How much would you spend on a knife?

[Stuey]

How much would you spend on a knife? You can let me know here or via TG comment

I'm planning a series of EDC and shop knife reviews and although my schedule is full (aka I ran out of money), I could add one or two more. Makes more sense for me to target a more popular price range.

Thanks!

Specific requests are also welcome. I can probably add another 1-2 inexpensive ones to my test rotation.

 

[sdguy55]

I was just getting interested in knives. More so the art of sharpening one on stones. But i just picked up a kershaw 1830 for 26 bucks and i like it so far. I really want another one though and i cant explain why because i usually dont have no-nonsense urges like 'ya i need 15 knives'

 

[jrodc455]

If I had the money probably up to $200.

 

[lwlobo]

I'll spend $20-40 on a carry knife pretty easily. I might spend $100+ on something I really, really want, but haven't yet.

 

[Kyle86]

$40-$100 tops.

 

[Paulkenosha]

Most I ever spent was 80bucks. Was the exact knife I had I my head that I'd like and seen it in a gunstore. That was a pocket knife though.

 

[TinKnocker]

the most i have spent is $45 on a sog. years ago i bought a few ka-bars for $40. i think under $50 there is alot of american made competition.

 

[Mastermind]

i couldn't justify more than $20-25 on an EDC myself.
my EDC is a $10 gerber EAB. (was $10 when i got it at wal mart approx. 2006)been clipped on my pocket for years. i find it more usefull to have a razor blade doing body/paint work, as i'm constantly cutting paper,tape and cardboard. i'd have sharpened thru a standard blade by now. used to carry a large buck that was a freebie.

 

[maddawg308]

Most I ever spent on a knife was $80 on a Gerber 5" combat knife. I've bought several KA-BARs in the $40-60 range. I see the purpose of a $200 custom knife if that's your thing, but the expensive knives I can't afford yet...

 

[Exceller8]

I've spent $1200 on a Custom Emerson. I usually like to stay under $300 for an edc knife...

 

[larry_g]

25-50 for a daily usage knife.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[otis66]

I'm saving my pennies for a Zero Tolerance 0550 $250.00.
http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=676&brand=zt

 

[neonnblack]

$40-$100 tops.

same

 

[jetmech09]

No more than 30 for something I have on me daily.

 

[RobertMo1988]

Dang I spent 150 on my open assist benchmade 581SBK Barrage that's probably the most ill spend

 

[mrjaw14]

My EDC at work where I have to wear dress clothes is a SOG Flash I (straight edge) $30

My EDC any other time I have a benchmade mini griptilian 556 that's about $75

I also have Spyderco delica 4 FFG $60, spyderco endura $60

I had a Kershaw OSO Sweet that I really like, except that it doesn't hold an edge. Once you have a really good knife that can get razor sharp, it makes all the knives with cheap steel not even worth the $10-15 they cost and, for me at least, get relegated to abusive yard tasks, a vehicle kit, emergency kit, or backup knife.

I also plan on getting a spyderco paramilitary 2 that retails for about $108. So I would say that I'm comfortable spending up to $100 on a knife that I'm actually going to carry or use. Much past that and I would just baby it and not use it for it's intended purpose.

For EDC biggest concern is size and weight. If it's too large to carry, it doesn't matter how sharp it'll get. Pocket clip has to be right, can't expose the knife too much out of the pocket, can't tear pants, etc. Blade steel is 2nd most important thing. AUS8 is the minimum for me after dealing with kershaw's 8cr13mov and it's lack of edge holding. (Kershaw changed the steel in the OSO sweet because of this) The better steels are VG-10, 154CM, and S30v. there's more exotic steel like ZDP, but you have to have some special sharpening skills with that. If you have a knife with VG-10, 154CM, and S30v, just get a FINE ceramic stone from lansky (available at Academy sports) and just lightly touch up the blade monthly and it'll stay scary sharp.

I've spend a lot of $$$ on knives and that's the "best of" summary of what I've learned.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

I spent 70 on my kerswhaw Blur 2 tanto. that i use for my Every day cary. i really enjoy it. at first i thought i would not like the serrated edge but i use it alot at work and really enjoy it. I keep it sharp enough for every day with a smiths pocket sharp. the diamond rod works well enough for sharpening the serations.

