Why did you buy it?

gajinoz

gajinoz

Joined
Sep 2, 2003
Messages
11,650
I was doing a bit of web surfing today and looking at various knives, basically just doing a bit of window shopping.

Anyway, the question occurred to me, why buy one of those expensive folders when you can get a perfectly adequate similar one for much less. For instance, to get a Sebenza or Stryder SnG would cost me close to $AUS700. I would certainly like to have one of these and if I had enough spare cash lying around I'd certainly order one but wouldn't I be just as well off getting a similar Spyderco for much much less than that?

If you have one of these, what made you buy it? Just because you could and you liked it or is there something about them that made you find the money somewhere because nothing else would do?

Tell me why you bought an expensive knife as opposed to a cheaper similar one. I don't mean why didn't you buy some cheap and nasty trashy thing, but why didn't you just get a Spyderco, (for instance), they seem like a pretty reasonable knife.
 
For me, its not just about users. I only draw my EDC from a pool of about 8 knives or so. The rest are purchased as collectables.

Sometimes you want the best :)
 
I think most of us are fully aware that a lesser knife can perform almost as well as most of the higher end knives. It's not all about the final use of the knife, but also about the finer details for many of us. Things like smoothness of the action, feel in the hand, etc. A quality knife feels like a quality knife. It has a solid lock up, sharp factory edge, comfortable feel (radiused spines, rounded handle edges, etc) and other qualities that add to our enjoyment of the knife. If all we cared about was if it would cut open the box that UPS just dropped off then we would be fine with any knife with some decent blade steel, but that isn't why we by high end knives. We buy them because we appreciate the quality of them and get enjoyment from using them.

Also, many high end knives will have better durability then a cheaper counterpart, so they are more of a long term investment rather then a throw away tool.

Why do people buy sports cars or luxury cars when a less expensive compact 4cyl car would work just as well to get them too the grociery store? It's all about what you want and what you appreciate. Only you can decide if a high end purchase is right for you or if your more of the utilitarian type.
 
There are some tools that are just so well thought out and executed in their production that you really want to use them.

I have some knives that are expensive because I like using great tools. Spend all day with a knife in your hand and the subtle differences really matter. Granted, these days I don't have to cut things all day long but the days that I did made me value knives that can work that hard.

I value craftsmanship. There are days when I want to acknowledge the craftsperson as well. Occasionally, this happens on days when I have some money. When it does, I often buy a knife.
 
I figure I can only carry so much on me at a time. The tools I carry have to be the best, most efficient, and most reliable they can be in order for them to be effective. Sometimes, that means I need a Surefire or nice custom like my Rinaldi Enigma. Sure, they may cost more, but when the going gets tough, I know I can rely on my gear.

That and I happen to like my expensive toys. :)
 
Just in case anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm not saying that people shouldn't spend more on good quality, in fact I would be the first person to say that you should. When I buy tools I buy the best that I can possibly afford.

I'm just curious as to why YOU might spend big bucks on a knife.
 
Because I can! And to me it's important to have a high quality knife. I've spent tons of money on lesser quality knives only to be dissapointed. Like the above mentioned post pointed out the lesser quality knives just don't seem to have the durability. You get what you pay for. I think that in the long run it's cheaper to buy better quality.
 
Ok, can you tell me which Spydercos you are referring to when you mention ones that are similar to Sebenzas and SnGs? I wouldn't mind getting ahold of one of those.

I bought a Sebenza because I liked the way it felt. It was solid, smooth and precision made. I like top quality tools.
 
someone else in this thread mentioned the car analogy.. & i agree with it 100%.

i buy some knives just cuz i get a hard-on from their sheer aesthetics; materials, durability, & smooth action are just bonuses.

you want bang for the buck? check out the boker-brend tactical folder. the action, deployment, materials, fit & finish are all superb - all for $100.00. talk about a steal..

on another subject, i do wanna get my hands on a harsey lone wolf folder. that puppy looks pretty close to perfect, and the specs on it make me droooool.
 
I bought my first sebenza some 8 or 9 years ago. I was at a gun show, already liked knives, when I examined it and opened it, I immediately knew it was WAY better than any knife I've tried before.

It was both a rational and emotional descision, I bought it. Even though it's been a long time, and I've tried the Spyrderco ATR, and the passaround Strider SNG, no knife I've tried has been so right for me. (Some have been close, )

But I know it's a very personal descision.
 
I'll go ahead and add another reason that some of us buy expensive knives. While I am of the opinion that you get what you pay for, for the most part, I also like to be able to show off, occasionally. Yes, it's juvenile to tell people how much $$$ in knives I'm wearing at the moment, just for shock value, but it also lets them know that there is a whole world of quality out there that they have no idea about. My brothers have stopped rolling their eyes at every new knife purchase I make, and have started actually appreciating the knives for what they really are.

I've even made a couple of converts by "showing off" my expensive knives at work. One guy actually just purchased a Spyderco Commemorative custom for over $250, when just a year or so ago, he owned nothing more than a $30 Buck knife. Quality speaks for itself, and I have a good ear, and like to listen. The voices in my head are always saying "You have to have XXX knife!" I have actually raised the average value of my knives to over $100, in just a few short years.

Quality is worth the price.

DD
 
Hello gajinoz.

This question comes up often.

