What was your "step up " knife?

[UDIVER]

My first knife over $100 was the Benchmade 943.

 

[jaypowell0185]

Benchmade mini grip led to a sage 1 which led to knives over $120, then finally to a Sebenza. To this day the mini grip is still hard to beat.

 

[ThePeacent]

My first real knife, and the one that really started it all for me was also the Pacific Salt.
What a darn great knife!!!

 

[KAEDC]

My 1st blade was a Benchmade 707 Sequel, but my 1st really pricey one was a Hinderer Eklipse, really regret letting it go...I'll probably re-buy one eventually.

 

[knifeandgun]

I would say my first step up would be a sprint CTS-204P Paramilitary 2. Still have it and I love the darn thing to death ha

 

[eon blue apocalypse]

Zero Tolerance 0350

 

[22-rimfire]

My first real "step up" knife was the ZT 0770CF and I was totally satisfied with it. I have since bought Spyderco knives that are more expensive than a Delica, but I still like the Delica. I will probably "step up" again, but will just have to wait until one "grabs me".

Added below:

I'll never forget the day! The year was 1999 and I was a freshman in high school. I was also working at a furniture warehouse on weekends to earn some coin. At that point I had used and carried a few lower end knives i.e. Smith & Wesson, Gerber, Victorinox, to name a few. Never had a blade in my pocket that was more than $40 or so.

I stopped by a local knife & tool shop and they just got in the new Benchmade 710. The first of its kind and "knife of the year" - Axis lock, 154CM, and space age G10 handles. I was blown away by its nearly $200 price tag, but I knew I had to have it. Worked all summer long and bought it near the end of the year. To this day it has been my go-to EDC and has yet to let me down. I now collect BM knives almost exclusively.

Job well done Benchmade... Job well done indeed.

That is a great story. I did much the same thing with a 22 rifle and stepping up. As a kid, I was mostly into slip joints as that was pretty much all I knew about and that is what my Dad carried. I saved up my allowance for months and purchased a Case two blade Barlow back then. I was still in grade school then, but that knife carried on for years as my only user. I was digging around in one of my tool boxes the other day and found this knife... blade worn down to a thin nub and the handles cracked and chipped. Brought back old memories just picking it up. I moved it from the tool box to my knife storage area so I could periodically handle it for old times sake.

That Barlow was truly the first "step up" knife I have owned but I forgot about it because of the years that have gone by. I actually broke the blade on the original barlow cutting a pine branch, but Case was good enough to replace it for me. I was pretty heartbroken at the time as I couldn't replace it financially speaking.

 

[Klutz]

My step up was a Benchmade Emerson CQC-7 about 20 years ago. I had always carried inexpensive lockbacks and Victorinox models until then. It was my first modern style folder which I still have but almost never carry. My taste in folders is always changing but that Benchmade is sentimental to me.

 

[KnivesShipFree]

Yeah man that's one well crafted knife. The detail is insane.

The more I looked at it, I kept finding new spots that had something intentionally placed or flawlessly finished.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

Kershaw RAM and manix 2 introduced me to higher quality knives.

 

[Hale Storm]

Chris Reeve Shadow II

 

[Quehanna]

I've hunted and fished all my life. Was never without a knife Case, Buck was what you had when I was a kid. Most likely because that is what my Pa had. My first I guess upgrade into the modern world of knives was a BM mini barrage.