Knife Reviews? !?

Cobalt

Cobalt

Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 23, 1998
Messages
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So I am posting this here because we are a like minded group of people. When I go to the review forum I see review threads, where a knife does not even cut one piece of rope, cardboard etc. To me this is not a review. This should be called an "overview".

A review should include some actual usage, not just handling the knife and video taping you manipulating it. The review should be a summary of results of different things you have done with the knife. How about long term reviews? Don't see those any more. Honestly, youtube has better reviews than the review forum. And it's a gun guy that does better knife reviews than most knife guys, lol.

What do you guys think of the impression threads posted as reviews.
 
Man, I've been on BF for right at 5 years, ( which is not a very long time ) but, honestly, that's the first I've ever checked out that sub-forum. And, your right!
Most are just an overview/first impressions kinda thing.
I agree with what you propose.
 
I like Jim Ankerson’s edge testing in that forum. There are some obvious blind spots in that kind of testing, but as a rule of thumb approach that uses a lot of different steels and amasses a lot of comparative info, I think it’s interesting. You’re right about most of the reviews there being initial impressions that don’t mean diddly, other than possibly to justify a purchase in the owner’s mind.
 
Will York said:
I like Jim Anderson’s edge testing in that forum. There are some obvious blind spots in that kind of testing, but as a rule of thumb approach that uses a lot of different steels and amasses a lot of comparative info, I think it’s interesting. You’re right about most of them being initial impressions that don’t mean diddly, other than possibly to justify a purchase in the owner’s mind.
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Yes, at least something is better than nothing. My argument to him has always been the blade grind and geometry and Rc matters as much as steel type, so the results are not really accurate, but they are better than nothing. It would be cool if there was an industry standard knife design that all companies made an example of. Like a 4 inch bushcraft design that every maker and company could make. Then that knife would have many different steel types to compare in many ways. kinda like the spyderco mule team series. What a great idea by spyderco
 
Will York said:
I like Jim Ankerson’s edge testing in that forum. There are some obvious blind spots in that kind of testing, but as a rule of thumb approach that uses a lot of different steels and amasses a lot of comparative info, I think it’s interesting. You’re right about most of the reviews there being initial impressions that don’t mean diddly, other than possibly to justify a purchase in the owner’s mind.
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Oh yes. Now Jim does good!
Cant wait to get his Spyderco Province.
 
Cobalt said:
My argument to him has always been the blade grind and geometry and Rc matters as much as steel type, so the results are not really accurate, but they are better than nothing.
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Yeah, in his early format where he tested polished edges and then grouped steels in categories, I argued with him on that. He tried keeping the edge dps roughly the same on those blades, arguing that leveled the playing field. I argued that grouping an INFI blade well below a custom (Big Chris) 3V knife with a thinner blade and more acute primary grind was not a straight-up comparison. Later in his revised format he actually proved my point by measuring edge life before and after re-grinding the blade flats on a couple of knives, resulting in up to 40% edge life improvement. At least now he includes more info including thickness behind the edge and HRC.

As I said, not a perfect comparison, but as a rule of thumb I like to see where stuff ranks in his current testing format.
 
"it feels good in MY hand" is about the most useless assessment that abounds. Yep....but your hand is not my hand....I have some things that feel good in my hand that I bet no one else wants to hold...!!!!!!
 
An unboxing....

Loot reveal....

Swag Bag.......



I'm going to open this (enter over the top tactical knife with 17 spikes, and a grip conceived by Satan!!) and after opening it once..... pronounce it the ultimate fighting knife in the world...
 
I've been using my Benchmade Nakamura for unboxing lots of things for several years now. It works really well. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Never occurred to me to make a video, though. o_Oo_Oo_O
 
Oh Yeah....The Leather in my new F350 smells WAY better than my F250 leather didn't even consider the test drive...I was Sold on the New Vehicle Smell:D:D:D
 
Smells Like a Stripper I once Knew.....I Give it 2 weeks and it will smell like Carne Adovada Burritos!!!

Maybe I should put some Bacon in the F250 as an air Freshner:eek::D:thumbsup:
 
Cobalt said:
So I am posting this here because we are a like minded group of people. When I go to the review forum I see review threads, where a knife does not even cut one piece of rope, cardboard etc. To me this is not a review. This should be called an "overview".

...

What do you guys think of the impression threads posted as reviews.
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The answer is clear: bring Cliff Stamp back! :)
.
 
gk4ever2 said:
The answer is clear: bring Cliff Stamp back! :)
.
Click to expand...

That's not happening. Lets face it, proper reviews that reveal major deficiencies in knives cause knifemakers to loose business if they are to lazy to fix said problems. A knifemaker should hard test his own knives, and should want independent testing as well. Very few do. Cliff was attacked by some makers and their fan club.
 
I've destroyed quite a few blades while working up my Knife making Heat Treats...it's not all BAD to have some Sacrificial Steel undergo the rigors of field work. Better to do it up front than try to play dumb about a blade failure to a customer who deserves his moneys worth on trusting your product and reputation. Only Takes ONE Bad Knife review to start the demise of your best efforts!!!!
 
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