To those of you who have really expensive knives.

[eazyrider]

I am talking like over 300 bucks. Are they really that different than say a Buck 119? I have never handled a really high end knife. Do you think it was money well spent?

 

[Carl Levitian]

No.

I've done the custom knife thing, and I had some nice knives. Some by master smiths from the American Bladesmith Society. In the end, I decided that they weren't worth it if you are after just a cutting tool instead of a bragging point.

I started with a Randall obsession when I was in my teens. When I finaly got one, I bit on the model 14 for a backpacking/camping knife. I then got a number 15, number 5, and a 3. Then I branched out with other makers.

I got a real wake up when I was packing up something, and I found out the Randall didn't cut as well as a Buck Pocket knife. Then I did some testing, and a knife by the then head of the American Bladesmith society didn't keep up with a Frosts mora number 1 with the carbon blade. That's a 300 dollar knife (1988 price) vs a 12.95 knife. My Randall bird and trout knife didn't do as well as my old Buck 102 woodsman. It was an eye opening experiance to say the least. A lot of youthful ideals went down the tubes.

I ended up shipping the whole lot of them down to A.G. Russell to be sold off in his knife lists. Some broke even, some a I made a little off, some a I lost a little. Went back to just using good well made factory stuff with a good rep, and I haven't missed those over priced knives at all. In the end, it was just snob appeal, and I don't think they are worth it. There's nothing a 300 dollar knife will do for you out in the field that a good factory knife won't do in real world cutting jobs. Now my field cutlery consists of a 12 dollar mora and a 15 dollar 12 inch Ontario machete. Looking back on it all, I'm sorry I wasted time and money with the custom knife thing.

Carl.

Edit to add; I guess it wasn't really a waste, when I got the final check from Russell, the better half and I loaded up the camping gear in the old Toyota, and took a month long road trip. Camped out in Bad lands, Yellowstone, Bryce, Canyon lands, Arches, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde. Had a great Time with the money. memories of the trip to last a lifetime. But a couple of savings bonds would have done the same thing.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I agree with what Carl said, even though I'm sure lots of others won't....I've been carrying 20 dollar knives daily to work for years and never had one let me down.

 

[towboat_er]

I bought a used case at $15 for carry. If I had bought a new one for $50 or more, I would not carry it.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Towboat er, you sound like me....I splurged on a 50 buck pocketknive over a decade ago and don't carry it because I considered it "expensive". It's been in my top dresser drawer collecting dust ever since.

 

[Piraticalbob]

+2 to what Carl said. I've found that, functionally, an inexpensive knife by a reputable manufacturer is perfectly good for most tasks. This includes knives by Mora, Opinel, Douk-Douk, Case Sodbuster, etc. If, however, you have some spare change and want to have at least one knife to brag on, I don't see a problem with that, if the knife functions as least as well as the ones I've already named.

 

[rori]

I used to use Bucks etc and while they did a fair job I wasn't satisfied. I used a Randall # 1 in Asia and it saved my bacon on several occasions. Gave it to a teammate when I left for the world and didn't have another for almost 35 years. For deer size critters just about any knife will do but when you get into the elk, Moose, carabou size game you will learn to love a Randall.Superb edge retention and quality thru and thru. When I'm where I usually hunt I dont want a second class knife I want the best and I have it with a Randall.

 

[DC Plumber]

I've always used over the counter regular knives. Once I bought a special knife for $165. I never used it and is sat in my safe for 10 years. I recently sold it for nearly what I paid for it. For me and the things I'd use a knife for, expensiver knives are needed. But I do like my Case and Buck knives. I also have swiss army knives. I'm not afraid to "use" any of them. A very good friend of mine has a saying, "A (knive, gun, whatever) is like a good horse, it's meant to be used, but not abused". I don't buy anything exotic or elaborate. I buy stuff I can use daily, and afford to break or loose. A little more info than requested, but it sums it up better.

 

[klutchless]

Nope I have dressed pigs, cows, deer, turtles ,and squirrels with the same buck 110 folder my dad gave me when I was eight.It was a second hand job as it does have a carbon blade.I hate stainless knives for the most part.I have molested a few high end knifes at shows just never could justify paying 200 plus for a knife .

