I'd like to review one of Lynn's knives...

Chiro75 · May 15, 2000

LIke the subject says, I'd like to review one of Lynn's knives. All I need is for someone to send one to me. I have access, for the next couple weeks at least, to a digital camera, so pics would be forthcoming with the review. I don't care what model it is or how it's finished. I'm pretty careful with knives I review, so you can expect to get it back in 99% of the condition you send it in. The knife should represent Lynn's current line (i.e. not a discontinued model), and I would think it should be current as far as age so it represents the current level of work. I would probably keep the knife for a week and return it promptly. I think Lynn is getting the short end of things because his personality is being reviewed more than his knife! I don't own any of Lynn's knives, and I don't have anything against him. I'd like to do as unbiased a review as possible. If you'd like to collaborate on this, please let me know via email (or post here so all communications are public) and we'll work something out. Thanks!

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
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Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
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Lynn Grififth Knives · May 15, 2000

Chiro,
Go to www.bladeart.com and you can purchase a Griffith knife to review. Are if you like, you are welcome to place an order with me, and in 9 months make your review. As for personal comments about me, and negative comment regarding my prices, you have made your share (see the review by maddog2020).

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Lynn Griffith-Knifemaker

See you at Blade Show (table 13c)

griffithknives.com
GriffithKN@aol.com
Griffith Knives Forum

Chiro75 · May 15, 2000

Lynn, it is your reluctance to want people to review your work that makes people wonder what you may be trying to hide. As far as I know I haven't made any references to you as a person. I have criticized your pricing and some of the content of your website, but I have refrained from making attacks on you as a person. How could I, since I don't even know you? I think that the discussions about your KNIVES invariably end up as discussions about your personality, and as such that this forum needs to have a centered review of one of your knives that is possibly a little less-biased than some of the ones we've seen. It would be to your advantage, as I've never met a knife I didn't like. I'm way too busy to be taking on projects of this type right now anyway, so suit yourself! I thought I'd extend the invitation to interested parties, but since there is obvious reluctance on your part to have your products looked at and written about by non-paying people, then I won't bother. One thing I have noticed, however, is that with the exception of a few reviewers, most people who've just dropped $200+ on a knife rarely say too much critical about it because they now have an investment in it and don't want to throw egg in their own face. Anyway, sorry if you've taken any of my comments personally. They are simply the observations of a third party who has nothing invested in liking or disliking your knives.

One other thing....I just went back and re-read all my comments in the Mad Dog thread and there are far more positive comments, both in that thread and the others that have been generated as a result, than there are negatives! Just thought you should know, Lynn.

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html

[This message has been edited by Chiro75 (edited 05-15-2000).]

dogboye · May 15, 2000

Ummm... based on how long I have to wait for any knife that I order from Lynn (and I have one on order, my second one), I would take exception to him making up one to send to you while I, and many others, are waiting.

Now, that being said... you didn't exactly ask Lynn to make up one specially for you, or send it for free. I'm not sure why he came in this thread and posted what he did, maybe he was having a bad morning. Dunno. If I had one other than my SUB Texan (like say, the Hunter that is on Bladeart), I would be very tempted to send it to you. But, I don't, and I don't really want to send off my SUB Texan. Additionally, it isn't really in the same shape that I bought it, because I have already changed the finish on it. So, it isn't representative, really.

BTW, Lynn... in spite of what Chiro75 may have said about your knives (or you), he is one of the people that I would probably trust to do an unbiased view of a test knife. And he does make a case for not saying anything bad about a knife he just dropped a lotta bucks on.

Anyway... I've probably already said more than I should. Let's just all try to get along....

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iktomi

Steve B. · May 15, 2000

I disagree with the logic that "most people who've just dropped $200+ on a knife rarely say too much critical about it because they now have an investment in it and don't want to throw egg in their own face".

If I spent $200+ on a knife and felt it was a weak effort on the maker`s part, I think I`d make that information public. What do I or the maker gain by sufferng in silence?

Chiro, I think you may have disqualified yourself as an impartial reviewer of Lynn`s knives. You`ve made comments about how Lynn`s customers are "uninformed" and then admitted you`d never actually seen Lynn`s knives in the flesh. I don`t question your integrity as a reviewer, but I think it`s best to find someone without the appearence of bias to do a review. Even judges excuse themselves from cases when the appearence of impartiality is at stake, so don`t take it personally!

Chiro75 · May 15, 2000

Rockspyder, good observations. Somebody emailed me with a few choices, so I think a review may be forthcoming. He has a few used knives and a few NIB ones, so if I can I will try to get one of each. The new one would be reviewed based solely on construction, out of the box sharpness, etc, and I would return it in the same new condition. Hopefully this will come to fruition!

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html

Chiro75 · May 15, 2000

Steve B. (that's funny, I'm Steve A!), for the record, I think I said "maybe" in terms of the uniinformed comment, and in any case, it was a stupid thing to say regardless. Also, you may have missed one of my posts, but I HAVE seen one of Lynn's knives, in fact, one of his custom pieces. The fella I rode to the Badger Show with had it and I handled it for a couple minutes. I liked it a lot, in fact, and this is why I am eager to see one or two more of his knives.

