Preferences/Pet Peeves

Locutus D'Borg said:
I acknowledge that we are dealing with human nature: in general (meaning there are exceptions), people believe their items/objects are worth more than they are (at market value) AND people assume others are familiar with THEIR objects. I have found this applies to knives, cars, watches, guns, etc.
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Most people aren’t salesman, and will never be. Sales skills are rare, and extremely value both in life and in business. I think the exchange reflects this. Most people don’t know how to advertise their stuff in a way that makes people want to buy it.

On the other hand, if you give too much of a “sales pitch” about a knife, it sounds like you’re trying too hard and being untruthful.

For me, the type of listing that appeals to me is as detailed and honest as possible, backed up by a seller who’s willing to provide information, videos, and more pictures upon request.

I currently work in sales in the service industry. That doesn’t mean I know everything or that what I say is right, just sharing my experience and my opinions that I’ve developed.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I get that, but most buyers on this forum want to know blade steel and length. I personally am not going to google every knife for sale to find out info that should be on the listing. I just move to the next knife.
There are sellers that don't even post a photo, they expect you to search for it on the internet. Sorry, that does not work for me. Maybe I'm stubborn, but if you are selling something you should give at least the basics.
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Oh no no pictures are absolutely a necessity not arguing with you there. Pictures a)prove you actually have the item. b)shows what condition that item is in and c)ensures every party knows what is on the table and avoids confusion we are in violent agreement there

Im just saying common sense can reign here when it comes to specs. I agree mentioning steel and size and price are all important just saying I dont expect someone who is selling 6 knives in one post to have the entire spec sheet copied over from bladehq for each knife especially when those knives are evergreen models like a PM2
 
c7m2p3 said:
Oh no no pictures are absolutely a necessity not arguing with you there. Pictures a)prove you actually have the item. b)shows what condition that item is in and c)ensures every party knows what is on the table and avoids confusion we are in violent agreement there

Im just saying common sense can reign here when it comes to specs. I agree mentioning steel and size and price are all important just saying I dont expect someone who is selling 6 knives in one post to have the entire spec sheet copied over from bladehq for each knife especially when those knives are evergreen models like a PM2
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Yeah, I think we agree. Someone put for sale today a sealed box, with the knife inside, and provided NO photo of the knife (even a stock photo) AND no info at all on the knife. Crazy.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
Yeah, I think we agree. Someone put for sale today a sealed box, with the knife inside, and provided NO photo of the knife (even a stock photo) AND no info at all on the knife. Crazy.
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I've seen that before.

The seller apparently thinks that selling a knife in a "sealed" box is proof of its authenticity but anyone can buy a commercial "shrink wrap" machine to reseal previously opened boxes. If s/he never opened it, how would s/he know what's in it?

I wouldn't NEVER buy anything I couldn't see pictures of unless, like w/AMZN, I have a guaranteed right to return it for a PROMPT "no questions asked" refund.
 
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I am glad to see I am not alone! I only buy work knives now, and my older pretty knives are I want in that area. Have a few old German made traditionals with stag handles, a couple with nice wood, even one that has "pakkawood" so dark and so well colored that I thought for years it was either some type of ebony or bakelite. Nope, years of carrying that old rascal revealed layers in the right light.

I know these things appeal to others or manufacturers/makers would not produce them. I can't see a "hard use" or "work" knife that has more colors on it than a peacock, or worse, is anodized red, gold, orange, etc. All of those finishes wear, and wear quickly. Then you have the quintessential gas station knife in your hands. I don't like the new bizarre blade shapes and handles on folders, knives that look like a Klingon would be proud to carry.

All of that business chased me to Cold Steel, and I have not been disappointed. They certainly have many knives that have a convenience store vibe, but their "work" knives are as solid as they come. The SR1 tanto I have excels on site, but face it, it isn't pretty. No way, no how. But a great piece of gear. In fact ,the only knife I have from CS that gets attention, and rightfully so is the AD10. Gorgeous piece of gear and practical, too. It seems that CS has just a few colors and they keep them solid. My Ultimate Hunter is Orange handled with satin finished blade, AD10 is black with satin finish, American Lawman is black with a modified (by me) painted blade (black) and the others are the same. CS is remarkable in making their colorations a materials unremarkable.

