$170, and that left me some $ for some gumballhead.
Its still a status symbol, and you're paying for the name in my opinion. Your points on production volumes are also relevant.
A lot of the new titanium frame locks out these days are equal to CRK's in my opinion, and cost less. Let's take a Spyderco Schempp Tuff for example (maybe not your bag of tea, but we're just talking about materials, function, and fit and finish here). Full titanium lock side, yet it employs a steel lock interface that will take more abuse than the treated CRK full Ti lock face. It also has better steel in CPM 3v (and Spyderco does phenomenal in the heat treat department). Fit and finish of the Taichung Spydercos is every bit as nice as a CRK in my opinion as well. All of the ones I've handled are completely flawless. Dead nuts blade centering, no blade play, lock up at or under 50%, and very nice action and detent. All for less than half the price of a CRK (got mine for $170 new from a reputable dealer).
Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a CRK. You should save up and get one if you like it. It just means that for me, I can get something else that is absolutely of the same quality level for cheaper. It won't get the ooooh's and aaaaah's a CRK will, and it won't retain as much value on the used market. But I don't care about those things (but maybe you do, and that's ok too).
well your photo is an example in itself. That beer is a great deal more expensive than many many other beers of good quality. Yet people are willing to pay more for their preference in taste and style. In the end the beer gets you the same result just might taste better to someone while drinking it. To many people beer is beer and lots of people would think paying that much for a beer is crazy. That beer uses higher quality ingredients and is made in much smaller batches giving it an overall better quality and taste. Much like the precision that goes into a higher end knife vs a production knife. They may seem similar at a glance or upon handling but a closer look at the manufacturing process and materials used and there is defiantly a difference.$170, and that left me some $ for some gumballhead.
well your photo is an example in itself. That beer is a great deal more expensive than many many other beers of good quality. Yet people are willing to pay more for their preference in taste and style. In the end the beer gets you the same result just might taste better to someone while drinking it. To many people beer is beer and lots of people would think paying that much for a beer is crazy. That beer uses higher quality ingredients and is made in much smaller batches giving it an overall better quality and taste. Much like the precision that goes into a higher end knife vs a production knife.
well your photo is an example in itself. That beer is a great deal more expensive than many many other beers of good quality. Yet people are willing to pay more for their preference in taste and style. In the end the beer gets you the same result just might taste better to someone while drinking it. To many people beer is beer and lots of people would think paying that much for a beer is crazy. That beer uses higher quality ingredients and is made in much smaller batches giving it an overall better quality and taste. Much like the precision that goes into a higher end knife vs a production knife. They may seem similar at a glance or upon handling but a closer look at the manufacturing process and materials used and there is defiantly a difference.
But I completely understand if someone is just as happy with a Benchmade or Spyderco.
Theres quite a few levels of quality in both Spyderco and benchmades product line. Some of the upper tier of Spydercos line is on par with CRK. I'm not talking about the standard stuff you see everywhere. I can't speak to benchmade. Don't like them, so I have no experience. They're just not my cup of tea..
Its just taboo in the knife world to say that anything compares to CRK but full on $2000 customs. I don't agree with it. There's stuff out there that's every bit the quality for a good chunk less money. Production manufacturing techniques have come a long way since CRK first started producing knives. Back then, there were no production knives that compared. Simply not the case these days. I'd really like to hear the justification for why a Schempp Tuff is not on par with a CRK. I gave a lot of examples regarding why I feel it's on par and potentially a bit nicer in some areas (not talking about style, etc... Just talking about quality).
And I'm sick of the overseas argument. Buy USA made if it makes you happy. But made across seas no longer necessarily means it's inferior in quality (although there is plenty of junk made across seas. You just have to know what you're buying).
But I do agree with the above statements regarding people buying whatever trips their trigger. If you like CRK, more power to you. They're quality knives. Same with me and beer. I'm not drinking schlitz because I don't like it. Does the same thing in the end, but I like other stuff.
No, they aren't. Spyderco has won a single Manufacturing Quality Award, and that was back in 1988. CRK has won the award 13 of the 15 years from 2000-2014. Spyderco makes good knives, but they aren't CRK knives. I also don't think Taiwanese knives are the value you think they are. Spyderco's high end Taiwanese knives have the same or higher MSRPs as / than comparable USA made knives from ZT.Some of the upper tier of Spydercos line is on par with CRK.
yet it employs a steel lock interface that will take more abuse than the treated CRK full Ti lock face.
Some people just refuse to see the value that a higher end knife brings to the table. It like comparing a Kimber to a custom Ed Brown. The Kimber is made of high quality materials and the fit and finish are top notch and will last lifetime but as nice as they are they don't have near the tolerances and attention to detail of the Ed Brown. Spyderco is not even close to the same thing. I don't own a CRK and have no intention of purchasing one but I do own many custom folders costing much more than a CRK that I carry and use hard daily. I've owned many spyderco knives and love them but they don't hold a candle to higher end knives. Just no way around it.
When a pocket knife is, +/-, the same price as a decent handgun, I'll just buy the handgun.