Why People Carry Cheap Knives: A List

Perhaps it's our duty as knife connoisseurs to enlighten them that there are actually very good quality knives available for less than $20.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
when friends or family ask me for pocket knife recommendations I tend to push towards Opinels, Svord Peasant knives and Victorinox unless they specify a higher budget.
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I wouldn't consider any of those brands to be "Cheap Knives". Even though they are relatively inexpensive to purchase, the overall quality of those knives is still quite good compared to the flea market folder with the paper thin liner lock.
 
EDCanAdamas said:
I wouldn't consider any of those brands to be "Cheap Knives". Even though they are relatively inexpensive to purchase, the overall quality of those knives is still quite good compared to the flea market folder with the paper thin liner lock.
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Oh, I agree, but I once pushed everyone towards knives in at least the $30+ range and I've almost completely stopped that unless it's what they specifically ask for. When I have a bit of free money and I'm buying a knife I'll frequently toss in a quality, but inexpensive, knife with an eye towards gifting it later on. It's particularly easy to justify when it bumps me into free shipping. ;)
 
Cheap knives do cut stuff, and that's the real point of using a knife. So maybe its the cheap knife guys who actually have things figured out.
 
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jc57 said:
Interesting. I sometimes carry "cheap" traditional knives -Rough Rider brand, made of 440A stainless. I carry them because they are good knives that are extremely sharp and handle my daily pocket knife needs about as well as anything else.

I am an old guy and can afford more expensive knives (and have more expensive knives) but there's nothing wrong with the Rough Riders for my purposes.

They are certainly not of such cheap construction that they endanger me when using them. They seem to be about the same as other slipjoints.

So my reason to add to the list is: the knife is sufficient for the owner's needs.
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I agree!! Rough Rider knives rock!! Also, when somebody says "Hey nice knife!" I can give it to them. :)
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Oh, I agree, but I once pushed everyone towards knives in at least the $30+ range and I've almost completely stopped that unless it's what they specifically ask for. When I have a bit of free money and I'm buying a knife I'll frequently toss in a quality, but inexpensive, knife with an eye towards gifting it later on. It's particularly easy to justify when it bumps me into free shipping. ;)
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That $25-$30 range must be the barrier between knife people and the regular joes who happen to have one in their pocket. I recommended a Buck Vantage Force (~$43) as an all around EDC and work knife and my friend looked at me like I was nuts. Yet he eats takeout everyday. Everyone has different priorities.
 
I know who you are talking about, I've known people who carry junk 10 dollar frost knives and stuff like that with crap steel and a ton of blade play and I try to explain without being rude that for just 20 bucks, 10 more dollars, they could get a gerber, crkt, sog,victorinox, buck, or cold steel, not the best knives but for non knife people that would be WAY better than a frost, or budk, or gas station knife,
 
The reality is that 99.9% people dont think twice about knives, same way you might not think twice about a pen. A cheap knife will cut, just as any old pen will write. Only certain subsets of people actually care about specialty items. Ive got a quite a few folders, Spyderco and Benchmade on the high end, Saks on the lower end. i choose to carry a Kershaw that cost me 40$ when Im working rather than my risk my higher end stuff on company time. Cheap knives have their place in the sense that s30v and dry wall dont mix.
 
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HardTripper said:
The reality is that 99.9% people dont think twice about knives, same way you might not think twice about a pen. A cheap knife will cut, just as any old pen will write. Only certain subsets of people actually care about specialty items. Ive got a quite a few folders, Spyderco and Benchmade on the high end, Saks on the lower end. i choose to carry a Kershaw that cost me 40$ when Im working rather than my risk my higher end stuff on company time. Cheap knives have their place in the sense that s30v and dry wall dont mix.
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Ya and I get it but you could carry a 20 dollar crkt and it would be WAY better than some 10 dollar frost from Walmart
 
People carry cheap knives because they do not see a need for anything better.

