What makes a $400 folder worth it?

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wfochris

Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
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First post; found this forum as I'm shopping for an EDC (leaning toward SOG Flash II).

Reading through several, several posts- I'm learning about knives I've never heard of, such as Insingo, among others.

As I google shop some of them, there are several knives that are going for close to $400. I'm not doubting their worth, but as a newbie to this end of the knife world- what differentiates them physically from their lower-cost, more mainstream little brothers? Quality of steel?

Sorry for this very basic question. I tried to search for previous topics but this verbage is a bit hard to pinpoint.

Very cool forum!
 
It's worth it if the buyer thinks it is. Hate to say it but that's about all there is to it. I've had $400 knives that I felt were worth every penny and I've also had $200 knives that give those knives a run for their money.
 
Welcome to the forum. You just asked a question that can generate weeks of debate. My take is that there's a combination of design, materials, fit and finish, exclusivity, brand, and demand that contributes to the price.

In one of the threads that compared the $150 Sage 2 to a $400 Sebenza, Sal, the owner of Spyderco said that if he were to produce a knife with the same specs as the Sebenza, it would cost just as much. Basically, his point is that there's no large mark up in the higher price ranged knives.
 
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have you looked at the DPx HEST/F ? $175 and runs circles around most $400 knives.
 
Welcome to the forum, these two videos may help you understand a little better :)

I missed a ton of stuff too, but over all it's really small details that set them apart, are them small details worth it? That's up to you, some never spend over $100 on a single knife. I can't say they are really "missing out" on anything... But I still LOVE the high end knives. :D

[YouTube]fGPLoI66RdI[/YouTube]

[YouTube]iXN6Yuyv7hY[/YouTube]

:cool:
 
first off, welcome! though i haven't bought a $400 knife yet, i have bought a few triple digit blades. basically, if you are satisfied and aren't wanting more or feel like you could have gotten more for what you paid, its worth it. of course, there are knives that use similar materials to $400 knives and cost much less. the best example of this IMO is the Sebenza and Bradley Alias. both have titanium handles and s30v steel blades but the sebenza costs $385-$400+ and the alias costs around $270+. its all personal opinion really. if you feel like you're forcing yourself to buy it, its not worth it.
 
RYP said:
have you looked at the DPx HEST/F ? $175 and runs circles around most $400 knives.
Click to expand...

Are these out yet? I keep seeing that they are on Preorder at all the dealer sites I've checked. Have they hit the streets?
 
First, Welcome. I'v ben collecting for about five years now, but just joined bladeforums today. So, what makes a $400.00 folder worth it? The buyer's prefrence.
 
RYP said:
have you looked at the DPx HEST/F ? $175 and runs circles around most $400 knives.
Click to expand...

Good lord that's the first one I've seen that has "caught" my attention like the SOG did. That knife looks kickass!

Thanks for all of the replies, and the welcome!

I guess, my question revolves around the point of diminishing returns.

You can buy a Ferrari for $250,000 or whatever, it's exclusive, and fast- but for $60K you can buy a Z06 Vette and be damn near the same performance.

It just hit me- I bet I could have searched "bang for the buck" and answered this question :)
 
Short answer = The Details!

So-Lo hit it outta the park with those excellent vids.
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Unfortunately for you. Now that you've came to bladeforums and began to interact with the community you will probably get the knife bug and will most likely own a 400$ knife sooner than later now. Run while you can!!!! lol but really welcome to bladeforums!
 
I don't think any folding knife constitutes a $400 price tag. I don't think a $400 folding knife will have any better materials or f&f then a $100-$200 knife. That being said, I also believe what really constitutes that price tag is the brand name and perhaps the low production, hand made, or collectors value on limited edition knives. Not because they are any better material or craftsmanship wise but for the reason I just stated. Then again that's just an opinion.
 
I only have two knives I paid that kind of dough for, a Mission MPF titanium folder, and a Reese Wyland Hawk folder. I have owned both since the mid 90s, and rarely, if ever carry them. The Mission titanium does not hold an edge for crap, cheap corner store knives hold a better edge than this one. The Reese Wyland hawkbill, when you put your hand in the pocket, has edges that tear at your hand.

So in both cases it was not money well spent. But I refuse to sell them because I do not need the money, and am not going to sell them for pennies on the dollar to off-load them.

In my experience, there are not too many worth that kind of scratch. Try to stay within $100 to $200, and you'll be happy.
 
[QUOTEUnfortunately for you. Now that you've came to bladeforums and began to interact with the community you will probably get the knife bug and will most likely own a 400$ knife sooner than later now. Run while you can!!!! lol but really welcome to bladeforums!][/QUOTE]

Seriously. I thought people who spent more than like 200 on a knife were crazy when I first joined. Now I wont give many sub 100 dollar folders a look. Around 150-200 is now my ideal price range for a folder and for fixed blades....its just gets way worse. When I joined I thought a Aus 8 recon tanto was an excellent knife (its certainly a soild knife for the $70 it costs) then I stumbled upon this little company called Swamp Rat Knifeworks.... For fixed blades once you use a busse kin knife there is no going back. Lucky I have been able to trade up to get them but now I would not think twice about dropping 400 on something like an ASH or other busse or busse kin knives. Once you experience that level of quality you really see what sets expensive knives apart.

I have no doubt in my mind i could break an SK5 recon scout ($115) if I really tried. But I seriously doubt I could break a Swamp Rat Chopweiler ($275) even if I did everything short of batoning it with a rock.

Your tastes will develop with time. Mine change just about every week! Eventually you will find a price range that suits your needs. For me its anything sub $500.

And I am a college student with very little income. I just keep trading things till I finally get something Im after :)
 
wfochris said:
I'm not doubting their worth, but as a newbie to this end of the knife world- what differentiates them physically from their lower-cost, more mainstream little brothers? Quality of steel?

Sorry for this very basic question. I tried to search for previous topics but this verbage is a bit hard to pinpoint
Click to expand...

the more expensive folders might have a funkier lock mechanism or might just be made to much more rigid tolerances using higher quality materials.

ultimatly, if they are "worth it" or not is up to you.

when people ask me if my Fallkniven S1 "is really worth $180?" i resond: "Ask me in 20 years".
 
In my opinion Knives over $200 are BS. I've handled and seen tests of these $400 dollar folding knives and while they are extremely well built with very good steels and have good "fit and finish", you know what.. most of my spyderco folders (all of which are under $100), and all of my FBs (all under $150) will perform just as well and are just as durable for what I use them for (which is what most people will use their knives for). I did talk to a guy at a gun show who had a crk unum.. whatever and said he cut down a tree with his and still shaved his arm clean, but you know how a lot of those guys at gun shows are ;)

Anyway, my opinion only.
 
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