Why Do People Use Cheap Blades?

I don't use "cheap" knives. Inexpensive maybe but not cheaply constructed or inferior materials and designs. I like Mora's for fixed blades and Spyderco FRN's. I've never had any performance issues with such. I do own expensive knives but tend to grab the Mora or FRN Spyderco when a job needs doing.
 
Some folks will actually buy a knife, use it until it gets dull, then actually throw it away and use another example of the exact, same, model.
 
Using cheap knives is like going slumming, some kind of illicit thrill using cheap pocket knives, instead of my Sebenza.
 
I have a handful of cheap knives in case I have to go to jury duty or enter a government building that I can leave outside, and not be overwhelmed if I lose it.
 
Knife is sharp piece with a handle on it. If it'll do what it's needed for, it's good enough. For many, a three buck box cutter will serve their needs better than a $300 Sebenza. Others just need something that will ride on a key chain to open packages, cut string, strip wires, and the like. Price is no indication of usefulness.

For a couple of years, my EDC carry was a Gerber LST the NRA gave me for renewing my membership. You get no cheaper than free, and I dressed out a couple of deer with it because I had it on me. The knife you have on you is always better than the knife you don't. Carried a no-name $2 all stainless special for a bunch of years, and it did everything I needed it to do. Got slippery dressing out deer, but I had it on me, and it got the job done.

Run into my share of junk, too. The dollar Barlowes that were so common in country stores 50 years ago could be counted on to have their scales fall off in under a year, but I had the same thing happen with two Gerbers, which were high buck knives c. 1970. I paid about $25 each for those, and you can multiple by six to adjust for inflation.

I've been following this thread with interest, and, time after time, the advocates of very expensive knives have admitted they can't explain it, and fallen back on "You just have to experience it." I've been using knives well over 50 years, and they cut or they don't. They fit my hand or they don't. They take an edge and hold it or they don't. They fall apart or they don't.

Price does not seem to have a lot to do with it.
 
I think I'm on the same page as Loki. I exclusively choose lower priced knives, but always buy good brands.
 
mqqn said:
I have had an Emerson CQC7 in my "junk drawer" for 10 years after I found this tactical-looking folding knife in my young son's room and confiscated it for his own safety. It was only after I joined this forum last November that I did a quick inventory of my knives and found that this knife is one of the more valuable "high-quality" knives I have. So, for years I perceived that this was an el-cheapo folder and never gave it a second thought.
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It's been 10 years...how about giving it back to him?
 
Boy, I sat here and read this post this morning,and quite honestly found it at times insulting. But I'm over that! I have 3 knives in my collection I've been using for some time. I paid $10.50 for all 3. My Boker folder takes and holds a very fine edge. It has done everything for me that I expect a pocket knife to ($5.00). My Mercator (not a K55,smaller version)snaps open into one of the most solid knives I've handled. Great carbon blade(i like carbon blades) and it also takes a great edge ($5.00) My sheath knife (I only carry a sheath knife during elk season) is a Marbles Woodcraft. I got it at an estate sale (the old boy had been using it for a putty knife) cleaned it up, it takes a scary sharp edge, and I have an excellent knife(.50 cents). Am I uninformed about good knives. I don't think so. I use them for what they were designd for, cutting. They're not screwdrivers, or prybars, or hammers. They're good knives, I'm happy with them. I'm done!
 
I think that most people have never handled or worked with a quality knife in their life. Thier experience is that a badly balanced, uncomforable piece of junk that tears more than slices is just what all knives are like.

I also agree with previous posters who write that the issue is not cheap vs expensive, but well made for the users purpose verses poorly made. I picked up my Spyderco Tenacious for 23 bucks. That is a cheap knife, in my opinion, but a good quality tool for my purposes.
 
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CountyRat said:
I picked up my Spyderco Tenacious for 23 bucks. That is a cheap knife, in my opinion, but a good quality tool for my purposes.
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That is a steal for Tenacious. IMHO Tenacious is not cheap knife even you get it cheap. It cuts really well, is easy to sharpen and offers great value. Aslong you're happy with your knife its fine.

My friend used el-cheapo china made no-name knife which was basicly craptastic. He never carried it around. I gave him my Spyderco Byrd Robin which I sharpened... He has been carrying it ever since in his pocket. Just because its cheap doesn't mean it lack's quality but often it is so. Tenacious and most of the Byrd lines are good exceptions. CRKT Drfter has been positive surprise too for $17 but edge holding sucks. I might give my Drifter away next time, now that I have Caly 3.
 
Who am I fooling? I like about anything sharp, mounted in a handle.

