Jim Skelton videos

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RissyQuicks

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I like Jim's knife videos that he posts on youtube; he shows off his unreal collection and really makes me consider one day buying a custom. Are there any other youtubers who make videos similar to his?
 
A bunch. BDunn, Gktii, ClearAdvantageTV, PracticallyEveryday, Terafanatic to name a few that i like.
 
He's a bit long-winded, but he goes over every aspect of the knives he reviews. I usually watch his videos if I'm looking at a custom knife he's dealt with. I actually watched one of his reviews the other day on an Olamic wayfarer. I turned it on in my car and listened to him ramble on about the knife for like 25 minutes. I actually learned a lot about Olamic and the Wayfarer and that made up my mind to purchase one.
 
Jim Skelton often has access to new stuff long before the rest of us. After you watch his videos, it's easy to see why.

To take just one example: A year ago, he enthusiastically recommended the Brous Bionic even before it was available.

Later, there were so many complaints about that first Bionic (sharp edges, a flipper that sucked at flipping
 
I like wealljuggleknives . even though he doesn't cover many customs, I like his reviews better than anyone else...
 
Blues Bender said:
He's a bit long-winded, but he goes over every aspect of the knives he reviews. I usually watch his videos if I'm looking at a custom knife he's dealt with. I actually watched one of his reviews the other day on an Olamic wayfarer. I turned it on in my car and listened to him ramble on about the knife for like 25 minutes. I actually learned a lot about Olamic and the Wayfarer and that made up my mind to purchase one.
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Well, hm...I watch all his videos as entertainment and I enjoy them as such. :) They are a glimpse of a world that is way too expensive for me to enter. But I most certainly don't agree that he covers "every aspect" of knives. He only covers the looks, lock and how well it flips basically. Nothing about performance or actual cutting capability. He is a collector of high end/expensive folders but don't know much about cutting or working with knifes. Mr Skelton says so himself in his videos and it's rather clear if you watch his reviews. He is not an outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, whittler, butcher or any other type of person who knows much about using the items in question except for light EDC duties. Nothing wrong with that I might add. But definetely not "every" aspect in my book!

Another youtuber with quite a collection:
David Lawman https://www.youtube.com/user/oromoto/videos,

and of course if you like more traditional patterns and knives,
Stefan Schmalhaus: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCppuObQHn8alCHGGVESilhA

And one of my favourite reviewers "EverydayCommentary" making fun of this trend with overbuilt high end flippers that actually don't cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9u954tIeSk

/ J
 
I like his videos too simply because he offers a lot of information and due to his years selling items on TV for shop NBC and World of watches is very well spoken and articulate and his videos flow. Problem is he doesn't do much fact checking. He really just repeats a lot of rumors he hears. Sometimes he doesnt make any mistakes. And in some videos he blurts out BS after BS comment. He collects knives. His knowledge of them however I feel is superficial. He doesnt know enough about how they are made to say some of the things he says. And because of this many times when he repeats what he has been told much gets lost in the translation because he doesnt have a genuine understanding of what he is saying. I know this from experience. I to this day make mistakes when I make posts on certain topics. The difference Is I TRY not to parrot things and if I do make a mistake and its proven I will admit it despite the dent in my pride.

Now, I have no problem with him just being a collector and not getting to the bones of a build. But when that ignorance leads to as much misinformation as he is known for you kinda have to know how to separate the fact from fiction. I also dont think he has as keen of an eye as he thinks he has. I have seen numerous videos of knives he claims to be as "perfect" and without flaw that have visible defects and problems plainly seen in the video but because he carries his knives as jewelry and basically "big boy toys" he simply isnt educated enough to have a credible opinion. I have no problem with him personally and I think for the most part his videos are very watchable and very well spoken and in most cases professional but I think he takes liberties in regards to speaking on topics of which he has no education. And he gets incredibly defensive when called on them.

Why am I saying all this? Because people should know that when watching his videos and admiring his vast and albeit very impressive collection to try and not take everything he says as the gospel. You will hear a lot of technical jargon thrown out that just really isnt on point and if you go around repeating it be prepared to be called on it. As for anyone who makes videos like his? Not really as no one I know of has that much experience behind a camera. Terrafanatic and gavkoo do some good ones as does smoke eater 908. The later of which has a very deep southern accent which can be a bit distracting and he has strong opinions but he is entertaining. But he cant take a lick of criticism. And unfortunately if you understood his past in the watch world, you would know why I am slightly hesitant to take everything he says as the gospel.

flash900 said:
Jim Skelton often has access to new stuff long before the rest of us. After you watch his videos, it's easy to see why.

