Knife performance/reviews VS Looks..

R

Robbie Roberson

Joined
Dec 27, 2003
Messages
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OK, we BF members probably would agree that some knife buyers have not seen or heard of the "in depth" knife reviews of most knife brands that we discuss here on BF.

With that being said, is it possible the the majority of knives we buy are dictated by the "looks" of the knife more than anything ?

If brand A knife is reveiwed in depth on BF or one of the other forums, what are the chances of a knife buyer reading this review unless they are a BF member or REALLY like to read about knives ?

So does this mean that almost all sales of knives in the U.S. are by the knife people seeing the knife and either liking or disliking the "looks" ?

I have ask a similar question over on the SOG forums in the past concerning "quality" photos of knives.

This is not rocket science.........or is it ? I notice more and more that most people I run in to have never heard of "knife reviews". Let alone such in-depth reviews and knife talk that we forum members discuss.

I may be wrong about all of this, please help me understand.........is it word of mouth reviews/experience with knife compony A, or is it because knife company A has a great looking knife with great pictures of this knife, opinions appreciated..... :D

Here is a link to post on photos and knives,
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363145


Robbie Roberson ;)
 
My first priority is how the knife looks. That is, regardless of how good a knife may be, if the aesthetics don't appeal to me I wont buy it.
 
Robbie Roberson said:
So does this mean that almost all sales of knives in the U.S. are by the knife people seeing the knife and either liking or disliking the "looks" ?
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If you go by numbers yes, the main volume of sales is obviously low end kitchen and utility knives, then the rip-off's. When you start going higher end you do some research and the first net search you do turns up links to knife reviews readily.

-Cliff
 
I'm not gonna lie. If i buy a knife it better look good. I'm not saying i won't buy an ugly knife, but what knife is really that ugly you can't buy it? ;)
 
There are other people who select knives by prestige names or by pretige buzz-words. Sometimes the names are left over from grandpa's time. For example Case seems to carry more weight than I can currently justify. Some people go for the alloy-dujour. Some people get sucked in with specious flim-flam descriptions of knives. Sometimes the wonder features are genuine, but not really what you thought they were. A long time ago I bought a laminated Mora knife thinking that the blade could be bent to 90 degrees without breaking (which it could) and that the blade would spring back to flatness (which it wouldn't). I bought this wonder knife not so much on looks as on "magic". The magic let me down since the blade was actually unusually easy to bend.

A lot of people want to buy magic and there are plenty of people out there to sell magic.
 
i like the looks of tantos but theyre not really practical knives, i have one tanto and its enough. all the knives i will buy from here on will have a better working utilityblade. there are tons of ugly knives and i wouldnt buy any of those ever however many crappy knives look good. steel is imortant to me i like the "highend" stuff since i plan on keeping my knives for as long as possible. got small hands so i like small knives.
i dont really use my knives for "covert deanimation activities" so the general tactital look doesnt appeal to me that much but some of the knives i like are labeled "tactical" anyway. there are many thing more important than looks i think but ugly= no no :barf:
 
Great answers........ :D

Cliff, I just wonder if there is a "price point" that could trigger a search for knife that in the end could result in reviews being seen ?

We will probably never know for sure if there is, but I think you may be right about this.

So far, I am reading between the lines and seeing that almost everyones buying impulse is triggered by looks first, is this possible ?

This subject is very subjective IMO :rolleyes: ............lots of ground to cover. But very interesting to say the least.


Robbie Roberson ;)
 
Robbie Roberson said:
Cliff, I just wonder if there is a "price point" that could trigger a search for knife that in the end could result in reviews being seen ?
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The vast majority of questions I get asked recommendation wise are always for fairly expensive knives, 9/10 times it is $300+. In general though, a lot goes on the individual, some people just buy and take chances, the internet though it making this a *lot* easier and you can instantly call up reviews and even ask people directly. A lot of it is age/generation, the kids growing up now will research almost everything, as it is trivial and using the computer is second nature. Any maker now who is ignoring the internet influence is missing a huge market share.

