Pocket Knives as gifts for non knife people

Synov said:
A back lock is easy to understand but not easy to close without fingers in the path of the blade, so it takes some time to figure out how to do it safely. As an alternative I would suggest shark lock knives. Not as intuitive as a back lock but just as easy to use and safer. The Demko Shark Cub and Flytanium Arcade are in the $100-200 range.
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I gave one of my BILs a 110, and he couldn't figure out how to close it. Wonderful guy but totally non-mechanical. The most appreciated knives I've given were a bunch of really cheap Loseable Knives (5 for $10) from Lee Valley Tools. I think they were stamped out of pot metal but they were a hit anyway.
 

non knife people .​

^^^Here's the problem !

Unless you're going to stage an intervention /deprograming ? Just wasting time and money otherwise .

For adult males anyway .

Kids and some women can possibly be helped .

Of course , I think lots of people simply have to live and work in non permissive environments . Different problem entirely .
 
If they are not knife people than I just get a Swiss Army knife or a slip joint, something practical even if they use sparingly. As one mentioned, maybe a BUCK slim select with a lock back.
 
I will usually give an SAK to someone who's not a "knife person ". Hopefully, they will see how useful a knife is to have in the pocket or on their keys.
 
I’ve gave several people Ontario Rat II’s. A few of them turned into guys that like to carry knives. AUS8 version so it’s easier for them to learn to sharpen if they decide to.
 
DocJD said:

non knife people .​

^^^Here's the problem !

Unless you're going to stage an intervention /deprograming ? Just wasting time and money otherwise .

For adult males anyway .

Kids and some women can possibly be helped .

Of course , I think lots of people simply have to live and work in non permissive environments . Different problem entirely .
Click to expand...

Some people just dont know.

One of my apprentices at work didn't have a father. Or technically he did but he was in prison for cooking meth. This poor kid (25) was using all kinds of dumb stuff to open parts packaging. I gave him a crappy Gerber that had been in my toolbox for years and told him that when I was a kid, every male over the age of 6 had a pocket knife and we talked about them, how to cut away from yourself, etc.
The next week he asked me to show him how to sharpen it. A month later he told me he got his son a little pocket knife.
 
Depends honestly, if they legit aren't knife people... then I probably WOULDN'T be gifting them one to begin with. They will either not carry or use it.... or just find it strange that I'm giving them a knife...

With that said, I think a Kershaw Skyline or spyderco delica /endura / tenacious ... would all be GREAT options ... They are fantastic knives for the money and would be a decent representation of a knife for that person... maybe becoming the pipeline of getting them into the knife world.
 
The only person I’ve ever tried this with was my brother. He is very much different than me in many ways, especially in NOT carrying knives. He was the best man at my wedding, so I gifted him the BESTMAN from lion steel. Partially for the literal and figurative significance, but mostly because I thought he would use it (although deep down I knew he wouldn’t). As much as it bewilders, confuses, and pains me, it’s very hard to convince a non knife person how awesome, cool, and basically essential it is to have a decent knife. I’ll keep trying though….

*also, I gave him a kershaw cryo 2 some years ago, and I know he at least uses it to breakdown boxes….maybe there’s hope??
 
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It's embarrassing how many knives I give away. I've had some real success turning non-knife people into minor league knifers. Even a few full turns.

But I have to put them on the, I'll sharpen it when you need it for life program. Fun part is that the knife tells me all their secrets about following instructions and level of commitment when I work with it. That determines the probability and price range of the next knife gift they will likely receive.

Statistically not near as successful as turning them into vampires with a well placed bite though.
 
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