Seeing the knives you gave as gifts?

gentry738

gentry738

Joined
Sep 26, 2010
Messages
413
I was just wondering if you guys have ever seen how the knives you gave as gifts are taking care of? Ive noticed that alot of the knives i gave for as gifts are not taking care of that well. Im sure its just us knife afficianados that clean and oil our knives after every use. Ive seen my dads sanrenmu 710 that i gave him 6 months ago . blade was all scratched and dirty like he hadnt cleaned or sharpened it since i got it for him. Same goes for my step dad and brothers. I guess its just us. Anyone had similar exsperiences?
 
yep, i gave one of my friends a leek and a couple days later i saw him using it and he had already broken off the tip... he later told me that he threw it at a tree and it broke...
 
My Dad will not even use the fishing knife I handled and finished for him. He doesn't want to mess it up, but I'd rather he used it.

But most people do not view knives as something you take care of, no more than you would a screwdriver. If you ask a random person if you can look at his pocket knife it will probably still have the factory edge on it, full of rolls, burrs and chips. The blade can sort of pulverize a cardboard box enough to open it and that's how most people think a knife works. Of those that do appreciate a sharp edge, few have the skills or tools (or mostly, the inclination) to keep their own in that condition, so they wait until it is nice and dull and then they send it back to the mfr or local knife shop. Or just as likely they buy a new one, since they probably have only bought inexpensive knives, and concieve of all pocket knives as basically semi-disposable.

If someone gave you a screwdriver for christmas, wouldn't the giver find it 6 months later in the bottom of one of your drawers or toolboxes, scatched up and with hints of rust, maybe with evidence of being used as a prybar or hammer? Yet if that giver was a member of screwdriverforums.com, he would probably post a similar message up to his fellow screwdriver nerds so they can commisserate about the ignorance of the public on the proper care of screwdrivers. ;)
 
gave my buddy a CS Voyager (Old riveted model) and the nana broke the tip twice:mad:
1) screw driver
2) tried to split wood by stabbing
 
The most expensive knife I ever gave as a gift was a large Gerber Harsey Air Ranger. The guy I was giving it to was not a knife enthusiast but he recognized the value of a knife and had use for one at work. The knife he was carrying was a gas station folder. It was so poorly made that it took a lot of effort for me not to laugh when I examined it.

I figured the Gerber would be perfect for him as it was a decent quality knife, not too expensive (I considerd the possibility that he might lose it), and I knew he would like the looks of it. He was totally thrilled when I gave it to him. Maybe about a month later I asked him how it was working out for him and he said "Great!". He took it out to show me and It was obvious that he had put it to hard use. Both handle and blade were all scratched up and it had plaster stuck in/on it, but it still locked up solid and didn't have any blade-play. He actually apoligized to me for it's condition but I said "Oh no, it's great to see that you're getting good use out of it, that's what it's for". Seeing that knife in such a heavily used condition gave me a smile that lasts to this day, all these years later.
 
Robs92XJ said:
My Dad will not even use the fishing knife I handled and finished for him. He doesn't want to mess it up, but I'd rather he used it.

But most people do not view knives as something you take care of, no more than you would a screwdriver. If you ask a random person if you can look at his pocket knife it will probably still have the factory edge on it, full of rolls, burrs and chips. The blade can sort of pulverize a cardboard box enough to open it and that's how most people think a knife works. Of those that do appreciate a sharp edge, few have the skills or tools (or mostly, the inclination) to keep their own in that condition, so they wait until it is nice and dull and then they send it back to the mfr or local knife shop. Or just as likely they buy a new one, since they probably have only bought inexpensive knives, and concieve of all pocket knives as basically semi-disposable.

If someone gave you a screwdriver for christmas, wouldn't the giver find it 6 months later in the bottom of one of your drawers or toolboxes, scatched up and with hints of rust, maybe with evidence of being used as a prybar or hammer? Yet if that giver was a member of screwdriverforums.com, he would probably post a similar message up to his fellow screwdriver nerds so they can commisserate about the ignorance of the public on the proper care of screwdrivers. ;)
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Robs92XJ, not bad for a second post. Maybe I should look up your first one.:) I think your post pretty much sums it up. Welcome to the forums!
 
