American1776
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Over priced knives
- Thread starter wingriderz
- Start date
Not sure how you can speak authoritatively about Benchmade, then . . .
I normally carry cheaper knives because I use them and lose them. Not for combat readiness, but for opening boxes, gutting game, and cutting hiking sticks. There's defiantly a difference in quality between most of the higher priced knives and the cheaper stuff, but I think with some brands it's the perceived status of carrying an "XYZ combat knife" that inflates the price more than the true quality.
On my right side I have a 1095 carbon steel & Delrin large Stockman made by Camillus. It still shows pitting after a previous owner sanded and polished it bright. I found it at a gun show for $15. On my other side is the 1095 carbon steel & India stag Northfield large Stockman I just paid 10 times that much for. While I can rationalized the Northfield's unique secondary blade shapes might be slightly better for some tasks, I have no illusion that it will hold an edge any longer or has significantly better utility value. This sums it up:
By the way series guy, tonight would be a good time to re-oil our S&M Jumbo Trapper. When you decide it's time to sell it to me you'll want it in tip top shape.
Since using my new Northfield gives me a bigger smile than looking at the Mona Lisa did, it is debatable whether it was over priced but at $150 the Mona Lisa would definitely be over priced. I'll bet there is an art dealer who would disagree.
By the way series guy, tonight would be a good time to re-oil our S&M Jumbo Trapper. When you decide it's time to sell it to me you'll want it in tip top shape.
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I don't collect commercial knives, so I don't know what's "overpriced". The only custom commercial knife I have is a smallish, numbered Dawson double edge dagger looking thing that I paid $50.
I do, however, collect military knives and bayonets. Those, depending pn what they are, are steadily going up in price and reproductions are getting better.
I do, however, collect military knives and bayonets. Those, depending pn what they are, are steadily going up in price and reproductions are getting better.
gregintenn
Member
Fine by me. I had the money. I didn't want them. I kept the money.
THE PILGRIM
Member
nachogrande
Member
NOT AN EXCUSE!
8 $ At that time, for one of my all time favorite knives is NOT an excuse. A great knife at a great price is about as far from an excuse as you can get IMO.
IDK what you expect of your knives. High price doesn't always mean quality. TEHO.
8 $ At that time, for one of my all time favorite knives is NOT an excuse. A great knife at a great price is about as far from an excuse as you can get IMO.
IDK what you expect of your knives. High price doesn't always mean quality. TEHO.
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Three of my knives cost over $100.00, none by very much: one of my Benchmades, a GEC, and Ethan Becker's Kephart homage. The knives I use the most cost under $20 apiece, Opinel and Mora mostly. When it comes to cutting stuff, about 99% of what I do can be accomplished quite well with one or another of those.
I own a lot of other knives because I find them interesting, or aesthetically appealing, but I am still a cheapskate so I shy away from expensive knives. If I had more disposable income I might try something like a Benchmade 940, but I doubt I would ever lay out the dough for a Randall or a Sebenza.
I own a lot of other knives because I find them interesting, or aesthetically appealing, but I am still a cheapskate so I shy away from expensive knives. If I had more disposable income I might try something like a Benchmade 940, but I doubt I would ever lay out the dough for a Randall or a Sebenza.
A knife that was bought for $10 30yrs ago doesn't mean it's a cheap knife.
Case, Camilus, Kabar, Queen, Boker and a lot of other brands that don't exist anymore were good knives. They don't need excuses made for them.
Some that are still around are now junk : Schrade, Marbel and they use to be good knives. These knives were top shelf in the day and there were many low end US made knives that had pretty decent steel in them. Seems knives are a lot like today's guns. You have to pay through the nose for a 22 that shoots as well as a 1960, $19.95 single shot.
Case, Camilus, Kabar, Queen, Boker and a lot of other brands that don't exist anymore were good knives. They don't need excuses made for them.
Some that are still around are now junk : Schrade, Marbel and they use to be good knives. These knives were top shelf in the day and there were many low end US made knives that had pretty decent steel in them. Seems knives are a lot like today's guns. You have to pay through the nose for a 22 that shoots as well as a 1960, $19.95 single shot.
kwselke
Member
I like Benchmade knives. A while back, bought a little Auto Benchmite. Fine little knife! Hard to find now and not inexpensive. But a fine little knife. Bought a Auto Presideo. Great EDC. Nice size. Not cheap. Worth every penny. Few years ago, found a very nice NIB Marbles NRA sheath knife. Simply gorgeous. Not a custom. Not EDC. But beautiful. On the look out for a Camillus Boy Scout Whittler Knife ca. 1970-80. Had one while working toward Eagle Scout. It went missing. Also missing ... Eagle Scout kerchief and slide. No hope of replacing the kerchief and slide. Maybe find the knife on Ebay? Sincerely. bruce.