 

[Gordon]

You guys crack me up!
Sure you can use any kinda sharpened steel to do any many of cutting chore so why not buy $5 Chinese knives for everything?:banghead:
I personally don't like embellished or sculpted knives nor prescious metals on my knives and don't pay for that. I pay to get the shape I want and heat treatment that lets me get thru a wild pig butchering with out resharpening for instance. Good looking functional is nice too. Durn near indestructable fo life is good too.
But whatever works for you, just don't think we are stupid to spend the money!

 

[22-rimfire]

Expensive knives... are they worth it? Depends on your likes and dislikes and disposable cash. But generally most of my knife use is with blades that cost <$300.

(Added) <$300 unfortunately is not a broad sweeping statement. <$100 might be a bit more qualifying in terms of blades....

I buy what I consider expensive knives (>$300). I find the customs fixed blades really appealing, but I lean more toward "good to very good" fixed blades such as my latest, a Fallniven F1 or an ESEE-4 for using. However, I use folders far more than fixed blades, and the fixed blades only go with me along the trail or hunting. But most of my "hunting chores" are handled by a folder (a good full sized Trapper). The fixed blade is there if I need the strength, loose the folder, or I feel like using it. My evolutionary leanings are toward more traditional knives that most would find slow to open and useless for self defense but are considered pretty high quality such as Queen, Schatt-Morgan, GEC, and so forth.

All this said, most of my cutting chores are handled by a Vic Swiss Army knife (#1 EDC knife) which I keep a replacement for. But I carry two folders (#2 gets rotated) usually and I have more in my field bag that are available to me should I need them. [Field bag = essentially a nylon tool bag with pockets which stays in my vehicle when I travel or work versus a pack or something I carry along a trail.] I basically grab the knife I need for the task at hand if the SAK is not the best tool.

 

[TomADC]

My every day carry is a small Case stockman maybe $30, All the high end $100 up knives are safe queens.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Balance

I'm finding that there is a balance.

I only have one custom, and it's a fine piece of work, but it won't sit in a box or safe. I bought it to use. To do anything less would not honor the maker. He made a bunch of these, and they were never meant to be trophies. Cost me more than a production knife, but not all that much more.

I also have a "few" production knives of varying quality. I've had to sort through different brands and styles to find what suits me.

I do believe I have finally found a balance in the cost/benefit profile.

A well made Buck or Kershaw or Gerber that does what I need can be had for somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 to $60. As I add a few dollars, I get incremental increases in quality or function. I don't feel, for example, that a $100 Buck Paradigm is overpriced, even though it provides essentially the same functionality as the Buck Vantage in the same steel & handles at half the price. The extra dollars pay for the cool assisted open and novel locking system, and I'm good with that.

I can get the kind of fixed blade performance I need from a Buck 105 or 119, and also from a Mora knife costing half as much. I stumbled on a Swedish maker of folders whose products and prices are competitive with the American makers, and whose styles suit my hands surprisingly well.

I have a couple of outliers, like a Lone Wolf Paul Presto, a $150 gent's knife whose price buys you a sophisticated button lock and superb fit & finish on excellent materials. However, I have a Kershaw Whiskey Gap gent's knife that's every bit as good and cost only $40. And that, in turn, compares well along side the Gerber Silver Knight at the same price.

I've got Case knives that range from $20 to $100, but the ones I use most fall in the $40-to-$50 range. Good materials, good fit & finish.

However . . .

I have handled some really superb knives (like the Buck TNT) that are significantly better finished, smoother opening/closing, sharper and/or more ergonomic, with more exotic materials and so on, costing in the $100-to-$200 range, and I will admit that the extra effort invested in the nuances and subtleties of these knives is worth the extra dollar.

As hso has pointed out in the past, a $300 or $400 knife (like the Sebenza) that you can use hard over several years and which, despite that hard use continues not to fail, is really not that expensive. That kind of cost for a lifetime of performance is -- in today's money at least -- not that steep.

It took me a while to appreciate the qualities that will boost a knife from the under-$100 range to the $200 range, but I now recognize that those qualities are real. Sometimes it's as simple as the materials. Ivory ain't cheap. Not all steels are created equal. A polished edge is more work than a ground edge. And sometimes the difference is aesthetic. Real art is more work. You, personally, may not be willing to pay for the "extra pretty," but the extra that makes the "pretty" is more real work.

