Why $200 for a folding knife?

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marshall3

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I don't understand why anyone would pay several hundred dollars for a folding knife. I have a Winchester with a 3 1/4 inch stainless steel blade that I got at WalMart for $7.00. It has a nice non-slip grip, and locks open securely. The steel takes a nice edge. What do you get for $200 more? I'm not putting down "collectors" here. People can have fun collecting knives, I'm sure. But for practical use, why spend big bucks?
 
If you have to ask , you'll never understand. I appeciate finely made tools,I appreciate the best materials .I appreciate a tool that I can depend on to give me the best performance and durability. NOT 'it's ok' or 'it only cost me $7. SEBENZA !
 
I have to admit, I don't get it, either. I've paid about $80 for a very nice Kelly Worden Tactical, and honestly don't see other than for collector appeal how you're going to get a better knife for actual use.

Really, if you're using it, the Kershaws are the best daily carry value I've come across. Spyderco's are nice, too, but my personal preference runs more toward the Kershaws.
 
Off brand digital watch : $5.95
Rolex GMT Master : $2500


Both tell time, why would you buy a Rolex?


Yugo :$5995
Corvette: $46500

Both get you there, why bother with an expensive car?

How long you want this to go? :evil:

The only real answer is, "because you can"
 
I personally wouldn't want to pay over $120 for a folding knife but I can understand why some people would, especially something like a Sebenza.

Now a fixed blade is another story. A good $300 knife like a Chris Reeve Project 1 is something that is made to be used and will last a lifetime, no matter what abuse you put to it.

The problem is, once you start getting into the $300 range, you ought to start looking at another gun. :)
 
I've been carrying the same Leatherman base model (whatever it official name is) for eleven years now. I think they're about what, $40, $45 new?

It's never failed me once. :)
 
If you're going to buy and carry an expensive folder, do yourself a favor and carry a second one - a cheap $25 or less model. At some point you will find yourself needing to do something that you'd rather not do with your expensive knife. That's when a cheap knife is handy. If you break it / lose it / have to "loan it" to someone, who cares?
 
My most expensive folding knife didn't cost $200, so I guess I agree with you on this one. . . . but your Winchester folder is the other extreme. The Winchester folders were good stuff many years ago, but the new ones aren't great. Now, if it works for you, that's fine.


I will say that my uncle got a Winchester fixed blade for Christmas from his wife (which was a huge improvement over the cheapo "1980's survival knife" he's been using for years) and it felt good in the hand and was well-sized.


The size, lightness, edge-holding and smooth, light action of my daily carry cannot be replicated for $20. If a $20 knife does what you want, though, you'd be a fool to spend more on a working piece.
 
Some people think I am crazy for spending $500 on a Chris Reeve Sebenza (with wood inlays). But some also thought I was crazy for spending $2000 on an Omega watch.

The way I look at it, I spend more than that on my Glock .45 acp model 30. Which one do I carry all the time and use several times a day? The KNIFE!!

So might as well have a really nice one.
 
I don't see anything unusual about someone buying a $200 knife as long as they are willing to use it. What I don't get is buying it and locking it in a safe? I am not a knife guy but I have a few different sizes of Benchmades that I spent as much as $120 on.

It might be different if spending $200 was going to alter my lifestyle or take food away from the table, but frankly it won't.

You might try the guys over on the Kel-Tec board....they are very passionate about cheap stuff.
 
Marshal3,

Come up to Knoxville and I'll be happy to show you a range of folders from $20 to $200 and why some of the more expensive ones are better than the some of the less expensive ones.

Is there any performance reason to spend $200 on a knife? I think the better question is "Do I get anything more in performance out of a $200 folder that I can't get out of a less expensive knife?". The answer is most likely not that much more than a $120 to $150 folder and only a little more than a $75 to $100 folder, but a heck of a lot more than a $20 folder. If you only need to use 10% of the $200 knife's capabilities then you don't need to pay 100% of the price and the knife is sufficient unto your needs. If you need 80% then the higher priced knives are sufficient. It's all in getting what you need for what you pay for.
 
Like guns, knives are also Male Jewelry. If it makes you feel sexy wearing it, then it is worth it. Having a finely-crafted piece of steel is always a joy to own. Good materials, balance, and looks make the item a lovely thing to claim as yours.

