What would you choose?

PhilL

PhilL

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
6,490
I just recently have been looking at knives on Ebay, and they really run the whole gamut of what’s out there, from the ridiculous to the sublime. I find Bernard Levine’s posts on the Fakes, he’s spotted on Ebay to be fascinating.

One collection for sale, that just about made me feel like crying was this one, http://cgi.ebay.aol.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=279251814&tc=photo475
I mean it looks like this guy owns the whole Bud K Catalog, I bet it took him some time and a fair amount of money to put this together. It got me thinking, the first catalog I ever saw for knives was Bud K, and I’ll be honest my first impression was, “Wow! Knives, COOL. Hey the prices are great.” What did I know, I hadn’t even seen a knife magazine at that point? I didn’t order any of this type of merchandise, but I could have gotten hooked. I feel like I know better now, but I’m still learning more about knives every day.

I’m not putting down what anyone decides to collect, if you like it that’s fine.
I’m not a big time collector, I don’t even call the knives I own a collection, just My Knives, but I’m working on it and doing my homework first, and trying to stay FOCUSED.

With that said, let me get to my question, “What would you choose?”
Would you rather own, ten $20 knives or ONE $200 knife, and why?
Would you rather own, ten $200 knives or ONE $2000 knife, and why?

I know there are members here at just about every price point, some that want one of every knife ever made, and some that already own one. I’m just trying to find out how YOU think?

By the way, there are no right or wrong answers, and no prizes will be awarded.
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"Will work 4 Knives!"
Homepage: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=254126
 
I'd rather have one $200 knife than ten $20 knives. Based on experience a $20 knife is pretty much a toy rather than a real knife. In buying a $20 knife you put yourself at risk of it breaking and yourself getting injured. With (most) $200 knives you're buying a quality product.

I'd rather have ten $200 knives than one $2000. I feel that after about $1000 knives are getting into the "art" realm, and I would have to buy a display case and some lighting so I could just look at it. Ten $200 knives would be nice because I'd have quality users, and variety.

Just my thoughts.

~Mitch
 
I'd prefer 5 $400 knives. For me, $300-$500 is the realm of the really interesting blades. Excellent, high quality fixed blades and the beginning range of custom folders. However, I've never spent over about $150 on a knife and I'm very satisfied with my selections. I have no use or need for a $2000 knife.

Jack
 
Definitely the $200 knife/knives rather than the $20 or $2000 ones. I don't agree that all $20 knives are toys -- I paid $17 for my Buck Protege, and it's definitely a working tool -- but I do think that you [generally] get what you pay for. One $200 knife has greater utility than 10 $20 knives.

And a $2000 knife? That's not a user and all my knives are users. Even if I could afford to collect "art" knives, I don't think I'd want to; what fun are they if you can't play with them?


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Dave

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of More Knives
 
Phil,

If forced to pick between a $2000 knife or 10 - $200 knives, I would take the 10 knives. But I would much rather have 5 $400 knives
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. I have been involved with knives only a few years, but have seen my facsination with the new "knife of the month" diminish to the point that it takes something really special to light my fire anymore. I don't own alot of knives, but do own enough users to last me the rest of my life. And frankly, I get attached to my knives. My budget is pretty small and I have to spend wisely. I have never bought one impulsively and as a result still own every one I have ever purchased. The only thing I desire now is a BETTER user or something special to collect. While the new locking mechanisms are all the rage, I have never had a problem with any of my folders. I cannot see replacing my mini-AFCK, mini-Stryker or large Sebenza (daily carry's) unless the knife offers an improvement in some area that is perceptable to me. Being the new "in thing" just won't cut it (sorry for the pun) for me anymore. I am mainly focusing on custom folders now. While this may mean that rather than buying 6-8 knives a year, I may have to settle for just a couple. Chances are though, these customs are sure to become keepers that I could enjoy for years. If I continued to buy 6-8 knives a year for the rest of my life, I would just end up with approx. 400 knives lying around.

