With FU lottery money, Jerry Fisk and I would become best buddies.
Long before "Forged In Fire", I hung around with a lot of ABS Journeymen and Master Smiths. I was at the dedication of the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing, and attended hammer-ins there and elsewhere.
Being from SW Arkiesaw has few advantages, but that is one of them.
The first year that Andy was starting out Half Face Blades in 2014, I had a custom Crow made for me. Paid ~$450 at the time for it. Fast forward 10 years later, hes massively popular and doesnt necessarily make the knives himself anymore. Theres weird Joe Rogan adjacent millionaires that collect his early knives, and ive passed up offers over $10k for this one. Its my favorite thing I own.
I can't find my Buck 110 auto right now but I believe that was the most I had spent on a knife. It was one of the early models that was a regular 110 at birth but was later converted to an auto by someone. Not quite sure who but I've never seen another like it. I think it was $275 at the Marlboro gun show in 2009 or so.
The other two $200+ knives I own are the Beltrame 11" stiletto and HK Tumult. The latter no longer fires reliably which I guess is a common problem.