Introduced friend to her first good knife

[Zero_Time]

So, I just took a friend to a gun/knife show, as she's said she was interested in knives. We looked around, and she had been partial to the hawkbill blades I have, so we looked for those. Most knives were badly made, overpriced, hunks of "surgical" pot steel. A lady dealer recommend her "super fine knives" steel karambit; I returned to the table to put pressure on the back of the blade; I was being watched by the guy at the table so I didn't see if the liner gave all the way- the bend was enough I knew what would result.

We continued to look, and I pointed out a spyderco delica wave, a knife I have had. I told her that I couldn't recommend any non-expensive knife basically, as I've had cheap liners fail on me; that this was a good knife and was easy to deploy quickly. Also, the small design would actually fit in her girl jeans! We continued to walk around, as I pointed out other various show oddities to her.

Near closing, I asked if she saw anything she like, and she said the delica. She bought the knife, and played with the wave opening; and had a delighted look on her face.

Previously, she had 2 knives; one a knockoff anodized leek I found and she asked if she could keep; and some other anodized either assisted stiletto or OTF (she's only described to me). Seeing her buy that knife, I was filled with a sense of pride. I've brought another one in guys.

Use this space for comments, or your experiences bringing others into the fold.

Zero

 

[ISP 5353]

My experience, now you've done it! My wife loves good steel as much as I do and will try to find it at shows before I do. You may be creating your best friend and your toughest competition! Good job Man!

 

[DanR217]

I give quality knives to friends a lot. I can't stand to see them use some crap or, heaven forbid, not carry a knife at all!

 

[thebrain]

I am proud you are a part of our community. She couldn`t hope for a better freind,you showed her the pros and cons of the knives you saw and helped to steer her to a knife she can enjoy for many years to come ,good for you. Next thing you know she will want a mini grip then an ESEE3 and then you will be in real trouble.

 

[Arakiel]

Does your wife know about this friend?

 

[edcrefiner]

Got a girl interested in knives. Somehow she went and got a balisong to carry. Now gotta educate her again by stressing they are illegal to carry in California if they are over 2.5".

 

[Tsujigiri]

I got one of my friends at school into knives this year, and now he has a Benchmade 943 and 710, ZT 0200, Spyderco Resilience, Kershaw Shallot, and Byrd Cara Cara.

Props to you for getting a girl into knives, though! None of my female friends seem to like knives.

 

[Zero_Time]

Does your wife know about this friend?

Wow, you seem to know more about me than I do! I never knew I had ever married! I've had some nightmares, but I've never made that commitment as of yet.

Got a girl interested in knives. Somehow she went and got a balisong to carry. Now gotta educate her again by stressing they are illegal to carry in California if they are over 2.5".

She was interested in the bali I picked up at the show too. She tried to play with it, and I showed her the proper opening technique. SHe was intrigued, but I told her a quality bali would be very expensive, and would be subject to different legalities different places (though they ARE legal here).

I got one of my friends at school into knives this year, and now he has a Benchmade 943 and 710, ZT 0200, Spyderco Resilience, Kershaw Shallot, and Byrd Cara Cara.

Props to you for getting a girl into knives, though! None of my female friends seem to like knives.

Ya, why I wanted to share. Turning guys onto knives is relatively easy (was telling me about a guy she knows who has more knives than me, but from the sound of it, are fantasy knives with big blades; and some fantastical designs... I explained that each of my knives cost several what his probably did, and further, that a quality knife was expensive), as they are into them. She, on the other hand, is a woman, and from a family that has some hoplophobic tendencies (sister is in the UK, and she screamed when she heard gun and knife show, as guns AND knives kill people ); but she seems ripe to get interested in the community of toys.

Bit by bit, it can be done. I also led her here by offering some self defense basics, and as I do some grappling with her, I have to remove my knives, piquing her interest.

Anyway, consider this post a call to arms: there ARE people, and yes, even attractive young women, who are budding knife knuts, if only someone would show them the way! Self-defense interested ones are a good prospect; but ones that like fire spinning, costumery, archery, and other time intensive, alternative, or old-fashioned handcrafts and recreation can be interested. The main point that I felt victorious over was she didn't think the price was exorbitant; as the prices for the other knives we saw were 1/3rd the price. Hope to explain the differences to her soon, and maybe find a cheap knife somewhere to illustrate bad vs. good quality.

Biggest problem, of course, is she wanted a martially oriented knife, and I steadfastly refused to let her fantasize about any knife she wouldn't carry. I told her the single most important point is that she choose a knife she will ALWAYS have on her, and so she needed a small knife that would fit in fashionable girl pants (that sometimes don't have front pockets; I'll get into IWB with her later).

Zero

 

[Planterz]

Got a girl interested in knives. Somehow she went and got a balisong to carry. Now gotta educate her again by stressing they are illegal to carry in California if they are over 2.5".

Under 2.0" is legal in CA for switchblades and balisongs. Not that it really matters, as there's precious few production balisongs under 3" anyway.

 

[Noctis3880]

Wish I could meet more chicks like that -_-

 

[midnightreport]

Nice! I've been gradually introducing my friends and family to good knives (mostly gifting Spydercos) for about the past year now, majority of them women. They've been pretty receptive overall, once I convince them that they are tools by design, not weapons (unless used as such).