Why I sold most of my expensive knives (anyone else feel like this?)

DistortionSlayer said:
About a year back, I found myself doing some soul searching and realized I just couldn't justify keeping some of the knives that went through my hands. Everything ranging from cheapy Walmart blades to 1500+ pieces. Something just clicked and I found myself asking how I could justify some of the prices. So now here I am, a year later, and I mostly have Spydercos, some Benchmades. and Cold Steels.
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Let me start by saying that I don't buy knives to collect or as an investment to make money. I buy knives to use. However, when I purchase a knife, I think a part of me puts merit (either consciously or sub-consciously) into their value in the case I need to sell them if times get tougher or I need purchase something in a completely different realm of life.

IMO, if I buy $20-$100 knives for my needs they a)don't hold an edge very long when cutting through earth, wood, cartilage or a ribcage b) aren't safe to use (bad locking system) or c) aren't worth anything afterward if I ever wanted/needed to sell them.

As a youth with a cheaper knife, I thought it was a right of passage into manhood accidentally cut yourself and become "blood brothers" with the game you had just taken. I always came back from hiking/camping in the mountains with multiple cuts because of crappy once sharp now dull knives. Things changed at about 22 yrs old ... a Ruana knife returned into my possession that my father owned. I found the guy he sold it to at a gun show and on a whim, bought it back. It stays sharp longer, I didn't have as many accidents, and in 13 years and I yet to become "blood-brothers" with any more animals. Since then, I only buy knives that maintain those 3 things... Stays sharp, safe, maintains value (1 and 2 may go together)

To my third point, last month I wanted (not needed) to set up another bench for reloading... I could've ran out and just bought it, but instead grabbed one of my lesser used skinning knives, listed it, and I had the funds within an hour. Come to think of it, I even made money on that knife.

So maybe the prices aren't justified for you, but how many people are buying used and/or re-selling cheapy Wal-mart blades?
 
Inexpensive.
I learned the difference in business class.
 
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It's good to do soul searching often. A few months ago, real life hit me all at once it seemed like. I just couldn't justify keeping a single knife. The funny thing is that I liquidated all my knives a few years ago and had just gotten back into the hobby. The one I got recently is up for grabs as well.
 
I've never sold any knife, and my collection is quite varied so they all have their place. I have taken it easy and spent frugally and after much research (except for 1 of them). I'm winding down though instead of continuing the search for the Grail.

I have cataloged every purchase and they are all users; from my BK-9 to my Case peanut.

Contentment is the wealth of nature.

Eric
 
AmosPaul said:
Wal-Mart sell Kershaw Blurs and Leeks, Buck 110s, and Victorinox knives. I don't consider these cheap.
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"Cheapy" may be relative... sure.

I was only using the term "Cheapy Walmart blades" because of the original post.

Having said that, those ironically were the exact blades along with gerbers (which I still have one I carry for daily use) that are the cause of many of my scars on my hands.

However, that was not my point. My point was, how many of those do you see bringing descent money in used/very used condition? (Buck maybe the exception cause they have a collector following and are a pretty good knife for the $). Anybody wanna buy my $25 gerber that I have carried for 5 years prying through doors, cutting cardboard, or opening boxes? IF I could sell it for $5, you'd be getting hosed... On the contrary, what about my $300 "little knife" stamped Ruana made in 1957 that has cut through countless items and animals? If I sold that for $400 you'd be getting a steal... I purchased in 2011 a CRK 21 for $320, used it a lot for camping/backpacking, just sold it for $360 cause I just bought the 25. Maybe my experience is the exception.
 
I have found that cheap factory fixed blade knives were almost never, ever worth it (this doesn't apply to folders): The closest thing to a cheap fixed blade knife I found that was close to a custom in performance was the Cold Steel Trailmaster, a stainless 1980s vintage knife with a convex edge: The nylon sheath was OK but not great, and the Kraton handle looked very rough after a few years of use... It was functional but looked like junk within a year... The BK-9 was similar in performance, but had a more durable appearance: The blade was crudely made in comparison, since the it had a slight sideway curve to it, which did not affect function but made me feel like it was crude junk... It would have been ok otherwise, so not bad, but not as sharp as the Trailmaster...