But I want to save up for a benchmade probably going to spend about 200 bucks on it

 

[jrlp]

~200. My benchmade 707 that was on my side every day for over 6 years was around ~170. My new Benchmade Adamas was 160. I realize how expensive that is for a knife, but after breaking so many other brands, I figured I'd try benchmade out.. and was hooked. I've broken countless gerber, sog, spyderco, kershaw.. I've had excellent luck with benchmades in d2 steel. I did break the tip off my 707 about 2 years ago, tearing a large stamped aluminum data plate that was riveted on 4 sides off, and only because I got lazy and took too big of a 'bite'. I had removed ~40 of them with my knife by that time, and rushed it. The adamas is twice as thick, I don't think I'll ever have an issue with it.

 

[Steevo]

I have enough knives already.
I just moved, and I found a Buck hunting knife I forgot I even had. Still like new, too, even though it it 30 years old.

 

[d_rock]

under 100 bucks

 

[sdguy55]

My EDC at work where I have to wear dress clothes is a SOG Flash I (straight edge) $30

My EDC any other time I have a benchmade mini griptilian 556 that's about $75

I also have Spyderco delica 4 FFG $60, spyderco endura $60

I had a Kershaw OSO Sweet that I really like, except that it doesn't hold an edge. Once you have a really good knife that can get razor sharp, it makes all the knives with cheap steel not even worth the $10-15 they cost and, for me at least, get relegated to abusive yard tasks, a vehicle kit, emergency kit, or backup knife.

I also plan on getting a spyderco paramilitary 2 that retails for about $108. So I would say that I'm comfortable spending up to $100 on a knife that I'm actually going to carry or use. Much past that and I would just baby it and not use it for it's intended purpose.

For EDC biggest concern is size and weight. If it's too large to carry, it doesn't matter how sharp it'll get. Pocket clip has to be right, can't expose the knife too much out of the pocket, can't tear pants, etc. Blade steel is 2nd most important thing. AUS8 is the minimum for me after dealing with kershaw's 8cr13mov and it's lack of edge holding. (Kershaw changed the steel in the OSO sweet because of this) The better steels are VG-10, 154CM, and S30v. there's more exotic steel like ZDP, but you have to have some special sharpening skills with that. If you have a knife with VG-10, 154CM, and S30v, just get a FINE ceramic stone from lansky (available at Academy sports) and just lightly touch up the blade monthly and it'll stay scary sharp.

I've spend a lot of $$$ on knives and that's the "best of" summary of what I've learned.

When you say that the oso sweet wouldnt hold an edge after how many cuts would it take for it to lose it? I ask cause i just bought one and my full intention with it was to learn how to sharpen a knife properly and i figured a nice cheap 30 dollar knife was the way to go. I will always compare all my knives to my gerber flik blade which, in my mind, was very bad. After just a couple of cuts on something that shouldnt make it lose its edge it does.

 

[Packard V8]

It's a personal choice and there is not really a direct correlation with price, utility and durability. I've never had my pants on without a knife in the pocket since I was five years old. (Curse our national cowardice and TSA regs) I've got a drawer full of $30-50 folding knives and none of them have ever failed me when used as a knife.

I've broken countless gerber, sog, spyderco, kershaw..

That could say more about the user and his techniques and choice of tool for the job than the justification for a benchmade knife. Your opinions may vary.

jack vines

 

[91bronc300]

For an EDC: $20.00 - $30.00

For a specific purpose knife: whatever it's worth.

Will be buying this when some spending money comes by again: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DZV3BG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jrlp]

It's a personal choice and there is not really a direct correlation with price, utility and durability. I've never had my pants on without a knife in the pocket since I was five years old. (Curse our national cowardice and TSA regs) I've got a drawer full of $30-50 folding knives and none of them have ever failed me when used as a knife.

That could say more about the user and his techniques and choice of tool for the job than the justification for a benchmade knife. Your opinions may vary.

jack vines

Most certainly, Jack. However, I'd like to add an exemption. There is a direct relationship between quality and Benchmade. Whether a $175 dollar benchmade is worth $100 more than a $75 benchmade.. I couldn't tell you. However, I can easily say that from my experience, Benchmade makes knives that can stand up better to abuse than any other I've come across. The key phrase is "used as a knife". Unfortunately, I use mine for a multitude of other uses than just a cutting instrument. I'm sure that paints me the devil to many knife purists.. but I use my knives for work. Sometimes that means abusing them to the point they break. I'd love to carry a nice KaBar or m4 bayo (like my hunting knife) every day.. I'd never break them. My 707 was the best knife I've ever owned.

I'll be the first to admit I abuse my knives, and my tools, and pretty much everything I own. But when it comes down to it, I like equipment that can put up with my abuse, and am willing to pay the extra premium to go with it.

Your milage may vary.

 

[Andybull]

Microtech and Busse Knives, $100.00-$1,000.00.

