Your First High End Knife

Strider SMF DGG, I got it used and liked it enough to buy a new SnG. I have found that I don't need a knife that expensive when one half the price will do any job I need it to do, so I got rid of them.
 
Still don't own a high end.
 
Comeuppance said:
I remember dropping $35 on a CS Counter Point II and thinking I had gone off the deep end.
Click to expand...

I paid almost $40 for a S&W neck knife at a real knife store in college (in a time before you could just easily google the price of everything from your phone) and remember thinking that was my first 'really expensive' knife.
 
For me that would be when I bought my PM2. I could even consider it when I got into nicer knives like Spyderco and benchmade. Before that all I had was smith and Wesson and Gerber knives. Now after being here and learning about more knives I don't really think I own a high end knife. My PM2 was the most expensive and high end for me but I would consider REAL high end now to be Chris reeve and alike. ZT as well.
 
I went to a gun show with a friend years ago. It was about a 4hr drive and ended up being an antique firearm show. I had brought a couple hundred $ with me to spend and couldn't afford anything in the place, except a knife. There was a guy there hawking his combat knives made of A2 tool steel. He showed videos of them being driven thru car hoods etc. After a couple passes by his booth I decided to spend $167 on a knife so that I would not leave the show empty handed. That was the first and only time I spent more than I was comfortable with on a knife. Ended up being a good investment though.
 
My definition of high end is over $250 and for me that would be my plain Sebenza 21. Thats what got me started. :)
 
Limited Edition Buck Duke with buffalo horn and malachite handle.
 
Maybe "high-end" is best described as a new personal record single-purchase price. I mean, Benz owners would say their cars are high end, but Rolls owners would scoff at that, no?

In any case, my first "high-end" one is due to arrive tomorrow: a ZT0900...though I'm a little unsure about it...:confused:
 
I guess it depends on what you call high-end.

I tend to maintain that knives are tools...at least in my use/house. Now, I like quality tools and I'll pay for quality. But the most expensive knife I have now is probably tops out at $250-300 of value, but I've paid more in the past (and regretted it due to a thief). Now $300 will buy you a lot of fixed blade goodness......

For me, $200 is the upper most limit unless it's a special case. I'll pay more for Busse et al, because of their warranty and their steel. ZT also holds a special place in my heart...but I find that most of my enjoyment from knives comes from sub $100 blades....especially folders....which plays out in my use as well. I like carrying and using less expensive knives because I'm not worried about damage/loss/theft. So, I've decided to move predominantly towards sub $50 folders in the foreseeable future (although I don't mind spending more for a good FB).

Although, like others have said....it's an addiction. I'll likely end up eating my words and having one of those spiffy 0808's showing up on me.
 
Depends who your asking...the wife would say 10 bucks is way to much!!! but she's the one that paid 1200 bucks for a mixer that she uses once a month !! I use a knife each and every day so like I said it depends who your asking..I've learn just to keep my mouth shut and hope the mail comes early !!


2 Panther
 
At close to $400 my first "higher" end knife was the Small Sebenza. My upper limit was around $120 - $150 and was limited to production Spydies and Benchmades so for me the jump was substantial at the time. Glad I did it, will more than likely always have a small Sebbie in the stable ;)
 
Outside of some ZTs the first, what I consider to be a high end knife I bought was a Strider SnG. Always wanted one and was between it and a Sebenza, but the exact SnG I wanted popped up on the exchange so I snatched it up.
 
I think my first real high end purchase was a benchmade 45 balisong. I miss that knife so much. It was a very unique 45 and amazing fit and finish. I gave it to a friend who turned out not to be a friend at all. Tried to buy it back and they said no just to spite me. They probably destroyed the knife.
 
At 18 years old, a Buck/Strider 880 @ $140 was the best knife I'd ever laid eyes on.

My first high end knife was a dagger logo CFO2 hand ground by Tony Marfione @ $700. I used it too. It took a month to get from TADgear to Mosul, Iraq but it was worth the money and wait. It got stolen a couple years later by some tweaker.
 
It probably won't classify as high end to you guys but it was to me. A Benchmade tanto Griptilian.
 
The first knife I felt uncomfortable buying (out of my safety zone) was the original Blackjack1-7 when they came out in the mid 90's, it was leather washers and a double brass guard made of 0176 steel, cost all of 70.00 at the local hardware store that I frequently visited since they had knives in the sporting good section. I remember that I did not quite have enough, and the salesman was nice enough to say to the cashier to let him have it without tax. Still have it, never used it and is one of my very favorites. The rest is history and I soon discovered ML knives, Drew knives, and Blindhorse knives. The one I paid the most for was an Idaho knifeworks (Mike Mann) Cumberland. With elk stag handles. That was as close as I could get to getting my Grail knife, which was an Idaho Knifeworks Hudson Bay knife. Still hoping to get one someday. :D
 
zbs40 said:
It probably won't classify as high end to you guys but it was to me. A Benchmade tanto Griptilian.
Click to expand...

Honestly I think all knives can be considered high end. Most people on here just assume that you mean expensive when you say high end, however, that is not how I see it a high end knife is anything that you are willing to pay for and feel it is worth it. For some people that is $50,000 for some it is $20. I left the title open for a reason. Don't let these guys scare you with there elitism. I have found that for the most part the people on here are pretty understanding, but you do get a few who think a cheap knife can't be high end. I bought my dad a mini grip and from what little I have handled it it seems to be a pretty well made knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top