I am laughing out loud to myself as I type this, but I have NEVER, EVER had one compliment on my SR1 ! Poor guy, and the hardest worker of the bunch. I used it yesterday to pull up a piece of loose 2X6 stair tread so I could peek underneath and the guy I was with said "hey Robert... don't break your knife!". Not likely. Wouldn't try that with a new ZT!
 
Boattale said:
Wave
Flipper
Liner lock
Chinese
Garish covers
BS backstories
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Yeah, the BS backstories had me LOL. It is SO true. I've heard CNBC pundits (talking about sales) say that people will more likely buy something - especially in the luxury space - if there is a story attached. Their point was that while women tend to gravitate to things (or people) that have stories, men tend to gravitate toward functional objects FOR THEIR FUNCTIONALITY. I'll let my kind readers decide If I should be tarred and feathered for this insight. I wish my old friend Lone Wolf were here to defend me. Wonder where she is.
 
knivesnknucks said:
The more “complicated” a knife design is, the less I like it. A lot of “modern style” knives have way too much going on, aesthetically, for me. It’s a 100% subjective preference, I just like “simpler” looking aesthetics.
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Boattale said:
Wave
Flipper
Liner lock
Chinese
Garish covers
BS backstories
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Yes to both of these! Simple proven design, well made and durable, , quality materials are what’s most important to me. Not fancy, not the newest steel, none of that matters to me, I just want it to work well, last long, and do what it’s intended to do, at a reasonable price point.
 
Like:
- simple yet elegant blade shapes that put function ahead of form (e.g. leaf shape, spear point, tanto)
- simple, ergonomic handles that don’t go overboard with finger choils
- decently centered, bladeplay free, smoothly opening folders (if we can have this from entry level Cold Steels and Spydercos, more expensive knives with a supposedly higher degree of fit and finish should have this as well)
- full tang!
- DLC coating (when appropriate)
- lanyard hole
- well-made khukuris

Dislike:
- folder-specific problems (bad centering, bladeplay, mediocre action)
- ricasso
- spine jimping
- ridiculously large finger choils especially on smaller knives
- uneven grind lines (differing opinions on this, but a knife should be mission-capable right out of the factory. Imagine having to change the tires of your brand new Ford because it came with ratty tires)
- weird-ass blade shapes that give off “I’m not like other guys/girls” energy
 
I always laugh at user reviews that seem more concerned with tearing down a competitor's knife than with reviewing the knife owned.

"I love my new Brand X knife. It's so much better than Brand Y. Brand Y is this and Brand Y is that, and I don't like Brand Y. I had a Brand Y and it spontaneously exploded in my pocket. That's why I love my new Brand X. Because it isn't Brand Y."

Such a strange obsession with crapping on what they didn't buy.

Also chunky plunge grinds at hard right angles to the primary grind. Purely aesthetic, I will admit. Compare the early Kershaw Blur blades with the current Blurs grinds. I much prefer the original.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
1) Bolsters: I like metal bolsters. Currently, some makers are creating bolsters (or faux bolsters) out of CF, Micarta, etc. and they just don't look right to my eye. Either on traditionals or moderns. I know, I'm old.
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This doesn't bother me. Though I think what Quiet Quiet described does sound off. But I have no qualms using wood/micarta, or G10/micarta, or even CF/G10 - as long as it looks good to my eye. I think I have a pretty generic sense of aesthetics, so if I like the look, I am pretty sure at least a few others will as well.

But I, too, am firmly in the camp of preferring makers not to take a bite out of usable blade length and call it a choil.
 
Personal preference : serious hard use knives , focus on function / performance at a value price .

Old school Cold Steel, for example . Knives made to be sturdy , reliable and to cut ( & keel) , handle well and survive some abuse if necessary . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

To provide good value and be affordable .

Folders that are close to fixed as practical / affordable designs can be . Example : Tri-ad lock AD10 , 4 Max Scout etc .
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Pet peeves : knives that focus on "art" , fidget toy POU , bling jewelry , photo op , bragging rights etc .

I don't hate them ...just don't want to pay for them or worry about using them (or storing in a climate controlled vault ) !

Lot's of exciting new brands out there now ,but hardly any oriented to my PP, as stated above . :(
 
c7m2p3 said:
the specs. If it is a custom or a very small run on a knife I am fine with people dropping specs in....
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Quite a few customs here are listed without the blade thickness. I hate to ask for that info, but do this quite often.
Would NEVER consider a knife without that info.
 
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