Whats the point?

[sunandsteel]

Dude, that's just wrong. A purple T-shirt should be worn with hand-knitted yellow shorts. Fool.

(Thanks for making my day, but NEVER let my wife see this or she'll knit me a pair!)

Alot of love went into making those shorts.

 

[mainaman]

Really, whats the point of a Sebenza, or equally expensive knives? Is it supposed to be a statement? Or is it just the 'cool' thing amongst knife nuts? I own plenty of ZT, and kershaw blades, and they work perfect for everything Ive ever used them for.

At what point is a 500 dollar knife 'worth it'? Or is it just another way for people to try and let everyone know their 'class'?

I am not sure if anyone is making a point by buying a 500 dollar knife. I like what I like and I get it eventually no matter the cost.

 

[mmarkh]

And for a few hundred less you can buy some China junk.:barf: What is your point? I bought my Sebenza because I wanted to try it out and saved up for it. It really didn't take that long. It's not like I had to take a second mortgage for it. It was less than $400 for my large 21.

sebenza is a production/custom but not a pure custom. for a few hundred bucks more than a sebenza you could get a custom that blows away sebenza.

 

[The Logical One]

The funny thing is if you compare knives to watches or cars or even bicycles, it's actually relatively affordable when you're talking about "high end". Some of the higher end knives are $1000-2000. When it comes to high end bicycles you're talking $8000+ and watches you're talking $10000+ and high end cars you're talking $80000+.

It's all relative. I think my buddy is crazy for spending $30000 on a watch seeing that my most expensive watch costs $300. On the contrary he carries a $30 smith and wesson and my most expensive knife costs $1200. As others said... if you can afford it and you like it, why not? You can get by in life by buying the bare minimum but sometimes it's nice to enjoy the finer things.

 

[sunandsteel]

And for a few hundred less you can buy some China junk.:barf: What is your point? I bought my Sebenza because I wanted to try it out and saved up for it. It really didn't take that long. It's not like I had to take a second mortgage for it. It was less than $400 for my large 21.

Actually for a few hundred less than a Sebenza you'd still can get a decent knife. It really isn't that high a price if you wait a little longer with saving. I have to ask you though, was it worth the extra time and saving? I sort of have it on my backburner when/if the time comes.

 

[driemb]

well, if you want twice the quality , you pay four times the price, after a certain point there is no gain in quality but just a more exclusiveness to the product wich in return will give some people a feeling that they are special, just watch a couple of commercials, because of the luxury items they own and sets them apart from others who don't, so it becomes a status symbol, a very poor feeling imo.
I do not care to much for luxury items, i think, but i can appreciate the look and feel of something expensive, thechnically advanced, without the need of having it , and understand why others will buy it .

 

[sunandsteel]

I wonder what the price range might be where the gain in quality levels off. I guess it depends on each individual person and their wallet size.

 

[driemb]

of course, if you have a house ,a computer and a car, you probably belong to the wealthiest 1 percent of the worlds population, the rest could not care less about luxury but concentrate on getting their next meal. everything is a step up in quality for them.

 

[Luckyleo]

I buy Sebenza's because I appreciate them and feel that they are worth it My non knife friends don't know what a Sebenza is, and don't care. Not only is it not a "class" thing, or something to show off, I actually avoid talking about cost with these friends because they would think I was nuts!! Something is worth what you pay because you say it is. Another person may have a totally different valuation of the same asset.

 

[cchu518]

One of the ultimate points is that there is a market and demand for them. The knives are appreciated for their quality and held up as a gold standard even by some of the manufacturers that you mention. Most importantly the CRK team's skill in their craft, feeds and supports the families who work there by creating a good of the highest quality even if its not perceivable by all who hold one or own one. I don't own one yet but I have held them. It's nice to hold something that is engineered so well.

 

[DRK]

Dude, that's just wrong. A purple T-shirt should be worn with hand-knitted yellow shorts. Fool.

