If it wasn't for channels like you and metal and others I wouldn't know how awesome say the Shiro Quantum is. I also can't afford to own all the knives you review. But it's fantastic to see all that's out there and hear someone educated and enthusiastic about the subject to review whatever they can/will. There are those out there with bigger budgets and those with smaller budgets. You seem to really cater to all parties (minus a ton from the custom land understandably). Keep up the good work mang!
Over the last 30 years, since maybe age 10, I've spent on pocket knives anywhere from $5 - $300. Estimating here, I've owned maybe 100 knives, which actually helps illustrate the following numbers as percentiles. The retail values of my lifetime collection break down as follows: 4 range $250-$300 8 range $150-$200 8 range $100-$150 10 range $75-$100 15 range $50-75 15 range $30-$50 20 range $15-$30 20 range $5-$15 To me, generally speaking, & if the price is fair: "Need a Loan or Lottery Win to Afford" is anything $500+. "Premium" is anything over $200. "Expensive" is anything over about $100. "Nearly Expensive" is $75-$100 "Budget" is roughly $40-$75. "Cheap" is under $15-$40. "Piece of Crap Lest a Rare Miracle Gem Occur" is under $15 (aka Gas Station Knives). This it's just a guideline, of course, & there can be exceptions. Wow that took some time to formulate & type up, so I hope it's helpful! 😀
This vid is right on point, I was just explaining the knife community’s pricing to a friend who is “getting” into knives, he was blown away that there even is a community...and then we descended down the rabbit hole of discontinued knives and customization ;) For me, below $100 is budget. I’ve been comfortable in the $200-300 range for the past couple years and finally entered the $500 range of collecting (though not sure how sustainable that will be lol). Like Epicsnugglebunny says, “reduce and refine.”
My most useful knife was $44. The Havalon Bone Collector has a drop point blade and a replaceable scalpel blade. It felt cheap, so I have modified it heavily. I wish more manufacturers would produce dual bladed knives on which one blade is a replaceable scalpel blade. It’s so useful.
Buy what you like, use it, and enjoy it. If you’re afraid to use it, then you spent over your comfort range unless you’re just an art collector which is fine but then price/value doesn’t matter.
Great video review! I totally get what you are saying! I usually collect Benchmade and Spyderco knives. As a huge flashlight collector, I came across a TH-cam site (mr.Skeleton) asked him on his custom knife, and that I collect Benchmade and Spyderco. It turns out, his knives are EXPENSIVE $$$$$$$.
Budget is around $50. Quality is around $100. Expensive is over $200. Most of us can get away with knives in the $100 category and be perfectly happy but like you said it’s all perceived value. I love my mini griptilian as much as I love my FF Exec.
My new years resolution this year was to minimize the number of Chinese D2 knifes. My knife collection went from 50 to 100 in 2019 and that jump was almost entirely budget knives. Great knives, too - Civivis, Steel Wills, Bestech, CJRB, and a couple of Byrds and Sypdercos in BD1. But I discovered that I could have bought a Sebenza instead of 7 Civivis; and did I really need 7 more Civivis? Especially considering that I didn't have a Sebenza. I haven't been disappointed so far, having stepped up my knife game.
I think the problem is the resistance needed to not buy a knife. When you haven't bought one in a while you kind of start doing that antsy junkie thing and a budget knife is just the thing to give you that hit. If you can sit on that long enough and make a tally on the board enough times, you can spend the money you would have spent, but on something nicer as you describe. But the resistance in the meantime is tough. Want... new... knife...
@@JustKnifeThings - I know what you mean; my knife collection is growing much slower and to accomplish this I have bought just one Civivi this year - wait, 2 Civivis this year. How many have come out? Got to be at least 15. Any they all look pretty awesome.
Let's face it. Knife collecting is an addiction and an obsession. I struggled and sat on the fence the first time I spent over $40 on a knife. Then I did the same at $100, $200, $300, $500 and so on. I just bought a custom Demko for over $800 and I liked it so well that I bought the production version for $425. I spent $1300 for my grail knife, the Grant & Gavin Deadlock and I love it. I bought the CRKT Shock for $750 and I'm glad I did and I also bought some limited edition ZT's that cost over $1000. I am glad I bought all of these and I can honestly say that I get more pleasure from them than what I paid for them.
Have Anthem. Can confirm. One of my favorite knives. I just subbed to your channel today (heard your name all over the place in the TH-cam knife sphere, just never got over here for some reason...) and some of your tastes line up very very well with mine. My favorite knives in my collection at the moment are my CRK Large Inkosi (drop point, haven't used a tanto worth a darn yet so I don't have an opinion either way), and the Benchmade Anthem. One for work, one for play haha.
After 4 years of collecting knives I looked at 50 knives that cost 100-200$ and decided to sell a dozen and buy a 1,500$ Holt Spector. Worth it I don’t miss those other knives.
It’s crazy to look back on what was expensive to me when I started out. My first grail was a PM2 and I thought $100 for a knife was insanity. Now I’d say budget knives are $100 and under and expensive starts at $300.
$100 was a lot of money for me 3 years ago. $30 was a lot of money for me 5 years before that. Assuming every review reader has the same amount of money available as you is a bad idea. Price should only be a relative metric.
definitely, that's why value is such a moving target and why a $200 knife or a $50 knife can both be considered great values, provided they each bring enough to the table for their given price point
I just bought a Civivi Elementum with S35VN steel for $81. That has to up for bargain of the year. It’s a great knife and a great size, terrific action. I also own a Kershaw Knockout in M390. Another fantastic deal. My Benchmade Bugout is only a value when you consider the weight. Straight up against other knives, it’s overpriced. And I refused to buy a mini Bugout that is MORE expensive than the full size. I have a ZT 0562 from USA Made Blade that was $280 but has custom Anomascus scales. I liked the appearance of the knife, so that’s what made it worth the price. When it comes down to it, you buy a knife to cut, so it’s all about the steel. And it makes me crazy when people talk about these supposed awesome knives that don’t have steel to match the price. For example, the Spiderco Delica.
This past weekend one of my friends who isn't into knives asked me "At what price does the extra cost stop being worth it?" I didn't have a great answer as it is a pretty subjective question, but I said somewhere around $150. Curious to see what you all think.
That's almost exactly the price I'd say where it becomes diminishing returns. $150-200. Anything beyond that is because you want it and makes you feel good. Which is also fine.
Agreed. I can look at my SMKW bareknuckle 20cv aluminum bearings. 100.00 then my Protech FF mordax. 20cv aluminum bearings. 250.00. At some point you are paying for the names involved. Not always a bad thing. Just like designer clothing.
I would say budget is up to $80 but to me that is what i could spend on a knife one month and not have to go without anything, (Well before covid but that's neither here nor there.) Lately I've been getting knives in the $150-300 range but that's more because the one i want is not offered at any other price point . I just bought my first Mircotech this year and it was an LUDT but it was the stormtrooper edition so it was more than the regular but i'm totally ok with that. I just bought my first Protech last month and it was the TR4 but it has the "espresso" blade finish so it was more than the base model but to me well worth it. I think you made lots of really good points in this video. i highly enjoyed it so thank you.
