Quality Knife Conundrum

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J

Jotobo

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So I find myself at a crossroads when it comes to my EDC folder.

I have a CRKT Drifter. Its cheap. It was like $15. But, its also not very solid. I have had it only 5 months and the blade steel is near impossible to not only get razor sharp but to also keep it that way.

So here my conundrum.

You pay $350 for a Sebenza for example. Truly a knife that will be the last knife you may ever need to buy. It has it all. But what if you lose it? Drop it in the lake or some crazy thing? Man, that would SUCK!

Or, you pay $15 to maybe even $80-100 and get a decent knife. But its still not the best and may or may not be something that will last. And should you lose it, no big deal for the most part.

So what does one do? INVEST in the quality blade or spend the money on something that will "do the trick" for a while?
 
.

You don't have to spend $350 to get an excellent knife. You are
buying into "premium" when you pay $350 for a folder like a
CR Sebenza. It would be hard to justify it in the realm of utility
only. Some people are drawn to exclusivity and what they see as
extreme refinement and quality of materials.

This is seen in many areas, not just knives. A Honda will do it all,
but some people just won't feel right unless they have a Mercedes
or BMW.

There are many Kershaws, Benchmades, SOG, etc that are excellent
quality EDC folders for less than $100.

dxr

P.S. You bring up a good point about loss. Yes, you would cry more.

P.S.S. I would put knives in the "expense" column of the ledger, not "investment",
unless you are going after a collectible blade, but that is not the subject of your
post.
 
I really do like the Sebenza. Just seems to have it all. I think its about $75-100 too much. But damn its nice.
 
Oddly enough most people seem to take better care of their expensive knives and are much more careful with them. They don't use them and set them down...they put them back in their pocket for example.
 
Calculate how many dollars a Sebenza represents per year vs. what you currently aren't happy with and would replace just to get a sharp knife. Since I've had my Sebenza over a decade it doesn't come out to too much per year.

OTOH, it might be that a better sharpener is needed to keep your Drifter running?
 
The steel on the Drifter is like maybe 5 notches above cold butter in terms of hardness. I sharpen it and cut 5 envelopes and it snags. Its quite a sad knife. This summer its going in my tackle box and I am going to invest, yes invest, in a really really good knife. The Sebenza appeals to me. I am open to others.

I have the same issue with boots. I have had these boots for 6 years. Crappy Timberlands that I paid $90 for. They have a classic workboot style to them so I bought them, they arent some hip hop gangster type boot like most of their products. I think 6 years was a good run. But the Danner Explorers I have my eye on....now thats a BOOT!!! But they are $290. Again, you divide that even over 6 years and its $40 a year. Thats nothing for pure quality.
 
Let's see...this Remington was probably 2 bucks in 1928. You spread that 2 bucks out over 83 years and... wow... less than 2 1/2 cents a year! :neener:

rem1a-1.jpg
 
Perspective

I have more than a few knives.

Most of these were purchased over a four year period as part of a personal quest to see what works well for me.

I've tried a variety of different patterns and qualities for EDC and occasional use.

The more I carry and the more I put these knives to use, the more I find I prefer to use and carry the higher quality pieces. We're not talking exotic pieces, but some of them are in the $100 to $150 range, and if I lost one I would be most put out.

Still, the feel of a well made knife, good fit and finish, tight springs and locks, conveys a kind of confidence and satisfaction that's just not there with the cheap ones.

Sure, I could carry the cheaper ones, and be perhaps more willing to lose them, but I find I'm actually willing to exert the extra care and attention needed to not lose the good ones, so I can actually be happy with what I carry.

Nowadays I find myself less interested in "variety" for its own sake and more interested in quality.

Happily that doesn't always mean expensive.

Five years ago, the idea of carrying $150 worth of pocket knife would have bothered me. Today, not so much.

Today, the idea of carrying a $400 pocket knife makes me flinch. Tomorrow . . . ? Maybe not so much.

 
That Bradley Alias does not look half bad but as far as looks go, I would still lean towards a Sebenza.

I am on KnifeCenter.com looking at knives.
 
I bought an Alias for my wife (well, I wanted an excuse to test it) a couple of years ago and it has been a good knife. She's snagged the clip and sprung it, but the screws held fine.

There are plenty of less expensive one hand opening pocket clip knives than a Sebenza or an Alias that have great reputations. Tons of Spydercos and Benchmades and others you can get that won't be as heavy a hit to the pocket.
 
I am a very firm believer in Cold Steel for getting a great quality blade at very reasonable prices.

I only shop their discount and closeouts page, Special Projects, because you get the same thing for cheaper than you would pay on their main page.

http://www.ltspecpro.com/

I doubt you'll find better steel for the price.
 
HSO,

If you did not get a Sebenza, what would be your 2nd and 3rd choices?
 
