A dilemma when buying two and gifting one

[kamagong]

Will the nuances of the "better" knife be wasted on the recipient? Would he still be happy and thankful with it? If so, then I think the answer is evident.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Give the best one. It is the right thing to do.

That's the nagging feeling I get, but it's hard to pay attention knowing you're the only one who would know or care.

Will the nuances of the "better" knife be wasted on the recipient? Would he still be happy and thankful with it? If so, then I think the answer is evident.

If I told them to pick one they'd tell me, doesn't matter to me so you pick.
That's how it's been before.

Now in this instance the knives are little Buck lockbacks, because they don't have a notch one might have a little recurve at the tang but that's about it. There's really no other way they could vary.
I'd be tempted to keep the one with slightly less or no recurve at the tang, but it doesn't make or break the knife either way.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Give the best one. It is the right thing to do.

That is a nagging feeling I get, it can kind of feel a bit selfish even though you're buying someone else a knife for no other reason than that were on sale and you thought they'd like one.
I guess I'll just know when the time comes what I should do.

Heck knowing Buck both knives might be perfectly equal.

 

[Mayonardo]

There is no right or wrong and depends on who's getting the gift.

“Hey, pal, I got these two knives the other day. One of them has some issues. Blade’s off center and rubs the liner some and the dye job could be better, but the other one is almost perfect, really nice. Here, I’m keeping the good one and giving you the other.”

Note that in most of the discussions of this “dilemma” the person receiving the inferior gift doesn’t know that it is, in fact, second choice.

I do feel that, especially in terms of personal integrity, there is right and wrong. But, that’s me. Others mileage may vary.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I will say, for me, it depends on the knife, and the recipient. I bought two Opinel on sale at an outdoor store. One for me, and one for my young son. I kept the better of the two. Sons, every time I see it, is rusty. It was a beater knife for him, that I knew would not be as well cared for, or as used as mine is.....

On the other hand, I bought 4 GEC made Schrade fire and ice trappers. I held back the two nicer versions for my sons. I have a pair (23 and 43 pattern) that I carry. I gave the two gor my boys, one to each grandpa, to hold and pass on to the boys when they are older...so they each have knives from grandparents. Each grandpa has at least two knives to pass on to my boys, supplied by me.

I also have knives from great grandparents, and great great grandparents I can pass on when my boys are grown.

 

[cigarrodog]

Gifting is at least in part, about the good feeling it generates for the giver and the recipient. If giving one makes me feel inwardly bad, then I will always choose the one that generates a warm fuzzy for both of us. I’m not offering advice or judgement. Just saying how I roll.

 

[22-rimfire]

“Hey, pal, I got these two knives the other day. One of them has some issues. Blade’s off center and rubs the liner some and the dye job could be better, but the other one is almost perfect, really nice. Here, I’m keeping the good one and giving you the other.”

Note that in most of the discussions of this “dilemma” the person receiving the inferior gift doesn’t know that it is, in fact, second choice.

I do feel that, especially in terms of personal integrity, there is right and wrong. But, that’s me. Others mileage may vary.

Knives cost money. A gift is a gift. The receiver is free to do with the gift as they choose. Inferior or perfect? If I were going to use the knife, I would be perfectly happy with your inferior knife you speak of. But generally, I don't want a knife as a gift from anyone, including you. I prefer to choose my own. There is no right and wrong as it is entirely situational. For you there seems to be a right and wrong. Not me. I base my gifting on need or how much the recipient will appreciate my gesture.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I understand where he's coming from where giving a truly flawed knife would kind of feel like you're just casting off a lemon you can't be bothered to deal with returning,
but he's kind of going off the worst case scenario for a knife that's flawed but still acceptable.
One minor little thing that doesn't make or break a knife and only matters to you is not a big deal.
Chances are someone else might care about another thing entirely that you probably didn't even notice or care about, it's not like you can really get a truly 100% perfect production slipjoint anyways.

I think I've come to my conclusion.
I'll do whatever makes both Happy, if there's a minor thing that would only make me unhappy then I know what to do.

 

[W.M.B.]

Your integrity is not in question with either choice unless you are somehow dishonest about it. There is no rule that says when you buy something for yourself you must buy something better for someone else

 

[yablanowitz]

For what it's worth, the last time I gave away what I thought was the better of two knives, the receipient sent it back to the manufacturer for repairs. Now I wouldn't even open both and look, I'd keep one and send the other on unseen.

 

[5K Qs]

...
maybe this next time I'll just hand one over and let it be random.
...

This was going to be my suggestion. To eliminate any subconscious biases, just flip a coin.
(And follow the procedure you set up! No saying, "OK let's make this best 3 of 5!" after you see the original outcome. )

- GT

 

[Hickory n steel]

This was going to be my suggestion. To eliminate any subconscious biases, just flip a coin.
(And follow the procedure you set up! No saying, "OK let's make this best 3 of 5!" after you see the original outcome. )

- GT

I'll probably just open the first box I grab out and put the other in the safe ASAP so I'm not tempted.

 

[Frailer]

As long as they are both good quality...
A fellow knife knut gets the better one.
An average knife user gets the other one.

That would be my answer as well. In fact, it has been so more than once.

If I think the recipient would prefer the nicer knife, that’s the one he or she gets. If they wouldn’t care (or wouldn’t notice the difference), I’ll keep the one I like better.

 

[Will Power]

Impossible to say, one man's knife flaw another man's indifference I HATE raised/sunk springs on open or close, other people don't mind this. I like certain shades of bone, others might prefer the opposite, so it's hard to really say which is the better of two knives.

If you really like a knife then keep it, for the above reasons. If you give something you hope it will be liked or appreciated, there's no guarantee though

I've stopped giving non knife people knives, it's an utter waste and so if it's a present for another knife enthusiast, just send positive vibes with it, can't go wrong

 

[Hickory n steel]

I've stopped giving non knife people knives, it's an utter waste and so if it's a present for another knife enthusiast, just send positive vibes with it, can't go wrong

Pretty much the only person I really gift knives to these dayd is my dad, and he loves knives but simply doesn't care much about little details.
He only cares if the blade is dull or wiggly.

One thing I've learned is that you also have to gift the right kind of knife.
A couple years ago I gifted my uncle a Victorinox Tinker and he never even opened it because as it turns out he prefers small peanut sized knives.
Bought my brother .

 

[Boxer .45]

Depends on who I'm gifting to and maybe why as well (or why instead).

Although I believe what I said above applies...

Assuming both are good examples, if its its really bothering you, why not put them in their box/tube, and let the person pick? They get it just as blind as you did from the dealer except you already know both are at least acceptable.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Although I believe what I said above applies...

Assuming both are good examples, if its its really bothering you, why not put them in their box/tube, and let the person pick? They get it just as blind as you did from the dealer except you already know both are at least acceptable.

That's a thought I had.
Maybe I'll let the dog choose for me

 

[gaj999]

I've also stopped giving knives to people unless I know that they'll really like it. In that case, they get the better one if I bought two with the idea of giving them one. If I'm just unloading an extra, that might change. If the one with lower levels of F&F would bother you, why not send it back?