Hi-Fi can be less expensive than anything

Priorities and perspectives. It should only matter to you and to heck with anyone who looks down on you or questions you.

I've recently started collecting some rather beautiful French knives and some friends at work seem taken aback by their cost but I just smile and look at their purchases: shoes, purses, bikes, pets, not to mention the sheer size of them (one of their favorite hobbies appears to be food).

All the best,
Nonoise

Inna, they are folding knives of the slip-joint variety.
The first type I started with are laguiole knives and now I'm working on
capuchadou knives .
Both are modern interpretations of the centuries old French peasant knives.

I'm afraid to say I've gotten hooked on them. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise

Inna, I, too started out trying to find traditional American folders and found this site that I think you might find interesting. Canal Street Cutlery caught my eye as they are former Schrade employees who started their own shop using old fashioned American methods. There are many fixed blade knives as well as folders and some of the blacksmiths are at or near the top of their trade.

I thought you might find it rewarding, or at least tempting. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise