What'd you pay for that?

[viva la]

I am willing to tell friends what my knives cost just so they know that if they can actually borrow(not bloody likely, in an English accent) it they treat it like glass or pay for it if they break it.

The people I work with know I collect knives. Once in a while I will get "so which knife are you carrying today". On any given day I could have a $50 CRKT or a $1000 William Henry in my pocket.

If they ask, which they usually do, how much a knife cost...I tell them. And they are not surprised when I won't let them use it...

 

[mqqn]

Hi JTR357 -

No - not really.

It does not bother me if people don't understand what I know about a quality knife; there are probably things that THEY spend money on that I would not understand.

Somewhat related to your question, there has recently been a television commercial airing with a theme "if you have to explain spending money for quality" or something of that nature. In one scene, a fellow is holding a knife, pointing to features saying "this part is mammoth tusk, and this part is titanium". I thought of this forum the instant I saw that.

best regards -

mqqn

 

[Heiheit]

Hi JTR357 -

No - not really.

It does not bother me if people don't understand what I know about a quality knife; there are probably things that THEY spend money on that I would not understand.

Somewhat related to your question, there has recently been a television commercial airing with a theme "if you have to explain spending money for quality" or something of that nature. In one scene, a fellow is holding a knife, pointing to features saying "this part is mammoth tusk, and this part is titanium". I thought of this forum the instant I saw that.

best regards -

mqqn

"This pen is made out of dama steel; you know, the same kind used in sword making." great commercial and I too was instantly reminded of this forum.

 

[Ankerson]

It never bothers me when they ask...

What bothers me sometime is after they find out then take out (Enter Crap junk Knife here) and start to tell me that it's just as good and they could by X number of them for the price I paid for mine and really think they know what they are talking about.

On any given day I could be carrying a 4" Voyager to a Strider SmF CC depending on what I am doing.

 

[william8284]

I get the same questions and it does bother me that most people dont understand. I spend $150 -350 and people swear I am crazy. But those same guys fly remote control airplanes hmmm. I try to expalin it but they will never understand. I see them crash and destroy those planes day in and out. One of those was more than my best knife. I watched as it was the first flight it lasted 2.29 seconds from take off till 100 pieces.Then they are always wanting to borrow my knife because it sharp and better made than the cheapy at work. I dont understand that but that what make us all different I guess. My wife spends that much on a purse that sit in the closet.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

everyone spends their money on something.

 

[nevermind35]

I sell knives at work so I get asked what I carry a lot. 95% of the time it is from people that have practically no knowledge of knives and they give me the crazy look when I tell them. I've gotten to the point where I don't even show them my knives anymore. I've had a couple instances where people have done some VERY stupid stuff when I hand them my knife. (One time I gave a framelock to my sisters boyfriend so he could take a look and when trying to close it he pushed the framelock in the wrong way until it jammed against the opposite liner, It was jammed so hard that I had to stick my key between them and pry it open. Luckily it was a Kershaw Shallot and not one of my Ti framelocks but it was still a huge eye opener. Now days there are only three people I will hand my knife to: My dad, my grandpa and my friend Chris. I now figure that I buy my knives for ME, for my own reasons and I really have no reason to show others (except other knife nuts :thumbup

 

[Jason B.]

Only the trusted and that's not many. Most others I just say "expensive" and when they say like 50? I respond "something like that"

I NEVER let randoms handle a blade though, 99% have no clue how sharp a knife can be and a few times I've seen the ol "run my finger down the blade test" go really wrong. I've also seen people use poor cutting technique, call the knife dull, then about cut their finger off feeling the edge. Reminds me of the Fail thread as I'm laughing and their bleeding

 

[12345678910]

You're right, they don't understand and probably never will.

People can't seem to see the parallels between what they spend on "discretionary goods"/hobby items and what we spend.

I view spending $ a knife as much more useful than on a golf club, rare postage stamp, etc., because at least the knife has a practical use.

When people ask how much a knife costs, I consider who is asking. If it's someone who understands or at least appreciates the hobby, then I'll tell them. If it's someone who doesn't understand, then the answer is "plenty."

- Mark

...some people I've met don't blink at paying hundreds each month for Cable tv, or Cellphone services..

 

[Scott Neelan]

It all goes back to people paying more for quality in an area they care about. These same people who think a $15-$20 Smith & Wesson folder will work just as well as a Sebenza or Strider could see nothing at all odd about buying a Ferrari or Porsche, or maybe they'd understand spending $5,000+ to build a bleeding edge computer system. It's all about personal value.

Me? I've never been asked. Chances are, if I'm around people that would ask, I'm not carrying anything of real value anyway. The same with being asked to borrow a knife. If I'm in a spot to lend out a knife, chances are it's my Skyline or OD-2.

 

[Kaizen1]

It depends on who's asking. If it's someone I don't know, I tend not to get into it. If it's someone that will show respect for my hobby, I'll tell them. My girlfriend used to say stuff about the money I put into knives, but I just put it into perspective for her. I asked her:

How much is your purse? (A: $500+)
How much is that purse your sister just bought that you want? (A: $1k+)
How many high end purses does she have again? (A: 20+)
How much do your friends spend on cable every year? (we don't watch TV)
etc

Sometimes people don't realize how much is spent on luxury and you just have to spell it out for them.

 

[JTR357]

When I was growing up back in the dark ages, it was considered to be very rude to ask the cost of someone else's possesions. Now it seems that everyone feels free to intrude upon, and make comments about, your choices.

There is no obligation imposed upon you, none whatsoever, to answer a rude question. So I don't. I ignore the question entirely.

I agree completely.It IS a rude question.I don't walk into someone's house & ask "What'd you pay for this?"
It's funny,I was brought up that way too,but my father is the first one to ask "How much did you pay for that?".Guess I didn't learn it from him.

It does depend on who asks too,like a few others have said.If they're asking just to ask(screwem'),or if they're asking because they're genuinely interested & may want to buy that specific knife,I don't mind telling them.

I sell knives at work so I get asked what I carry a lot. 95% of the time it is from people that have practically no knowledge of knives and they give me the crazy look when I tell them. I've gotten to the point where I don't even show them my knives anymore. I've had a couple instances where people have done some VERY stupid stuff when I hand them my knife. (One time I gave a framelock to my sisters boyfriend so he could take a look and when trying to close it he pushed the framelock in the wrong way until it jammed against the opposite liner, It was jammed so hard that I had to stick my key between them and pry it open. Luckily it was a Kershaw Shallot and not one of my Ti framelocks but it was still a huge eye opener. Now days there are only three people I will hand my knife to: My dad, my grandpa and my friend Chris. I now figure that I buy my knives for ME, for my own reasons and I really have no reason to show others (except other knife nuts :thumbup

I had a coworker do that to my Trigger Maze.He just started to push the framelock in the wrong direction & I grabbed it from him.WTF?!It can only be pushed two ways,how stupid can you be?
I showed my brother-in-law my classic large blackwood Sebenza.He said "Wow,How much was that,fifty bucks?".I just smiled & nodded.
Another guy at work was checking out my DDR Model 10,& said "This is nice!How much was this one,a hundred,hundred fifty?" I said "If you break it,you'll find out the hard way".He handed it back quick.