Knives to keep on hand for gifts?

LastRodeo said:
leghog said:
LastRodeo said:
That would be another benefit to the RR, a litmus test for who not to give gifts to in the future. "Let me see how much this gift costs before I decide if I'm grateful"
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I know guys who wouldn't carry one because of the pedigree regardless of cost. Have yet to meet one who won't carry a SAK for that reason.
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The word to focus on here is gift. How I was raised, you appreciate the gift, no matter what. Depending on the pedigree of the recipient, ymmv.
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Yes, but if you are given a knife you are thankful for then never carry... --- actions speak louder than words. Consider the giver very may well notice you don't carry the gift he gave. He'll now you didn't truly appreciate the gift.
 
For a fixed blade -Mora companion.
Just an unbeatable package (in my opinion) for less than 15$
Mark
 
I modified my last post a bit to reflect my thoughts. If a kid gives me a knife, I know that it is something from the heart and they believe they are giving me something special to them and something they think I would really like. So, my appreciation and reaction would reflect that. If it is an adult, I would just thank them for being so thoughtful (as I added in my last post). I don't want to come off as some sort of a knife snob or jerk, but a gift reflects the giver and the circumstance of the gift. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a lot of knives and if they want to see me carry it, it had better be a two layer SAK and even then, I have my regulars. The majority of my knives never really get used regardless of whether or not they are gifts and "they" know that.
 
leghog said:
Yes, but if you are given a knife you are thankful for then never carry... --- actions speak louder than words. Consider the giver very may well notice you don't carry the gift he gave. He'll now you didn't truly appreciate the gift.
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I have received knives as gifts that I would never have bought for myself. I remember who gave me every knife I was gifted, I carry that knife when I see them. I have one knife I rarely carry, because it is so dear to me. That knife has a special place on my display rack for custom knives. You probably don't understand why this wobbly bladed, imitation SAK, gift shop cheapo has such a special place in my collection and heart. The engraving on the side says "Dad".
 
22-rimfire said:
I modified my last post a bit to reflect my thoughts. If a kid gives me a knife, I know that it is something from the heart and they believe they are giving me something special to them and something they think I would really like. So, my appreciation and reaction would reflect that. If it is an adult, I would just thank them for being so thoughtful (as I added in my last post). I don't want to come off as some sort of a knife snob or jerk, but a gift reflects the giver and the circumstance of the gift. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a lot of knives and if they want to see me carry it, it had better be a two layer SAK and even then, I have my regulars. The majority of my knives never really get used regardless of whether or not they are gifts and "they" know that.
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I remember a senior exec where I work just shaking his head at some of the shirts I'd wear to work. He would just knowingly shake his head, smile, and ask/state, "gift from one of the kids". Neal. He was a good man from whom I learned some valuable lessons. Sadly, he died last month.
 
I give out rough riders often. They can be had for about 6-12 shipped and the f&f really is top notch IMO.
 
I keep on hand a supply of Moras, RAT-1's (for those non-traditional type fellas), and SAK Classics and Cadets. I have had great reactions from knife people and non-knife people alike... especially after they get a chance to put the knife to use for a while.
 
I can't believe nobody mentioned the taboo against using knives as gifts. I know that is just superstition, but you'd think that BladeForums members would be all up on the lore of the knife. It's amazing how common the taboo is. From the Americas, to Europe, to Asia. Even in Japan, where, ironically, swords are given as gifts to diplomats. It's so wide spread that nobody knows where it came from. I've heard heard things like 'severing relationships', to the risk of cutting oneself, to links to Samurai or Medieval soldiers. Stupid but would be good to know the true origins.

Anyway. I almost always do the penny thing. The giving the person the penny, to buy the knife, you're giving them is about as logical as the original superstition. But, attaching the penny adds a bit of gravitas to the small gift like an SAK and shows that you've put thought into the gift.

As far as WHAT go give.
Swiss Army is always safe.
Schrade has some good classics around that price
Opinel as mentioned (if the person may not 'get' knives they have stainless blades too)
I've given away a bunch of Fury Teardrops to people that should have had a pocket knife but didn't. It's stylish, kinda girly, and cheap.

