Has a forum member ever done this to you?

[evilgreg]

Have you ever found yourself buying a knife just because some forum member kept mentioning it or posting pictures of it or something similar?

For example, I'm not a fan of Todd Begg's design esthetic. I find his knives overly decorated to the point of crossing over into gaudy.

Two-tone blade with a fuller? Why not? Speed holes? Let's have dozens of 'em. Elaborate surface patterns, sometimes multiple different patterns? Hell to the yes! Can we kick it up another notch? Let's add a cracked ice finish here, some princess unicorn cupcake sparkles there. That's the ticket!

Yet despite all that, there is RamZar constantly reminding me how much he loves his mini Bodega, and the somewhat mini-Southard-esque handle shape appeals to me. I can't just ignore RamZar's opinion either, I know we like a lot of the same knives and have a fondness for flippers that weigh less than a boat anchor.

At first I was able to just tell myself "I'm not paying that much for a Chinese knife". I mean, I love Chinese knives as much as the next guy (and more than many around here) but part of the value prop is getting more knife for less money. Paying CRK prices for a small, Chinese-made knife was not something I found enticing.

. . . but still he kept mentioning it, or I should say, them--I think he has a couple of them. So a few nights ago for some reason, probably not RamZar's low-intensity long-term subliminal advertising campaign, I decided suddenly "screw it, I'm buying one of those things".

I figured if I was going to do it, I might as well just do it right. I opted for this tasteful and elegant "Trump's gold-plated bathroom meets the Batmobile" version in the black and gold color scheme:

I blame RamZar . . .

So back to the title of the post--has this happened to you? What forum member and which knife did they force you to eventually buy?

 

[sharp_edge]

I would say that seeing multiple beautiful pictures of a knife and reading lots of people saying good things about it has a major influence on my purchase decision.

 

[palonej]

Nice Greg!!! You are now high speed, low drag!!
Same thing happened to me with the CKF Sukhoi 2.0. HAD to have it!! I wouldn't dare put it in my pocket!! Took me 18 months to carry the damn thing!!
So yeah, you are not alone my friend!
Some horrible and shameless enablers here!
Beautiful knife! Enjoy it!
Joe

PS.....enough exclamation points for you???
😬😬

 

[Chris Larrikin]

For me it was a Mora. I know we're not in the same cost ballpark there. Just the constant comments along the lines of "everyone should own one" finally got to me. So I bought one and quickly realised how good they are. Now I own more than I will ever need and will probably get a few more just to see...

The other big influence for me has been the damn knifemakers' area of the Exchange. Seeing the craftsmanship and design awesomeness on a daily basis has led to me buying more than a few.

 

[Officer's Match]

I have no idea what you are talking about...

 

[palonej]

^^^ 😬😬😬😬

 

[AusLoX]

I've definitely purchased knives based on people's posts. Mainly on the porch this happens. I tend to already like the knife design, it's the different handle/scale materials that make me buy one or more.

 

[skyhorse]

RamZar has good taste in blades.

 

[HappyDaddy]

RamZar is evil, Greg. I'm pretty sure he's been responsible for a couple of my purchases, including the Mini-Bodega and the CKF Morrf.

 

[Grandmaster]

I found that reading threads about knives purchased by members, are the best reviews you can get

 

[353]

I've always wanted one, but MostMenAreRuthless tipped the scales for me with THIS fantastic thread in honour to the Spyderco Delica. So I got this one in G10 scales, love it!!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I feel so sorry for you guys, you missed the part where collecting knives was a no brainer. You bought Case, Schrade, Queen even Buck, then one day companies like Benchmark and Benchmade started to appear. Ok, still not too bad, a few young upstarts, Al Mar, Blackie Collins, Pete Kershaw, Ken Onion were coming up with new innovations assisted openers, Waves, Spyderholes, Flippers. Don't even get me started on steels, M390, S35VN, Elmax. The mind boggles at the variety so I give you new generation of collectors props because you need a mechanical engineering degree and one metallurgy just to keep up.

I love the old knives and I love the new ones, I just don't know if I'm young enough to try them all any more. When I was younger I concerned myself with patterns and scale material, not caged or open, ball or roller, ceramic or steel bearings.

I'm just kiddin' guys I'll keep up on the up and coming makers, designs and materials but I'm leavin' the eye candy to you guys, keep 'em comin'. I love them Rocksteads and custom Beggs, without you guys I'd never get to see 'em and palonej, one of my trips to Jersey we'll hook up and I'll get to fondle some those beauties if you'll let me.

 

[evilgreg]

I would say that seeing multiple beautiful pictures of a knife and reading lots of people saying good things about it has a major influence on my purchase decision.

I found that reading threads about knives purchased by members, are the best reviews you can get

I've definitely purchased knives based on people's posts. Mainly on the porch this happens. I tend to already like the knife design, it's the different handle/scale materials that make me buy one or more.

I think it's generally pretty reasonable to get interested in a knife this way. The thing about this purchase, though, is that I'm convinced it is 100% RamZar's fault. I never would have purchased it otherwise. My wife said it was pretty and asked where I got that one. I told her RamZar made me buy it and she said "what's a RamZar?"

