Enlighten me

[jsharmon7]

I have a serious question for some of the knife experts/enthusiasts. I see some knives for sale in the price range of $200 - $300. Honestly, I would love to have one because they really look great. In order to justify spending top dollar on a knife though, there has to be something else to it. So...what makes a particular knife worth $250? My thinking on knives has always been that a $20 knife is still going to do what I need it to do, and if I somehow mess it up I can always just buy a new one. Again, I'm not saying that spending top dollar on a knife isn't worth it, I just would like to be better informed on WHY it's worth it. Thanks in advance!

 

[PhilMcCrackin]

IMHO I would buy 10 of the $20 knives before I would buy a $250 knife just because I abuse mine.

Scorch marks from welding with it(had to jump my brothers solenoid on his truck) broken tip from using it as a screwdriver, not sure what that dried nasty stuff in the handle is.

I use my knives so I can't bring myself to pay big bucks on one.

 

[tyler34]

IMHO I would buy 10 of the $20 knives before I would buy a $250 knife just because I abuse mine.

thats the EXACT reason you should buy a $250 knife, they are made to take abuse then slap you and ask for more. to the OP the difference is materials and the quality and fit and finish of those materials, the steel and the ability to hold and keep an edge, corrosion resistance, impact resistance, etc. a lot of people who buy $250 knives(me included) would give the guys who claim hard use and abuse of their cheap knives a new definition of hard use and abuse.

 

[jsharmon7]

Tyler: so you are saying that you spend a lot of money on a good knife one time rather than spending a little bit of money on several knives over the years, thus adding up to the cost of one good knife? What are some things that you use your knife for to consider it "using and abusing" it? Let me reiterate that I'm not disagreeing that a good quality knife isn't worth the money, in fact I guess I'm trying to justify it to myself so that I can buy a good knife.

 

[tyler34]

I do everything lesser companies tell you will void their warranty if you do them*cough-S&W-cough*. prying, tip prying, batoning, chopping, stabbing, hammering, using it for a can opener, I could go on but you get the point. and I do it because I know the knives can take it and if for some reason they don't I know they will be fixed or replace no questions asked. oh and this is with both my fixed blades and folders.

 

[bigkahunasix]

#1- BUY A FREAKIN' MULTI-TOOL and quit misusing your knife. It is made to CUT STUFF, not drive screws,jump cars,chop down trees,pry stuff etc.,etc.,etc....

#2- Buy a quality knife and learn to maintain AND SHARPEN IT. It is one of those things that a man needs to learn and pass on.

 

[WhitleyStu]

What you get with higher end knives are better blade materials that hold an edge longer, better handle material, liner material, and hardware (pocket clips, screws...). Also, on better knives the lockup is more positive and usually hand fitted. Once you get a chance to handle a CRK, Srider, Hinderer, or many others you will feel the difference in an upper end piece of cutlery.

 

[tyler34]

#2- Buy a quality knife and learn to maintain AND SHARPEN IT. It is one of those things that a man needs to learn and pass on.

I got my 8 year old working her SAK on the sharpmaker still a bit young for the paper wheels though.

 

[paddling_man]

The delivery can be a bit silly. The methodology not quite up to scientific process. However, the results are there.

www.knifetests.com Home

 

[cubby]

IMHO I would buy 10 of the $20 knives before I would buy a $250 knife just because I abuse mine.

Scorch marks from welding with it(had to jump my brothers solenoid on his truck) broken tip from using it as a screwdriver, not sure what that dried nasty stuff in the handle is.

I use my knives so I can't bring myself to pay big bucks on one.

everyone has been here. but a knife is a tool. get a multitool or a SAK for all the stuff you really don't need to use a knife for. it'll work easier and better for you anyway.

almost ALL the "custom" priced knives (including most high end production knives) have 100% warrenties. now.... if you set out to break it, (ie: put it into a vise and snap it on purpose) you may not get a brand new knife... some companies, yes. but not all. if you break it under use (cutting chopping chiseling trimming hell, even the dreaded "screwdriver tip") then odds are almost 100% that you will get a replacement knife or your fixed back to perfect, free of charge but for shipping.

now... me. if someone breaks one of my knives, i replace it for free. the only loophole is the "intended abuse" one.... you bust it one purpose, or just to showoff, you get nothing. any other way, i replace it for free. free TO YOU. not free to me. you pay $250 for a support system and quality item. i'm not a mass producition outfit. i don't have bins and bins and bins of knives i can send you to replace the knife which was broken. its money DIRECTLY from the makers pocket. that is part of the price.

BETTER MATERIALS. ACTUALLY TALKING TO THE MAN MAKING YOUR KNIFE. DETAIL ATTENTION. ONE ON ONE CONTACT AND CUSTOM TAILORED REQUESTS..... try that stuff with a $20 chicom knife.

in the end, if you keep replacing the knife which DOESN'T perform (if you have to replace it, it didn't perform) isn't practical. especially when you NEED that knife to work and not fail. that is when the junk knife will fail... when you NEED it the most. then you are screwed. no knife....


EVERYONE has used a knife for things they aren't designed. screwdriver is the most common. i have used mine for everything from a screwdriver, to a jumpsource, to a doorstop.... i used to use crappy knives... now.. i don't use them as screwdrivers (cause they are terrible) but i do stil abuse them. they pry, they chop, they have been used as ANCHOR point pounded into the ground.... and i haven't had a quality knife fail... i HAVE broken a ton of crap knives though.


in the end, most people will NEVER spend big $$$ on a knife. just like ol' papee never spent more than $12 on a .22 rifle from Sears Robuck. and explaining the difference to most people is an excerise in futility... but for those who make the leap, RARELY IF EVER do you hear them say "i wish i never bought this knife" after actually using it. this goes for higher end productions too. like the $200 benchmade and zero tolerance knives.



