When Did I Become a "Low End Knife" Guy?

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I do not think it wise to spend a lot of money on a knife just to play with. I keep my budget below $100. I prefer lower than that. I have an upper limit for something like an anniversary present or something special of $150 for a knife. It is true you can get some prettier knives at $500 and up, but they are not better functionally. I like Buck and Spyderco because I get a lot of value with their products.
 
I think pricing has gotten way out of hand at the upper end of the market, and the mid-tier and lower end is flooded with imports.

It does hurt the hobby, for me. There are still a lot of good knives at good prices, out there, but I've been there, done that with most of them. I still carry and use a knife every day, but I haven't bought a new one in ages.
 
Knivesandreels said:
I'll share my story with you

A few years ago I was a normal guy working two jobs, not married with no real direction in life but I was willing to spend money on my hobbies, probably because it was all I had going for me.

After a near death experience with a being shot I got my act together and went back to school.
At that point I sold everything I had to pay for school; my truck, my knives, my fishing gear etc
I had close to $3k in knives

Anyway, I stayed knife less but it was for a purpose.

Now I have graduated, I have a wife and two kids and haven't been able to recover the collection lol
I have exactly 4 knives, three of which were gifts but I just can't see myself making big purchases anymore.

Last big expense on a knife was a 940-1 which I saved up for through the course of time
I ended up giving that knife away lol *before even using it* (it was so worth it!!!)

Point is I feel similar to you
I can't spend it because I always end up buying something for either of my two girls or wife instead
However, I do want to get a few Spyderco PM2; a 940-1, and a Bradley alias since the sebenza is pretty high up there lol

I have law school coming up so I better do it asap!
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And that is a fine Story Sir!
You are so blessed to have a new family which is much more than I can say. I have K's in my knives, many are super rarities which I would give up in a micro second to be able to buy by children something other than myself. Wow is all I can say, don't worry about your knife collection, you do have a few for now. I envy you:thumbup:
 
What a great Post!

I as well as others here can say the same. I have bought nearly any knife I have ever wanted. I am single and not by choice so my income has allowed this activity for some time now. I have spent as much as $3400.00 on a super rare knife, and $6.85 on my least expensive knife and love them all.

There are many times that I choose to buy american made knives out of patriotism so this means it will be expensive. On the other hand more recently I have fell on harder times and lost a significant amount of income. I go through spurts today, but do not buy the quantity of knives I used too. I had to sell nearly 80% of my accumulated knives to recover from my hard times. During this experience I have learned that having all these knives really doesn't mean much when they sit in a safe. I have not sold any of my vintage early 20th century knives during the same time. They are inexpensive compared to new knives today but have much more value too me.

All said it is very easy to get caught up in the frenzy of knife collecting. It is fun! no doubt about it, but it also can be expensive after one starts selling off in a fire sale.
 
No idea why, it's subconscious, but I never seem to go over $300. On the other hand I had no problem spending $3000 last summer to learn how to forge blades.
 
22-rimfire said:
Patience and financial discipline are important. I tend to like to have the 10 $60 knives more than the one $400 knife. That is a bit of an exaggeration in reality, as my $60 knives are generally $100-$150 knives which for the most part I am quite content with. My less than $50 knives tend to be just something to handle and try out more than believing it might be "the one". And yeah, I could buy a CRK if I really wanted to even if it took a little discipline prior to ordering it.
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And that's exactly the way to do it.

What I can't stand listening to is people who make the CHOICE to own 10 $60-$100 knives and complain that they can't afford (insert knife here) because it's too expensive?!

Should have made that point clearer in my OP...
 
JR88FAN said:
And that's exactly the way to do it.

What I can't stand listening to is people who make the CHOICE to own 10 $60-$100 knives and complain that they can't afford (insert knife here) because it's too expensive?!

Should have made that point clearer in my OP...
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To play Devil's advocate here, it may still be accurate and sensible to say that given that it represents considerable wealth consolidation. A person with ten $60 knives may put them through stressors that would ruin -any- knife and a $600 knife would just represent a poor investment. Also, consolidation of wealth like that is why I felt uncomfortable carrying around my CF Sebenza when I had it - it was like a gold brick I was terrified to lose.
 
As a guy who is single by choice, I rarely buy knives anymore. And if I do decide I want one, I will wait at least a month, maybe two, before pulling the trigger. Within that month, about 95% of the time I will no longer want the knife. Just waiting on it has saved me a lot of money. Plus, I have many other interests, passions, responsibilities and goals in my life, which keeps me occupied and happy. One needn't feel empty. I mention this because those who feel unfulfilled just because they don't have a wife and family could find other interests or focus until they can find that in their life (if that's what they want). It can also curb an obsessive-compulsive knife addiction. My philosophy is, "If a person can't be happy alone by him/herself, what makes them think someone else will be happy with them?"

Years ago in the past, I used to buy one or two knives a month. I found that, unless I actually carry, use and "bond with" a knife, I don't enjoy it. Accumulating more different knives wasn't worth the momentary thrill of getting another new knife.

