How Do You Tell Someone Their Knife Is Crappy?

J

JNieporte

Joined
Nov 1, 2004
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I just got two knives from a co-worker that he wanted me to sharpen - a Gerber Vector in half-serrated and a Frost Cutlery rip-off of a CRKT Desert Cruiser. Well, they sharpened up very easily, and he asked "so, how'd you like the knives?" I told him that they were fine and that I carry high-end knives for every day use. (I use the term high end loosely, as my EDCs at the time are a RAT 1 folder and a Kershaw Scallion.)

I didn't want to lie to the guy and tell him his knives were great and are super quality, but I didn't want him to feel bad about his tools either. So, when asked, how do you tell someone that their knives are (in your opinion) crappy without coming off as a snobby a-hole?
 
You don't tell him that. You can lead a horse to water.......you know the rest. What you do is show him some nice knives and get him to want better knives. Like Tom Sawyer painting that fence. Lead him in, get him more interested in better cutlery. He is a good prospect to hook him into the culture of the knife, which we are into. Just like a fish on the line you got a bite, now hook him deep and real him in.
 
Personally, I think an honest, nicely phrased response is best. Tell him that as a knife collector, you have high standards, and his knives are just average quality. Since most non-knife nuts, who carry a folder, have a cheap S&W or something like that, his knives probably are "average". Maybe you could get him interested in buying a real knife. If he shows interest in getting a nicer knife, help guide him in the right direction. Heck, you might even want to tell him about bladeforums. :thumbup:
 
I would use the "They were alright, but they weren't no ______."
Then proceed to pull out a knife of yours and show him what a quality knife looks like. :)
 
Jon Leflar said:
I would use the "They were alright, but they weren't no ______."
Then proceed to pull out a knife of yours and show him what a quality knife looks like. :)
Click to expand...

Thats exactly what i would do.

It also depends on how much critism the guy can take, if he's a really sensitive person it could be different than if he was truely interested in bettering his collection.
 
I bought some pretty tragic knives when I first started....I didnt have the mindset to search for 'custom folding knife' manufacturers, or spend more than 50 dollars on a POCKET KNIFE.

Ignorance is just that, its not derogatory, and so no need to critisize, just piqe their curiosity and show them some different flavours.
 
There is a fine line between passing on information and arrogance. Knives need not be expensive to provide utility. If you think this guy would enjoy the experience then let him know about the next knife show, or about these forums. The point is to keep the conversation positive. Not everyone is interested in our hobby; nor is there any reason that they should be. Where I draw the line is on safety; if the knife has a failing lock or a weak pivot then by all means let them know that the thing is unsafe.

n2s
 
I had a friend at work show me his S&W folder a few months ago, that he'd just gotten as a gift. Basically I said "That's nice." and showed him my Ritter Grip. He could tell the difference in quality right away. I could tell he liked it more than his S&W.

He retired at the beginning of the month and started a new job overseas helping fight the "War on Terror". I got him a 550HG Grip as a retirement gift and to keep him company in the Middle East.
 
I always do what you did....tell him the knife is fine. Then I show them what I'm carrying at the moment. I'll even say what knife I'm looking at getting next, and ask "Have you seen that one?", to which the answer will be, of course, "no". Then give a website or something and when the guys sees it and the price, his interest will be piqued. The seed is planted.....
 
If I decided to explain this to someone, I would probably only mention it if I thought the knife was unsafe for him. If the knife does the job, then there really is nothing wrong with it, it's not "crappy" and there's no need to consider anything else. If I thought it might be unsafe or that it just didn't do its job very well (couldn't get a sharp edge or hold it for a reasonable amount of time), then I would mention that he might consider getting a knife that can do the job better. You can buy a SAK or an Opinel for the same price or even cheaper than a S&W knife (not that those are THAT bad).

If he shows an interest in getting a more expensive knife for the same reasons that we do (because they're fun to own), then you can take that discussion wherever you choose. Outside of an Opinel or a SAK for most of us high end knife users, its all just for fun and the extra stuff isn't necessary.
 
I usually don't show my knife in a situation like that. If someone asks me to sharpen theirs, I return it sharp and if they ask what I think of it I say it took a nice edge, sharpened up easily or something like that. I don't see the purpose in comparing a $$$+ knife to a $ knife, regardless of what they paid for it.

Rarely do I do a knife comparison with a non knife nut.
 
I had it easy last time I was asked to sharpen a couple knives at work (Sharpmaker and strop in my BOB). He dropped them off to me in my office and made it clear they are "cheapos" so I never did have to face the flip side question. I did inspect them and ensured they operated safely. If there was an issue I would have mentioned something. He was amazed at how sharp his knives were when I dropped them off though :D
 
Just got done talking to the guy. He brought me some fixed blades that I've never heard of out the trunk of his car and asked if I could sharpen them. There was one Mora 510, but everything else was Frost Cutlery or made in China but with no brand.

The conversation turned to sharpening and knives, and I was actually reading this thread when we started talking. I asked how many knives he had and how long he's been using them, and he said he's owned knives his whole life (he's about 50). He asked if I knew much about knives, and asked what I carried. Out came the Leatherman Pulse, RAT 1, and Victorinox Picnicker. I could tell he was hooked on the Leatherman, and he asked how much I paid for the RAT 1. His guess of $80 was off, but I explained how you could get a nice cutting tool for cheap. Case in point, an Opinel. I gave him my Opinel #8 and told him to use it and not sharpen it, but let me see how it held up in a week. If he's satisfied with it, he can have it. He thanked me and asked about Spyderco. But that's a whole other thread.

I hope he uses the Opinel, and I hope he'll acquire some nicer-quality blades than a bunch of Frost Cutlery goods and some mixed-in Moras and Gerbers. The fixed blades from his car that I mentioned are almost all 420 steel and should sharpen up pretty easily, but I'm not expecting much in terms of edge retention. I think Rough Rider and Opinel would make some good inexpensive knives for him to play with, and might give him a few.
 
not2sharp said:
There is a fine line between passing on information and arrogance. Knives need not be expensive to provide utility. If you think this guy would enjoy the experience then let him know about the next knife show, or about these forums. The point is to keep the conversation positive. Not everyone is interested in our hobby; nor is there any reason that they should be. Where I draw the line is on safety; if the knife has a failing lock or a weak pivot then by all means let them know that the thing is unsafe.

n2s
Click to expand...

very well put:thumbup:
 
I'm reminded by something my wife said to a similar experience...

---Throw it in the trash and tell them: "That's where it belongs. No charge." Then give them a Spyderco or Kershaw catalog. ---
 
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