How many of you try to buy local?

I'm about an 1.5 hours from USA Made Blade, @whitty 's shop, I get there a couple of times a year, and try to pick something up when I'm there (at least on average). Here in NC there are a lot of great makers so I have been doing more direct "local" purchases. Guinea Hog Forge, Nic Nicholes Knives, Double X Knives, Wilmont Grinders, Rustick Knives and many more are all right here in NC.

Generally if I had to guess, in any given year's purchases, 25% are from USA Made Blade, 35% are direct from makers, 20% various online dealers, and 20% are here on the exchange.
 
That's a problem for me, the only place that has any knives in depth is the local Cabela's. I've looked through them, and frankly, most of them aren't the same quality as the folder I'm carrying.
 
I wish I had a place but all I have is a gunshop that sells overpriced spyderco and benchmade. I try to support local but with knives it’s not realistic. With that said the majority or my purchases are here on the exchange tho.
 
DrRollinstein said:
....I really cant justify paying full price at a sportmans warehouse or a local gun store.
Click to expand...
I don't think I've ever seen a knife that I couldn't live without at a gun shop. But we do have a local Sportsman Warehouse (SW) and overall I do buy a few knives from them as they carry a better selection of the kind of knives I might buy than say Bass Pro or Cabelas. SW also does generally not charge full retail on knives. All told, I really like having both a Bass Pro and Cabelas locally, SW, KSF, and routine access to the big knife store in Sevierville TN. KSF moving locally changed everything....
 
Last edited:
"I wish I had a place but all I have is a gunshop that sells overpriced spyderco and benchmade."

I happened to run into a husband and wife team who run their own knife business. They are customer service intensive, and if they don't sell it they hunt it down!

I get the same knives as anyone else and it's usually 15% to 20% lower than your usual commercial outfit.

I buy from "Joyce and Nick."
 
22-rimfire said:
I don't think I've ever seen a knife that I couldn't live without at a gun shop. But we do have a local Sportsman Warehouse (SW) and overall I do buy a few knives from them as they carry a better selection of the kind of knives I might buy than say Bass Pro or Cabelas. SW also does generally not charge full retail on knives. All told, I really like having both a Bass Pro and Cabelas locally, SW, KSF, and routine access to the big knife store in Sevierville TN. KSF moving locally changed everything....
Click to expand...
They do have a decent selection. But the prices were definitely full price when I went there a few days back. 260 on the zts. Almost 200 for most of the benchmades. Some decent leatherman and buck deals though. I think they had a 110 auto for 150 dollars.
 
It's not really possible for me, as there aren't really any good knife shops near me. The local gunshops and placed like Academy or Ace Hardware will generally carry a few BMs, a few of the Chinese Spydercos, maybe an older ZT model or two and that's about it. There was a small local chain of milsurp shops also where the owners had three Spyderco collector memberships, so you could peruse a current selection of Spydercos which were all numbered, but A. they priced them like they were made of solid platinum and B. they closed down. I'm entirely sure that their outrageous pricing for everything they sold couldn't have had anything to do with it. What, old battered ammo cans for $35 apiece or garbage quality imported "tactical" gear for hundreds of dollars? Heh, sign me up! :rolleyes:

So, this is why I go to BLADE every year, it's essentially my one real chance to get my hands on virtually everything I want to see, so I can decide before I purchase. Plus, I get to see my friends, it's literally the perfect weekend.
 
I would love too......but almost every normal local store (walmart/target/lowes/True value) in my area has almost zero selection of even basic knives like victorinox or Leatherman. Other stores like Cabelas, Bass Pro or local gun shops have some knives, but tend to be way over priced. Luck for me I am fairly close to (knifecenter) and can do local pickup. Another good option that has limited overall section, but typically lots of multi tools is REI. I will buy from REI before Cabelas or Bass pro any day of the week. Another great store in the Richmond, VA area is Greentop. So between Knifecenter and Greentop or REI thats about as good as it gets within an hour drive for me. Anything closer just does not have much or is way over priced.
 
I’m lucky, there is a knife company in my town and I happen to work there. From 2015 to 2018, before I started working there, I spent $120.00 on two USA made knifes. After I started there in 2019 I have spent $3000.00+. People think that I have a problem, but I can quit any time I want to, and I need all of them anyway.
 
My local shop doesn't just charge a little extra. There doesn't seem to a rhyme or reason to their prices besides that's what tourists and Sailors from Pensacola will pay.
Some of the Spydercos are twice what you'd pay online, the Microtechs are 80-90 dollars more than what you'd pay online a lot of times.
The last time I went in there the female employee took time to tell me about how much she hates her boss and how she thinks she has kidney stones.
Dude...no freaking thank you to all of that.
I'd rather chill with a cold brew and room temp whiskey and browse in my cozy office chair :)
 
I try to buy from smaller stores as long as they have guarantees and just a little bit more, no matter if they have a local store or a smaller online presence. I hate feeding the corporate beasts.

but its true, many local stores are priced outrageously.
 
