What makes an expensive knife expensive?

as you move up the price curve, you should be getting:
1: better/fancier/more exclusive materials (eg: damascus or laminated steel as opposed to good old, tried and tested, 1095)
2: better design and grind style
3: stronger blades
4: better edge holding
5: better/fancier/more exclusive handles &/or sheaths

however, i'm certain there are some pure Lemons in the top end of the price range.

at the bottom end of the price curve we have some excellent knives like the Mora and Opinel range.
 
Whether we like to admit it or not, especially in the "hobbying" field there is such an exalted intangible called "status". Some wish to flaunt their wealth, some wish to flaunt their toys, and some wish to flaunt their expertise, and finally some wish to flaunt their "discriminatingness", for lack of a better word (taste?). All those "If you don't get it, you never will" posts belong to this last category and they don't mind paying the highest prices for what they see as the best and nothing comes close. These guys are the target market in any high end hobby for the high end makers. Whether the cost of production of the item is reflected realistically or not these "discriminating" people are usually the driving force in that field.
 
Skytorn said:
It would be deeply appreciated however if you could talk about what makes a knife worth its price tag, especially if you are an owner of top brand knives.

Thanks.
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It’s the basics of the quality of fit, finish, feel, and materials to start and the cost will adjust up or down based on the result. If a maker cannot market his product at an acceptable margin one of the basics must be adjusted (produce it cheaper, use cheaper materials etc.) or not go to market. Stuff like maker reputation or warranty or volume efficiency (SAK) or lack of volume efficiencies (CRK’s 1000 small Sebenzas annually) will also adjust the cost.

As for quality you just can’t tell until you have handled and inspected a lot of knives and know what you are feeling and seeing. At a show handle a bunch of Beckers, ESEE, and a bunch of Busse’s. Then move on to Randall’s, Dozier’s and if you’re lucky and somebody has one a Loveless. All perfectly fine blades for their cost. It’s an enlightening experience and same is true for folders.

Also, don’t get confused between the makers cost and the secondary market cost. That secondary market (known as "dealers" for Busse) indicates how desirable the knife is to have in your hand today.


For those interested in what to look at here is an excellent thread from a contest between makers that ran in W&SS.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687445



marthinus said:
I just saw one bid on a collector maybe user (depending on if the buyer will use it etc.) knife. $2500. That has thrown my radar out of whack about what is expensive or not. Suddenly $400 for a knife seem like small change.
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Yep, needs to be in perspective, I like to post this Ron Lake folder in threads complaining about Sebenza costs, make no mistake this is a tough usable knife but I doubt the new owner will be cutting firewood with it...

Lake-Lorchener33K.jpg


............at a $33,000 sale price.
 
Ramm9 said:
Yep, needs to be in perspective, I like to post this Ron Lake folder in threads complaining about Sebenza costs, make no mistake this is a tough usable knife but I doubt the new owner will be cutting firewood with it...


............at a $33,000 sale price.
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$33k?

that's just crazytalk.
 
Ramm9 said:
It’s the basics of the quality of fit, finish, feel, and materials to start and the cost will adjust up or down based on the result. If a maker cannot market his product at an acceptable margin one of the basics must be adjusted (produce it cheaper, use cheaper materials etc.) or not go to market. Stuff like maker reputation or warranty or volume efficiency (SAK) or lack of volume efficiencies (CRK’s 1000 small Sebenzas annually) will also adjust the cost.

As for quality you just can’t tell until you have handled and inspected a lot of knives and know what you are feeling and seeing. At a show handle a bunch of Beckers, ESEE, and a bunch of Busse’s. Then move on to Randall’s, Dozier’s and if you’re lucky and somebody has one a Loveless. All perfectly fine blades for their cost. It’s an enlightening experience and same is true for folders.

Also, don’t get confused between the makers cost and the secondary market cost. That secondary market (known as "dealers" for Busse) indicates how desirable the knife is to have in your hand today.


For those interested in what to look at here is an excellent thread from a contest between makers that ran in W&SS.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687445





Yep, needs to be in perspective, I like to post this Ron Lake folder in threads complaining about Sebenza costs, make no mistake this is a tough usable knife but I doubt the new owner will be cutting firewood with it...

Lake-Lorchener33K.jpg


............at a $33,000 sale price.
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So will you buy it?
 
In a simple way of looking at it, what separates Harbor Freight tools from say Snap On tools? Both will get the job done, but how long will it last?
 
beau007 said:
Let's face it: If you don't enjoy slicing with a Lochsa more than slicing with a Mora Clipper 860, than you should just stick with the 860. There is a pleasure to be gleaned from using (or just owning) the Lochsa that the 860 just can't provide. That pleasure is linked to the untangible, artistic quality of the knife as well as the superior quality of the materials and craftsmanship. Some people have the appreciation and the means to buy the Lochsa. Others either don't have the means, or just don't see the value in what the Lochsa offers. Both people can cut a bologna sandwich in two. The Lochsa owner just enjoys the process more IMHO ; )
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Well said. As are most of the posts on this thread.

All my knives are quality knives. But I only own one "expensive" knife. A Dozier custom. And every time I use it I smile. It is a well made, hand made piece of functional art.
 
Something else to remember is that people have become accustomed to paying very little for some tools, knives included. If you look at the cost of tools and take a longer term historical perspective, then tools in general are cheaper now as a percentage of income then anytime in history. This is due to technological advances certainly but just as much if not more by the incredible standard of living disparities between first and third world countries that allow us first worlders to employ (indirectly typically) labor at a fraction of what it should cost. If you think 11 dollars a day is a fair wage for anybody then this will all be a moot point for you. Anyway technological change has also allowed unskilled labor to be used to produce what were once the products of skilled labor. Technological changes in transportation has also lowered the costs of some products. One last thought is that if you worked out the hourly wage of many custom knifemakers (particularly those just starting out) you would be surprised at how low it is.
 
Name sells too...I can think of several well thought of makers who sell knives starting at a grand and go up..Then I can point out a half dozen more than can make the same knife, same quaility and will sell it for three hundred..Yet, lots of folks dont want it from the less known maker.
Generally better knives cost more because they are made from superior materials and have superior craftsmanship..Then in the custom world you reach a level when craftsmanship stops selling and reputation does..Thats just the way it is..
 
Yes Moras will cut as well as (and even better than some) customs or higher end production knives.

I love my Moras, but since I am a knife knut, I enjoy the feel, fit and finish on more expensive knives.

It's the difference between pure, no nonsense usage, and enjoyment and appreciation.

To each his own.
 
Myself and my wife both wear a Rolex 24/7... Swimming, showering, grinding waves into knives, practicing for future child production, sleeping, etc...

When you take into account the number of man-hours/skill/materials and multiply that by NAME recognition, the price is almost reasonable. My EDC cost approx $425 (production Emerson cost plus Reese framelock mod) after Reese did his magic. Besides supply/demand, you also must consider the status/prestige of the maker.
 
dawsonbob said:
Branding/marketing.

Ego/vanity.

Do you think some buyers may be compensating, in some way?

I personally don't think that one knife that cuts no better than another that has equal materials and an equally good design is actually worth more. But some people just gotta have 'em.

I, personally, wouldn't buy a Busse over a Becker, but that's just me. They're both tough knives and they cut stuff, and that's the bottom line for me.
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Well said Dawsonbob, I agree 110%:thumbup:
 
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