First off, my company could very well be called a "botique" cutlery business. I could never afford to compete with B&M stores with their volume buying power. However, a sporting goods store does not service or sell high end Japanese kitchen knives, or ZT folders suitable for deployed soldiers.

Case in point, this week I polished a CRKT folder as a favor for a local security guard. He clearly didn't look like a rent-a-cop and we talked. He was here to make a bit of cash, finish some needed classes and then "re-up." He was already a vet, been to the middle-east, came from a military family, and was trying to get into Ranger school. He asked about knives, and I handed him my personal EDC, a black-on-black ZT0300, a Ranger folder in their colors. Now get this--he had never even seen one before, much less been able to handle one!

And that's the problem. In additiom, we are surrounded by lakes--we're an isthmus--but no one stocks Myerchin knives. You get excuses about the B/O at Kershaw for ZTs, and that covers most soldiers as well. I don't know where wilderness campers get their titanium stuff.

As you know, I just threw a Syperco Native III to a female soldier on her way out of the door, who reported her entire squad/group used it. Why didn't these people have knives? With that in mind, I find that no one has really good stuff, and since there is so few of these pieces, the sky is the limit on prices--it shouldn't be, it's a needed tool. These are good knives, and you don't have to use one of them long before you realize the difference.

I once loaned a properly polished knife to one of those juggling chefs at a local restaurant. He was born here, but returned to Japan for culinary classes. He had never used a good knife since he left Japan. After dinner, my wife and I had trouble getting it back. Having seen this for two decades, I refuse to sell mediocre knives.

I guess good enough is good enough. For military - the best. For my EDC- 12 bucks does the trick real well and if thats mediocre than thats ok with me.