DO YOU WATCH VIDEO REVIEWS BEFORE BUYING A KNIFE

BillZee said:
When considering buying a new knife. Since I buy online most of the time.
I read knife info on the site I'm buying from and check some reviews on YouTube. What about you?
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Most of the time. I never rush a purchase..my funds are so limited that I have plenty of time to look and see how others are liking it.
 
Not always but a lot of times, yes.

There are no brick and mortar stores nearby.

I enjoy all the variety of content, and I can usually glean some value out of the video.

Not to mention...it costs nothing. I’ve learned quite a bit from more than a few channels.

A few I frequent:

Virtuovice
Big Brown Bear
Michael Christy
Nick Shabbaz
Really Big Monkey
Rough Rooster Knife Sharpening
Cedric and Ada Gear and Outdoors
Stefan Schmalhaus
Gideon’s Tactical (sometimes)
Advanced Knife Bro (for fun)
Dutch Bushcraft Knives (for fun)
William Collins
 
I usually watch a couple of videos, read a couple reviews, and try to find some forum posts about any problems the knife might have.
 
From time to time I will watch a video, but for the most part it almost has to be with the sound turned off. Annoying voices, annoying gestures, and annoying people that think they are much funnier than they are when they are being "clever" cause the presenters to ruin their own video.

For me, the best thing about watching a video is to see an "in the hand" shot., and to see specs from guys that actually measure while shooting. Different manufacturers measure different ways to determine actual blade length, I like to see fit and fit and finish, and where the knife sits in the hand when gripped.

So most videos are of no value to me, but occasionally one hits the right target points.

Robert
 
Depends on the reviewer. For instance, I sometimes watch Nick Shabazz’s videos when I want a better look at the knife and to see how it fits in the human hand. It’s just easier to examine 3D objects in videos rather than pictures. This isn’t a hard rule for me though. If I’ve decided to pick up a knife, nothing stops me.

Then there’s Advanced Knife Bro. Some folks will love his videos and I can see how some will be irritated by his style. I LOVE his video reviews.
 
I do and have been 99% satisfied with making buying decisions based on Youtube videos or info here and my perception on it.

Only one f**k up was the Dutch Bladeworks - Xerxes. Watch Nick Shabazz video on it, loved it, once it arrived and opened the box I flipped it about 100-150 times and hated it. The knife was not at all what I expected in terms of ergos, hand feel, etc, but this happened only once. All other times I've been 100% happy since before researching a knife or info video I already have a good idea in terms of specs and knowing exactly what type of knives I like and prefer. For example I like flipper that run on bearings or PB washers 0.3mm thick on titanium framelock or backlock, I hate liners, spyderholes, no jimping knives, slippy horrible flippers, I am ok with thumbstuds, I like my blade 0.14 inch or thicker and I like supersteel tanks made of Elmax, M390, CPM 20CV, 3V, CPM M4, CPM S110V, S125V (if you can find it), REX 45, S35VN, 10V, etc... So when I find a knife that meets my likes and preferences I already know 50%+ that I will either like it or love it. With review videos it helps me to discover small details and also hear what other knife guys have to say.

Reviews are very helpful and helps users to make sound financial decisions in regards to their knife purchases. When you feel that for each $1 you spent for your knife, you got minimum $2+ worth of quality knife and service warranty customer care = that's a win in my book. This had been my personal experience with Hinderer knives, Paragon Knives - Asheville Steel, Benchmades, ZTs...

Making wise financial decisions is important. Buying a knife is like a short-term marriage with your tool. So use all the resources available to make the best decision.

I've been very lucky and happy getting positive comments from my Youtube subscribers regarding watching my review videos and then making a buy decision. Some did mention they don't care about the 5 and 7 minute long reviews, they only care about the specs and close-up looks of the knife. That's how they make buy decisions. So I am re-arranging my videos and also putting out some 1-2 minute closeup specs only videos. Everyone has their own decision-making process.. These videos just widen your visual perception as a user.
 
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I do not watch movie before reading the book :^)
Same here, I watch video reviews sometimes, but long long time after purchase :^D
 
Not really. I mean, most likely I have seen a review of a knife before I buy it but that is just because I consume a lot of knife content. Mostly these days I watch the "what's new" videos from @KnifeCenter and @BladeHQ, so I see a lot of new stuff that way. In particular, knifecenter's videos are good because Mr. Andersen goes through a lot of knives in the same amount of time most reviewers take to do 1 or 2. Gives me all I need to know and see.

Now, after I buy a knife and when I am waiting for it to get to me is when I take the deep dive into watching detailed reviews. Helps quell the anticipation.
 
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Rarely. I seldom watch any kind of YouTube video unless it is how to fix something. I like knives but I really don't mind buying a new knife just because I feel like it and I don't really depend on other people's views (to make a buy decision). I do take into account what people say on the forum and often it is a post that directs my attention to another knife I haven't considered. I really don't worry about it all that much.... if I buy something I really don't care for, I just dump it in my knife tub where it likely will not see the light of day for a long time.
 
Knives&Lint said:
I typically do. Even if I don't agree with the reviewer it still gives me a feel for the knife that can't be captured in specs and still shots. I actually try to check out every video I can on a knife I'm interested in. For me personally it's part of the fun of the hobby. It's my entertainment, and I most often watch it on the TV while sitting on the couch.
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I am the same way. I watch knife reviews for entertainment, but I also take my own preferences into account. I like Nick Shabazz, Slicey Dicey, and Metal Complex. I agree with Nick on a lot and he is entertaining (vaseline factory and murdery are classic), but I think he places to much value on knives being small and light weight for my taste.
 
Sometimes I do, but mostly a list of specs and dimensions and pictures of the shape tell me all I need to know.
Videos, to me, seem to be fairly biased a lot of the time and you hear more about how a knife feels in their hand.
I don't know...maybe I have weird hands but having someone tell me how a knife feels in their hand has never been of much value to me.
Like I said, I can usually look at the shape and specs and tell if it's going to fit in my hand and cut well.
Usually when someone says the texture of the handle material is too rough for their hands and pants I ignore it, because I have callouses on my hands and
my work pants are pretty tough, besides that I really don't care if my work pants get frayed a little bit.
 
I do, especially if there's information about how the knife performs in use (edge retention testing, hotspot identification, construction problems, etc). However, I find that the vast majority of "reviewers" do a pathetic job, so I tend to only watch videos from a few trusted accounts.
 
Absolutely never, and as a teenager when this sort of stuff mattered to me I could not afford knives anyone would actually want to review.
If I see something posted here on BF's that interests me I may ask whatever questions I have about it, and with those answers decide if I'm still interested enough to buy one.
 
Usually I DO watch because I am looking to see how easy it is to open, how heavy it is (like heavy and big ones), And I want to see how loud it locks up for folders. I am one of those few who love loud knives. I also love the sound of mechanical watches and clocks ticking in the background. It would please me if I could say I am charter member of the living fossil club
 
I do, and I have saved a lot of money and aggravation by doing so. I have lusted after still images of knives and then lost my wood once I saw them in the hands of a reviewer. I have to see a couple for reference though, because some of y'all have tiny paws! Just don't go down the wormhole (too late) otherwise the money saved gets spent on new desires.
 
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