Do you buy into the hype?

J.Mattson

J.Mattson

Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
2,518
It doesn’t take long to see that there are a number of knives that are intensively discussed. 15 (I pulled the number out of thin air but it illustrates the concept) knives that get more discussion then the next 100 (again simply made that number up) knives combined. For lack of a better word I’m just gonna call it “hype”. Please don’t think I’m saying that those knives are all hype read on and you’ll see what I mean.

I’m wondering if you as a member of BFC by into the hype? Have you ever bought a knife that was highly touted on BFC simply because it was so well regarded? Have you ever bought a knife that you would not have otherwise have considered buying because of its reputation here?

If you have what knives? Why?

Have you ever bought a knife based on the recommendations here and been disappointed with it.

Since I’m asking I’ll be the first to answer.

I’ve always thought that it stands reason that if a ton of people are raving about how great a knife is then there must be something about it that is worth checking out. It might not be for me but know knife works for everyone.

The Spyderco Paramilitary wasn’t something I would have ever bought before BFC. I wasn’t crazy about the clip, I had had a bad experience with the compression lock and I didn’t think that I would like the handle to blade ratio. However these boards are filled with praise for the knife so I decided to pull the trigger and got a CPM-D2 model. All of the things that I thought I wouldn’t like were present so I decided just to put it up for sale after a day or two of carry and no use. The buyer backed out of the sale so I decided to carry it a little. It didn’t really take long until I kind of stopped and said WOW what a knife. I’ve had buyers back out before but this time I am so grateful that he did because I love this knife. It feels great in hand (just like people said) carries well (just like people said) has an ideal edc blade (just like people said) cuts beautifully (just like people said) and generally works perfectly (yup just like people said).

The Sebenza this was a knife that I had a great deal of respect for before BFC but would have never considered buying based on the cost. To make a long story short, I saved, I sold knifes (the failed sale I mentioned above as part of my effort to get one) and I bought one. I knew that I would like it what I didn’t know was if I would think it was worth the cost. Well at long last I’ve got a Large Regular in my pocket and despite being unemployed I cant say I feel even an once of regret with buying the knife. If it wasn’t for all the press the knife got on BFC I wouldn’t have found the necessary motivation to take the plunge.



So…do you buy into the hype?
 
Sometimes :)

I, too, trust the hype to a certain degree. I have learned, however, that hype is not the final word. You live, you learn.
 
I usually do buy into the hype. I'm a knifeaholic, so if a knife is highly regarded and I can save the money to buy, it's mine.
 
More cautious than I was a few years ago.

It goes with experience, I suppose.

In the last decade I've had literally hundreds of knives pass through my hands - bought by me, gifted by me, given to me, or barrowed by me.

I also now am more likely to see members of various 'mafias' - people that are just too loving of a brand or maker. Have to be cautious on the recommendations of these people.

So, no, I don't go with the 'hype' too often.
 
Not as much as I'd like to:D Really, I can appreciate a knife that's touted here without having to buy one myself, as I've found that I don't have the same preferences as most. Also, I look at who's doing the recommending-if it's someone who has and likes the same knives as me I'm more apt to pay attention when they pick up something new than I would be of someone who really likes a knife I don't.
 
call it hype or advertising, more often than not we would have no idea products exist without some level of it.

some are better at promoting their products, and therefore sell more of them.

i had emersons, a sebenza and a busse before i found this forum (i think). but i likely wouldn't have started buying spydercos were it not for bfc.
 
T.K.C. said:
I buy what I like. I don't care about the hype.
Click to expand...

What he said.

Most of my knives over the last couple years have been Kershaws , theres a lot of discussion on Kershaws on this forum , one has to know the difference between hype and discussion.

Theres a lot of hype over the G10 JYD , but the looks just dont appeal to me , so I doubt I will ever buy one.

I know Sebenza's are highly rated here ( and hyped ) but i'm a cheap bastard and have other hobbies to spend my money on so I will not be buying one of those any time soon.

Some hype is quite justified , the CS bushman for example is a fantastic knife for the price and thus generates a lot of excitement on here.
 
As far as brands go, I did and I am glad. Until I found these forums I never would have tried a Spyderco. I thought they were the strangest looking things I had ever seen. I was a diehard Benchmade guy. There was so much hype about Spyderco on these forums I bought an Endura, quickly followed by a few other models. I am very glad I listened to the "hype". However I soon realized the hype was actually just fact. This actually led me to branch out and try other brands too. I am very grateful to these forums for that.
But I have never bought into any model-specific hype. I just buy what appeals to me.
 
