Who is the target customer?

[oldrifleman]

I own multiple custom knives (handmade, by the maker) in the 1500-2000 range. They for the most part do not live in a display or safe. They live in a rotation in my pocket. Do I abuse them, no, but I will use them to cut boxes, open mail, occasionally cut fruit/veg/cheese/sausage for a snack. I buy these because I enjoy using and carrying nice knives, the same with my firearms and fountain pens, they all get used. It's all in what you value, I have enough money to buy a few nice items or a lot of mediocre things, I chose quality (which is very subjective) over quantity.

 

[Tsujigiri]

Most custom knife collectors, myself included, find the price of custom knives much more reasonable than a 1k Medford or Hinderer

This I can understand, there's a difference between something that's hand crafted and something that's made with tightly controlled machines. The most I've spent on blades was for custom straight razors that were made entirely by hand, and a Japanese kitchen knife that was differentially hardened and hammered like a samurai sword. I can't see paying over $1000 for something that someone programed a tool path and hit the start button on, no matter how well done it is.

 

[Wolverine666]

Pretty much everyone has *something* they spend their money on. Why not knives in this range. I’ve written here before that I was into watches for years before I got into knives recently. I can tell you the idea of spending $2k on something really nice & beautiful feels almost like a bargain when all the watches you like are north of $10k.

I understand completely. I’ve been into knives for years. But just got interested in watches a few years back. The prices of the watches that interest me are well above the prices of knives that interest me. Whole different world.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I have like 9 full customs, all cost under 1K each, and 20 other knives, mainly Damascus CRK Mnandi's and some auto's, etc, all under 1K as well. This William Henry is my most expensive knife at $2250 new. Here is the description:

@williamhenry_studio B12 “Adventure” button lock folder, boasting integral frame and bolsters in hand-forged “T-Rex” Damascus by Delbert Ealy, scales of ring-cut fossilized Woolly Mammoth tusk ivory, and a blade of hand-forged “Intrepid” Damascus by Chad Nichols;

I haven't cut with it yet but I carry it every so often, and fondle and wax it frequently. Why so expensive? The materials are exotic and expensive, and fit and finish is on par with any of my customs. It makes me happy. If you want to check out my overpriced knives in one place, I'm gatorloki49 on Instagram.

 

[K.O.D.]

I enjoy perusing the knife exchange and understand that the price range offered is very broad. There are many examples of very beautiful pieces over $2K. I'd be interested in thoughts on who is the target customer and if those knives will do anything other than sit in a safe? There's clearly a market otherwise it stands to reason there wouldn't be so many offerings.

I'm the retard that carries and uses a $1200 custom. Very light use, it's a very thin Damascus blade folder, but I open mail and packages with it. For heavier use I turn to less expensive stuff.

By December I'll own 7 custom/semi custom folding knives and one fixed. One I'm expecting any day, the other in November. I fully plan to use all 7 to some extent, though one was a gift from my mother in 2016 and I won't carry it for fear of losing it.

What I will say is most knives I see over $1000 really don't interest me (yet). Mostly I feel like the designs are often very ostentatious and/or not something designed for use. Then there are those where you are paying for the name. I see $3000 customs with milled titanium handles that I see no difference between that and say something $500 other than the name of the maker.

My sweet spot is mostly between $400 and $1000. More than that you start to get into "art" knives. It's like the difference between a $1500 1911 and an $8000 one. Most that spend that money is just to have it, though like me, my doctor actually shoots his $8000 Cabot 1911. Don't get me wrong, there are many functional knives over $1000, but to me the designs and materials aren't unique enough to warrant the price.

I personally find titanium boring and cold against my leg in the winter. I own one full Ti knife, a ZT. I'm not going to spend $200 let alone $3500 on a Ti knife, no matter how cool the milling.

 

[HexY3co]

I don't shop at Target.

 

[jbib]

Knives,

I own multiple custom knives (handmade, by the maker) in the 1500-2000 range. They for the most part do not live in a display or safe. They live in a rotation in my pocket. Do I abuse them, no, but I will use them to cut boxes, open mail, occasionally cut fruit/veg/cheese/sausage for a snack. I buy these because I enjoy using and carrying nice knives, the same with my firearms and fountain pens, they all get used. It's all in what you value, I have enough money to buy a few nice items or a lot of mediocre things, I chose quality (which is very subjective) o

 

[jbib]

I own multiple custom knives (handmade, by the maker) in the 1500-2000 range. They for the most part do not live in a display or safe. They live in a rotation in my pocket. Do I abuse them, no, but I will use them to cut boxes, open mail, occasionally cut fruit/veg/cheese/sausage for a snack. I buy these because I enjoy using and carrying nice knives, the same with my firearms and fountain pens, they all get used. It's all in what you value, I have enough money to buy a few nice items or a lot of mediocre things, I chose quality (which is very subjective) over quantity.

Knives, firearms and fountain pens suggest we have the same virus. Do you collect baseball cards and first editions? If you do we ought to check Ancestry. Com to see if we are related!