I use to think a PM2 was a premium knife for $120. I thought that was insane to spend that much on a pocket knife, but my original PM2 is still to this day one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. The PM2 was definitely my gateway drug to buying higher-end knives. The first time I decided to spend $400 on a knife makes me feel like my perspective has completely shifted. $250 seems somewhat like the cost of entry into something a little more exotic. With an expectation being excellent action, premium materials, blade steel, and high degree of fit and finish. That is at least what I’ve come to expect now handling something like a Taichung Taiwan Spyderco. I couldn’t stomach pulling the trigger on a Demko six months ago but now I feel like I could if I refrained from purchasing a $200 knife a couple times. I never thought of myself as a collector so maybe that’s where budget knives don’t work for me. I don’t want a huge collection, but rather a meager or modest one of a few mid-range production knives, like in the Spyderco, Reate, or WE camps. Seems like you get a lot of value for the money with collaborative work, i.e. expert design, finishing, and premium materials. I’m just not a player in the full-on custom realm. My first PM2 is now my beater knife I use everyday at work and still stands the test of time. In the end I just want something that will hold up to the job and to me that’s worth every penny.
I have zero budget folders currently. I decided some time ago to only keep all US made knives. When doing that the collection slimmed quite a bit do to cost, and currently all that remains are primarily Hinderers, a Demko, and a Spartan. Which I am ok with. But I wouldnt mind a US made manual budget blade around the $50 mark. I am thinking the Kershaw Skyline. Even though now discontinued they are still pretty available. Plus I'm just really getting into sharpening on my ViperSharp and I would like something I could use, dull and sharpen pretty easily. What do you think?
For me budget is below $25, like a Ganzo or a Kershaw. Expensive is above $200. I tend to only get expensive knives as presents from the wife, but I do love my Crooked River and PM2. Hoping for a Manix for Christmas :)
I think anything under $75 is budget and anything over $200 is expensive is general. The curve of diminishing return probably starts flattening at around the $300 mark for most companies
I set a limit of $300, but most of my purchases are between $100 and $240. I got a Medford slim midi that the original owner disassembled for $300, and I'm happy with that. Otherwise the Mordax at $240 was my most expensive buy. Now that I've discovered Twosun, I'm under $100. Waiting on a Malibu, still < $200.
This year, I'm out of work, out of money, and seriously thinking about selling some of my collection; so, at the moment an Opinel is out of my price range 🤣
Don't despair, amigo. I was right there a month or two ago and liquidated about 80 out of my collection. On the bright side, things do get better. I've just gotten 5 new ones this week and have a few more on the way. Keep the faith, they're just things and if you really like them, you'll find a way to replace them somewhere down the line.
Well done video topic. For me, and I don't think I'm unique with this, the longer I've been in the hobby, the higher price range I feel is acceptable. When I started about five years ago, $100 for a knife was a lot. And gradually that number crept up. It's now $600+. But really, on a monthly basis, I used to buy more less expensive knives and now I buy less more expensive ones, so in the end it kind of balances out the same.
As they say, to each their own. Your "worth it" round-up only holds 1 that I would put in that category. I generally divide mine into 2 categories. Those I wouldn't cry if I lost, and those that I'll be unlikely to replace in the same condition for triple the price. I consider < $50 a bargain, < $125 a 10 year to life time user and $250 and up collectables. I've yet to find something I can't do with a $125 knife that I can do with a $450..except devalue the latter.
I got some aftermarket G10 scales for my original Freak. They cost me around 100 bucks. I know that is a lot of money but I can get it out of my pocket now.
Where I tend to draw the line is when u can start buying go to war handguns for the same price I wont buy it. BUT I do spend like 300 sometimes so I get it. Also US price increases are upsetting.
I can get a decent enough knife for around £50. £80 to £150 gets me a really nice knife. Recently spent double what I've ever spent on a knife before on a Hinderer vintage slippy. I love it and it'll be with me forever but its way beyond the point of diminishing returns and I'll struggle to hit that price point again.
If it's over $100 it's getting pricey. If it's over $200 it's expensive. Over $300 it better be one incredible knife. The knives that go for like $700-1000+ are just ridiculous.
Why do people buy Rolex? Luxury vehicles? The list can go on and on. In almost every case, you’re paying for a name brand but also incredible attention to detail, fit, finish, and sometimes because there is nothing else like it on the market. Everyone has their threshold price and that’s the beauty of having options.
19:52 So right ... but then I would much rather have the uncoated S90V blade than a coated M4. Even with the CF scales I'm sure it could be a lot more affordable. As it is, I'd sooner buy 3 regular Mini Freeks than one 565-1🤑 But maybe that's just because I'm not crazy about the red thumbstud😯
Budget= $250 I have to stop and think. I have a list of "expensive" knives that if I see the one I want (CRK small inkosi insigno blade with brown micarta or wood insets, Strider PT Ti, any Wehr, etc) I just pull the trigger
I would say budget knife would start at 50$ and run thru hmm maybe 125$ but for me if you can get into the 200 to 250$ range you can get some really nice stuff
Great topic and late to the game but one thing that has changed my mind is over the last 2 years the resale market for knives has gotten really bad. There was a time you could get close to what you paid for a knife on ebay but not the case anymore. The plays a role for me as I would love to reduce my collection but without being able to do that very difficult to justify more that just end up sitting in night stand drawers
I just dropped $910 on a knife last night which most people would think is absurd. But it was one of those knives I fell in love with and had the disposable income to do so, so I pulled the trigger.
Im looking for my first high-end knife but I also want a knife I can use and carry everyday..im not into having it sit in a case at home but I get the allure of it.. I seen a ZT 801 sprint run thats absolutely beautiful but im scared to use it
Personally I like seeing reviews of knives of various price points. I love knives, but I can’t own every knife I want. However, I still like see how they function, and how they compare to knives that I may already own or have handled. What is expensive vs budget is different for everybody. I think the way you categorize the knives into various price ranges when you review them is fair. Most of your viewers are knife enthusiasts and probably agree with you on what is budget. This is going to be different for folks that are just looking for knife to use.
Buddy is selling a brand new benchmade 940-2001 for the list price of 340.00 is this knife worth this? I know its a limited edition but is there any demand in the knife community for this?
What a fundamental failure of our society that so few can afford to invest in a lifetime instrument. In the 1950s and 60s people regularly bought Parker 51s and Case knives and the like that were HUGELY more expensive as a percent of income. Housing, college for the kids, food, medication and the necessity of having a car and all of them have been free from investment and their prices have spiraled out of control.
I read your first few words and thought this was going to be a comment I had to delete. But reading the entire thing... I don't disagree with a word of it.
$200 is the sweet spot for me. I have a Super Freek and a Shamen love them both. But I use all my knives and I think spending $300 $400 $500 I would hesitate to use them and try to keep them pristine You are right about Protechs I always thought they were very expensive I just got the TR3 for $150 and I love it just as much as the Super Freek and Shamen
Those five high end knives, they don’t look like you actually use them. They are more like jewerlry. I think Benchmades are too expensive now. Thanks for talking about this. BTW- what does XM mean for Hinderers?
