How Do You Describe Your Knives to Others?

3

3nails

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
392
After reading Bladeforums for over 2 years I think about and look at knives much differently and I describe them differently. While talking with a friend and fellow knife knut we discuss knives by blade length/shape, type of steel, handle material, type of lock for onehanders, maker or company...... Typical Bladeforums talk. If we discuss knives around others they look at us as if we were from another planet.

How much info do you give or how do you describe your knives to others?


Thanks Dean
 
I don't describe my knives to others...I show 'em. It's hard to describe quality and "feel"...That's something that has to be a "hands-on" experience.

I also have a Benchmade catalog at work that I've just about worn out from showing folks some of my favorites knives from the fine people at Benchmade.
 
ya, 3nails, i know what u mean... sometimes when i am chatting with a "regular" staff at a knife shop I feel that I know even more than him/her.
 
Frankly, I don't bother trying to explain anything to anyone unless they ask. It's sad to say, but I haven't met a single knife dealer in my area that knows squat about the products they sell. You would think that in an area like Duluth, Minnesota, you would be able to buy quality knives somewhere. Hunting, camping, fishing, and outdoor activities in general are HUGE in this area. Add to that the fact that we have the Airbase here, and you would think that quality cutlery would be a no-brainer. This just simply is not the case. Why, you ask? I think a lot of it has to do with the ignorance of local outdoor dealers. About the highest quality stuff you'll find around here is Cold Steel, BK&T, and the occasional lower-end Benchmade. Even these brands are uncommon and usually sold at suggested retail (i.e. over-priced). When you ask a dealer why you should pay 100 bucks for one knife as opposed to 30 for another, you usually get nothing more than "It's a good knife. You get what you pay for." Sadly, I haven't met one yet that can actually tell me exactly what I am paying for. Boy, did this turn into a long-winded rant or what? Well, you get my point. :rolleyes:
 
It's hard to explain why I live with cuts on my hands from my Balisongs every day to people. They just don't understand the draw. Kind of like an extreme sport, but much less accepted.
 
Well, I generally tell whoever I may be talking to about the steel type, the handle material, the blade material, and the lock mechanism. Then, I'll explain some of the details, like ergonomics and general use/purpose of that knife. Generally, people will say, "Wow, that's a really nice knife" (when talking about my BM Griptillian) or they'll nod politely and pretend they understand. :D Oh, well, I've not had very many negative reactions. I think that moving knives from the Hollywood realm of visceral violence into a practical, intellectual realm takes some of people's edge off and allows them to get a glimpse of a different side of knives. That's been my experience, at least.
 
When I'm holding a knife and describing it to some one who is looking at it,I may as well be talking about the surface of Mars for the blank look I get. Ive tried to cut my descriptions to generic terms and still get the blank nod , so I dont know.
 
I don't describe them unless they ask and then they usually get more than they really want to hear. One reason I switched EDC's was to get away from the questions re the BM710 and 806D2. The 940 got less reaction and the 960 even less than that. Those are the EDC's people see. The other knives are around (backpack, briefcase, truck console etc) just not sitting on my front right pocket.
 
Most of the time I try to keep from showing\talking about them. Even the fellow outdoorsmen in my extended family dont get it. They seem to think that a Ka-bar or Buck 110 is the end all be all and since these are the best knives ever no other knife could POSSIBLY be worth more than what they paid for them. "A $300.00 knife wont cut any better than a $30.00 one...blah blah blah.,...) That crap drives me nuts. Ask these people how much they spend on golf clubs, a swimming pool, hunting camps etc, and they will have every explaination in the world, then ask them how that investment could potentially save thier life...Why is that a blade hobby makes you look like a moron to those not in the know, and a golf habit makes you look prestigious and devenair...WTF!! Im an outdoorsman! If anyone can show me how a freaking golf club can flawlessly, reliably feed, clothe, and shelter me in the wild then Ill take up golf.

Also I love the abscent minderd Lecture I got from my father-in-law on how to sharpen a knife, "no more than a 20 degree angle blah blah blah......." There isnt a truely sharp knife in his HOUSE while several of mine will shave hair above the skin.

