To those of you who have really expensive knives.

[sixgunner455]

You can get along with some really basic stuff. I have and use many custom knives, but almost always, they are knives I or my father made. My mother-in-law bought me a couple of higher-end Henckels kitchen knives for my birthday one year. I looked at all the customized production knives in my knife block and all the customs sitting in there with them, and couldn't imagine using a knife that cost that much to cut a salad. So they sat in a drawer, in their original package, for over a year. But then, I realized just how much that big knife my dad gave my wife was really worth, and got the Henckels out, and now I really like them and use them a lot, too. But the last knife I got out of the block was a big old Ontario slicer that I inherited from my grandmother.

Right now, I have a yaller handled Case penknife in one pocket, an SAK Soldier on my belt, and a Spyderco clipped to my back pocket. I think I'll break out a custom when I get home, and carry it for a while.

Variety can be a good thing.

 

[230therapy]

I have a $100 limit on knives with special features. Otherwise, it's $50. Seems to work out well.

 

[natman234]

Best money I ever spent on a knife

I have a bunch of knives...A BUNCH! Both high and low end. the one I carry at work, around the house, walking the dog, to cleaning my fingernails, ETC...Benchmade Griptilian...all day every day...

Cost me about $120 on sale (2005 prices) and it has paid for it's self 100X.

I have broken the tip off and reground it...still works
It's been sharpened more than all the pencils in the 3rd grade...still works
In my pocket every time I go salt water fishing...still ticking
Cleaned all manor of kritters...yup
Stuck a pit bull that attacked my dog...yup
Open a long neck...yup again

I hate to think about when it does finaly die or I loose it. It would however be a pleasure to relive the joy of owning one NIB again.

 

[ugaarguy]

I haven't hit the $300 price point yet. I do have a Valkman fighter, that was a little north of $200. I also picked up a Blackjack Kinves Model 1 (semi-custom Randall Model 1 copy), for under $100 at a gunshop - that one sold for far less than it was worth.

The Blackjack, to me, is nicer than $200 range production Randall Model 1 copies from SOG & Cold Steel. As a reference to the Valkman Fighter, I like to use the Benchmade Nimravus as a comparison. The Nimravus is a $150+ mass produced fixed blade. A little more money got me a handcrafted fixed blade of similar style, but better materials.

When I look at a $200 Cold Steel R1, and then go back to my Valkman Fighter, I realize what a bargain the Valkman knife was. Looking at many mainstream $200 production fixed blades, I don't find $300+ for a true custom hand crafted fixed blade to be such a huge jump.

 

[Mac Attack]

Why buy a highend handgun when a Hi Point can do the same thing?

 

[jbkebert]

^^^^^

The statement above sums it up.

There is a reason I carry a Browning instead of a Bryco. Even though I owned a Bryco .380 my first handgun that never jammed on me through several hundred rounds. I just wanted more.

 

[JTW Jr.]

I think that Mac Attack guy knows a thing or two about customs......

 

[Fred Fuller]

Any job that needs to be done with a knife can be done with a production knife. There's not really any 'need' for a custom. But they can sure be nice to have, just for the craftsmanship they represent.

I have a few customs, a couple of Randalls (a #1 and a #25) from back in the olden days, a couple of Doziers, a couple of fighters from some dude in Art Bell country , a Breed etc. None of them horribly expensive, none of them 'art' knives, all of them 'users.' Even the most recent Randall, the #25, only cost a bit over $300 at the time. I didn't really need it, hadn't planned on buying it, but it was in stock when I walked in and the stag fit my hand like it was made just for me. What else could I do?

My most recent custom addition (within the past couple of months) was a Dozier skinner in a kydex sheath that was on consignment in a local fun store along with a lot of other knives. It was in like new condition and priced at $125 OTD. I like Bob's work a lot and it beat waiting 18 months and paying almost twice as much for a new one...

lpl

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I own no customs so far. My 1970's and 1980's Fixed bladed OT have served me well. I have OT, Case ,Gerber, Kershaw, Kissing Crane, SAK and Buck pocketknives and locking folders. I only paid over 50 bucks for a Case Barlow that I carry on Sunday.

My personal limit is $100 max for any knife.

 

[jbkebert]

My buddy is a custom knife maker. He is personally responsible for some of my lack of disposable income. Every knife on the top side of this case in the photo is between $115 to $165 each. All knives come with a hand stiched leather sheath. You don't have to pay $300+ for a knife that looks great and performs great.

 

[blindhari]

Depends on what the knife is for. In 1966 I went down to main post PX at Ft Benning. I spent more than a month's pay on a Gerber Mk 1. I passed it on to a an Explorer Scout I helped train 20 years later, he went career Army. He offered to give it back when he retired. I told him to pass it on where it might be needed. It is currently the property of a fairly new Warrant Rotary Flight Officer. Female.
It has held up pretty well in forty years and after writing Dave I figure it is on it's ninth deployment. Worth every cent I paid to each one of us.

blindhari

 

[DNS]

I find i can play just fine with most of my slipjoint knives costing under fifty dollars. The most i've spent was on a Case toothpick with tax right at the fifty dollar mark and its my Sunday go-to-meeting knife. My preferance is Buck btw.

I personally see no reason to buy a knife and not use it in my daily endeavors which subject it to the usual. Sitting here tonight polishing up a two blade Rite Edge slipjoint I picked up for $4.

 

[Shadowdancer]

Why buy a highend handgun when a Hi Point can do the same thing?

+1

No one should need a Wilson, Ed Brown, or Les Baer when a Colt does basically the same thing.

I have a Phill Hartsfield knife that holds an edge better than any other knife in my collection. This is a sum of high grade steel, proper edge angles and superb heat treating. I've also had Buck knives and they have done just fine, but lack the strength and longevity of the Hartsfield. Is it worth it? Probably not to others, but it gives me enjoyment.

