Awkward

K

Knifeclerk

Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
1,083
Tell me if this happens to you:
A friend takes me over to his house. He and his fiance know that I'm a knife guy. So, they ask me to look over their knives they recieved as a present. You know, to tell them if they are any good. They told me the name a few times, but I could never place it. Slitzer. German knives, made in China.
How do you tell someone that they're knives aren't worth the plastic box their storred in?
Awkward.
-KC
 
I've been in similar situations myself. I usually chicken out an stress (create) the good points of the knives in question. I've known people to receive HUGE chinese bowies (that were total crap) as gifts and think they were worth a small fortune. Whenever I see this kind of zeal and happiness I just don't have the heart to tell them they're astonished at a piece of junk. Just like handguns, the more ignorant people buy Llamas and Norincos, the more Colts it leaves for me:)
 
Tell them the truth, just don't sound contemptuous of the knives. Tell them they were made to be long-lasting and corrosion-resistent, very stainless, so they could be washed in a dishwasher or left soaking in the sink. Let them know they will cut in light, ordinary use but eventually they can look for more expensive, heavy-duty knives, if the kitchen is that kind of important to them.

When my daughter moved into her own place, and before I got her a good set of kitchen knives, I gave her a Frosts clipper in a plastic sheath. She was astonished and delighted at how sharp it was and how comfortable it was to hold. Many people would be just as well off with a Cold Steel or Spyderco set, which they don't have to feel bad about treating casually, for much less money than professional grade knives.

As for the garish display knives, you can tell them pretty much the same: they were made to look good on a wall, not in the saddle out hunting grizzlies! :D Did you see the video of the knife saleman who stabbed himself with a chunk of sword he broke slamming it into a table? I got the same model sword as a gift. :rolleyes: What am I gonna do, tell him to take it back?
 
Like Esav, I tell the truth without being harsh.
And the truth is, if we're talking some of those serrated Chinese kitchen knives, they work just like in the commercials.
 
I do the same thing, point out the good parts of the cheap knife. Which is good but their is some mullet chick running around town showing off her knife collection. Though everytime I've just barely missed her coming into bar. She tells people its her grandfathers old collection of knives, and it even has makers from the master smith which say...






budk
 
I don't pull punches...If they are junk, I tell 'em...Then I show 'em my Benchmades.:D.
 
Since they already own them, I see no reason to burst their bubble. ;) I would (and have) tell them what a good looking set it is and stainless won't rust easily and the knives should last them quite a while. They'll find out soon enough that the set is crap - or maybe not. Sometimes, if you've never had steak you won't miss it . Many people go their whole life without ever owning a quality knife of any kind -- poor b**t**ds! :D
 
All my friends and relations have good knives presented to them by me!
(And I'm not even a professional 'knifeclerk' ;-)
t.
 
What hurts so bad is that they do have some good knives (Not what they wanted to show me, though.) I mean GOOD knives! I'm talking about William Henry Knives. But those are too nice for them to use, so those mostly just stay in a drawer somewhere. They've never used them, so they have no real idea how a good knife is supposed to perform.
It makes me sad.
-KC
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Did you see the video of the knife saleman who stabbed himself with a chunk of sword he broke slamming it into a table?
Click to expand...
good times!

hsn.gif


abe m.
 
Tell them the truth and then ask them if they would like to know what to look for in a good knife.

Knowledge through education.
 
Abe, do you have a longer and better quaility version of that video, I'd love to download it!
 
spyder8 said:
what happened to him in the video, it looks like he just grabs his croch :D
Click to expand...

That was a classic HSN junk knives moment, or sword to be perfectly correct. In the better quality version of that video you can really see what happened. He is trying to show how tough the sword steel is by hitting it against the table. Well it is a cheap POS, and snaps in half, the sharp pointed end stabs him! :D :eek:

What a great endorsment for the product. :cool: ;)
 
Slvgx said:
Abe, do you have a longer and better quaility version of that video, I'd love to download it!
Click to expand...
sure do. i made the .gif from an .mpg file that i have. it's kinda big, but i might be able to put it up on my webspace for a short time. i'll send you a link when it's done, so you can download it.

abe m.
 
I usually try to figure out if the person really wants a true answer. I know some people that ask questions like that because they really want my opinion, and perhaps even value it. I know other people that I know do not want the truth. I usually give them what they want if they are people I want to continue to be friends with. I think if they are happy with them, why screw up a friendship by hurting their feelings.
 
Respond with a loving smile and let them know that they are sub-human for even owning such a POS. Let them know that suicide (using their knives) is the only answer. Remind them that their honor can never be regained. :D
 
I have some friends (recently met but I have 'known them forever') that have many POS catalog swords and knives as well as some good user knives. The junk, including a 7 foot spear, stays where it belongs (on the wall or as costume accessory for Renfaire) and the good stuff gets used for butchering chickens/wild boar/deer.
Most of it belongs to Her and she can effectively wield any of them (especially against an untrained opponent) despite her own lack of formal training. In a pitched battle or a survival situation these blades would mostly fail, but for them, in this real world, the reality of the difference is minimal.
They buy things they can afford and that they like. Such is consumerism.
When the Shopping Channel sword incident video gets posted turn up your speakers! It is hilarious despite the scarring.... :D

here is one link: http://www.goyk.com/video.asp?path=456
 
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