What's the most you will pay for a knife ??

JR, I will have to agree to disagree with you, high-dollar knives are certainly a status symbol. Just because you use it mostly around people who don't know anything about knives does'nt change that.

I also think a person should always question wether or not he's getting a good buy, even if he's buying a Kit Carson knife. Just because it's a Carson knife does not make it better than a Benchmade (although I'm not saying that is true, I'm just using those names to illustrate a point).
Some folks seem to think that a custom knife is better than a production knife simply because it's not mass produced. This simply is'nt true.
Would handmade nails hold a house together better than mass produced nails? I would say no, but the handmade nails would cost a heckuva lot more.

This just my opinion and so take it for what it's worth (not even two cents really),
Allen.
 
Originally posted by Jeremy Reynolds
It would be like buying a $100 Jennings over a $500 Glock because they are both guns and both shoot bullets. Just my take on this thing.

JR
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That is easily one of the most profound things i've heard on this board.
I'm quite at the point that I totally agree with it yet in principle, but I thank you for taking it at a gun nut's perspective (I wouldn't be caught DEAD with a Jennings!).
This only reaffirms my idea that i'm not yet a hard core knife-knut, but i'm working at it. :)
 
, high-dollar knives are certainly a status symbol. Just because you use it mostly around people who don't know anything about knives does'nt change that.
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You are most definately wrong. This is your opinion on why people use and purchase custom knives. If you refuse to buy these products AND use them, then how do you know why people buy them and how they preform compared to some production pieces? How do you know whether or not a BMW will outpreform a Toyota until you have experience owning and using one? Also, high dollar depends on who you ask. Do people really need $500+ stereo systems in their homes? What about big screen TVs and satellite with 100+ channels? What is the difference in buyiong 4 $100 production pieces vs 1 $400 custom piece? You are still spending the same ammount of money on knives. How is it a "status symbol" if no one knows what it is or the value? Again, I go back to one of my earlier points, why risk trusting your life or the life of a loved one to a cheaper product? I prefer to save my money and buy the best I can afford. I could have bought many more production pieces over that time, but there is something about custom that just draws you in. It's more then just the materials in the knife itself. I used to feel like you and wonder why anyone would spend $400 on a knife that wasn't in theory 4X better then a $100 knife. That was until i actually bought customs. I was hooked and will never turn back. My knife is a tool I have with me daily and prefer to carry the best I can afford.

JR
 
Originally posted by Jeremy Reynolds

That was until i actually bought customs. I was hooked and will never turn back. My knife is a tool I have with me daily and prefer to carry the best I can afford.

JR
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Very well said JR. When I started in this madness, I cringed at spending $200. on a knife. Then I moved up the quality/gadget line and bought a $400. Microtech, it did have a Brend hand ground blade.
Then I bought a custom Larry Chew Covert Spitfire for $650. Yep, JR is right, once you feel the quality of a well made custom, and have the personal satisfaction of owning/using it, you can't go back. I just ordered a $400. custom balisong from Larry Davidson. A year ago I would have told you that it would be crazy to pay that much for a knife. The only difference is I don't buy as many knives, I save up and buy something special. It has nothing to do with a status symbol. It has to personal appreciation of owning and using a quality knife. That's right, I use them, unless it is something that would be difficult to replace and would be considered a collectors item.
Patrick from Triple Aught Design gave me the best advice when I started out in this madness, "Buy what you like and buy the best that you can afford".
 
Highest price so far- $360 for a nib Chris Reeve unique graphic, small classic Sebenza. However, since it's worth $410, it was a good deal, and it is a *really* beautiful knife. :D :D I might spring for a Tom Mayo TNT in the future, though- prices start at about $450 or so for the smallest models.
 
...my subscription renewal cost for Blade magazine...

Now I just cut out the pictures of all the cool knives I want, and 'Glue Stick' the pictures onto my forehead...

That way, when I look in the mirror, I can wonder aloud, "Jeeezz, what the heck was I thinking last night?"...

The downside of this is that I get a lot of 'looks' when I go out in public, the upside is that as each picture washes off with my weekly shower, I can just glue another one up there...lol ;)

Mel

(Seriously? The collector pieces run $300-$500, sometimes higher; the users run $30-$50, sometimes lower...)
 
Originally posted by Melvin-Purvis
the users run $30-$50, sometimes lower
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I can't see myself using a knife in that price range. I don't see anything I like that costs so little.
 
JR, the status symbol thing is a little difficult to understand, but basically it's a status symbol because YOU know the cost.
It's like when people buy name-brand underwear like Tommy Hilfiger: they just feel chic-cool-fashionable-elite-whatever-you-call-it because THEY know what they're wearing, it really does'nt matter if others know.
And some folks would be embarrassed if they were caught using a Walmart-bought knife.

As for the BMW-Toyota analogy: while it's true that you have to actually drive the cars to get the feel of them, you can determine if one will outperform the other by reading the specs. Engine size, car weight, horsepower, and torque are not subjective.
You don't have to drive a Geo Metro to know that it's slower than a Dodge Viper.

Allen.
 
