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whats the logic of having a 100-200$ knife for edc and defense?
- Thread starter tylert7
- Start date
I don't favor knives as a self defense weapon, but...not everyone is allowed to carry a gun, and knives are allowed in some places guns are not.
Knives are also multi purpose. If someone carries a Cold Steel Voyager, he could also use it to break down cardboard boxes at his job site, to open packages, to cut zip ties, to slice up an apple for lunch...and in an emergency, he could use it for self-defense. In other words, it's a tool that if necessary could be used for protection, but even if you never need it for protection, you can still get use out of it. With a gun, it will be better as a weapon, but...unless you're going hunting or going to the range, you're not likely to do anything with it, you are carrying it SOLELY for defense.
Also, most people aren't carrying $300 knives for defense anyway...people aren't buying Sebenzas and PM2 sprint runs to fight with...
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I don't buy knives for defense, but as cutting tools. As for how I justify the money I spend on them... quality and materials are something you pay for. Customer service also has a factor in how much I'm willing to spend on a knife.
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I carry a Techno, to me is the price is a secondary concern when it comes to my interest in a knife. After all if it isn't appealing to you then why bother right?
Why not?
You seem like a guy who appreciates the cheaper things in life. Good for you.
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People carry knives for a lot of reasons, not necessarily concerned with self defence. Most people, at least in civilized countries, will encounter violence very rarely if at all, and carrying a Vaquero XL serrated is quite pointless.
However, if you enjoy carry a $100-200 (or more) pocket knife, why shouldn't you? You have the pleasure of ownership, the joy of using it, and the fun of sharing it with others (although don't tell them what you paid for it or they'll think you're mad).
For me something like a Spyderco Ladybug would do all the cutting I need, (and a Stanley combination box cutter and knife for work) and my tastes are more Cold Steel than Chris Reeve at the moment, but I certainly wouldn't deprecate those who enjoy those finer things.
However, if you enjoy carry a $100-200 (or more) pocket knife, why shouldn't you? You have the pleasure of ownership, the joy of using it, and the fun of sharing it with others (although don't tell them what you paid for it or they'll think you're mad).
For me something like a Spyderco Ladybug would do all the cutting I need, (and a Stanley combination box cutter and knife for work) and my tastes are more Cold Steel than Chris Reeve at the moment, but I certainly wouldn't deprecate those who enjoy those finer things.
Skrapmetal
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EDC isn't self defense.
And trust me, if I can afford to carry a $200 knife for EDC, I can afford a handgun to carry at the same time... and something much nicer than one that costs $300...
Way to get your first posts off to a bang, though. We love judgmental people around here.
And trust me, if I can afford to carry a $200 knife for EDC, I can afford a handgun to carry at the same time... and something much nicer than one that costs $300...
Way to get your first posts off to a bang, though. We love judgmental people around here.
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I,ve carried walmart $1.99 knives and Hi point guns ,but now that I can afford them I carry a microtech or spyderco matriarch togather with Glock G29 and a bondarms 357mag.
both setups worked but why not go with the best you can afford.
both setups worked but why not go with the best you can afford.
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Same logic that makes me carry a Glock. 
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No logic necessary. Any excuse to indulge in my hobby is welcome but no excuse is necessary.
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Because I'm a knife snob and I can.
I used to have a descent gun collection, not huge but several pieces that were north of 1k, and most of it is gone now because I have sold them and traded them off to feed my knife appetite. Yes that's right, I said traded guns for knives.
90 percent of the time I have a ZT 550 In my pocket for EDC. Roughly $160 knife. But my definition of EDC is different then most. EDC for me actually means carrying and USING. A lot of people will carry a 100-200$ knife but will never use it for anything more then opening packages or mail. I carry an expensive knife because it is a tool I use on a daily basis and I need to be able to depend on it.
I have less expensive knives and use them as well, but wouldn't trust them to last for every day abuse. I also have more expensive knives that are more like weekend carry knives that get used but not beat on. For me there is no such thing as a collector knife. There built to be used not collected. Sprint runs to me means better steel holds edge longer. Not keep in box in a drawer and neglect.
I used to have a descent gun collection, not huge but several pieces that were north of 1k, and most of it is gone now because I have sold them and traded them off to feed my knife appetite. Yes that's right, I said traded guns for knives.
