Cheap Knife vs Expensive Custom

[Scythe13]

Okay, this is something I've been challenging for a while and having seen the post about a £123.95 knife, I thought it about time I write this up.

Let's get it on shall we.

I have had MANY knives thoughout my life. And I've started to realise that there are many differences between cheap mass produced blades, and expensive custom blades. Having said that, there are many similarities with them as well.


One of the main things to think about is the purpose of the knife and the value the knife holds.

Some knives are expensive and simply custom blades for investment that specific knife loves will pay a premium for. So, with that in mind, I'll move on to what we are more interested in...what we will use the knives for.

Okay, first off, we'll check some of the differences. One of the major differences is how the knife is finished. If you go to a store and pick up a £300 knife a £30 knife and a £3 knife, you'll probably be able to tell the difference. The more expensive knife is going to look prettier and will likely have a warranty tag added along with it. Warranties are very helpful post SHTF haha. If spending £20 more gets you a warranty, work out when you'll use the knife and whether the extra £20 is really worth it.

Anyway, from picking up the blades, it should be pretty easy to pick the more expensive knife from the group just by the finish.

Material is the next consideration. The mass produced blades are usually made from the same metals as the custom blades. Metals for knives are generally the same and readily available at an affordable price. What this means is that the cheaper knives are cuttingly equal, provided they have the same sharpness of blade and shape. If all dimensions are the same for the blades, custom or mass produced will be the same material, and thus will have the same slicing capability.

Mass production techniques are so advanced nowadays and they're so finely tuned and regulated, that a custom knife can be replicated, to the point where it would be 98% identical to the original custom blade. What does this mean? It means that a 2% drop in quality of finish can result in a 10 fold drop in price! To get another drop in price will require a much more uneven drop in quality, to get to £3, will require a 70+% drop in quality.

Next up, weight. Is it worth spending 10 times more on a knife that'll weight similar to the cheap knife? Maybe a few grams difference? In my view, probably not. But if you think those 10 grams are vital, then go for it.

Okay, build quality up now: This one is more important than most others. You don't want a blade that will shatter when you use it. You need the handle well put together, and everything to stay in place....no blade locking mechanisms unlocking unexpectedly!!! For me, this is the only MAJOR difference, other than finish. What's more, the difference is only in the upper margin and bottom level of blades. Having a £300 knife, you know the mechanism will be good. To replicate that level of intricacy will cost a fair bit more for the mass production groups, and so you'd expect it to be a bit more, so our £30 might be more like £35 or £45, but for a fixed blade or a full tang, you'd still expect the £30ish level to be about right. However, a £3.00 knife is going to be so cheap in it's mechanism that it'll break, almost guaranteed.

Used of the knife. This is the weirdest part really, does an expensive knife have more uses than a cheap knife? Unless we go to Swiss Army or 'added features' then it's going to be a no. A knife is as limited in it's uses whether it costs £300 or £30. Take note I left out the £3 knife option here. The reason for that, the build quality will not be there, and as a result the possible functions that will destroy the knife are much more numerous and thus limiting it's functionality.

I'm working nights so need to get some sleep before going off to work, so I am cutting this short and not going into great depth, but you'll get the point of what I'm on about. If you disagree, find me evidence and we'll talk about it.

Lastly, it's a matter or what you're willing to use the knife for. I've got a beast of a knife that I regularly use to beat on to split wood. I'm happy doing this because the knife is well constructed and has lasted the test of time. It's one of my favourites. No mention of price. My question is, would you be able to pick up a piece of wood and beat down on that new expensive blade that you've not unboxed? If not, then come a SHTF situation, how do you know if it's capable of putting up with the punishment it could have to be put through? If you're not going to test it before TSHTF, then I'd really be cautious about using it after TSHTF!

Simple answer, cheaper knives are OFTEN (not always, but trial and error will show the difference) just as good as custom expensive knives. I'd rather test 10 knives of £30 each and have 2 or 3 that I'm happy with, than one at £300 that I suddenly find out is ornamental and not capable of keeping up with demand and rugged use!

Hope that helps those of you looking at the expensive knives and thinking.....I want one of those.

Please note, this is not a knock on expensive knives! It's a promotion of cheaper ones.