Should a new knife come with instructions ?

The Logical One said:
It's not so much an ego thing... just a personality thing. I know plenty of engineering/geeky/techy type who would read an instruction manual front to back and back to front, and front to back again before using it, and then reading it front to back again as they're using it.

Then after they're done doing that... they will then proceed to take it completely apart to "study" how it works and sometimes in the process will either strip or break something and then try to return it claiming manufacturer defect. Sounds familiar? I'm sure a few knife guys on this forum are guilty of that.
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You must be a stalker... i don't recall us ever meeting.

Instructions... yes. My view on this was "no" until a couple weeks ago i let my father use my knife... This man spend a little time in the Army, can load and fire any gun you hand him.... couldn't figure out a Linerlock. He was pressing on the back like it was a lockback. It was honestly hilarious to watch.

But yeah, some short instructions on how the lock works, the blade steel, proper sharpening, angle of sharpening, the size of the Torx screws, etc.
 
Jay Leno read an ad on tv last nite that was talking about a new woman's electrical product and how to use it. Then, in fine print, on the bottom of the instructions, it said "DO NOT FOLLOW ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS. MAY START A FIRE.
 
Sometimes in the past use instructions were stamped or etched on a knife, "Oil the joints", "Press here to unlock". Some knives came with use and care sheets. But generally it was assumed that the human using the tool is smarter than the tool. More and more this is being questioned. And rightly so.
 
In some cases I can see where it would be nice, if nothing else for a statement of warranty, any unique features or concerns with the particular model etc. Warranties vary widely some companies have no problems with you taking a knife apart, some completely void your warranty, that's good information to know. The CRK Umnumzaan has a sheet with it about how to properly open it since the thumb motion is more strait forward instead of out and away. My guess is it wouldn't be there if they didn't have a lot of calls/questions on it. I know some very smart people that it took awhile to figure out various locks I've handed them. Most if they bought them probably know already, but if they were given as gifts etc.

I'd actually like to see more of this, for example I'd be willing to bet some companies have done extensive testing on what lubes work best on their pivots etc. a listing of the torx sizes can be helpful because some of the small sizes can easily be mistaken for another size. Options for returning the knife for sharpening, spa treatment, parts etc. Heck if a company put a spare clip and screws in with the knife, even though I'd probably never use them, it would win points with me.

My other pet peeve is that any knife that requires special tools beyond flat/phillips/torx for adjustment, assembly, disassembly should come with them, period. Though if the knife needs anything more specialized than torx, I probably won't buy it in the first place.
 
I am not one for instruction manuals (especially on knives), but it is always a nice thing to add by the manufacturer as long as it does not change the price (Usually a thin piece of paper will not)
 
RemyKaze said:
LOL well at least you know you're the grand slam variety. I have been extremely impressed by a few. Ken Onion would be one of them. He started designing the Speed Safe while working for Bosch in my hometown, Anderson, SC.
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I had no idea Ken Onion was an engineer for Bosch before getting into knives, that's really interesting. Thanks!
 
Yes...a resounding YES...should have one card, business size, that reads "Don't cut...oh well, too late...never mind...enjoy and don't forget to clean off the blood"
 
I like getting manuals and other paperwork with my knives and guns, even if I don't need the information for most of them. I just think it makes the package complete.
 
Reading some of the complaint threads around here, new knife owners should come with an instruction manual.
 
I send a short Care & feeding sheet with my custom knives. For the Culinary ones I always add.

"Do not put this in the Dishwasher, The Phosphates in the detergent will dull the edge and over time ruin the stabilized wooden handle".

You will see more and more "Directions" in production knives as more knife companies are sued by people that say, You didn't tell me it was sharp? lol
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
You will see more and more "Directions" in production knives as more knife companies are sued by people that say, You didn't tell me it was sharp? lol
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Sad but probably very true. One day knives will have "WARNING: READ OWNER'S MANUAL" stamped on them, just like guns do. :rolleyes::grumpy:

As to the orig. question, I just toss the instructions along with the box when I get a knife that comes with them, but they probably are helpful to one who's not enough of a "knut" to hang out here. This place is the ultimate knife instruction manual. :thumbup:
 
If the question is include or don't include, I would say don't include. If we start including manuals then some day there will be a 50 page manual telling you what not to do with the knife. I would hope that anyone that buys a knife knows already what not to do with it.

