How do you handle the casual 'check out my knives!' folk?

marcinek said:
Them? I tell them "Cool, nice knife!" and we chat. 1) I mean it, and 2) it's common courtesy. Why would anybody do anything different? Why act like an ass to them?

What I need advice for is how to deal with people who say they "train" with blades. Typically I just eyeroll at that point. No doubt there is some better way.
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Ask them what blades they train with!

I've got a pretty cool LARP tanto made completely out of pretty strong foam (think glorified nerf) with no spine in it so it bends so you can train safely with it anyway. Don't need armour for this (but eye protection definitely). You can honestly just use a rolled up piece of foam, too.

Traditional plain bokuto/boken are really nice to have, too but you can't spar with them, really.
 
;)
marcinek said:
Them? I tell them "Cool, nice knife!" and we chat. 1) I mean it, and 2) it's common courtesy. Why would anybody do anything different? Why act like an ass to them?

What I need advice for is how to deal with people who say they "train" with blades. Typically I just eyeroll at that point. No doubt there is some better way.
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Ahh marcinek. Treat em all with the same kindness. Everybody does their thing in this world. Makes life interesting. :)
 
90% of people you'll meet in the world that are "training with knives" are self taught from watching movies and reading a book or two at most. Not saying they couldn't do some damage, just like anyone who would flail about with a bladed weapon. Military/LE trained is the next level, but they're taught 2 or three basic "instant kills" that mostly pertain to sentries or one shot-hit-a-vital styles that end a fight fast-if they hit the mark. Final level are trained knife fighters, meaning they drop down into a semi crouch and present the weapon, feint, parry if possible- highly dangerous. Looking to hit arteries, etc.
All this being said, the defense for all three groups are similar: RUN, or shoot. The last thing you want is to be knife fighting, you aren't the Highlander, the One is likely NOT gonna be YOU. The biggest favor you can do to a wannabe knife fighter or somebody using a knife for self defense is to explain how you shouldn't.
 
I tell them the truth about whatever they are carrying; good or bad.

I try to be nice about it; even when they say something outlandish or are carrying a particularly bad knife.

I would rather try to educate them a bit than berate whatever they choose to carry. Most people just need a little information and a push in the right direction.

Perhaps they will become interested in higher quality knives after our discussion. Who knows?

The more responsible people we have carrying and using tools, the better.
 
I had to swallow my disgust and amusement when one friend of a friend who had clearly enjoyed more than just liquor in his life shower his "hand made knives" that were trashy Chinese/Paki knives.
I just said something like "I see, hmm".. Clearly there was nothing to say because I wanted to be diplomatic.
 
JJHollowman said:
90% of people you'll meet in the world that are "training with knives" are self taught from watching movies and reading a book or two at most. Not saying they couldn't do some damage, just like anyone who would flail about with a bladed weapon. Military/LE trained is the next level, but they're taught 2 or three basic "instant kills" that mostly pertain to sentries or one shot-hit-a-vital styles that end a fight fast-if they hit the mark. Final level are trained knife fighters, meaning they drop down into a semi crouch and present the weapon, feint, parry if possible- highly dangerous. Looking to hit arteries, etc.
All this being said, the defense for all three groups are similar: RUN, or shoot. The last thing you want is to be knife fighting, you aren't the Highlander, the One is likely NOT gonna be YOU. The biggest favor you can do to a wannabe knife fighter or somebody using a knife for self defense is to explain how you shouldn't.
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Never underestimate the effectiveness of someone flailing about with an edged weapon. Please don't.
 
W. Anderson said:
Never underestimate the effectiveness of someone flailing about with an edged weapon. Please don't.
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Indeed.
I handed a training knife to an untrained friend of mine who proceeded to flail all about...it was surprisingly hard to get past without getting "cut" pretty badly.

The untrained do some weird, unexpected things. :D
 
JJHollowman: Thanks for your reply. I suspected that was the case, the reflexive assumption that those making such statements are goobers, though it strikes me as a bit odd on a website devoted to knives.
 
