Why do we spend SO much money for knives?

People spend thousands and thousands customizing their cars, when a Yugo would (hypothetically) still get you from Point A to B. It's all about hobbies and personal passions. It doesn't have to make sense...it just has to feel good...:thumbup:
 
For most people it's either a hobby and or they like nice things.

Different people have different budgets and or needs/wants.

The same goes with just about everything people tend to buy so there really isn't any need to justify it or even explain it really.

As far as pricing goes the price will go up as the quality/tolerance levels, cost of materials, manufacturing and overhead changes.

Nothing is free and people don't work for free either so that will be a factor.

The bottom line is we get what we pay for.
 
Ankerson said:
For most people it's either a hobby and or they like nice things.

Different people have different budgets and or needs/wants.

The same goes with just about everything people tend to buy so there really isn't any need to justify it or even explain it really.

As far as pricing goes the price will go up as the quality/tolerance levels, cost of materials, manufacturing and overhead changes.

Nothing is free and people don't work for free either so that will be a factor.

The bottom line is we get what we pay for.
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couldn't said it better myself. Wise words of Ankerson.
 
David Lowry said:
Dude seriously? Please don't kill yourself.
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Let me do it. I'm a trained professional.

Anywho,

I collect a lot of things. I have more hobbies than I can possibly handle. Knives, guns, guitars, shoes, hand painted lead revolutionary war soldiers to name a few. Its my money, I spend it on what I want. Did I need to pick up a pair of Air Jordan I Retro 94's yesterday? No. But I like them. And if I can afford it, I buy what I like.
 
RevDevil said:
I've started hearing that about watches as well. I notice that the majority of Firefighter/EMT, LEO, Military, Hunters and most folks I know that are 25 and over wear watches. The majority o these people aren't always plugged in as it were. I guess it was a bad example for this scenario in a way. But a watch seems to symbolize "punctuality, dedication, and accountability" in a person. I've heard this in many people that i work with in both jobs (specifically from hiring managers, directors and executives. Who knows though.

Hobbies require disposable income. You just don't see a whole lot of people that are dealing with crushing debt and extremely limited income talking about hobbies. Unless those hobbies entail something other than being a collector/accumulator of items.
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For Firefighter/EMT and medical in general it is a requirement to have a watch to take vitals and after awhile it just becomes habit having a watch on you. I know I've gotten used to it after my medical training.

For law enforcement, I can't comment on actual LEO's but for the students training for that I don't see watches on them typically when compared to Firefighter/Medical students but it's definitely more than the general population. Seems now days people use cell phones for everything and lack more social skills than in the past but that is another story.
 
It's like any other activity/hobby people get into, you dig knives and enjoy collecting and using them. Nothing complex about it.
 
Knives are tools.Some people buy $20 socket sets. Others pay $20 for a quality socket.
 
skyhorse said:
Knives are tools.Some people buy $20 socket sets. Others pay $20 for a quality socket.
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+1 , I think it goes way back to when we invented the first 'tool' , intent is the best excuse to get the best :) , personally i would love to make my own knife one day ...
 
A knife is a very personal item/tool, being so we tend to spend more money on personal items.
 
wolf-man-12 said:
Ulf Krogstad ~~ do what you have to do as we all have a choice in life ~~ go through the pain or end the pain yourself ~~
your da man and you got to do what you want to do and not what the others think you ought to do.!** We only go around once in this life and h$ll nobody is going to remember you or me 200 years from now ~~ ya know.!!
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What. The. Hell.
 
First, to the OP. You get what you pay for. And you buy what you like . End it there. Example. A co-worker has the following. Does the Buck Bantam from wally world cut ok, for a guy that does not know how to sharpen a knife. Sure. Does My Large Sebenza with a light saber edge do better. Darn straight. Looks better too without a wiggly blade.

That would be horrible!
I noticed that Hollister had a storage closet of Charmin when my wife was getting some of those nice tight yoga pants. If only I had a purse, or my diaper dude diaper bag.!;)

G. Scott H. said:
I feel chafed just thinking about it. :grumpy::D
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Ulf Krogstad said:
I just found out I have intestinal cancer. I'm probably gonna kill myself sometime next week. I don't care, you get what you pay for usually. I like my $22 utilitac II.
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Erm... Houston, Texas, http://www.mdanderson.org/. Some of the best cancer treatment in the USA and Houston has one of the best economies right now. Consider a move over ending the line. The same line can't be started again.
 
He just doesn't get knives. They, when executed properly, are little pieces of engineering excellence. It goes way beyond just being able to cut something.
 
