Seeking Retailers...

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Abraxas

Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
18
Ok. I'm pretty convinced I need to pick up a couple knives. The problem is, I really would prefer to -see- them first, see them in action, etc. I don't own any true quality knives, and am very limited due to my 70-120 price limit at the moment with a leaning towards spending the lower of it.

I love the looks of some knives, hate the looks of some others...
But I'm looking at pictures on a webpage, and don't even know what half the features of half the knives -truly- are beyond their names.

I got to try a Benchmade 720 and really liked it. Got to play with a Kershaw ...think it was the Blackout. My first impression was shock when I had to hold the thing awkwardly and the blade flew out forcefully...then I had to put my finger in the blade's path to trigger to close it... Something I'd never have guessed from a picture..

Ok, so to the topic. I live in the Southeastern MA area. I'm looking for a nearby retailer that's knowledgeable so I could see some knives firsthand before buying. It doesn't have to be a specific retailer as much as a chain that has stores in the area (Walmart gave me horrid service and had very little selection).

I'm hoping to buy spyderco or benchmade, from their reputations alone, but I'll consider alternatives, only if I can actually touch them at some store...

PS: I specifically asked about the Spyderco Native at Walmart and they've never heard of it.
 
That's a good idea. I looked at it, but I didn't quite get all the details of what it involves. I also presumed it was more the most expensive knives.. I'll go check it out again.
 
Abraxas, welcome to Bladeforums!

Pass-arounds are a great idea for newbies. There is no better way to get a literally hands-on experience, and if you have questions while you're playing with the knife, we are here to answer them.

Each knife is almost as unique as each person, but there are certain basics of size, blade steel and geometry, handle ergonomics, that you will find on many different knives.

So once you start in on pass-arounds, you will begin to get a feel for what combination of characteristics works for you, and eventually, you will be able to pick out a good knife from a description or picture online.

What most of us used to do was go out and buy a knife, at a shop or from a catalog, use it a while, buy a better one, trade or sell or give away the old knife ... and go through a lot of money, basically testing one knife after another.

There is no substitute for using it, though, not even handling one at a shop -- and most shops even are like your Walmart. The clerks know all about the cash register, not the products they're selling.

---

Here's a link to articles in A.G.Russell's online Knife Encyclopedia -- http://www.agrussell.com/knife_information/knife_encyclopedia/articles.html

Here's the Custom Knife Encyclopedia, Sponsored by KnifeArt.com -- http://www.knifeart.com/cusknifen.html

Notice all these articles are by Joe Talmadge. Never pass up the chance to read anything by Joe! :)
 
Uh..actually my Walmart experience was horrid because in my manipulative way, I got the worker to prove she knew more than she let on, and didn't care to tell.

After opening the knife with her telling me she doesn't know a thing about it (Finally found it, it was a Kershaw Blur), I couldn't find the close latch. Well, she took it and closed it for me. I didn't imagine it'd be a little serrated-looking edge on the inside. This proved she really just wanted me to go away so she could go back to doing nothing....

Well, either way..I'm curious. Are most assisted openers that fast on the open? It jumped like a switchblade as soon as I put sufficient pressure against the stud. It was probably the novelty more than anything that made me jump, but..still.

Already emailed to attempt to sign up for the pass-around for what I considered to be my dream knife of the list of knives I'd been researching online (Para).

Still hoping to stumble into a Native or a Grip that I can see in person (or a passaround maybe) to help me get a more solid opinion on their oddly shaped little blades... I have only ever seen a few blade shapes in my life, after all.
 
I would suggest you wait a while before you get into assisted openers. They can be a bit of a surprise, even when you get used to them. I can open my manual openers very fast, or slowly and more carefully, -- especiaally on days I know I'm fumbling everything I touch. :D

I have only ever seen a few blade shapes in my life, after all.
Click to expand...
We will help you get over that little oversight. :)
 
Sounds good.

I'll try to stick away from Assisteds for a while...I think I just want something that's smoothe (Ok, so the only knives I have now are tight force opened, whatever it's called...think Swiss Army style. Only realized a few months ago that there's more styles than just that painful nail slit, and automatic...

Honestly, I really want to get my hands on a Spyderco round hole and see how they feel. I think my first knife will be spyderco, simply because the Axis lock didn't blow me away -that- much when I got to handle a friend's 720 for a few min... Gotta get over the "don't wanna break it" when I handle a knife though.
 
We call the Swiss Army style a slipjoint, no lock, just the pressure from the backspring to keep it closed and once opened, to keep it from closing until you overcome that slight tension. On some slipjoints like my French knives, the backspring is so strong that the blades are very difficult to open (grrr !!!) and not so easy to close, either.

The simplest adaptation of the backspring is the lockback. Try a Spyderco Native -- I like the Native III 3D the best, but they're all great little knives. Not big and clumsy, but big enough to do real work, and an unexcelled grip. Also reasonably priced.

If the Native doesn't appeal to you, look at the Endura, or its little sister the Delica. They have a more general handle shape and I believe are still the best-liked of the Spyderco line.

