An email from Larry Chew

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R

RKnight

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
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Recieved this gem a few days ago.

Here it is unedited.

I'm interested in your guy's opinion of his ideas.

Subject:
My knives and your opinions
Date:
Wed, 01 Dec 1999 15:18:02 -0600
From:
Larry Chew <chewman@swbell.net>
To:
balisong@uswest.net
CC:
spark@bladeforums.com


Mr. Knight,

Your comments show your lack of knowledge in the custom knife world.

Why is it you feel that ATS is dead and 440V and 420V are superior
steels. Do you know the difference between them, what makes them
different? What the properties are? Which is best for a fixed blade and
why? Why is it you feel that a integral lock is superior?

I can tell you why the integral lock is becoming so popular, because it
is so damn easy to make! What do you think would happen to an integral
lock if you pushed the lock out too far when unlocking it? It won't lock
up anymore!

Comment however you please about other makers work, but do not make
another comment about me or my work again. This is a public forum and
you could be guilty of making defaming remarks.

Larry Chew



------------------
Ron Knight
Scottsdale, Arizona
 
What was this in regards to? It seems like you said something that deeply offended him. Do you have a link to what provoked Mr. Chew's response?

~Mitch
 
The post that prompted this email is in Knives for sale - individual.

Entitled something like Spitfire D/A fs.

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Ron Knight
Scottsdale, Arizona
 
Sounds like a fairly typical response when you question someone’s product or opinion: A demand for qualifications to substantiate your claims or opinions. Ruder than most, and not a very good sales pitch.

------------------
James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
Okay, I found the post that provoked his email. All I can say is if you don't like his materials or anything else about his knives, don't buy them. I went to his website, and I personally think his knives look great, and I would be willing to buy one. That's what's so great about knives, there are so many makers and manufacturers out there we can find who we like, and not care about what other people like/dislike.

My $0.02,
Mitch
 
Ok Ron, you have my permission to comment on me or my posts, nice comments only please
smile.gif
Seriously though, you are entitled to your opinion like everybody else. If you personally think his knives are over priced, fine, that is your opinion. It would seem many people do not agree with you, as he sells his knives for that price and thats fine too. I do think however, when you make a comment like that you should provide good points to back it up. Also I dont think that was the correct forum. To comment on a makers knives there is the knife review, custom, and general forums. Now, as for his email to you, well, no maker can expect only good things to be said about thier knives. If every maker on here starts making implied threats that "if you comment badly on my knives, you might be guilty of defamatory comments" then they are in the wrong line of work. If we have to start saying ONLY good things about any knife, and cant comment on the bad then all we will have here is another typical knife magazine.

Richard
 
Ron,

When you launch a vitriolic attack on someone's life work; when you cannot manage to keep comments in the realm of debate instead of snippy, unfounded, hand-waving (and incorrect) derogatory proclamations, what more could you expect?

Should a maker post a reply to a post such as yours?

Certainly if you made the same statement among a group of knife collectors, they probably would not comment; more than likely they would, as a group, roll their eyes and turn to chat with a more sensible person.

If its knowledgable discourse on the subject of knives that you're after, this is the place. The amount of world-class knife makers (such as Larry Chew, Darrell Ralph, Rob Simonich, etc.) that one has access to on these forums is unmatched *anywhere*!

If, however, you desire to post unilateral derogatory statements, don't expect these guys to roll over.

To you its a little game; to them its their chosen profession.

-Michael

Below is the origional post for reference:

"How can it be such a good deal if it's just another ats-34 blade, dime a dozen.

If he goes to 440v he'll only be one step behind 420v.

IMHO people who follow the forum will not settle for it (at the price), when there are new designs with integral locks and 420v for a reasonable price (less) from top makers why settle for less.

The web is changing eveything overnight, let's see who can keep up with the pace of the desires of the ELU informed with the latest data.

The day of the integral lock and 420v is upon us. You want ats-34, get a benchmade with an axis lock, or step up."