Most factory fixed blades I have owned were unspeakably dull, the early 90s SOG Tech 1 and SOG Government being particularly searing memories. The 1980s SOG Tigershark was flat ground and not great either, but a little better. The very early Tigersharks were apparently hollow ground (if a picture I saw was not deceptive) so it would have been better.

Even the 3 Cold Steel Tantos i owned, 2 normal and one Magnum, were nothing special in sharpness or bevel thinness, once the initial edge polish was gone... This despite all 3 being hollow ground...

The first fixed blade I found to be really worth the money was an Al Mar "Special Warfare": This is an near custom knife in quality, and the sharpness is excellent due to edge thinness, after resharpening. This is the only factory fixed blade knife that I have seen to match Randalls in actual edge thinness and performance... Even Chris Reeve's Jereboam one-piece hollow handle is much thicker edged, and can't really compare to a Randall, though it performs as well or better than a Trailmaster, despite having a 3/4" shorter blade that is also much narrower.

Ever since I have owned Randalls (whose uneven blade surface finish I don't particularly like), I have found nothing else in fixed blades that is worth the money in performance, and appearance durability, except outright custom knives (like Wall knives for instance)... The Randall Model 12 I suspects leaves the Trailmaster far behind in its dust in actual wood chopping performance, just on account of its thinner edge and hollow grind.

One of the few cheap factory fixed blades I think may be worth the price is the SOG Super Bowie, depending on how thin the edge bevel is: It is very well made, but I would bet the edge bevel is much thicker than a Randall, so again there is really no comparison...

Paying more is not always better: I have looked closely at a Lile "Mission", and the point grind is way too thin for any kind of good using performance: Even the original "First Blood" seems like it was ground stouter near the point...

Other than that, in general I have found the more you pay the more you get actual using value, especially with Randall. To me the main cost of a fixed blade knife is the effort to lug it around, so it better offer the best performance possible for the price in inconvenience... Fixed blades is one area where pinching pennies is not worth it in the long run.

Gaston
 
Gaston444 said:
I have found that cheap factory fixed blade knives were almost never, ever worth it (this doesn't apply to folders): The closest thing to a cheap fixed blade knife I found that was close to a custom in performance was the Cold Steel Trailmaster, a stainless 1980s vintage knife with a convex edge: The nylon sheath was OK but not great, and the Kraton handle looked very rough after a few years of use... It was functional but looked like junk within a year... The BK-9 was similar in performance, but had a more durable appearance: The blade was crudely made in comparison, since the it had a slight sideway curve to it, which did not affect function but made me feel like it was crude junk... It would have been ok otherwise, so not bad, but not as sharp as the Trailmaster...

Most factory fixed blades I have owned were unspeakably dull, the early 90s SOG Tech 1 and SOG Government being particularly searing memories. The 1980s SOG Tigershark was flat ground and not great either, but a little better. The very early Tigersharks were apparently hollow ground (if a picture I saw was not deceptive) so it would have been better.

Even the 3 Cold Steel Tantos i owned, 2 normal and one Magnum, were nothing special in sharpness or bevel thinness, once the initial edge polish was gone... This despite all 3 being hollow ground...

The first fixed blade I found to be really worth the money was an Al Mar "Special Warfare": This is an near custom knife in quality, and the sharpness is excellent due to edge thinness, after resharpening. This is the only factory fixed blade knife that I have seen to match Randalls in actual edge thinness and performance... Even Chris Reeve's Jereboam one-piece hollow handle is much thicker edged, and can't really compare to a Randall, though it performs as well or better than a Trailmaster, despite having a 3/4" shorter blade that is also much narrower.

