Why buy a 600$$ knife ?

LoganLongley said:
I love knives like I'm sure everyone on this forum does. Why would I wanna buy a sebenza etc..., or a strider? So in general what makes those knives be worth that when I can by several high quality knives for the price of one of those ? I like the designs and the steels they use for those knives and I like the fit and finish. When I can also get that in a cheaper knife that won't cost my marriage. Please give me your take on this matter maybe I can be won over .
Click to expand...

There are literally hundreds of threads asking the same question, phrased just a little differently but the same nevertheless. You will get a different answer based on every person that responds. A cursory search of those threads might make this one a bit more interesting though.
1. If you need to ask permission to buy what you consider an expensive knife, then you shouldn't be contemplating such items. It may cost you much more in the long run.
2. Your perception of an expensive knife, might just be the next person's starting point.
3. Point of diminishing returns varies as much as the knives for which you are showing interest in.
4. Quality and price have no causal relationship. Just because a knife costs $1000 does always mean it will cut better or be a better knife than one that costs $200.
5. Do a search for more answers
 
For me personally, I rarely buy knives anymore. So when I do buy a knife, I don't feel guilty about it. Back in the late '90s and early 2000s, I used to buy about a knife a month, sometimes more. Now I might buy a couple a year. Sometimes no new knives for a few years. So I'm actually spending less on knives now, even though last year I bought both small and large CRK Insingos. If you only buy less-expensive knives but are buying lots of knives all the time, you'll end up spending far more per year than I did on these two CRKs that I actually EDC and use.

I still get interested in new knives, but for the past several years I give myself the "couple month rule". For me, that means I'll hold off purchasing at least a couple months, and if I still really want it, and have no other financial obligations, I may pull the trigger. Usually I find I no longer really want the knife, and thus save the money. That also greatly reduces buyer's remorse. My only exception to this rule was buying my large Insingo shortly after the small one, and I don't regret that. But resisting the urge to buy on impulse really saves a lot of money and hassle.

Edit to add:
It took me 5 years to pull the trigger on the Insingos(!).

Jim
 
Ultimately, if you want a particular nice knife, you'll have to pay the price for that knife. I did that with my Winkler camp ax.
If you're wanting a functional knife, there is little reason to venture out of the $100-300 range of knives. Most will be on par with functionality, if not better.

When you get above $200, there is a severe diminishing return and you're mostly paying for the exclusivity and the name of that particular knife. Some goes into higher end materials. Look at ZT's Hinderers and actual Hinderers. They function about the same and the ZT is a better flipper.


My personal opinion, if you could have one knife that is perfect to you in every way and something that you'll want to pass onto your kids. Money isn't important. Buy exactly what you want.
 
I am a big advocate of having a passion. You NEED to have something that grips your heart every day that you wake. Period. AND you need to pursue that passion like you first pursued your one love. It's that simple. Several have said that you only have the present, and I whole heartedly agree. None of us have a guaranteed longevity.

I have lost several friends over the past 2 years, good men who deserved more time than they received. If you are not depriving your loved ones, enjoy this gift of life, and indulge your passions.

O
 
Why buy a $600+ knife?

Because it's fun to hold $15,455 in your hand.

 
If you have the means, why buy a $30 knife?

We knife nuts have it good. Compared to other hobbies knives are not that expensive. For example, my other hobby is electric guitars.

The least expensive decent American made guitars (not used) are going to cost you $1,000.00, and that'd basically a no frills get the job done model. The least expensive, Asian made, guitars of minimum decent quality are $300.00. Then you have to factor in a good amp, and the accessories. Another several hundred to several thousand dollars.

Are there knives that cost several thousands? Sure, but for $600 your basically in the top end of the quality spectrum. For a top end guitar and amp rig, count on $5,000.00 and up.

So, putting it in perspective, $600.00 for top of the line quality isn't that bad.
 
robgmn said:
Buying the $600 knife makes no practical sense if you can get a knife for much less that is essentially the same.
When that $600 gives you better steel, better scales, better mfg quality, better warranty, etc., then it makes more sense.

Here's the rub: "practical" and "happiness" do not always coincide.

Some people will carry a $600 knife that will never cut more than a piece of fruit or open a letter.
Not practical. A $5 folder will do the same task just as effectively.
But it makes them happy.
Happiness is what it's all about, really (including sacrificing the $600 knife if it keeps the marriage intact :-)
Click to expand...

Check out Instagram if you're not already on there; legions of knife nuts with insanely high end stuff that gets carried and never actually used for knife tasks LOL. The epitome of nonsense and impracticality IMHO... It's quite hilarious.

GermanyChris said:
The flip side is:

House was my wifes = Free
Car = $14,000 had it 11 years
Phone = $150 no contract

$600 knife = expensive

(yes no mortgage or car payment = more money for knives OR more money to retire with I choose the latter)
Click to expand...

You are doing it right then to be living like that. I got sucked into "big city living" a while ago and with that comes the "need" to have a lifestyle that is incredibly costly... :( Foolish on my part and I've made decisions in the last nine years that have cost me a lot but I also have the equity of my home which just continues to go up in our area so it's not all bad.

