My Confession

K

killgar

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Messages
7,450
I feel so...dirty.

And in an effort to cleanse myself I will publicly expose my shame. I hope to unburden myself, and in the process, perhaps I may bring peace to my troubled soul.

What is my sin you ask- I watched a Joe X destruction video...and I liked it.

There, I said it. And I throw myself upon the mercy of the knife gods.

In the past I have been very critical of Joe X, his videos, his methods, and his motivations, and I am NOT retracting any of that. I stand by all the criticism and scorn I have previously directed at him. But I have to be honest, my conscience demands it.

Some here may know that I am involved in a deep and passionate love affair with the Ti-Lite 6. I consider it to be the GREATEST folding stiletto ever made, and it is my absolute all-time favorite knife. As such, I am inclined to watch any video that might demonstrate it's greatness. Based on that, and a little morbid curiosity, I felt compelled to watch the Joe X Ti-Lite 6 video when by chance I saw it listed on Youtube.

I have loved folding stilettos since I was a small child. But I have long recognized, and lamented, the inherent flaws of folding stilettos, namely- an unreliable lock, and weak overall construction. But after watching the Cold Steel Proof video for the Ti-Lite 6, I was intrigued, and hopeful that finally there was a folding stiletto that a person could trust their life to.

But always in the back of my mind was the thought that Lynn Thompson wouldn't release a video of a knife failing miserably, after all, he had a strong personal interest in convincing people that his knives were strong, quality knives. But Joe X has no such motivation. In fact, I've gotten the impression that he has some sort of grudge against Cold Steel, and that he is out to hurt them.

So when Joe X abuses a knife, and the knife performs impressively, I have no doubt about the authenticity of that knife's quality. And he certainly abused the hell out of that Ti-Lite 6. He beat it like it was his mortal enemy. Although he eventually broke the blade, the lock never failed, and the knife never came apart. In my opinion, to say the knife performed impressively is an understatement, I would describe the knife's performance as awe-inspiring. His video makes me love the Ti-Lite 6 even more, and I didn't think that was possible.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not a Joe X convert. I have not become a fan of Joe X. I still think that he's a knucklehead using highly questionable methods, and operating under highly questionable motives. But I have to admit, if I wanted to convince someone of the strength, reliability, and quality of the Ti-Lite 6 (with AUS 8 blade), I wouldn't direct them to the CS Proof video, but instead I would recommend they watch the Joe X video. If a knife can survive Joe X, you know it's a strong knife.

And so there it is. My private shame laid bare.
 
Haha I like his videos. He’s funny as heck, and I think he’s there mostly for entertainment and to have some fun himself. Further than that I feel like watching his stuff when I’m in the right mood can be a good break away from the mundane in life. I saw that he should probably correct some titles he has up but truthfully that’s my only criticism. I like the dude. Sue me haha but I enjoy silliness and such. Me being a kind of silly dude
 
killgar said:
I feel so...dirty.

And in an effort to cleanse myself I will publicly expose my shame. I hope to unburden myself, and in the process, perhaps I may bring peace to my troubled soul.

What is my sin you ask- I watched a Joe X destruction video...and I liked it.

There, I said it. And I throw myself upon the mercy of the knife gods.

In the past I have been very critical of Joe X, his videos, his methods, and his motivations, and I am NOT retracting any of that. I stand by all the criticism and scorn I have previously directed at him. But I have to be honest, my conscience demands it.

Some here may know that I am involved in a deep and passionate love affair with the Ti-Lite 6. I consider it to be the GREATEST folding stiletto ever made, and it is my absolute all-time favorite knife. As such, I am inclined to watch any video that might demonstrate it's greatness. Based on that, and a little morbid curiosity, I felt compelled to watch the Joe X Ti-Lite 6 video when by chance I saw it listed on Youtube.

I have loved folding stilettos since I was a small child. But I have long recognized, and lamented, the inherent flaws of folding stilettos, namely- an unreliable lock, and weak overall construction. But after watching the Cold Steel Proof video for the Ti-Lite 6, I was intrigued, and hopeful that finally there was a folding stiletto that a person could trust their life to.

But always in the back of my mind was the thought that Lynn Thompson wouldn't release a video of a knife failing miserably, after all, he had a strong personal interest in convincing people that his knives were strong, quality knives. But Joe X has no such motivation. In fact, I've gotten the impression that he has some sort of grudge against Cold Steel, and that he is out to hurt them.

So when Joe X abuses a knife, and the knife performs impressively, I have no doubt about the authenticity of that knife's quality. And he certainly abused the hell out of that Ti-Lite 6. He beat it like it was his mortal enemy. Although he eventually broke the blade, the lock never failed, and the knife never came apart. In my opinion, to say the knife performed impressively is an understatement, I would describe the knife's performance as awe-inspiring. His video makes me love the Ti-Lite 6 even more, and I didn't think that was possible.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not a Joe X convert. I have not become a fan of Joe X. I still think that he's a knucklehead using highly questionable methods, and operating under highly questionable motives. But I have to admit, if I wanted to convince someone of the strength, reliability, and quality of the Ti-Lite 6 (with AUS 8 blade), I wouldn't direct them to the CS Proof video, but instead I would recommend they watch the Joe X video. If a knife can survive Joe X, you know it's a strong knife.

And so there it is. My private shame laid bare.
Click to expand...
You shall be forgiven so long as you say three Hail Marys, and 10-our fathers. We are all sinners in the eyes of the Lord
 
Hi K killgar , Welcome to group therapy, there's donuts somewhere in the back.

