No Local Knife Shop - What to Do...

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sharkattacksw

Joined
Aug 4, 2008
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How many of you guys do not have a local knife shop? How do you buy your knives without seeing and holding them first? Do you just take the word of some of the more respected knife reviewers out there? I ask because I don’t have a decent local knife shop that I can go to and look at many of the knives I’m interested in. Sure, I have some local sporting goods stores, Wal-Marts and an REI, but they typically do not carry near the stock that a true knife shop would.

I know I can order online and if I don’t like the knife just send it back, but that’s kind of a hassle. Plus it’s not real practical when it comes to trying to decide between several knives. I surely don’t want to buy 6 or 7 knives only to send all but 1 or 2 back. Just looking for suggestions as to how you guys without local shops deal with buying your knives. Obviously, I always check here for information and reviews on knives that I’m interested in, and it helps a lot, but it’s no substitute for actually holding the knife in your hand and opening and closing the actual knife.

Thanks for the help.
 
Do a search for shops that are within driving range from you and find the closest few.
 
I don't have any either. Bass pro is the closest thing to a knife shop but they don't carry anything I am interested in. Gun show's would have some knives on display. I went to one the other week and got to handle a bunch of ZT knives that I wouldn't have any other way to handle. Wish I wouldn't have because I want a ZT300 now. I also saw a lot of Spyderco Knives.
 
Only place for me to shop is where i work, and we only have cold steel, buck and helle. So everytime i want something else i go to youtube and bladeforums and watch reviews and gather information and then make my decision ;) Havent got i blade i dont like yet so it def. work :)
 
sharkattacksw said:
How many of you guys do not have a local knife shop? How do you buy your knives without seeing and holding them first? Do you just take the word of some of the more respected knife reviewers out there?

sharkattacksw, my own way is that I make a list of mfgs., brands, models, etc. of knives that look "interesting" from magazines, internet, ads, etc., then either travel to a knife show or go to one of the 3 national gun shows when they come rolling into town. There are always several dealers at these shows who carry almost 95% of the most poplar brands. You can see them, hold them, ask questions about them, etc., & also get an idea of what the various costs are for a particual model. Plus it's a "Road Trip" . . . :)
Be safe.
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I usually research based on what reviews and discussions are on here and youtube. I look at comparison shots between knives I have and ones I want. If you ask some to post side by side shots of 2 or more knives, 99% of the time several people come through. Overall, if you buy a knife for a reasonable price and you dont like it, you can easily sell it. Are wanting to collect or just lookong for a specific user knife? Jump in with both feet, you will soon have a better understansing of dimensions, steels, manufacturers, etc. Good luck.
 
I just buy what i think i will like, if i dont like it, i send it back or sell it.
 
By viewing the knives online, in reviews, and on youtube, you can get a pretty good understanding of what you are buying. I have accumulated a pretty decent arsenal (see my sig line), and virtually every knife I own has been purchased online. I would not buy from a bricks and mortar store anyway, as online prices are almost always less.
 
I've bought like 4 knives while in a shop, not including moras.
I must have near 50 knives in my box.
Some fit me, some don't.
Some fall apart if i look at them crooked, some can be used to flip a dump truck.
 
Like I stated in the title, Cabela's usually has a mildly decent selection. They usually carry Gerbers, Ka-Bars, and Ontarios, but you're right, not a decent selection. What I would do is go onto Yellowpages.com and type in "knife dealers" or something like that. In this day and age, I can't imagine there not being one within 100 to 200 miles. And truly, it's worth it to go the extra mile(s) to see your possible choices. It could mean the difference between a happy purchase, and a shout of rage when you realize that the knife you bought for chopping and sheltercraft weighs all of 2 oz. Haha. And, if you're on the Internet looking at reviews and such, it just isn't the same. It's someone else's opinion on how they like the knife, not your own. And, as in my own personal experience, you may be swept up with "custom fever". People online seem to think that you need to purchase a two- or three-hundred-dollar blade in order to be happy, and that's just not the case. I went in to Cabela's with some friends one time to look at some camping equipment. I was in the process of buying a Busse, and my friend told me to go check out the Beckers, because he really liked them. I thought, "There's no way this is going to compare." but went over anyway, in order to placate him. Much to my surprise, I fell in love - with a knife SIGNIFICANTLY lower-priced than my intended Busse Sarsquatch. It did all I needed it to, and it didn't kill the wife to see the bill. With the leftover money, I was able to buy an awesome, awesome pack, too. In summation, I think it's worth it to drive a while to go see a knife.
 
