Grail Knife, Meh....Is it just me ?

Heirphoto

Heirphoto

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
1,431
Okay, you stumble across a neat looking knife in a post or a Youtube video and think "I like that" or "That will fit perfectly into my EDC". You research it on Youtube, you follow threads about it on Bladeforums, you reassess your entire collection and rotation, it is THE knife for you. You track one down via ebay or the Marketplace, buy it or trade something else. Finally the knife to end all knives arrives, you open the package, take it in hand and......meh.....too big, to small, ugly scales, not to ergonomic, whatever. Is it just me ? Is the dream often better than the reality? (Not to discredit of course all the ones that turn out even better than expected)
 
I think the hunt, research and anticipation is the best part of this drug. It all ends once that package arrives, leaving you looking for an excuse to start the hunt all over again

Ive seen a Busse Boss Jack i sold about 7 years ago on the exchange 3 times since, from 3 different owners. We are not the only ones :D
 
I think this happens to most of us eventually and not just with knives . You can become jaded with anything and everything , the pleasure center is numb . That's why we tend to need more expensive and /or radical designs to get the same high .

I just do something different for awhile , usually painful and requiring much effort and concentration . Hard martial workout , grueling trail hike , hard chores . It resets the nervous system . There is no pleasure without pain . Cleanse the palate .

I hear that loads of meditation and quiet contemplation etc can help , but that's not my way !:rolleyes:
 
I really enjoy the hunt. I have been fortunate in having the opportunity to have a lot fixed blades go through my hands. The thrill of the hunt was mostly doused when I got the knives in hand. Usually I was disappointed for whatever reason and quickly flipped them to find the next great blade! I can tell rather quickly if a knife is a keeper or not. Most are not!

I actually enjoy the buying and selling aspect. I have made a few bucka, but mostly lost......LOTS! It is a hobby, a pastime, and adventure! I have thankfully settled on a maker that I like and have concentrated my knife buying and selling on his designs. I made a quick purchase of 3 of his blades late yesterday as New Years Eve was approaching. They are my last knife purchases for a long time. I've got all that I want and will be selling most of them off. I'm going to use the funds to take courses and buy other important gear for outdoor adventures!
 
Last edited:
I don't think I can point to ever having a grail knife; as I like too many different patterns, both modern and traditional. I do all the research you describe, but it generally leads to me knowing that I will like what I get. If anything, expectations are sometimes exceeded once I receive and carry them. Examples are 940-2 and Northwoods Hawthorne Jack.
 
Heirphoto said:
Okay, you stumble across a neat looking knife in a post or a Youtube video and think "I like that" or "That will fit perfectly into my EDC". You research it on Youtube, you follow threads about it on Bladeforums, you reassess your entire collection and rotation, it is THE knife for you. You track one down via ebay or the Marketplace, buy it or trade something else. Finally the knife to end all knives arrives, you open the package, take it in hand and......meh.....too big, to small, ugly scales, not to ergonomic, whatever. Is it just me ? Is the dream often better than the reality? (Not to discredit of course all the ones that turn out even better than expected)
Click to expand...

All depends if the grail lived up to my expectations or not. If it did then the joy of having a beloved knife to carry is the best part for me.
 
Grail knives... don't worry about such things or even consider that a possibility when I buy something. My research consists of comments here on the forum and reading the specs. If I'm interested and the timing is right financially, I buy it. If I don't care for it for whatever reason, it gets dumped in my knife tub to be mostly forgotten.

I might add that most of my folding knives cost under $200. So the financial hit is not as great as if it were a CRK something or other. Hence when I dump them in the tub, it isn't like it's a $1000 knife or something. When I re-read the above comments, some folks would say that this is financially careless. I think I agree for the most part.
 
Last edited:
Maybe "grail" was a bit too strong as I know none will be the perfect knife. I guess because I only own a few knives i have high expectations for each to fill a specific "need" for me. Many do, many do not. If it was a second hand user I carry it for a week or two, make a decision then off to the Marketplace or elsewhere. If it was new, or second hand but unused, I really try and assess it before carrying it and loosing too much resale value (I rarely expect to make anything on a resale). Occasionally I will take a long shot and trade for something that just strikes my fancy with little research and several times they have turned out to be a real surprise and please me more than a planned purchase.
 
Heirphoto said:
.... make a decision then off to the Marketplace or elsewhere. If it was new, or second hand but unused, I really try and assess it before carrying it and loosing too much resale value (I rarely expect to make anything on a resale). Occasionally I will take a long shot and trade for something that just strikes my fancy with little research and several times they have turned out to be a real surprise and please me more than a planned purchase.
Click to expand...
The Steel Will Mini Cutjack in M390 was one that I purchased at a knife store and it was a real surprise for me. It was totally unplanned. Saw a brand I wasn't familiar with and asked to see a couple. Next thing I know I'm headed to the cash register. Been carrying it since. Not a grail, but a good knife that fits my leanings currently.

I really should up my membership again and sell off my discards. If I would only look at it from the perspective that once it hits the knife tub, it will stay there for years unless a thread brings it up and I want to refresh my memory. The likelihood that I will decide to use it later are remote. In the tub, it has zero value and anything I would get on resale would be a plus I guess. Someone else might really like it.
 
Nutinfancy is like this. He raves about every knife and then I get it and I'm like fk you nutinfancy this isn't me at all and this knife sucks. He's now showing off clones and crappy knives lately. Pretty disappointing.

But if I watch Nick Shabazz, he's more thorough with everything. He has saved me lots of money and I've purchased some knives I really really liked when I got them because his reviews were thorough and informative. I obviously don't blindly follow him. While we do have similar tastes they are not the same. Everything is with a grain of salt. But at least he goes over many things most do not.

Alot of reviews and people who have knives want to say nothing but good things. It's disappointing.
 
Last edited:
To be honest.. I really don't care what others think about a knife I am interested in or pay any attention to U-Tube.. If I like it, I get it and if it disappoints me after I either gift it away or put it up until someone comes along that is interested in it.. John:)
 
Mo2 said:
Nutinfancy is like this. He raves about every knife and then I get it and I'm like fk you nutinfancy this isn't me at all and this knife sucks. He's now showing off clones and crappy knives lately. Pretty disappointing.

But if I watch Nick Shabazz, he's more thorough with everything. He has saved me lots of money and I've purchased some knives I really really liked when I got them because his reviews were thorough and informative.

Alot of reviews and people who have knives want to say nothing but good things. It's disappointing.
Click to expand...
About the only video reviewer I pay much attention to lately is Nick. I might not agree with all his assessments or opinions, but he is indeed very thorough and open-minded. He thoughtfully covers any aspect of a knife that bears consideration and doesn't take himself too seriously. He's also not a shill for any maker and doesn't seem to have sold out as many online reviewers have.

As far as grails go, I've never felt that any knife would be the ultimate in perfection for me. There've been a few highly anticipated that didn't meet expectations, several that have surprised me, but mostly it seems to take a little time actually handling a new one for me to warm to it and for appreciation to develop. There's always that preconceived notion in mind that possession takes a while to erase--for better or worse.
 
Similar here. Therefore I only buy knives which I held in hand first.

Often I look at specs and see a nono for me. Size and weight bigger as para3 does not get pocket time therefore seldom to none buying.
 
We are all here because we like knives. I have a few grails but it's too fun to try different knives to stop at just one. After all, how can you know perfect without trying others?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top