That's the beautiful thing about introducing quality classic pieces into your wardrobe, you can dress them up or dress them down. Great for the holidays with a matching cable knit sweater (could be purple) perfect with a light t-shirt at a summer barbecue, although they do leave an annoying pattern on your legs after you have been sitting for a while

Just to make a comment on the OP. Quality really is a personal thing, some people can see and appreciate all the details and are willing to pay for it others don't. CRK puts a lot of time into their knives and they produce a first class product. Not to say you can't get something awfully close for less but they really are IMHO the gold standard of folders. I received a Micarta Insingo at Christmas and I think it is spectacular, whether or not anyone else does or even knows what it is (and they don't) I could care less to me, its the bomb.

If we are talking about other luxury goods that are more well know and seen in the everyday world, I think there is definitely a status component to it. A lot of companies put a lot money into developing their brand and they do it so people who own the product (and would like to own it) are aware of the value. I had a Mercedes SUV a while ago, I loved the vehicle and the quality of it, that is why we bought it, nice safe vehicle for my wife and young daughter. However we don't live in that big of a town and my wife and I both felt like we were rubbing peoples nose in it every time we drove it. I sold it and she got a truck. It would probably have been different if we lived in a bigger city where every 2nd vehicle is an exotic but in our case it felt showy and we felt people treated us diferently. There was no doubt people felt we were trying to make a statement (of the wrong kind) and it bothered us enough to the point of letting it go. I don't know what my point is here but I guess I feel a Sebenza is a great quality product that a person can own and enjoy without anyone else really knowing, caring or judging.

So back to the original post, for me it is definitely not something I "own to make a statement, be cool or let everyone know my class". Its just a little piece of quality that I use and enjoy everyday.

 

[Ken44]

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?".

Yes, we do see this type of thread very often don't we.

IMO these thread starters know exactly what they're doing. They want a thread that will get many replies, an maybe some heated discussion. They see others do it, and know how they often turn out. Nothing short of trolling IMO. Maybe I'm wrong about some of them, but I feel most do this for this reason.

 

[sunandsteel]

Yes, we do see this type of thread very often don't we.

IMO these thread starters know exactly what they're doing. They want a thread that will get many replies, an maybe some heated discussion. They see others do it, and know how they often turn out. Nothing short of trolling IMO. Maybe I'm wrong about some of them, but I feel most do this for this reason.

They'll duck in to stir the pot once and than leave the kitchen.

 

[Sunby]

They'll duck in to stir the pot once and than leave the kitchen.

OP is nowhere to be seen......

 

[RetiredGuns]

OP is nowhere to be seen......

Take it easy on the guy. He's likely working extra hours saving for a Tenacious.

 

[DarkPatriot]

At the risk of repeating what's been said, there isn't, from a utility standpoint. Unless you need it for something specialized, most of us could get by with a SAK or Mora. We spend more for a knife that strikes a chord with us, on a personal level. For some it is the sak, or mora. For some that niche isn't filled by less than a sebenza, hinderer, mchenry williams etc. For the record I'm perfectly happy with my ZTs, spydercos and benchmades, but I wouldn't hold it against anyone who is happy at a tier above or below that level either

 

[ToddM]

I wonder what the price range might be where the gain in quality levels off. I guess it depends on each individual person and their wallet size.

If you're talking about pure cutting ability, I'd put that somewhere in the $60-80 range. You can get a few different S30V knives well under $100 (leek, vantage pro, Mantis 2, Native, etc.) Once you get to a premium steel, and reasonable build quality cutting performance is not going to vary that much even if you spend a ton more money. Now ergonomics, aesthetics, and user desires are what can up the price in a hurry

You could probably even go cheaper I'm sure there's some $40-60 knives that even those twice the price don't cut twice as well.

 

[Bill1170]

Take it easy on the guy. He's likely working extra hours saving for a Tenacious.

Funny! (but not as funny as the knit shorts, sorry.)

 

[stabman]

I just keep getting knives.
Expensive, inexpensive, big, small, locking, non-locking, folders and fixed, straight and curved (forwards or backwards)...There's just so much variety out there, and I want to sample a whole bunch of it.

 

[sunandsteel]

I just keep getting knives.
Expensive, inexpensive, big, small, locking, non-locking, folders and fixed, straight and curved (forwards or backwards)...There's just so much variety out there, and I want to sample a whole bunch of it.

I wouldn't be surprised if you told me you work 3 jobs to support knife buying