Ok, I am feeling the need to step in a sec to speak my mind on this as well. Especially since I'm the brand "X" in question. Let me begin by saying this comparison is more like Apples Vs. Apple Pie.
Lets first look at the cost difference, since that is the first thing this thread is about. Obviously as has already been stated, CPM-3V is a LOT more per pound than 1095 of any variety. We all know this.
Now the other things to take into account are that the two knives, while similar in size, are COMPLETELY different.
Beckers come with less expensive 1095, thick powder coat and injection molded poly handles. The powdercoat eliminates the need to finish the blades in any way since it hides the laser cutting marks. Plastic injection molded handles cost next to nothing to make, once the cost of the injection mold is absorbed. They can also afford to order entire mill orders of stock, rolled to the exact thickness they require for each design. That cuts precision surface grinding out of the equation. Utilizing a FFG makes bevel grinding much cheaper as well. And then the biggest thing, they are making these things by the THOUSANDS. Ka Bar is an old, well established company who probably owns all of their equipment outright and does their heat treat in house, most likely. All of these things lower costs considerably.
Now, you take me, a lone guy with a dream to offer a better production knife. These are not collector knives and I do also offer a lifetime warranty. All of my blades are precision flat ground before being bevel ground on a Berger BG2 grinder. I select what I feel will be the best steel for the intended application of each knife model. Right now those steels are CPM-3V and Elmax, which I just purchased a few hundred pounds of. Everyone is right, the stuff isn't cheap but the performance is far superior. I'm not saying that 1095 doesn't work or even that it's a bad steel. It's a fine knife steel. But going from a properly heat treated powder metal back to 1095, you have to adjust your performance expectations a good bit. For heat treat I rely on Peter's Heat Treat, who is right here in my home state of Pennsylvania. My handles are considerably more expensive, being CNC machined Micarta rather than Poly but I much prefer the feel of micarta. We are even just about finished developing a handle fastener that will allow the user to adjust or remove the handles without any specialized wrenches or tools. This new fastener will be on all production SURVIVE! knife models. lastly, all of the blades are stonewashed finished and have handles hand matched to each blade, for a perfect fit.
So is it really worth the extra money to have a 3V blade? That depends on the person, their expectations of the knife and ultimately who they want to support. To the user who appreciates a well made production knife, I believe it is.
Let me sign off by saying that I think KaBar is a great company and their knives represent a good value for the money. And as many have pointed out, if one does break, they are cheap enough to just go buy another. Me on the other hand? I hope you pick up one of my knives and use it until you've resharpened it for so many years that it's little more than a nub left for a blade.