I must say I have been carrying and using some "base" steels and blades for a long time without caring. A lot of Gerbers, Buck, and Cold Steel over the years. Even the new Taiwan stuff is not bad. I still have all of them.

I like the Taiwan stuff for reasonable quality and blend of price. If I damage, or lose them, I do not cry. I may buy knives just because I like the shape of the blade or grip. It may be a copy, but if it works for my non-SealTeam-Kung-Fu-Ninja box-cutting or fruit slicing applications, I am happy.

I know I can use all kinds of pointy and sharp things for self defense. Hell, people in poor 3rd world countries and Special Force-Green Beret types use sharpened sticks with fire-hardened tips to improvise deadly defensive weapons.

Having said that, I must say the $400-500 Microtech knives are lovely items. I think a lot of it is based upon the cashing in of the blade design, time to hand make the blades, and choice of specific metals. Those Chris Reeves are the cat's meow.
 
No. Holster must COORDINATE with shoes. fashion is important.
I have a Dozier folding knife in my pocket. a little over $300 and I use it. if I want a chisel or a screwdriver I go to the toolbox but If I want to cut something, I have no reservations about using a good sharp knife. used it 2 or 3 times so far today. cut twine from a haybale, opened a bag of feed, and cut a couple cable ties.
 
"At some point you will find yourself needing to do something that you'd rather not do with your expensive knife."

I bought a nice folder on the spur of the moment because it fit my hand and appeared to be finely made of quality materials.(Okay, and I was at a gun show and couldn't find any guns I liked and wanted to buy something.) After using it everyday for over a year I bought another one so I'd have a clean one to use when I wasn't patching the roof or digging in the yard and such.

You're not going to believe this, but the day at the gun show when I spotted the first knife...I'd never heard of Chris Reeve or his Sebenza. :)

John
 
It really comes down to preference. Some will buy a Jennings and be happy with their purchase. For others only Wilson Combat or another high end pistol will do.

I like nicely made tools. Be it Chris Reeve, Busse, and Strider knives or HK, Sig, and Colt pistols. I could buy a cheap knife but as I used it and the steel failed to hold an edge or the blade lock up started to get sloppy or more likely the simple fact that the workmanship is lacking. I would hate the knife and soon toss it in the drawer.

I could buy a whole bunch of cheap china knock-offs for the price I paid for my unique Sebenza. But I would have no pride of ownership or trust in the use of that knife. Syderco's are about as inexpensive as I get on my right pocket knife. I carry a Shrade or SAK in the left pocket. If I need to possible destroy a knife I use the Shrade or SAK.



If I had a job that was murder on a knife I would use a nice folding utility knife with changeable blades. Break a blade, no sweat.

As with all fine things in life it comes down to what you want and what you will spend to get it.

Timex ----------------> Rolex How high do you want to go? The choice is yours. ;)


P.S. Hmmm 100th post. Just earned my Senior wings :D
 
Why $200 for a folding knife?

Because there aren't anymore guns I want.
Knives are sexy.
 
I haven't paid $200 yet but I've come close. I already have more knives than I could wear out in my lifetime yet I buy at least 1 a month. :banghead:
It's an illness or a hobby depending on who's answering the question. I have knives that I've never taken out of the box. I have some that are completely worn out but I don't discard them. I think it's called "obsessive compulsive disorder". :neener:
 
I've got a MOD auto that cost over $200 that I bought when I was deployed and had the disposable income, I don't think I would ever spend that much on a knife again though....Ok I do want something by Chris Reeve, and Strider :cool:
 
I have a CRKT somewhere that cost $75....I don't know where I left it, in my truck I think. I used to carry it on duty but the trouble was the clip left all kinds of marks on those cheesey nylon slacks cops have to wear.

So now Gerber gets my pocket everwhere, every day.

The Buck knife used to be my carry, but the hinge would work itself loose. I have seen guys carry Spiderco and Benchmade, but the most common knives I see in a cops pocket are Gerber, Smith & Wesson and Kershaw.

Like a Glock, a functional tool, but nothing you run around bragging about. ;)
 
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