To answer the original question: "How do you handle the casual 'check out my knives!' folk?"

I look with interest and curiosity. A polite response to someone else's enthusiasm is appropriate.
 
First, I am pleased by the maturity of the responses in this thread. A gentleman (or a lady) is always considerate of others' feelings.

Like many here, I look for positive things to say that are truthful when someone shows me their prized possession. When I help friends with their kitchen sharps I'll point out the best ones and say a bit about why they are better than the others. Surprisingly few people offer to show me their pocket knives; most don't have one.
 
K Knifestyle
I often carry 3 knives on me, though one stays in my wallet incase I forget my regular carry knives. A knife makes my daily routine at work much easier (out right now, but going back in a few weeks).

My normal carry is one from group "A", one from "B", and "C" is always in my wallet.

A) Large 21 sebenza
CPK EDC in 4V
Winchester Sowbelly

B) GEC 14
Around 80 year old half whittler
Other small traditional

C) Victorinox Secretary
----
I like knives of all types and just about all makes. But if a knife is good enough for someone else, I won't rain on their parade. Though, I might offer them an upgrade if I can spare one.

I will often take a look at what they have and mention something that I like or find intriguing, while I take out my traditional from group "B". Whether they seem interested or not is when I will go to group "A", or continue the conversation.

Having a 3 y.o. child makes for an easy escape when I can just go;
Oh... um... give me a sec, I have to go check on my daughter.
 
@Blues Bender move across the river - we don't have to have a CCW to carry (in Missouri) anymore! Everyone's got a gun!
People notice the pocket clip of my Reate (ti mascus) all the time and ask about it. If they ask questions I will answer them, but I usually just complement them on actually using their knife and move on. I have offered to tighten dangerously loose pivots. I keep some Torx bits in my lunchbox with my multitool.
 
I generally acknowledge their enthusiasm and try to point out a nice fit, function or feature. I'll ask a question or two about what led them to their choice and I will make a statement on overall quality.
I give a few reasons why I chose some of my knives.
 
TheEdge01 said:
...My wife and I were at KMart last year and I overheard an elderly gentleman telling someone that he wanted to buy a knife for a family member. He told them that he isn't talking about a cheap knife, but one that costs 20 dollars.
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That is a gem of a comment. It probably reflects the elderly gentleman's sense of value when he was a lot younger and that's what he remembers "good" knives costing. Hard to find a "good" knife at Kmart.

in general I try to be supportive unless I know the person really well and in which case I say what I really think for what it's worth (2 cents).
 
I would never criticize a person's choice of knife/knives, regardless if I personally felt their knife is poor quality or not. I would never solicit any suggestions unless specifically asked, and even then I would keep it very polite and positive. IMO, there is no benefit to being a snob and crapping on someone else's day.

In the same way, I don't drive a Porsche or a Lamborghini; I drive my Toyota Camry. I don't wear a Rolex, I wear a Timex. I don't have the latest iPhone, but still carry my old flip phone that is 12 years old. And those are good enough for me. If some car or watch or tech snob acted snooty and began crapping on my choices in those things, he/she certainly would NOT succeed in convincing me to his/her side. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Everybody isn't a 'knife knut', just as not every 'knife knut' obsesses over the latest-greatest-highest-end car, watch or iPhone. If a knife person ever feels an urge to be sharply critical of, or lecture about the knife choices another person is proud of, remember that that person just might be highly knowledgeable about some other subject(s) that the knife person is completely ignorant of, and could someday need their help in navigating.

Jim
 
James Y said:
I would never criticize a person's choice of knife/knives, regardless if I personally felt their knife is poor quality or not. I would never solicit any suggestions unless specifically asked, and even then I would keep it very polite and positive. IMO, there is no benefit to being a snob and crapping on someone else's day.
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I agree. As I said in my post, unless I know the person really well, I don't criticize their knife choices. Even then, I look for the positive aspects of their choice first. I don't want to crap on anyone's day or be a snob about anything.
 
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