Pef
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I used to carry a Benchmade Mini Griptillian, and then my daughter and wife bought me a Ken Osborn 940 for father's day years back. That's my spring/summer carry. It was about 180 bucks, but I don't think it was overpriced. It's a slick knife and feels good in the hand. I like it because my youngest picked it out for me.
Now, for overpriced...I'm going to throw down.
My wife bought me a William Henry Gentac Molten for our 25th anniversary. She said I could keep it only on one condition - that I carried it and used it. If I stuck it in my "knife drawer," she was going to return it.
It's an expensive knife. She put some thought into it, and said "Image what that knife will look like 25 years from now, after we've spent another 25 years together."
#5 of 100 made.
Inlaid Apatosaurus bone fossil from 100 million years ago. I've had it for a little over three years now. Overpriced? When I first got it, yes. Now, well, no. It's a light duty knife. If I need to carve a piece of red oak or cut up a bunch of cardboard boxes, I'll just grab a Kershaw or a Benchmade.
Besides, in 25 years, it will have only cost me $100 per year.
Now, for overpriced...I'm going to throw down.
My wife bought me a William Henry Gentac Molten for our 25th anniversary. She said I could keep it only on one condition - that I carried it and used it. If I stuck it in my "knife drawer," she was going to return it.
It's an expensive knife. She put some thought into it, and said "Image what that knife will look like 25 years from now, after we've spent another 25 years together."
#5 of 100 made.
Inlaid Apatosaurus bone fossil from 100 million years ago. I've had it for a little over three years now. Overpriced? When I first got it, yes. Now, well, no. It's a light duty knife. If I need to carve a piece of red oak or cut up a bunch of cardboard boxes, I'll just grab a Kershaw or a Benchmade.
Besides, in 25 years, it will have only cost me $100 per year.
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I have an Emerson Sheepdog. I was like you and have always felt they were overpriced until I got one. Simply amazing quality.
Emerson Sheepdog Rangemaster Spear Point Flipper 3.5" Stonewashed Plain Blade with Wave, Black G10 Handles - KnifeCenter - SHPDG-SF Spear Point
I'm normally a $150 or less buyer, but who can argue with this?
Ribwizzard
Member
It's a hard subject to explain ......until you've spent 7 hours taking a ELMAX powdered steel blade to a mirror honed edge , and find out what a really sharp blade is actually like. Most people have no ideal what that level of sharpness is actually like.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
I like your list, and I would add Gerber for a good working man's knife-especially because they are made here-at least mine have been.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
Anyone who thinks you can't buy a top quality pocket knife for around $100 has never owned a Mcusta.
If you are talking kitchen knives, you can get a Wusthof Classic 8" Chefs knife for about half of $100, or a Sabatier (**** Elephant, K-Sab, etc) for about the same price. These knives are top quality in regards to functionality and they get used every day.
If you are talking kitchen knives, you can get a Wusthof Classic 8" Chefs knife for about half of $100, or a Sabatier (**** Elephant, K-Sab, etc) for about the same price. These knives are top quality in regards to functionality and they get used every day.
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Rock185
US Veteran
I met Bob Terzuola at SOF in Vegas one year, and ordered one of his M-18 knives in '87. It was $225.00, which should be about about $500.00 in today's money. At the time, $225.00 for a knife was big bucks to me. Still have the knife, and certainly don't regret buying it, and some other knives I've acquired along the way. I think the Terzuola knife is probably the most expensive I've purchased. I have some Buck, Case, Puma, S&W, etc. knives that I paid less for though, and enjoy owning them all.
I don't have a maximum I would pay in mind, I just bought knives I liked. I think all the others were $200.00 or less. But my knives lead a relatively easy life, and I have little doubt that even less expensive knives would probably have served as well. So I guess I overpaid for some "over priced knives"
I don't have a maximum I would pay in mind, I just bought knives I liked. I think all the others were $200.00 or less. But my knives lead a relatively easy life, and I have little doubt that even less expensive knives would probably have served as well. So I guess I overpaid for some "over priced knives"
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Frank46
US Veteran
When I got out of the navy back in '67 and realized I didn't have a hunting knife I bought a Puma hunter's buddy or pal for about $30 bucks. Then along came a buck 110 for about $20 bucks. Carried the Buck from when I bought it in '77 till I retired in '96. Still have both. Over the years mostly Gerber, was given two Spyderco mariners when I worked for a living. Have about 4 Benchmade knives 2 griptilians, and two others. I do my own sharpening and funny thing is when working had guys bring me their fancy cutlery around Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years. Sportsmans guide recently had the M9 style bayonets and the one I have was the original manufacturer. Probably have a couple knives on my workbench or computer table. Wal mart had some 3 knife sets with the Gerber logo on them. All were made in China. None of the locks for the blades once locked could be released. Had to stick a screw driver between the lock and blade to release the blade. Seems they didn't grind the bevel on the lock properly and left too much metal. For $20 I'll redo the metal removal myself, not much to loose. Frank
Texas Star
US Veteran
I met Bob Terzuola at SOF in Vegas one year, and ordered one of his M-18 knives in '87. It was $225.00, which should be about about $500.00 in today's money. At the time, $225.00 for a knife was big bucks to me. Still have the knife, and certainly don't regret buying it, and some other knives I've acquired along the way. I think the Terzuola knife is probably the most expensive I've purchased. I have some Buck, Case, Puma, S&W, etc. knives that I paid less for though, and enjoy owning them all.
