Something I've been thinking about is this. When a person buys a knife either from a dealer or some kind of a retail store, is he getting the knife untouched since it left the factory or has it been played and toyed with? At SMKW, a huge retail store, they have a display / show knife of each knife they sell so when you want to see how the knife feels in the hand they hand you the "test" model to see. If you like the knife and if you decide you want to buy one, they hand you a new in the box model that hasn't been touched and played with. But how many other stores do this? A small retail store probably only stocks one of each model they sell and when a customer wants to see the knife they each handle the one thats for sale. After several people have handled, opened, tested it on their arms for sharpness, and who knows what else they do to it, they knife has been dulled somewhat for sure. Then when an actual buyer purchases the knife all he knows is he bought a dull knife that should have been sharp since it is "new" so to speak. Does anyone else see this as a possible answer to some knives not being sharp straight from the box?,,,VWB.