Simple Question. Easy Answer?

[Spyderbro]

[CENTER]Why do you spend more than $100 for an Every Day Carry? [/CENTER]

I read a lot on many forums about the expensive knives people buy.....then I read about how they lose them, get them taken away (ie: airports), not worth the money, bad cosmetics, bad grinds, chatter, wobble, horrible quality control, you get my point.

Then I read about how you only use them to cut boxes/letters open, cut up some fruit, you know...everyday stuff.

Some of you even carry more than one knife. Really?

I'm not talking about camping or non-everyday activities. (You know what I'm talking about.)

My question is...why? Why do you spend so much money on a knife with expensive steels and exotic slabs/sides for an edc? Because you can?

Does that make sense to you? Do you buy them to collect? Buy them for others as gifts? Like the way they look? Have extra cash? Afraid of the boogie man?

I have carried a knife for 25 years, the last 5 years I have carried a Delica. I'm not saying buy a Delica...please don't go there.

Do you really need a $100 or more knife to carry around?

Try not to get off track, or get defensive. :eek:

[Bruce]

Only 1 answer I can give to this question: Because I can.

There really is no need for an expensive knife for the things I do with them, but since I can afford it, why shouldn't I? It makes me feel better, so it's worth it for me :)

[Azwaiian]

not really sure how to respond to this thread. you seem to be really upset at why knife lovers spend so much of their money, on knives that they want, and do with it as they please. so what if someone buys a $100 plus knife and then cuts up food or cardboard with it. it is, afterall, THEIR money, so why are you so frustrated or upset about it.
you also say you've read on this forum and others about negative comments on knives and how they're lost or confiscated...okay, so what, it's still not you're money.
the way i see it, if someone wishes to spend their money, on a product they want, and do with it as they please, and carry more than one of it, what's it to you?
just saying...
love them spydies, oh and by the way, i EDC two knives all the time and sometimes the knives are both $100 plus spydies. yeehaw!

[Bradley]

I think a lot of the time it comes down to the person just wanting to. If not, we all would have only 1 knife, and it'd be something like a SAK. That's kind of a similar question to why do girls have so many shoes? Cuz they want to haha, anyone could get by with just a few pairs of shoes, they just want more. This being a knife forum, lots of people here like to spend their hard earned money on knives. If we all only wanted/needed 1 knife, Spyderco wouldn't be getting a ton of business, and there really wouldn't be much point in this forum, or any other Knife forum. This isn't supposed to sound disrespectful in any way, just my opinion. :) cheers man.

[Ankerson]

Only 1 answer I can give to this question: Because I can.

That's pretty much it right there, same goes for a lot of things we own.

[Evil D]

For the same reason i built my car to have ~420hp. I don't need it, i just enjoy having it when i use it

That question can be applied to literally anything you buy, from cars to clothes to shoes, food, you name it. Why do people live in houses instead of tents? Why don't we all ride bicycles instead of drive cars? etc etc.

For me, the easy answer is, i have expensive taste...unfortunately i have a taste for champagne, on a beer budget lol.

[Bradley]

For me, the easy answer is, i have expensive taste...unfortunately i have a taste for champagne, on a beer budget lol.

HAHAHH I like that.

[The Deacon]

I wonder if anyone would ask that question on a watch forum, a writing instruments forum, or a car forum.

There are folks out there who'll spend over $100 on a bottle of wine, a restaurant meal, tickets to a play or sports event, a box of cigars, or a hooker.

Bottom line is, what I do with my money is my business, and nobody else's. I don't have to justify it and it does not have to make sense to you. Suffice it to say that we all get pleasure out of different things.

[ChrisR]

Owning high-quality tools just gives a lot of people great satisfaction ... like putting on a really good suit will make the wearer feel more confident. We just like to have and use 'good stuff' ... and I think the fact that people use their knives every day is great - they weren't made to be drawer queens :)

[Ankerson]

I wonder if anyone would ask that question on a watch forum, a writing instruments forum, or a car forum.

There are folks out there who'll spend over $100 on a bottle of wine, a restaurant meal, tickets to a play or sports event, a box of cigars, or a hooker.

Bottom line is, what I do with my money is my business, and nobody else's. I don't have to justify it and it does not have to make sense to you. Suffice it to say that we all get pleasure out of different things.

Oh I am sure there will always be people who will ask those questions about many different things. The main reason behind those questions is because the person asking them either can't afford them or justify the cost. Either way jealously and or judging has a large part in it if they want to admit it or not.

I feel I don't have to justify how and what I spend my money on to anyone for any reason.

[Jordan]

See, I know people who wouldn't blink at spending 100$ on a t-shirt because an italian dude silk screened his name on it that have asked me that very same question. We live in a post "need" world (at least, those of us who live in the 1st world). So, we get to spend our resources on the things we want instead. I want to spend my excess resources on knives and guns... so I do. :) Odds are, you spend a lot of money on something that I wouldn't understand completely. Powertools you never use perhaps, expensive shoes and clothing, organic tomatoes, IKEA furniture, modifying vehicles to be faster than you'll ever drive, etc. etc... you get the idea.

[Spyderbro]

Oh my. This was a question !! I have several knives over $100 as well !! Just wondered why you did. Did I sound mad? Did I sound like I was prying into your business? Was I telling you how to spend your money?

I wonder if anyone would ask that question on a watch forum, a writing instruments forum, or a car forum.

There are folks out there who'll spend over $100 on a bottle of wine, a restaurant meal, tickets to a play or sports event, a box of cigars, or a hooker.

Bottom line is, what I do with my money is my business, and nobody else's. I don't have to justify it and it does not have to make sense to you. Suffice it to say that we all get pleasure out of different things.

Deacon...you are usually much more astute than this.