I generally only purchase online. Not only are there no local knife shops here but, generally speaking, I find better service, selection, and prices online than at 'real' stores anyway.

There's a forum section here called "The Good The Bad and The Ugly." Two ways you might find this area useful:
1) post where you live and ask for knife shop recommendations. There might be someplace you're overlooking, or someplace not exactly local that's worth a short drive.
2) get recommendations for honest and dependable online dealers.

Good luck!
 
sharkattacksw said:
I always check here for information and reviews on knives that I’m interested in
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That's a good way to start - there is a lot of knowledge & experience in these forums!

I live in the largest city in my country and I don't know of any knife shop anywhere that has the sort of knives I'm interested in, so I buy everything online. So far I've not had the urge to send back or sell any knife I've bought and there are several knives I'd like to buy that I am confident are good knives that I wouldn't be disappointed in.

If you are having trouble deciding on what to spend your money on then ask here - I love spending other people's money. For a fixed blade the ESEE brand are really good, Mora knives are great for the price, Condor machetes are made well while costing little, etc.
 
I hate buying a knife without holding it first. I have a local knife shop where I can try stuff out, but they don't have everything. There has defiantly been some trial and error when it comes to online buying. I brought SOGs, Spydercos and Kershaws before I figured out that I was a Benchmade guy. I also bought a lot of axix-locks before I figured out frame-locks where my thing. Going hands-on is very important when buying a hand-tool

It's also a good idea to vacation where there are knifeshops. I went Paris last summer, There is an amazing shop there. They had all the high and mid range knifes but they also had a bunch of rustic regional french knives. I got 2 french made douk-douks which are great and an opinel. My visit to knife shop was almost as good as my visit the Louvre. While at the shop I got to handle a BM51, it's amazing. Now I own one
 
The OP brings up an interesting point for me though. How many of you find "value" in purchasing a knife in a traditional brick and mortar store? So much so that you might even spend a few more dollars on a new knife in order to have the tactile experience of holding and playing with it prior to purchase?

I for one would have to travel over 100 miles in order to find a real knife store to purchase most of the brands I am interested in, and I live only 10 minutes from Washington D.C. !
 
Mostly it is utube reviews. Second would be gun shows. Once a year there is a knife show about 100 miles from me.
 
There are gun shows in Lexington or Louisville every couple of months and most usually have enough knife vendors that I can handle new stuff and often pick up a model I've been reading about. THere are probably gun shows within driving distance of you.
 
Some local brick and mortar have good prices. If you don't have any stores in your area, your best bet would be gun shows.
 
Subterfuge7 said:
How many of you find "value" in purchasing a knife in a traditional brick and mortar store? So much so that you might even spend a few more dollars on a new knife in order to have the tactile experience of holding and playing with it prior to purchase?
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A few dollars more is one thing. 25% to 50% more plus 10% sales tax is something else. But there is a fairness factor, I think. I generally won't go into a B&M store, try out a bunch of knives that interest me, leave without purchasing anything and then buy them off the internet. If I'm going to buy knives off the internet, I do as much online research as I can up front. Then I assume the risk that I may not like them after I receive them and bear the loss if I have to send them back or resell them. That's a much smaller risk on my part than the risk a B&M store owner assumes by operating a small business.

Unless we want to be relegated to purchasing knives at trade shows and virtual storefronts, we all have an investment in keeping B&M stores going. They're already an endangered species.

.
 
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