Such a subjective subject. I think it really depends on the individual's frame of mind and financial situation. I've collected several different things over the years. Coins, toys, guns and now knives. So my frame of mind is collecting. I don't focus on knives being tools as much as "Do I want this in my collection?". If yes, does it fit within my current budget? The ONLY reason I don't have a Hinderer, Medford, Spartan, etc., is that my budget doesn't allow for them at this moment in time. I would drop $500 + for a quality knife in a heartbeat, though. Just because I cannot afford them, atm, doesn't mean that I don't want to see them. Just my 2¢. Good vid Bryan.
Mmmh, I can’t afford to eat at Applebee’s. You must be eating pretty well Bryan. Obviously these production knives that are selling for $300, $400, or $500 would not be selling them for those kind of prices if they were not selling. Back when I started collecting knives and I had a range of knives valued at budget to around $300, a friend whom I was showing off my knives, told me that in his opinion there was no production knife that was worth $500. That changed the way I looked at my knife collecting, and I have to say, I have to agree with him.
I carry a carbon steel Mora every day. I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $100+ for a knife and putting it through what I put my Mora through. A Mora will do any and everything $100+ knives will do for a 1/4 of the price. Sure it doesn't fold. Not a big deal to me. I've got a nice gator skin sheath my friend made for me. Fits the knife like a glove. I strap it to my belt and it's never in the way and always handy.
I have slowly going up in price with my knives... but I also try to get them when they are on sale so it somewhat “balances” out the price increases. But that also makes it hard for me to sell things because I keep thinking well if I miss it, it will cost a lot more to get it again. Also I agree on the customization things, I don’t buy knives that are customized if anyone is going to void the warranty of my knife it’s going to be me
Although I have a couple, I like doing the production stuff as well. I enjoy being able to turn someone onto blade they can manage in the price department. Even though some maybe 3-400 bucks, I have no problem reviewing something that is $20 if its quality. 🍻
Last year before I got back into knives I would have said 40$ is a good knife. This year learning about what’s really out there and understanding what they’re made out of I have bought over 10 knives and most are over $100. Are they worth it? To me they are. And that’s all that matters. Only knive I have over $300 is a chaves and now I just got a pen from chaves for $135. So fml!! Only addiction I have left at this stage in life. So fuck it.
Very few people would consider $120 budget. Not without some serious mental gymnastics. High value? Yes. Budget knives need little to no encouragement for a NON KNIFE PERSON to buy. So. Generally that tops out at 50-60 bucks. Example, if I have a non knife person ask me about what's a good knife for them and I give them a suggestion for a budget knife and it's 90-120 bucks..... they're going to think I'm a total dick. I suggest a 20-40 dollar CJRB and I get a thank you. We just have to keep in mind that budget doesn't go up for folks with little money or a desire to have a large quantity of knives for less than a house down payment.
Two words to consider: Steel tariffs Tariffs are taxes on imported steel. That also gives competitive room for domestic steel prices to rise. All in all, we should expect everything made from steel to be rising in cost.
6o and under budget over 60 to 150 mid priced. over 150 high priced. that my thoughts on the knife prices. a lot comes down to a persons income level and what they think about knives.
If people were to buy knives with their `head’ we would only see budget knives but for a lot of the time, we buy with our hearts if we’ve been buying for some time and, there’s `the rub’. Prices wouldn’t go up if they didn’t think they could sell them. Just saying 😎
Trying not to be a killjoy here, but on behalf of working folks and tradesmen . . . Can you cut it with a $40 knife? And, can you cut it that much better for $400 more? See what I'm saying?
As a construction worker, a work knife over $40-$50 is not worth it but people collectors/enthusiasts don't look at it from the point of only usage. Obviously a $20 knife will do a fine job for most things you need it for but that's not the point here. For work, most of the time I'll use a $10 utility knife but I also carry the Native 5 in REX45 steel that I paid $100 for and I enjoy having it with me at work. I've come to enjoy $60-$100 knives because of their design, the nice materials being used and just the fun of holding and fidgeting with them. May not make sense for some people and that's perfectly fine
@@Satyaswaroopan I get it when it comes to collecting but these are always talked up as great users. For me $300, all things considered, is the cut off. Hell, s'like any hobby you can spend 5 grand if you want to
@@Zen_Ali_123 That is definitely true. I recently spent $150 on the new Para 3 which is the most money I've ever spent on a knife and right now, that feels like the cut off point for me. I have $80, $90, $100 TwoSun knives in my collection that are as good as $200-$300 knives and I'm absolutely happy with them so to me, spending more than that on other really high quality knives is not necessary
I don’t understand why people pay so much for Chinese Made knives, like some of them are over $200. Isn’t it understood that manufacturing costs in China are many times less than in America, not to mention the other reasons like giving money to Chinese workers not American, etc. Those Chinese companies like We, Reate and others must be making a fortune. Could someone help me understand why someone would buy a $250 Reate over a similar priced american knife like ZT?
We need to stop justifying the high prices. We say: "It keeps going up and I can't believe what they are asking, but is it too high; no it seems good for the market." The market is too high and there's few reasonably priced higher end knives to keep the market in check. But what about material cost? If M4 is twice the cost of S30V how much even is that? $5 to $10? Can anyone explain why my Mini Presidio 2 CF Elite is less expensive than a bugout even though the Presidio 2 literally has the same types of material, but more of every material, and the same amount of machining involved? It's all about prestige and 'what the market will bear', meaning keep raising the price as long as people still pay. All that said, I'm still glad that this is now a topic being discussed which will signal to the knife companies that they are near our tolerance limit.
In regards to the shaman at $205 it is in the same territory as the spydiechef which has much better materials and there are a lot of knives it is now competing with that are a lot better materials at roughly the same basic price range.
I just ordered a large Inkosi Black Micarta Tanto S35VN from Aus and at the moment it's about $800 but I am holding staunch that the Aus economy is going to ' stay strong ' during covid scandemic 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
budget $75 or less average nice knife $80-150 pricey up to $200 over $200.. maybe $225 is expensive.. anything over the price of a hinderer XM-18 3.5" or large Sebenza 31 doesn't get considered. $600 or more seems grossly gougey too me... is it stronger than a ColdSteel 4-Max, does it have Sebenza quality or VASTLY superior? does it have Hinderer Engineering or VASTLY higher? no ... okay. maybe I'm an unrefined goon, but the Sebenza's, XM-18 & MK&T sit atop my personal pyramid... also CRK, Hinderer and MK&T have outstanding warranties & customer service
I dont know what you have against flipping knifes man i love flipping my knifes most have flipper tabs lol 😆 im joking man i know what ys mean hey im watching yoir Chanel because of Metal Complex!