[marcdurant]

I buy and carry an "expensive" knife for several reasons: aesthetics, functionality, and dependability.

First, it's going to be with me 24/7/365, so it should be something that is aesthetically pleasing. Every time I use my knife, I get to enjoy the appearance and the design, and it makes me happy on a small but continuous level. Spyderco knives are well designed to fit comfortably in your hand, and that's a nice feeling too. Other people who see the knife will form an impression of me based partly on their feelings about the knife. If it's a freebie "Lite Beer" plastic-handled jackknife, they're going to form an opinion of me that's not so good. If it's a Spyderco with nice lines, carbon fiber handles, etc, then I look good.

Second, Spyderco knives have been given the best in design and manufacturing treatments, which ensures that my knife will be functionally optimal. Cutting mechanics will be natural. I won't pinch my hand when I open or close the knife. I can open the knife and index it one-handed without looking. If I need to cut something tough, I have confidence that the knife blade won't snap off and embed itself in my hand.

Finally, dependability. Every time I pull out my Spyderco, I know it's going to be there for me. The lock always functions. The clip doesn't slip. The scales don't fall off. The pivot is smooth. It's always sharp. If I somehow manage to hurt the knife, I'll send it back to Spyderco for the royal treatment.

[Blerv]

For most of us the most economical way to burn fossil fuels is on a bus. The second would be a moped or 1981 Honda you bought on Craigslist for $300. Yet we often drive expensive depreciating vehicles...hmmm...

Fact is the acronym "EDC" is silly. Most people who own knives have multiple knives, so to "every day carry" a knife is a lie. Half my knives are still factory sharp.

People have hobbies and can justify the entertainment expense. Same thing as expensive cars, snobby beers, and extravagant electronics. If you see them as entertainment the justification is easy. If you focus your disposable funds on ONE or TWO hobbies it's a slam dunk easy decision.

I have less in my pocketknives than the MR2 Spyder Hardtop I had shipped from Japan. They have also depreciated in value far less.

[akaAK]

I have carried knives for the vast majority of my life. When I was younger they were poor quality, disposable knives for the most part. As I got older (and fatter and balder) I also realized that good quality tools last a life time, if they are taken care of properly. Do I need CF scales and ZDP (Stretch) for what I cut on a daily basis...no. Your Delica is probably overkill in most situations as well. Why not sharpen a rock and use that. It's free.

I don't collect, I have used every knife I have at some point. I have given some away and gotten some in return. Luckily I can afford them and I truly enjoy them.

Hopefully that is enough of a reason. If not, who cares.

[Gerard Breuker]

Recurrent questions like this make me wonder why knives are often singled out for this type of questions.
Although I have more knives than I could possibly really need, I also have more watches, shoes, coats and whatever not than I really need which also almost always cost me more than absolutely necessary to get the job done.
Especially for EDC I prefer all of those as I feel they improve my perceived quality of life everyday even though they may not add anything substantial in function over a cheaper product.
I am on the other hand still happy with one of my very first knives and still use that Endura with pleasure.

[Spyderbro]

For most of us the most economical way to burn fossil fuels is on a bus. The second would be a moped or 1981 Honda you bought on Craigslist for $300. Yet we often drive expensive depreciating vehicles...hmmm...

Fact is the acronym "EDC" is silly. Most people who own knives have multiple knives, so to "every day carry" a knife is a lie. Half my knives are still factory sharp.

People have hobbies and can justify the entertainment expense. Same thing as expensive cars, snobby beers, and extravagant electronics. If you see them as entertainment the justification is easy. If you focus your disposable funds on ONE or TWO hobbies it's a slam dunk easy decision.

I have less in my pocketknives than the MR2 Spyder Hardtop I had shipped from Japan. They have also depreciated in value far less.

Thank-you Blerv.
I was just was asking a "simple question" guys. This was a knife question, not telling you how to spend your money, nor am I mad. I have lots of knives myself. Some are expensive. And I enjoy them all.

[Ankerson]

A person doesn't have to be rich to afford most good knives, even knives that cost $400 really aren't expensive compared to other things people spend their money on.

Just eating out for lunch everyday for most people could buy them a Sebenza in no time.

Or the booze they spend their money on in say a month or two, going out to the clubs or bars ect.

It comes down to justification of funds that people make in their minds.

It's like so many so called poor people that always seem to have enough money for booze, lottery tickets and drugs, think about that one for awhile, I see this EVERYDAY.....

So when people point fingers at what I spend my money on I don't even bother to answer them 99.9% of time.

[Spyderbro]

I wonder if anyone would ask that question on a watch forum, a writing instruments forum, or a car forum.

There are folks out there who'll spend over $100 on a bottle of wine, a restaurant meal, tickets to a play or sports event, a box of cigars, or a hooker.

Bottom line is, what I do with my money is my business, and nobody else's. I don't have to justify it and it does not have to make sense to you. Suffice it to say that we all get pleasure out of different things.

Are you saying they shouldn't ask? I wonder if all his fellow watch forum, writing instruments forum, or a car forum brothers assume the worst and jump down his throat?

[Evil D]

I must admit, when i joined this forum just over a year ago, the idea of throwing down $100 for a knife was crazy. Of course at the time i didn't know much about steel either. I've been a knife guy my whole life, ever since i was old enough to play with knives and hide them from my mother lol. I think the difference was that i've matured to the point where i like to buy quality things, not junk. I spend more money on other stupid crap that doesn't last as long or give as much user satisfaction as my knives.

If you were to take a family of 4 out to a steak house you could easily spend $100, on something that you get absolutely nothing out of except for that one single moment you use (eat) it. If properly cared for, a knife can last you the rest of your life unless you sharpen it down to a nub.