Who uses their 'high-end', expensive knives?

The only sub 100$ knife I have left would still have been over 100$ without the discount for beig a member of the site that had them made (bayou shooter spyderco endura). So you can say all mine are 100$+. A large sebby, 3 microtechs, couple benchmades and they all get used.

Very rarely, usually when I'm dressed up, I carry a Camillus 7.25" folder. It rarely sees use behind maybe cutting a steak.
 
I was carrying my Bradley Alias earlier today but I used my ZT 560 to open a large shipping box that came last night. Don t know why I baby some expensive knives more than others. The Alias is now back in its case and the 560 is clipped to my waistband. Maybe availability has something to do with it.
 
I tried collecting non-users once. It did not last long. If I do not use them, they depress me. I see MY unused knives as a waste of money, many others do not see it this way though.
 
The most expensive knife I own is a Ritter Mini-Grip w/ Wilkins scales. It cost... well... a lot (at least for me). It gets carried and used all the same as the other much less expensive in my EDC rotation (Leek, Skyline, Delica).
 
use 'em all man, :p
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I just buy and carry the knives that appeal to me and will use whatever I'm carrying when the need arises. Doesn't matter what I paid for it... :)
 
Not only do I use my expensive knives, I beat them mercilessly. I routinely use my more expensive customs to chop through trees, limbs, baton and just generally beat on. Some of the damage they have sustained has been tough for me to deal with initially but then I remember that I don't buy them to sit around, I buy them to use. I actually have the HTM forum knife ordered at $360 and when it comes in it will be my daily carry pocketknife as well. There is no reason to pay for super steels if you arent going to use them after all.
 
The most expensive knife I have is a Sage 2. I like knives in the $100 range so I have a few, and they all get rotated. Today it's my gayle bradley. I try to use all my knives.
 
The way I look at it, you're gonna die some day, so why not use your best stuff, enjoy doing so, and get your moneys worth because you can't take them with you. Imagine a guy who buys a Ferrari and keeps it in his garage. He polishes it every week but never drives it. Then one day he dies, without ever knowing how good of a ride it was.

My knives aren't sacred idols to be protected, locked away, and worshiped, they were made as cutting tools and that's exactly what I use them for.

When I die, I don't want people to look at my knives and say "Wow, those look like new. I'll bet he never even used them". No way, I want people to look at them and say "Damn, he really used the hell out of those".

But don't get me wrong, I don't look down on or judge collectors or "knife worshipers". Different strokes.
 
I really don't own any HIGH-END knives, but if I did, they would get used for EDC just like all the ones that I have now. I will NEVER own a safe queen, If I ever got a knife that I was afraid to use I'd have to pass it along.
 
I won't own a knife I'm not willing to use. I do have a couple that haven't been used yet, but they are "pre-need replacements" for ones I really love or are eventually destined for the Exchange.
 
My philosophy may be changing as I used to adhere to the buy it/use it school of thought. I even shocked several friends when I had an original and pristine Bo Randall blade bead blasted before a deployment a few decades ago (just to damn reflective I was thinking). That being said, I recently purchased some rare Ti Kershaw pieces and I don't see myself doing anything with them other than admiring them and thinking about the day I'll pass them on to my sons.
 
DrOpPoInT1110 said:
I have a couple knives passed down from family memebers that I don't use due to sentimental value but other than that, just about every other knife I've owned has been used at some point or another-most extensively. My most expensive knife which is my XM-18 3.5 is my daily carry knife and on-duty knife. Plenty of marks/scratches on the ti/blade to vouch for it. :D (they don't show much in pics though)
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recognize those pants....... im on a 24 hour shift tomorrow hahaha. i think i should be on the medic all day
 
imbryan715 said:
recognize those pants....... im on a 24 hour shift tomorrow hahaha. i think i should be on the medic all day
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Those pants make carrying all my gear so much easier as I'm sure you can relate. Good luck with that shift...24 hrs is rough. I have a 12 hr tomorrow so I get off easy I guess haha.
 
I think the $100 in the original question is set too low. I think a lot of people here buy Benchmades and Spydercos that cost more than than, even some ZT's, and carry and use them. When you go above $150 or $200 I think this might change. Beyond $200 are the CRK's, Kinderer's and Striders. I think some people buy these and baby them while other people carry and use them just like some people would carry an Ontario Rat 1.

I don't have any folders above $200 but quite a few over $100. I carry all of my folders and use them, but my typical use isn't very hard use.

I got interested in Paramilitaries after reading the good comments on them here, and finally decided to buy a very expensive one because of its better steel. I thought I might have second thoughts about carrying and using it but I decided that even though it was the most expensive folder I had ever bought I was going to carry and use it. When the package came in I immediately put it in my pocket so I wouldn't change my mind later.

Strangely enough I find that I have no interest in owning folding knives that are for looks and won't be carried, but I have a big collection of custom fixed blade knives that I bought with no intention of ever using.

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bdmicarta said:
Strangely enough I find that I have no interest in owning folding knives that are for looks and won't be carried, but I have a big collection of custom fixed blade knives that I bought with no intention of ever using.
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That's not surprising. You can do things with the handle of a fixed knife that you can only dream of with a folder. My Randalls with their curved stag handles are just one example.
 
I've just gotten back into "collecting" knives, but I've always maintained the belief that the more something costs the better it should preform. Currently I have 2 knives in my carry, both are customs I purchased from makers here on the forum. One got a workout the other day opening boxes, the other I just received yesterday and spent today with it... that said my usage isn't as heavy as everyone elses here... I open boxes, cut meat and occasionally cut holes in drywall. If any of my knives cannot do those basic functions I wasted my money.
 
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