OT: How rare a breed are we?

emoney2277

emoney2277

Joined
Feb 14, 2014
Messages
1,400
Hey gang! I just got back from a local gun and knife show. I brought a couple of my knives (non Fiddlebacks) as potential trade bait (I'm building an AR).
Basically, at this show, the nicest knife I saw was a ZT or a Spyderco. When I asked people if they were into custom knives, half of them looked at me like I had 3 heads! I showed one guy my Calavera El Patron. He liked it and asked me what I would trade for it. I pointed to one of his AR15s and I thought he was going to poop all over himself, lol. I mean, I'm at gun and knife show, you think at least one other person besides me would be into nice knives!
In the few years I've been collecting and carrying mid to higher end custom knives, I have NEVER run into anyone who shared my affliction. I pay close attention to their protruding pocket clips and what little handle pokes out from their sheaths. I see a bunch of Kershaws and the occasional Spyderco.
Have any of you ever randomly run into someone who was carrying a nice knife? Or a forum member? I'm pretty sure that no one has ever randomly bumped into someone carrying a Fiddleback. It just amazes me how small of a niche not only Fiddlebacks are, but seemingly all higher end knives beyond a $50 Gerber BG.
These people don't know what they are missing! What's more disconcerting is that they also don't get the labor of love and the miracle of craftsmanship that it takes to turn a block of steal into a beautiful piece of functioning art. Have we, as a society, manufactured so much that we no longer value honest, man made tools? The knife IMO is the most important tool that one could carry on a daily basis. Of all people, you would think a larger portion of the gun toters would be into it, at least ex military for crying out loud. I even work around cops and firemen and I see the same old $30 stuff. I understand times are tight for most and I not trying to put anyone down, at all, for not owning a blade that costs more than $50. And beyond that, I get that me spending the amount of money I do on knives is a bit on the other extreme.
It's just a lonely world out there for a knife lover I guess. I long for a day that I meet someone that's as into knives as I am and can have a face to face conversation about makers and materials, performance and applications. Will it ever come spontaneously? Going to Blade is worth it even if you can't spare a dime just to be able to talk to people who share our interests.
Anyway, story over. If you have a similar encounter, thoughts, feelings, or situations you would like to share I would love to hear it.
 
BTW, if you are also into beads and such for lanyards, checkout Wabi Sabi Skulls on Facebook. This guy is doing outrageous work. He made a custom "Unsullied" (Game of Thrones) helmet lanyard bead for me IN 1 HOUR! I was blown away!
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e, I carry a custom folder almost everyday (unless I have a Fiddleback or WAS) in my pocket. People ask to use my knife frequently, then they leave it open, laying out (in a public place, like at my work). WOW! LOL.... I never say much, I'd rather everyone not know what I spend on a custom folder, or my pen, or my Panerai, etc... LOL

I also look at pocket clips, NEVER anything good! Today in Lowe's, I saw a guy in camo with a vintage BSA Western knife from maybe the 40's to the late 50's. That got me excited! LOL

I want to educate the world, teach them what a good knife is like, how enjoyable they can be and how to really sharpen a knife!

I have a friend who has bought a couple of Randall's at flea markets! Damn lucky dude!
 
As a matter of fact, most people would have a knife upgrade if they would go to Wal-Mart and spend $40-50 bucks! LOL.... Life is too short to carry a cruddy knife! That's why I keep my little shoe box of knives under my bed!
 
Wow a Randall at a flea market, I bet he picked it up for $25!
To each their own I guess. It's just surprising me as a guy. I mean what kid doesn't get into knives as some point in his life? Like I said, money and income aside, I know a guy that CC a $2500 WC 1911. He accompanies it with a fake Sebenza he bought on eBay. I mean, really dude? I guess I should give him some credit for knowing what a Sebenza is, at least. Most people think Chris Reeve is Superman, lol. Oh well. I guess that leaves more good blades for us!!
 
I know how you feel OP. Well in a sense. I do not have the means to carry super expensive knives, but even so I feel the same way even in the Spyderco and Benchmade realm of things. I rarely come across anyone carrying something costing more than $20. Mostly Crap no name stuff and the occasional low end Kershaw. I have come across a few with Spyderco's and Benchmade's or similar (in price) knives, but even in that price range it seems quite uncommon. Most people could not imagine spending more than $20 on a knife. It boggles my mind. :D
 
Once someone has handled a nice knife, custom or good production, they will never be satisfied with junk, again! And, I must say, ZT's are some of the best working folders I have ever handled! I usually carry a Fitz, Shiffer or Curtis, but my ZT's are freakin' phenomenal! It is just plain fun to carry a nice knife!
 
emoney2277 said:
Have we, as a society, manufactured so much that we no longer value honest, man made tools?
Click to expand...

Very clearly, yes. Unfortunately, cheap matters more than quality; dispensability has somehow superseded longevity in our society.

Frankly, whenever I encounter someone wearing or carrying something other than a cheap, imported accessory, I instantly learn a little about that person and what they stand for.

btw, the cutlery at our local "Gun & Knife Show" is worse than what's sold at the local gas station. I cringe when I see what they're hawking for $100 and keep my quality in its pocket. So I know how you feel...

I've settled for educating my brother and his son. I've gotten them to at least stop buying knives at gas stations and moved them up to Big 5 or Swains, the local general store. My nephew loves the BG stuff but they both are beginning to realize the differences between a $50 knife and a $250 knife. I gifted my brother a US made Schrade a few years back and he loves it. I can see an ESEE or Becker in his future, and then it will be on to a Fiddleback for him.
 
