Whats the point?

[R.c.s]

What's the point in having a wife that looks like any number of Hollywood hotties, when an ugly girl will do just fine, and cheaper in the long run. If you wanna' be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife, so from my personal point of view, get an ugly girl to marry you; same goes for knives, get a beastly el cheapo and it will perform just because it's grateful you bought it. Insofar as wives go, mine is uglier than sin, but dang, she sho' can cook.

an ugly wife is grate but you still won't to play with the hottis lol

 

[Jastab]

I don't think driving to the store in a civic would be the same as an AMG S65...

Are you gonna drive them the same? I would go balls to the wall all the time, making it NOT the same as a honda.

 

[Stays Sharp]

I don't think driving to the store in a civic would be the same as an AMG S65...

Are you gonna drive them the same? I would go balls to the wall all the time, making it NOT the same as a honda.

But how much better will the Sebenza cut versus a PM2 or 710? Does it correlate to the difference between the Benz and Honda? Why? Will it cut faster like the Benz drives faster? Maybe it cuts with style better if thats what it makes you feel more power to you but these comparisons are killing me.

 

[A-Ro]

Luckily (or unluckily...however you want to look at it), my wife is really into Coach purses. If she ever brings up why ANYTHING I like costs what it does I can always ask her if she'd rather go back to carrying a purse from Kohl's...that usually shuts her up!

 

[Quiet]

Did he ask where the point is or WHAT the point is. You guys are acting like it's the greatest interwebz picture ever.

BTW, many people who buy Philippe Pateks are in it for the status symbol and can care less about what is inside. Bad example and it only enhances what the OP is saying. Example, if you are a car enthusiast then the Mercedes is worthit for the quality etc. bt lets be real, many buy it for status. Im just saying that these arent the best examples but I do agree that buying a Sebenza for status is ill advised when 99% of the population will laugh at you for spending morethan $50 for a pocket knife.

"Many people". I'm sorry, no. You may think that, but you're wrong. Let me ask you this. Do you know anyone who actually has a watch costing more than several hundred dollars? I am personally related to multiple folks who are well off. I'm not bragging, this is merely a fact (I myself am not wealthy...yet!). And the fact is, all three of them own multiple watches that cost more than my car did. They most certainly did not buy them "for status". All three of them appreciate finely made luxury goods, which is why they have nice watch collections. Do the members here who carry Sebenzas, or spend tens of thousands of dollars on pocket knife collections do it for status?

Maybe they also just like, you know, finely made luxury items. Imagine that. So, no, my watch analogy wasn't a bad example, it merely does not concur with your worldview. Your response merely shows that you believe people who will spend large sums of money on luxury items are doing it for status, which is far from the truth. You DO know there are wealthy people who aren't musicians, athletes, or actors, right? People with taste and refinement, who just want to have nice things?

Anyway, to put it politely, I disagree that people only buy super expensive watches (or other luxury goods) for status. Most of the things at that level, no one would even know what it is, so why would you even bother?

 

[ToddM]

As others have said most of it is personal value.

Do some people buy expensive watches/knives/cars/etc. to show off their wealth sure they do. I've seen plenty of people showing off expensive toys to people who had no idea what they were or could have cared less about them. The owner made a point of showing it off and explaining how much it cost to impress people.

Some people want to have something unique not the same thing as everyone else has, it has nothing to do with showing off. I think this happens a lot in the knife world and it's the reason so many designs exist and why limited editions sell so well. Some are collectors and the more rare (and usually expensive) knives tend to appeal to collectors.

Every individual will have their own thoughts on "value" based on their ideas, needs, bank account etc. Now some people will pay a lot more to gain a little quality because it's worth it to them. Do I think based on cutting value alone a Sebenza is worth 4x more than a Spyderco Manix 2 or PM2, of course not. While I really like my PM2 and Manix 2, and they both cut very well, my Sebenza still impresses me every time I open it. That said I'm also always impressed with how good some of the $80-$200 knives are, some truly rival knives costing much more.