Given that I'm not rich and my tastes run more to the practical than the aesthetic, I'm inclined more toward the mid-range knives. If I suddenly had an attack of fat bonuses or a raise into the 90K range, I'm sure my tastes would adjust accordingly. - - Meanwhile, given that I've selected a level of quality that's above my ability to comfortably buy one every week -- or even every month -- I save my pennies and try to exercise a little prudence when I shop.

I no longer subscribe to the "hey, if it breaks, I'll just buy another one" view. I try to get as much quality as the pennies will allow.

Could I get by with just an Opinel, a SAK, and a Mora #1? Sure. That was me for years (well, not the Opinel, but close).

However, I've come to appreciate the convenience of a Leek or a Packrat, a Rush or a Revolution, so I'm willing to spend that little bit more on them.

There's a lot of quality out there to be had for under $100, too many to list here, and some real keepers under $200. Nonetheless, I indulge myself with a few -- a handful -- in the over-$100 bracket.

Where is your balance? Well, that's entirely up to you. Maybe you just need a tool, to be replaced when it's used up. Maybe you want an heirloom, something your grandson will treasure, 'cause it belonged to Gramps. Maybe you drive a Mercedes, and you understand that the best dollars-per-mile value isn't found in the cheapest cars, and you figure the same is true for knives, too.

The good news is that you live in an age of seriously improved materials. Steels that just didn't exist 30 years ago are common today. Improved synthetics make handle designs possible that would have been unacceptably hard a few decades back. Edge geometries made possible by better metals and improved machining yield superior products at lower costs. Better bearings, washers, and pivot design makes butter-smooth actions routine.

You can get a lot of bang for your buck nowadays.

However, once it manifests as *art* you will pay a premium.

 

[JShirley]

I was gonna say what Arfin said, only shorter. I've learned to buy quality, but that rarely means the most expensive items out there.

John

 

[Mac Attack]

I own and carry custom knives daily. I get a certain level of personal satisfaction knowing I am carrying a knife which a lot of TLC was put into them. However I would not abuse my customs like I would a production knife and think twice before I use any of my customs. If push came to shove I would use them but if I can prevent damaging them I will. If I know I will be needing a hard use knife for the day, I drop a production piece into my pocket along with one of those folding razor.

Some people are happy with their $5 Chinese knives and that's cool as I'm sure they get the job done.

 

[JTW Jr.]

Look at it this way , what guns do you own and carry ? How much are they ? How often do you use them ?

Me , I use a knife many times a day. I would say 85% of the time it is a custom.

Is it worth it ? To me it is , I like the quality difference in a handmade knife.

I just got a custom slipjoint from John Lloyd , had it made just the way I wanted it. The fit and finish blows away a production.

So you can pay more if you want to and can appreciate it for what it is , a finely made tool.

Do you prefer Craftsman , Snap-On or Harbor Freight wrenches ? Can you tell the difference ? I can , so I pay for the quality , and prefer Snap-on.

The thing is , only you can judge what "smiles-per-dollar" something will bring you.

I am not a custom knife snob , I have plenty of productions too , I just prefer a custom. And when you get to know the person that physically made it , it is all that much nicer to appreciate when you use it.

Jennings J22 or Walther P22 , Davis 380 or Walther PPK , all in what you like and where you place value.

I do find it hilarious to see someone carrying a $700 handgun and $20 folder , when they use the folder many times a day and the handgun once a month at most.

In short , yes , to me , they are worth it.

 

[bikerdoc]

Yes they are worth it!!

I have about four dozen knives. Some expensive some inexpensive ( but not cheap quality) I have made and use my own knives. I have customs. I am awaiting eagerly a custom that will fill a need. I have grandpa's old Schade-Walden in my pocket. and a Syderco in the other. Tomorrow... who knows? Spyderco, Kershaw, CRKT, Ka Bar, maybe a Kinfolk or Van Camp, Could be old Camilus or Colonial.
For me it is a journey not the destination.

 

[22-rimfire]

Bikerdoc said...For me it is a journey not the destination.

Excellent point and I feel the same way. If you become interested in knives, as your knowledge and experience level rises, usually the cost and quality of your knives follows. I think the same applies to firearms. I know where I started and I know where I am now, but I still quest for something better which I find a lot of fun.

I don't particularly need 100 knives or 100 firearms, but that does not necessarily stop me from the quest that ultimately made lead to that or more. But it is not quantity; it's quality.