I hear you!
When I hand someone one of my fiddlebacks and they ask how much they cost.....total shock and awe
 
Go to the general knife discussion sub forum under the main Forums section. That pretty much explains the consensus of opinion regarding knife purchasing and collecting.
 
I found my love for knives at an early age. I actually think I've carried a blade every day since about the 4th grade. Yes, we could carry knives at school then.

I also learned early on to ask what they are going to use it for when someone asked to borrow your knife. Too many idiots think a knife is a pry bar or screwdriver.

Everyone knows I'm a "knife guy" so I'm the first one they ask to borrow my knife. I usually carry two knives at work. The one I use and a junk one I let people borrow. :)

I saw a co-workers "deer knife" the other day and I'm still in disbelief that you could actually field dress a deer with it. It was one of the hunting knives in the knife case at the dime store that probably sold for $3 new when he bought it.

Well, that was a long rant to say that my son and I are the only two people I know willing to spend as much on a knife as others pay for a gun :)
 
How right you are, all of you! It's very interesting to think about how many people or the general public who don't see the value of a handmade or custom item. Custom suit, custom knife, handmade bowl, hand blown glass - the list is endless.

As to meeting someone in passing, it'll happen. One day, hopefully sooner rather than later.
 
There is a local guy who buys and sells knives at flea markets and gun shows, when he comes around he often has older customs with no history or makers mark. You can hold a knife and tell how nice it is! I think there are more "good" knives around today than ever before! A Bark River is a fantastic knife, and if it were not for them, I would have NEVER got into custom fixed blades! If it were not for Scott at usamadeblade.com, pushing high end folders on me, I would have never tried one. Thank you Bark River and Scott Whittington!
 
Heres how I got so deep in the game. Started as a kid picking up the same cheap knives at the same fun and knife shows I'm criticizing here. Fast forward a few years and I discovered Randall's on eBay, then Busse's on eBay. Then, in one of the sellers descriptions on eBay he mentioned a site called blade forums, so I checked it out. Then I saw a video by Equip2Endure, while doing some "prepping" homework, reviewing a Fiddleback. Visited Andy's webpage and the rest is history! Now, aside From my Fiddleback fixed blade love, he has mentored others making great stuff to get addicted to and due to my job and everyday environment I've now wandered into the world of nice mid tech folders. I'm a lost cause!
 
I've always carried a nicer than average knife but that trait was passed down by my grand parents.

When I was serving overseas I ordered a fairly expensive knife for the times to carry with me on ops. My buddies thought I was nuts but soon many of the began ordering their own. Seeing how proficient a tool can be first hand speaks volumes.

In my current station in life, I carry/use several variations of knives. What first grabs someone's attention is my Benchmade Infidel. I explain the justification of why I carry it, where I carry it, and I (if needed) use it. The ideas and methods are solid and by showing how this tool can aide you can cause infectious behaviors. As a DT instructor, I get asked all the time, 'what do you recommend and can this benefit me.' Many of co-workers have started carrying not only high end OTFs, but fixed blades as well.

As for Fiddlebacks, one of my co-workers has been bitten by the brown spider. We had a laugh today when his partner freaked out about the fact 'he used a $300 knife' to field dress a deer.

Owning and enjoying customs is a small niche. I'm good with that, cause there's too many of you Sharking my Runts as it is. :D
 
I think its a primal urge, similar to the feeling you get looking into a campfire. the knife may be one of the oldest tools, its probably hardwired into at least some of us to want the best we can get.
 
Hopefully I can convey this properly without offending. Most FBs are in the $250-300 range. TT, fancy woods, or pins, gets a little higher. For a fully custom, hand ground, made by man in the USA blade; that's a steal of a deal. Now when you talk about the same thing w folders, you get in the $1500-2000 range. The type of product that Andy provides at this kind of quality, beauty and functionality. That's rare. These aren't show pieces to go and stick in a safe once you Instagram it. Andy wants, and expects these to be chopped, beaten, stabbed, skinned and used every which way. So how rare are we? Dimes a dozen. Now Andy and Co. And his product, one in a million.
 
VANCE said:
I hear you!
When I hand someone one of my fiddlebacks and they ask how much they cost.....total shock and awe
Click to expand...

I just do not tell how much I pay
once I used one of my knives in presence of one of my friends
he said: or it a nice knife it must be costing around 30$

It was benchmade Osborne 940 if I remember correctly :D
 
trestle said:
I gifted my brother a US made Schrade a few years back and he loves it. I can see an ESEE or Becker in his future, and then it will be on to a Fiddleback for him.
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That's awesome! I did the same thing last year for my brother for Christmas. He surprised me when he talked about it over dinner a couple weeks back. How he just loves it, etc. Before he would give me kind of a weird look whenever I talk about knives, but now he seems genuinely interested. I kind of feel like I'm winning.

As for my three kids, ages 6, 5, and 2, they each have a Fiddleback and GEC whittler locked away for them. The older boys will ask about them from time to time since they helped pick them out, and we will take them out and handle them a bit. I'm looking forward to the day that I can hand them off, and have someone to talk to about them because I'm with the rest of you. I have yet to come across a random knife enthusiast.
 
Taja said:
I just do not tell how much I pay
once I used one of my knives in presence of one of my friends
he said: or it a nice knife it must be costing around 30$

It was benchmade Osborne 940 if I remember correctly :D
Click to expand...


That's probably the smart route.
 
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