Are Expensive Folding Knives Worth It?

Many people ask if expensive folding knives are really worth it? There is a point of diminishing returns, where you end up paying more and more money for smaller and smaller improvements. Often, you will have a person who has accumulated a dozen or so knives over the years, in the $20-60 price range. They are happy with their knives, but they want to know if they are missing out on some better performance if they go higher? My honest answer is that beyond about $100-130, the diminishing returns ceiling really begins to kick in. So, unless you are also a collector, or have a lot of cash to spend, or are willing to pay large amounts for relatively small improvements, I don't believe you are missing out if you never go much beyond the cost of a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (currently around $120). Also, every once in a while you get a knife that slips under this and gives you a lot of quality for even less. Cold Steel is now selling a CTS-XHP Steel Hold Out III for $60-65. This may indicate that in the future, the “sweet spot” in the market will go even lower in price.

Here are some recommended knives that give you a lot for the price, I would buy all three of these before you consider going higher:

Spyderco Caly 3 Carbon Fiber/ZDP: http://amzn.to/1NsnXJh
Brisa Enzo Birk 75 Folder: http://amzn.to/1KmBhxQ
Cold Steel Hold Out III in CTS-XHP: http://amzn.to/1QBanDm

Other Videos of Interest:

Microtech Socom Delta: https://youtu.be/unQDhvvHPV8
Zero Tolerance 0452CF: https://youtu.be/bQaKxPDjRGY
Zero Tolerance 0808: https://youtu.be/eAiww_FpxwY
Strider SMF, Bronzed Chevron: https://youtu.be/8SMwvlHIDLI
Sebenza Mammoth/Damascus: https://youtu.be/_UKiG_jCjxI
Enzo Birk 75 Folder: https://youtu.be/fIpP9MNgiHY
CS Hold Out III, CTS-XHP: https://youtu.be/waEFSOp-2xU