My dad carries a Black Class version of the Benchmade Apparition (coated D2 blade, combo edge, solid g10 scales) and uses it hard but doesn't abuse it. I only have to touch the edge up for him about every other time I visit--it's held up very well!
 
I've given away a few knives. Last year a couple of cousins who hunt a lot got a pair of Loveless style knives by Tim Hartman. One of the guys will use his, the other (who hunts even more often) probably won't. He'll put it in a safe for fondling.

I did a give-away back in 2010 where I gave a custom knife away to someone on this forum who'd never had a true custom before. He was nice enough to send pics of it getting used. The pic below is pretty clean (others were not so much) and his note said they did two nice bull elk that day with the knife.

I don't tend to give stuff to folks who'll abuse it, but I'll give nice stuff to those who will appreciate it. Use should not be abuse, no matter what the tool.
DSC0935020resized.jpg
 
I gave my dad, who is now 82 years old, a Queen Canoe in D2 about 3-4 years ago. Fortunately, he carries it and uses the heck out of it. Scrapes the grass off of lawnmower blades with it, for example, and generally abuses it. But thats fine by me. I'm glad it did not end up in a drawer.
 
I gave my parents both spyderco blades. My mom has a caly 3 that she uses all the time for hiking and when she travels. It is dirty has some rust specs but she loves it. I clean it up for her yearly. My dad has a g10 endura. Haven't seen it for a while but it is probably pretty dirty :)
 
I gave my dad a zdp Delica two xmases ago. I was a bit disappointed seeing it still in the box, unused, last time I visited.
 
he later told me that he threw it at a tree and it broke
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Next time give him a spear. :p

I've given away almost as many knives as I keep. When I find something I really like I tend to share it with family or friends, keeping at least one for myself.

Not the more expensive stuff, though; probably the most expensive knife I've given away is a Buck Vantage Avid, at about $35.
 
I have given my buddy a couple knives and he takes very good care of them. every time i see him he talks about how much he enjoys the spyderco native i gave him. He's an I.T so it doesn't get much hard use. I'm just glad he uses them.
 
I'd rather see a knife I've given abused than neglected. The most important thing is that they're using it. I really don't expect most people to sharpen, clean, and lube their knives regularly - only because those who would do such things would already have knives. I gave my BIL a SOG multi-tool and he's used it for absolutely everything, which is exactly what I want to see.
 
Knives given to my wife (Al Mar, Spyderco, Kershaw) are used and appreciated. Gave a Kershaw Leek to my father in law who lost it first time out. He found it some time later trampled but usable in his corral. He promptly lost it again.
 
+1 for Eisman!

Non knife people just don't seem to get it.

I gave a friend my Cold Steel Voyager and he ended up losing it outside throwing it at trees (idiot).
I also gave my Dad a Cold Steel Pocket Bushman but he never uses it because he doesn't want to beat it up.

I use all my knives, price doesn't matter. However, I use mine as a KNIFE! Not as a screwdriver, pry bar or hatchet. Knives are for CUTTING!
 
Geez--your dad doesn't want to beat up a Pocket Bushman? I EDC one of those and they were MEANT to be abused! :p
 
The only knife i've ever given was one to my dad, because he lost his. I bought it at a garage sale many years ago, and he still uses it for carving and such. He uses it hard but doesn't use it as a screwdriver or a prybar. He taught me to use the correct tool for the correct job. :)
 
All of my giveaways (bar one) get used. The one that doesn't is in a picture frame hanging on their wall (wedding present). I do tend to give knives to people who WILL use them, though. Because they were hand made (by me), specifically for them, I think the owners also tend to think twice before using them as prybars or screwdrivers. I do tell them to use them and also that I expect to see sharpening marks/evidence of use etc. on them when I next see the knives.
 
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