Something about knives and firearms bring out the "manly men " in guys, and most women are either bothered or simply not interested. Guys especially seem to have to feel like they know something or thier manhood is threatend or something. Ill never begin to understand it.

End of sermon
 
Runsalone said:
Most of the time I try to keep from showing\talking about them. Even the fellow outdoorsmen in my extended family dont get it. They seem to think that a Ka-bar or Buck 110 is the end all be all and since these are the best knives ever no other knife could POSSIBLY be worth more than what they paid for them. "A $300.00 knife wont cut any better than a $30.00 one...blah blah blah.,...) That crap drives me nuts. Ask these people how much they spend on golf clubs, a swimming pool, hunting camps etc, and they will have every explaination in the world, then ask them how that investment could potentially save thier life...Why is that a blade hobby makes you look like a moron to those not in the know, and a golf habit makes you look prestigious and devenair...WTF!! Im an outdoorsman! If anyone can show me how a freaking golf club can flawlessly, reliably feed, clothe, and shelter me in the wild then Ill take up golf.

Also I love the abscent minderd Lecture I got from my father-in-law on how to sharpen a knife, "no more than a 20 degree angle blah blah blah......." There isnt a truely sharp knife in his HOUSE while several of mine will shave hair above the skin.

Something about knives and firearms bring out the "manly men " in guys, and most women are either bothered or simply not interested. Guys especially seem to have to feel like they know something or thier manhood is threatend or something. Ill never begin to understand it.

End of sermon
Click to expand...

You won't find a more sympathetic group of people in the world! I know exactly what you're talking about.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not really an expert on the outdoors or metallurgy or anything, but that's because I compare myself to the people on this forum. Not to mention I'm a small potatoes kind of knife knut thanks to the dreaded empty wallet syndrome :D But in my own little world I'm "The Knife Guy" and I'm sure everyone else here falls in that role as well.

It's just amazing what people will tell you.
 
funny quick story, I was with my friend at some crappy bargains and deals store, where they sell crappy little trinkets and knives and swords etc... The guy at the front counter asked if he could help us with anything. I asked him, "Hey do you carry any Busse knives", just for comedy, knowing that he didn't. His eyes got all wide and he said "No, but I know what you're talking about!". Then we just walked out, It was pretty funny.
 
Deadmanwalking,
I know exectly what you mean about being "knife guy". Almost every friend I meet starts out thinking I'm nuts for spending $100+ on a pocket knife, but within a couple of months, they're carrying a higher-end production folder, too. Most of my good friends carried $15-$30 cheapo knives (you'd be hard-pressed to find someone in northern Minnesota that doesn't carry a pocket knife) until they met me. Now they carry Benchmades, Kershaw Speed Safes, or small concealed fixed blades (Nimravus Cub is a popular one amongst my friends. personally, I carry a Spyderco SPOT).

Another funny story to share, too. A couple years back, my buddy Deano and I were at a local gun and knife show looking at the over-priced knock-off blades that are predominate at local shows, and we overheard this guy trying to sell Pakistan made stilletos for $30 bucks a pop to some people. He was giving them some major lines of bullsh*t, but I had heard enough when he started telling them what a deal they were getting, since "Pakistan steel" was "the best there is"! If there is one thing that chaps my crack, it's snake-oil dealers! Needless to say I said, "That's the best steel?", to which he replied, "You're damn right it is!" So, in front of about 6 potential customers I said, and I quote, "Bullsh*t. Do I have 'stupid' written on my forehead or something? Feel how dull these are! I bet I could bend one of these blades with my bare hands." He became visibly angry and simply replied (in the manner in which an 8 year old would), "I bet you couldn't". I asked him to let me try. He said no and asked me to move away from his table. Me and Deano just started laughing (as did the no-longer-potential customers) and moved on:D . I know it may have been kind of an *sshole thing to do on my part, but it just grinds on me when people are dishonest. :mad:
 
I usually don't tell them anything unless they ask. I show them the knife so they can see how beautiful it is, then I gently shave off a small patch of forearm hair with one swipe. 'Nuff said.

Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top