A really pleasant experience

VermontEdge

VermontEdge

Joined
Jun 10, 2015
Messages
1,144
Just wanted to throw some positivity out into the universe.

So, recently I've upped my knife collecting/acquiring. I've bought a few knives recently to add to an already solid collection, and I also joined this forum which has been great so far!

I'm in the process of deciding on one more knife to buy for a little while (at least until my birthday). I have ZERO friends to talk about knives with, and generally find that my experience with being into knives involves shopping online and reading things on the forum. I have one local store that caries knives (knives that interest me, anyway) but their selection is a little limited.

Anyway, I was really curious about handling both a Zero Tolerance 0566 and an Emerson cqc-7. I had the day off today so I took the short drive to the shop and they happened to have both. Luckily, the guy that I got to open the case for me was also a knife nut. He first complimented me on the two I was interested in and then further complimented me on hearing about my stropping for maintenance. It didn't take long for him to pull out his Strider, which I had never handled before.

Before you know it we're talking about CPM 154 opinions and our experiences sharpening S30V and the pros/cons of recurves. It was so, so refreshing to be able to speak out loud the way that I communicate on the forum! The guy was all about talking knives and it was just a really great experience.

Both of those knives were over my budget, but after having such a great experience today I'm planning on stopping buy again tomorrow to handle both and buy one. Just goes to show that online shopping for knives is great, but you really can't beat the overall experience of going in to your local knife shop, meeting a fellow knife nut and getting to handle things in person!

Now it's just a matter on choosing the knife :eek:
 
That's a great story, and I know exactly how you feel. I have the same experience at my local my shop.

I happen to be an Emerson eficianado (I own 9), So of course I would recommend the CQ C7. However, I don't think you could go wrong with either knife.
 
Must be nice. There are a few sports stores out here that have some great knives, but no one selling them has a clue as to what they are doing. I would go with the ZT, personally. I am not too fond of tanto for a folder. An excellent knife for heavy work, though.
 
Must be nice to be close to a knife shop. I've ended up buying off the exchange just to see what a particular knife is all about.

Mike
 
That is a great story. Glad you are supporting local. We love it when knife knuts come in to our shop. We are constantly learning more and learn a lot from our true knife knut customers! A true knife enthusiast makes a day or work in the shop so much more enjoyable!
 
Good luck on buying your knife. I hope it serves you well.
Welcome here. We like to talk about that stuff.
 
Hope you buy from him, that personal interaction more than makes up for a little cheaper price on line. You're fortunate to have that resource so close to you.
 
whitty said:
That is a great story. Glad you are supporting local. We love it when knife knuts come in to our shop. We are constantly learning more and learn a lot from our true knife knut customers! A true knife enthusiast makes a day or work in the shop so much more enjoyable!
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Whitty, the next time I'm home on leave or vacation I'll try to make it down. My brother and I are big fans and live just across the Va border. Well he does I'm actually in Wa (military) but I believe he's even ordered several things from you in the past.



& op, let us know what you pick out. I also love to buy locally & feel what I'm buying before I do so but sometimes tax is a con. I personally have the 0566bw & love/hate it at the same time. I love the wave feature but not so much the rest of emerson features. Good Luck
 
Hey all. Thanks for the responses!

Well, the knife gods are certainly shining down upon me today! Upon closer inspection, this shop has insanely good prices. Actually much better than I can find online. I went with the ZT which was 14 dollars cheaper than anywhere I've seen online! Almost went with a Manix 2 as well because for 109 dollars with a coated blade that's hard to pass up!

This isn't my first ZT, but it's my new favorite.

PLUS, after leaving the shop I went to check on my mooring down on Lake Champlain and found a sad, rusted Opinel No. 7 sticking up out of the dirt. So I'm headed home to clean the Opinel and play with the ZT.

What a day! And it's not even noon!
 
VermontEdge said:
Hey all. Thanks for the responses!

Well, the knife gods are certainly shining down upon me today! Upon closer inspection, this shop has insanely good prices. Actually much better than I can find online. I went with the ZT which was 14 dollars cheaper than anywhere I've seen online! Almost went with a Manix 2 as well because for 109 dollars with a coated blade that's hard to pass up!

This isn't my first ZT, but it's my new favorite.

PLUS, after leaving the shop I went to check on my mooring down on Lake Champlain and found a sad, rusted Opinel No. 7 sticking up out of the dirt. So I'm headed home to clean the Opinel and play with the ZT.

What a day! And it's not even noon!
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You lucky son of a gun! I'm stuck here at work and you're out playing with knives :D

Congrats on the ZT, man! I've had 3 0566s. They're excellent knives for the money, and their warranty is awesome.
 
I love it when I run into another knife fanatic. Great read
 
VE, try collecting traditional patterns, there are a lot more people willing to talk about them and there's so much to learn historically and common knowledge about old and new versions of patterns that in some cases may be hundreds of years old.

Remember the modern tactical knife has only been around for a little less than half a century. The traditional slip-joint has been around for hundreds of years. Plus I think there are more people willing to discuss traditional knives openly where the big scary tactical blades are frowned upon in many circles as purely weapons and have no purpose in everyday life.

If you really like talking about knives drop in on the traditional subforum on BFC, it's a friendly, family place where people come to discuss the old knives we grew up with, the patterns or father's and grandfather's knives. There's an encyclopedic amount of information and many experts in the individual companies and the history of manufacturing and collecting.

Not only that but some of the most beautiful collections of old knives are owned by members here, access to the brains of some of the premier knife makers of traditional patterns are there, check out some of TA Davison's knives, R Cover just to mention a few,(there's a list in the stickies of custom makers in the traditional patterns.

Checking out the traditional patterns is the next step in the evolution of your hobby, is the history you need to have those conversations, the tire in between old and new is found and explained there. The more refined, gentlemanly aspect of the hobby/obsession continues from there.

I know I sound like the poster child of traditional knives but anyone serious in this hobby needs this part as a foundation to interact with others intelligently.

Ok I'll get off my soap box now and go back to catching up in the traditional forum now, oh...BTW...one last thing right now they're deciding on which knife is going to be the new Traditional Forum's for 2015.

Here's all the Traditional Forum's knives from the last 9 years, it's a knife way to show your love of this place we call home. Last year's total production of the firm's GEC Stag Jack were a little over 350+ compared to the first year 2006 which only numbered in the 30+ range, these knives are always highly sought after and always and in short supply.

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I'm done... :)
 
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