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It's only a mistake if you fail to learn from it!
 
Couldn`t have said it better than Mitch just did. I often find myself liquidating several of my "lesser" knives for one real keeper. As time goes on, I much prefer quality to quantity. It`s just like someone`s signature line here "Life`s too short to carry an ugly knife."
 
I just realized, I never answered my own question. Just so you know where I stand, I don't think I would have too much trouble finding some very good knives for around $20 each, not toys. I am slowly moving up to better knives, I now have two handmades, and just ordered my first custom. I'm still having a problem feeling comfortable in the over $200 price range, and I wouldn't consider using them. Carry yes, use no. I can appreciate Art for Arts sake, but I wouldn't at this point trade 10 knives for one. I'm trying to walk the line between quality and quantity. I have never sold or traded one of my knives, I don't buy a knife unless I love it and wouldn't think of parting with one.

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 03-13-2000).]
 
Looks like prime example of one man's treasure being another man's junk. Beauty and covenance is in the eye of the beholder. Whew! I sure would not want to box up that entire collection and walk to the post office!
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Lead,follow, or get the hell out of the way!
 
I'd go with the $200 knife (or knifes) in either case. $20 knives tend to be of pretty bad quality, as previously stated, and I'd rather have one dependable knife. I'd also rather have 10 dependable knives over one art piece. To me, $200 is a user. The knife should be made well enough to be used at that price. As much fun as my Jaguar balisongs that I got yesterday are, I don't trust them to stay in one piece. At that price, the quality of the pins in the pivots isn't very good. A BM model 42 I preordered though is something I would put more trust and heavy use in. Simply put, with the exception of a Spyderco Spydercard I have yet to see a really nice knife for $20 or a good user for $2000.

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Simon Yu

"I look at it this way. If things get much worse I'll be too dead to care."
 
Simon I've got to dissagree with you there are a bunch of GOOD knives from good companies at the under $20 price point, as far as what's really nice that's up to you. One thing you may not be taking into consideration is that most of the world gets by with knives that cost a lot less than $20, and they're all users. Now we may feel like we know better and have better taste, and maybe we do. Or maybe we just pay too much for our addiction, and don't want to address that point. So, for most of the world $20 is over the top, for some of us here $200 is, for others $2000 is not only art it's pretty good investment, who is right? Luckily, we all are becuase it's just our opinions and our money. You may want to take off the blinders though.
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You're right Phil. I, also, don't buy into
the "knife snobbery" thing. Each of my several primary carries list out between
$100 and $200...but that does'nt mean I had
to spend that much money to own knives that
cut, and do it well. A Mossberg pump will
kill a rabbit dead; however, a Browning
Superposed will do it with flair. Fortunately, I can afford a Browning.
biggrin.gif
 
One $200 over ten $20 knives in all cases. Granted you can find a simi-good knife at $20 (Frost, Buck, Cammilus, and even Gerber.....dont know if I would call Gerber a Simi-good knife thou) but they do not compare to a Benchmade, Cold Steel, Spyder Co., Puma at $150. You will sharpen a gerber down to a stub before Cold Steel will loss its edge (small exaggeration). One $200 knife will last as long as the ten $20 knives.

I would much rather have ten $200 knives because who the hell needs a $2000 knife. I would be pissed at lossing one of my $150 doller Benchmades, I think I would go nuts just owning a $2000 knife.

With knifes under $200 you get what you pay for. When you buy a knife under $20 do not exspect it to hold an edge or even take an edge for that matter, and do not be med when it breaks. This is when paying retail. I know you can find some good deals on the net. That is an exception.

Vlad
 
All my knives are folders. Most are users. I'll take 10 Schrade Old Timers or Uncle Henrys or Buck 300 or 700 series against any $200 knife. When the blade on the $200 knife has been sharpened many, many times and the scales have been scratched and faded, I'll just bring out a brand new knife to start all over again. Now for pride of ownership and pleasure, or collecting, the $200 job would win hands down.

