I wanted to get some thoughts on a topic that I have had on my mind for quite some time. As I have stated elsewhere on this site, I am very much as fond of bladeware as I am guns. I used to think that the more I spend on a knife, the better it will be. I used to think that in order to be in possession of a quality blade I had to strive to research and purchase the latest and greatest in super special awesome steel alchemy.
The problem with that line of thinking is that you often will spend more on the knife than you will on a quality firearm. To me that is absolutely ridiculous. Another problem I see is that if you are paying $500+ on a knife, I am never going to carry, let alone use it. It will just plain sit in a safe, sitting pretty, doing nothing, being useless...
I find it amusing that folks who are selling their $500 knife often say that there is no "carry" wear or that it is in brand new condition. Obviously I know the difference between a "user" and a "collector" but I can't help but wonder what the point is in buying the strongest, sharpest, most awesome steel out there if you are never going to put it to any sort of use.
I could never really afford the purported best knives out there and any extra funds I have go towards purchasing firearms or other related items. Don't get me wrong, I love knives, especially good ones. I currently have my eyes trained on a ZT 0301 which will come to almost $300 with shipping. I can also appreciate the custom makers out there, what they do is truly art....
However, I have little patience anymore when looking for a knife to buy and seeing that due to its super secret magical Japanese awesomeness it costs a ridiculous amount of money. Sensei bladesmith may be good at what he does but if I have $500, will I spend it on one of his knives or on the M&P Shield that everyone is all hyped up about? I'll guarantee you that Shield will come out on top when push comes to shove...
I guess that basis of my rant here is that I am curious how you folks feel about it. Are you a user or collector? A little of both? There is no wrong answer, as I am a bit of both and can appreciate both sides to some extent.
I carry a Cold Steel Recon with a tanto blade that I bought new 6-7 years ago for $80. I have beat the hell out of it, it is a workhorse, yet other than some marring of the black finish, it still takes a razor edge and its lock is still one of the strongest out there.... Can someone say the same of their Emerson or Strider knife? Both being good examples of fantastic knives but would you want to put them through their paces knowing they will not retain that "new knife" look?
The problem with that line of thinking is that you often will spend more on the knife than you will on a quality firearm. To me that is absolutely ridiculous. Another problem I see is that if you are paying $500+ on a knife, I am never going to carry, let alone use it. It will just plain sit in a safe, sitting pretty, doing nothing, being useless...
I find it amusing that folks who are selling their $500 knife often say that there is no "carry" wear or that it is in brand new condition. Obviously I know the difference between a "user" and a "collector" but I can't help but wonder what the point is in buying the strongest, sharpest, most awesome steel out there if you are never going to put it to any sort of use.
I could never really afford the purported best knives out there and any extra funds I have go towards purchasing firearms or other related items. Don't get me wrong, I love knives, especially good ones. I currently have my eyes trained on a ZT 0301 which will come to almost $300 with shipping. I can also appreciate the custom makers out there, what they do is truly art....
However, I have little patience anymore when looking for a knife to buy and seeing that due to its super secret magical Japanese awesomeness it costs a ridiculous amount of money. Sensei bladesmith may be good at what he does but if I have $500, will I spend it on one of his knives or on the M&P Shield that everyone is all hyped up about? I'll guarantee you that Shield will come out on top when push comes to shove...
I guess that basis of my rant here is that I am curious how you folks feel about it. Are you a user or collector? A little of both? There is no wrong answer, as I am a bit of both and can appreciate both sides to some extent.
I carry a Cold Steel Recon with a tanto blade that I bought new 6-7 years ago for $80. I have beat the hell out of it, it is a workhorse, yet other than some marring of the black finish, it still takes a razor edge and its lock is still one of the strongest out there.... Can someone say the same of their Emerson or Strider knife? Both being good examples of fantastic knives but would you want to put them through their paces knowing they will not retain that "new knife" look?