How do you justify the price?

[John G]

I love the custom knives, especially Ken Onion's stuff. But the prices keep me from collecting any. I know I've lost a few pocketknives through the years, and I'd cry if the lost knife cost $400!

How do you custom blade owners justify the high price? Do you refrain from everyday carry of the more expensive models?

 

[Bruz]

I know I've lost a few pocketknives through the years, and I'd cry if the lost knife cost $400!

I have lost dollar bills from my pocket, but have never lost a hundred dollar bill! Tend to be more alert and take care of items of value...never lost a nice knife.


How do you custom blade owners justify the high price?

Same way one justifies the high price of a nice gun or a Mercedes over an Izusu, you get what you pay for and quality costs less over time...

 

[Soap]

I let my little sister-in-law and her friends take my Mercedes-Benz out for a spin. They're all sixteen years old. They were all very safe and we had a great time!

Its just a piece of metal. Enjoy it before you aren't able to enjoy it anymore. Hell, let your friends enjoy it too, they'll be grateful for it.

 

[John G]

I really want one fellas, don't get me wrong. I just need to be talked into it. Ken Onion's knives are beautiful, but I can't get over the fact that they cost a month's rent.

 

[Bruz]

I can't get over the fact that they cost a month's rent.

Rent a more expensive house if it makes you feel better...if your rent was $1,200. per month than the knife would only cost a third a months rent!

Thank of it as an investment...if a couple of years ago you would of bought an Onion for $400. it would be worth about $400. If you would of bought $400. worth of stocks they would be worth about $100. You would of made $300. more, or about a 75% return on your investment buying the knife! In two years from now what do you want, a beautiful knife to play worth or some useless paper!?

 

[John G]

I like it! Keep talking folks, you're starting to win me over. Honestly, when I saw this knife on Ken Onion's site, I fell in love. This is simply the nicest, coolest, prettiest lockback I've ever seen.

 

[Tamara]

I don't carry my Onion often but it's nice to have a "barbecue knife", so to speak.

If you can get an Onion for four bills, buy it.

 

[hso]

Actually, if you had bought an Onion a couple of years ago from Ken it would have been worth 1.2 times what you paid for it just coming in the door. After 2 years it would have been worth 1.75 to 3 times what you paid for it. 400->100 in your 401k 400->480 asap or ->1,200 in a couple of years. A $150 Onio 5 years ago is worth more than 10 times that now. So I guess the accurate analogy would be that an Onion is worth a mortage payment since you would realize a profit if you sold it as values rise.

OTOH, a Microtech bought for $750 2 years ago might only be worth $375 today. I think renting a knife for $375 for 2 years is going wrong direction.

The point being, if you buy a high end knife you should buy it because you can't resist it and use the investment value as a good rational to back that up. If you buy only as an investment you had better do lots of work learing about knives before you plunk your money down.

In reality, after a while (>$450 for standard folders/fixed blades) most of the increased price of a custom is the maker's name and the additional adornments.

 

[AnklePocket]

Buying knives for investment purposes is probably not good investing. Some hold their value or even go up, but of course you need a corresponding buyer many of which would rather buy it absolutely brand new from a reputable dealer.
The only reason to buy a custom knife is if it fits the image that you have of the "perfect" knife (an image which can change over time). In addition to a design that maybe doesn't exist in a production knife you'll usually find the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. And you're doing yourself an injustice if you don't use and abuse it.
So, using reason alone will keep you away from a purchase that may be made for more intangible reasons such as a knife that just fits you to a "T".
Personally, there are a few production folders that I like a lot like the Microtech LCC, CRKT M16, Camillus Talonite EDC and Buck Mayo TNT, but I can't find a production fixed blade that does it for me. My custom fixed blade favorites are from RJ Martin, Al Polkowski, Steve Corkum and Russ Andrews. Matt Lamey also makes GREAT ones at a very good price, but I'm not allowed to buy anymore knives.

 

[Drjones]

As usual, the first reply nailed it.

I'll add my 2 cents:

How do you custom blade owners justify the high price? Do you refrain from everyday carry of the more expensive models?

I justify the high price because I buy the best. Striders are among the best knives, period.

They are basically indestructible.

I would not for a moment hesitate to trust my life to a Strider. In fact, that is why I buy and like them: because I COULD trust my life to it.

With tools that your life may someday depend on, like knives and guns, I think it is the utmost in foolishness to skimp.

Buy the best you can.

And as with anything, if you buy the best, you only buy once.

And no, I most certainly do NOT refrain from carrying expensive knives. Of all knives, Striders were built to be used, and just beg for it. Hold one, and you'll understand.

They make you want to CUT stuff.

Plus Striders just are THE coolest looking knives out there!!!

My next one is the new "Tactical" GB. The AR is pictured in this link, but the GB is a tanto.

That will be my EDC.

http://www.tadgear.com/edged tools/strider-tadg_ar-tactical.htm

 

[Harold Mayo]

I don't spend what I consider to be "too much" money on a knife...it's just a sharp piece of steel, after all.

I'm picky, though, and about the only way that I can get ANYTHING the way that I want it is to have something custom...whether it is modifications to a handgun (or building of one from the ground up) or having someone make a knife. I rarely find anything that satisfies me unless it gets tweaked a little. I also like having things that other people don't. These are the reasons that I can justify the price.

 

[Tamara]

Drjones,

And no, I most certainly do NOT refrain from carrying expensive knives. Of all knives, Striders were built to be used, and just beg for it. Hold one, and you'll understand.

That all depends on what you consider "expensive", now, doesn't it?

My EDC is an older CR Sebenza; a solid, mid-priced knife.

 

[Joe Demko]

Intangibles like pride of ownership, having something uncommon or unique, etc. have to matter to you , or you will suffer a world class case of buyer's remorse. I collected knives for over twenty years, and owned some very expensive pieces. For me, the difference in performance between a good factory knife and one of the custom jobs just doesn't just justify the difference in price any more.

 

[CWL]

I also like to carry custom knives, especially damascus blades.

To better finance my collecting passions, I have stopped drinking French wine as of late...

 

[RL1]

What's that old saying about holding your breath? Something along the lines of "the first 20 minutes are the hardest...after that, you can hold your breath forever!"

The point is that once you start buying customs, the price becomes meaningless....it actually bothered me when I had to buy a new VCR for $150 bucks because mine broke but I could drop $1000 on a knife without even blinking (heck, I've even ordered knives without asking the price...it's not like it would have made a difference ...and that's not because I am wealthy...just a knife knut )

RL