Quality verses Quanity

Discussion in 'Functional Gear & Equipment' started by Oddcaliber, Dec 3, 2017.


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  1. Oddcaliber

    Oddcaliber Monkey+++

    I was going through my knife collection when a thought occurred to me. Reading several posts on different boards some " expert" will say that you have to have a custom made knife by______. And should spend $500 or $1000 on such knife. Most of us really don't have that kind of cash to buy a single knife. How many Buck, K Bar or Mora's can you get for the same money? Now let's apply the same philosophy to a 1911. Do you really need a Colt,Kimber,or an Ed Brown? Or will a Springer,Rock, or Taurus do? At the end of the day it's still a knife or a 1911.Just my thoughts. What's your take on this?
     
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  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    My money is far more often spent on reliability than on a name. Two is one, one is none.
     
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  3. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    i haven’t bought a New Knife in 4+ Decades.... I was given a New Knife 30 years ago by my children for Christmas... and I still have it... Iuse it to open my mail... The last knife I bought was my Kukuri, which i bought from a Commune Mate. who just retuned from a Peace Corp, stint in a small village in Nepal... I still have it, as well, as it is my Travel Pack Knife, and goes whereever I go.... Oh Yea, I also have the blades in my MultiTool... that sits on the window sill of my Office/Radioroom...
    Now if I was going to buy a knife, I would buy one of Master Bladesmith Adam DesRosiers Alaskan Choppers, but they are just a bit out of my reTiredment Price Range... So I settled for him putting a New Handle on my Kukuri....
     
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  4. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I think I actually play both sides of the street...

    I do have a few expensive knives (Emerson) but also have a few less expensive (BK, CKRT). The only cheap knives I have are Morakniv and I love'em, good quality for the price.

    I sort of do the same with firearms; however, I don't have any cheap firearms but some expensive and some mid-priced. Why no cheap firearms? A modern firearm is composed of numerous parts and I want to ensure it goes bang when I use it, time and time again. A knife is easier to inspect for wear or flaws and basically is composed of just a couple of pieces. So, I think we're talking apples and oranges when comparing the two. Anyway, I don't have a lot of room in my safe for a lot of firearms so I tend to lean toward higher quality for the few I do have.
     
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  5. Tevin

    Tevin Monkey+++

    It would not bother me too much to spend $500-and up for a knife if it was truly worth it. The problem is that my knowledge of knives is extremely limited, so I stay away from the big buck stuff because I don't know what I'm looking at anyway. I think my most expensive knife was like $30-$40 or so.

    I have a $4.00 lock blade knife I bought on Amazon. I carry it at work and use it every day, mostly for ripping boxes open, cutting rope, nylon ties, plastic shipping wrap, etc.

    Yes, it's junk. But here's the deal: After a year of daily abuse, this knife is close to trashed out. I don't really care; I got my money's worth and I'll just order a another. For the same $500 or more that a "knife snob" would pay for one single high-end blade, I can buy 125 of the cheap $4.00 versions. At an average expected service cycle of one year per knife (and I could stretch that if I had to), I would have enough to give myself a new knife every year for the rest of my life and still have quite a few left to pass to the next generation.

    I haven't anything against the big-dollar custom knives or the people who collect them (I actually admire them very much). But there is a place in this world for cheap blades. A $500 custom job does not rip boxes open and cut nylon ties any better than my $4.00 junker, at least not $396.00 worth of better. And while it's true that a $500 knife is a lifetime investment and mine is a throwaway item, there is such a thing as "too much knife". At some point there are diminishing returns, and my admittedly limited knowledge tells me that there is not a lot of practical justification for a $500-and-up knife.
     
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  6. snake6264

    snake6264 Combat flip flop douchebag

    You can not put a price on a life tool Still have my K Bar and carry it when ever I go into the bush
    I keep one knife in the following Pocket, Belt, Gear, Backpack, Go Bag plus a multi tool
    Overkill maybe but I'm still here and I'm not asking anyone to carry my gear
     
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  7. Meat

    Meat Monkey+++

    I normally buy Kershaw knives which are probably middle of the road. If I lose it no big deal. I donated one to some soldiers at Ft.Lewis a few years ago. That didn’t piss me off too bad. The wife was more pissed when she got a red light ticket leaving Lakewood. Especially considering she didn’t even go. Lol. Oops. :D
     
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  8. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    I have never known a bad guy to complain about getting stabbed by a middle to low grade knife......vs being stabbed by a high dollar knife. Use the tool you have on you. Carry the best you can and know how to use it...far more important than how much you paid for the blade IMO. ;)
     
  9. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    I know a lot of bad golfers who keep buying expensive equipment in the hopes it will improve their game. They would be better off working on their skills.It's no different when it comes to knives and guns. I don't buy junk, but I don't waste money on diminishing returns. A nicer than necessary weapon in and of itself is just fine, but have at least one competent backup in reserve.

