Knives as status symbols?

[onojoe]

Knives can be thought of as a status symbol in the same way art can. Some guy buys an expensive painting to hang up on his wall. No ones sees it until he choses to show them, and then it may be to someone who knows art and can appreciate it. Many would say that he paid too much for it, the same most people would say about our knives. This is exactly the same thing as knives. It is a status symbol, but only those who appreciate it.

 

[stabman]

Knives can be thought of as a status symbol in the same way art can. Some guy buys an expensive painting to hang up on his wall. No ones sees it until he choses to show them, and then it may be to someone who knows art and can appreciate it. Many would say that he paid too much for it, the same a most would say about our knives. This is exactly the same thing as knives. It is a status symbol, but only those who appreciate it.

Well...good luck getting high-class, snobby yet attractive women to have sex with you by unveiling a Sebenza (or other expensive knife).
It just doesn't work out the same.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Well...good luck getting high-class, snobby yet attractive women to have sex with you by unveiling a Sebenza (or other expensive knife).
It just doesn't work out the same.

Obviously you don't own a Venomtech...

[video=youtube_share;YVxh5oRrjUw]http://youtu.be/YVxh5oRrjUw[/video]

 

[stabman]

Obviously you don't own a Venomtech...

[video=youtube_share;YVxh5oRrjUw]http://youtu.be/YVxh5oRrjUw[/video]

So THAT'S why they banned switchblades in this country!
The bastards!

 

[Shrub]

I've never carried a knife as a status symbol.
Does seem to develop one among some of my friends/co-workers though.
Status: crazy guy who always has at least a knife, Leatherman and flashlight.
Result:
-Friend A-"Does anyone have (whatever tool)?"
-Friend B-"Ask Shrub he's got all kinds of tools and knives"
Kind of aggravating sometimes. "Buy your own knife" lol

 

[fetzer85]

Stabman, Bubba, Fetzer... thank goodness we have each other.

Word.

Dude, you should see what knife I'm carrying today! It cuts stuff like nobody's business. I just cut the plastic wrapper off a frozen pizza like it wasn't even there. I probably could've opened it with my fingers but what would people think of me then? NEANDERTHAL! [emoji20]

 

[Dddrees]

Status symbol for whom? I remember asking someone who was wearing a several million dollar designer item of jewelery whether they were at all concerned abouth being rob. She said not at all because everyone who saw it belived it to be just costume jewelry.

A knife is just a knife, until someone who can tell what it is sees it; and it is to that individual, and only that individual, that it conveys additional information.

This is a distinctive $250,000-$440,000 watch (the design is based on the Ferrari engine)....most people would be hard pressed to identify it as a watch, much less an expensive item in that price range. They would tell you their Timex is a far better watch. To the extent that it conveys status, it would only be recognized by a very tiny group.

n2s

Even for those that recognize it, most wouldn't want anything to do with it. In fact most have no luv for that specific piece but for that specific brand. Actually the beauty of most real nice watches is that they are rarely recognized, in fact that typically works in ones favor.

 

[Halfneck]

Among knife aficionados there are definitely some who carry knives as a status symbol. Over the years I've been to quite a few knife related gatherings and ran into them. They'll show off the knife, talk up the materials and what it's capable of, talk up the maker, whole time I'm thinking the knife looks like it hardly sees use. Sometime down the road they've found another shiny and the old one is up for sale.

 

[onojoe]

Well...good luck getting high-class, snobby yet attractive women to have sex with you by unveiling a Sebenza (or other expensive knife).
It just doesn't work out the same.

It depends on how you present the knife

 

[killgar]

In my opinion, the need for "status symbols", and the need to impress others, is a sign of low self-esteem.

Beyond that, I can't understand or imagine why anyone would buy things just to try and impress people they know, much less total strangers on the internet.

How much money one has, or spends, and what material possessions one owns, are very poor means of measuring the quality of a person. And to measure a person using such criteria is just as pathetic as using money or material possessions to try and increase ones "status".

In contrast, I see a big difference between seeking "status", and engaging in "mutual appreciation" or displaying pride of ownership.

To display ones possessions among like-minded enthusiasts, like posting pics of your new knife on BF or showing it to another knife enthusiast, is not something I would automatically regard as an attempt to gain or increase ones "status". Instead, I would likely look upon it as nothing more than an exercise in "mutual appreciation", or pride of ownership. Of course, if the person doing the displaying is in fact trying to increase their "status", then as I said, that's pathetic.

 

[flipe8]

Even for those that recognize it, most wouldn't want anything to do with it. In fact most have no luv for that specific piece but for that specific brand. Actually the beauty of most real nice watches is that they are rarely recognized, in fact that typically works in ones favor.

That's the part I love about a few higher end knives-they're just well made tools. On the other hand, bling is just bling, regardless of price, and never attractive in my eyes.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

In my opinion, the need for "status symbols", and the need to impress others, is a sign of low self-esteem.

