Quality Knife Conundrum

[M-Cameron]

a quality knife is a quality knife.....regardless of what you pay for it.

one of my favorite knives is my Opinel #7........holds a razor edge, nice size and weight, and costs all of $10.......


in all honesty....there really isnt much a quality $300 knife will do that a quality $20 cant....

now am i saying you shouldnt spend good money for a knife....no.....heck, i just bought a $130 Emerson the other day.......

ultimately you should buy a knife that you like and will perform to what you need.....just dont think you need to spend a thousand dollars to have a good knife.

 

[Tomahawk]

I like a pocket clip on a knife as well as being able to open with 1 hand. My daily carry alternates between a Kershaw Needs Work and a Cold Steel Voyager. I do own more but mainly for collecting and curiosity.

 

[Pilot]

As others have said, you don't need a Sebbie to get a good knife. Look at Benchmade, Kershaw/Zero Tolerance, Spyderco, etc. Great knives can be had for less than a $100 and stellar knives can be had for $200 or under. The ZT 0551 and 0301 both can be had for around $200 each. They are beautiful knives with great quality and fit and finish. Excellent steal also. They may not be a Sebenza or Strider, but for half the price they are darn close and built like tanks.

 

[JShirley]

I like Spydercos, no question.

However, even if some other maker was my "pet", I'd still suggest the Manix 2 as an incredible value in a super-heavy-duty folder. You can get one, delivered, for less than $80 from Cutlery Shoppe. It should soldier on with minimal care for the rest of your life. And it's not a decent knife- it's a great knife, rock-solid, good steel, great ergos.

The one problem I see for some people is the weight. A lighter-weight version will be out soon~ it'll still be stronger than most folders on the market.

I like one-handed knives with pocket clips,but if these things aren't important to you, it's hard to go wrong with a Buck 110.

John

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Spydies

You know, Jotobo, as I look at your requirement, I find myself visualizing something from the Spyderco line.

Like a Manix 2.

The blade is most of 3.5 inches, the steel is outstanding, and it'll hold an edge well. The only criticism I've seen is to do with the tip being thin, and therefore easier to break. If you're into prying things, maybe this would be less than perfect for you.

EDIT: I see John beat me to it. Recommendation stands, though.​

Another one to consider is the Endura. Nearly 4-inch blade, and an unapologetic performer.

Not quite as big would be the Centofante, at 3.125 inches blade length.

And, if you just like to abuse heck out of your cutlery, maybe you should look at the Spyderco Native.

The company stands behind its product line. These are all quality pieces, each with its own strengths. If I were going for belt pouch carry, I'd probably grab the Endura. For actual pocket carry, the Centofante for medium use, Native for heavy use.

That's just me, though.

It's your pocket.

 

[Jotobo]

I have looked at just about every knife you can imagine. Its funny, Spyderco knives do absolutely nothing for me.

There are some Emersons I have seen and liked. A few Kershaws.

My original point was not that I needed to spend $300 on a knife. Its that generally speaking, if you want something that is built to last, you will have to pay more for it. When you do, you have the best, or one of the best and life is good. But what if you lose it, etc...?

Sure, there are cheaper options, like the one I currently have. If I lose it or it breaks, who cares, I can buy another one. But then what? I spend $500 in my lifetime on new knives because I really dont have the one I really want, the one that stays sharp, looks great, and is built to last?

As I said from the start. I like to try and get the "best" and have it be something I love. Im not really interested in something that is slightly cheaper and maybe just as good. But at the same time, spending $300+ on a knife is a tough pill to swallow!

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Late To Party

Its funny, Spyderco knives do absolutely nothing for me.

Copy that.

FWIW, I've studiously avoided Spyderco for years. It is only in the last few months that I've actually paid them any serious attention. My first impression of their signature profile was that they'd adopted a dramatic and aggressive look as a marketing ploy. Did nothing for me -- actually, kind of a turn off.

Consider it a self-imposed ignorance.

Fast forward six or so years. In that time I managed to overcome a couple of other prejudices, filled in some other ignorance blanks, learned a bit of technology along the way.

The most annoying thing about self-imposed ignorance -- for me at least -- is the business of discovering that something you thought was weird or odd or artificially dramatic or just pointless can turn out to be very different once it's in the hand and applied to some work. And then the new discovery -- on shelves for a decade -- is no longer available, or is painfully expensive. Hate when that happens.

In my case, that list includes a "funny looking" Swedish folding hunter or two, a Case Pocket Hunter, the French Opinel, and a couple of random Buck folders, among others (sod busters -- did I mention sod busters?). And now it's looking that my list will also include Spydercos. Of course I will pay something like double what I could have paid. Oh Well.

