Separating maker from knife

shinyedges

shinyedges

Unfaltering Love & Undeviating Will
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There are companies I refuse to support for various reasons, I'll list a few:

Strider- lying, stolen valor, pretend operator scumbag
Hoback- lying, stolen righteousness, importing from china but claiming usa made scumbag
Brk- lying, manipulative and thieving* scumbag
Qtrmstr- lying, facility faking, importing from China but claiming usa made scumbag
Benchmade(mostly)- engaging and supporting activities and organizations that are anti 2A (after the 2a is gone, they leave knives alone, right? 🙄)
Survive!- lying, excuse making failing to give people their knives they paid for ponzi scheme scumbags

*thieving applies to strider as well

Now, some people can like the knife and separate the maker from the knife. Simply put they don't care who they support or what they've done so long as they like the knife.

Where do YOU fall on this topic? Is there a path to redemption for some or any of them? Do you not care at all?
 
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Forgot Survive!

We're pretty much on the same page, but I will admit I own a few Blackjacks from many years ago and have no plan to get rid of them. The one Bark River I had I did sell after finding out the background.
 
I’ve never understood how someone could overlook the individual behind the product.

Paying for something made by someone that is scum is directly supporting scum.

End of stop.


I’ll take my position one step further - I deem people that DO support scum as lacking integrity. You really can’t have it any other way. I may overlook political disparities, as they aren’t always a moral judgment, but theft, lying, impostering, etc… this is all wrong on anyone’s scale.

It‘s a simple rule, really. “Always do the right thing, even when no one is looking.”
 
It's like I forgot survive! Exists. Thanks for reminding me!
 
shinyedges said:
There are companies I refuse to support for various reasons, I'll list a few:

Strider- lying, stolen valor, pretend operator scumbag
Hoback- lying, stolen righteousness, importing from china but claiming usa made scumbag
Brk- lying, manipulative and thieving* scumbag
Qtrmstr- lying, facility faking, importing from China but claiming usa made scumbag
Benchmade(mostly)- engaging and supporting activities and organizations that are anti 2A (after the 2a is gone, they leave knives alone, right? 🙄)

*thieving applies to strider as well

Now, some people can like the knife and separate the maker from the knife. Simply put they don't care who they support or what they've done so long as they like the knife.

Where do YOU fall on this topic? Is there a path to redemption for some or any of them? Do you not care at all?
Click to expand...

It's really nice when you own a piece of kit from a maker that gives you good vibes.
 
shinyedges said:
There are companies I refuse to support for various reasons, I'll list a few:

Strider- lying, stolen valor, pretend operator scumbag
Hoback- lying, stolen righteousness, importing from china but claiming usa made scumbag
Brk- lying, manipulative and thieving* scumbag
Qtrmstr- lying, facility faking, importing from China but claiming usa made scumbag
Benchmade(mostly)- engaging and supporting activities and organizations that are anti 2A (after the 2a is gone, they leave knives alone, right? 🙄)

*thieving applies to strider as well

Now, some people can like the knife and separate the maker from the knife. Simply put they don't care who they support or what they've done so long as they like the knife.

Where do YOU fall on this topic? Is there a path to redemption for some or any of them? Do you not care at all?
Click to expand...
I wont even try to separate knife from maker. If you are a scumbag why in the world would I give you money. The product IS the maker so shitbird person = shit product in my book.

Lots of folks don’t share our convictions and are willing to overlook a great deal to buy something they want. I am not.


Oh and In before this goes sideways and is slammed shut!
 
Matthew Gregory said:
I’ve never understood how someone could overlook the individual behind the product.

Paying for something made by someone that is scum is directly supporting scum.

End of stop.


I’ll take my position one step further - I deem people that DO support scum as lacking integrity. You really can’t have it any other way. I may overlook political disparities, as they aren’t always a moral judgment, but theft, lying, impostering, etc… this is all wrong on anyone’s scale.

It‘s a simple rule, really. “Always do the right thing, even when no one is looking.”
Click to expand...

SwissHeritageCo said:
It's really nice when you own a piece of kit from a maker that gives you good vibes.
Click to expand...
Agreed to both!
 
My feelings are mixed and I'm almost certainly ethically inconsistent with my purchases, to be completely honest.

I usually don't let politics mess with my purchases, though I don't blame those that do. I definitely see personal actions and character as more important to me, but I've also crossed that line occasionally with Microtech, as I think Tony Marfione is a snake, but damn do I love my Combat Troodon, so while I completely avoid Strider, Hoback and BRKT based on the actions of their owners I try not to bash those who buy their wares (keyword is try, I definitely sometimes fail), and stick to criticism of them.