The knife industry is much like the home stereo industry. Neither one has really trained potential customers about the advantages of premium high end quality. Or mid range for that matter. Because of this, most people listen to marginal audio gear and carry a cheap knife. IMHO, both industries are selling the public short.
 
Some people don't know any better (likely because they have no point of reference). Others have a specific reason - e.g. they are poor, have friends or co-workers who steal, or lose their knife on a regular basis.

I fell into the first category until I met a friend who carried a BM AFCK (this was back in 1996). After I saw and handled the AFCK, I immediately went out and bought a Spyderco Delica and Endura. Those represent the minimum standard of quality that is now acceptable to me personally.
 
Most people don't have the same obsession and do not see the need to carry anything that costs more than $40. To them its just something to cut something and that is it. Most of the people I know who carry low budget knives just do not value nor care to carry something that has premium materials and build quality. Those are the same users that rather spend their money on what they feel is important like shoes, watches, electronics (wearable tech), etc. Just different strokes that's all, we all wear shoes but doesn't mean we all spend $200+ on custom Nike sneakers or what not.

Trying to explain and comprehend why people do not understand our hobby or obsession is the same reversed when people line up for the Iphone or special colorway retro Jordans.
 
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I buy $20 8cr knives for some of those reasons. Cheap disposable, don't mind letting others borrow, doesn't matter if I tear up bushings cutting drywall, edge lasts between a day or four of use which is more than enough for me, and I just don't have a need to spend $100 to do the same job $20 does.
 
jc57 said:
Interesting. I sometimes carry "cheap" traditional knives -Rough Rider brand, made of 440A stainless. I carry them because they are good knives that are extremely sharp and handle my daily pocket knife needs about as well as anything else.
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I have a Rough Rider also that I got from a GAW, so you can't get much cheaper than that. I value it the same as my ZTs and Benchmades as it's the only one of its kind that I have.

I can't see how it's "fun" to think up reasons why people carry cheap knives. I wonder if car forums have similar threads that go along, "Why do people drive cheap cars."

I don't need to feel good about my fascination with knives by coming up with reasons why people aren't as fascinated with knives as I am; I just simply enjoy my knives.
 
I own some semi expensive knives, but one of my most reliable performers is a $14 Mora no 1. It comes along while the $80 Becker gets left at home. Cuts like a laser, light weight and sleek, and can be sharpened on most anything I can find in a pinch.
 
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13. So they don't have to worry that their friend will ruin their $500 knife just by fiddling around with it.
 
*Afraid they will loose an expensive one
*Does not know or has not been educated on better quality knives and why sometimes spending just a bit more gets you a much better product
*Thinks they will just destroy the knife because they use a knife as a multi tool instead of as a cutting instrument
*My Personal Favorite - Why would I spend gun money on a knife?!?!?!?! Mostly after I tell them what my Microtech or Strider cost.
 
Ajack60 said:
Some people's interest in knives stop at the gas station level.
Some people have other hobbies that consume their play money.
Some people are cheap and refuse to pay for a better knife.
Some people really have no need for a knife.
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And some people just have no need for a $200 knife when a $20 knife cuts it. And when cutting drywall the cheaper one is more valuable because both dull but cheaper re sharpens faster. I love expensive knives but have no need for it to be expensive
 
I've got a friend that pretty much abuses everything he owns. Doesn't matter if it's tools, cars, sunglasses, knives, whatever. I bought a pair of Oakley sunglasses years ago, and he looked at me like I was growing something out of my forehead. He buys the $10 specials at a gas station at least once a month because he left them on the roof, or on the seat of the car, or someplace where he dropped something on them. He isn't the kind of person to take care of stuff, or take the extra time to set something where it'll be safe. He's that way with everything he owns. So for him, it's better not to buy anything nice, because he'll just break it. I still have the Oakleys I bought, going on 8 years later, and they're still pretty much the same as I bought them. But when they come off, they either go in the hardcase or in the spot in my truck for glasses where they're safe. At $10 a month for glasses that he buys, he's spent almost $1000 on cheapies.
 
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