Laguiole are expensive but there are companies that have similar profiles (French, Countryman, Peasant Farmer....something like that)
Which reminds me of Svord, A Kiwi company that makes some nice looking peasant knives for the money
somebody mentioned douk-douks. I have a similar Japanese knife that was given to me that supposedly has the author of the 'Go Rin No Sho' stamped in to the brass (sword guys will know). probably worth more than 20 bucks but cool.
 
nine4t4 said:
I can't believe nobody mentioned the taboo against using knives as gifts. I know that is just superstition, but you'd think that BladeForums members would be all up on the lore of the knife. It's amazing how common the taboo is. From the Americas, to Europe, to Asia. Even in Japan, where, ironically, swords are given as gifts to diplomats. It's so wide spread that nobody knows where it came from. I've heard heard things like 'severing relationships', to the risk of cutting oneself, to links to Samurai or Medieval soldiers. Stupid but would be good to know the true origins.

Anyway. I almost always do the penny thing. The giving the person the penny, to buy the knife, you're giving them is about as logical as the original superstition. But, attaching the penny adds a bit of gravitas to the small gift like an SAK and shows that you've put thought into the gift.
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There are plenty of threads about it on BF. I'm not superstitious so don't buy into it or practice it.
 
Any Swiss Army Knife is a good gift choice, because they can be obtained in so many sizes, patterns and colors. There are even Classics with silhouettes of city skylines: NYC, San Francisco and a few others but still with a useful and high quality knife. :rolleyes:
 
jackknife said:
SAK's totally. Especially for non knife nuts.

Every one of the non knife people in the family that I gifted a small classic tom went on to become a die hard SAK person. Especially the women folk. I'm not sure of just why, maybe it's the scissors and nail file. Or maybe that its more tool that just a "knife." Even the menfolk that are not knife people that got used to a classic on their keys, went on to graduate to bigger SAK's like spartan's with the corkscrew, or a tinker.

The classic or other 58mm is a fine gateway drug into knives. The innocent looking classic is the Giddion's Bible of knives.
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100% agree. Also, they are very inexpensive so they're not a drain on the wallet. Recently, Victorinox has produced some artsey ones that are particularly cute, hence easy to give.
 
jackknife said:
The classic or other 58mm is a fine gateway drug into knives. The innocent looking classic is the Giddion's Bible of knives.
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Wiser words were never written. My wife wanted a Swiss Army knife about ten years ago for Christmas. Shopping around for that knife is what got me interested in knives again.

I ended up getting her two Swiss Army knives and one of them was a Classic. She still uses it.
 
The average non-knife person is likely going to get more use (actual use) out of a simple SAK.
 
I was at a local feed store that carries case knives and saw a pile of clamshell packed "caliber" lock back marked down to 5 bucks. I should have bought the pile of them for this very purpose.
 
I received a Carhartt pocket T the other day from my grandson as a present. He knows I wear these things to death. He bought his favorite color and gave it to me (birthday). It was not a knife and not real expensive. But I know this present was from the heart and he wanted to give me something I would USE. He could have given me a knife, but heck.... what are chances that I would actually use it and he has no experience choosing a knife other than looking at the price.
 
Can't argue with the Rough Riders for a classic slip joint or the all about functionality of a SAK.

For a modern folder consider the new Byrd Meadolark. Sub-3" blade with basic Spyderco ergos, without the huge "hole hump" that many other Spyderco models have. Good materials, fit and finish for right around $20. I used to also buy up Skylines when I could find a good deal on them and they made great modern folder gift knives too. It's gotten hard to find good pricing on Skylines too often these days...
 
I've gifted 58mm SAKs to non-knife folks and they are carried. Along with the SAK I also gave them a size 0 Nit-Ize S-biner so they can easily attach and remove the knife from their keys.
 
Rough Riders are great knives for gifting, to be sure, but you would have to know a little about the giftees knife preferences. Everybody loves SAKs, and that would be my choice. Even non- knife folks like them.
 
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