If I wanna cut somethin with a cheap, lousey knife, then by durned, I'll do it.

Damn, I feel dirty:(
 
12345678910 said:
It's been 10 years...how about giving it back to him?
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Cause he's still not old enough...

Reminds me of when the county road crew was working out in front of my driveway. I went out and asked them to do me a little favor, which they did. There were 4 of them and so at lunchtime I put four fresh banana muffins (with nuts in them) on a paper plate and took them out there. They all thanked me and then a big ol' discussion flared up about who was allergic to nuts. Seems that none of them wanted to admit they were allergic to nuts, but each of them wanted their buddies to be. Funny as h*ll!

I think the bottom line is, if you're a knifenut, you know what you like. If you're not, you have no idea what's available, so you just use what's handy. Certainly not the only aspect of life where choices are limited by knowledge.

Parker
 
I use what many people would likely consider cheap - a RAT 1 folder. I got it for $35, and I like it because it's comforable, takes a good edge and does a good job holding it, and can be used hard (chopping through tough roots under the soil, breaking down dozens of boxes, etc) and needs just a bit of hot water and a stropping to get back in it's prime. I also wont cry too hard if I lose/break it.
 
I always carry cheap paring knife in my garage toolbox and work toolbag.

These get used for nasty jobs I do not want to use my good knives for.

If you saw some of the disgusting , maggoty gunk we have to scrape or remove sometimes you wouldnt want to use your quality knife on it either and has been stated many times , if it breaks or chips etc ya just junk it and start anew.



Tostig
 
sircantaloupe said:
I use what many people would likely consider cheap - a RAT 1 folder. I got it for $35, and I like it because it's comforable, takes a good edge and does a good job holding it, and can be used hard (chopping through tough roots under the soil, breaking down dozens of boxes, etc) and needs just a bit of hot water and a stropping to get back in it's prime. I also wont cry too hard if I lose/break it.
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The RAT-1 is a very cheap knife - I paid $26 for mine and have seen them listed at $25.

BUT:
The RAT-1 doesn't seem to be cheaply made - 4 way clip, true ambidextrous design with thumb studs both sides, reasonable stainless steel, solid lockup (no side-side play, no up-down play), nice feel to the scales, good sized blade, good blade shape with plenty of belly, full flat grind, strong & solid feel, full steel liners.
Also I definitely don't think that the RAT-1 is poorly made - it looks & feels like it has been accurately machined and put together with skill.

The AUS8 is actually a pretty good choice of steel IMO. It sharpens up to a VERY nice level of sharpness, with some stropping I've got mine to where it doesn't feel sharp if I slide it along my skin - but the hairs jump right off!

If I had any criticism of this knife it would be . . . actually I really can't think of anything. It is dearer than an Opinel - but it is a one handed opening folder with liner lock, so it is a different category of knife. Does anyone know of a similar knife in terms of style & size that can beat this in value for money? Are there any <$30 knives as good as this one?

I would not be afraid to carry it every day and use it as hard as I would any other folder. Partly because it doesn't feel like it would fail even with hard use and partly because I could buy another one without too much pain in the wallet. I think there are few other folders that could compete well on both those terms.
 
Apparently most people thought I was just talking about price( if it works for you great, I'm talking quality).
Anyway my buddys now converted:D. He wants to save and get a benchmade.
We now have a new bladesforum watcher.
 
Monocrom said:
Some folks will actually buy a knife, use it until it gets dull, then actually throw it away and use another example of the exact, same, model.
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You could do that with CCN's knives. Buy at 100@ $1.00 each. If they each lasted a week, you'd have enough for two years. For a month, about 9 years!

The Russians have a saying: "Quantity has a quality all it's own."

Not saying that I would do this, because I prefer quality-made things. But for someone in the construction trade, who either loses or gets knives stolen, it would make sense, as long as they didn't mind carrying a knife from Frost Cutlery.
 
I've always kept around a couple of 'cheap' folders to show people. Now price wise I'm referring to the 100 knives for $19.95 variety that people sell out at the fleamarkets. I like to show them with a 'cheap' CRKT or other name brand. It gives people a better understanding of what quality control is about.

The two knives in question are both busted. One has a blade that snapped in half (not from prying), the other has a slide on it that does nothing. Oh, it locked the blade the first 3 or 4 times it was cycled. That usually hammers it home for people.

It isn't about having the latest and greatest steel, or approved for arm-chair commando tactical maneuvers. It is about basic safety, and there are just some flat out dangerous knives out on the market. I personally steer people away from any knife made in one particular country, but that is just me.

There are cheap knives and then there is expensive junk, avoid the junk. Help those that don't know better understand the difference.
 
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