 

[Regnar]

Just spent $195 for an EDC and I thought that was stretching it.

I am also a huge supporter of Benchmade.

 

[Zrexxer]

I spent about $400 on a Randall. So, about that much.

 

[goodspeed]

Mine's right around a hundred bucks. Can't really justify spending more.

 

[wmartin]

Maybe whatever a Fallkniven F1 costs for fixed blade, maybe 50 bucks for a folding knife if I was splurging.

Realistically, more like whatever a Mora costs or a cheaper folder...$30 maybe.

Aside from the beauty of some custom knives, it's not an area where I see value in spending more. It's kind of like comparing super high end Japanese kitchen knives with $30 Victorinox's...not enough difference. YMMV.

 

[pendragon1998]

I think my Spyderco Byrd Crow in G10 scales was about $23. It has served me well. I might try a spyderco delica next time I buy one. $20-40 is my range.

 

[shoturtle]

EDC about 40-70 max.

 

[Jawn]

$50-ish... I might push it a bit if I found something really special, but I paid $45 for my current EDC and am quite happy with it (Kershaw OD-1).

 

[Danny304]

Spent about $120 for a Zero Tolerance 0350 a couple months ago. That's probably the upper limit I would be willing to spend.

 

[R6 Racer]

I am in the market for 2 new knives (1 for hunting & 1 for an edc)(both my knives were recently stolen when my truck was broken into) & after reading this thread have come to the conclusion that I am really uninformed. Can someone please school me on some of the things that have been talked about so far? Like is benchmade a manufacturer or is it used to describe a knife that someone has made on there own? What are all the steel types & what's the difference? Sharpening has been talked about, I'm seeing that different styles need to be used for different steels, what's up there? I haven't heard much talk of Ka-Bar, why, or any talk of the type of steels they use?
I was looking at a Ka-Bar D2 for hunting. As for edc I haven't even started looking yet.

After typing all this I realised that it turned into quite a thread hijack... sorry about that. Can anyone suggest a site where I can learn most of this stuff all in one place.

Anyone who would like to send me a pm to answer any one of my questions, please do! Any help at this point would be greatly appreciated.

Steve

 

[mrjaw14]

When you say that the oso sweet wouldnt hold an edge after how many cuts would it take for it to lose it? I ask cause i just bought one and my full intention with it was to learn how to sharpen a knife properly and i figured a nice cheap 30 dollar knife was the way to go. I will always compare all my knives to my gerber flik blade which, in my mind, was very bad. After just a couple of cuts on something that shouldnt make it lose its edge it does.

my OSO sweet just would not get as sharp as my spyderco or benchmade, or even my SOG flash I period. The metal just can't get there. For edge retention quality, I sharpened it as good as I could get it with the Lansky kit (very good kit I might add) and then the next day at work I was cutting a bunch of boxes open and ripping some cardboard, and it dulled it pretty well. I was surprised how much actually. That's why they've upgraded the steel to AUS6 (should have been to AUS8)

My SOG flash I in AUS8, still a $30ish knife, can to the same task and still be as sharp as before I did the cutting. moral of the story is stay away from 8CR13mov knives...that's why I don't have a Spyderco tenacious. I really really like the look of the knife, but hate the steel. Wish Spyderco made the same knife with VG-10.

 

[mrjaw14]

I am in the market for 2 new knives (1 for hunting & 1 for an edc)(both my knives were recently stolen when my truck was broken into) & after reading this thread have come to the conclusion that I am really uninformed. Can someone please school me on some of the things that have been talked about so far? Like is benchmade a manufacturer or is it used to describe a knife that someone has made on there own? What are all the steel types & what's the difference? Sharpening has been talked about, I'm seeing that different styles need to be used for different steels, what's up there? I haven't heard much talk of Ka-Bar, why, or any talk of the type of steels they use?
I was looking at a Ka-Bar D2 for hunting. As for edc I haven't even started looking yet.

After typing all this I realised that it turned into quite a thread hijack... sorry about that. Can anyone suggest a site where I can learn most of this stuff all in one place.

Anyone who would like to send me a pm to answer any one of my questions, please do! Any help at this point would be greatly appreciated.

Steve

see my first post in this thread and I talk about steel a bit. If you want to know more, PM me and we'll have a more in-depth conversation.

 

[EvilWelder]

If I like it I will buy it, not going to be spending thousands, but I would have no problem spending over a bean on a nice knife.

 

[Delbert G]

I'd go up to $600 or so to get the an EDC knife that would last the rest of my life.

DG

 

[transittech]

Up to about $80.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

same

ditto