Gave my brother his choice of knife around $150

Smaug

Smaug

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Jun 30, 2003
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He's helping me move this weekend, so this will be a thank you gift. Guess what he wanted?

"An out-the-front dago switchblade."

I told him for that budget, I could get him a reliable AKC, (made in Italy, no less) but with cheap blade steel. Or something other than an automatic, and it would be top quality.

I tried to talk him into something decent instead. A Benchmade Griptilian, perhaps?

But no, he wanted that OTF, so now I've got it here waiting for him. It's his childhood fantasy knife, bit I can't help but be a little disappointed.

I just put a couple of decent edges on it (dagger) with the ol' Smiths pull-through. It's not worth re-grinding the overly steep edges on the Worksharp and burning up a belt.

Ah well, he'll be happy, and I DID try to steer him straight...

What have folks chosen when you offered them a knife, and how did you feel about it?
 
I hate to sound like a knife snob, but I consider myself much more educated than any of my friends regarding knives, steel, and actions. It's not that I'm all that brilliant. I don't think I'll ever be considered the sharpest knife in the drawer. However, I've been poking around these boards for over a decade and a half pretty much 7 days a week. I've gotten pretty good at gleaning knowledge from you fine folks.

If I am going to buy someone a knife, unless they specifically come to me with a wish list (which never happens. I'm the one giving people MY list), I usually choose what I think would be best for them. I usually try to buy them something that they wouldn't buy for themselves. Stretch their comfort zone.

I gave my little brother a ZT for detailing my car and it blew his mind. He's saving for his next. Not a bad path at just 18. I didn't get my first high end folder until I was about 35;) Now, granted I helped him cut his teeth on decent knives when he brought a 15 dollar butter knife to work when he was 16. I gave him my old Spyderco Native in D2...but that meant that now I had to teach him how to sharpen hard steel.
 
Yea, I typically just gift people a knife. For the last 20 years I've bought my dad the knife he typically carries. A Case Trapper, then a Kershaw Scallion, and then a Benchmade Mini-Grip. He was a die hard carbon steel traditional type guy until he saw the speed safe. After carrying that Kershaw for years he needed something new and I opted for the Mini-Grip as it's a great knife, good steel, and he's a lefty. It doesn't leave his pocket. He swears by it.
 
You did OK. He may never be an educated knife user, or he may become one later, possibly because of this knife. But you each got what you wanted: He got the knife of his dreams and you got a happy brother. That's what gift giving is about. Happy Festivus!

And I suppose foregoing the ethnic slur would have been a better choice.

Zieg
 
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You got him a knife he'll use and enjoy. Personally, I don't buy anyone a folder worth more than around $30 unless I know for sure they're a knife knut or at least are knowledgeable about good cutlery. So many folks don't carry a knife at all, and a lot of what they're gonna do with their knives is just not at all taxing, so an inexpensive Kershaw or Byrd will typically fill their needs.

If I'm going to spend money on a gift knife these days, it's typically going to be a kitchen knife. That's where I find people are far more appreciative and they really see and feel the difference in quality.

Frankly, I think you did the right thing by getting him what HE wanted and not what YOU wanted him to have.
 
He helped you, you got him a thank you that he will enjoy. Seems like a great outcome. You can enjoy things just for the neat/cool factor. There is a reason Ferraris are reall sought after despite there being faster, cheaper and more reliable cars (made in Italy too....:eek::D)
 
Very typical of people that are not knife nuts. Their choice is incomprehensible to us. But remember, most of the rest of the world is NOT knife nuts. They think we are the odd ones, the obsessed, that has taken an inanimate object and raised it to a cult worship level that to them is incomprehensible.

In the developed countries of the world, the bulk of people don't even carry a knife. Yet they get by just fine most of the time. Heck, you can make a ham and cheese sandwich and never need a knife. Bread comes pre sliced, ham comes pre sliced, cheese comes pre sliced. Packages have pull tabs and mustard comes in a squirt bottle.

I've gifted off a lot of knives, and the ones that get the most enthusiastic reception are SAK's. I think everyone in the world recognizes the red handles with the silver cross on them. They're like Bic pens and Timex watches and Honda Civics. And the most popular selling pocket knife in the whole world? The Victorinox classic. Because most people don't care, they only want to open mail or cut a string. It's only the 1% of the population that cares what brand and what steel a knife is made of.
 
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Your bro is probably going to use this knife for a good while. He's going to cut all sorts of things, including himself:D and start to figure out what he likes and doesn't. After a time, give him an SAK. He'll love his OTF forever, but he'll start to "get" knives. Once I gift a knife, I start thinking of more to give. And it keeps me out of hot water buying for myself!

Again, ya' done good.

Zieg

PS, to your original question, I bought my brother a Laguiole by Le Sabot decades ago. Not expensive, not super steel, not superbly finished. Typical 12C27, traditional no-kick-blade-knocks-the-backspring pattern, corkscrew, about 3" blade, etc. A b!+×h to close as the backspring is so tight, but a decent trad pattern to start with. He wanted a nice gent's accoutrement. He carried a year and ditched it. It languished in his toolbox. He regifted it to me just last year! Turns out he never became a knife guy. S'ok. I made him happy for a year. Gifts come and go. Now he teaches middle school science. I think a small multitool might fit the bill now.

Time to shop!
 
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Yep. If I give a knife as a gift, I PICK. They will thank me for it also, because they will get a great knife that will last a lifetime.
 
I think you did precisely what I would have done if I asked what he wanted. I suspect he'll be excited about his childhood fantasy knife and perhaps will want something "better" in the future.

As to knife gifts, I give people knives that I can afford and what I think they will like and be comfortable with. There is also an age aspect and my feeling on what is appropriate. If I am uncomfortable with my perception of what they might want and like in terms of price, I simply pass and consider a different gift.
 
mycough said:
I stopped reading when I saw "Dago''... I guess you can like knives and stiil be an idiot.

Russ
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Reading comprehension isn't your strong point, I see. I thought we were made of sterner stuff, around here.

Hint: I quoted my brother, who remembers my grandpa using such slurs. Back in the day, the immigrants all had names for each other: micks, krauts, dagos, colored fellas. All in good fun, no one was offended. Now we're to the point where it's not even me talking about you, not even someone you know talking about someone else, and yet you're still offended? If you're that thin-skinned, I feel sorry for you, as you've no doubt had a hard life.
 
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You got him something he wanted. He will be happy and use it because that's the one he wanted. Now it's time to move him up just a little. Get him something decent for a bday gift. I gave my cousin a Ontario utilitac in aus8. Now whenever he needs it sharp he comes to me. Sometimes people settle and dont need the best tools out there
 
I ordered us a pair of A.G. Russell K-31s in AUS8 for Christmas. It's gonna blow his mind how good the humble AUS8 is, compared to the Gerbers he's used to.

I think he'll probably just end up using the OTF around the house and to play with, and I guess there's no shame in that. In my state, autos are only legal to carry if a fellow has a firearm owners ID card, which he hasn't got yet. He won't want to risk it getting seized.

(I also tried to talk him into a higher end, US-made Speed Safe Kershaw, but he wasn't having it)
 
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