To take just one example: A year ago, he enthusiastically recommended the Brous Bionic even before it was available.

Later, there were so many complaints about that first Bionic (sharp edges, a flipper that sucked at flipping
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He vehemently denies any "knives for good reviews" conspiracy. Do I believe it? Not in the slightest. And I believe that in at least 2 or 3 cases he got knives with a little extra attention to detail to ensure a better review. Its not like he is buying knives from dealers and getting what everyone else is buying.
 
I do watch lots of his videos, but mostly to see how they look, work, and see what he sais about fit and finish. Some knives he loves and raves about but aren't for me and think what hes saying is BS. Some he doesn't like and I love and what he has to say would never stop me from buying a knife I loved. Good to have you tube and videos of knives though. Very helpfull :)
 
PURPLEDC said:
He vehemently denies any "knives for good reviews" conspiracy. Do I believe it? Not in the slightest. And I believe that in at least 2 or 3 cases he got knives with a little extra attention to detail to ensure a better review. Its not like he is buying knives from dealers and getting what everyone else is buying.
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His videos make for some fantastic white noise. But yeah, I think there is a mix knives he buys himself and those with a little "I scratch your back, if you scratch mine" going on. How many times has he included Arizona Custom Knives in some of his videos?
I know he says that he is a "user" of his knives, but I assume its the occasional package and not much else considering the "features" and grinds of the blades itself are ones I'd probably pass on for actual user knives. But thats to be expected when he only uses his knives for office EDC and that he could easily resell for more than my first car :jerkit:
 
The cow said:
His videos make for some fantastic white noise. But yeah, I think there is a mix knives he buys himself and those with a little "I scratch your back, if you scratch mine" going on. How many times has he included Arizona Custom Knives in some of his videos?
I know he says that he is a "user" of his knives, but I assume its the occasional package and not much else considering the "features" and grinds of the blades itself are ones I'd probably pass on for actual user knives. But thats to be expected when he only uses his knives for office EDC and that he could easily resell for more than my first car :jerkit:
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Honestly? He uses his knives but not in the sense that guys on this forum use them. Boxes. Letters, loose threads and constantly flipping them open and closed while hocking watches on direct tv is aboit as much abuse as his knives see. There is nothing wrong with that and in most cases those knives he is using wouldnt see much more stress than that by anyone else given the price. Still i feel he takes too many liverties when trying to explain why something is quality. He simply lacks the knowledge to really speak on the subject. My favorite os when he tries to have the camera pick up the sound of a detent as a blade closes as if the sound means anything. What pains me the most about watching it is that he never realizes the sound he is actually hearing is the flipper hitting the stop pin as the blade closes. A detent ball glides and slides into the hole drilled for it. It doesnt jump off the blade and land in the hole with a smacking sound like fat kid doing a belly flop. Im fat so i can say that.
 
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The thing I like about Jim Skelton's vids are that they expose me to knives I would have otherwise never known about it. His vids have made me a fan of many custom makers who I had previously never heard of. I can't speak to him having incorrect info, though I doubt it happens too much because half the time he has spoken to the makers themselves. He also has a production quality that you rarely get on youtube, let alone in knife vids on youtube.
 
hazy said:
The thing I like about Jim Skelton's vids are that they expose me to knives I would have otherwise never known about it. His vids have made me a fan of many custom makers who I had previously never heard of. I can't speak to him having incorrect info, though I doubt it happens too much because half the time he has spoken to the makers themselves. He also has a production quality that you rarely get on youtube, let alone in knife vids on youtube.
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Just because he talks to a knifemaker doesnt mean he has an understanding of the information given to him. So unless he repeats things EXACTLY as they were spoken (and even then things can get lost in the translation) you can blurt some stuff that just doesnt make sense. And its his lack of a basic understanding of how knives are made and set up that he finds himself making the mistakes he does. Talking to a mechanic doesnt make you a mechanic. And talking to a knife maker doesnt mean you understand what is being told to you. And parroting it to someone else without an understanding leaves much room for error. His production value though you are correct on. But with how long he has been on TV I would only hope he has picked up a few tricks over the years. Still never forget the man makes a living selling things on television. So he doesnt just know about production values, he knows persuasive sales tactics and how to portray something in the best light possible. I dont think his youtube videos are any different.
 