------------------
Chefget's Knife Page


 
I am not going to comment on the substance of the comments that prompted Larry's email or his email comments. I am not at all interested in the nature of this disagreement.

I am, however, concerned that private email has been posted publically in this forum. I do not think that is appropriate. I have received very profane and obnoxious email from One fellow forum member who clearly has some issues to deal with. But I would Not feel it right to publically post his private email to me.

Just my thoughts about personal privacy. Private email should NOT be reposted here in this forum.

Paracelsus
 
If Larry Chew sent you a private email, then you should keep it that way, private.

I know neither of you, but your personal differences should be kept between the both of you. Theres nothing gained by posting a private email on this forum, especially one thats cuase and content are personal.

Looks like the above post (posted while i was typing mine) covers my thoughts!!

------------------
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Thomas Jefferson



[This message has been edited by RMLamey (edited 09 December 1999).]
 
Larry handled this properly, IMHO. As you can see, he CC'ed me onto this original email message. I've read both sides.

Ron, if you were seeking to do something other than stir up public opinion against Larry, you didn't pick a good method to do so.

If you have an actual question, you'd probably be better of rephrasing it so your intent is clearer than it is now.

Spark

------------------
Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Just to set the record straight - Larry does work with just about any blade steel out there including damascus, 420 and 440v as well as ATS-34 (note sure if he is doing anything in stellite or talonite). If you get a chance to handle some of DA's you will find that the workmanship is exceptional.
 
Let's please keep things friendly and relaxed.

We are talking about custom knives, right? This should be fun and enjoyable.

Thanks,

Larry

------------------
KnifeArt.com - Fine Custom Knives
BladeForums.com Sponsor
 
As for posting email, it's forum approved, those are the rules.

As for the original post, it was a response to Les' post which mentioned future models,
and was not meant as an attack on the maker. I do not have a personal disagreement with anyone here.

Was it a good post? No. On the other it produced an email containing good issues.

I originally intended to ommit the last paragraph as it is non-knife related.
However, it is forum related. Recently the ability to delete one's post or thread has been removed. This may be to prevent removal of a post which might be grounds for a suit. If so, then members need to be aware of the possibilty.

I'm more interested in the knife related statements.

Based on tests posted by experienced senior members, I got the idea that 420v offers superior performance to ATS-34 or 440V.

Is this not true?

Is the integral type lock easier to make? If so, so much the better.

The idea that one could push the locking bar too far and then it wouldn't work is difficult for me to believe given the amount of spring tension and the retention property of the material (ti).

Has anyone experienced this?


------------------
Ron Knight
Scottsdale, Arizona
 
Larry makes his knives in all different blade steels, including Stellite,Talonite, ats34,440c,440v,420v, damascus etc... I have on of his knives, and am expecting a couple more which will be one-off full blown custom knives. It has been my experience in dealing with Larry, that he will make pretty much what you want, and if you have questions or want/need his input he will gladly give you the information so that you can better make a choise. I have only been collecting for a couple of years now , and I have never felt that any of the custom dealers, or makers have ever been unfair, or less than professional. I think to many times these days people need to speak out and be negative for all the wrong reasons. I have been following this thread since the beginning, If you thought the price was to high, you could have emailed the individual and offered less, or better yet just kept on shopping, instead you felt the need to talkdown a custom maker and ruein a possible sale for an individual. Luckily Les Robertson felt compeled to assit the individual who was trying to make the sale, and steped in to set the record straight.
Just my 2cents worth
Boomer
 
a comment from an unbiased party...i saw the original posting at top the instant it was posted and i thought....are you kidding.. who in there right mind would want to jump into this??? its easy to be offended...rising above it is not so easy.

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
Just a meaningless point:
Larry works in 3V also, but I don't think stellite/talonite at the moment, I think the reason was something about machiening to make the D part of the D/A
Aaron

------------------
amacks@nist.gov
Don't forget to pay your taxes...they eventually become my knives:)

 
There's so many side arguments and tangents in this thread that I'm closing it.

If there is a clear question to be asked, start another thread and ask it.

Spark

------------------
Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
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