Interesting video. To me, spending $100 on a knife is near my top end. I might...might spend up to $150 for a knife I REALLY liked but that is probably the most I would spend. Right now, the most expensive knife I have was $75 shipped from BHQ and I love the knife and have absolutely no buyers remorse. In fact, I intend on buying another version of the same model when it is released soon with a brass handle and upgraded steel which will probably end up costing around $90 shipped. I just can't see spending hundreds on a knife but to each his own. I am not a hard knife user and just can't justify the expense of knives costing hundreds. Granted, I haven't handled a knife costing hundreds so my point of reference is limited.
@Alastair Bryant Couldn't be a truer statement.. Expensive doesn't always mean quality. Really expensive does sometimes... lol but I've seen $200+ blades that absolutely suck functionality wise. But my $150 lionsteel is perfect. A great balance between price and quality. And there are plenty more like it on the market that can perform just as well, if not better than some of the more expensive ones. 🍻
Keeping it real! Thank you thank you!! I'm a Benchmade, Spyderco collector for 30 years! Not until I started collecting flashlights, I've totally discovered another level to knives!! I need to get started!! BRAVO!!
I don't want to pay $275 for the mini freek but... ooh that's sexy. It makes me want to pay it. It's that damned red stud. They know it is tantalizing us. They know we're going to break. AAAAH. It's not about what it cost them, it's about what people would be willing to pay. That's just business. Don't leave money on the table.
Just list the price range in the review title and let the viewers decide if the prices are budge or not. It’s not that hard to avoid the price subjectivity issue.
"expensive" is relative to perspective pertaining money, it's not something that can be measured beyond the paradigm of an individual. You consider a $500 knife "worth it" because of labor, materials, brand. I consider that a person collecting multiple $500 knives is potentially selling their soul over materialistic junk, if a human is consumed by collecting "treasure" they have truly failed at life. Nobody NEEDS a single knife worth $500, if greed and boasting is what drives a man to obtain many items its idolatry. A knife collection could potentially be so expensive it costs your soul.
🤔 Would the same apply to any kind of collection? Works of art ... jewelry ... shoes ... stamps ... records ... comic books ... baseball cards? If it gives you joy and you're not hurting anyone to satisfy your wants, why the sufferation😱
@@esoteric5277 Yes, it applies to a collection of any kind and extends beyond materialistic items. If a mans belly is his god then God Almighty will obliterate them. This life is a test.
@@esoteric5277 Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
For me the cost is balanced against usage. Time to dollar per use is revealing to track, and penny per use even more so. But that doesn't capture the delight of carrying and using a superior knife.
I think there's a lot of overlap in concepts you're talking about here and you're lumping it all in under "expensive" and "worth it" as a scale. I think fundamentally "expensive" like "budget" is subjective and based on the amount of money an individual has. If you're Jeff Bezos a 1 million dollar home bought cash is cheap, it's a throw away drop of the hat purchase. If you make $15,000 a year and have 6 dependents and no savings a $20 knife might be expensive. For me I set budget at $50 and am hesitant to buy a knife more than $100 I have 1 knife with more than $200 in it and that's only just because of aftermarket clip cost. I think "value" and "worth it" are different. "Value" can be both objective and subjective. Objective "value" can be considered essentially as the inverse of profit margin. That is to say how much more are you being charged for a product than it cost to get to you. Subjective "value" is where things like prestige, name recognition, small scale production(outside of the difference in cost of production relative to scale), made in USA, customization, etc. are. The one thing I'm not touching on here is value which is tied up in warranty services I don't personally value that highly because I don't like using warranty services but that can also have value and it can be an objective quantity if you frequently use those services and depending where you buy your knives from. I also don't highly value subjectively "made in USA" because I think we operate in a world economy and the price of labor in the US is being driven down by foreign industry and therefore in order to get equivalent advantage we should be taking advantage of the benefit on our side of foreign industry prices but I acknowledge there is an objective value to US manufacturing which increases the price of knives made locally. The issue I think we see most often in the knife community is we don't see objective data. Companies don't share that information because it's not in their best interest to tell you that information it limits their ability to capitalize on subjective value, hype, price testing over time, puts them in a negative position with negotiation with potential competition or manufacturers of materials, etc. But since we don't see objective value we have to speculate on it on the basis of things we do see in the market and that can make deciding what we think is "worth it" very difficult and different between people. I think what makes a knife "worth it" is complicated because it is so personal. Something doesn't have to be value in any sense in order to be worth it if you just want it, and have the money. I think for me if the knife brings me joy that's what I care about and I have probably as much fun with a $20 Ganzo, CJRB, Ontario, or a $50 Twosun as I do with a $180 ZT or Spyderco. So the ZT and Spyderco aren't as worth it for me because I have limited funds.
I really enjoyed this discussion, thanks for putting it together.
I like and mostly view videos of the high end range of knives. Don't stop
If it wasn't for channels like you and metal and others I wouldn't know how awesome say the Shiro Quantum is. I also can't afford to own all the knives you review. But it's fantastic to see all that's out there and hear someone educated and enthusiastic about the subject to review whatever they can/will. There are those out there with bigger budgets and those with smaller budgets. You seem to really cater to all parties (minus a ton from the custom land understandably). Keep up the good work mang!
Don't know how I missed the drop on this vid -- killer info - def 1 of ur best vids - great collection amigo
I like reviews of expensive knives to, some great innovation that will trickle down to budget one in a few years. Thx for vid.
Over the last 30 years, since maybe age 10, I've spent on pocket knives anywhere from $5 - $300.
Estimating here, I've owned maybe 100 knives, which actually helps illustrate the following numbers as percentiles. The retail values of my lifetime collection break down as follows:
4 range $250-$300
8 range $150-$200
8 range $100-$150
10 range $75-$100
15 range $50-75
15 range $30-$50
20 range $15-$30
20 range $5-$15
To me, generally speaking, & if the price is fair:
"Need a Loan or Lottery Win to Afford" is anything $500+.
"Premium" is anything over $200.
"Expensive" is anything over about $100.
"Nearly Expensive" is $75-$100
"Budget" is roughly $40-$75.
"Cheap" is under $15-$40.
"Piece of Crap Lest a Rare Miracle Gem Occur" is under $15 (aka Gas Station Knives).
This it's just a guideline, of course, & there can be exceptions. Wow that took some time to formulate & type up, so I hope it's helpful! 😀
This vid is right on point, I was just explaining the knife community’s pricing to a friend who is “getting” into knives, he was blown away that there even is a community...and then we descended down the rabbit hole of discontinued knives and customization ;)
For me, below $100 is budget. I’ve been comfortable in the $200-300 range for the past couple years and finally entered the $500 range of collecting (though not sure how sustainable that will be lol). Like Epicsnugglebunny says, “reduce and refine.”
I agree with you on prices Mr. Dicey. Nice knives!
My most useful knife was $44.
The Havalon Bone Collector has a drop point blade and a replaceable scalpel blade. It felt cheap, so I have modified it heavily. I wish more manufacturers would produce dual bladed knives on which one blade is a replaceable scalpel blade. It’s so useful.
That was a most excellent primer on knife collecting. Thanks, I as a novice got a lot out of that video.
Buy what you like, use it, and enjoy it. If you’re afraid to use it, then you spent over your comfort range unless you’re just an art collector which is fine but then price/value doesn’t matter.