Yes, there's a local shop near me and I've bought several knives from them. If they had a wider selection, I'd buy more. They make their own fixed blades and outsource the folders. I've bought both.
 
Korean Hog said:
My local shop doesn't just charge a little extra. There doesn't seem to a rhyme or reason to their prices besides that's what tourists and Sailors from Pensacola will pay.
Some of the Spydercos are twice what you'd pay online, the Microtechs are 80-90 dollars more than what you'd pay online a lot of times.
The last time I went in there the female employee took time to tell me about how much she hates her boss and how she thinks she has kidney stones.
Dude...no freaking thank you to all of that.
I'd rather chill with a cold brew and room temp whiskey and browse in my cozy office chair :)
Click to expand...

This, I live pretty close to House of Blades but they are full on retail so I buy most of my knives on the exchange or the occasional cash purchase or trade at a local gun show. HOB had Boker AK auto at like $70 when they are 30ish at gun shows. I understand they have over head but double the price is hard to accept... guess that is why they are going MAP pricing.

Not to mention the 8.25% sales tax but that is not much of a factor anymore since the Internet dealers also charging taxes.
 
Last edited:
I always try to buy local - Cutting Edge in Calgary is competitive, has great selection and the guys there know their stuff -- if I can't find it there I may go on-line.
 
I try to buy only local but I gave it up when I learned that Buck knives weren't vegan, Spyderco wasn't really organic, and Kabar was using GMO steels...

giphy.gif



Sorry, I couldn't resist. :p
 
Fletcher.357 said:
I buy local every chance I get. It may cost me a tiny bit more, but it makes me feel better supporting my local economy. I am lucky that my preferred LGS have a phenomenal knife section with a top notch staff. I dont exclusively buy local as I have recently developed an RMJ and a bradford habit, but I try. I'm curious as to how many of us make an attempt to buy local.
Click to expand...

I buy local.
I've bought my last several knives from Northshore Clocks ,Watches & Knives in Slidell, LA.
They have a really good knife inventory and good prices.
 
coinbuysell said:
....Not to mention the 8.25% sales tax but that is not much of a factor anymore since the Internet dealers also charging taxes.
Click to expand...
I knew that would come with online purchases and the advantage provided by that "automatic discount" relative to brick & mortar stores. Frequently the sales tax was enough to cover the shipping.
 
I too try to buy locally, but like many others the selection and prices drive me to the net to buy.
 
22-rimfire said:
I knew that would come with online purchases and the advantage provided by that "automatic discount" relative to brick & mortar stores. Frequently the sales tax was enough to cover the shipping.
Click to expand...

Its a shame really! -- I used to love places like amazon / ebay but now since the new tax laws were enacted your having to pay taxes on things purchased there as well which is just crazy to me... I guess it makes sense since your still purchasing an item same like in a store?? But i mean, I've been so use to not paying tax while buying items online, now it's just leaving a bad taste in my mouth overall.

Also to the OP - I don't have any local shops near me. Closest is a gun shop about 3 hours away with a "decent" selection maybe 30-50 knives on display tops. But the prices on them are all top dollar, no good deals or fair deals there on anything, even their ammo was over priced. For this reason I exclusively buy online, usually from the exchange. The price difference for a "like new" knife from a collector here is pretty tremendous compared to buying brand new from manufacturer. I don't see it hurting anybody buying here, because if the market dried up on the exchange there wouldn't be as much demand direct from the manufacturer either...most likely leading them to lower their prices. More often then not the 2ndary market is used to secure limited releases/other knives that are sold out or on back order from the manufacturer. These forums and exchanges help these companies stay relevant and build up cult-like followings , its like free advertising and marketing helping them stay relevant in the knife world. -- Yes it may be a bit of a stretch, but I think there is some reality and relevancy in all of that. maybe? lol. -- also a lot of times if you want a knife thats JUST out of your price range brand new from factory (lets say a large inkosi with inlays from CRK) - which currently goes for $550 brand new from them ... You can buy it "like new" from a collector for $450 shipped. - That not only saved you $100 - but brought the knife in to the realm of possible for you to own, which I personally think is a great thing... It's making more knives more accessible to collectors/users/ect..ect... That cant be a bad thing. -- For me, as long as your not buying knock-off knives from china...You can buy your knives from wherever you'd like -- you're money, your choice! - Merica! -- LMAO =p

Later guys!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top