I HAVE A QUESTION..............................

Definetly a positive effect. I've learned a lot more abouyt knives and different brands/makers. The Makers Forum is a great way to ask questions and get feedback about a specific type of knife. I've bought knives because of the forum and the posts that I've read. The other members are a great help with getting info and opinions about knives. I woudl certainly say that since I joined BF I've learned more about knives, makers and purchased more knives because of it.

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Let me give you an example of how amazing this place is. I've posted a couple of times over at the Spyderco Forum, but not a lot. I stopped by there a little while ago to check on an old thread, and what do I see? Sal Glesser (Mr. Spyderco) posting for me to send him my address, he says he's been waiting for me to get back to him. I mean, I deal with business owners every day, but this guy is a Legend, and he wants my address. That kind of stuff doesn't happen every day to me. Where else could this happen?
 
I mean if BladeForums.Com was not here, would you have bought the same knives you now own?

*** I have bought 50% of my knives from guys online, so no, I would not even have had the oppurtunity or the exposure to some of them***

Have you been influenced by the info here to better your collection?

*** If you can swap the word "accumulation" for "collection", then yes. I never would have been willing to pay $400 dollars for a knife made of Cobalt?????, but I take delivery of my Talonite TOPS Shadoe Hunter on Monday. Or $350 for a Sebenza????? But I heard all the raving about it and said, heck, if I don't like I can sell it.... Our discussions about design and materials and such have led me to search out a local maker and get some stuff made.

Did the info here help you make a more informed or better decision?

*** Duh. There is more information floating around here than anywhere, custom makers, manufacturers, you name it, they post here, and answer your questions. I had guys that I wanted infor from, I called them on the phone and got bupkiss, talk to them online and WOW.***

We want to know if we are having a positive effect on the knife industry and what the
manufacturers, and others, want to know is how much an influence BFC has had on your buying decisions?

*** Tons of influence, I live here, not really, I have stopped buying Blade and Knives Illustrated.

Also how would you compare your experince here to your experince in the magazines?

***BFC comes out very favorably.***


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Marion David Poff aka Eye mdpoff@hotmail.com
Coeur D'Alene, ID
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff

An interesting business oppurtunity... http://www.geocities.com/selouss

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Bladeforums has had a substantial effect on my knife buying habits, both by showing me a bunch of knives that I was previously unaware that I needed
smile.gif
, and by furthering my education about what to look for in a really good knife. Bladeforums is harder to carry around the house than a knife magazine, but the magazines lose out on the near-real-time two way flow of ideas and information that makes Bladeforums so special. I still buy the magazines, but these days they're a distant second place to Bladeforums for timely information.

BladeForums would seem to be a smart manufacturer's dream-come-true: the cream of the crop of your target audience get together daily to encourage each other to buy your latest products. And if you're willing to spend a little time letting people know what's new and fielding questions, and if your answers are sincere (even to the occasional "tough" questions), then you can build an incredibly loyal following here.

A personal data point: I bought most of my Benchmades back when Mark McWillis was running the original Benchmade Forum, and I've bought quite a few Spydercos since Sal Glesser opened up the Spyderco Forum here.

(smirking mode on)

This place is like a reverse-AA (or OA or other support group) meeting for cutlery enthusiasts -- in most of those meetings, they all (so I'm told) sit around and encourage each other to be strong and avoid their shared addiction ("you don't really need the cake, you're better off without the cake"), while we gather here each day to urge each other on in our mutual addiction ("yes! eat the cake! the cake is delicious and it's right here! it'll only add another dozen pounds, and it will taste so good! THE CHOCOLATE CAKE IS CALLING TO YOU!").

I just did a little "back of the envelope calculation", and it looks like, including presents and such, I've bought close to 20 knives in the past 12 months -- without the Forums to whip me into a buying frenzy, I suspect I could have gotten along with just three or four new ones, rather than 20. And, wouldn't you know it, the overwhelming majority of those knives are Spyderco, for which I see two driving factors:
  • Spyderco makes really fine production knives in a wide array of interesting designs, and,
  • Spyderco has a forum here where all sorts of interesting ideas get bandied about.
Looking back, I can see a pattern forming... one week there was vigorous discussion of the (then) soon-to-be-released Matriarch, and I ended up ordering one, another week, everyone was talking about how wonderful the Harpy was, and, well, I just had to have one of those, too...
smile.gif


And with the tag team of company CEO Sal Glesser answering and asking questions about exciting new (and old) models, and Jim Mattis putting up mouth watering scans of the latest prototypes, well, it just ain't fair
smile.gif


(smirking mode off)

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Carl /\/\/\ AKTI #A000921 /\/\/\ San Diego, California

Think this through with me ... Let me know your mind
Wo-oah, what I want to know ... is are you kind?
-- Hunter/Garcia, "Uncle John's Band"


[This message has been edited by Carl Jacobsen (edited 19 December 1999).]
 
