@Swedneck @Frostbeard generally speaking the type of blade steel and the the materials used to make the handle. after that, the quality control of the heat treatment of the blade is actually a significant cost. After that cost to construct the knife can vary based on design requirements. There's a lot of variability which leads to higher or lower costs.

As @Cetan states its usually the metal, but also the material in the grip and the sheath. I have hadde several basic Mora knives with plastic grips and sheaths. Perhaps most satisfied with the Mora 2000, should have gotten the orange one as the green was lost to the forest.

For forest use I can reccomed knife smith Strømeng 8" sami knife with finger guard. (Cant get the 9" with finger guard). Not a nimble knife tho'.

https://www.knivesofthenorth.com/products/stromeng-samekniv-8-fingerguard-knife

Strømeng does not have English web page https://samekniv.no/