Maybe some instructions on care would be helpful for the few knives that have less than stainless blades.

There are some aspects of knives that would be really hard to put down on paper because nobody agrees with what they should say. For instance what angle should a blade be sharpened at? Judging by some factory knives I've seen they would say something like 50 degrees inclusive. Ask people here and you will get a lot of different answers. You will also get a lot of different answers on what to use to lubricate pivots and protect blades.

Men like to think that if they are buying a knife, they know how to use a knife. They don't want to be told that here are the instructions because you don't already know how to use the knife. In reality there are lots of things in life that should come with instructions and don't. We have to learn the hard way or we never really learn at all. There are a lot of things that I think I know a little bit about now that I wish I had known about when I was in high school and college.
 
I think all knives should have

1.Optimum angle for straight and micro bevel edges for the knife for specific purposes to get maxium edge useage life(I know dreaming..).

2.If it has a Coating if it is toxic(Becker coatings are not food safe, actually I think Becker states this somewhere)
Diamond coatings are NOT safe either, the human body cannot break them down and the diamond particles can be very abrasive to the gut lining.. Eating a little bit wont hurt but I have seen it on quite a few hunting knives and it makes me cringe. Not the place to go on with it.. but I think the ENTIRE Knife industry needs to review just exactly what they are putting on knifes and in the alloys and the effects on the human body.
Even combat knives see more use on food then actual combat with soldiers.

3.Folders rated strength of the pins/lock, My mother broke the lock on an Australian army issue folder by using it as a stanley knife to cut lino, I can only imagine how badly it would have failed had she been obese. So this information as the population gets heavier will be very important.

4.Substances that can damage the knife... Titanium knives dont like fluoride and PH below 3.5 combined, continued and long term exposure to Fluoride in tap water will result in brittleness and pitting. As more exotic blade materials become common this will be more important as things that wont harm Steel could harm them.(actually fluoride is bad for Steels including stainless it allows them to corrode with the air when otherwise they would be passive)
 
Some folks are better off not owning knives period. Instructions on what not to do and what to do are readily available, the same ones that may be safer without them are the same that won't/can't read or follow said instructions. :)
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
I send a short Care & feeding sheet with my custom knives. For the Culinary ones I always add.

"Do not put this in the Dishwasher, The Phosphates in the detergent will dull the edge and over time ruin the stabilized wooden handle".

You will see more and more "Directions" in production knives as more knife companies are sued by people that say, You didn't tell me it was sharp? lol
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Waiting for three lines of lawyer-talk etched on the main blade. I'd be surprised if that hasn't before been discussed, or brought up by company lawyers, at a manufacturer or two.

G. Scott H. said:
Sad but probably very true. One day knives will have "WARNING: READ OWNER'S MANUAL" stamped on them, just like guns do. :rolleyes::grumpy:
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More specifically, contemporary Rugers. Buy vintage.
 
I think , in the case of some knives , yes , a manual or basic instructions at very least would be great .
Case in point , my mum is 70 ,but keen on knives . She would feel a lot better about trying new knives if they came with simple instruction , a 3 panel cartoon style illustrated instruction for how to unlock them even . She isnt dumb , she just grew up in an era when you had slip joins or fixed blades . Now she has to learn about axis locks,frame locks, lock backs , opinel twist collars and okapi lift rings , mercator lever press etc ...

I believe she invented or at least made popular , bra carry . She has a whole lot to say about clips , tip up ,tip down , profiles , thumb studs and breast pocket carry for girls .

Instructions would at least be a nod to the fact that the entire market isnt just knifeknuts who somehow were born knowing all the ins and outs of knives today .
 
I cant believe how many people cant figure out how to open and close a simple flipper framelock. Even after I tell them how it works they struggle with the concept and these are guys that work around mechanical things all the time. What we knife nuts take for granted must not be so obvious to the general public so yes maybe instructions are useful. Granted it isnt rocket science and given a little time most people can figure it out and to be honest the ones that cant probably shouldnt have the knife in the first place.
 
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