What's your comfort zone ?

I'll drop 150-200 with out thinking too much beyond the I want it stage, any more than that it has to be special, on my must have list, or be a one off and even then I'll have to think really hard and maybe even plan out some finances to make the purchase. Most I've ever spent has been $550+tax.
 
About $1K is where I generally try to top out. Beyond that I also get slugged with additional import duties etc if coming in from overseas.
 
I have no idea. The most I spent for a blade was $325 for a Spydie Nirvana, NIB, shipped. I felt no guilt over that; no buyer's remorse, no second guessing myself. I like the knife, felt that it was at a price where I would get good value, so I just bought it.

I've looked at various knives ranging up through some of the custom $7500 stuff. At this point in time, there's nothing I've seen that speaks to my soul. There are a lot of pretty knives; there are a lot of ornately decorated knives. There are a lot of knives with exotic materials.

But none of them speaks to my soul.

On the other end, I've looked at the ZT stuff, the Hinderer customs, and again: my soul might as well be deaf.

Yet I see the all black Southard from Spydie, and my soul's ears perk up. I would feel absolutely terrible if I purchased a knife for over $100 that didn't speak to my soul.
 
$100 or less is my comfort zone. All of my knives have been in that zone, except one. My Southern Grind Spider Monkey cost a crazy (to me) $220, but since I EDC it whenever I'm off work I've justified it to myself.
 
About $150 is the point where I start seriously debating before buying. My logic is that you can get a Spyderco PM2 or a Fallkniven F1 for less, so I need to consider if I would be getting something "better" for the extra money.

That's one of the reasons I lost interest in one of the more rabidly fanaticized brands.
 
Totally depends on other life factors.
Did I plan on buying it?
Can I ACTUALLY afford it?
If either of those are "yes", no guilt.
Impulse buys stay under $100
 
Max at $250 for me. I carry every knife in my collection, so I have to A) not be too heartbroken if I lose it, and B) not feel like I'm ruining it if it's used regularly.
 
I buy what I like, but stopped buying knives $200 or below, sold all of them just kept 4 ZT's, as for the rest I buy something when it grabs my attention, or if I buy a brand that I have already its because I have a thing for them i.e Hinderers
 
Just about a year later and $500 is still the cap of my comfort zone. But that's more of a guideline for me rather than a rule. I remember looking at some Praetorians then that were more expensive yet caught my eye for @ $700-$800. But after handling one in person , nothing about them appeals to me now. Hate the hugeness , hate the ridiculous price for what you get. Not to jump all over Medford. Just discussing my change of mind.

But if I came across a knife I really liked and it checked off every box in the "like" category then I'd probably buy it if it were within reason. I see some sweet custom folders for @ $1500+ but to me that's just insanity. But everyone's different.
 
I like to stay around 500.00

My most expensive blade cost me 1200.00 and I don't think I'll ever feel the need to do that again.

I have a taste for made to spec stuff. Need to get into making my own things this year.

My collection is quite small however.
 
My comfort zone has not changed since last January ($150 generally and $250 after serious consideration). I enjoy impulse buys a lot. I exceeded my comfort zone significantly last March at a knife show with a TA Davison slip joint (and a number of others that ranged from about $80 to $150 on the same day). That resulted in my not attending Blade in Atlanta in June. I don't regret buying that knife. Missed spending a day at Blade, but there is always 2018. It has made me ponder the hobby and where I'm going with it.
 
A Hinderer or CR would be awesome, but I have a self imposed $200 max early into my knife collecting life.

Beyond the aforementioned Hinderer or CR, I don’t see going much higher being in my future. I use all of my knives, no interest in staring at one, flipping it a few times and then putting it away.
 
I think about $150-$200 is my max.
I pretty much only buy USA made knives now, and spend more to get more performance. But just as important as price is the ease of replacement. For example, I two zts, both of which were bought on sale for over $100 off the going street price a 0220 and a 0804 cf. These are my most valuable knives by a good bit. The 0220 is about 230 street new and the 0804cf WAS about $250 street. But since the 0804cf is discontinued and not covered by warranty, I am terrified to use it. That in junction with a black coated blade and handle makes it very risky. The 0220 on the other hand I have been using like crazy, if it gets broke, I can send it back, if the handle gets scratch up, I can refinish it myself. I think I would be willing to go past my limit for something like a hinderer or a sebenza, that I know I can either send in for spa treatment or buy replacement parts from the manufacturer. But I always try to find knives on sale like I did with my both my zts, and if I ever to crack down and buy a hinderer or sebenza I will find a beat up one used.
 
Used to feel $100-200 was a good amount to pay . Most Spyderco's & benchmade's I have fall in that range . Problem is I started looking at some mid tech type stuff and then bought a few
Now $400 - 600 is not so bad a price to pay for some real nice knives (Olamic , Koenig etc)

I do appreciate the value in a ZT 0450 and want to try some CKF things

Timely revival as I just asked myself the same question and stopped myself from ordering a Shirogorov! Maybe another time. Then there is always a Thorburn that cries out "buy me"
 
Im new to the knives. I am only buying things from $25-$60. I think most of mine are around $$40-60 except Ontario Rat folders.

I actually like knives not to have it or use it, but mess with it with dremels, sharpeners, files, etc... i have ruined a couple, made some better
 
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