90 percent of the time I have a ZT 550 In my pocket for EDC. Roughly $160 knife. But my definition of EDC is different then most. EDC for me actually means carrying and USING. A lot of people will carry a 100-200$ knife but will never use it for anything more then opening packages or mail. I carry an expensive knife because it is a tool I use on a daily basis and I need to be able to depend on it.
I have less expensive knives and use them as well, but wouldn't trust them to last for every day abuse. I also have more expensive knives that are more like weekend carry knives that get used but not beat on. For me there is no such thing as a collector knife. There built to be used not collected. Sprint runs to me means better steel holds edge longer. Not keep in box in a drawer and neglect.
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Because I'll probably NEVER use it, and I well know it, but I'm in outside sales and go where I need to go to see my customers. Both good places and bad places, and companies in my industry are inherently conservative in nature. And they are universal, all over most of the world.
If I carried a gun at work and someone noticed it, chances are pretty certain I'd be let go immediately. That just isn't done.
But having a small knife like my Benchmade Emissary or Spyderco Native to cut apples up and eat daily is pretty handy, and they are over $100.00. I like their design, and they are tools for a job. A cheaper knife would work just fine.
But my Civilian or waved Matriarch2, or sometimes the Emerson in my other pocket is there to make me feel at least somewhat comfortable when I'm working often after dark in seedy neighborhoods, plain and simple.
They, too, are somewhat small, simple tools for a purpose, and if you don't think they could be a deterrent or help save my skin if some undesirable person saw me as an easy mark for some reason, then come try to rob me while I'm just feeding my family and I'll show you how effective a $100-$200 knife can be under certain circumstances. Even if you have a gun. Because that's the situation I'm in, and not by MY choice, nor making.
Because at least I have a chance, and if I can get close to that person while feigning getting out my wallet then it might turn out to be a very different situation at the end. And I get to go home.
And if I'm successful, when I'm questioned afterward about what happened?
Out will come the Emissary or the Native. And I keep my job, my pension, and the ability to feed my family.
If I carried a gun at work and someone noticed it, chances are pretty certain I'd be let go immediately. That just isn't done.
But having a small knife like my Benchmade Emissary or Spyderco Native to cut apples up and eat daily is pretty handy, and they are over $100.00. I like their design, and they are tools for a job. A cheaper knife would work just fine.
But my Civilian or waved Matriarch2, or sometimes the Emerson in my other pocket is there to make me feel at least somewhat comfortable when I'm working often after dark in seedy neighborhoods, plain and simple.
They, too, are somewhat small, simple tools for a purpose, and if you don't think they could be a deterrent or help save my skin if some undesirable person saw me as an easy mark for some reason, then come try to rob me while I'm just feeding my family and I'll show you how effective a $100-$200 knife can be under certain circumstances. Even if you have a gun. Because that's the situation I'm in, and not by MY choice, nor making.
Because at least I have a chance, and if I can get close to that person while feigning getting out my wallet then it might turn out to be a very different situation at the end. And I get to go home.
And if I'm successful, when I'm questioned afterward about what happened?
Out will come the Emissary or the Native. And I keep my job, my pension, and the ability to feed my family.
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Inexpensive isn't, by definition, bad. My S&W Model 13 cost less than $200. My pinned and recessed S&W M10 cost less than $250. For defense, both serve me much better than any knife would. They were inexpensive but certainly not cheap.
Why?
I'd never spend $2500 on a handgun. No reason to. Last year, I traded/sold (for the equivalent of ~$2500) a ~60% all original U.S. Property marked Colts M1911 (delivered to the U.S. Army in December 1913) I bought a little over ten years ago for $400. Got three Winchester rifles (M04-22, M57, and M69) and $850 cash for it. No way would I have ever made such a trade to obtain that handgun. To each his own.
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That would be a false dichotomy. I'll go out on a limb and say 99.9% of the members of this forum carry a knife. Many carry a gun as well. For one thing, the handguns I've handled are universally crap at slicing cheese.
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lots of 'income inequality' posts lately. If you can't afford a higher priced offering, then just buy one that costs less. No need to attack those that want to spend their hard earned money on toys and tools that don't fit YOUR budget. 