What's the most you would spend on a knife?

M

mdsmith

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Jan 7, 2009
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Sorry to post two threads, but I have been shopping around for a couple of new knives, one being one of the canoes I referenced in my previous post, and the other being a Scagel #11. I have been drooling over this knife for over a year now, and finally have the extra cash, but something is holding me back..... THE PRICE!!! I absolutely love this knife, but I just can't seem to get over the price tag, or help but think about the fact that I could get myself 2-3 nice Case knives for the same price. It just got me curious about what your limit is as far as knives go. I know there are those out there with 500.00 customs, and those that would never drop more than 50.00, so I thought it would be fun to see who falls where.

Here's the Scagel for those interested.


SCG011.jpg
 
There's no limit really. Only limit is that I get my bills paid, get food first. Then I'll spend that sumn of money that I can afford without borrowing money, no matter the price. Weather its $300 custom or $9 Opinel. Get that. Let me comfort you: I pay more from Queen Dan Burke small Barlow in here than you'll spend on that ((MSRP+VAT 23%+Shipping)) ;)
 
The longer you collect knives, the more higher-prices start to seem reasonable. :D If someone told me ten years ago that I would some day happily drop $300 on a slipjoint, I would have said "Get out of town!" Yet here I sit, with just such a beast in my pocket, and I couldn't be happier about it. :thumbup:

There are plenty of guys out there who will drop two or three thousand dollars (or more) on a slipjoint, and be glad to do it. Check out the Tony Bose thread, or some of the other high-end maker threads- those guys can't make knives fast enough to satisfy the demand for them (hence the hefty pricetags).

As long as you can afford a knife without compromising your ability to pay your bills, why not go for it? A good knife will probably last longer than anything else you might spend that money on. And as far as hobbies go, knives are comparatively inexpensive. Compared to cars, or art, or watches, knives are dead cheap. :thumbup:

(edited to add) If you're looking for someone to talk you out of spending money on knives, this is probably the worst possible place to come. It's like going to Oktoberfest to find advice on quitting drinking.
 
It would have to depend on the knife.

I've dropped hundreds of dollars on a custom knife back when I was collecting custom knives. In the late 60's early 70's, that was a lot of money compared to the annual wage being made then. But I wanted Randall's and Hastings, and George Stone knives, so I bought them. I had the pride of ownership and the pleasure of using a very nice knife. The one good thing about high end knives is, that when the bug wears off, you can still sell them for a decent price if they are still in good shape, and get some of your money back out of them. With some customs, you may even make money.

I think it all boils down to how bad you want that knife vs can you afford it. If you have the spare dollars to indulge yourself, and not cut yourself short, why not? you're only here once, far as I know, so you may as well enjoy it. As long as the kids don't need new shoes or are hungrey, and the 'ol lady is okay with it, and you're up on all your payments, spend what you have, if that's what really bakes your cookie. 500.00 or 1,000, as long as your happy.

Carl.
 
moonwilson said:
If you're looking for someone to talk you out of spending money on knives, this is probably the worst possible place to come. It's like going to Oktoberfest to find advice on quitting drinking.
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Lol, that's very true. I'm not looking to be talked out of it, as everyone is at a different point in their life, and a different financial state, so what's reasonable for one person is going to be totally unreasonable for another. I was just curious. You are correct about the knife lasting longer than most things I'd spend the money on. There have been quite a few times when I had a chunck of cash, was about to buy a more expensive knife, but ended up buying something a little cheaper to save some money. That money I saved ends up getting blown on fast food, beer, and other random things, and once it's gone I think to myself, "I should have just gotten the better knife".
 
Let's face it. No one here needs knives that run into the hundreds and thousands of bucks.

What is reasonable to spend for me is some of the cash that I might have at times that can be used to purchase a knife when doing so will not be a burden on my finances now and in the future.
 
The most expensive knife that I have purchased was a Sebenza. I carried it and used it but guilt won over and it was sold. Though I appreciate expensive knives guilt won't allow me to own and use one. And I wouldn't want to spend that much on a knife just to fondle it. Since I am getting by right now just fine with a $20 Vic Soldier, it's getting mighty hard to buy anything really.
 