Certainly most customs from known makers produce a high quality knife. As mentioned above, I still carry a SAK, but it is not just the cutting that makes me carry a SAK, it is the overall usefulness of this tool. I use that knife several times a day, every day. That knife has served me on jobs when I don't have a screw driver with me to do little important chores. I can't think of a more useful knife than a SAK and at the usual cost, they are quite a bargain in today's dollars.

There is a balance and I am reaching it. After essentially only owning a couple slip joints and being very content for most of my life, I now have some fairly high quality fixed blades and an assortment of pretty high quality pocket knives.

I suspect I will move in the direction of Carl L eventually and thin the herd down to what I really like and use. Firearms are one thing, but selling knives is an entirely different matter for me... most will follow me to the grave and probably get sold at a garage sale. I don't care. But I may well thin the herd of some of the expensive blades simply because I would just hate to see those being sold at a garage sale for $20 when they cost hundreds each.

There is a balance to be achieved as with most things you like. You need to allow yourself the flexibility to acquire new knives or firearms as your interest grows, but at the same time you can seek a practical balance.

 

[jbkebert]

I carry a custom knife everyday. I abuse the heck out of it but just for cutting. Its not a prybar its not a screw driver. Its a cutting tool. I make a living with my tools and my hands. I demand alot from my tools and generally buy the best that I can afford. I cannot afford not to. I have dozens of knives and use plenty of cheaper ones. I happen to like the Outdoor edge swing blaze. Its a darn good little knife cost $59 bucks and has served me well for feild dressing many critters.

I am proud of carrying a custom knife made by a man I can call a friend. It is a beautiful peice of craftsmanship but is one of the finest working knives I have ever owned. I am certainly not a knife snob but there is a joy in using something that was made just for you.

 

[forgetitohio]

I carry a SS 3" Zippo from Camel for smoking way to many cigs.
My 1st. lost 1/4" off the blade from sharping over 6-8 yrs.
I have 3 new one that will keep me in knives til I die.

 

[Gordon]

To me the Grecos in the $75 range, completely hand made by a master are a much better bargain . I use several all the time.
The $225 Valkman Fighters were a real buy too, a lifetime custom treasure for cheap IMHO
The Stephan Fowler custom made to order hand forged Bowies at $400 are an even better deal IIMHO, just ones perspective I guess.

 

[Jalexander]

Depends what you want. The short answer is no. On the other hand, I like having knives that were made just for me, to my specifications.

Y'all don't let ol' Carl turn your heads, though, or pretty soon he'll have you buying Case yaller-handled peanuts and getting rid of everything else.

James

 

[JVoutilainen]

I like the way bikerdoc put it. It's about the journey. In my case that means; what I take with me for a journey across the arctic wilderness. A Handmade knife is a connection to a distant past - people and traditions of ancient times. Can you really put a price tag on that?

My goal is to, eventually, make steel (or even iron) from ore gathered from local lakes and swamps and forge a knife from it. Whatever it turns out to be, that is what I will carry.

That said, you can easily spend 300 dollars on a knife and not have anything special. You have to develop a taste, you have to know what you want from the knife and you have to have the courage to see past the "awe inspiring mad skills" or the maker and demand features YOU desire.

 

[Valkman]

I have bought customs that I really didn't have any feelings for and wound getting rid of them. Those I bought when I went to my first and only Blade Show I was open to buying anything and spent a ton of money - got some great stuff but some of it just wasn't "special" enough to keep.

Like JTW says, if can spend a grand on a gun I can sure buy a nice knife, and that's why my carry knife was a $400 Strider SnG. Incredibly tough knives that made good production knives look like kids toys. The problem was I lost it. Man I was hurtin' over that until Strider surprised me and replaced it! But now I'm afraid to carry it, and have been carrying a Moore Maker slipjoint or just a SAK.

But I have a $400 drop point hunter, a Damascus LEO worth more than that much from Trace Rinaldi plus the Strider and yes I enjoy them all. The first two I had made for me and believe me that makes a knife very special.

And as Arfin said, I use a knife way more than I use my guns so I like to have some nice ones. Even the cheaper ones are nice to me!

 

[hso]

Are they really that different than say a Buck 119? ... Do you think it was money well spent?

This discussion is similar to the "basic transportation" vs. "joy to own" debate over cars or guns. Until you have a chance to actually use them you really won't know.

I see a difference and I think it was money well spent, but not everyone see's the difference or thinks the price is worth it.

Only you can decide if it's worth it.