It depends on the "person" and it does not matter if it is knives, cars, jewlery, underware or whatever. People are different and do things for different reasons. I have a very close friend that is a "status symbol" type of person and does in fact buy items to impress others. I also have another friend that is financially able to buy whatever he wishes, and does own top of the line items mentioned above, (don't know about his underware) but he is a humble individual and would never show off, and does not really care about impressing anyone. So, to some a quality custom made knife might be a status symbol, to others, it is owning a quality knife that is affordable to them. The whole status symbol thing depends on type of person you are. I think I like the humble friend best. ;)
 
I buy knives for my own personal pleasure and for my own use. I do not buy them as a status symbol. To tell you the truth, I never thought of knives as status symbols.

I buy the knives that I like and the knives that I like are almost exclusively custom knives. The exception to this are some production slipjoints and Randalls (I like Randalls, but don't own any yet).

As long as I can afford a knife I will pay what I have to, to get the knife I want. If it takes me a year to save up for that knife, then so be it. It makes no sense to me to buy knives that I would not be happy with just because they are inexpensive in comparison to the knives I choose to own.

For those that see no reason to spend more than $100.00 to $200.00 max on a knife, I say great. It doesn't matter how much you feel is enough to spend on a knife, just so long as you are happy with the knives you get.

*Edited because of my inabilty to use a keyboard.
 
I like these debates, get's some people thinking and others upset. I like all of the comparisons between knives and firearms, T.V. equipment and automobiles. However, these items are much more complex than a knife. So it would make since that you get what you pay for when dealing with machines that have a higher "failure" factor for cheaper equipment.
But a knife is a very simple tool. If you spend enough money to get legitimate steel and a good lock there can't be that BIG of a difference. Now if someone invents the "Light Saber" I'll spend the cash to get a quality version.
 
...well said!

BTW, I did pick up that little stag RMK #2-4 for Edna as an 'off ebay' sale. The guy was local and brought it to my work. Very cool, she's gonna love it!

BTW ptII, didn't get your parcel off today like I planned. I ended up getting hooked to play 'delivery boy' for some parts to Mexico today.

Soon, prolly next week...

Mel
 
i am new to this knife hobby n my mum thinks am mad 4 spendin about £50-£80 on a knife. i am dreadin gettin ferver in 2 this hobby coz of all the peeps spendin so so much hope ur all happy 4 scarein me:mad:
 
I also can't find anything I like from most of the factory offerings. There's a few (Tuffram Spyderco Police) but even that, being discontinued, is pricey. The most I've ever spent is $455 for a custom. I'm saving up to get another custom for $400.00. I own a Leatherman, a few Swiss Armies, and a Gerber LST to work around the house (read: pry and drive screws with;) ). To me it's a quality issue. If it isn't up to my standards I've sold it, as evidenced by the TWO knives I still have. I also carry and use my knives. It's a fun hobby and I like my "toys". Like I tell my wife, "Hey, I could drink and chase other women".

Leo G.
 
I'm really trying to round out my collection of Appletons, Walkers, Lakes, and Morans. :p

If someone else could take a look at exquisiteknives.com and tell me what makes that Loveless skinner worth $12K, I'd be appreciative.

You reach a point to where you're paying for nothing more than a name. Practical materials end up only costing so much. A noticeable and functional improvement in fit and finish is only good up to a certain set of tolerances. The design is taken only just so far, the work can be judged only just so greatly.

Some people think art is priceless, others consider it worthless. I'll pay ten times the price when I get ten times the practical benefit. I had a $700 custom bali on order, that was going to be my 'pretty' knife, not a user. I'm kinda glad it fell through.
 
Hardheart:

PERFECTLY stated! I was looking at a $1600 Microtech, and thought "wow, I'll bet my Strider could saw through that like paper!"
Honestly, I can understand the whole art aspect of knives, but you are right; I personally feel that when you get into the multi-thousand dollar range, you are paying PURELY for the name; you're just pouring thousands of dollars into the maker's pocket. I have no problem paying for names with stuff like clothing and cars, but a $12K knife? Come on... Like hardheart said, there's NO WAY you can justify that price. I'd believe about $2000.00 TOPS being justifiable for materials and a healthy profit for the maker.

Besides, I personally think that being tools, you should be able to trust your life to things like knives and guns. Would you trust your life to a microtech FOLDER? Probably not. I know I'll take my "prybar with an edge" as Striders have been called. :D Even a Busse...(I just don't like their looks)
Very interesting thread! Some great points people have brought up here!

Just my opinions.
Drjones
 
I have several knives that cost over $2,000, purchased several years ago, each is worth much more today. I just made an offer on a $5,000 knife that I wished to examine for educational reasons, did not get it, another man bought it, come to find out it is worth much more that the origonal $5,000. If you are knowledgable and keep your head, knives can be supreme investments that you can both enjoy, learn from and if necessary make money on. The knives that some reffer to as "primitives" can be very rewarding.
 
I think that everybody should spend as much as they see fit on knives. The knives that I like tend to start at around $250.00 an go up from there. You can get some great customs for under $200.00. Sure you can spend thousands of dollars for a knife and believe me if I had the money, there are quite a few knives that I would pay that much for.

If a person is happy with a $50.00 knife, that's great. I have tried a few and they don't do it for me. Everyone has a limit that they will pay for something. It does not matter how much we spend on knives, what matters is how much we enjoy the knives we purchase. Get them, enjoy them and spend whatever you darn well please.
 
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