Do you have a favorite local knife shop?

TheGearGuy

TheGearGuy

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
457
If you have a favorite local knife shop where is it and why is it your favorite?

I travel a lot. Mostly to Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming and I live in California. Whenever I'm traveling I like to locate and visit the best knife shop in town. I've found some great ones. I'd like to know your favorite and why.

My favorite local shop (my neighborhood) is Recon 1 in Tarzana, CA. They keep a stock of about 140 Benchmades, roughly 80 Spydercos, lots of Kershaws and ZTs and 4 shelves (6' wide ea.) of Chris Reeves knives. Plus hundreds of custom folders and more Maxpedition gear than I've even seen anywhere. Great people and prices that match internet pricing.

Where's your favorite shop?
 
I wish I did, but no. My LGS is way over priced and has a limited selection, lots of CRKT. They do have a ton of fairly priced firearms though. The Army Navy sells a CS Recon 1 for double what I can get it for at many of the BFC promoting dealers or elsewhere. And the Cabela's an hour away? Well, it is Cabela's. 20-30% over what I can get the same knife for online. Even found some knock off PM2s there over the summer.

My favorite local knife store is the exchange! Buy a knife. Either like it or don't. Keep it or sell it at not much of a loss, or no loss minus shipping on used stuff.
 
Thanks Hank_612. From what I've seen online GP Knives is a darn good shop. Lucky it's nearby.
Thank you for the reply.
 
Last edited:
craytab said:
I wish I did, but no. My LGS is way over priced and has a limited selection, lots of CRKT. They do have a ton of fairly priced firearms though. The Army Navy sells a CS Recon 1 for double what I can get it for at many of the BFC promoting dealers or elsewhere. And the Cabela's an hour away? Well, it is Cabela's. 20-30% over what I can get the same knife for online. Even found some knock off PM2s there over the summer.

My favorite local knife store is the exchange! Buy a knife. Either like it or don't. Keep it or sell it at not much of a loss, or no loss minus shipping on used stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply craytab. From my travels I've seen that most cities don't have a good knife shop. Of the 8 states I travel to regularly I have only found 4 shops that I think are great. I'm hoping this thread will uncover more.
 
I don't think I have ever purchased a knife in a bricks and mortar store. I would be hard-pressed to find one that matches the razor think margins of internet pricing.
 
powernoodle said:
I don't think I have ever purchased a knife in a bricks and mortar store. I would be hard-pressed to find one that matches the razor think margins of internet pricing.
Click to expand...

I bet your story is that of most people. I'm lucky my local shop matches Blade HQ.com prices. I think the biggest value in having a good local shop is being able to hold knives before you buy. Holding a knife has changed my opinion more than once.
 
My local knife shop is an hour and fifteen minutes away. Whenever I'm in Frederick I try to find time to buy something from him. I pay a little more but I get to handle the knife before I buy and see if I lke it or not. Paying a little extra to support a brick and mortar store is worth it to me.
 
Marks Outdoors in Birmingham, AL. They carry a ton of guns, a decent selection of ammo and hunting supplies, a huge gun safe section, and a limited selection of outdoor clothing.

And knives. The have a big display in the center of the store, with a good selection of the top quality brands. Not a ton of traditionals, mostly case. All the top modern brands, good benchmade, zt, spyderco selection. They also carry some reasonably priced knives from local makers, and some nicer knives ( crk, William Henry, maybe one or two others).

They don't always have the absolute best prices, but they're reasonably priced. I like supporting brick and mortar stores when I can. Their knife salesman is also a knife guy like no other.....he'll stand there and talk knives with you for an hour, and love every minute of it.
 
I have no local knife shops where i live. Knives dont seem to be too popular where i live. Sucks i have to do all my shopping online and can never hold a knife in my hands before i buy it. Taking a chance everytime i buy one.
 
New Graham Knives is an hour and twenty minutes from me...my wife and wallet wish it were further than that though :)
 
I wish I lived somewhere near a shop like BladeHQ! Nothing local for me (that I know of; if anyone knows of anything inthe Flint or Detroit, MI areas, i would sure appreciate a heads up!).

When on the road for work, my favorite stop was always Smokey Mountain Knife Works; maybe not the best prices, but there is a decent variety to handle in person.
 
Local, Nothing really. An hour from here is S&R knives and have purchased a few knives from them! Huge selection and good prices.
 
Sadly, no. Oddly enough, there is only once real dedicated knife shop in the DFW area and, well, their prices are horrendous...to put it gently.
 
rlwhite5599 said:
My local knife shop is an hour and fifteen minutes away. Whenever I'm in Frederick I try to find time to buy something from him. I pay a little more but I get to handle the knife before I buy and see if I lke it or not. Paying a little extra to support a brick and mortar store is worth it to me.
Click to expand...

Like you, and f250 mentioned, I too like to support brick and mortar stores. The benefits that come from the relationship you get from buying somewhat regularly in person, face to face, cannot be overlooked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top