    Also, take the time to master the weapons (and really ANY tool) you have at hand. unlike my golfer friends who don't understand why their score never improves no matter how much money they spend.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2017
  10. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I have a great appreciation of quality knives and firearms and am fortunate to own many. It is not a prepping thing with me as much as it is spending a portion of my labors on quality that will last a life time and be passed on to my grand children. I enjoy being able to choose what I carry based on what my day's agenda is. It is not different than say, why own more than a pair of Levis and a comfortable pair of boots, maybe a Carhart jacket. Yes, It will do for the so,e purpose of protecting you from the elements but it's nice to have a funeral suit, something to wear to church, something for playing in the creek with the kids, and something to wear when you take the boss to dinner. You get my point.
     
  11. Oddcaliber

    Oddcaliber Monkey+++

    Thanks for the reply's guys. Now taking another step here I work at Goodyear and purchased a Snap On tool box last year. The irony is that I have Craftsman tools in it! But hay, it works for me.
     
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  12. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Yes, I encountered that also, the "experts say". Just reading on any board will confuse a novice in the knife department. I find that on-line is not the best place to learn about most tools. Read, study and gather different reviews then talk to an expert. If you can find an honest expert that is a huge bonus. I kept reading that most spent at least 100 on a knife. I wanted quality and something that would fit my needs, start me off on the right path. I found an honest knife seller who had me buy a knife that was under $50. It is a great knife and has suited my needs. Often I find many of the experts are not experts but people on-line who regurgitate what they read without no real actual hands on knowledge.

    As for the end of OP's post re: guns. Brand name, top of the line vs. the more inexpensive guns. That is something I cannot decide. So far I have purchased the middle of the road guns. Smith Wesson, Walther, Ruger are some that I own. I do often question is a Bushmaster AR 15 just as good as a Colt as a Smith and Wesson. Some will say an AR is an AR but others will disagree.
     
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  13. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    I've been buying knives since my senior year in high school, guns since the 1990s. I am no expert, I only know what I like based on personal expetience and reading of other's experiences, and history.
    Sometimes I buy a knife or gun that proves to be junk. Often, it proves to be good, serving it's intended purpose well. I will not pay extreme prices for anything. I don't buy to "collect", or for investment. Just the way I roll.
    As the man said, "I may not know art, but I know what I like!"
     
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  14. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    I buy tools that fit the jobs I expect of them .
    Cheap hand tools are generally for modification for a special application I may never use again. Not to say I haven't modified quality tools for special application ,but those are used repetitively .
    When I have the opportunity its fun to make knives, especially out of old files or spring steel .I use what's handy.
    I have tools for battoning , they are called chisels .
    I have bought Morakniv , just to see what the hoop la was about ..Not something i'll do a second time .
    Don't know what i'd do with an expensive knife given to me, except disregard the cost and use it like any thing else.
     
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  15. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    For the most part that's true where it comes to your basic M4 style rifle so long as it's assembled to spec. The Colt 6920 has a very good 4150 CMV chrome lined barrel. You can get a PSA with FN's version of the same barrel for a lot less money. The truth is that in a semi auto rifle 4140 CM is just fine for the steel, and melonited or untreated will be just fine as well - it worked just fine for the M1 in WW2.

    Honestly that M&P Sport, Ruger AR556, PSA (kit or whole), or other entry level AR will work just fine. Spend the rest of the money on more ammo so you can become proficient and IMO you are miles ahead.
     
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  16. Tempstar

    Tempstar Monkey+++

    Bought an Emerson knife and a Weatherby rifle in my life. The Savage shoots better so the Weatherby was sold off. The Emerson knife I'll keep but I carry a Kershaw daily. The only "high end" purchase that I felt worth it was the Colt AR-15. Fit and finish is better than either the PSA or Bushmaster I have owned and sold off. And of course, my Glocks. Middle of the road pricing with top of the line performance...
     
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  17. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    It all depends on when you bought the knife or pistol/rifle.. there have been times when I could afford quality out right and bought quality... there were times I couldn't afford quality and had to save for it... If my life or the lives of mine will depend on it I buy the best I can...

    Although some times quantity has a quality of it's own....
     
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  18. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    I bought a new Smith and Wesson .38 SPL and it spit lead between the cylinder and barrel, shot a python that was extremely inaccurate, and a new 30/30 winchester that not only jammed regularly but couldn't hit a pie plate @ 100 yards and a number of other big name guns and equipment that was a wasted investment , you don't know these things till you take them on the range .
    The gun manufactures that I have the most confidence in, out of the box is Ruger and Rossi .

    The thing with knives ,for me is having several, including those i can afford to loose .
     
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  19. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    @arleigh
    That S&W .38Special needs to back to S&W and get repaired... The Cylinder Timing is OFF, and it needs to be fixed, ASAP... Do yourself a favor and send it in, as it is dangerous to fire, in that condition...
     
  20. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    I traided it back in to the gun shop I got it from, and bought a ruger security 6 long go .
     
    BTPost likes this.
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