I think of Joe X as a more animated, if not slightly more annoying, version of the old NOSS destruction tests. Not as educational but can be entertaining. Youre an American (i think...). Watch what you want and get on with it.
 
Joe X's videos are very helpful when I am uncertain of which knife to use as a masonry chisel, or when I have that "how many licks to the center of a tootsie roll pop" kind of question. Should walk back to the shed to get a hacksaw or just pound that iron pipe in half using my favorite knife's spine? Highly recommend for those hard to make decisions!!! A+++++

All seriousness aside, I do appreciate seeing how durable knives are under extreme abuse. I really hope he isn't using the carcinogenic gas mask filters, but hey maybe that's part of the fun... to each their own.
 
I hate the damn gas mask and muffled voice.

Go forth and break away, no faults with approach.
 
Gravelface said:
I hate the damn gas mask and muffled voice.

Go forth and break away, no faults with approach.
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I watch with the sound off, and I pretty much ignore "the guy" in the video. I don't want to get any deeper into "Joe X world" than I need to. 😁

I just like seeing how much abuse the Ti-Lite 6 can take without the lock failing or the knife coming apart. I focus entirely on the knife.

On a related not- he's VERY lucky he didn't stab himself in the foot when he was stabbing the car roof. There were a few glancing blows that sent the knife back between his feet. I kept thinking "We can see how the knife penetrates a car hood, we're about to see how it penetrates an idiots foot". It just demonstrates the foolishness of his antics. I'm sure there are safer ways to torture-test a knife and achieve the same results.

I'm a fan of the knife, not the guy holding the knife.
 
His videos aren't so much designed to see if a knife can survive, but what it takes to break them. All the big knives will fail simply due to leverage and physics. It's just neat to see how they break. Obviously no one in their right mind would do the stuff he does to their knives. But analyzing what it takes to get a knife to fail is very neat. I know there was that forum the other day about the DF Survivalist not doing very well, but I thought it did phenomenally. That was cool to see.

You just gotta get over the idea that the tests being done are practical. They're not, they're tests...designed to push the limits on the test subject. Bashing a knife through a metal bladed ski and then shoot said knife with a 9mm is obviously not something any normal person would do with their knives, even in a survival situation. But it's neat seeing which steels, grinds, and brands do better than others.

And, as the OP said, Lynn obviously tailor-made his tests. I always thought those videos, while cool, were obviously the signs of a huckster. As was his policy of not warranting his knives if you did what he showed the knives being capable of in the videos. If you're going to say your knives are the toughest around, then slam one through a pig carcass, you should stand by your claim and demonstrations.
 
IaccidentlyCutmyThumb said:
His videos aren't so much designed to see if a knife can survive, but what it takes to break them. All the big knives will fail simply due to leverage and physics. It's just neat to see how they break. Obviously no one in their right mind would do the stuff he does to their knives. But analyzing what it takes to get a knife to fail is very neat. I know there was that forum the other day about the DF Survivalist not doing very well, but I thought it did phenomenally. That was cool to see.

You just gotta get over the idea that the tests being done are practical. They're not, they're tests...designed to push the limits on the test subject. Bashing a knife through a metal bladed ski and then shoot said knife with a 9mm is obviously not something any normal person would do with their knives, even in a survival situation. But it's neat seeing which steels, grinds, and brands do better than others.

And, as the OP said, Lynn obviously tailor-made his tests. I always thought those videos, while cool, were obviously the signs of a huckster. As was his policy of not warranting his knives if you did what he showed the knives being capable of in the videos. If you're going to say your knives are the toughest around, then slam one through a pig carcass, you should stand by your claim and demonstrations.
Click to expand...

To be clear, I have no problem with people abusing/destroying knives, and making videos of themselves doing it. My problem with Joe X was that after breaking a knife, doing things they were never meant to do, and things no one would ever conceivably do with them, he then declared them to be garbage. That struck me not only as grossly unfair, but I felt that it also implied a personal bias on his part against Cold Steel.

Funny thing, I fully expected him to declare the Ti-Lite 6 to be garbage. But he actually appeared to be impressed by it, and I recall (from my first viewing of the video) that he commented on how he was now convinced of the quality of AUS8. I mention this only as an observation. By no means do I care what his opinion is of the Ti-Lite 6. It does however change my mind about him having a bias against Cold Steel, so I'll give him that.
 
killgar said:
To be clear, I have no problem with people abusing/destroying knives, and making videos of themselves doing it. My problem with Joe X was that after breaking a knife, doing things they were never meant to do, and things no one would ever conceivably do with them, he then declared them to be garbage. That struck me not only as grossly unfair, but I felt that it also implied a personal bias on his part against Cold Steel.

Funny thing, I fully expected him to declare the Ti-Lite 6 to be garbage. But he actually appeared to be impressed by it, and I recall (from my first viewing of the video) that he commented on how he was now convinced of the quality of AUS8. I mention this only as an observation. By no means do I care what his opinion is of the Ti-Lite 6. It does however change my mind about him having a bias against Cold Steel, so I'll give him that.
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I don't think he has a bias against Cold Steel, I think Cold Steel invites the challenge by historically marketing their knives as the toughest out there. I agree that when he says a knife is garbage it's stupid AF, but CS has always said the tri-ad lock is the toughest out there. He tested that. And in his defense, he does say it's by far the toughest lock out there.
 
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