I got sucked into the KA-BAR Becker fanfare. But now I am dissatisfied and dissappointed in KA-BAR as each knife has some sort of blemish, bad grind and then there are the BK9 out right failures. Also the KA-BAR Dozier was blemished. I sent a couple of them back which cost me to ship and KA-BAR sent back knives with different blemishes : ( Anyway I am done with KA-BAR for now.

I also bought a Kershaw and returned it the next day as I didn't like it.

Anyway I will wait to get my hands on a knife first or if it passes the KnifeTests.com ordeal.

All the Cold Steel knives I have are great value for the money and blemish free.
 
I earn my own money and I spent my money as I see fit. If I am interested in a new knife I usually research it and look for reviews on it. But in the end I see if it will fit MY needs not anyone Else's. So no I don't buy in to all the hype surrounding a lot of the the knives out there.
 
I do alot of research on here and at other places(media reviews and such) on knives that I THINK I will like.

If the knife in question(just bought a Para-Mil) is one that I ALREADY like and it gets good press from here and elsewhere than that only makes my decision easier.

But if I liked a knife that everyone hated...I'd still get and try the knife.

"Hype"...on here is backed by years of experience and I consider it a valuable asset in my knife searches.:thumbup:
 
I have been around knives for so long that just by looking at one I can tell a lot about it. Though sometimes even when they look good and feel good they don't perform good. I usually don't buy into the hype but for some knives its justified.

The first knife that comes to mind for me is the spyderco military, this knife goes with the hype. It is by far one of the best knives I have ever used hands down and it seems to be that way with everyone else too.

The knife that didn't impress me so much was my ZT0300, while this knife is one of the best constructed knives I have ever had it just does not perform that well. My main complaint is the tip and the grip, Its kinda like a love hate thing, the tip is good and strong but at the same time has a hard time piercing anything but a plastic bag. The grip is awsome but when used hard without gloves it hurts like hell. I'm not saying that I don't use it or don't like it but the hype surrounding it does not support its performance (for me).
 
I try hard to deliberately ignore hype. I wait until I see opinions from those I know/trust/respect and then decide if I might be interested.

This goes for knives as well as pretty much anything else I might buy. Sometimes I'll impulse buy but, generally, I'll try and get as many opinions as I can, both good and bad, before deciding.

Probably the only knife I allowed myself to be a little swept along by the hype for was the Sebenza. Fortunately this turned out well because the knife is, for me, almost as good as the hype, never regretted spending the money for a minute.
 
Having been a member for a few years and trolling for quite some time I come to rely on certain BF members opinions and thoughts. I, like most, do not have access to stores that carry the wide range of knives that are discussed, so it's not so much hype as it is more detailed and reliable information than you can get anywhere else.

I was looking into Strider for a while, but it was only after reading many posts here (and a few elsewhere) that I was excited enough to purchase one, and do not regret it.

I will say that all the talk about Sebenza has me more curious than ever, and I have trolled the "for sale" area looking for just the right deal to motivate me, but no success yet. Before BF, I had no interest in the Sebenza.
 
There was one purchase of mine in which hype played a large part. I found the knife visually appealing but I couldn't envision any practical use for it. After hearing from several people that the knife would indeed fit an EDC role I went ahead and bought one. I put in up for sale within a few days or receiving the knife as it in no way met my needs as an EDC.
 
Hype turns me off to knives and manufacturers. Dogpiling, atta boys, flamebaiting, etc. all makes me look at other brands. I've owned hundreds of knives, used tools of all types since I was a child, worked skilled labor, an apprentice instructor in MA, a little law enforcement, and a few years military training - alot of stuff people feel is important to knifedom in one way or another. In my knife obsession, I've built forges, bought heat treat books, and am sitting on some high/low temp salt equipment I can't get around to finishing. I know what I like and I know what I don't need to bother to listen to on a forum. I'm no expert in anything, but I can tell when others aren't either. If there's talk of a new steel, handle material, heat treat, lock mechanism, whatever, I'll go to google. I don't really care how nice the guy is who is selling/making the knives (beyond basic professionalism), I don't care who is posting about how great the knife is.
 
I do and im glad without this forum id hav enever heard of busse or probably even RAT cutlery. buying in is good i think the thing is knowing when to buy in.
 
Hype: no. Positive reviews: yes.

In planning a purchase,
- I first identify a design that I think I will like.
- Once I have found one, I try to find reviews of it. Because I only buy on-line, I don't have the option of checking fit & finish and ergos before buying. So I look for reviews by folks here who have the knife to reduce the risk.

There's been a couple of designs that I passed on because the reviews were uniformly bad.

So far, the process has worked.
 
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