I had a n order placed with a custom maker this year when my finances took a downturn. He was very gracious about it when I had to cancel but I still wish I hadn't. The bottom line with me is for now I have set myself a rock-solid limit of under $75 shipped. That will change when my situation improves. Bills paid-no debt-money in the bank I would have no problem whatsoever with $400-$500. For now moderation is the path.
 
Bastid said:
Let's face it. No one here needs knives that run into the hundreds and thousands of bucks.

What is reasonable to spend for me is some of the cash that I might have at times that can be used to purchase a knife when doing so will not be a burden on my finances now and in the future.
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+1:thumbup: I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.
 
I own one traditional that cost more than $125, a John Howser stag & damascus custom LB I bought at BLADE this year for $460 (worth every nickel, too!).
Most of mine fall in the $50 to $100 range, which gets you as good a working knife as you can get. But if you like good stag, be prepared to spend double that. Good stag slippies have gone up about 50-60% in the last couple years.
 
I don't know about your last statement Jeff. GEC sells some very nice stag for well under $200.00. They have some of the best stag on the market at his time and offer it in knives for as little as $100.00 maybe a little less if you look around.
 
It depends on the knife. I have some production knives and a few customs. They vary widely in price, from a Kissing Crane Brown Mule to a Hiroaki Ohta. On the other hand I own a pretty small number of slipjoints, only a dozen or so not counting the ones I have bought and set aside for my daughter and nephews. Even with my customs there's a good chance that my stash cost less than a lot of the collections I've seen here. This hobby leads to all of us spending money, whether it's on a few select knives or a bunch of antiques and productions.

- Christian
 
Under $50 guy here.
I'm not a collector, I'm a user, and I can't justify to myself spending $200 on a knife that will do the exact same thing as my $13 Vic Cadet.
Plus, I could not make myself use an expensive knife for fear of breaking it or losing it.
Chances are, if it is a custom, it is durable, but still, if anything happened to it, I'm out a bunch of dollars.
A simple SAK, or slippie do right by me all the time.
 
You don't want to know. Neither do I for that matter!

However, if the right Walker or Steinau came along. . .
 
Twelve years ago when I first got married, I was out one day and stopped in a cigar store and bought a box of cigars. I came home and she asked me how much the cigars cost and I told her that they were $600 and she was less than thrilled. :eek:

From that day on, the any time the question of how much something that's just for me cost, the answer is "not that much."

But seriously, I enjoy the knives I buy, I'm not going to go into debt to buy one, but if I like want something and can afford it then I will often buy it. I've found with customs it's easier to just space them out a little bit.
 
wagglebee said:
I've found with customs it's easier to just space them out a little bit.
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Exactly! If a person only buys a knife a year, a $500 dollar custom doesn't hurt any more than buying a $50 production every month.

- Christian
 
If ever there was a need for a Don't ask, don't tell policy...:eek:

;)
 
kamagong said:
Exactly! If a person only buys a knife a year, a $500 dollar custom doesn't hurt any more than buying a $50 production every month.

- Christian
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Plus I like knowing that the custom was made for me and that it's exactly what I want.
 
moonwilson said:
The longer you collect knives, the more higher-prices start to seem reasonable.
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LOL, that is so true. Actually, that is valid no matter what you collect.:D
mdsmith said:
I could get myself 2-3 nice Case knives for the same price
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My greatest regret is all the money I wasted buying cheap knives when I could have been saving to get better ones.
Voltron said:
I'm not a collector, I'm a user, and I can't justify to myself spending $200 on a knife that will do the exact same thing as my $13 Vic Cadet.
Plus, I could not make myself use an expensive knife for fear of breaking it or losing it.
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I'm not a collector, either, I'm an user, which is why I want quality. All my knives see pocket time and end up with scratches. It's like driving a Kia, it'll get you there, but I'd rather drive a Cadillac.
 
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