I strongly dislike companies that use their products to proselytize, which makes Buck a sticky wicket, as I like their knives and respect their commitment to their ideals, but still find it off putting, but not enough that I don't buy their products.

I try very hard to avoid cloners, Chinese or otherwise and that's one place I will get up on my morally righteous high horse and willingly make a jackass out of myself, as I feel that's more than an ethical concern, but something that legitimately hurts companies that are innovating and bringing interesting, new designs to market.

So, all-in-all, I'm consistently inconsistent. 😜
 
Kettleman said:
I wont even try to separate knife from maker. If you are a scumbag why in the world would I give you money. The product IS the maker so shitbird person = shit product in my book.

Lots of folks don’t share our convictions and are willing to overlook a great deal to buy something they want. I am not.


Oh and In before this goes sideways and is slammed shut!
Click to expand...
Agreed.
 
I won't buy a knife from a person or company I can't respect.

If I find out after the fact, I rid my collection of that maker's work.

This has always been my policy...and always will be.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
My feelings are mixed and I'm almost certainly ethically inconsistent with my purchases, to be completely honest.

I usually don't let politics mess with my purchases, though I don't blame those that do. I definitely see personal actions and character as more important to me, but I've also crossed that line occasionally with Microtech, as I think Tony Marfione is a snake, but damn do I love my Combat Troodon, so while I completely avoid Strider, Hoback and BRKT based on the actions of their owners I try not to bash those who buy their wares (keyword is try, I definitely sometimes fail), and stick to criticism of them.

I strongly dislike companies that use their products to proselytize, which makes Buck a sticky wicket, as I like their knives and respect their commitment to their ideals, but still find it off putting, but not enough that I don't buy their products.

I try very hard to avoid cloners, Chinese or otherwise and that's one place I will get up on my morally righteous high horse and willingly make a jackass out of myself, as I feel that's more than an ethical concern, but something that legitimately hurts companies that are innovating and bringing interesting, new designs to market.

So, all-in-all, I'm consistently inconsistent. 😜
Click to expand...
That's completely fair! We're human and I get that too. You have a higher standard than most.
 
shinyedges said:
There are companies I refuse to support for various reasons, I'll list a few:

[...]
Benchmade(mostly)- engaging and supporting activities and organizations that are anti 2A (after the 2a is gone, they leave knives alone, right? 🙄)
Click to expand...
What anti-2A activities has Benchmade supported? Did they pull a S&W and I didn't notice?

If so, are they under the same management as when they did that? S&W has changed mgmt since they tried to take a deal that would hamstring our 2A, so although it is a bad mark on their history, I don't worry about them doing it again.

shinyedges said:
[...]
Now, some people can like the knife and separate the maker from the knife. Simply put they don't care who they support or what they've done so long as they like the knife.

Where do YOU fall on this topic? Is there a path to redemption for some or any of them? Do you not care at all?
Click to expand...
If they're under the same management as when they made the anti-2A moves, I would only buy used Benchmades. Wouldn't buy new. I guess buying used would indirectly benefit them, but it's not NEARLY as much as buying a new one. (someone maybe buys a new BM knowing it will have good resale value if they decide to sell later on)

With BM, now that the Axis Lock patent is expired, I think they will find themselves selling less and less new knives at their high prices, even though they are The Original.

I'm not familiar with the other brands you mentioned.
 
I’m with you, OP.

Plus, if I don’t trust the maker, how can I trust - say - the heat treat ?
 
Smaug said:
What anti-2A activities has Benchmade supported? Did they pull a S&W and I didn't notice?

If so, are they under the same management as when they did that? S&W has changed mgmt since they tried to take a deal that would hamstring our 2A, so although it is a bad mark on their history, I don't worry about them doing it again.


If they're under the same management as when they made the anti-2A moves, I would only buy used Benchmades. Wouldn't buy new. I guess buying used would indirectly benefit them, but it's not NEARLY as much as buying a new one. (someone maybe buys a new BM knowing it will have good resale value if they decide to sell later on)

With BM, now that the Axis Lock patent is expired, I think they will find themselves selling less and less new knives at their high prices, even though they are The Original.

I'm not familiar with the other brands you mentioned.
Click to expand...
Benchmade had a debacle some years back when they cut up a bunch of guns for the police. Turned out they/some of them within the organization were donating to anti 2a politicians and organizations. Still the same management. I've been in several gun shops that stopped carrying them for this reason.
 
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