Great video review!
I totally get what you are saying! I usually collect Benchmade and Spyderco knives.
As a huge flashlight collector, I came across a TH-cam site (mr.Skeleton) asked him on his custom knife, and that I collect Benchmade and Spyderco. It turns out, his knives are EXPENSIVE $$$$$$$.
Budget is around $50.
Quality is around $100.
Expensive is over $200.
Most of us can get away with knives in the $100 category and be perfectly happy but like you said it’s all perceived value. I love my mini griptilian as much as I love my FF Exec.
Most people that have no interest in knives aren’t watching a knife video.
The exec is the original ceo right?
Morablade the Exec is part of the Pro line made by WE knives.
My new years resolution this year was to minimize the number of Chinese D2 knifes. My knife collection went from 50 to 100 in 2019 and that jump was almost entirely budget knives. Great knives, too - Civivis, Steel Wills, Bestech, CJRB, and a couple of Byrds and Sypdercos in BD1. But I discovered that I could have bought a Sebenza instead of 7 Civivis; and did I really need 7 more Civivis? Especially considering that I didn't have a Sebenza. I haven't been disappointed so far, having stepped up my knife game.
I think the problem is the resistance needed to not buy a knife. When you haven't bought one in a while you kind of start doing that antsy junkie thing and a budget knife is just the thing to give you that hit. If you can sit on that long enough and make a tally on the board enough times, you can spend the money you would have spent, but on something nicer as you describe. But the resistance in the meantime is tough. Want... new... knife...
@@JustKnifeThings - I know what you mean; my knife collection is growing much slower and to accomplish this I have bought just one Civivi this year - wait, 2 Civivis this year. How many have come out? Got to be at least 15. Any they all look pretty awesome.
@@Abby_Normal_1969 Yeah Civivi is hard to resist. Just winner after winner and at very accessible prices.
I think you just summed up my knife buying experience of late. I would much rather have one super nice knife then 10 budget knives.
Let's face it. Knife collecting is an addiction and an obsession. I struggled and sat on the fence the first time I spent over $40 on a knife. Then I did the same at $100, $200, $300, $500 and so on. I just bought a custom Demko for over $800 and I liked it so well that I bought the production version for $425. I spent $1300 for my grail knife, the Grant & Gavin Deadlock and I love it. I bought the CRKT Shock for $750 and I'm glad I did and I also bought some limited edition ZT's that cost over $1000. I am glad I bought all of these and I can honestly say that I get more pleasure from them than what I paid for them.
Have Anthem.
Can confirm.
One of my favorite knives.
I just subbed to your channel today (heard your name all over the place in the TH-cam knife sphere, just never got over here for some reason...) and some of your tastes line up very very well with mine. My favorite knives in my collection at the moment are my CRK Large Inkosi (drop point, haven't used a tanto worth a darn yet so I don't have an opinion either way), and the Benchmade Anthem. One for work, one for play haha.
After 4 years of collecting knives I looked at 50 knives that cost 100-200$ and decided to sell a dozen and buy a 1,500$ Holt Spector. Worth it I don’t miss those other knives.
It’s crazy to look back on what was expensive to me when I started out. My first grail was a PM2 and I thought $100 for a knife was insanity. Now I’d say budget knives are $100 and under and expensive starts at $300.
Great concept for a vid
$100 was a lot of money for me 3 years ago. $30 was a lot of money for me 5 years before that. Assuming every review reader has the same amount of money available as you is a bad idea. Price should only be a relative metric.
Lmao it keeps going 😂🍻
Agree totally!!!
The growth is exponential
Chris B so we should base it off how much you make? Got it.
definitely, that's why value is such a moving target and why a $200 knife or a $50 knife can both be considered great values, provided they each bring enough to the table for their given price point
Love my anthem. Managed to get a 50% off coupon from a benchmade employee and snagged it for around $250.
I just bought a Civivi Elementum with S35VN steel for $81. That has to up for bargain of the year. It’s a great knife and a great size, terrific action. I also own a Kershaw Knockout in M390. Another fantastic deal.
My Benchmade Bugout is only a value when you consider the weight. Straight up against other knives, it’s overpriced. And I refused to buy a mini Bugout that is MORE expensive than the full size.
I have a ZT 0562 from USA Made Blade that was $280 but has custom Anomascus scales. I liked the appearance of the knife, so that’s what made it worth the price.
When it comes down to it, you buy a knife to cut, so it’s all about the steel. And it makes me crazy when people talk about these supposed awesome knives that don’t have steel to match the price. For example, the Spiderco Delica.
This past weekend one of my friends who isn't into knives asked me "At what price does the extra cost stop being worth it?" I didn't have a great answer as it is a pretty subjective question, but I said somewhere around $150. Curious to see what you all think.
That's almost exactly the price I'd say where it becomes diminishing returns. $150-200. Anything beyond that is because you want it and makes you feel good. Which is also fine.
Yea I agree, the value I get after that point is just the feeling of quality more than anything else
Agreed. I can look at my SMKW bareknuckle 20cv aluminum bearings. 100.00 then my Protech FF mordax. 20cv aluminum bearings. 250.00. At some point you are paying for the names involved. Not always a bad thing. Just like designer clothing.
Not getting much beyond utility at that point for sure. That's the mark for me as well (I say as I spend well over that on most knives)
$150 is a good cutoff for me too. After that, I'm paying for the name or some customization.
I would say budget is up to $80 but to me that is what i could spend on a knife one month and not have to go without anything, (Well before covid but that's neither here nor there.) Lately I've been getting knives in the $150-300 range but that's more because the one i want is not offered at any other price point . I just bought my first Mircotech this year and it was an LUDT but it was the stormtrooper edition so it was more than the regular but i'm totally ok with that. I just bought my first Protech last month and it was the TR4 but it has the "espresso" blade finish so it was more than the base model but to me well worth it. I think you made lots of really good points in this video. i highly enjoyed it so thank you.
I really would love to buy a cheaper model protech. If I can find one. Love your videos so much you literally answer all my knife questions.
The knives that interest me are approximately $400 to $600. Hinderers, Spartans and Reates comprise most of my collection.
I use to think a PM2 was a premium knife for $120. I thought that was insane to spend that much on a pocket knife, but my original PM2 is still to this day one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. The PM2 was definitely my gateway drug to buying higher-end knives. The first time I decided to spend $400 on a knife makes me feel like my perspective has completely shifted. $250 seems somewhat like the cost of entry into something a little more exotic. With an expectation being excellent action, premium materials, blade steel, and high degree of fit and finish. That is at least what I’ve come to expect now handling something like a Taichung Taiwan Spyderco. I couldn’t stomach pulling the trigger on a Demko six months ago but now I feel like I could if I refrained from purchasing a $200 knife a couple times. I never thought of myself as a collector so maybe that’s where budget knives don’t work for me. I don’t want a huge collection, but rather a meager or modest one of a few mid-range production knives, like in the Spyderco, Reate, or WE camps. Seems like you get a lot of value for the money with collaborative work, i.e. expert design, finishing, and premium materials. I’m just not a player in the full-on custom realm. My first PM2 is now my beater knife I use everyday at work and still stands the test of time. In the end I just want something that will hold up to the job and to me that’s worth every penny.