-Cliff
 
TGBF - thank god for blade forums :D You can read and vouch for just how good these knives really are. Personally, when I buy knives I round up all the good quality, usefull knives in the size I want and then take the best looking one/one that apeals to me most and that is on the high end of the quality spectrum.
 
"Looks" was very important in my recent Skirmish acquisition. That said, "Looks" gets me in the door....function/quality gets my money.
 
I'm not saying i won't buy an ugly knife, but what knife is really that ugly you can't buy it?
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That's the only reason I haven't bought a Spyderco yet. Just can't get used to the form.
 
I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but no knives really look good to me. Unless the knife is absurdly ugly, like hooks all over the thing and furry leopard print handle, I don't care what it looks like. Performance all the way.
 
trooplewis said:
That's the only reason I haven't bought a Spyderco yet. Just can't get used to the form.
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Spyderco to me is like a woman who isn't that attractive but is great in the sack. Sorry for the chauvinistic simile but it works.
 
trooplewis said:
That's the only reason I haven't bought a Spyderco yet. Just can't get used to the form.
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same here, they do have a unique design that i never cared for, but after hearing good reviews on them im thinking about possibly purchasing one.
 
Daniel Koster said:
"Looks" gets me in the door....function/quality gets my money.
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I agree with this. I also consider what my "real" needs or uses for a knife will be. For instance, since most of what I use a knife for is fairly simple stuff I just bought a decent 4" stockman instead of a massive folder or even a fixed blade of some sort. I also don't have any "Rambo" delusions when it comes to purchasing a knife.

But yes, looks count for me too. I mean, why .... when there are so many choices, would you want to buy and ugly one if you don't have to? However, "beauty" as they say is in the eyes of the beholder. So, what I find attractive, you may not, and vice versa.
 
Eric_425 said:
I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but no knives really look good to me. Unless the knife is absurdly ugly, like hooks all over the thing and furry leopard print handle, I don't care what it looks like. Performance all the way.
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i agree with the performance part, i dont care what the knife looks like as long as its built like a tank and can handle what i throw at it. I kind of prefer a knife that isnt a work of art because then im not as hesitant to use it and get it scratched up. If im gonna spend alot of money on a knife i want to use it, and for it not to fail on me.
 
I love it when the knife has the eye candy appeal and it performs well also. Many times though a knife that was beautiful to look at was horrible to hold. Some of the ugly ones are pretty comfortable to use on the other side of the coin too though, but every now and again you get the best of both that come together in a really great all around user.

As with anything in life where there is a market for sales there are always going to be 'snake oil salesman' and the knife industry is not in short supply of those unfortunately.

For me it is not always looks that matter but more what others have said about it and the steel it has for a blade among other things like past experiences with their products. I admit that certain makers and manufacturers are preferred by me a large majority of the time and for various reasons.

How well they support their product is a big key factor for me in choosing what I buy. I don't like bashing knife companies or makers but some could use a good talking to at times. IMO, a lot could be learned from watching the diplomacy of people like Sal Glesser and Ernie Emerson among others in how they get on with people and take care of their own. This in the end means more to me than the knife I chose from them. I support them for the way they support me when I have one of their products in or on my pocket.

I look forward to the next "dawg fugly ugly knife" either of these two guys comes up with everytime I hear of a new model coming in their line up. :D
 
I won't buy any knife I find ugly, even if it's perfect for me.

That said, for some reason I'm attracted to very utilitarian folders and fixed blades, for the most part. Most of my folders are exactly what I need, and the necessary handle materials, blade shapes, etc just happens to look good to me. Take my new paramilitary for instance.
 
dniice87 said:
same here, they do have a unique design that i never cared for, but after hearing good reviews on them im thinking about possibly purchasing one.
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That's the second comment about Spydercos I've seen here. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
 
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