Where is you buying comfort zone??

I have a hard time taking a folder much over $60 seriously. "Hard use pocket knife" just doesn't compute.

Because I can make fixed blade knives, the same principle applies. I bought a Schrade hollow handle knife and a Becker BK14 recently because both would be too much of a pain to make, and were $55 and $35 respectively. Since I don't like engraving and that sort of fancy stuff, there aren't many fixed blade knife styles I do like that I couldn't make myself for $20-$60.
 
For me, it's not so much about price, but about makers I feel make a dependable knife that will serve well for its intended use.
 
I can do 25 no sweat. When it's 100, then I really need to like the knife. When its 200, its something I WANT. When its 400, then its something that I believe is exceptional in the world of knives, that I want, and will retain at least 50% of its value after being used. I can't seem to go over $500. Almost did it for a Sawby. The time will come...
 
It depends on the perceived value. I have folders in the range of $300 - $400. I might consider a Hinderer. But I can't see paying $100 for a slip joint. Anything below $100 and if I have a use for it, I'll buy it.
 
If a knife is under $200, the price generally isn't an issue for me (unless I'm on a knife buying spree that month). Finding a knife that interests me enough to carry and use is a much bigger concern. Over $200, and I expect premium materials (CF, Ti, M390, etc) and virtually flawless F&F, but I won't bat an eye as long as the design interests me and it meets those criteria. Around $250-300 is where my "comfort zone" is - I have only ever ventured above that point for CRKs, though I expect that will be changing in the near-ish future.
 
Like Ajack- I feel more comfortable spending more on a knife from one maker than less from another- so it's more about who than how much.

My advice to anyone overly concerned with price- the best thing to do is buy second hand so that your resale value isn't a drastic drop... At that point, price doesn't matter as much if you're only losing a few bucks towards "renting" it.

That said, if you really like the knife- you have to be comfortable with keeping the knife at whatever price point... so if you cant justify spending $200 and that money needs to be used for food, rent, etc- stick to what fits into your priorities. There's plenty of bargains to be had at any price point.

edit: sorry if that sounded preachy
 
On the low end, I am comfortable with a budget knife starting at about 30 bucks, and start being a little critical of a folder at about fifty or sixty dollars. I really seem to have a hard time forking out Washingtons for something in the $120 range. It took me months to bite the bullet on my Benchmade 162. I hope it is worth the money. We will see when it gets here.

I have been on a Vic Soldier kick recently. Bought five within the last 30 days. It is amazing what the asking price is nowdays.
 
$125 is the highest I've gone for a folder. I'd consider $150, but will probably only allocate one at that level and am in no rush. I think the $70-$125 bracket is the sweet spot for 'nice' folders for me.

Folders have many more parts than fixed blades, and require a lot more precision. I'd pay more for a good factory folder than a fixed blade of similar size. There are few folders in the $40-$60 range that I'd consider, and I already have enough.
 
About $400-$500 for a knife with top notch materials, design, finish, etc.

But I also really like cheap knives with good design and solid materials like Opinels and Moras.
 
Under $50, meh, candy.
$50~$100, I consider usage and materials.
$100~$150, it must have premium materials and workmanship.
Over $150, fugettaboutit.

Indeed, I've only ever bought 2 over $100 and those eventually went as gifts.
 
Around $75 - $150 is my comfort zone. Above that, I have to really like/love almost everything about the knife. Not comfortable with anything over $250 right now.
 
It all depends on my reason for buying a particular knife. If I'm buying for the "nifty factor" and really like the design, I weigh that against factors like materials, country/factory of origin and scarcity; anything over $75 or so needs to have something special going for it, with around $200 being the upper limit. For instance, seeing a ZT 0801 for the first time was love at first sight, and although I paid close to MSRP (gun show, pre-MAP enforcement) I have no regrets. It is, in my eyes, a textbook example of a beautiful design, sort of a "time capsule" piece for me. Same with the Benchmade 760 LFTi, Kershaw Groove and a handful of others.

On the other hand, most of my EDC folders are well under $50, and a couple of particular favorites were around $25, although a couple were over $100. Regardless of price, if it's in the rotation, I trust it to perform typical daily tasks. Same with most of my outdoor-oriented fixed blades. I have spent around my $200 limit on a couple of them as well, but would just as likely use one that cost half that or less for the same purpose.
 
There is really not a production or mid-tech knife on the market that I would pay asking price for.
5 years ago my answer would be totally different as I would not bat an eye to a $200 or $250 folder.
Now, I have seen several custom bowies and fighters I would be willing to pay $1500 to $2000 for, and considered doing it.
 
for me it keeps getting higher, i still remember the first $50 knife i bought, i kept second guessing myself like "do i really need a knife this expensive?" and then eventually i bought an $85 knife (first production Kershaw RAM i bought from gavin hawk who is the knifes designer as well as an improved titanium pocket clip he designed) I did the same thing after i bought that but eventually decided i loved the knife and it was worth every penny. and then in the past two weeks i bought two different zero tolerance knives (0770cf-M390 and 0801) the 0770cf-M390 was just over $200 and the 0801 was a little under $200 and i finally didnt second guess myself. I am very happy with my purchase.

I guess right now my limit would be $300 but of course that is likely to change once i find a knife that costs more that i really want :-)
 
Comfort is based on what the purpose you are buying the knife for. I wouldn't spend $300-400 on an edc knife, but I would spend a lot more on a custom for my collection.
I've had some people give me crap about being a collector and not edc some of my knives. I feel comfortable edcing a $100-200 knife. I do not feel comfortable carrying my RJ Martin, or $8k Fischer. I have about 20 or so customs considered grails and I feel comfortable spending thousands of them because they are collectible.
 
It really depends on the knife, but I d say anything higher than $1500 for me is the top of my limit.
 
My comfort limit is usually 80% of the regular list price. So I usually pull the trigger when I find a good sale.
 
"carried a few times, otherwise unused" and at least 10 positive feedbacks.
 
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