I been selling knives 20yrs.........

Thank goodness for the internet. I'd never be able to find decent gear if I had to rely on local brick and mortar's. It's really pretty sad.
 
hoopster said:
Thank goodness for the internet. I'd never be able to find decent gear if I had to rely on local brick and mortar's. It's really pretty sad.
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Yep, it's true.

If ESEE needs some contacts for local retailers I can give some. There is a local store called Canfield's that is an omaha-based company and they only have one store out here. They sell boy scouts, outdoor gear, work gear (dickies, carhartt), military surplus and knives.

Their knives are Kabar and Becker, CRKT, Gerber, Cold Steel and some other random stuff. ESEE would fit in nice there and I'm sure they'd sell a lot.

I do, however, like feeling that I am part of something that isn't as easily accessible to the masses. I have always been into underground music (punk, hardcore, hip-hop, rock) and being a fan of something so great that no one knows about makes you feel good......like you are in on th secret.
 
People who know, will research. People who don't know, will buy crap.

Best I see locally is Buck, Gerber, and Kershaw. One or two places carry Benchmades at MSRP. Being in NY, Ontario is usually well represented next to KaBar in the smaller tacticool shops, but hasnt seemed to really make it into the mainstream camping stores.
Problem is Buck, SAK's and Gerber have those large chains nailed down for wall/case space. They turn the standard retail profits, and they sell. The profit margins are too low on knives like ESEE, Bark River, etc. Good news for all our favorite online shops. They can deal to the masses of us who find them. It's the current nature of retail for non-mainstream gear. I just bought 3 helmets, $700 worth of rainsuit, and enough chrome to blind you for my bike. I tried every shop within 75 miles and couldnt find the stuff locally. Camping gear, Knives, computer parts, camera equipment, You want anything top end....you're not going to a local shop unless it's a national warehouse with a storefront, or you're damn lucky.
 
When I was young( 35-40yrs ago), there was a local "Army/Navy" store that sold real surplus stuff. Now if you go into the BIG "Army/Navy" store next to the BIG mall, they would not know real mil issue from chinese noc-offs. I feel your pain Moose. I've gone to these types of stores several times over the years and couldn't help laugh at some of the staff when they tried so hard to sell me stuff that they had no clue how to use (guns or knives). But they do sell a lot of stuff to the mall ninjas, just not to me.
 
It's what you learn when you think you know it all that counts the most. I'd love to mail that shop an Izula and an ESEE-3 or 4 as a gift and tell them to use them in place of their folder for a few weeks and see what they think...

They probably wouldn't give them a fair shot, but sometimes stupid people can't be taught.

JGON
 
:eek: I have a story that is quite similar. Every so often I drive about an hour away to a local army surplus store that sells Ka-Bars. In fact, I bought my first leather handled U.S.M.C Ka-Bar from them. To him a serrated edge is a custom knife. Anyways, I ask him if he ever gets the short Ka-Bars and it was like I was speaking a foreign language. Never heard of em he says. Well on a later trip I notice he has a short Ka-Bar tanto. I haven't been there in a while so there is no telling what he has now. Maybe a Becker or two. lol:D
 
Sadly there's a lot of dealers out there like this who only stock major names. Honestly a lot of the "major" names are pretty much crap. Not all of them, but most I feel.

So from that perspective, yeah it makes sense for some dealers to stock brands with name recognition. They're gonna make a sale on them. Doesn't make it right, but it's the truth.

Cool thing is I've had a conversation with my local gun dealer over the weekend who also stocks some knives. I sent him several links about ESEE and he's not one who's easily impressed. He apparently liked what he saw and has asked me to bring my collection by the store so he can get a first hand look. With any luck, he'll opt to become an ESEE dealer...we'll see.
 
DH1 said:
The "knife guy" at every flea market I've been to is always good for a chuckle. I always wondered how much they net over a weekend selling tin swords and crappy knives.
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If they are buying from the "TV" knife wholesale show. They can buy the big set of 100 to 300 chinese "knives" for less than $1 a piece. and many are charging up to $20 for the little ones and more for the "tacticool" ones. I laugh at them in our local farmer's market.
 
ktomes_340 said:
Well on a later trip I notice he has a short Ka-Bar tanto. I haven't been there in a while so there is no telling what he has now. Maybe a Becker or two. lol:D
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Hehe, I've actually got one of the short tantos... I really dig that knife. Perfect size to belt, and slip the sheath into my back pocket. I'd like a long tanto just for giggles, but they don't make 'em without the combo edge.

drillsgt71 said:
When I was young( 35-40yrs ago), there was a local "Army/Navy" store that sold real surplus stuff. Now if you go into the BIG "Army/Navy" store next to the BIG mall, they would not know real mil issue from chinese noc-offs.
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The few here are flooded with Russian and European junk.
 
sadly there are no decent options for buying knives locally. I can get a batarang... tempting i know. other then that best place to pick up a knife is the local wally-mart. I order all my knives online.
 
The guy at my local box store had no idea about RAT cutlery, or ESEE either, and when I whipped out my Izula he was like "Nice is that a Ka-bar?" I was disappointed, and expressed my concern, but he seen a guy with camo walk by, and quickly directed his attention to him.So I know what you mean....
 
I went to a gun & knife show today and didn't see one ESEE but I did see some RAT Ontario's.
 
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