 

[paddling_man]

I buy inexpensive-and-generic with many items. I'm not buying a car/knife/clothes/gun to impress other people. I don't mind buying used and you'll see me in a goodwill pretty often. (Have you seen what other people throw away??)

I've also learned when to buy something quality the first time and not deal with frustration and disappointment. Yes, though the "collection" is smaller now and very few safe-queens remain, I have a number of >$300 blades. The Chris Reeve Sebenza is the everyday carry for years now and is *not* babied but is worth every bit of price equivalent of 10-15 $25 WalMart-China-Specials. The Busse's I've used-and-abused that much better than the Buck's I used to own? Yeah...

 

[Gordon]

Be honest Lee, when you think demons are coming for you you take up "a couple of fighters from some dude in Art Bell country "

 

[JShirley]

jb,

Beautiful.

 

[jbkebert]

Thank you.

 

[kamagong]

If all you want is a cutting tool, then a $30 Buck will do the job. Same thing with guns I suppose, if all you want is something to go bang a $200 Ruger will suffice.

Some people want more than just pure functionality though, and their choices reflect that. They want premium materials. They want improved fit and finish. They want improved functionality, even if it is only an incremental increase. Sometimes they just want something a specific way and are willing to pay for it. Fortunately both knives and guns offer something for everyone and a man can get whatever he wants whether it is a 870 Express or a bespoke Holland and Holland, provided he has the budget for it of course.

 

[451 Detonics]

My custom knives all have impeccable fit and finish, not something you will find in a factory knife. The grinds are as close to perfection as man can make them, materials used are all top shelf, and in many cases the knives are made to my personal specs. I like them for the same reason I don't drive a base Kia, I like nice things. And yes, I do carry an use my customs, that is what I bought them for. I don't abuse them however and with the care I give them I am sure my grandchildren will be able to enjoy them.

Would I recommend someone who is having cash flow problems buy one? Of course not, putting food on your family's table is more important. But if you have the cash and like fine quality things then yes, by all means indulge yourself.

 

[murdoc rose]

There's nothing wrong with a good knife but I don't see the point in them if your not collecting. The ones I carry atm are cheap smith and wessons, I bought a unopened case of them at a flea market super cheap once. I like them and they do there job and if I lose one then no big deal.

@451 That's a fine looking knife.

 

[eazyrider]

I see the appeal to them for sure. I guess I was just curious about functionality. I could see myself buying one in the future for sure. But I also know that I would be the kind of guy that would have a hard time using a 300 dollar knife very hard.

 

[Slamfire]

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?

Back in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, if you wanted a great knife you had to buy one from a custom maker. Patterns for production knives of the era were old, stagnant is a better term, heat treatment of steels varied, edge holding varied from good to mediocre. Stainless steels were just awful, most knives were carbon steel.

I have been partial to Morseth knives, in large part because I could not afford them when they were in production, and they had laminated steel.





But look, these have not been used. People really don’t use these expensive knives. I made one from a Morseth kit, the blade took a great edge and I used it cutting a lot of boxes. If I had left the kit alone it would be worth a couple of hundred dollars. I am not going to sell the knife but people don’t want custom knives with scratches.

Today’s knives are great. I am really impressed with the steel, fit and functionality of this Bark River. This is a production knife and you really get your money’s worth for a good modern production knife.



When you are talking custom knives, you pay for the craftsmanship, you pay for the uniqueness. Given the multitude of excellent production knives today, I cannot say you get all that much more for all the dollars you pay.

I have not played with a The Yarborough". The Special Forces dudes like this knife, they treat equipment hard, maybe these knives are worth it. http://www.chrisreeve.com/greenberet.htm

A shooting bud of mine, I think he might have been Special Forces, he was in some elite service and now is 100% disabled. Anyway he wanted a decent "throw away" knife. Last tour he was wounded and had to leave equipment. (his bud's got his favorite Aladdin thermos back, it had been driven over by a MRAP!) I can understand his viewpoint about not wanting to take an expensive knife to a combat zone. Sometimes you have no choice about things being left behind. Sometimes you are lucky if you are not left behind! I think every knife he carried was bought at the PX and I don't think he paid over $50.00 if he could.

 

[JTW Jr.]

There's nothing wrong with a good knife but I don't see the point in them if your not collecting.

That could be said for everything , audio speakers , video equipment , cameras , etc. They may all do the same task , but will they do it as well , or for as long , or perhaps simply give you a level of pride of owning something so nicely made.

I use all my customs , I let me kids use them when they need a knife too. It's a tool first , pride piece second , but never a collectable for me.

You really have to do your homework if you expect to make money buying , holding onto and reselling customs. Things change real fast.

 

[B1gGr33n]

The single most expensive knife I've personally ever bought was a Cutco Ka-Bar for $200, and that was mostly about the lifetime warranty with it. My collection consists almost entirely of knives procured from pawn shops, flea markets, second hand stores, and garage sales, not one of them over $25 and all of them capable of inducing as much conversation as a custom knife, but that's because they're all a bit... shall we say "odd". The only other knife I have that's worth more than $25 is the Buck 110 I carry daily. It was a gift from my father on my 16th birthday, and it hasn't left my side since. Yes, I even carried it in school, right in the sheath on my belt, but that's a benefit of a small school in a farming community. Heck, I even loaned it to a few teachers on occasions for various tasks lol.

 

[JShirley]

I'd be willing to bet most recipients of "The Yarborough" don't take it to combat with them. I know none of the two teams I saw had one.

You will notice that CR is coming out with the "Professional Soldier", which was designed by a community of current and former operators. It has less than a 3.5" blade, and weighs about 1/4 of The Yarborough.