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html

Kit Carson · May 15, 2000

I still don't understand it when you call the last two review biased.

I still have several people that want to look at the knife and I want to make sure they are in the unbiased category.

bbtjohn · May 15, 2000

All right. Enough is enough!!!!
I guess it is time to put the horse ahead of the cart.If you dont own nor have never seen a Lynn Griffith knife in person.SHUT UP!!!1

Now to get on with it, I have never personally seen one in personso I should shut up as well. But before I go let me say this.

Im a 16 year veteran of the USAF (yeah, what do we know??? Right!) wrong.I was there and I got all the salad on my chest to show for it.. No I aint no HERO, but I was there. In Panama, Haiti, Somalia, The Storm and most recently Bosnia. Yeah I should have joined the army but I didnt. Im an ex Paraweather (for you who dont know what that is.. we jump with the Army cause they aint smart enough to figure out what the weather is gonna do(I can already hear the responses to that true statement).

Websters defines Tactical as Main Entry: tac·ti·cal
Pronunciation: 'tak-ti-k&l
Function: adjective
Date: 1570
1 : of or relating to combat tactics: as a (1) : of or occurring at the battlefront <tactical defense> <tactical first strike> (2) : using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront <tactical missiles> b of an air force : of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces
2 a : of or relating to tactics: as (1) : of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose (2) : made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view b : adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose

As you can see by the BOLD, I like those two choices the best. Maybe Im partial because Im in the AF.

Websters defines knife as follows:

Main Entry: 1knife
Pronunciation: 'nIf
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural knives /'nIvz/
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English knif, from Old English cnIf, perhaps from Old Norse knIfr; akin to Middle Low German knIf knife
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle b : a weapon resembling a knife
2 : a sharp cutting blade or tool in a machine
3 : SURGERY 4 -- usually used in the phrase under the knife
- knife·like /'nIf-"lIk/ adjective

Again the bold indicates my preference. So if we look at the two definitions combined they are as follows: (Edited of course)

: weapons employed at the battlefront, a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle.

Now, I dont know if any of Mr. Gs knives have been deployed the battlefront (if you know of any let us all know), but I know for a fact that I would (and will if I have to go again) deploy with one of his knives.

So what if Mr. Gs knifes are small. They are still tactical in the truest definition.

If you dont want to buy one of his blades DONT!!!!

If you would like to buy one and can afford it DO.

I personally WILL purchase one at the Blade Show, (hopefully, if he has any left).

Ive used many knives during my AF career. I own some by Jimmy Lile, R.E. Barber, Gene Martin and some Gerbers to name a few. I also own a Jefferson Spivey (you guys are doing a search on him right now). I carried the Spivey and the Gerber BMF (serrated) during both the Storm and the Panama invasion.

One thing I can say is Mr. G is really a nice guy who is doing what he loves to do. How many of us can say that about our jobs. I hope to try my hand at making knives when my time serving my country is up.

Bottom line: If you review a knife (or car, or truck or fishing rod or whatever).do the review after you have used what you are reviewing. Do Not review something youve never seen !

By the way, I will review my Griffith knife on this forum after I buy and use it.

Gary

Kit Carson · May 16, 2000

Good post, bttjohn. Didn't understand any of it but a good post non the less.

Still didn't answer the question. What is unbiased?

Both Ray and TomW had the knife in their hot little hands. I know, cause I sent it to them. Why were they biased?

Yep, should have joined the Army, like I did.

dogboye · May 16, 2000

Mr. Carson, I still must look at both of the reviews with a bit of a jaundiced eye. ... belay that, I just re-read maddog2020's. His actually is pretty ... objective. I have to admit that. He covers the facts, and doesn't embellish much at all. Except at the end, with the remark about steak knife, but hey, it is for humor. So, I would like to, right now, apologize to maddog2020, if I said something to offend, insult, or otherwise, him.

But, back to TomW's review. I still say that his review exhibits a personal ... problem/issue/disdain?... against Lynn. With things like:

The knife is much more suitable for battling it out with a tomato than a human. Of course if it was called a tomato knife it couldn't possible fetch the price that it does. It just comes down to marketing. People can be sold anything.

and

As i already mentioned, call it tactical, add some endless self promotion and people will buy anything.

Phrases like that are, IMO, downright insulting, not only to Lynn, but to anyone who buys Lynn's knives. Me being one of them. And bbtjohn makes a very good point with actually going and looking in the dictionary regarding tactical and knife. Personally, my favorite is

made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view

Heck, that definition pretty much validates any knife made as being "tactical." But there it is, in black & white.

Anyway... looking at the original reviews again, I really have to say that MD2020's doesn't show much, if any, subjectivity. TomW's, IMO, does. In either case, I really should have just stayed out of it, because for the most part, we're talking about one knife. {sorry, just gotta add... a knife that I personally haven't seen, except in the pictures that MD2020 posted}

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iktomi

[This message has been edited by rockspyder (edited 05-16-2000).]