The thread has kind if digressed into a gun thread, which is fine, however your original point was buying quality, and how good quality products still give pleasure after many many years.
I totally second that! if when you are younger you can resist the "I want it now and will go for second best" and only buy quality over time it pays off. All our furniture was very expensive, $12,000 for a dining room set in 1980 etc. BUT i still get tremendous satisfaction with all our furniture,a nd it was American Made, Century Brand out of one of the Carolinas. The only thing we ever got stuck on was buying a Volvo car, which we bought thinking it was high quality, we bought it brand new and that darned car about drove us broke in repairing it, so other than cars, quality is the way to go.
My power pruners was like 1,400 Euros but it is a quality tool. Especially with tools i go for quality. once in a while I buy something really really cheap but not that often. Whether it is your home furnishings, your clothing, or your tools and equipment buying quality and maintaining it end up to be cheaper in the long haul. However it takes sacrafice and patience to wait until you can afford the good stuff, most people want instant gratification IMHO.