Proud owner of a... $5 Pakistan bowie?

[BryFry]

Yesterday the wife and I are visting some neighbors, my wife starts talking about what a knife-nut I am, and how well I can sharpen them. The neighbor, (a friendly retired gent) gets a big smile on his face and says " wait here a sec" He comes back, sticks out his chest, and with obvious pride holds out his hands and says "whadduya think of these bad boys!"

And hands me these...

It's hard to spot the awsome quality in these pics, but yes that wobbly blade is attached to a broken plastic handle, (the type hasbro might use on a toy knife if they were trying to save money...

I say "Wow! Pretty cool blades!" He says "Yep, I call these my Bear Killers!" and asks if I could sharpen 'em up for him. Now, I would normally charge $5 a blade to sharpen something this size, but he was so proud, and considering the knives were hardly worth $5 to begin with, I just smiled and said "No problem."

I'm always glad to see someone with enthusiasm for knives, it's too bad most people have no idea what the differance between a good knife and junk is.

Oh, and he is not poor by any means, and could easily afford better if he chose.

 

[Masteroffajitas]

My uncle has a few knives that are junk, one is a benchmade auto though so he's not that bad. He also got me my first spyderco, a wally world native.

But my sister buys me a cheapo pakistani folder every year for my birthday for three years, and I'd feel like a jerk If I tryed showing here expensive spydercos and benchmades.

 

[Jason B.]

Good luck sharpening those, the heat treat if any is usually so bad that they won't take a edge. Maybe you should inform him of what he really has before he gets hurt.

 

[IVANKERLEY]

the bowie with the small knife and the piggyback sheath could be a tramontina, brazillian... I had one almost exactly like this when i was a kid (15 or so) anyway i rehandled it last year... it survived this long (23 years) so it kinda deserved it Anyway mine is carbon steel that sharpens up wonderfully and is pretty damn frightening to non knife nuts
mine is sporting bloodwood and a blued blade now lightyears better than the mattel handle it came with
ivan
bloodwood tram bowie and an old Dunlap Cattleman i fixed up last year i'm trying they are my first tries at this!

 

[midnight flyer]

I say "Wow! Pretty cool blades!" He says "Yep, I call these my Bear Killers!" and asks if I could sharpen 'em up for him. Now, I would normally charge $5 a blade to sharpen something this size, but he was so proud, and considering the knives were hardly worth $5 to begin with, I just smiled and said "No problem."

I'm always glad to see someone with enthusiasm for knives, it's too bad most people have no idea what the differance between a good knife and junk is.

Oh, and he is not poor by any means, and could easily afford better if he chose.

GOOD FOR YOU!! You did what had to be done, without an agonizing editorial, eye rolling, and enlightening those around you with worthless factoids (to them, anyway) that showcased your expertise.

In my field, I see a lot home shop owner efforts. Some are excellent, most look like 8th grade shop class efforts to me.

But... when talking to the proud papa of a project or a new tool, I always find something positive to say (for example, you could note the size of those knives and tell them that they "look like they would get the job done") and go on my way. No need to be patronizing, but no reason to be that boorish a$$ we all seem to know.

I am thinking of Cliff Claven, here....

I am sure your neighbor left thinking you were a pretty standup guy.

Oh, and he is not poor by any means, and could easily afford better if he chose.

Just remember, one man's ceiling is another man's floor.

Robert

 

[BryFry]

my sister buys me a cheapo pakistani folder every year for my birthday for three years, and I'd feel like a jerk If I tryed showing here expensive spydercos and benchmades.

I feel your pain! I had an ex-girlfriend who would get me the absolute BEST knife $2 could buy for my B-day every year, and of couse you have to be all like "Wow hunny! This is great! Best knife EVER!" At least if you want to ever have sex with her again.

Hey on the "knife show" on TV, they were selling knives for $1 a peice! And even had a "mystery box" were you could get a handfull of random knives for just a couple bucks.
I figure this is where our families are buying our future x-mas gifts from.... *sigh*

 

[BryFry]

the bowie with the small knife and the piggyback sheath could be a tramontina, brazillian... I had one almost exactly like this when i was a kid (15 or so) anyway i rehandled it last year... it survived this long (23 years) so it kinda deserved it Anyway mine is carbon steel that sharpens up wonderfully and is pretty damn frightening to non knife nuts
mine is sporting bloodwood and a blued blade now lightyears better than the mattel handle it came with
ivan
bloodwood tram bowie and an old Dunlap Cattleman i fixed up last year i'm trying they are my first tries at this!

Looks MUUUCH better! Very nice :thumbup: ,What kind of a tang does this knife have?

 

[D1omedes]

Have you considered informing the poor guy as to the quality of his knives?

 

[Zeppelin]

Midnight Flyer, I think I may have been that boorish a$$ at least once. Was at a flea market once with some friends. Someone had a booth full of swords and fantasy daggers and such. At one end of the table was a box of tactical-style Rambo type knives for $5 a piece. I criticized them in a low voice to my friend that stood closest to me while another friend farther away bought me one as a gift. We all laughed about it later, and it turned out to make a jim dandy throwing knife oddly enough. Maybe some day I'll learn to quit being snobbish about my little handfull of things I'm interested in.

 

[IVANKERLEY]

Looks MUUUCH better! Very nice :thumbup: ,What kind of a tang does this knife have?

thanks! the tang runs the length of the handle on mine, no joke its not a bad knife at all, and it lasted this long being purposely mistreated and modified etc.
i ended up having to do a 2 piece (rabbet tang??) wanted to do pins too but i believe it was all i could do to get it this far Had fun with the slipjoint though:thumbup: The Bowie has changed alittle since this pict as this was a vinegar patina, it now is cold blued...
that being said i dont know if what you got is the same or not, sure looks it though.
bought mine for like 15 bucks back in 86 or so
a kid at a flea market with sellers that dont ask questions is a beautiful thing!
ivan

 

[BryFry]

Have you considered informing the poor guy as to the quality of his knives?

I just don't have the heart. You didn't see the pride in his eyes when he showed them to me!

Later on I did inform my wife about the quality of the knives, she just laughed and called me a "knife snob"

 

[D1omedes]

I just don't have the heart. You didn't see the pride in his eyes when he showed them to me!

Later on I did inform my wife about the quality of the knives, she just laughed and called me a "knife snob"

I guess I understand how you feel.

I would just be concerned that he would try to use his "bear killer" in a very rough fashion and the blade would come out of the cheap plastic and there would be risk of injury.

I guess some would call that "knife snobbery" but I think it's just safety really.

Then again, I would instantly recommend a higher end knife (RAT, Bark River, etc.). Yeah, I'm a knife snob too, I guess.