Nice Greg!!! You are now high speed, low drag!!
Same thing happened to me with the CKF Sukhoi 2.0. HAD to have it!! I wouldn't dare put it in my pocket!! Took me 18 months to carry the damn thing!!
So yeah, you are not alone my friend!
Some horrible and shameless enablers here!
Beautiful knife! Enjoy it!
Joe

PS.....enough exclamation points for you???
😬😬

I can feel the excitement and it's good!!!

Also, I was exaggerating about the number of speed holes--the knife has only fourteen of them, so dozen of holes, not dozens, I'm afraid. I still feel pretty high-speed, though. I'm not an Emerson-level elite Internet commando yet, but I'm getting there.

For me it was a Mora. I know we're not in the same cost ballpark there. Just the constant comments along the lines of "everyone should own one" finally got to me. So I bought one and quickly realised how good they are. Now I own more than I will ever need and will probably get a few more just to see...

I got my first Mora the same way, and couldn't have been happier with it. Some knife forum common wisdom is pretty wise; everyone should have a few Moras (and IMO a Tramontina machete as well).

I have no idea what you are talking about...

Is that thing at least heavy? I rarely buy heavy knives, I only have a few dozen heavy folders. I'm not buying a 247, I'm not buying a 247 . . . if I keep saying it I'm sure it will work.

RamZar has good taste in blades.

He does indeed. I didn't mention it, but this little knife is a seriously well made piece of work. Wowsers . . .

RamZar is evil, Greg. I'm pretty sure he's been responsible for a couple of my purchases, including the Mini-Bodega and the CKF Morrf.

On this, particularly the "RamZar is evil" part, I think we can all agree.

 

[FullMetalJackass]

It happened to me.
I also chose not buy some knives after seeing maybe too many pics and the fanboy attitude of some people here.

 

[Mecha]

If I get to NJ, I'm gonna run Palonej on the billiards table!

It's true, before hangin' out on Bladeforums, I was pretty clueless to the massive insanity of knife designs out there. It's like witnessing the knife version of one of those geologic periods of life when there was an explosion of different and highly varied life forms. It's a great thing considering the history of blades and how foundational and essential they are as tools.

One thing that keeps getting posted that's in my sights is a knife with the light green slime colored scales, like 353 just posted above!

 

[GB940Rookie]

Wowbagger mentioned the Spyderco Sprig in a conversation about another knife. Never heard of it. Researched and fell in love. One of the best purchases I've made in awhile.

Thank you sir

 

[Officer's Match]

Is that thing at least heavy? I rarely buy heavy knives, I only have a few dozen heavy folders. I'm not buying a 247, I'm not buying a 247 . . . if I keep saying it I'm sure it will work.

Depends on perspective of "heavy". Is a Sebenza heavy? I find the size and weight of the 247 just about right to feel well made. I like that it is smooth but shaped to "grip". Easy in/out of the pocket (kudos to the ceramic bearing "Begg-style" clip) but super easy to hold - not "slippery" at all. I actually like the "butt" weighted rear bias too, makes it feel like it wants to sit in my hand, not jump out, which I like in an authoritative flipper. But don't let me influence you...









Compared to a 3.5" XM18 Spanto

 

[Eliteone2383]

Ahh just seeing those pics made me pic up my 247 and fondle it

 

[popedandy]

It happened to me.
I also chose not buy some knives after seeing maybe too many pics and the fanboy attitude of some people here.

Same here.

 

[evilgreg]

I would say that seeing multiple beautiful pictures of a knife and reading lots of people saying good things about it has a major influence on my purchase decision.

Nice Greg!!! You are now high speed, low drag!!
Same thing happened to me with the CKF Sukhoi 2.0. HAD to have it!! I wouldn't dare put it in my pocket!! Took me 18 months to carry the damn thing!!
So yeah, you are not alone my friend!
Some horrible and shameless enablers here!
Beautiful knife! Enjoy it!
Joe

PS.....enough exclamation points for you???
😬😬

For me it was a Mora. I know we're not in the same cost ballpark there. Just the constant comments along the lines of "everyone should own one" finally got to me. So I bought one and quickly realised how good they are. Now I own more than I will ever need and will probably get a few more just to see...

The other big influence for me has been the damn knifemakers' area of the Exchange. Seeing the craftsmanship and design awesomeness on a daily basis has led to me buying more than a few.

I have no idea what you are talking about...

I've definitely purchased knives based on people's posts. Mainly on the porch this happens. I tend to already like the knife design, it's the different handle/scale materials that make me buy one or more.

RamZar has good taste in blades.

RamZar is evil, Greg. I'm pretty sure he's been responsible for a couple of my purchases, including the Mini-Bodega and the CKF Morrf.

I found that reading threads about knives purchased by members, are the best reviews you can get

It happened to me.
I also chose not buy some knives after seeing maybe too many pics and the fanboy attitude of some people here.

Same here.

This definitely affected me with the Sebenza. The cult was so smug and obnoxious that I don't think I gave the knife a fair chance the first time around. Part of it was that the knife just wasn't the exciting to me, but another part was all the "when you handle it you can just feel the blah blah blah sophisticated blah blah tolerances blah blah blah" type garbage echoing in my ears from reading posts here from the cult.