2, or ATS-34 (some of the better steels in my opinion).

I disregard the Group C category because I think the price-to-performance ratio is dismal.
I buy knives to cut things....so why pay more money for no appreciable gain in performance?

The gap between custom (and semi-custom) knives and higher-end standard production knives has steadily narrowed over the years.
So much so, that there is really no benefit to paying over $200.00 dollars for a knife, from a performance point of view.

Sometimes you get what you pay for....and other times you just pay more for no good reason.
Are Tommy jeans better than Levi jeans?
I don't think so, but Tommy jeans easily cost twice the price of Levi jeans.
Some folks are just happy paying more for no performance gain.
Maybe it's for status or maybe they equate "more expensive" with "better" regardless of the facts.
 
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