Optics are no different, a $1000 camera lens is not twice as good as a $500 lens, but enthusiasts and professions will pay the money to get the extra quality, binoculars, spotting scopes the same way. With any product there's always a diminishing returns point, enthusiasts find various reasons to justify that expense even though they are not getting twice as much function for twice as much money.

 

[Quiet]

Speaking of my relatives, I've gone with them to some of their wealthy friends' homes, and have seen collections of pretty much anything you can imagine: firearms, knives, watches, coins, and so on, that would cement in your mind the understanding that the money spent on those collections certainly was NOT spent to display any sort of status.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Sure there are many people that are into watches and appreciate a Patek's craftsmanship. There are definitely people who buy such things like a Benz or RR or a Patek for status Im sorry if your world view doesnt see it that way. I dot know who you know and I can say Im best friends with the Queen of England doesnt mean its true. I dont care who you know and how many Pateks they have but it is my belief that many items are also status symbols. You can appreciate a Lamborghini and buy one for what it is but there are those in this world that buys them for status and never takes them to the track or go over 65. Im not about to sit here and tell you who I know lol. My uncle is the Sultan of Brunei lol.

 

[zl1]

You like what you like. Expand your horizons a little.

A knife is a knife to anyone else, no "cool" statement.

 

[Quiet]

Sure there are many people that are into watches and appreciate a Patek's craftsmanship. There are definitely people who buy such things like a Benz or RR or a Patek for status Im sorry if your world view doesnt see it that way. I dot know who you know and I can say Im best friends with the Queen of England doesnt mean its true. I dont care who you know and how many Pateks they have but it is my belief that many items are also status symbols. You can appreciate a Lamborghini and buy one for what it is but there are those in this world that buys them for status and never takes them to the track.

Well, that's fine man. We can agree to disagree. All I can say is that envy doesn't become anyone. And when people say "That person only bought that as a STATUS SYMBOL!" what they're really saying is "I wish I could have afforded that watch/knife/sportscar/hot blonde, it should be me with that nice luxury item." That's how it comes off. You can disagree and say that you don't mean that at all, but really, it is what it is. People who try to take others down a peg for what they spend their money on, are doing it out of petty jealousy. Is what it is.

Also, the point of me pointing out who I know and where I've been, is so that you would understand that I actually know, and have been around people who have the sorts of items at that high price point level. None of them do what they do for status. They collect what they collect because it's what makes them happy, and they do it at a level that their discretionary income can support. That's all. MY viewpoints don't come from some outside-looking-in vantage point. All I can say.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Not saying that people do not appreciate high end quality... That is not what Im saying and it would be false. It is nice to be able to afford such things and if you can afford what you want, more power to you. Enjoy it, you deserve it. Just saying that even if you have a thousand relatives who alown Pateks for the 'right' reasons, there will he more who buy them for 'other' reasons. Ask your rich relatives, Im sure they know the type Im talking about amongst their peers.

 

[killgar]

You know, I've been on this forum for over eleven years now, and for over eleven years (even before I joined) I've seen people ask the same questions- "Is a Sebenza worth it?", "Why is a Sebenza worth $XXX?", "What makes a Sebenza better than other, less expensive knives?", etc, etc, etc.

Heck, if I had a dollar for every time I've seen someone ask such questions I could easily afford a Sebenza.

I've never owned a Sebenza. I considered it once, but I liked the Bradley Alias better, so I bought the Bradley.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with asking the question. But it's been asked so many times before, and the answers are always the same. I imagine that ten years from now people will still be asking the same question "What makes a Sebenza so great?".

 

[Stays Sharp]

My argument is towards the comparisons. I have no horse in the other aspects and I hope you werent insinuating that I am jealus of anyone or anything. I am content with my life and my posts were never about what other people can or cannot afford.