SUPPORT LOCAL, CUSTOM KNIFE MAKERS! THEY SUPPORT YOU!!!

 

[bigkahunasix]

everyone has been here. but a knife is a tool. get a multitool or a SAK for all the stuff you really don't need to use a knife for. it'll work easier and better for you anyway.

<snip>

in the end, if you keep replacing the knife which DOESN'T perform (if you have to replace it, it didn't perform) isn't practical. especially when you NEED that knife to work and not fail. that is when the junk knife will fail... when you NEED it the most. then you are screwed. no knife....

<snip>

in the end, most people will NEVER spend big $$$ on a knife. just like ol' papee never spent more than $12 on a .22 rifle from Sears Robuck. and explaining the difference to most people is an excerise in futility... but for those who make the leap, RARELY IF EVER do you hear them say "i wish i never bought this knife" after actually using it. this goes for higher end productions too. like the $200 benchmade and zero tolerance knives.

The three best thought out points in this whole thread

Bravo Cubby.

 

[RTDoug]

+1 cubby

I have everything from cheap chinese to Randall made, and do not regret one dime I spent.

The higher end semi-production line, Bark River, offers top drawer knives at a very good value. The attention to detail is what you pay for. From metallurgy to heat treating, to handle material, fit and finish, and superior edge retention abilities, all quality all the way.

Also, RMK and Bark River will refurbish for free. Bark River's warranty covers the knife, not the owner. So even one bought used is covered.

BR's convex edge geometry pops hairs, holds an edge, and is easy to resharpen using the stropping process.

I could pay less, and have. Nothing wrong with my old Schrades. (USA made)
But, I personally will spend a little more, have a nicer finished, more durable, handmade product, USA made.

Check out Knifeforums.com

You may become a believer!

 

[Mgderf]

KABARSPLUS.COM

 

[dhnorris]

where is a good store that would have 150.00 knives? I have to touch a knife before I buy it that's why mine have all came out of the case spinner at the hardware store.

 

[kevinj110]

#1- BUY A FREAKIN' MULTI-TOOL and quit misusing your knife. It is made to CUT STUFF, not drive screws,jump cars,chop down trees,pry stuff etc.,etc.,etc....

Maybe yours isn't but I am pretty sure mine is made to do exactly that which you have listed they are not intended to do.

I would tell you to really check out rat cutlery and other knives of the same quality.

 

[paddling_man]

where is a good store that would have 150.00 knives? I have to touch a knife before I buy it that's why mine have all came out of the case spinner at the hardware store.

To Indy? First Stop Knife Shop in Louisville and Grand Prairie over on the IL side of St. Louis.

1SKS Home

Grand Prairie Knives

 

[bigkahunasix]

Maybe yours isn't but I am pretty sure mine is made to do exactly that which you have listed they are not intended to do.

I would tell you to really check out rat cutlery and other knives of the same quality.

RIF- Reading is fundamental.

I did not say that they "could not" do those things, but that they were not DESIGNED
to perform those tasks. Rather they were designed to cut things. That is where the "knife" part comes into play.

In a REAL emergency I could and would do anything necessary to survive, but in the absence of said emergency I am not going to abuse my tools out of laziness or the testosterone based need to prove I can make a tool do something it was not intended to just so my buds think my stuff is cool.

Another instance of "age and cunning overcoming youth and over-exuberance", I think so.

BTW- I already own a couple of RAT knives as well as a Swamp Rat and a Busse or two. This is not a "schwantz" contest, it is an exchange of knowledge and experience between responsible adults in the use of some dangerous toys. Bashing away at stuff with a large sharpened pry-bar; while it may be fun usually ends badly.

YMMV

BK6

 

[DBH]

I agree with some others have said, use an SAK or leatherman for stuff that you normally don't use a knife for or things that you should not be using a knife for like ie: a screw driver.

I carry a large BG-42 Regular sebenza that I have had for over 9 years. Has a lifetime warranty, and is a great knife. I look at the fact that I have carried EDC for 9 years it in reality has cost me like 10 cents a day to carry a great piece of equipment. The 10 cents goes down the longer I carry it

 

[clt46910]

I carry a muli-tool and a knife. They are different. I do have a number of high dollar knives and cheaper knives. I found most in the 70 to 100 dollar range will do a great job. Check the type steel used and think about what you need to survive. I don't believe a couple hundred dollar knife is needed most the times for normal use.

 

[kevinj110]

RIF- Reading is fundamental.

I did not say that they "could not" do those things, but that they were not DESIGNED
to perform those tasks. Rather they were designed to cut things. That is where the "knife" part comes into play.

In a REAL emergency I could and would do anything necessary to survive, but in the absence of said emergency I am not going to abuse my tools out of laziness or the testosterone based need to prove I can make a tool do something it was not intended to just so my buds think my stuff is cool.

Another instance of "age and cunning overcoming youth and over-exuberance", I think so.

BTW- I already own a couple of RAT knives as well as a Swamp Rat and a Busse or two. This is not a "schwantz" contest, it is an exchange of knowledge and experience between responsible adults in the use of some dangerous toys. Bashing away at stuff with a large sharpened pry-bar; while it may be fun usually ends badly.

YMMV

BK6

Oh ya I forgot I am just a kid I have no idea what I am talking about sorry Saltin of Swat I forgot who you were.