I have zero budget folders currently. I decided some time ago to only keep all US made knives. When doing that the collection slimmed quite a bit do to cost, and currently all that remains are primarily Hinderers, a Demko, and a Spartan. Which I am ok with. But I wouldnt mind a US made manual budget blade around the $50 mark. I am thinking the Kershaw Skyline. Even though now discontinued they are still pretty available. Plus I'm just really getting into sharpening on my ViperSharp and I would like something I could use, dull and sharpen pretty easily. What do you think?
oh god, the Spyderco K2 & Slyz bowie are insane ! as are the ZT 0392's.. I've seen a ZT0392 go for $3,000
The Atom would look AWESOME with those scales and purple or blue hardware
For me budget is below $25, like a Ganzo or a Kershaw. Expensive is above $200. I tend to only get expensive knives as presents from the wife, but I do love my Crooked River and PM2. Hoping for a Manix for Christmas :)
I think anything under $75 is budget and anything over $200 is expensive is general. The curve of diminishing return probably starts flattening at around the $300 mark for most companies
I set a limit of $300, but most of my purchases are between $100 and $240. I got a Medford slim midi that the original owner disassembled for $300, and I'm happy with that. Otherwise the Mordax at $240 was my most expensive buy. Now that I've discovered Twosun, I'm under $100. Waiting on a Malibu, still < $200.
This year, I'm out of work, out of money, and seriously thinking about selling some of my collection; so, at the moment an Opinel is out of my price range 🤣
Don't despair, amigo. I was right there a month or two ago and liquidated about 80 out of my collection. On the bright side, things do get better. I've just gotten 5 new ones this week and have a few more on the way. Keep the faith, they're just things and if you really like them, you'll find a way to replace them somewhere down the line.
@@lenzielenski3276 thank you.
Things will get better. The sun always shine after the storm. Hang in there.
Well done video topic. For me, and I don't think I'm unique with this, the longer I've been in the hobby, the higher price range I feel is acceptable. When I started about five years ago, $100 for a knife was a lot.
And gradually that number crept up. It's now $600+. But really, on a monthly basis, I used to buy more less expensive knives and now I buy less more expensive ones, so in the end it kind of balances out the same.
As they say, to each their own. Your "worth it" round-up only holds 1 that I would put in that category. I generally divide mine into 2 categories. Those I wouldn't cry if I lost, and those that I'll be unlikely to replace in the same condition for triple the price. I consider < $50 a bargain, < $125 a 10 year to life time user and $250 and up collectables. I've yet to find something I can't do with a $125 knife that I can do with a $450..except devalue the latter.
I got some aftermarket G10 scales for my original Freak. They cost me around 100 bucks. I know that is a lot of money but I can get it out of my pocket now.
Great video Bryan! It’s all subjective. I thought I’d never spend 200+ or 300 + on a knife until I did lol.
Where I tend to draw the line is when u can start buying go to war handguns for the same price I wont buy it. BUT I do spend like 300 sometimes so I get it. Also US price increases are upsetting.
I can get a decent enough knife for around £50.
£80 to £150 gets me a really nice knife.
Recently spent double what I've ever spent on a knife before on a Hinderer vintage slippy. I love it and it'll be with me forever but its way beyond the point of diminishing returns and I'll struggle to hit that price point again.
It is just a matter of time before you spend that much again...and then more.
If it's over $100 it's getting pricey. If it's over $200 it's expensive. Over $300 it better be one incredible knife. The knives that go for like $700-1000+ are just ridiculous.
I agree with this
I agree!
Sounds like that last price range is out of your experience. I wouldn’t judge things that I haven’t experienced ... legally that is 😅
@@geezusLive-OF hey if you earn it your opinion is valid.
Why do people buy Rolex? Luxury vehicles? The list can go on and on. In almost every case, you’re paying for a name brand but also incredible attention to detail, fit, finish, and sometimes because there is nothing else like it on the market. Everyone has their threshold price and that’s the beauty of having options.
19:52 So right ... but then I would much rather have the uncoated S90V blade than a coated M4. Even with the CF scales I'm sure it could be a lot more affordable. As it is, I'd sooner buy 3 regular Mini Freeks than one 565-1🤑 But maybe that's just because I'm not crazy about the red thumbstud😯
Budget= $250 I have to stop and think. I have a list of "expensive" knives that if I see the one I want (CRK small inkosi insigno blade with brown micarta or wood insets, Strider PT Ti, any Wehr, etc) I just pull the trigger
I would say budget knife would start at 50$ and run thru hmm maybe 125$ but for me if you can get into the 200 to 250$ range you can get some really nice stuff
Great topic and late to the game but one thing that has changed my mind is over the last 2 years the resale market for knives has gotten really bad. There was a time you could get close to what you paid for a knife on ebay but not the case anymore. The plays a role for me as I would love to reduce my collection but without being able to do that very difficult to justify more that just end up sitting in night stand drawers
I think expensive is related to income for everything from our homes to our knives.
I just dropped $910 on a knife last night which most people would think is absurd. But it was one of those knives I fell in love with and had the disposable income to do so, so I pulled the trigger.
Gasosphere now u have to tell us which knife, dont leave us hanging
@@carsandgaming1734 Marfione MSG-3 Apocalyptic. Basically it's a Marfione/Strider collab but also a titanium integral .
That thing is ugly.
Believe it’s your pm2; what are the black scales you have on it?
An important thing is resale value. Buying pre-owned you can usually get back close to, if not exactly what you paid for a regular production blade.
Im looking for my first high-end knife but I also want a knife I can use and carry everyday..im not into having it sit in a case at home but I get the allure of it.. I seen a ZT 801 sprint run thats absolutely beautiful but im scared to use it
LOL! Thought I tuned into Metal Complex by mistake! But stay tuned. Good video.
All Spydercos Titanium options are near custom quality 👌
Personally I like seeing reviews of knives of various price points. I love knives, but I can’t own every knife I want. However, I still like see how they function, and how they compare to knives that I may already own or have handled. What is expensive vs budget is different for everybody. I think the way you categorize the knives into various price ranges when you review them is fair. Most of your viewers are knife enthusiasts and probably agree with you on what is budget. This is going to be different for folks that are just looking for knife to use.
Buddy is selling a brand new benchmade 940-2001 for the list price of 340.00 is this knife worth this? I know its a limited edition but is there any demand in the knife community for this?
What a fundamental failure of our society that so few can afford to invest in a lifetime instrument. In the 1950s and 60s people regularly bought Parker 51s and Case knives and the like that were HUGELY more expensive as a percent of income. Housing, college for the kids, food, medication and the necessity of having a car and all of them have been free from investment and their prices have spiraled out of control.
I read your first few words and thought this was going to be a comment I had to delete. But reading the entire thing... I don't disagree with a word of it.