Beyond that, I can't understand or imagine why anyone would buy things just to try and impress people they know, much less total strangers on the internet.

How much money one has, or spends, and what material possessions one owns, are very poor means of measuring the quality of a person. And to measure a person using such criteria is just as pathetic as using money or material possessions to try and increase ones "status".

In contrast, I see a big difference between seeking "status", and engaging in "mutual appreciation" or displaying pride of ownership.

To display ones possessions among like-minded enthusiasts, like posting pics of your new knife on BF or showing it to another knife enthusiast, is not something I would automatically regard as an attempt to gain or increase ones "status". Instead, I would likely look upon it as nothing more than an exercise in "mutual appreciation", or pride of ownership. Of course, if the person doing the displaying is in fact trying to increase their "status", then as I said, that's pathetic.

Some people carry it to extremes, but almost everyone has an image they want to present and varying methods of presenting it. Status symbols are just one obvious example of that. How we present ourselves to others has many obvious and tangible effects on our lives. If your job relies on being perceived as wealthy and powerful having the trappings of wealth and power will make it a lot easier. I think it's easy to write off behaviors that don't jibe well with your own life as insecurities or silliness without considering that those behaviors may be completely sensible and rational given different careers and priorities.

 

[The cow]

Most people can still appreciate a well-built, nice looking, and SHARP knife...just nowhere near what we would.
I have always wished to get my old man a Randall hunting knife, but the qualities of a knife like that would be lost on someone who would never oil the blade or sheath.

As for status symbols? You're playing an expensive game as there is very little I would say is truly valued and noticed. Pretty much limits you to a big house and a fancy european sportscar.
Nice watches? I've seen $15 Kohl's watches that look just as nice as a $3000 watch. Most people won't recognize a rolex unless you shove it in their face
Jewelry? Well, China has you covered because your average joe won't be able to recognize solid gold from plated metal
Electronics? Even 4 year olds have their own iPhone.

 

[shecky]

Knives easily can be status symbols. It doesn't matter if most people won't recognize them. I can't tell a diamond from a piece of glass. Doesn't mean diamonds are not status symbols. More likely, I'm simply a person the diamond owner doesn't even care to impress.

I think knives, to knife nuts, are often very much viewed as extensions of their personalities. I call them man-baubles, as knife nuttery is mostly a man thing. People go on and on all the time here about their favorite knives in terms of the maker's integrity, or skill, or originality, or the knife's indestructibility, precision and construction, spending good money to make those traits a piece of their identity. Because only such finery will do. And take great exception when someone points out flaws in those knives or their makers.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

I think they are used as status symbols in the same vein as a Kimber or Noveske. I also think that status symbols are silly and pretentious.

That said, I agree with the posts on the first page. I'm glad to see that generally we tend to be sensible around here.

 

[Yo Mama]

I'll be honest, when I see someone that raves about a brand that I can't stand (starts with a Q), I immediately downgrade their status

Other than this, I love knives, and collecting, and view someone into blades is enough status in my book

 

[shadowofleaves]

[QUOTE=uofaengr;15605991Why I feel the status symbol argument doesn't correlate to knives is that knives are not an accepted thing in society outside of enthusiasts and people who generally have common sense or use them in their job. Pulling up to a club in a Bentley will no doubt get even the most nerdy, timid, arrogant, anorexic, obese, etc guy laid, but average Joe trying to pull out his Mammoth Bark/Damascus Mnandi (or any knife featured on the Jim Skelton channel) to show a girl will likely lead to the opposite reaction (if she reacts positively, marry her).

For the record, my wife and i compared sword collections on our second date and I gave her an antique Japanese katana with hoirimono for our first Christmas together. She gave me an antique Dha sword from Thailand that year

 

[robgmn]

The person who has a multi-hundred dollar EDC that never uses it for more than opening a letter or slicing a piece of fruit probably owns a status symbol.

The person who owns that same knife and uses it for tasks all day long may own a status symbol, but likely not.

The person who owns a $10 EDC knife but never uses it probably owns (what they think is) a status symbol.

The person who owns a $10 EDC knife and uses it all day long may own (what they think is) a status symbol, but likely not.

Big price difference, same results.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

I'll be honest, when I see someone that raves about a brand that I can't stand (starts with a Q), I immediately downgrade their status

Other than this, I love knives, and collecting, and view someone into blades is enough status in my book

What's wrong with Queen? Their knives are really nice looking.

 

[Dean Crail]

I guess I have a few "status symbol" knives, I buy them not for that purpose most are investments for me from makers like Mick Strider, Mr. Emerson and others. Now if I am carrying an nice knife at a gun show or something and someone notices (most of the time that's where people recognize the knives generally) I think its kind of cool being able to have a friendly conversation with a person over a shared interest. I just like collecting personally at this point since I have plenty of "beaters" already.