How many knives have you given away to friends as gifts, etc?

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badjujuboy

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Dec 21, 2004
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I lost count of how many quality knives (over $50+) I've given away to family and friends over the years. Sometimes I wonder if I should have asked for that penny because a few have turned out to be back stabbers (no pun intented:))No wonder why I don't have accurate account of what I have anymore.
The only ones I never gift are my balis and I know everyone in my collection.
 
I've given away a few knives as gifts and I've never had any cause to regret doing so.

It would be nice if all it took to ensure trust and honesty in friends and family was the exchange of a penny. Sadly, life isn't so simple.

Obviously I'm not the superstitious type.
 
When I buy a new folding knife often I'll give my cheapest one to a friend or one of my brothers. I'll try to do this around holidays/birthdays but if not usually they'll offer me a bit of money or buy me food, etc. A great way to get rid of old Gerbers and Smith and Wessons that I never use but that they would find satisfying. Occasionally I'll buy a new knife for a friend but not many people I know really use them as much as I do so I'd rather just give away my unwanted pieces.

I had a gentlemen's folder with whale bone scales that I bought at the New Bedford whaling museum that I gave to my dad...he lost it so I guess I wish I hadn't given that one away, but that's about the only regret I've had.

Hopefully it will turn up in the basement some day, it was a very nice looking knife.
 
Lots and lots, really no idea, many more than I own myself. On rare occasions, I've regretted it, not just because the people sometimes turned out to be unworthy, but because they didn't appreciate or look after the knives. I enjoyed doing my first knife giveaway on Bladeforums because I know that the knife will go to someone who'll appreciate it :) I'd rather give a knife to a friend I didn't have before who'll appreciate it than to someone I've known for years who won't.
 
I couldn't tell ya how many I've given away.
One memorable occasion, 4 years ago, was my old partner at work. He begged for days that I give him my Strider Police, that was smoothed out, reprofiled and re-pinned by my gunsmith (lots of $$). In a moment of weakness, I gave it to him. He flicked it twice, put it in his pocket, and I never saw it again. It resides in a drawer at his home, and he never carries it, even after I told him I gave it so he would use it?! Why I got suckered is beyond me. Now I give only to those I know will appreciate (and use) the blades.
 
LVMPDawg said:
I couldn't tell ya how many I've given away.
One memorable occasion, 4 years ago, was my old partner at work. He begged for days that I give him my Strider Police, that was smoothed out, reprofiled and re-pinned by my gunsmith (lots of $$). In a moment of weakness, I gave it to him. He flicked it twice, put it in his pocket, and I never saw it again. It resides in a drawer at his home, and he never carries it, even after I told him I gave it so he would use it?! Why I got suckered is beyond me. Now I give only to those I know will appreciate (and use) the blades.
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Maybe you're looking at it the wrong way. Maybe he likes and treasures the knife so much that he doesn't want to risk damaging it or losing it by carrying and using it. There are a lot of people on this forum who feel the exact same way about their knives ;). It doesn't mean they don't appreciate knives, it just means they appreciate knives in their own way.

Though it may seem sad that a good "using" knife isn't being used, everyone values knives in their own way. Me, I prefer users over safe-queens, but that's just me.
 
Forgot to mention. I have also donated quite few to our military in Iraq and Afganistan. I know that they like to have a good folder for opening things. God bless our military!
 
I've gifted a plenty. It helps that I use gifting knives as a way to buy what I want, keep what I like & gift what I don't for Christmas every year. Wife ain't figured it out yet...:D
 
More than I can remember. Basically, if you're somebody important to me, I've given you a knife.
 
I have given more than one or two away through the years and hate to think of where some of them are in today's world as most don't appreciate a knife like I do.!
I know of a couple that were literally used as pry bars and screwdrivers, ect. - ect.! You would think I would learn.!* Just gave away one last week to a young man going on his first Deer hunt and it was a Engraved Buck 112 as I was out of just a plain 112 and I sure hope he at got a Deer or saw one and cleans and takes care of that Knife.! But it is his now to do as he wants with it and to it and I can only wish.!**
 
I do it quite a bit but it's not uncommon for me to pick up a duplicate model for myself as well lol
 
killgar said:
Maybe you're looking at it the wrong way. Maybe he likes and treasures the knife so much that he doesn't want to risk damaging it or losing it by carrying and using it. There are a lot of people on this forum who feel the exact same way about their knives ;). It doesn't mean they don't appreciate knives, it just means they appreciate knives in their own way.

Though it may seem sad that a good "using" knife isn't being used, everyone values knives in their own way. Me, I prefer users over safe-queens, but that's just me.
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Good point, maybe you're right. You just saved him from a butt-kickin....!
 
I've given away a few. Usually I try to restrain myself and give them to people who are likely to appreciate them. It can be disappointing to give someone a knife who does not use, care for, or appreciate knives.

Most recently, I gave away my neat little Alan Davis misery whip fixed blade with maple handles. A lifelong friend and his family, whom I now live a thousand miles away from, was visiting us for a week. He is an outdoor lover and seemed to really take a shine to it. As they got ready to leave, I tucked it into his bag when he wasn't looking. I doubt he would have accepted it otherwise.
 
Foilist said:
I've given away a few. Usually I try to restrain myself and give them to people who are likely to appreciate them. It can be disappointing to give someone a knife who does not use, care for, or appreciate knives.

Most recently, I gave away my neat little Alan Davis misery whip fixed blade with maple handles. A lifelong friend and his family, whom I now live a thousand miles away from, was visiting us for a week. He is an outdoor lover and seemed to really take a shine to it. As they got ready to leave, I tucked it into his bag when he wasn't looking. I doubt he would have accepted it otherwise.
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Nice story :)
 
I think it's great to donate to military and to family members and/or close friends. Everyone should have a pocketknife, including the ladies.
Sonnydaze
 
Most expensive gift so far: Benchmade fullsize stonewash Rukus 610. Friend also lost a Sebenza, so I didn't ask him to pay me for the Landi he bought from me.

At the end of the day, they're just knives.
 
I've probably given away a couple dozen or so, a few to my brother and the rest to my friends and co-workers. Nicest was a Paul Executive, a couple Leathermans and the rest were high value folders, Spydies and some SRM's. I like to give 'em away. It makes me feel good. My favorite is to make machetes and see my guys using them every day.
 
Once, I gave a Tenacious to my assistant (apprentice) and he put it in his toolbox. It sat there for months, and he would reach for a disposable Olfa before he was forced to use it, for lack of anything else. I noticed that he could not wrap his head around the "weird" spyderco ergos, so after a while, I secretly removed it and replaced it with a new, shiny SRM710. He picked the SRM up immediately and clipped it to his pocket. Uses it every day. Loves it. I guess he's just the kind of guy that digs a little bling and time tested designs.
 
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