I'm a newbie to the forum and my knowledge about knives is limited to having a sharp knife to clean a deer. A guy on a hunting forum recommended this forum and I joined up. Doesn't take me long to look at a horseshoe. Have bought 2 new knives and have ordered a custom hunting knife from Neil Blackwood. I guess I should have stayed over at the hunting forum. LOL A nice folder is next on my list. I think your forum is great and the members appear very knowledgable on knives.
 
Very simply, most Forumites couldn't give a flying buck if company X or Y is peeved that they said something negative on the forums. Even if it is only one person's lowly opinions, at least you can count on them to be a straight shot.

Knife writers. I don't know how that game works exactly, but I think they are under more pressure to be conciliatory. After all, magazines survive on company advertising and too much negative press could severely hurt the financial operations. That's why I completely agree with Steven Dick's policy of "we print only the good stuff". That's just the reality of the game.

BFC definitely helped shape my purchase decisions. No doubt about that. And Mike, if you decide to take on the magazine competition, I think an extremely refreshing (albeit risky) approach is to take the Consumer Reports path: No commercial ads. Attempt to survive purely on reader subscription. I don't think it's ever been done before (for this field) so it's basically wide open for exploit. However, knives are niche and it'll be tough. Might have to expand somewhere down the road.

If you decide to take this path, the marketing would be easy: WE TAKE NO COMMERCIAL ADS.
smile.gif
It is up to you of course, but I think such an approach is only natural and intuitive as an outgrowth of the BFC success. Face it. We come here looking for truth and non-bias. Now is your chance to take it to the next level.

[This message has been edited by SB (edited 19 December 1999).]
 
In the past month, I have bought/ordered the following knives as a result of this forum

1. Stamascus folder
2. Chuck Hallberg camp knife
3. Kit Carson model 4 hunter
4. REKAT Sifu

It's been a pretty good month!

I plan on adding a few additional knives early next year from a few of the makers who participate in this forum; I've learned more about their knives from this forum than I could have elsewhere.

Ryan

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
Q. I am working on marketing material for BFC and I need your help. I need to know how BladeForums.Com has influenced you to buy knives?

BFC has supplied unbiased information from members as well as having forsale forum that has influenced my buying. Also, I found a new source/dealer that I use from the forum.

Q.I mean if BladeForums.Com was not here, would you have bought the same knives you now own?

Probably not.

Have you been influenced by the info here to better your collection?

Yes.

Did the info here help you make a more informed or better decision?

Mostly yes.

We want to know if we are having a positive effect on the knife industry and what the manufacturers, and others, want to know is how much an influence BFC has had on your buying decisions?

Significat positive effect.

Also how would you compare your experince here to your experince in the magazines?

Knife magazines pander to the manufactures, while BFC does not.

Would you rather read a magazine to find info on a future purchase or read and search BladeForums?

No, but I sometimes read them but do not suscribe to any of them.
 
BFC has influenced every knife purchace I've made since I found it. First, I've been introduced to more makers than I knew exsisted. Second, the FAQ's have given me a much better understanding of the basics. Third, I've always appreciated direct feedback from people who use items day in and day out. None of my questions have gone unanswered. Now if I could just win one of those knife drawings
wink.gif
 
This site has allowed me to make informed choices and usually I have already learned of the latest and greatest before it appears in the magazines.

For me it is the quick feedback but also the links on the web that allow further research.

All of my purchases have been influenced by BF, most I probably would never have heard about so it has greatly increased my spending.

I am just now starting into customs and have much research to do in that area. I am hoping for a featured custom maker in the new BF magazine.

Thanks
 
I really can't add significantly to what's already been said. However, I would like to repeat that bladeforums is a tremendous communications medium that really gives those that read and participate a tremendous advantage of information.

Essentially it allows people to be informed and make better descisions. It also fundamentally shifts more power to the buyer.

