Explain knives to non-knife people

I often buy used lots of Leatherman Micras. I tune them up (the scissors need to be adjusted to work well and are often abused) and give them to folks I think might be a good candidate for carrying a knife or tool.

I tell them to carry it in their front pocket for a month and then either keep it, give to somebody else to try or give it back. I've never gotten one back.

If I had to give up the large folder in my rear pocket (and I do for business travel), I could live with just the Micra in most situations. And if I had to give up the knife blade on the Micra for TSA plane travel, I could live with a Micra with the blade cut off (dremmel - and I do that too for business travel).
 
If I’m with someone at my collection I show more than try to explain. Once they feel the action difference between an inexpensive knife and a high end knife most people at least kind of get it. If they really look and feel the materials and fit and finish of a really well done knife it also tends to sink in.

Why I buy them (so many of them) is something they never understand.

That said, almost everyone always gravitates to the small section of Tac Force and MTech zombie knives my son bought years ago and ignore my mid-techs. But that’s another story.
 
Explain knives: Easy. Tell them everybody uses knives in the kitchen, and that you also use them for everyday cutting tasks outside the kitchen like opening stuff.

Explain expensive knives: Tougher. If they don't "get it," don't bother. If they are interested, explain the better materials and craftsmanship that a more expensive knife provides.
 
I don't own any expensive Knives.
I understand, and love em..but I'm on a semi fixed income and tend to use my knives pretty hard, see I need affordable quality.
As much as I would love a $500 custom Bowie, it would feel like a sin to leave it at home in a safe, or banging through the swamp with it.
 
the only way they will even half way get it is if there is a something they have a similar passion about.
cars, watches, phones, shoes, clothes, coffee, computers, etc, etc.

if you can find out what that is, you can sort of explain it
 
I generally don't. If I have to, I'll use a two prong approach 1. Car Comparision 2. "Every hobby gets expensive at a certain point."
 
People are into all kinds of things. I have a co-worker that spends light-years more on Legos than I ever have on knives. Different strokes for different folks.
 
I gravitate toward folders that exude a certain production quality that don't really need a lot of explanation, and the only time I really discuss these things are with people that can actually recognize quality.
If they get all wide-eyed exclaiming "my brother has this awesome Leek" I just shoot them a smile and tell them it's a fine knife (it is) and move on, no need for any education from me, and most explanations are going to sound a little condescending and pretentious anyway no matter how I present.
 
Why bother?? :rolleyes: Some think any thing over 20.00 is expensive!! Read gas station counter knives!!:eek:
John
 
I do not explain, as in justify my actions, what I legally do to anyone.

I will have the conservation about quality and longevity of certian items, such as jewelry, knives, firearms, etc., and how they hold a value over several lifetimes VS so much of today’s consumable and disposable crap.
 
steelhog said:
People are into all kinds of things. I have a co-worker that spends light-years more on Legos than I ever have on knives. Different strokes for different folks.
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I have no problem to pay 1000 $ for fishing reel or rod :D After four year on blade ...................... :eek: I bought only one ...Latherman Signal and I was disappointed ....is not even close to my 20 years old Wave :(
Now , I make so far about fifty knives .Some of them are from HSS and I know difference in sharpness and long lasting edge .But when I try to explain that to some of my friends I get ........SO WHAT :D
 
I generally just explain it as job tools. All my jobs have needed a knife, so I've learned what I like and I like good tools. That is a comparison most people understand.
 
I would probably just boil it down to an appreciation of finely-machined things - like a nice mechanical watch. I like seeing interesting and purpose-built tools that are both enjoyable to operate (really, play with) and there's the added bonus of having a cutting tool on me whenever the need arises.

That said, I don't typically even bother to explain the knife hobby to anyone, though - the topic just doesn't come up. The most conversation I'm likely to have with a non-knife-bro is something like "thanks" after they say "nice knife" if someone happens to see me using one, or "It's fun / well-made" if they ask me why I need a knife that large and/or conspicuously expensive.

Like any hobby, it really does take a personal interest for it to make sense. I 100% don't understand the draw of, for example, Warhammer 40K. The gameplay and the craftier hobby aspects of it just seem incredibly tedious - but I'm sure there's a whole set of forums of people spending hundreds of dollars, taking pictures of their painted figures, recalling cool moments, etc.
 
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