Our monthly output for all of our household costs is staggering. If I had the money from the kids daycare alone freed up I could buy a Rockstead TEI per month; no lie. :foot:
 
Czechmate said:
Check out Instagram if you're not already on there; legions of knife nuts with insanely high end stuff that gets carried and never actually used for knife tasks LOL. The epitome of nonsense and impracticality IMHO... It's quite hilarious.
Click to expand...

Keep the context though: if it makes them happy, so be it.

There are people in the audio world (another hobby) who will spend $5,000 on a power cable for an amplifier, under the guise that it "sounds better", despite no scientific proof and no proven ability to hear a difference.

If it makes them happy, so be it. People spend large amounts of money on far more worthless things...
 
powernoodle said:
If you want a knife to cut stuff, then stick with <$120, or better yet <$70. If you like bling, or imaging yourself trapped behind enemy lines, then go with the Sebenza or Strider. Sebenzas and Striders do not cut stuff better than sub-$100 knives. I know this to be true, because I once cut an apple with a Delica and a Sebenza. I then asked the apple which knife cut better, and the apple couldn't tell the difference.
Click to expand...

And if the apple could talk, it'd most likely say "Delica". Well probably a whisper instead so not to upset the fanboys.

Paying more for a knife ($300+) thinking it's going to do the job better proportionately to the money you spent is definitely not the way to go about it. You're paying more for pretty much everything else besides how it actually cuts or holds an edge. You just have to be ok with that.
 
Compared to a drug habit or heavy drinking, the occasional $300-$600+ knife is cheap...monetarily and spiritually. (not sure how many can relate...) The funds wasted on partying in my 20's would buy one HELLUVA knife (and gun) collection! Sobriety = More money to spend on things that last and won't kill me :D ...well, unless one is used against me in a dark alley LOL! :victorious:
 
ctrsurf said:
Compared to a drug habit or heavy drinking, the occasional $300-$600+ knife is cheap...monetarily and spiritually. (not sure how many can relate...) The funds wasted on partying in my 20's would buy one HELLUVA knife (and gun) collection! Sobriety = More money to spend on things that last and won't kill me :D ...well, unless one is used against me in a dark alley LOL! :victorious:
Click to expand...

I can definitely relate. You can't snort a knife. It's gonna be there the next day.
 
robgmn said:
Keep the context though: if it makes them happy, so be it.
Click to expand...

I'm fine with anyone spending whatever they want on whatever they want. ;):thumbup:

It's the self-proclaimed knife experts on Instagram that make me chuckle; they own many knives (typically titanium framelocks) but couldn't tell you how they cut, or what steel works well over another/is easy to sharpen etc. because they have no experience actually using said tools...

It gets even worse when new knife nuts ask them for advice on what knife to buy. The "collector" is only an expert in holding and flicking open said knife and has no idea if the wacky blade geometry/grinds/steel used and heat treat is good, or if the handle/clip is going to cause hotspots after extended use.

My point is, all practicality and actual knowledge of how the knife will perform is lost; and that's what I disagree with. Many Instagram knife nuts are all about the "show" and no "go"... LOL. :foot::foot::foot:

Rant over. :foot:
 
Ocellatus said:
I am a big advocate of having a passion. You NEED to have something that grips your heart every day that you wake. Period. AND you need to pursue that passion like you first pursued your one love. It's that simple. Several have said that you only have the present, and I whole heartedly agree. None of us have a guaranteed longevity.

I have lost several friends over the past 2 years, good men who deserved more time than they received. If you are not depriving your loved ones, enjoy this gift of life, and indulge your passions.

O
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. This is what makes people real, not fake.
 
Q: Why buy a Mercedes when a Honda will get you where you're going?
A: BECAUSE I LIKE IT!

It's just that simple...
 
Wilsonhome said:
When you say "how financial they are" do you mean how financially savvy they are or what level of financial means they have? Don't mean anything by the question, just really not sure what you mean and was curious.

As to the $600 knife question, i think i have only done that a couple times, most of mine were under $500 (and the vast majority a lot under). On one of the expensive ones, i ended up not being super impressed, but was able to sell it to someone for essentially what i paid for it. On the other, i am quite happy to have spent the money.

My general opinion, for the little that it is worth, is that people shouldn't go beyond their means anything and should be fiscally responsible. That said, they should also spend their disposable income on what makes them happy.
Click to expand...

I meant it more on the savvy end when I wrote it, but it's a delicate balance--I empathize with real collectors, etc. who do spend the big bucks on knives. So it's a fine line. A sensitive one too no doubt.

Yeah, I've done that too with a few of them known around here as Superknives. Just never could get a feeling for them, kind of left me cold. I'll get rid of the few I have left in a drawer over time.

I agree. You have to live below your means. And money isn't to spend. Most people think differently though.
 
I spent $230.00 on an Ultra-tech OTF auto and I am happy with it,more so than my Lightening for $30.00 :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top