Spyderco also does liner locks and a couple of their own: the ball lock and the compression lock. The company is exceptionally creative, and responsive to customer input. They have a company forum on their website and a forum here at Bladeforums, too.

Benchmade makes great knives, too, and the axis lock is actually an extremely successful design. I personally prefer lockbacks and framelocks, but I'm not prejudiced. :)

As you read more here, you'll find there are many other reliable manufacturers, also, even if some of us tend to sound as if only a few favorites count!
 
Actually, here's a real big question...

Where do I find common-english expanations of these concepts... It took me a half hour to find out what EDC really was, in the first place. I'm not gonna spam-post asking "What's a liner lock? What's this? What's that?"... I'm guessing a lockback is a knife that locks in the open position.

Either way, I was disappointed I couldn't check out the Native at Walmart, and otherwise, my eyes have been on the Delica and Endura, and the Benchmade 710 and Griptillian...Still wanna look more before I commit to one. A hundred dollars, give or take, is a lot of money to me.
 
Wow. I must've missed those two earlier links. I tend to completely miss anything under -- at the bottom of an article... My psyche says "sig" and I move on. It's the geek in me, but either way... It's what I was looking for in the first place, especially the knife encyclopedia.

Thanks!
 
Abraxas said:
Uh..actually my Walmart experience was horrid because in my manipulative way, I got the worker to prove she knew more than she let on, and didn't care to tell.

After opening the knife with her telling me she doesn't know a thing about it (Finally found it, it was a Kershaw Blur), I couldn't find the close latch. Well, she took it and closed it for me. I didn't imagine it'd be a little serrated-looking edge on the inside. This proved she really just wanted me to go away so she could go back to doing nothing....
Click to expand...
In the WalMart worker's defense, some people can figure out how to close a knife and others can't. I'm constantly amazed at this, I've seen burly warehouse workers baffled by a lockback and dainty office workers easily figure out liner locks. Some people can figure 'em out and others can't.

Anyway, after you know what you're looking for, you can find good deals at WalMart. The key is to understand (as you already know) they don't want to help you and they just wish you would go away. I've actually seen them duck back and run up another aisle to avoid helping a customer. The trick is to already know what you want, and not be embarrassed to call them to attend you even if they're already scuttling away in the maze of products. Then you quickly tell them exactly what to get out for you and pay for it so they can go back into hiding.
 
I have a principle I will not break. When I walk into a store and the staff can't be bothered to serve me, I can't be bothered to stay and buy anything.
 
I have to agree, totally, about Walmart. Only this forum's mention of the Native being sold there got me to walk in the door.

I inventory for a living at the moment, and have inventoried walmarts.

It's kinda freaky watching a Department Manager do their best to avoid being near one of the inventory crew (so they don't have to do the price-check for us) and also avoid customers, at the same time.... The Department manager no less!

But yeah, that's a bit of a tangent, too.
Either way, I seem to have gotten in on the Paramilitary passaround. I'll see what I like. I probably can't -quite- afford one of those now, but if it blows me away, I'll just save up. If it doesn't blow me away, it'll at least help me decide between a BM and a Spydie for my first knife.

It's all good. :D
 
you gotta watch walmart. One by me had never heard of Natives on a sunday then just by chance the following tuesday I stopped by the knife counter and they already had a new cardboard sign and a handful of Natives. I got to pick out the one that was the tightest and bought it...$39.95. probably the best knife deal I've ever gotten. Its my edc now along with either my SAK deluxe tinker or my caly ZDP

Welcome to BF Abraxas you will learn alot here and become a pro before you know it!!

Another good folder thats not real well known are the Timberlines. I have a Kelly Worden wortac folder and an envoy and they are two of the best built inexpensive (around $40 ea.) knives around. just my 2 cents
 
Yeah.. I have watched it.. The sign, though, has been there for a few years at least, from the looks of it.

The lady was pretty sure they don't and never will sell any Spydies. Of course, there's about 12 Wallies within my driving range, and I only checked 2. I plan to recheck...wish I could look for products online by store, but Wallyworld isn't that intelligent...

I am slowly thinking maybe my first should be as cheap as possible while I save to get a second that's worth a lot more... But then, I really kinda feel a desire to get my hands on a BM 710 or a Para...

So I think I just gotta do a little more shopping around and get me a passaround for a week, too.

Checkin out the Timberlines, too. I like the look of the envoy... I'm more picky, I think, about how it'll feel in my hand.

I want it to feel safe and comfortable... My weapon/tool knowledge is in swords and a couple smaller martial arts weapons... for that, I always decide on a buy based more on how it feels in my hands than how it looks... as long as how it looks is ok too.
 
Update time!
I got myself a knife.

I ended up with a Spydie Delica for my first knife. It's small enough to be legally concealed in RI, and big enough to be useful. I like the extra-sharp combo-edge, too.

Not the knife I was looking at, but I'm really happy with with one... I'll see what I get when I'm richer, but this knife will work just fine for now!

:thumbup:
 
I think you made a great choice that will serve you well for a long time.

Welcome to B.F.!

Gus
 
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