Knife Reviews

[Howard Faltz]

How does a knife "review" affect your thoughts or buying pattern towards a knife? Does it change the way a maker will produce further editions of the same knife?

------------------
Howard A. Faltz, Owner
Arizona Knife Source
"Keep it Sharp"
Luke 22:26
www.azknife.com

 

[Jerry Hossom]

I think knife reviews, so long as they are objective and constructive, not just opinion, are very helpful to the maker and will certainly influence a knife's evolution. In effect they are an objective snapshot of where the knife stands in its technical capabilities and craftsmanship. Looking at that snapshot, a maker can say to himself, "ok, now how do we move ahead?"

Looking at using reviews as the principal motivation to buy a knife, but from the maker's perspective, I think such might be problematic. In the same sense that it is a snapshot that is helpful to the maker, it is also only a snapshot and not necessarily a valid measure of the maker's ability. The review knife is not the knife you will be buying. Is the review a reliable predictor of the knife you will buy or is it a fluke (good or bad)? You could certainly challenge that by saying the maker should be able to make all his knives at the same level of quality. That's true of course, but does he?

I might be inclined to suggest you measure the maker himself, and not just a single knife from his stable or a review that can only reflect the fulfillment of someone else's expectations.

------------------
Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Jerry :

I think knife reviews, so long as they are objective and constructive, not just opinion, are very helpful

The problem is you have to judge the review. Is the author experienced enough to be using the correct cutting techniques? Can he even sharpen a blade correctly? Could he be leaving out critical information simply because he doesn't have the background to appreciate it? Is he in fact even telling the truth?

If the reviewer is very descriptive then you can answer some of these questions but certainty in the positive direction is very hard, negative it is easier. Once I "know" a person has lied to make a blade or maker look bad I write them off. However the opposite is not true.

If you have direct experience with the person then you can obviously make that judgement, and if you know the blade well you can as well. The latter actually turns the review around and lets you review the author. The more reviews they write (or in general posts they make) the easier it is to come to a conclusion on their evaluation. If you are also experienced in a particular manner of bladework you can use this as well.

Is the review a reliable predictor of the knife you will buy or is it a fluke (good or bad)?

Certainly a valid point. There is a solution though. Just ask the maker if it is an accurate reflection of his work, and ask others who have used the his blades.

I might be inclined to suggest you measure the maker himself, and not just a single knife from his stable or a review that can only reflect the fulfillment of someone else's expectations.

I would strongly agree that you have to discuss knives with the maker. You can learn an lot about knives, which you should sort of expect since they make them. Concerning the last part, it is possiblefor a review to be of broader scope than that, which makes no difference to the point you make though.

-Cliff

 

[Jerry Hossom]

All good points Cliff. Where it is the maker who is using the review for his own development purposes, he likely knows when the reviewer has touched a nerve. The buyer, as you say, must read between the lines.

------------------
Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com

 

[Howard Faltz]

I have found, all too often, that a review will prompt a buyer to purchase a knife that is unsuitable for his purpose, as often as a buyer passes up a wise purchase because of a bad review. I try to purchase THEN make a decision as to IF we will continue to carry that particular item.

------------------
Howard A. Faltz, Owner
Arizona Knife Source
"Keep it Sharp"
Luke 22:26
www.azknife.com