calling Cliff Stamp...

Those fillet knives are awesome! What a great web site. Looks like some really functional peices.

Cliff, when I was reading some of the recent posts, one person mentioned that you should make your own knives.

I think that's a great idea.

You have been working so long in testing knives you must have some idea of what you think is a good knife or line of knives.

Maybe get together with some knifemakers who are willing to do a collaboration.

Like Busse. :D

Just a thought.

Actually now that I am writing this I am really surprised you don't have your own line of knives.
 
Give cliff and the cliffophiles (cliffettes? cliffians? cliffettos?) there own sub-forum.
All of the scientific testing, bending, metal mop handle chopping in one place.
As well as the one sentence quotes, tangental 'arguements' and other things that my Swamp Rat can do better.

Come on Spark, give him his own subforum!
 
Just another one of those BF discussions that crops up like a weed from time to time.

No information worth remembering, just attitudes tossed in each others' faces.

I think it's an easy call myself. I put him on ignore, and anyone who lusts for his wisdom is free to let him lead them astray.
 
You know, the way to really get a feel for a knife is pretty easy. If you are interested in a certain model, do a search of the forum or ask the general population. Once you are here for a bit or read enough old threads you can get a pretty decent feel for the real-world-users and whose opinions you value. There are well known users who are firefighters, military, campers/hikers, tradesmen and office workers and all other kinds who use different knives in different ways. Check those guys out and if they seem happy with a knife you are interested in, try it. Then you use it for your tasks and see what you think?

I know Cliff does not like SOG knives for instance. Even new guys have asked about a SOG, Cliff comes along and spouts something about why he does not like it and how he beat it to death with a metal pipe, and BOOM the new guy just dismisses SOG as junk. You would be better off finding a real user who has used the knife in his activities, deciding if you feel its performance sounds good then get it and try it yourself.

There is no gosphel from any one person about a knife, I dont care how many charts and graphs they put up, and how much they say a knife took 18.5lbs +/- 1.1lbs to do this cut and then claims they know the force used because they can 'feel' it. Check out real world usage, then try it yourself.
 
Everybody has a right to their opinion, Cliff included, even though I don't agree with some of his methods. My advice to anyone new to knives or even someone who is interested in a particular factory or custom knife, seek out people who use said knife for whatever it was designed for. As for custom knives, talk in length with the maker about every aspect of his method of making knives. Find out the capabilities of his knives. What they can and can't do. Most makers are more then happy to give you the info you need to decide if they make the right knife you're looking for. I've spent alot of time testing my own blades to the extreme. Most reputable knife manufacturers have good quality control of their product. Cliff does have a right as a member here to post his reviews but it's only his opinion and new people should seek out others for their opinions also. Ever heard of a second or third opinion from different doctors when you need an operation? Think about it.
Scott
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Just another one of those BF discussions that crops up like a weed from time to time.

No information worth remembering, just attitudes tossed in each others' faces.
Click to expand...

It is sad. It does not have to be this way.
RY
 
i don't have a horse in this race but i do enjoy the thread. i learn somthing even if it's just about the different posters names and how they react to posts they agree or disagree with.as far as knives are concerned id be surprised if a person who was gonna pay much for a knife would only read cliffs thoughts on it. as easy as it is to do search on here they would be foolish not to check out others feelings about the knife they have an interest in.
cliff keep up the good work and i find your willingness to help someone decide on a knife commendable and the folks who dislike cliff u serve a purpose also, u keep cliff in balance.
dam i love a good arguement.
david
 
The thing I find funny about this whole subject is the fact forumites and/or moderators feel compelled to come in and set the record straight about Cliff when they aren't really adding anything positive to the thread. If you think Cliff is a hack, why do you bother reading the thread at all? Isn't there a saying about when you don't have anything good to say...?
I guess I take some offense to those whom make the point of saying or implying someone who hasn't been a member of this forum for very long must be lacking knowledge or experience. Maybe on the keyboard, but not necessarily with knives.

I mean, how much use can you really get out a knife behind a computer?
 
Isn't there a saying about when you don't have anything good to say...?
Click to expand...
Sure there is. So why does Cliff review a knife if he doesn't have anything good to say? (It cuts both ways :rolleyes: )
 
Here's one newbie's perspective: I carefully listen to anyone who has a tone of confidence and some sort of reasoning behind their opinions, simply because I have no references to compare to myself. Cliff has easily accessible and rather extensive reviews (not that I'm saying they're valid or invalid), destroying knives that I haven't even had a chance to hold yet. Because of the accessibility of this individual and his reviews, a newbie will naturally want to seek some sort of advice from him. This doesn't mean that I wouldn't just as readily listen to anyone else. But who the hell do I ask specifically? I've started threads asking for advice that was open to everyone, and with only few results (*Artfully Martial seems to be rather helpful though, thanks!). If any of the experienced members would like to be asked for advice in the future, I'd gladly start threads asking any of you.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Sure there is. So why does Cliff review a knife if he doesn't have anything good to say? (It cuts both ways :rolleyes: )
Click to expand...

That's a great idea - Cliff should only post good reviews, then everyone can be happy. (*double eyeroll*) Of course then he would be called a phony because he doesn't tell the whole story.

If someone wants lollipop reviews they can pick up any knife magazine and usually find several in each issue. You ever see a bad (or even mediocre) review in a magazine? I haven't. That type of review is useless in my opinion.

