I can answer that BJBJ. We are looking for PERFORMANCE. If you can show me a knife that performs as well as my SY steel at a lower cost- I'll buy it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. I do have knives from other vendors- but the cost is about the same as SY- maybe more - some a tad less. When it comes to an axe- I am looking for pure comparison. If somebody can honestly tell me that the Gransfors PERFORMS MUCH better than the Gerbers/ Fiskars- that is what I want to know <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. I have used SY knives " head to head" against other brands and I know why I buy SY. That is exactly how I became a loyal SY user/ buyer. Probably why a bunch of folks are here. So if the lower cost Gerber/Fiskars perfoms as well as upper line axes- I'll use them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. At this point I have ordered one Gransfors and two Fiskars and will see for myself after reading the diffent opinions. In the end I have a feeling that I " might" find that the upper line takes and holds an edge better but both perform pretty well after edge is set. We shall see. Something being just " legendary" is not enough for me or most likely other dogs- we want to see PERFORMANCE. I am speaking from a SY point of view as I don't buy the big Busse blades. Hope this answers your concerns about us " drooling dawgs" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />