Knives as status symbols?

[Kwon Kwang]

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]

I almost always prefer to use a knife for this sort of thing; I'm clumsy as hell and tend to make a mess of food packaging when opening it with my hands.

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.

I like this post a lot.

 

[method_burger]

Not in my experience. I've had really great conversations with people about what knife they carry, and they always have a story to go along with it. What they like about it, what they do, why the edge is so beat up, etc. And this goes from brand-less knives to customs. I think it is more 'look at my knife, since you seem to appreciate these things!'

It's not like the medieval world where people would carry fancy swords to display their status in the feudal system or their importance as a merchant or whatever. You would not want to casually ask them to "show you their sword" as a friendly sword enthusiast.

 

[The cow]

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.

Among knife enthusiasts, a knife is a status symbol.
Among the general population, they aren't.
Someone wears a police badge, they know exactly who they are and how to treat them.
Someone wears gaudy diamond-encrusted "bling" you know who they are and how to treat them
Someone rolls up in a Ferrari? You have a good idea how wealthy they are.
Swords used to be status symbols.
Your average joe probably wouldn't be able to tell or appreciate the difference between a Busse and an ESEE.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I guess I'd define a status symbol differently then. I've seen more than a few guys pull out an absurdly oversized folder to prove how BA they are to a cardboard box. Just like I've seen more than a few "race cars" but really knew what was under the hood. A status symbol is something to impress. Some people drive really shiny cars, and some drive sleepers. That gold plated fury folder might look big and scary, but my opinel will be cutting for days after its given up. Some watches are all flash, and some keep good time. Its all a status symbol to the person who knows how to look.

the cow, you should be a little more careful in how you pick your analogies, contrasting Busse and ESEE won't win friends on either side

 

[GermanyChris]

IRL no one cares, but stuff like this is good for epeen.

 

[Topcatpt]

I would say knives can definitely be status symbols and popularity gainers. Look at ig and youtube for instance most of the guys with crazy followings have expensive collections(generalization). I kind of directly relate popularity contest stuff and status symbols in the same context. People like to feel good about themselves and for some people that means feeling better than others. Ie my collection is better than yours, I can afford this you cant, or I have more followers than you. For most of us here I dont think thats what it is about but it definitely is out there. Do you think a guy like Jim Skelton doesnt get a kick out of having a one off expensive custom, knowing only he has it and can afford it, and that people envy him for it. The guy doesnt know a whole hell of alot about knives he has learned over his youtube career(still no knowledge of actual use of a knife) but i would say he can tell a well put together knife at this time. But through his colection of status symbols people immediately took to him and he gained popularity among knife people not even knowing the basics of general use in the beginning. Sorry for the skelton stuff but its the most well known example I can give. As I read this maybe I give a better example of not really status symbols more as a tool of popularity gain. But I do think the two go hand in hand to some degree.

 

[Yo Mama]

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

Haha, forgot all about Queen, no they are ok in my book, it's qtrmstr or how ever the heck they want to spell their name

 

[not2sharp]

I would say knives can definitely be status symbols and popularity gainers. Look at ig and youtube for instance most of the guys with crazy followings have expensive collections(generalization). ...

I think that we are going too far to say that this is about specific items as status symbols. I have been collecting and picking for over 40 years and I can say that it it always interesting to talk to someone when they are passionate about something. It doesn't matter whether the items are something I have an interest in or not; a well presented collection is always fun to look at. These people have put in time and effort to develop a unique persona, which is far more refreshing than dealing with the multitude that simply mimics whatever the latest celebrity fad is.

n2s

 

[Franciscomv]

In my country's rural culture knives are most certainly a status symbol. Besides our regular work knives, guys are expected to have a nice "sunday knife" with elaborate work by a well known silversmith on the handle and sheath. It's part of our nomadic heritage: wealth is not displayed by owning houses but rather shown in small items that can travel with their owner (wide belts covered in silver coins, exquisite saddles and so on).

Amongst my friends from the city, other than getting some compliments a nice knife is not a status symbol at all.

 

[uofaengr]

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.

I don't do social media, but sometimes see the Instagram pictures from the "EDC crowd". A lot of these come across as merely trying to impress complete strangers which is mind blowing.

I knew there was at least one of you out there

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.

Can someone not own something just for the pleasure of owning it and nothing else, whether it's used or not? This is where I was going with the OP. Why do people label someone having something expensive as needing status symbols? The argument is purely sour grapes and doesn't even make sense. I'm one who won't buy something I won't use, but I got a William Henry as a wedding gift and will never use it most likely. Does it make me think I have some sort of status now?

Some of the comments I see are along the lines of:
"Obviously X knife is a tool that can actually do work. Y knife is a status symbol for rich pricks".

Yeah that would be sour grapes. Arguments debunked simply by the facts that most people who think other folks spend their hard earned cash on something nice simply want it for the status like anyone else gives a damn are complete idiots, and a lot of the knives in reference are cheap in comparison to some customs and can be had after a few months saving which is what the majority of us do, or can be had by selling 20 cheaper knives that equal twice the cost of the expensive knife.

 

[omaha-beenglockin]

If I see a pocket clip---I usually take a second look to see if I can figure out if they have any knife sense--say a BM or Spydie vs the gas station special. I don't go out of my way to find out what they have.

Expensive houses and cars show you have some real money(or at least a good credit line)----expensive knives just show you're a knife person.

Ever notice the generally poorer the person, the better the cell phone they have----people with real money don't care and are still using an 8 year old flip phone because it still works.

 

[Gaston444]

I had a friend who knew a retired elite commando guy (active in the early 90s)... This guy thought a knife he would use should cost 10-15 dollars... I could hardly believe he meant that...

Gaston

 

[Czechmate]

IRL no one cares, but stuff like this is good for epeen.

Instagram is strong proof of that... :foot:

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Haha, forgot all about Queen, no they are ok in my book, it's qtrmstr or how ever the heck they want to spell their name

I was being facetious. I agree, they try way too hard to be tacticool for my tastes. There's originality, and then there's...whatever these are.

:barf:

I'd mention the prices, but I'm pretty sure my fingers would cramp up from refusal to type something so outlandishly bonkers. I'm gonna go oggle some Spydercos to cleanse my eyes and mind of what I've seen.

 

[eon blue apocalypse]

I think it depends on the circle you run in. If you hang out with a lot of knifey people (or just post for them on the webbernets), there is a chance that knives could be status symbols, of a very specific sort.

Otherwise you're just a person with a very deep (or deep-pocketed) interest in very specific tools.

As for those knives above that Kwon posted...whoa, I guess I have been lucky up until now as this is the first I've seen them; they're not for me.