Ever since I have owned Randalls (whose uneven blade surface finish I don't particularly like), I have found nothing else in fixed blades that is worth the money in performance, and appearance durability, except outright custom knives (like Wall knives for instance)... The Randall Model 12 I suspects leaves the Trailmaster far behind in its dust in actual wood chopping performance, just on account of its thinner edge and hollow grind.

One of the few cheap factory fixed blades I think may be worth the price is the SOG Super Bowie, depending on how thin the edge bevel is: It is very well made, but I would bet the edge bevel is much thicker than a Randall, so again there is really no comparison...

Paying more is not always better: I have looked closely at a Lile "Mission", and the point grind is way too thin for any kind of good using performance: Even the original "First Blood" seems like it was ground stouter near the point...

Other than that, in general I have found the more you pay the more you get actual using value, especially with Randall. To me the main cost of a fixed blade knife is the effort to lug it around, so it better offer the best performance possible for the price in inconvenience... Fixed blades is one area where pinching pennies is not worth it in the long run.

Gaston
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So, Randalls are the best, everything is else is trash. Got it. Well, I had it in the other threads where you've peddled this opinion, but hey, that's cool. :thumbup:

If I need to do chopping, I'll carry a hatchet. Thankfully, those are cheap.
 
Nrthfce said:
Were you being serious with this statement? :confused:

I too carry a hatchet for chopping, but would in no way consider it cheap. :rolleyes:
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Check the prices for a decent hatchet versus what Randall knives tend to go for and get back with me. :thumbup:

I have a fantastic Estwing hatchet that I've used for years that I paid...I want to say like $30. That's cheap, man.
 
AmosPaul said:
Wal-Mart sell Kershaw Blurs and Leeks, Buck 110s, and Victorinox knives. I don't consider these cheap.
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Value does not equal currency.
Currency does not equal quality.

$100 or less IS cheap.
I value my Benchmade Griptilian and it was cheap, but is also good quality.

Do you follow me?
 
Quiet said:
Check the prices for a decent hatchet versus what Randall knives tend to go for and get back with me. :thumbup:

I have a fantastic Estwing hatchet that I've used for years that I paid...I want to say like $30. That's cheap, man.
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Not needed, but thanks for the suggestion. :thumbup:

I wasn't comparing a Randall and a hatchet and what they go for... :confused:

Your statement "Thankfully, those a cheap" left me wondering if you were being sarcastic. I was just checking. Glad your happy with your $30 Estwing hatchet. I had one of those when I was about 12 and the darn thing would get so dull after I chopped through the first 4 inch branch, I basically considered it a blunt object that left others in our camp scared to use. Finally I started packing a small sharpening stone with it, but that only lastly 2 or 3 trips before the handle fell apart.

IMO Hatchet/Axes just like knives... ya get what you pay for in certain cases. Granted there are overpriced items in all fields and some maybe just search for a name or collectability. A couple years ago I stumbled upon a hand made damascus steel headed custom hatchet that set me back a pretty penny at the time, but has paid for itself in full and then some. I wouldn't sell it for the twice the price today.
 
I can't sell any of my expensive knives and get even what I paid for them, they are all beat to snot, modified, etc. No kidding. I use what I buy, and I enjoy it.
 
sodak said:
I can't sell any of my expensive knives and get even what I paid for them, they are all beat to snot, modified, etc. No kidding. I use what I buy, and I enjoy it.
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Way to go man! I like to hear that. Please post pics if you have some. I'm a "character junkie"! :thumbup:
 
sodak said:
I can't sell any of my expensive knives and get even what I paid for them, they are all beat to snot, modified, etc. No kidding. I use what I buy, and I enjoy it.
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Yep, I have only a couple that would fetch anywhere close to original price (used a bit, but not much).
Most of them end up gaining "character", and therefore remain safely mine. :D
 
stabman said:
Yep, I have only a couple that would fetch anywhere close to original price (used a bit, but not much).
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That's one of the reasons I never sell. It is not so much the money or value, but the effort involved and who knows, a year from now I may like or want to use a particular model that I sold. No regrets this way.
 
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