$200 is the sweet spot for me. I have a Super Freek and a Shamen love them both. But I use all my knives and I think spending $300 $400 $500 I would hesitate to use them and try to keep them pristine You are right about Protechs I always thought they were very expensive I just got the TR3 for $150 and I love it just as much as the Super Freek and Shamen
Iam edc a reate jack 1.0 i just got lol 😆 although ill fess to the fact that I carry it in a hard case in my book bag and only get it out to flip it
Took me 4 months to get my socom elite . Definitely awesome and worth the wait cause you can't really find them in stock
Those five high end knives, they don’t look like you actually use them. They are more like jewerlry. I think Benchmades are too expensive now. Thanks for talking about this. BTW- what does XM mean for Hinderers?
Such a subjective subject. I think it really depends on the individual's frame of mind and financial situation. I've collected several different things over the years. Coins, toys, guns and now knives. So my frame of mind is collecting. I don't focus on knives being tools as much as "Do I want this in my collection?". If yes, does it fit within my current budget? The ONLY reason I don't have a Hinderer, Medford, Spartan, etc., is that my budget doesn't allow for them at this moment in time. I would drop $500 + for a quality knife in a heartbeat, though. Just because I cannot afford them, atm, doesn't mean that I don't want to see them. Just my 2¢. Good vid Bryan.
Mmmh, I can’t afford to eat at Applebee’s. You must be eating pretty well Bryan. Obviously these production knives that are selling for $300, $400, or $500 would not be selling them for those kind of prices if they were not selling. Back when I started collecting knives and I had a range of knives valued at budget to around $300, a friend whom I was showing off my knives, told me that in his opinion there was no production knife that was worth $500. That changed the way I looked at my knife collecting, and I have to say, I have to agree with him.
I carry a carbon steel Mora every day. I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $100+ for a knife and putting it through what I put my Mora through. A Mora will do any and everything $100+ knives will do for a 1/4 of the price. Sure it doesn't fold. Not a big deal to me. I've got a nice gator skin sheath my friend made for me. Fits the knife like a glove. I strap it to my belt and it's never in the way and always handy.
I have slowly going up in price with my knives... but I also try to get them when they are on sale so it somewhat “balances” out the price increases. But that also makes it hard for me to sell things because I keep thinking well if I miss it, it will cost a lot more to get it again.
Also I agree on the customization things, I don’t buy knives that are customized if anyone is going to void the warranty of my knife it’s going to be me
Budget under 50. Expensive is over 150.
I have an anthem because I tried it out and boy you are right.
Although I have a couple, I like doing the production stuff as well. I enjoy being able to turn someone onto blade they can manage in the price department. Even though some maybe 3-400 bucks, I have no problem reviewing something that is $20 if its quality. 🍻
Last year before I got back into knives I would have said 40$ is a good knife. This year learning about what’s really out there and understanding what they’re made out of I have bought over 10 knives and most are over $100. Are they worth it? To me they are. And that’s all that matters. Only knive I have over $300 is a chaves and now I just got a pen from chaves for $135. So fml!! Only addiction I have left at this stage in life. So fuck it.
Very few people would consider $120 budget. Not without some serious mental gymnastics. High value? Yes. Budget knives need little to no encouragement for a NON KNIFE PERSON to buy. So. Generally that tops out at 50-60 bucks. Example, if I have a non knife person ask me about what's a good knife for them and I give them a suggestion for a budget knife and it's 90-120 bucks..... they're going to think I'm a total dick. I suggest a 20-40 dollar CJRB and I get a thank you. We just have to keep in mind that budget doesn't go up for folks with little money or a desire to have a large quantity of knives for less than a house down payment.
Two words to consider:
Steel tariffs
Tariffs are taxes on imported steel. That also gives competitive room for domestic steel prices to rise. All in all, we should expect everything made from steel to be rising in cost.
6o and under budget over 60 to 150 mid priced. over 150 high priced. that my thoughts on the knife prices. a lot comes down to a persons income level and what they think about knives.
If people were to buy knives with their `head’ we would only see budget knives but for a lot of the time, we buy with our hearts if we’ve been buying for some time and, there’s `the rub’. Prices wouldn’t go up if they didn’t think they could sell them. Just saying 😎
Trying not to be a killjoy here, but on behalf of working folks and tradesmen . . .
Can you cut it with a $40 knife? And, can you cut it that much better for $400 more?
See what I'm saying?
No. And not really trying to say that. If you watch the whole video, I think you'll get that.
As a construction worker, a work knife over $40-$50 is not worth it but people collectors/enthusiasts don't look at it from the point of only usage. Obviously a $20 knife will do a fine job for most things you need it for but that's not the point here. For work, most of the time I'll use a $10 utility knife but I also carry the Native 5 in REX45 steel that I paid $100 for and I enjoy having it with me at work. I've come to enjoy $60-$100 knives because of their design, the nice materials being used and just the fun of holding and fidgeting with them. May not make sense for some people and that's perfectly fine
@@Satyaswaroopan I get it when it comes to collecting but these are always talked up as great users.
For me $300, all things considered, is the cut off.
Hell, s'like any hobby you can spend 5 grand if you want to
@@Zen_Ali_123 That is definitely true. I recently spent $150 on the new Para 3 which is the most money I've ever spent on a knife and right now, that feels like the cut off point for me. I have $80, $90, $100 TwoSun knives in my collection that are as good as $200-$300 knives and I'm absolutely happy with them so to me, spending more than that on other really high quality knives is not necessary
Gotta draw the line somewhere, Nithya 😁
To me the coolest knives to collect are the kind that in future everyone is going to remember having owned.
I don’t understand why people pay so much for Chinese Made knives, like some of them are over $200. Isn’t it understood that manufacturing costs in China are many times less than in America, not to mention the other reasons like giving money to Chinese workers not American, etc. Those Chinese companies like We, Reate and others must be making a fortune. Could someone help me understand why someone would buy a $250 Reate over a similar priced american knife like ZT?
I don’t think mini freak is terrible price. 940-1 was that much four years ago.
I'm not a collector and I probably won't spend more than $200 for a edc folder.
We need to stop justifying the high prices. We say: "It keeps going up and I can't believe what they are asking, but is it too high; no it seems good for the market." The market is too high and there's few reasonably priced higher end knives to keep the market in check. But what about material cost? If M4 is twice the cost of S30V how much even is that? $5 to $10? Can anyone explain why my Mini Presidio 2 CF Elite is less expensive than a bugout even though the Presidio 2 literally has the same types of material, but more of every material, and the same amount of machining involved? It's all about prestige and 'what the market will bear', meaning keep raising the price as long as people still pay. All that said, I'm still glad that this is now a topic being discussed which will signal to the knife companies that they are near our tolerance limit.
So.. you could say we're reaching some very tight tolerances now..?
...I'll see myself out.
@@blitz34 Maybe even...Zero Tolerance? I'll join you outside.
the bug out cost more because of demand. people want them so they can sell for more because people will pay it.
In regards to the shaman at $205 it is in the same territory as the spydiechef which has much better materials and there are a lot of knives it is now competing with that are a lot better materials at roughly the same basic price range.