No offense, but I think you either get it or you don't. If you would ask why someone would spend well over $300,000 for a Rolls Royce or Bentley when a $20,000 Honda will transport you just the same, you don't get it and in most cases, won't understand any answer.

Expensive things are bought sometimes simply because they are expensive; as status symbols. Sometimes (hopefully more often) they are purchased because the owner understands, appreciates and desires the quality inherent in the object in question.

I bought a BMW in small part because it is a status symbol, but mostly because of the quality. I've driven and ridden in far more expensive cars that honestly did not have nearly the same quality as my BMW. The fit and finish, quality of the paint, and the performance...oh dear lord the performance of that car... :D

Further, *knock on wood* its been dead reliable for the whole time I've had it. I've only put gas in it and had the oil changed. No other major issues. Will a less expensive car do the job of transporting me the same as the BMW? Well, no and yes. But for argument's sake, we'll say it will. But I still chose the BMW.

To answer your question, sure a $30 Spyderco will cut as well as my $400 Strider Tac GB. Will it pry? Not at all, really. Will it handle abuse? Not nearly the level the Strider will.

I bought my Strider GB because I like the looks of it, but mostly because it will never fail me. I will be able to use that knife for anything imaginable and it will still be none the worse for wear for me to pass on to a child or grandchild.

It will take abuse that precious few other knives can handle. I also love knowing that it was made by hand by a few former military men who know what they are doing. I also like knowing that there are less than 70 knives similar to mine in the world. Even then, since they are all made by hand, each one is still unique.

I will say that it is not really fair at all to compare most knives to Striders, as they are far too dissimilar. A Strider folder is meant to be a general purpose field tool, used for digging, prying, hacking, chopping, and whatever else a soldier may need to do in the field and during battle.

A spyderco, benchmade, etc. is simply made to cut. Most manufacturers in fact state that prying or other "abuse" will void the warranty. Not so with Strider.

Oh, that's another reason why I bought Strider: Their warranty. If I EVER break or damage it, my knife is repaired or replaced FREE of CHARGE and NO questions asked.

I do not believe that there is another knife manufacturer that offers a similar warranty.

Don't get me wrong: there are many excellent knives on the market, with Spyderco and BM being near the top of the list. They are just in a different class than Strider and Busse.

Did that answer your question at all?

Drjones
 
Originally posted by drjones
Hello gajinoz.

This question comes up often.

No offense, but I think you either get it or you don't. If you would ask why someone would spend well over $300,000 for a Rolls Royce or Bentley when a $20,000 Honda will transport you just the same, you don't get it and in most cases, won't understand any answer.
Click to expand...

No offense taken. As I said in my second post, or at least tried to, *I* know why *I* would spend more money on a tool, (and lets face it, knives are tools, for me anyway), than I might really need to. I appreciate quality and I have also learned that, generally, you get what you pay for. I also happen to like nice things, (which are often more expensive than cheap ones), and I will usually buy the best I can afford.


Did that answer your question at all?
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It's certainly one answer, and just as good and valid as the other answers. Actually I'm not so much interested in getting one particualr answer as such, I'm more interested in reading other people's opinions on why they might spend lots of money on any particular knife.
 
Oh.

I apologise as I misunderstood.

Well, I think I basically said why I buy expensive, high-quality things.

A few more thoughts:

Generally, higher quality (and usually more expensive) items perform better and last longer than their lower-priced, lower-quality counterparts.

That and it just plain bothers me to know that I do not have the best, be it firearm, flashlight, car, knife, etc.

It also REALLY bothers me to see cheap, poor-quality stuff, be it knife, flashlight, etc.

It's just the way I was raised.

:)
 
Originally posted by drjones
Oh.

I apologise as I misunderstood.


.......
Click to expand...

No apology necessary, I sometimes don't explain myself well.

Way back in my younger years when I was learning to use tools, of all types, one of my instructors gave me two bits of advice that have, for some reason, stayed with me all my life.

1. A bad workman always blames his tools.

2. If you believe that cheap and shoddy tools are good enough you probably also believe that cheap and shoddy work is good enough.

Seems like a reasonable philosophy to me.
 
Very good thoughts indeed!

Another you may care to add (though I'm sure you've probably heard it) is:

Buy quality and only buy once.

:)
 
Originally posted by gajinoz
Way back in my younger years when I was learning to use tools, of all types, one of my instructors gave me two bits of advice that have, for some reason, stayed with me all my life.

1. A bad workman always blames his tools.

2. If you believe that cheap and shoddy tools are good enough you probably also believe that cheap and shoddy work is good enough.

Seems like a reasonable philosophy to me.
Click to expand...
After working construction, steel fabrication, and now in a rough environment, and seeing many a cheap tool fail or get tossed, that sounds like an excellent philosophy. I've never regretted buying quality.

From Darrel Ralph (used to be on the home page of his website):
"The Bitterness Of Poor Quality Remains Long After The Sweetness Of Low Price Is Forgotten"
 
Well I dont OWN an expensive knife YET but I plan too. here's my reason. I had come home when I noticed I had forgotten my keys(Forget much too often really) so no one was home, they wont be home for many, I'm tired and hungry. I pull out my knife that my wife bought for me a CRK Urban Shark, great little knife. I go around the house go to my bedroom window try to pry off the window screen when the tip broke.. Eventually got the screen off but the break was disheartning. Anyways I don't want more repeats of that incident. By the way still have the urban shark, thinking of getting a strider whenever my finances allow it.
 
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