Griffith Review is a Go!

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
Well, a generous forumite offered to send me four, yes FOUR!, of Lynn's knives from his collection. Two will be new and two will be used. This is a large sample and will give a very good idea of the type of stuff Mr. Griffith is making these days.
This will be a quick review. I have Part IV of National Boards this weekend, and I hope to have the knives next Monday. I will need about 5 days or so to evaluate and photograph them, then I will send them back and write my review (it'll probably take a week total or so to do everything). Once shipping is paid and insured, I'll probably be out $15 or so, as well as many hours of time, but I think this project is worthwhile to create a clean slate. As usual, donations accepted!
wink.gif


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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
Chiro, I have a question and I hope you dont take it as an insult, because it isnt intended as such. But why do you think your tests and evaluations are relevant for anyone else's use? I understand you put alot of time in on them and make a nice presentation but what qualifies your opinion of any knife over someone else's opinion?
No, I am not defending Lynn Griffith. I think he is a fair knifemaker who makes simple skill level, basic using knives, but as many others have done-is charging prices that long time veteran makers are charging.His knives bear resemblance to knives made by Russ Easler,Ron Gaston, and Harry George who have all been making knives since the 70's, but Easler's and George's cost about half of Lynn's knives. But then again, if people pay it-that's their choice.
I happen to think Lynn is a pretty nice guy but cant help jumping in everytime someone mentions his knives. Then again, they say there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Chiro, the original intent of this post was wondering why you made it seem so important that you had to review his knives?Again, nothing meant as a personal attack here as the only time or two that we ever posted to each other has been very pleasant and other than that we dont know each other.
BTW-good luck on your exams!

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Dave (Phil.4:13)
I Can Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Me
 
Lifter, I never implied that it was SO important that I review the knives. I guess I think I can do a bit better of a job than the ones that were done before, and those were full of subjectives, judgment calls, character assassinations, etc. I just think I can do a good job and present a fair review. I have no idea if it will be in favor of buying one of Lynn's knives or what, so I'm trying to be free of preconceived notions.
Furthermore, I have some experience in making knives (or more accurately, how not to make them!) and quite a bit of experience in finishing them. I also know lots about sheaths and what separates good ones from bad ones. So, I know what goes into knives and what kind of work it takes.
The only way I know if that is relevant to other people is by their comments after I review a knife, and based on that the reviews are much appreciated by readers. They are a TON of work, so if they weren't worth it for at least a handful of readers, then I could definitely find other things to do with my time! Allen Blades probably sold a dozen knives after my last review (or at least it sure seemed like it), so it works for everyone involved. Whether it is relevant for others or not? Who knows? I have fun doing it and I think I can be pretty subjective. That's my take on it, at least.

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
Chiro, fair enough.I didnt know you had made knives, and that's why I asked. As you can see, my post was written at 3:30 am. Actually I am starting to look forward to your review.
I received an email this morning from a gent named Ray that said that Lynn got highly pissed because the guy wanted to change the model he had ordered. His knife hadnt been started yet, but he was still told no and that his money would be returned at Lynn's convenience.Is this standard policy for him?
Anyone know?
BTW, a couple of other makers who make extremely similar knives(and made them first) are Daniel Cannady and Tilton Bowen.The only difference between theirs and his are that theirs come with leather sheaths.Is a kydex sheath worth an extra $150??? Maybe calling them tactical instead of hunters costs more?


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Dave (Phil.4:13)
I Can Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Me
 
If Ray has a problem with Lynn or any other maker or member about a knife deal, this should be handled in the GB&U forum. The best place for questions about Lynn's general policies would be on his forum obviously.

Bottom line, this forum should be about reviewing the knives, you can review the makers in other places, the GB&U being the obvious choice.

-Cliff
 
Lifter,
I was not pissed, or even upset. I had already changed Rays order about 5 times. Ray sent me an E-mail saying that he wanted his order changed, and that he would cancel his order if that changed the expected delivery date. I E-mailed him back and said that his order was then canceled, and that his refund (of his deposit) would go out at my earliest convenience. My earliest convenience was with in 3 days. The reason, I chose to cancel the order so easily, is because that is what I felt that Ray really wanted. I like Ray, a great deal. I don't know why he feels that I was upset, but I was not, and I am not.