Nowadays, my EDC rotation consists of only a few products from one or more of three companies: Victorinox, CRK, and/or Spyderco. And at this point, I'm pretty darned happy with what I have. And I use my CRKs (high end) and SAKs ("low" end) with equal enjoyment. I figure while I'm alive and own it, I might as well use it. The price has little to do with my enjoyment of the product; quality can be found at all price levels. Although I personally have never gone above a basic, plain-jane CRK model.

Jim
 
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TinyDog said:
And that is a fine Story Sir!
You are so blessed to have a new family which is much more than I can say. I have K's in my knives, many are super rarities which I would give up in a micro second to be able to buy by children something other than myself. Wow is all I can say, don't worry about your knife collection, you do have a few for now. I envy you:thumbup:
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Thank you. I actually have the two month old asleep on top of me as I read this post lol
It does feel amazing seeing my two year old's face every time I buy her something lol
I had saved up some money to buy a used Sebbie about two months ago on eBay for a steal of a price,
Well long story short, after a trip to a furniture store my daughter walked out with a Minnie Mouse table and chairs 😂😂😂
You should've seen her smile! Wouldn't trade that face for the world
I should be clear though, I have nothing against people that spend big on knives; they're fun and functional :D

Maybe I'll ask for a custom Sebbie for graduation from law school In 3 years. That would be a special gift!

For now I enjoy the knife lust! Lol
 
A few years ago I was buying a lot of decent production folders, learning what works for me and what doesn't. Now I pretty much know what I like to carry and use, so I seldom buy knives now because I have what I need in the models I like. My main folder for work is also the most expensive folder I've bought to date, just under $200. Ive been carrying it for what, three years, now, maybe four?

I did buy a Triad lock knife last year just to try it out, but it wasn't really for me, so I gifted it to a friend who adores it. It is a great knife, but not great for me the way my EDC is. None of my purchases were junk, but it takes more than just quality to want to use a knife a lot. It has to have that "fit" with one's character, one's hands, one's ideals.
 
My most expensive knife is my Pro-Tech TR-5. I do EDC it on my 2 days off and like comeuppance, terrified to lose it but hey, it's meant to carry right?
I'm also about to get an MRX chain drive soon..not exactly cheap.
My lower priced knives (under $50) I get just as much enjoyment carrying those and confident in using them daily without the thought of them just falling apart.
 
Tough as nails affordable knives have kicked the fancy ti frame locks out of my pocket. Beat the hell out of them and if I lose or break it I'll buy 2 more.
 
socalknifecollector said:
My most expensive knife is my Pro-Tech TR-5. I do EDC it on my 2 days off and like comeuppance, terrified to lose it but hey, it's meant to carry right?
I'm also about to get an MRX chain drive soon..not exactly cheap.
My lower priced knives (under $50) I get just as much enjoyment carrying those and confident in using them daily without the thought of them just falling apart.
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Well hey

Good choice :)

91mesp.jpg
 
This one :-)
Even though I can't carry it legally here in California. I travel to Arizona quite often though so I'll wear it there.
California..joke laws.

I like the 3" blade and tactical.

 
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The most expensive knife I own is a handmade Higonokami from Nighthaxan. I've never broken the $180 threshold, even though there are a couple that tempt me. My carry knives range from $15 to $80. Face it - Case makes great knives that cut exceedingly well, that disappear in the pocket, and are fun to own. GECs are really nice. My Kershaw Skyline is an exceptional cutter, too, and I think I paid all of $35 for it on the exchange? That's a USA made knife, flawless as far as I can tell, and gets sharper than anything else I've owned.
 
The most I've ever spent on a knife was $80 for a new Esee 4, and I literally waited over three years before I finally pulled the trigger on it and after selling some stuff to fund it. The most expensive knife I own is a Benchmade 5000SBK but I got it used for $70. The next most expensive is a new Benchmade Ritter Mini Grip, but that I received as a Christmas gift from my dad. To me, $80 is the most I'm really willing to spend even though I can afford higher. I feel a lot more comfortable at the $60-70 mark or below. If I can't get the knife I want for that price new, then I'll hope a used one in that price range comes up. Right now I'm hoping a used Benchmade 908 Axis Stryker comes up for that price so I'm on the hunt. If one doesn't come available then I might just ask for it for Christmas this year.


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I've bought some Buck D2 118,ATS-34 277 & 271 and Vanguard S30V knives recently but find i still enjoy the 110's with 425 or 440C but also bought some with 420HC... I can't see spending the money on higher end knives,although I certainly could... How much is enough?
I mostly bought for the grandkids anyway...
 
I don't get off spending a lot of money on knives and I'm budget minded. I do, however, like to support companies that that innovative and stand with their customers - Sypderco, for example.

The Byrd line is super affordable and usable (I edc my Cara Cara more often than my Endura). You also have their budget line (the Tenacious being a f&f steal imho) and their reasonably priced standards (Delica in my pocket as I type). That being said I'm saving for SpydieChef which is mosdef not cheap.
 
I am finding that I am becoming a low end knife guy more and more all the time. I don't stress as much if it ends up missing. Next up on my list? Maybe a Ka-Bar Dozier folder. Is that low end enough?
 
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