If you're going to test a knife, be honest, print the good with the bad, and let the individual make up their own mind. Regardless of what some of you seem to think, having a BF post count of less than 5000 doesn't make one a knife-moron with no ability to reason.
 
The reason why I like Cliff's opinions/ testing, is because I honestly think he has 2 goals in his testing - have fun, and push a knife as hard as he can in whatever way he deems necessary.

He tests in a way most either can't, won't, or don't document - so that makes it interesting.

In my small time here, anytime I've asked him about a knife- whether it's a Seb, Opinel, Busse, Spyderco, CRKT, - he's kind enough to answer the question.

If it performs well based in an area of testing, he'll tell you, if it sucks he'll tell you.

With all that he does in his testing - and as willing as he is to answer qustions - why not ask him?

I'm glad he's here.

sp
 
I don't take Cliff's reviews as Gospel, but I do find them interesting. I doubt I will ever use or abuse a knife in some of the ways he does. It is interesting to see what it takes to damage a certain knife.

Take it for what it is - Someone testing knives in the way they want, then presenting their findings here to be read.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Sure there is. So why does Cliff review a knife if he doesn't have anything good to say? (It cuts both ways :rolleyes: )
Click to expand...
If he "reviews" a knife, I'd say he can comment on it. Does that mean reviews should only be glowing ? See, I can :rolleyes: as well.
 
Well, two of you have now carefully misunderstood what I wrote. My comment was in response to being told we shouldn't criticize Cliff when we have nothing good to say about him.

Why can he criticize a knife when he has nothing good to say about it? Why can't I put him on ignore when I ask a question about the word games he plays and he ever so carefully avoids answering it? Well, I have.

If this is toooo complicated for you, put ME on ignore. ( :rolleyes: <--- there I go again)
 
True knife mags don't do bad/negative reviews.
This also works both ways...which knifemakers, knife co's are NEVER reviewed?
Like everything else one has to be able to read between the lines.
Even when dealing with experts, real and imagined.
 
The detractors wouldn't give 2 shits if Cliff gave a bad review to a Dark Ops (I'm sorry, Dork Ops) or Cold Steel (oops again, Cold Steal) knife. They only got pissy after he gave a less than stellar review to a knife they thought was the best thing in their own collection, or came from a maker who bought them a beer 12 years ago at some knife show. Of all the completely unscientific, incomplete, wholly subjective reviews on BF's own reviews and testing board, Cliff's always get the most flack because his are the most thorough, conistent, and prevalent.

If anyone bothered to type up their own complete reviews (especially any that could oppose Cliff's findings) instead of wasting keystrokes on bitching, Cliff wouldn't so popular because he wouldn't be so unique. Of course, there are several other individuals who do extensive testing on many aspects of blades. Unfortunately for the haters, they do like Cliff does, and post about the knives and not each other. If Cliff continues to do his thing as well and as much as these other fellows, then he's going to stay in the limelight as long as you keep giving him a disproportionate amount of attention.

This thread needed no more than a total of 3 posts-the initial question, Cliff's response, and maybe a thank you. We got a few more about Phil Wilson's excellent cutlery. But who cares about Mr. Wilson and his craft? Who wants to talk about steel or geometry or knives? No, we gotta argue personalities and morals. We gotta find out if Phil Wilson gave away a knife for a good post by Cliff, cause I guess Phil is like that. There's dirty dealings afoot, cause Cliff breaks every knife he looks at, unless there's money under the table.

All the complaints about the rags selling good reviews for ad space, but no one can say a bad word about a blade unless there's a shared negative opinion about the person behind the steel.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Well, two of you have now carefully misunderstood what I wrote. My comment was in response to being told we shouldn't criticize Cliff when we have nothing good to say about him.

Why can he criticize a knife when he has nothing good to say about it? Why can't I put him on ignore when I ask a question about the word games he plays and he ever so carefully avoids answering it? Well, I have.

If this is toooo complicated for you, put ME on ignore. ( :rolleyes: <--- there I go again)
Click to expand...

This thread didn't ask for opinions about Cliff Stamp. This isn't www.cliffstampforums.com. You have him on ignore yet continue to post in threads specifically requesting his input. Makes perfect sense to me.
 
How about you go through the thread personally inviting everyone who posted against Cliff to STFU? I don't need an invitation from you or anyone else to post my opinion.
 
K.V. Collucci said:
Refreshing? Hardly. Those of us who have been on BFC for a long time know that Cliff's bantering is pretty old and recycled. If it wasn't for the uninformed new members calling upon Ye' Royal Backyard Knife Breaking Hack he would probably just go away. Which to most of us wouldn't be a bad thing.
Click to expand...

I have never seen Cliff Stamp "banter". He did not even respond to your calling him a "Hack".

So, everyone that respects Cliff's work is "uninformed." Right.

Cliff is hardly a "Ye' Royal Backyard Knife Breaking Hack". He uses certain knives more strenuously than other (or most) users or reviewers. I and others here find it interesting and informative. Take a look at some of his reviews and compare them to other knife reviews. Cliff's reviews are precise, and as you say, "scientific". Most reviews do not even begin to get into the details that Cliff explains. Both types of reviews are good but if I was dropping a few hundred dollars on a knife, I would want the one that "went into the numbers" from the "Ye' Royal Backyard Knife Breaking Hack".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top