Ray, if you read this, I appologize for the confusion.

Thanks,

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Lynn Griffith-Knifemaker

See you at Blade Show (table 13c)

griffithknives.com
GriffithKN@aol.com
Griffith Knives Forum
 
Lifter, I have lots of finishing experience, but a little making experience. To date I have failed miserably on a folder project (started with bum steel), and made a REALLY quick small fixed blade out of D-2 that is...funny and ugly, I guess, but cuts stuff okay. I just slapped scales onto my first project that I filed, heat treated, etc all on my own. I should have it finished tomorrow. So far so good, but files sure do leave VERY deep scratches in the metal. It's another ugly sucker, for sure! I am a long way away from being a "knifemaker", but I have experienced all the facets of making a knife, so in that way I am more qualified to do reviews than the casual armchair reviewer, but that doesn't mean they are any better. If anything, I have a keen eye for observation, and being a sonn to be doctor of chiropractic, I get into the ergonomics side of things, too. My reviews should be taken at face value, though.

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
I have seen several mentions of 'Lynn's Forum' in all these threds, BUT, I have searched all over and can't find it..are there 'private' forums here that are not 'open'??? Thanks, Barry

 
Chiro, thank you for answering my questions like a gentleman. I look forward to your next review.
Cliff, as Tom and others have said, you will not control the content of my posts. Obviously you and Lynn are friendly(although I'm sure your next post will say you dont even know each other). If Ray wants to post his complaint in the G,B, and U forum that's up to him. I was just relaying his message to Chiro. And isnt customer relations or service part of a review of a knifemaker?
Lynn, your version is much different than Ray's. He said you were extremely pissed. But of course there is always 3 sides to a story.
Anyway, I'm outta here-gonna go play with my Easler with the SATIN finish.

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Dave (Phil.4:13)
I Can Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Me
 
Customer service issues should be ideally brought up first in a private setting, in person if possible, by phone if not and email as a last resort. The makers own forum would be a good choice as well since they have total control. A public forum is likely to cause an unwanted defensive reaction and bring in outside commentary that you probably don't want. Once the situation has been resolved it would be valuable to discuss it in the review or you if you can't resolve it then have the commentary in the GB&U forum as that is what it is for.

Questions on policy in general should probably be asked about elsewhere as well. For example if you order a model and ask for a slight change, say to sharpen the false edge and the maker says well the price I listed is for my standard model, custom ones are $100 an inch. You are then more than a bit upset as you are only asking for a little work. You want to know if this is common practice and how people feel about it so the two obvious choices are the Shop Talk forum for the makers viewpoints and the general forum for the members.

-Cliff

[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 05-18-2000).]
 
Cliff, I don't want to get into a pissing match with you over this, but you broke your own guidelines you just mentioned when you publicly posted and argued with Sean Perkins over his testing and warranty policies not too long ago. And, like you stated, the exact reaction you mentioned is what occurred. What gives?

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
Chiro, this is the original thread where the issue of Perkins warrenty was discussed :

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003478.html

This was in the general forum and emails were also exhanged between Perkins and I to clarify that I was not misreading his policy. The comment I made in this form in the following thread :

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001690.html

summarised my opinion of Perkins warrenty and his take on blade evaluation (the latter is a trickier to deal with but is often tied into the warrenty issue). As also noted in the above this could be done, and probably should, after the discussion has concluded elsewhere - as it was done in email between Perkins and I and in the thread in the general forum.

If I had to change what I did about that first thread I would now email Perkins first instead of after I made the first post in that thread. As it happens it would have made no difference in that particular case but in general it is a good rule to get the makers opinion first as you could be misinterpreting a policy.

This last point is also a sure sign that someone is trying to present an unbiased review rather than follow some presupposed path. You could have a bad opinion based on personal ignorance, maybe you don't know the correct sharpening technique or grip or whatever. Drop the maker an email and possibly other people who are experienced with his blades or similar ones. Or simply reference other reviews with different opinions in yours so people can see both sides.

You have to use some common sense and the rules are not iron glad - if you can discuss things reasonably then just about anything will go. Unfortunately some people cannot so topics have to be restricted.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 05-18-2000).]
 
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