$$$ your cutoff point?

R

red96ta

Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
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I've paid full msrp for a benchmade and it was worth the $150...but with any hobby, I have some sort of preset spending limit that I just can't justify and for me this is under $200.

Sure, I'd like a Busse, but can't justify that kind of outlay on a knife...you can get some serious gold prospecting gear for that kind of outlay and prospecting gives me something back other than the satisfaction of ownership. Heck, I can feed all three of my kids for months with $200 (they're still old enough that I can feed them mac-n-cheese three meals a day and they want more...lol)

What is your glass ceiling on knifes?
 
No set ceiling, just depends on my account balance at the moment. I don't know offhand what's the most I've ever paid for a knife, $250 maybe?

But at a certain price, I do bypass cookie-cutter production knives and move on to customs. With all of the very affordable custom knives advertised here at BladeForums, I'd really think twice about paying more than $150 for a production knife, and even then it would have to be something really special.

Also, every time that a $200-$300 knife catches my eye it seems that there are two or three $100 knives that are each equally attractive. Three knives or one, guess which choice usually wins? :D
 
My most expensive knife has been $65, but in the future, I don't plan to ever buy anything over around $130. There are very few exceptions, one being an S90V, ball bearing lock Manix, if it ever comes out.
 
It is a slippery slope. :)
You have a $200 limit right now. Then after you buy 2 or 3 $200 knives, You say - Hey I can sell them and buy one $400 or $500. Then the madness continues. Runaway, while you still can. :) :) You will never be satisfied. It is what makes us human. :) :)
 
Maybe I'm nuts, but for that $500, I think I'd rather have a nice katana rather than a knife, although the likelyhood that I EVER use a katana for it's intended purpose are very slim
 
Mine is for now $1000.00. It use to be $500.00, but after buying and carrying several I have upped the limit of what I look at and drool over.
The way I look at it is if I am going to spend near $1000.00 for a handgun witch I hope not to have to use then why would I scrimp on the tool I use every day.
 
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red96ta said:
Maybe I'm nuts, but for that $500, I think I'd rather have a nice katana rather than a knife, although the likelyhood that I EVER use a katana for it's intended purpose are very slim
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Truthfully $500.00 would be low for a Katana if you are in to collecting swords. Many quality hand forged Katanas go for any where between $3000.00 and $5000.00 so a $500.00 Katana is in par with a $20.00 knife.:D
 
My "glass ceiling" is made out of time more than money. I put a limit on how many I buy by limiting to a certain number a year, have a "cookie jar" saving system to offset the costs, and buy knives I plan to use to give me satisfaction other than ownership. I have also been surprised at how reasonable some prices for custom knives actually are, so I don't avoid looking towards that option either.
 
Mine is for now $1000.00. It use to be $500.00...
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Makes perfect sense, with inflation and all. $500 just doesn't buy what it used to. :)

Maybe the issue can be addressed mathematically and logically, if someone has the inclination:

What did a pocket knife cost in 1940?
What did the average American earn per day in 1940?
So, what % of a day's pay bought a pocketknife in 1940?

What would be the cost of a pocket knife if purchased today at the same % of a day's pay?
 
Currently I'd say $500 and they have to be users. Although I admire those who collect knives I only buy what I will use. Until I hit the lottery that is. :D
 
Lets see, I can get a Swisschamp xlt for around $120, so that's about my limit. I'm much more of a multitool/SAK guy than a custom knife collector type. I'd love to get a Zero Tolerance folder, but I'm probably never going to be able to justify it.
 
I try to tie price to performance. $200.00 is way more than I'm willing to pay for a folder, unless it's one of the only production models in existence that use CPM S90V.
If the knife does something different, or suites my tastes enough I might be willing to shell out some extra for it, but for the time being there are enough super knives at reasonable prices that I don't even bother looking past the $200.00 range for a folder.
 
red96ta said:
Maybe I'm nuts, but for that $500, I think I'd rather have a nice katana rather than a knife, although the likelyhood that I EVER use a katana for it's intended purpose are very slim
Click to expand...

i bought a "cheness" katana for about $500 after seeing their video showing it actually was handforged.

that thing is way better than i would have thought - very solid construction, blade has a good temper, more toward spring which is what you want with that long a blade. It will bend a little and go right back to true. i ran it across the 40 degree sharpmaker a few times and it picked up an excellent edge - and its gone right through a bone-in ham no problem, bone and all.

then again, it is the equivalent of a workable but cheap $20 or $30 knife, when compared to high quality katanas.
 
My limit is whatever I can afford right now.

At this very moment, due to a bunch of reasons, it's going to be $100 or less.

Next month it might $500.

If I won several million dollars on lotto or something the limit would be whatever I had left after paying off the house and any other bills.
 
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