DaveH
 
As a knife maker, I enjoy reading the posts and when ever possible, will try to answer the questions asked. Sometimes the question has been already answered. As a knife buyer, it hasn't done much, but as a maker, it has helped reinforce the standards for quality knifemakers. I appreciate the forum for educating people on the subject of knives and helping them make their decisions based on all the KNOWN FACTS of a particular knife. Keep up the good work. Ray Kirk-RAKER Knives
 
As a knife maker, I enjoy reading the posts and when ever possible, will try to answer the questions asked. Sometimes the question has been already answered. As a knife buyer, it hasn't done much, but as a maker, it has helped reinforce the standards for quality knifemakers. I appreciate the forum for educating people on the subject of knives and helping them make their decisions based on all the KNOWN FACTS of a particular knife. Keep up the good work. Ray Kirk-RAKER Knives
 
I have gotten far more information from the internet on many topics, including knives. Mostly from BladeForums. It has greatly influenced my buying decisions. I have handled Sebenzas numerous times. I don't really care for them, but I keep thinking about getting one because of all the different people raving about the quality. Liner locks used to be my favorite, now I carry a Mini Axis and would love to have a Spyderco with a similar advanced mechanism. Maybe lurking should be free, and a years membership should be twenty dollars, which would include the magazine?

Danny
 
What stjames said. Its all about feedback and real life user experiences. Thats whats good about the forums.

JD
 
Without BladeForums, I'd probably have the same three knives I had 6 months ago (and a lot more money). Now I have a hobby/obsession and consider myself on the road to being well-informed. The unique factor I get from the Forum is opinions about knives and dealers from people who have no commercial self-interest (most of them, anyway) and who are concerned with the same things I am- quality, price, usefulness, etc.
And, whenever Vampire Gerbil posts, a needed chuckle.
 
I mean if BladeForums.Com was not here, would you have bought the same knives you now own?
Click to expand...
Nope. Since I found this nifty place, I've used it as my complete source for finding what knives to buy.

Have you been influenced by the info here to better your collection?
Click to expand...
Yep, can we say "MICROTECH"?

Did the info here help you make a more informed or better decision?
Click to expand...
Absolutely!

We want to know if we are having a positive effect on the knife industry and what the manufacturers, and others, want to know is how much an influence BFC has had on your buying decisions?
Click to expand...
Speaking for myself (and most of the other voices that constantly scream in my skull) I'd say that BFC is by far the best source when it comes to information regarding knives.

Also how would you compare your experince here to your experince in the magazines?
Click to expand...
BFC is much more likely to tell the "minus" side of a particular blade. The paper magazines articles seem to be advertisements for whatever blade they're writing about.

Would you rather read a magazine to find info on a future purchase or read and search BladeForums?
Click to expand...
I'd rather search here... it's a helluva lot more convenient.

Finally made a serious post,
VG

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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.

 
Mike,

Without BFC, I wouldn't have:

- joined AKTI
- joined the Buck Collectors Club
- bought a Mission MPK-A2
- bought the BFC Blue Native
- bought all those extra Buck 532s
- driven to Golden, CO to met Sal and his gang
- become a beta tester for Buck's PCKS page
- bought a custom Buck BG-42/ram's horn 110
- bought a Spyderco Starmate
- bought a Spyderco Civilian
- bought a HI Gelbu special khukri
- bought a Benchmade 9050SBT
- traded, sold and bought various pieces from other forumites
- won a Spyderco Military
- won a KnifeArt.com tri-hone sharpener
- subscribed to BFC's online e-magazine
- gotten to know a whole bunch of great folks!
- and other things I've simply forgotten as I type this
smile.gif



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-=[Bob Allman]=-
..Rapid City, SD..

I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!

BFC member since the very beginning
Member: American Knife & Tool Institute; Varmint Hunters Association;
National Rifle Association; Praire Thunder Inc.; Rapid City Rifle Club;
Spearfish Rifle & Pistol Club; Buck Collectors Club (prime interest: 532s)
Certified Talonite(r) enthusiast!




[This message has been edited by bald1 (edited 19 December 1999).]
 
I wouldn't know of the dealer (Internet-based) I have bought knives from without BladeForums. Concerning my purchases, I have been advised many times by other members. The info from the people frequenting this place is one thing that can make the buying of the knife you haven't ever handled before, somewhat "safer". If you can't examine for example, the lock of a certain knife, someone else will probably know about it and you don't have to "buy a pig in a poke" and there's a lot more in that than just locks.

Jani

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Two important questions in life:
Do they have a catalog?
Did you know there's a town called "Batman" in Turkey?

[This message has been edited by Jani Kemppainen (edited 19 December 1999).]
 
Hey Mike, first of all I think it's great that you want this kind of "marketing" feedback from the members. It shows that we're all trying to move in the same direction.

I really appreciate BFC... I think that if I never found this place, I'd still be an amatuer collector trying to scrounge around for information about things that I didn't understand and couldn't find anyone to ask.

I find many of the people here, nice, friendly and trustworthy. I take their advice, value their opinions and have fun joking around with them.

It's just cool to have a place where people share common interests with you. My friends saw me on this site once and called me a "knife nerd"...hehe oh well!
smile.gif


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-Humpty

Proverbs 23:2

AKTI Member # A000984

 
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