Knife Critic Panel

[JAMerolle]

I am my own expert.

No one knows better than I if a particular knife will suit my needs, or what I like in a knife. No one else can tell me how a knife will feel in my hand throughout a day of use. If I am interested in a particular knife, I buy it. Then I use it for it's intended purpose. And if it doesn't serve me well, then I have the option to sell it (or give it away). But if I let some "experts" opinion influence my knife buying decisions, I might miss out on a knife that would have served me perfectly. I prefer to test knives myself and base my opinions on personal experience.

It's a simple, non-scientific process, but it's worked well for me for several decades.

Good point but if your spending over $ 300 I like to have a second opinion before moving forward. Yea sure any knife under $ 50 pass it on to the next guy if you don't like it.

 

[benchwarmer380]

Ask about said $300 knife here in this very forum (unless there is one more specific, CRK etc) and you'll have a page or multiple pages of opinions before the week is out. Of course, they should be taken with a grain of salt as with anything on the internet but it is a great jumping off point.

 

[JAMerolle]

So, we would have to pay for an expert to tell us how good or bad our knives are?

It is an interesting idea. However, isn't that essentially what BladeForums is already about? Makers, manufacturers, collectors and users (consumers) all in one place talking about all aspects of knives. Look around through the various forums and you can get a review or recommendation on just about any knife. If it you can't find anything, make a new thread.

Yea I guess your right , off hand how much money do you think we all spent before we found the right blade. Perhaps you guys had better luck then me as a novice collector.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Moved to Knife Reviews & Testing.

Interesting idea, but outside agencies that do this kind of evaluation have funding sources to pay independent experts. Our independent experts often have day jobs besides working long hours to make knifemaking itself pay off.

We don't really need a whole checklist for evaluations, since many of us do know what a manufacturer or knifemaker usually gets right. We might have questions about a new steel or technique on their latest knife. So we ask them, and other knifemakers may join in.

Moderators are not necessarily in a position to organize this. I can't imagine where I would get the time myself.

 

[benchwarmer380]

off hand how much money do you think we all spent before we found the right blade. Perhaps you guys had better luck then me as a novice collector.

Me personally, more than some and a lot less than others. I've been pretty content with my CQC 10 for the last 6 months or so but I'm still on the look out. Of the last 10 knives or so knives I've gotten I have only bought maybe 2 of them. Trading can be a fun and effective way to try new things.

 

[RevDevil]

I don't think anyone else out there has the same dexterity, bone structure, grip strength, or budget in knives as I do. I don't need anyone telling me what knives are good, bad, or whatever. It's silly. How is someone else, with all different criteria (previously mentioned) going to be able to tell me what I like, what will be comfortable, functional, and affordable to me without knowing anything about me?

You want a knife critic panel? Go to Google, type in "www.youtube.com" press Enter and search for knife reviews. You get people that know next to nothing and those that think they know it all and every shade in between. Which is why many here are their own critic panel.

 

[Luis G.]

Sounds like a silly idea when you take the real world into consideration. Take the consequences of a single knife failure by a committee of professionals.

It is the same thing as sending a knifemaker to a reddit-like feeding frenzy. Quite frankly knifemakers are NOT marketing gurus to over come these hurdles.
Also understand that knifemakers have a brand (their name often times). Staining the brand once with a single knife will often lead most consumers to familiarize bad quality with their name.

I am not into it.

 

[JAMerolle]

Sounds like a silly idea when you take the real world into consideration. Take the consequences of a single knife failure by a committee of professionals.

It is the same thing as sending a knifemaker to a reddit-like feeding frenzy. Quite frankly knifemakers are NOT marketing gurus to over come these hurdles.
Also understand that knifemakers have a brand (their name often times). Staining the brand once with a single knife will often lead most consumers to familiarize bad quality with their name.

I am not into it.

Good point , and thanks to all for all the feedback.

 

[Final Option]

JAMerolle, good thread. For me it was very refreshing to see good dialogue between BF members, well done by all. Good points expressed in an adult fashion with respect to each other, how novel.