Has the World Gone Completely Insane and Somehow I Missed It?

M

MLJ_1758

Joined
Nov 19, 2011
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11
Hello Everyone,

This post is sort-of related to knife laws/legal issues, but is more about the complete insanity that seems to have come to dominate most people's perceptions of knives. I wasn't sure exactly where to post it so if it is in the wrong forum, my apologies in advance.

The basic story is this. A Victorinox factory store just opened up near where I live. Being a long-time fan and user of their SAK's (like my Dad and Grandfather before me), I was really excited and was looking forward to going in and taking a look at their locking-blade offerings. I actually was thinking of purchasing a new knife to add to my collection/EDC rotation.

Well, today I went into the store and thought I was in SAK heaven. There was a whole wall of SAK's on display, covering virtually all of their offerings. I'd been standing there admiring the selection for a few minutes when a salesperson came up and asked if he could help. I said I wanted to take a look at the one-handed opening lock blades. He said sure and proceeded to get one (a Soldatenmesser) from one of the storage drawers. He opened the box and was about to hand it to me when he sort of snatched it back and said, "Now for safety reasons I can't let you open the knife. But I can show you how it opens for you." What?! I was taken aback but said "OK." At which point he proceeded to open the knife only part way and then finished opening it by hitting the blade (edge-side down mind you) on the stone counter top. He also demonstrated that you can open it by pressing the blade inward on your chest, arm, leg, or "any other available location." He did condescend to let me hold the knife (in a closed) position so I could "get a feel for it." Needless to say, I thanked him for his time and left the store.

This experience has left me questioning the sanity of the world. I somehow had the unreasonable expectation that if I walk into a store that carries SAK's, that I would be able to look at and examine (i.e. check the lock-up, the bevels, the overall fit and finish, etc.) of the knife before purchasing it (one of the main reasons I tend to frequent brick-and-mortar stores). Instead I felt like I was treated like an incompetent boob who is going to cut himself by merely looking at the knife. The icing on the proverbial cake was when the salesperson "demonstrated" the knives features by opening it in a manner that is neither safe to him or the knife and that many here would likely consider abuse of the tool. I certainly wouldn't buy a knife that was treated in such a way.

My reason for posting this thread is, aside from venting (for which I apologize), to ask whether anyone else has had such an experience when going to purchase a knife. Is this a common trend to not let a customer inspect a knife he or she is going to buy "for safety reasons" or are the employees in this store just a bunch of jerks and idiots? I think that from now on, despite not being able to see the knife, I am going to send my business to some of the online retailers that have an excellent reputation on these forums.

Thank you to everyone who has had the patience to read through this post.

All the best,

Michael
 
Nope.... Thats a new one on me. I live in the land of Obama (and his henchman "The Rahminator") and the local gun shop will let you grope and fondle knives to your hearts content albeit the shop is located just outside Cook county. My guess this is some insurance rule that if a customer cuts himself or others they are not liable.
 
If I had a retail knife shop, I'd have large multi-lingual signs in bold red print stating: "Anyone who asks to handle a knife does so at their own risk. By asking to handle a knife, you forfeit any rights to sue for injury." Before handing a knife to a customer, they would sign a sheet stating they understand the sign. It is a lawsuit crazy world out there.
 
Never heard of that kind of thing. It's possible (at least I hope so) that this specific salesperson is some kind of adherent nimrod who neither represents the industry or the store.
I don't buy the liability angle either unless it was a decision made by a legal retard of a manager. At a craft show recently they let me slice food with a variety of kitchen knives to test their effectiveness, and one custom hunting knife maker has a big sign that says "Sorry. You bleed on it, you buy it!"
 
glistam said:
Never heard of that kind of thing. It's possible (at least I hope so) that this specific salesperson is some kind of adherent nimrod who neither represents the industry or the store.
I don't buy the liability angle either unless it was a decision made by a legal retard of a manager. At a craft show recently they let me slice food with a variety of kitchen knives to test their effectiveness, and one custom hunting knife maker has a big sign that says "Sorry. You bleed on it, you buy it!"
Click to expand...

I vote for nimrod. Probably (hopefully) not store policy. Literally not the sharpest tool in the shed to be opening a blade against his own skin! Go back in a few weeks and see how it goes with another sales rep, a little social experiment.
 
I think you should test glistam's theory and try the store again, hoping for a different salesperson, and see if they do the same. (Some people are just idiots, opening the knife by pressing the edge of the blade on a counter??!?)
 
I was shown and allowed to handle a Benchmade 9052 AFO II Tanto at my local Sportsman's Warehouse.
Then they told me I couldn't buy it!
I could buy a handgun of course, as long as I carried the ammo out to my car in a separate bag...
I went home and ordered one off the internet, delivered froma dealer within my own State.

pete
 
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Hopefully this person was not the store owner or store manager. Like suggested above, try visiting again. If you get the same treatment ask to have a friendly and constructive discussion with the owner and or manager. I wonder if a non-knife person just thought that selling Victorinox knives would be a nice business without having much background on the subject. Mike
 
Charlie Mike said:
If I had a retail knife shop, I'd have large multi-lingual signs in bold red print stating: "Anyone who asks to handle a knife does so at their own risk. By asking to handle a knife, you forfeit any rights to sue for injury." Before handing a knife to a customer, they would sign a sheet stating they understand the sign. It is a lawsuit crazy world out there.
Click to expand...
Good idea, CM. I have been in many gun shops which prohibit the entry of unholstered or uncased firearms, as well as loaded firearms, into the store for safety reasons. Never saw a knife disclaimer, other than the ones provided by the manufacturer.
 
If I was serious about purchase, I'm not so sure I would have complied with his "instruction." As the customer, he serves me, not vice-versa. Not like they're not charging premium pricing. What's he going to do, grab it away from me, or refuse to sell it to me? His loss.

I concur with ordering from online dealers. Much better pricing, and most have liberal return policies, in case it just isn't going to work for you.
 
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