OT: How rare a breed are we?

I used to be an all USA guy. Now I buy the best product I want. If the quality comes from Germany or Taiwan I dont really care. What i DON'T want is inferior workmanship to save 15%. - I don't want that from ANY country. Btw I'm a saddleback leather guy too- damn nice stuff
 
VANCE said:
You should try a scuttle
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That's the cup with the stainless steel insert. Worked at least as good as an all ceramic one for me so I've kept using it. Yours looks a lot better though :D

Sweet razors guys!
 
Thanks.. What make it special is the rubber stopper to the right of the brush. Youh remove it and fill the scuttle with hot water. Plug it back up and it keeps your shaving cream warm
 
VANCE said:
Thanks.. What make it special is the rubber stopper to the right of the brush. Youh remove it and fill the scuttle with hot water. Plug it back up and it keeps your shaving cream warm
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I have hot water in the cup and the brush rests in the stainless steal insert thus keeping the brush and lather warm :D
 
In answer to the OP's question: you are so rare, there should be a charity set up to buy up habitat for you. You are so rare, Jane Goodall wants to come study you in your natural environment. You are so rare, you should be hangin' with Elvis and Marilyn Monroe in their secret condo at Fort Knox.

I wonder if the species might actually have become extinct were it not for Sir TimBL (Timothy Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web and HTTP.) Seriously, how many people have rediscovered craftsmanship, quality, and the love of fine tools thanks to the Internet? It has allowed far flung individuals to connect, and to spread their gospel of fine knives and other tools.

Today, most of us live in big cities, or places where open carry of a fixed blade knife would cause some anxiety amongst the neighbors. So most of us carry folders, and would only carry a fixed blade when out in the woods or fields for work or recreation.

The good news is that the Internet has actually increased the available habitat for our rare species. Thanks to posts from those of you above, more and more people will rediscover what may have been common knowledge for our parents or grandparents. The breed may be few, but the number of quality tools, whether it's knives, axes, razors, or a leather bag, will continue to grow and multiply. Thanks to the Web, the number of craftsmen supplying us with these fine tools is only likely to multiply.

To sum it up: The future is so bright, you better get some high quality shades. If we are lucky enough to be around in 10 years, a quality fixed blade knife will not be such a rare sighting, and our choices as consumers will be better than we can imagine. We may always be a rare breed, but we will stay off the endangered species lists.
 
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I disagree. Sounded like a bunch of political jibber-jabber to me. Then again, what do I know .. I live in a State that has one of the most liberal knife laws and we (LEOs) dont shoot ANY one (vs his general race baiting Black man comment) for just carrying a fixed blade knife.
 
Yeah political comments aside, I do agree with some of the observations about the internet being a conduit for like minds being able find a common platform in sites such as these, but beyond that I defer to the old adage "to each their own" ;)
 
It's all a trade off, isn't it ? For example, I buy leather work gloves at a local farm & ranch supply store. They've got a wall full of various work gloves of different types. All of them are made in China. The typical price for an uninsulated pair of leather work gloves is $ 9.99. They only carry one brand of USA made leather gloves from a small company in Oregon. Beautifully made and they feel great on your hands. Price for an uninsulated pair of these gloves is $ 45. I asked one of the store clerks and he said that no, they don't sell a lot of the Oregon gloves. It's a rural community with mainly working people. - Over the years I've bought three or four pairs of the Oregon gloves. But I've also bought many more pairs of the China made gloves. Work gloves get beat up and they get lost.

It's likely that most of us can't buy "the best of the best" in every product category. In some products, I want to carry something made by a guy who knew what he was doing, and cared about the final quality of what he made. I want the quality to be real, not just surface fakery to entice the impulse buyer. And I don't want it cranked out of a sweatshop with owners trying to scrimp on materials and QC in order to 'improve the bottom line'.

I get enjoyment from being a 'knife knut'. And while I have plenty of tools for when I need to cut something, knives fit into the category of products where I want care to be shown by the maker. And while I try to support US small companies, a knife doesn't have to necessarily be American made or very expensive to show care & quality. (Just look at the various SAKs or Moras, for example.) I really love getting quality at a bargain !

Since I now spend most of my time in an area where I can EDC fixed blade knives, (which I prefer), I'm concentrating on customs of that type now.
 
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I just saw this and had to post. My experience at Gun and knife shows is exactly the same.

There were many times where I went right for the knife tables as soon as I got there and was met with dissapointment. Nothing but BM, SPyderco, Cold Steel, and a few other regular old brands. Don't get me wrong, I love Spyderco and some of the other common brands for a good working knife at a good price but I was hoping for somehting a bit more special.

I asked a few questions and got into a discussion with some of the dealers. We eventually got to the pocket dump and I was met with suprise that I would carry a high end produciton or cusotm folder. When I was asked about how much I paid they looked at me like I was crazy. Pretty much the same look I get from a fe family members and co-workers when it ocmes to most of my tools/gear.

I think we are a rare breed. I would not know anybody who shares the same interests if it were not for these forums :)

Cheers
 
I've been to gun shows where the majority of attendees didn't know about anything pre-polymer. Asking around that crowd for a birdhead vest pocket derringer was often times met with the same tilted heads you see from a young pup. As secluded as the high end knife community is, it doesn't surprise me that its even more rare in those circles. To Dr Scott's point, if it weren't for the internet, I myself wouldn't have found it. I've always kind of known that the custom knife market existed...but I didn't really know it EXISTED...if that makes sense. If not for a YouTube suggested Jacklore video a few weeks ago, I would not be the drooling mess I am now when I browse the Makers forums :p
 
You look at yourself and say, " without the forum, I'd be alone" but in all honesty, for me, without the forum, I'd have a pocket full of gerbers lol.
 
Tmack said:
You look at yourself and say, " without the forum, I'd be alone" but in all honesty, for me, without the forum, I'd have a pocket full of gerbers lol.
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This is a great quote! I feel the same way!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Tmack said:
You look at yourself and say, " without the forum, I'd be alone" but in all honesty, for me, without the forum, I'd have a pocket full of gerbers lol.
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I remember my first gerber, it was my last. Had it for about a year then upgraded to a benchmade and never once looked back. I still browse the knife section of every store go into. But then again, who doesn't?
 
You have to browse the knife section. Even if it's lower quality than what you're used to.
Just like flashlights. Now I spend a couple hundred on a edc, but still look at the maglite and rayvac lol.

Yeah I still have a Gerber fixed blade. Last time I used it was to dig out flooring staples haha. Worked great!
 
viral said:
I remember my first gerber, it was my last. Had it for about a year then upgraded to a benchmade and never once looked back. I still browse the knife section of every store go into. But then again, who doesn't?
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I've read that suffering exists in the world so that we might better appreciate God's grace. Just like we browse every knife case in every store, and then enjoy the blessing of the rare retailer with good quality blades.

Tmack said:
You have to browse the knife section. Even if it's lower quality than what you're used to.
Just like flashlights. Now I spend a couple hundred on a edc, but still look at the maglite and rayvac lol.
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There is more truth in this thread than in church on Sunday.:rolleyes::p:D
 
Haha love the first one.

"johnny, there's needy children out there with gerbers, that would love to have your SMALL sebenza. Now go to your room and strop your s35vn!"
 
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