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PURPLEDC said:
Honestly? He uses his knives but not in the sense that guys on this forum use them. Boxes. Letters, loose threads and constantly flipping them open and closed while hocking watches on direct tv is aboit as much abuse as his knives see. There is nothing wrong with that and in most cases those knives he is using wouldnt see much more stress than that by anyone else given the price. Still i feel he takes too many liverties when trying to explain why something is quality. He simply lacks the knowledge to really speak on the subject. My favorite os when he tries to have the camera pick up the sound of a detent as a blade closes as if the sound means anything. What pains me the most about watching it is that he never realizes the sound he is actually hearing is the flipper hitting the stop pin as the blade closes. A detent ball glides and slides into the hole drilled for it. It doesnt jump off the blade and land in the hole with a smacking sound like fat kid doing a belly flop. Im fat so i can say that.
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He sure is pretty good at filling up the books of small makers :cool:
Its one of those minor pet peeves of mine is him mentioning "hard use folder" when its tasks that probably could be done with his hands. I do get a nostalgia kick out of him explaining some of the stuff he knows nothing about. It reminds me of deer camp and old uncle Joes talking about polymer stocks.
 
The cow said:
He sure is pretty good at filling up the books of small makers :cool:
Its one of those minor pet peeves of mine is him mentioning "hard use folder" when its tasks that probably could be done with his hands. I do get a nostalgia kick out of him explaining some of the stuff he knows nothing about. It reminds me of deer camp and old uncle Joes talking about polymer stocks.
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That is one of my main beefs as well. If he were simply stating he likes the way it flips and comment on the smoothness and speak to the physical looks of the knife I wouldnt really have a huge problem with what he does. He simply takes too many liberties speaking on things he either doesnt understand or as like you say attesting to a knives hard use prowess when most people know it wont see any more use than opening the box of his next acquisition. I have no problem with pocket jewelry. In fact most of my knives could probably be categorized as such. But I dont come on the forums or youtube and say that I think a knife would be well suited for a particular job when I will never be using it for such.
 
At this point Jim is more or less an infomercial like so many other knife, gun, gear "reviewers" on youtube. Makers will send him perfect knives to fawn over to generate orders and buzz abount their folders. Some times those who place orders receive knives that are much less stellar than what they saw in Jim's "review." Other times the knives are as described. Not knocking him for he's great at what he does, but as others have mentioned their are other reviewers more suited to practical knife use and value.
 
Misanthropia said:
As for the Skelton commentary, I will agree with PURPLEDC. Without getting too much into it, the information presented about CPM-4V in the Ferox video was flat out hyperbole and inaccurate.
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I had to watch the video. It made me scratch my head when he said that you can go years without sharpening the knife. Holy crap man, what's he doing to his knives that I'm not doing? I guess the question should be reversed, what am I doing to my knives that he's not doing? The most I can go with any steel is maybe 2 or 3 weeks without needing to sharpen. I strop when needed but even then I can't make any edge last that long. Years? I call bullshit, that dude needs to get out and use his knives if he's going to make comments about how good a steel is.
 
I'm glad other people see Jim's videos for what they are. He typically is always hyping "hard-use" type folders, but as someone has already stated, his personal knives see nothing of the sort and are just pocket jewelry. That's fine, but he really can't advise people on these types of knives when he has no basis for comparison/doesn't use his knives that way. His videos ARE infomercials for makers that he's trying to promote. And I've heard from more than one maker (several at BLade) that he offers his "hype service"/video reviews in exchange for free knives. There were some statements attributed to him at Blade that make me dislike his "reviews" even more than most people, but I'll refrain from mentioning those here.

His videos are cute to watch just for seeing eye candy, but I'm not taking any materials/specs/usage advice from someone who doesn't have as much as a scratch on any of the knives he "daily carries". I'll give him one thing, he certainly can build some hype behind some (sometimes mediocre) knives though!
 
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