What's your comfort zone ?

$15. Yes, I'm serious. If SanRenMu and Enlan can sell good knives with 8Cr13MoV steel at $10 that have better FnF than $30 Kershaws and Bucks, I see no reason to go significantly beyond that.

Furthest I'm willing to stretch is $35.
 
After going the custom's route and not being able to justify carrying expensive knives and selling most of them I've settled on high end productions in the range of 175.00 - 300.00.
 
Hi. I am “comfortable” within the 250 EUR price level. I have stretched this limit a few times but somehow reluctantly :). Fair to say my knives are all tools and get used (though not abused or misused), so I am really not “collecting” them, the same way someone collects stamps or coins :). For me, there is always the risk to lose them e.g. during an hike, or to damage them during use and, when surpassing the 250 EUR price level, I’d start to feel bad if this would happen.

Also my favorite dimension of quality is the “fit to use” and, according to my limited experience, over this price level, what here is called the “law of diminishing return” starts to kick in heavily. A production folder in the 250 EUR price level has materials, engineering solutions, manufacturing tolerances, etc. comparable to more expensive ones, at least as far as I am concern and according to my actual ability to really appreciate the differences (if any), when the tool is in use. My type of use is what can be called "light utility" :).

As far as fixed blades, this is even more true, being them “simpler” tools, compared to folders and they normally see an “heavier” type of use, at least in my case.
 
I would say my comfort zone is whatever I can realistically afford at the time without sacrificing bills, meals, or savings. I don't have kids, so my "play money" is mine do to as I wish. It's never much, but I don't ever dig into my "essentials" funds or savings monies.

That said, the most I've spent on a folder was in the $500 range. Over time, I found that I prefer less expensive folders because I, like others above, use the knives I purchase. I've sold off nearly all the "safe queens" (folding and fixed) for knives I will actually use in rotation, and only have a few left to go. For that, I would say I have learned I'm comfortable in the $150-350 range, depending on the knife/maker and it's materials and FF.

Fixed, for me is all relative. What you're getting, where it's coming from, what materials it's made with. Less than the money I've spent on folding knives, I think the most I've spent on a fixed is the $375 range. The knife I carry on my EDC bag was $200, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it (and enjoy every opportunity I get to do so [emoji4]). I think I'm pretty comfortable at that price point ($200 range) for fixed blades. I do have another I use regularly, almost every day, that was in the $350+ category, but that was just an unexpected, and very pleasant, surprise. It is also a custom, as I can't see myself spending that much on a production fixed blade.
 
Wolverine666 said:
What's your price point comfort zone ? In other words , what is the amount that you feel comfortable spending on a knife before you start to feel like maybe it's too much money and the guilt factor sets in ?
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Depends entirely on the knife. For some it's $20, for others it's $100, etc. Totally depends on the knife.
 
$10-50 for my most common, monthly purchases (10-20 times a year)
$50-80 for my users (folders and fixed), and most of my EDCs (5-8 times a year)
$80-120 for special knives (Sprint runs, my favorite folders and Limited Editions)(2-4 times a year)
$120-250 on very rare occasions, for very unique, discontinued o limited knives (1 or less times a year)

Never spent more than $250 and that's my limit since day 1, be it fixed or folder.
Maybe it will change sometime in the future, but for now that's the top.
 
Depends, if I'm not getting what I really want, even few bucks are too much. Otherwise I will go nuts... (1700 for my last fixed custom, plus a 500 piggyback on it, with sheats).
I'm gonna beat the s*** out of them, can't buy blades and let them lay somewhere in the house.

When you spend that kind of money on knifes you like that much, you get the wierd feeling..... "wtf did I just do??" mixed with "Ohhh fck yeah, I'm Thor with a blade!!"
 
Q: What is your comfort zone?
A: The price at which I’m not afraid to use the knife, abuse the knife, or lose the knife. (Practically speaking, that's about $100 or less; mostly in the $30.00 ~ $70.00 range.)
 
1300, 2200, 1750... All got EDC/(ab)used.

 
I don't have many folders at all -- 5 in total. Price was between 400 and 500. I, too have had some issues. Not dealbreakers, but I certainly empathize with the frustration. Fussing with detents, lockbar tension, laughably obtuse and dull edges and smoothness of opening seem to be the main difficulties I've had.

Since adjusting them I have not had one problem, but for 400 plus bucks, these things should be ironed out before the knife reaches the customer. I chalk it up to the "hazards" of being a knife knut:D
 
You are in a wonderful league of (mostly) all your own CHARLIE MIKE :thumbup: :thumbup: :D

Cheers, Ray
 
These days once it gets close to $100 I'm thinking long and hard about it. At one point my limit was creeping higher, maybe $250-$300, but over time I admitted to myself that most of my beaters got the job done just fine and they were the ones I actually used. At that point it became hard to justify spending so much more. I know some folks like to own the quality and precision of high end knives, and I get that, but for me it's not important anymore.
 
These days, the only folders I buy are GEC and Northwoods. Those are between 70-200. I've got 2 more Darrel Ralph customs on order though. One was paid for over a year ago and I should have it soon but it will likely be sold immediately because my tastes have changed. Hopefully I can recoup most of the 1500 I have into it. The most I've paid for a fixed was almost 1200 for a Brend which I sold on The Bay after I "outgrew" it for 1500... After fees, I pretty much broke even. As far as fixed blades go, customs only for me, a realistic price range of 400-800.
 
For something I intend to use...$400ish max, but typically less than $200
As a collectible I've peaked at about $1000
 
I approach it from the idea that $150 buys you a whole lot of knife. I have had some truly outstanding buys at or near this price point and any knife really needs to justify the extra $$$ if it is over that. The discomfort from price really comes from getting a knife that isn't worth the money.

Mark
 
The last three knives I bought were all used and in great shape. Two of them still had their original factory edge! I saved a bundle because the going street price for all of them combined was about $400.00 new. I picked them up for two thirds of that. Buying used is a great way to stay in your comfort zone.
 
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