Its hard for me to answer this question. There are so many facets to cost in relation to what you actually get per dollar. Why would I buy a $200 knife? because its usually a step above anything in the sub $100 why would I buy a $400 knife? because its usually a design I really really like and nothing within my comfort zone price wise will calm that itch. Why have I bought $500 and up knives? On rare occasions its because it is truly something special and simply holding it makes me feel special. Other times It is plain curiosity and I simply know I can get back what i have into it. Unfortunately though more and more these days I cant justify the price of many knives being offered. I have collected knives for the majority of my life and I truly feel I can tell a quality knife when I hold it and use it. And many have been letting me down these day in both fit and finish and service. I simply feel WAY too many products from certain makers/companies are unrealistic when they price their products for the quality level they are producing.
 
Airsoftgun99 said:
there's something much more...
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I have bloviated on this subject several times, but here's the correct answer: we buy these toys to distract ourselves from subconscious turmoil - and most of us never realize that's whats going on. We humanoids (I can't speak for you other guys) have a cauldron of boiling, churning subconscious emotions that are running 24/7 in the background of our lives, and we are never aware of it. That's why we call it subconscious. Though we are unaware of this train wreck between our ears, it affects our conscious mind and physiology. This train wreck is a melting pot consisting of all of the bad stuff in our lives from the day we are born up to the present time.

The worse the train wreck, the more we are compelled to do something about it. And what do we do? We anesthetize and distract ourselves. We do this with booze, porn, drugs, golf, Facebook, self-mutilation, bulimia, bar fights, and on and on. Anything that directs our conscious mind away from the subconscious turmoil. That's why the treatment for severe drug addition, for example, is to first address the subconscious turmoil that caused the addition in the first place.

Some people even distract themselves by buying knives. More and more knives. "Better" and "better" knives. $100 for a knife. $400 for a knife. We talk about blade steel and close tolerances and titanium and lanyards. But this is just the cover story. We buy these knives to make ourselves feel good. At least for a little while. When the turmoil starts to bubble up to the surface, we go buy a Sage 2 or CRK or whatever. Its our analog to another hit off the pipe or another bottle of booze. Its anesthesia. What else can really explain why otherwise "normal" guys end up with dozens and dozens and dozens of knives, when just one knife would cut everything they need cutting? Or even just one or a few knives that cost more than $50.

This isn't about pride of ownership or laminated steel or ball bearing pivots. And its not about cutting stuff, because a $35 Buck 110 cuts stuff just as good as a $700 CRK with damascus and inlays. Its not about cutting stuff. Its all about feeling better.


I can stop buying knives any time I want to. Really.
 
powernoodle said:
I have bloviated on this subject several times, but here's the correct answer: we buy these toys to distract ourselves from subconscious turmoil - and most of us never realize that's whats going on. We humanoids (I can't speak for you other guys) have a cauldron of boiling, churning subconscious emotions that are running 24/7 in the background of our lives, and we are never aware of it. That's why we call it subconscious. Though we are unaware of this train wreck between our ears, it affects our conscious mind and physiology. This train wreck is a melting pot consisting of all of the bad stuff in our lives from the day we are born up to the present time.

The worse the train wreck, the more we are compelled to do something about it. And what do we do? We anesthetize and distract ourselves. We do this with booze, porn, drugs, golf, Facebook, self-mutilation, bulimia, bar fights, and on and on. Anything that directs our conscious mind away from the subconscious turmoil. That's why the treatment for severe drug addition, for example, is to first address the subconscious turmoil that caused the addition in the first place.

Some people even distract themselves by buying knives. More and more knives. "Better" and "better" knives. $100 for a knife. $400 for a knife. We talk about blade steel and close tolerances and titanium and lanyards. But this is just the cover story. We buy these knives to make ourselves feel good. At least for a little while. When the turmoil starts to bubble up to the surface, we go buy a Sage 2 or CRK or whatever. Its our analog to another hit off the pipe or another bottle of booze. Its anesthesia. What else can really explain why otherwise "normal" guys end up with dozens and dozens and dozens of knives, when just one knife would cut everything they need cutting? Or even just one or a few knives that cost more than $50.

This isn't about pride of ownership or laminated steel or ball bearing pivots. And its not about cutting stuff, because a $35 Buck 110 cuts stuff just as good as a $700 CRK with damascus and inlays. Its not about cutting stuff. Its all about feeling better.


I can stop buying knives any time I want to. Really.
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I think you make some good points. I went to the shopping mall today and as usual got aggravated. When I left and got back into the car, I reached for my knife to feel it and suddenly everything felt better.
 
And there this, as cost rise (production) price rises nearly in tandem, if you want a well made knife with good, very good to excellent quality materials. You have to pay for it as you do anything else. I have found the older I get that old adage of you get what you pay for is, an old adage for a reason. It's true.
 
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