Back in '66-'67, I bought a Buck 110 folding hunter. The knife was of good steel, maintained an edge, and was sharp out-pf-the-box. It cost $13.00 at the PX in Da Nang.

After I came home, the knife was used for Fire/EMS service. I still have the knife, and it's still sharp. Let's see, that's about 32.5 cents a year. An average life-span isn't going to let you amortize a Sebenza to that level.

Custom, or bench-made, knives are going to have better fit and finish, that's what you're paying for. The type of steel in the blade isn't going to guarantee performance, as there are zero standards to compare against. What's sharp to me may differ from what's sharp to you. Different uses require different edges. Razor sharpness is useless for little more than chipping a blade used heavily on coarse fibers, or woody materials.
 
I buy inexpensive (10-50 price point) knives for edc. I cut things and I enjoy sharpening. It's not a big deal for me to carry a cheap knife.
However, I have had a lot of exposure to top shelf folders by custom makers and really like the quality. I just can't justify it financially or morally. I'd rather carry a Buck 110 or whatever and give that other $310 to a charity that will use it to improve someone's life by feeding, clothing, educating, or making them safe/warm.
But, that's me. I'm not really that attached to material things like expensive knives. Inexpensive knives cut things too.
Don't get me wrong. I know that some people here and all through the world enjoy the purchase and collection of top shelf cutlery. This is just my perspective of the "why" of cheap knife carriage.
I give them away about as frequently as I lose them too, so there's that.
 
I dont see any reason to pay more than 50 for any run of the mill uber tactical like knife design. Any 50 dollar knife will give you enough quality to take and keep an edge and lock up tight with positive spring pressure.

You only pay a premium for the ones you really want like a vintage Randall or the like. Or if you absolutely positively have to have that single bevel Wharneciffe folder.....
 
Depends upon what you plan on doing with the knife.

Make a 5 point list from the most common to least common thing you have done with a knife. Look at that and determine whether your looking for a sharpened pry bar or a fine surgical instrument. Pick accordingly.

Post the list when you get it thrashed out.
 
I've got a few (heh heh) and usually get another one every couple of months. Like firearms, there's always one more niche you can fill.
 
My current knife gets used for anything from opening mail and boxes to cutting stuff when gardening, camping, etc....My parents have a small hobby farm and it gets used quite a bit up there. The one I have now is too weak for A LOT of jobs, so that is why it would be nice to take a step up.

I have a KaBar now that I started to use for more heavy duty jobs.

I want the baddest all purpose knife I can find. One that has a reputation for being quality from top to bottom. I know the Sebenza has that. I like that you are encouraged to take it apart and clean and sharpen it yourself but also have the option to send it in for a quick "refurb".

I brought up the Sebenza becuase its the only one that seems to always pop up when you talk about getting the "best" all purpose folder. But, should it get lost that sure would suck!

I am not into buying several "average" of anything if I can avoid it. I like to buy something that will last me my entire life potentially.

And there is the debate for me right there. I like having the "one". But losing it would be heart breaking. I may be able to save a few bucks on something else, but we all know that voice in your head will always tell you that you should have bought the "one".
 
1. Takes and holds an edge
2. 50 State Legal (this usually also means smallerish as well as no automatics or assists)
3. No tactical look (funky blade shapes need not apply)
4. Wharnecliffe or sheepsfoot blade.
5. One handed opening.
6. Not a liner lock
7. Plain blade (not serrated)

Here is my latest aquisition. The only criteria is does not meet is number 6.

Gerber Mini Remix

Knives that meet all 7 of my criteria are exceedingly rare and when they come up exceedingly expensive and usually custom. I dont look hard for them necissarily but do keep an eye open. I will eventually get the Gerber Crevice as well since it is a larger version of the Mini Remix without the finger hole.

I also have a Ruko cheapie that met all the above criteria except I had to take the blade to a belt sander to make it a true Wharnecliffe since the blade had a slight radius to begin with. Still a decent 11 dollar knife though that lasted 4 years of pretty rough use until the blade locking mechanism got too loose for me to trust.

Things I use my knives for regularly include:

1. Box cutting
2. Rope cutting.
3. Zip tie cutting.
4. Screwdriving
5. Wire stripping.
6. Hammering with the knife closed.
7. Prying (light duty)
8. Cleaning gunk out of tight spaces.
9. Coring apples and skinning oranges
10. Cutting rubber hose.

I do like the CRKT Rezel but the folding version has a slight radius to the blade which I find unacceptable. THe fixed version is designed close to perfect though.
 
Why do we carry multi hundred dollar guns then?

Cheap knives work to be sure but there is always a better tool for the job. You have to handle and use a fine knife to appreciate it. I have already iterated that there is limited need for ultra premium knives for me but they are still very fine tools.

It is like the difference between Craftsman and Snap-On. I cant explain it but a Snap On tool just feels great and is a joy to use compared to Craftsman. You have to have this experience to know.
 
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