I just ordered a large Inkosi Black Micarta Tanto S35VN from Aus and at the moment it's about $800 but I am holding staunch that the Aus economy is going to ' stay strong ' during covid scandemic 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Expensive for me is ANY knife over $100, but I own 2 knives over that, but both were gifts!
budget $75 or less
average nice knife $80-150
pricey up to $200
over $200.. maybe $225 is expensive..
anything over the price of a hinderer XM-18 3.5" or large Sebenza 31 doesn't get considered. $600 or more seems grossly gougey too me... is it stronger than a ColdSteel 4-Max, does it have Sebenza quality or VASTLY superior? does it have Hinderer Engineering or VASTLY higher? no ... okay.
maybe I'm an unrefined goon, but the Sebenza's, XM-18 & MK&T sit atop my personal pyramid... also CRK, Hinderer and MK&T have outstanding warranties & customer service
It's not a sailboat it's a schooner
I would say 400-500 is expensive. I have one in that range, my CRK Inkosi. Amazing knife, but definitely in the diminishing returns category
How can cold steel justify 30% price increases. Maybe Taiwanese labor went up when US labor did.
I dont know what you have against flipping knifes man i love flipping my knifes most have flipper tabs lol 😆 im joking man i know what ys mean hey im watching yoir Chanel because of Metal Complex!
if you want a real knife pay minimum 300. From that point on is where knives start being real and stop being tourist traps.
Interesting video. To me, spending $100 on a knife is near my top end. I might...might spend up to $150 for a knife I REALLY liked but that is probably the most I would spend. Right now, the most expensive knife I have was $75 shipped from BHQ and I love the knife and have absolutely no buyers remorse. In fact, I intend on buying another version of the same model when it is released soon with a brass handle and upgraded steel which will probably end up costing around $90 shipped. I just can't see spending hundreds on a knife but to each his own. I am not a hard knife user and just can't justify the expense of knives costing hundreds. Granted, I haven't handled a knife costing hundreds so my point of reference is limited.
100 to 150 is a nice sweet spot have only crossed the 200 threshold once might one more time, big believer in the diminishingreturn thing
Agreed. That's definitely something anyone with a job could manage. Especially if they're looking for quality.
@Alastair Bryant Couldn't be a truer statement.. Expensive doesn't always mean quality. Really expensive does sometimes... lol but I've seen $200+ blades that absolutely suck functionality wise. But my $150 lionsteel is perfect. A great balance between price and quality. And there are plenty more like it on the market that can perform just as well, if not better than some of the more expensive ones. 🍻
That’s my sweets spot too
Keeping it real!
Thank you thank you!!
I'm a Benchmade, Spyderco collector for 30 years! Not until I started collecting flashlights, I've totally discovered another level to knives!!
I need to get started!!
BRAVO!!
I don't want to pay $275 for the mini freek but... ooh that's sexy. It makes me want to pay it. It's that damned red stud. They know it is tantalizing us. They know we're going to break. AAAAH. It's not about what it cost them, it's about what people would be willing to pay. That's just business. Don't leave money on the table.
Anything at $100 or more is expensive for me. Even if I can afford it.
Just list the price range in the review title and let the viewers decide if the prices are budge or not. It’s not that hard to avoid the price subjectivity issue.
"expensive" is relative to perspective pertaining money, it's not something that can be measured beyond the paradigm of an individual. You consider a $500 knife "worth it" because of labor, materials, brand. I consider that a person collecting multiple $500 knives is potentially selling their soul over materialistic junk, if a human is consumed by collecting "treasure" they have truly failed at life. Nobody NEEDS a single knife worth $500, if greed and boasting is what drives a man to obtain many items its idolatry. A knife collection could potentially be so expensive it costs your soul.
🤔 Would the same apply to any kind of collection? Works of art ... jewelry ... shoes ... stamps ... records ... comic books ... baseball cards? If it gives you joy and you're not hurting anyone to satisfy your wants, why the sufferation😱
@@esoteric5277 Yes, it applies to a collection of any kind and extends beyond materialistic items. If a mans belly is his god then God Almighty will obliterate them. This life is a test.
@@esoteric5277 Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
@@esoteric5277 If a person is satisfied by junk instead of satisfied in God who is infinitely more valuable than all things, they are hurting Him.
For me the cost is balanced against usage. Time to dollar per use is revealing to track, and penny per use even more so. But that doesn't capture the delight of carrying and using a superior knife.
Quality knives cost a lot. Nothing to do about it
Dont be sorry someone cant afford something. They are not working hard enough.
For me over $200 is expensive. I have two expensive knives, a Hinderer and a Chris Reeve. Are they worth it? I guess so, cause I'm keeping them.
And that a 450$ blade
I think there's a lot of overlap in concepts you're talking about here and you're lumping it all in under "expensive" and "worth it" as a scale.
I think fundamentally "expensive" like "budget" is subjective and based on the amount of money an individual has. If you're Jeff Bezos a 1 million dollar home bought cash is cheap, it's a throw away drop of the hat purchase. If you make $15,000 a year and have 6 dependents and no savings a $20 knife might be expensive. For me I set budget at $50 and am hesitant to buy a knife more than $100 I have 1 knife with more than $200 in it and that's only just because of aftermarket clip cost.
I think "value" and "worth it" are different. "Value" can be both objective and subjective. Objective "value" can be considered essentially as the inverse of profit margin. That is to say how much more are you being charged for a product than it cost to get to you. Subjective "value" is where things like prestige, name recognition, small scale production(outside of the difference in cost of production relative to scale), made in USA, customization, etc. are. The one thing I'm not touching on here is value which is tied up in warranty services I don't personally value that highly because I don't like using warranty services but that can also have value and it can be an objective quantity if you frequently use those services and depending where you buy your knives from. I also don't highly value subjectively "made in USA" because I think we operate in a world economy and the price of labor in the US is being driven down by foreign industry and therefore in order to get equivalent advantage we should be taking advantage of the benefit on our side of foreign industry prices but I acknowledge there is an objective value to US manufacturing which increases the price of knives made locally.
The issue I think we see most often in the knife community is we don't see objective data. Companies don't share that information because it's not in their best interest to tell you that information it limits their ability to capitalize on subjective value, hype, price testing over time, puts them in a negative position with negotiation with potential competition or manufacturers of materials, etc. But since we don't see objective value we have to speculate on it on the basis of things we do see in the market and that can make deciding what we think is "worth it" very difficult and different between people.
I think what makes a knife "worth it" is complicated because it is so personal. Something doesn't have to be value in any sense in order to be worth it if you just want it, and have the money. I think for me if the knife brings me joy that's what I care about and I have probably as much fun with a $20 Ganzo, CJRB, Ontario, or a $50 Twosun as I do with a $180 ZT or Spyderco. So the ZT and Spyderco aren't as worth it for me because I have limited funds.
I don’t mind spending several hundred on a knife as long as I really like it and it’s made well. Too me budget is anything less than $100.
42 minutes...Wow! You lasted a lot longer than I thought you would. BOOM! THAT’S what she said. *mic drop*
You are stupid
Howdy