I can't even imagine a knife that I would be willing to spend $2000 for.

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Dave
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If a tree falls in the forest, and there is nobody there to hear it, then don't worry about it.
 
My three basic rules for buying a knife.

1. Buy a user based on what it is going to be used for. (Don't pay even $100.00 for a knife that you are going to use to cut rocks and baling wire, $20.00 is more than enough for this catagory.

2. Buy it because you like it, feel pride of ownership, and you like it. I think this is where the $200.00 to $400.00 knife falls.

3. Buy it because you might get lucky and it will significantly increase in value or you are lucky and can buy it for considerably less than it's present value. This is the catagory of the $2000.00 knife.

Each has it's niche and each person has to decide what they are willing or not willing to do with respect to each catagory.

Columbo re: I can't imagine a knife I would pay $2000.00 for.

Dave if I were to offer you my Mint Remington R1173 Baby Bullet for $2000.00 would you buy it? (It's not for sale) This is definately a rhetorical question.
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Rs
Don

[This message has been edited by stab1 (edited 03-14-2000).]
 
Ya see Don, that's the problem I'm having. For $2000 I can think of a lot of knives I like better than any Remington, that may not be as good a deal. If I stick to the principle, "Buy what you like!" I wouldn't even be looking at the Remington. The second thing is, no matter who you are, "You can't buy them all!" Now, I'm trying to focus on putting together an all Stag Display and I'm learning a lot about a lot of differnet knives in the process. BTW those tips on using Ebay were very helpfull. Thanks!

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 03-14-2000).]
 
$2000, that's a lot of scratch. Can I take a Johnny Stout Dominator for 12 hundred, a Darrell Ralph Extreme Apogee for 5, a BM AFCK in M2, a Queen pen knife, a handful of ten dollar Opinels for the toolbox, and a Boker ceramic chef's knife?

I'm not rich but I can see myself shelling out a grand for a knife I really like. It hasn't happened yet. Three hundred's as high as I've gone for a knife. Really now, how many people out there drive a $40K Lexus when a $15K Malibu makes a perfectly good "user" car, and then look sideways at us for dropping a few hundred on a knife!

Dave
 
Dave, welcome to the Forums. I hate to start off this way, but I lied to you, there is a correct answer and you just gave it. Congratulations!
Unfortunately I wasn't telling a lie when I said no prizes would be awarded.
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I especially like you mentioning an Opinel, and Johnny Stout. I do like your taste in knives Stranger.
 
PhilL, My point exactly. Rule #2 is really rule #1 except for a basic user. Buy what you like, what you like, what you like. It's just like all the arguments about what is the best blade steel. It is all based on the users, buyers, perception.

Personally I want my next knife to be made of Kryptonite in case Superman cops an attitude.
Rs
Don
 
Phil,

Try to work up a theme for your collection. It doesn't matter whether the individual knives cost $0.50 or $10,000. Collections take time, effort and research to put together. The fun is in putting together a set of associated parts. Your "investment risk" is the same regardless of how you partition your dollars. $2000 knives can fall out of favor just as quickly as $20 knives can appreciate.

My camp knife collection includes examples from different periods and locations. Some of these cost a few dollars, others were much (way much) more. Its the diversity that makes the collection interesting.

I have found that it it easier to find a good $20 knife than a good $2000 knife. Many of the $20 knives are intended for people who use their knives hard every day; while, most of the $2000 knives are largely decorative.

Does anyone really think that ivory (or other exotic handles) are stronger /more durable than simple micarta. Is a $1000 Brend mod 2 better at chopping vegetation than a $15 12" Ontario machete?? I love a well executed knife as much as any of you, but we shouln't let our love of the art color our judgement when it comes to performance.

[This message has been edited by not2sharp (edited 03-15-2000).]
 
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