Tell you what. Once I have a couple of nickels to rub together, I'll pick up my first Spydie. Just to dispel a little more of the shadows of my ignorance.

 

[JShirley]

"Best" is subjective and elusive. I don't think there's a much better folder than my Manix 2, but I don't plan on prying with mine, either. The truth is, as you approach the very highest quality of a product, there are diminishing returns: the last percentage point or two of materials or finish may double the cost of the product. Is a Lamborgini 6x as good as a Subaru WRX? I certainly don't think it's 2x as good as a Lotus. But the Subaru will be much more useful for most people than the dramatically higher-priced product.

When it comes to knives, as with most other things, you have to decide what your most important considerations are. You could pay much more for a folder with titanium parts that only is "better" in being lighter weight. My Spyderco Natives have been almost constant companions for years, but they can't be expected to be as strong as a lined folder with G10 scales and ball-bearing lock like the Manix 2. That Manix 2 is incredibly strong, but some of Spyderco's G10, while being almost indestructible, light-for-strength, and very grippy, will eat nice slacks. The Translucent Manix 2 won't eat pants, and will be much lighter than the original Manix 2, but can't be as strong. And so on...

 

[wheelgunslinger]

As I said from the start. I like to try and get the "best" and have it be something I love. Im not really interested in something that is slightly cheaper and maybe just as good. But at the same time, spending $300+ on a knife is a tough pill to swallow!

To amend what I wrote previously, I am of the opinion that you should splurge on a knife when you find one that you absolutely have to have. That's a knife you won't forget, lose, or otherwise misplace so easily. That is something you'll have the potential to consider an heirloom, as one day a descendant of yours will likely hold it up to the light and tell someone that "this was my grandfather's knife. He carried it everywhere."
Til then, use what you can feel comfortable spending money on.

 

[Jotobo]

I am going to put $1 in a jar every day for one year. At the end, I will buy a nice knife.

 

[shockwave]

While I've found the CRKT folding razel to be a great tool around the house for all kinds of jobs, the CRKT Delegate has become my "go-to" knife. It's so sharp it's frightening.

 

[TimboKhan]

In the past, I argued against the Sebenza for being overpriced and a bad value. After looking at one and reading the reviews and stuff like that, I have changed my mind, and plan on buying one this year. But, I also really love knives and so the justification to spend that kind of change on a pocket knife comes easy. I tell you now, I will use that sucker too. I don't buy stuff to look at it, be it knife, gun, car or whatever. You're right, it would suck mightily to lose something like that, but Detonics is right when he says the tendency is to pay more attention when it has more value. My most expensive knife happens to be a Benchmade 940, and though I don't carry it daily, I do carry it and I assure you I am most careful about keeping track of it. I am pretty absentminded about stuff like that (I forget my wallet/phone/can of chew somewhere at least three or four times a week), but I haven't lost a knife in years.

If you're not a knife knut, yet you still require a quality knife, there are plenty of bargains under $100.00. Like John, I am a huge Spyderco fan, and I will never be without at least one Endura. I also happen to like Benchmade knives, and the four that I own are all well made, quality knives that should last a lifetime. For day to day use at work, I have come to enjoy the simple slipjoint, and where I once argued that they were dumb and pointless, I now own 5 of them with plans to own more as interesting knives present themselves. I like mini-trappers, and I think my most expensive Case was like $46.00 or something.

My point is this: You don't have to go from a $15.00 knife to a $400.00 knife just to find quality. You can, and my extremely, extremely limited experience with a Sebenza leads me to believe that you would be quite delighted in doing so, but you in no way have too. For under $100, and in a lot of cases under $75.00, you can find quality knives made from good materials that you will be absolutely happy with.

 

[Jotobo]

Yeah, I just couldnt pull the trigger on buying a Sebenza.

I didnt see putting away a dollar a day either.

Did some looking around, was thinking about an A100 and a few others.

Settle with a Benchmade Griptilian 551. It has the 154CM steel which I have read is a very good steel....its no s30v, but very good none the less.

 

[sixguns4fighting]

A Case pocketknife will take care of the normal cutting chores and they don't cost much money.

 

[Smith357]

I have some nice high end knives but my EDC is a Swiss Army Soldier. for its $32 list price they have a decent blade that is easy to sharpen and holds an edge well, and the other tools come in handy. It's small and unobtrusive in the pocket, and when I pull it out at the office it does not scare the sheeple. The best thing is the screw diver on the Soldier model is sized by design to fit the action screws on a rifle.