FourdayI'm not an expert, but they are higher quality steel and handle, and made in USA. The alternative would be a Chinese knife, with Chinese steel and a cheap plastic handle.
CuchanuI understand your point. I was only thinking of 1095 steel (inexpensive), lazer or waterjet cut blanks, a temper along with some grinding and sharpening followed up with micarta type slab handles. All that shouldn't add up to $100. A nice knife like a Randall, Treeman or a Ruana is a different story, being hand made and not mass produced.
FourdayI have no insight into the process of how knives are made, but labor is expensive!
It also seems like this is the going price for similar knives. But considering the simplicity it does seem expensive.