I don't have a maximum I would pay in mind, I just bought knives I liked. I think all the others were $200.00 or less. But my knives lead a relatively easy life, and I have little doubt that even less expensive knives would probably have served as well. So I guess I overpaid for some "over priced knives"
I knew Terzuola a bit and published a profile on him in a knife magazine. I think he is among the most talented and inspired knife designers of all time. His designs were licensed to Cutlery Shoppe, which made refined editions of his M-30-A1 and another model or two, inc. his sort of boot knife semi-skinner, M-10, I believe.
You haven't lost any money by buying his knife then and I've heard he no longer makes sheath knives. You'd have to get the Cutlery Shoppe version which I think costs as much as you paid for the real handmade version. And it's a danged fine knife. The version with the dull grey blade finish would be an outstanding combat knife in a place like Afghanistan. The shiny blade version is prettier, assuming that you aren't worried about an enemy seeing a reflection off the blade. I own both. Neither is for sale.
Thanks for showing Terzuola's logo, which is the Maya glyph for Etz'Nab, their god of edged tools and weapons. At the time he adopted that symbol, he was working in Guatemala. Some US special ops soldiers there told him they thought the old M-3 knife was an exceptional military style, so Bob refined that into his highly evolved version, M30. It is a superb knife. Gryphon Knives M-30-A1 is the production version, from Cutlery Shoppe. It has a 154CM blade in lieu of his D-2 steel of the original. I hope they still make it.
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KNIVES........ can be a addicting as S&Ws...... so many varieties and price points...... along with the little AAA LED flashlight that rides in my pocket daily; my Benchmade 2.9" "North Fork" ($150ish IIRC) gets used almost daily. With a less than 3 inch blade and with wood scales it does not look tacticoooool!
I know I've got more than I will ever need...... including those 7" blades purchased after watching too much "Walking Dead"!
Price wise......mine probably range from $50 to $250. For some reason Randall knives have never appealed to me..... and doubt I'd actually use a $500 knife short of TEOTWAWKI.
Always wanted a custom knife for the cabin....... but there are too many 'steels' out there......and no consensus on quality Some of the old names seem to have slipped in quality; well at least base on my reading of "on line postings",
My working knives are pretty much Ka-bar's Mark-I 5" (before the Mark-I I used a couple of 5" versions of the famous "WWII 7" ka-bar) and Kershaw Blur. Decent quality and cheap enough to keep in each car kit ,cabin and home.
One thing I've not been happy with when I buy most new knives is the quality of the factory sheaths........ Savage Sheaths.com has made several for me. I would recommend him......not cheap at about $45-55; but hey, a good holster today is closer to $100 and up, than $50!
I know I've got more than I will ever need...... including those 7" blades purchased after watching too much "Walking Dead"!
Price wise......mine probably range from $50 to $250. For some reason Randall knives have never appealed to me..... and doubt I'd actually use a $500 knife short of TEOTWAWKI.
Always wanted a custom knife for the cabin....... but there are too many 'steels' out there......and no consensus on quality Some of the old names seem to have slipped in quality; well at least base on my reading of "on line postings",
My working knives are pretty much Ka-bar's Mark-I 5" (before the Mark-I I used a couple of 5" versions of the famous "WWII 7" ka-bar) and Kershaw Blur. Decent quality and cheap enough to keep in each car kit ,cabin and home.
One thing I've not been happy with when I buy most new knives is the quality of the factory sheaths........ Savage Sheaths.com has made several for me. I would recommend him......not cheap at about $45-55; but hey, a good holster today is closer to $100 and up, than $50!
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Said it many times, a knife is a disposable asset. They get lost, stolen, broken, borrowed & never returned and so on. I don't buy a knife I can't afford to replace next payday should anything untoward happen.
OP
wingriderz
Member
Nice pictures for sure and comments too
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