 

[Quiet]

Not saying that people do not appreciate high end quality... That is not what Im saying and it would be false. It is nice to be able to afford such things and if you can afford what you want, more power to you. Enjoy it, you deserve it. Just saying that even if you have a thousand relatives who alown Pateks for the 'right' reasons, there will he more who buy them for 'other' reasons. Ask your rich relatives, Im sure they know the type Im talking about amongst their peers.

Instead of discussing our differences in viewpoint on what wealthy people spend their money on, and for what reasons further, let me ask you this. Do you see the irony of this post at all, given where it's at? This is a forum (and a grand one at that), which is generally accepted as the overlord of all knife forums out there. That's right, a forum dedicated to knives and knife collecting. There are members here who have posted up pics of collections worth tens of thousands of dollars in the pic sections/threads. I wonder if OP has ever asked them "Why did you bother buying all those customs? Wow, ten Sebenzas, why even bother? What's the point?" Of course not, I imagine he knows what reaction he'd get. He'd be told to get bent in short order!

This thread is the equivalent of me going into a high-end sports car forum and asking people what the point is in buying a Porsche or Ferrari, when a C6 Corvette with intake, headers, ported heads, a hotter cam, a good tune, and a few grand dumped into the suspension will own all day long on track day. And when I'm challenged, I just say "Meh, people only buy Porsches and Ferraris for status". Just doesn't make sense to me, honestly. What can I say. Anyway, this has been entertaining, but there's not a lot more I can contribute to this thread honestly.

 

[Stays Sharp]

Roger that, I got you bro

 

[bladeboss]

I drive a 1995 truck with 257,000 miles on the original motor and trans.
For most people, they'd crush it and move on.
For me, it's astounding. All of that precision work still working right.
I see the reliability of a tool/motor as a huge, interesting bonus.
My most expensive knives are a Native 5 and an Adamas.
A Sheetrock knife would work, but there's no craftsmanship there.

For what it's worth, the truck is a Toyota.

 

[Cypress]

If a person can't tell the difference between a ZT and a knife costing 2-3 times more, what does it matter? I wish I had that level of attention to detail, as I'd have a lot more money in the bank!

I can see why most $400+ knives cost what they do. Materials, tolerances, design, workmanship, and most importantly, DEMAND can send prices skyrocketing.

Would I buy a Sebenza? Nope. I use the bejesus out of my knives, and can't justify the added cost over my Benchmades/Spydercos, as it'll get ruined all the same. That's not to say I don't appreciate what a Sebenza is, and fully understand its place in the market.

 

[sunandsteel]

Comes down to dollars, cents, and priorities.

 

[addylo]

What's the point of ANY luxury good? What can a Patek Philippe do that a $25 Casio cannot? They both tell time. A Honda Civic you bought used for $8,000 will get you to the grocery store just as well as an AMG S65 will.

The comment of "is it just another way for people to try and let everyone know their class" comes off as envy, sorry. Secondarily, I can guarantee you that the 99% of the folks who even know what a Sebenza (or a Strider, or any custom made folder) is...are on this forum right now. The chances of you ever whipping out a Sebenza to cut a thread with it only to hear indrawn breath and "!!! A SEBENZA!!! WOW!" from coworkers or strangers in a public place are slim to none. And yet, people buy them anyway? Why do you think that is? One might posit the theory that, just like every other luxury good out there, people are willing to pay a premium for a high quality luxury item. And I would also guess that most members on this board who bought a Sebenza surely didn't buy them to try to impress others.

So, to answer your question, the point that a $500 knife is worth it is when someone has $500, and they want a Sebenza or other high priced luxury item. Pretty simple.

Nuff said.

 

[sunandsteel]

What's the point of ANY luxury good? What can a Patek Philippe do that a $25 Casio cannot? They both tell time. A Honda Civic you bought used for $8,000 will get you to the grocery store just as well as an AMG S65 will.

I love Casio. Can't kill em' and the same for Honda Civic's.