Should you buy a good quality knife as a gift...

D

Davor

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Mar 10, 2010
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I thought about buying two mid range priced folders $130 range to a friend and my brother. My only problem is that they don't even own a sharpening kit or less know how to use one. I'm concerned buying such a high quality knife will just go to waste when the blade dulls. I bought another family member a Global kitchen knife, but knew very well I had to accompany the kitchen knife gift with a Spyderco sharpmaker. I can't afford to buy a knife and a sharpening kit together.

Anyone have the same issue?
 
If they don't know how to sharpen, I'd get something less than $100 (or less than $75 even) to start with. That way, if they really get into it, then they can think about learning to sharpen and take care of their own knives. After that, you could maybe get them a nicer knife down the road, or they get one on their own!

With my girlfriend, I taught her to sharpen with my stones and strops before she ever had her own knife. Now she has a barkie and a benchmade, and despite having totally different grinds, she can sharpen them both herself.
 
I wouldn't buy someone a good knife unless they were really into knives. But no I've only bought knives for my girlfriend and I sharpen them for her.
 
Griptilian, Delica, Leek... something along those lines for quality knife, yet non-knife people.
 
Nope, that is too much to spend on knives for non-knife people. I'd get them a really nice SAK (Alox or something). If they like it, great. Maybe they will want more. if not, you will have still given them a quality present, but haven't broken the bank.
 
I bought a benchmade griptilian for my buddys 50th . Not a knife guy. He absolutely loves this knife.Best .$100 I ever spent.
 
My parents used to tell me it's inappropriate to give knives as gift specially to couples.

They said it would "symbolically" cut up the relationship and seperate the couple...

On the practical side I persoanlly do not see any problem giving a knife as gift.
 
Most times when I'm buying a knife for a person, they're usually a hunter, fisherman, or camper. Not a knife nut, or they wouldn't need me to buy them a decent knife. Nowadays, I usually look at Buck or a Swiss Army knife first. Everyone knows the names and that it's a pretty good quality knife for the money. I used to include Gerber and Schrade too, but not any more. I'll spend $30-$40 tops. My 15 yr old brother in law loves to hunt, but always carried junk knives and complained about them going dull too quickly. I bought him a Folding Bucklite Max for x-mas and he loves it. As with most teens, the boob never wears a belt, so he definitely needed something with a pocket clip. I wanted a decent knife, but didn't want to spend so much $$ that if he lost it I'd get pissed. LOL.
 
I personally wouldn't go past about $40 for a knife gift to a non knife aficionado. There are plenty of high value knives in that range and you aren't so pissed if they discard it, show no interest in it or destroy it. Any of the Tenacious family, Ontario Rat 1, Victorinox, hell you could even buy them a Leatherman Juice or Squirt depending on their needs. That doesn't cover half of all the choices really.
 
It depends on what you consider to be a "non-knife" person. Some would say I'm not a "knife-person." Others would say I am. It is all relative. To most here, they don't know anyone PERSONALLY who is "into" knives as much as they are.

I have been given knives on three occasions. I was given a USMC Ka-Bar, a Spyderco Wayne Goddard folder, and a handmade skinner. I have given people guns on more than one occasion. Honestly, I did not give others the very best guns out there, but instead gave old military surplus firearms. They are inherently quality arms, but not expensive.

I would suggest giving quality knives, but not expensive knives. In addition, give traditional or historic knives, not tactical knives. This way, even if the recipient never carries/uses the knife, it is not a waste. The recipient can appreciate the knife as a historic piece or artifact, without having to "use" it.

Ka-Bars are a favorite among my friends. One of our Marine Corps buddies gave them as wedding presents to everyone. My best friends both gave knives as groomsmen gifts. Just this Christmas I gave a Bowie knife to each of my three closest friends (and I got one for myself!) They weren't the most expensive knives by any means, but they weren't something my friends were likely to buy on their own, and it was the thought that counts. Each of us has more guns and knives than anyone needs, but we like arms.

Oh, and I gave Spyderco Delicas to my wife and sister. My wife's Delica sits in our junk drawer, to be used periodically by passers-by. I don't know if my sister ever uses her knife, but it is special to her that I thought enough of her to give her a knife. She has also surprised more than a few people when she has whipped it out!

So in summary, give a quality knife, but not an expensive knife. Traditional or historical is more important than tactical.
 
I've gone the route of buying $125-$165 dollar folders for family and friends 3 times and all 3 had bad endings. One lost the knife after a week - one broke the tip and trashed the edge using it as a pry bar and screwdriver - one gave the knife to his teenage son who sold it to a buddy for $20 bucks. :mad: I'll never buy anything more expensive than a Persistence for someone unless I definitely know they can appreciate (and care for) a high quality pocket knife.
 
Every one uses knives, they just don't think about it. Non knife people can still benefit from a good sharp knife in the kitchen. Only spend what you wont' regret, if/when they misuse that knife.
I've given out several knifes as gifts, all geared towards that person, and affordable. Kitchen knives, fillet knives, hunting, and others can hopefully be appreciated.
 
I've gone the good-quality-but-inexpensive route. I bought my dad and brothers each a Buck Vantage Avid. I bought my mom and sisters each a Victorinox chef's knife. They may or may not appreciate the quality of the materials and manufacture, but they all appreciate how well they work and how sharp they cut.
 
Boozoo Chavis said:
I've gone the route of buying $125-$165 dollar folders for family and friends 3 times and all 3 had bad endings. One lost the knife after a week - one broke the tip and trashed the edge using it as a pry bar and screwdriver - one gave the knife to his teenage son who sold it to a buddy for $20 bucks. :mad: I'll never buy anything more expensive than a Persistence for someone unless I definitely know they can appreciate (and care for) a high quality pocket knife.
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I mean no disrespect, but perhaps the bad ending was the result of the person, not the gift. The first person sounds irresponsible, the second sounds lazy, and the third sounds ungrateful.

To be sure, I do not plan on ever giving a knife to a few people I know, some of whom are family members. They would treat the gift in a similar manner as the people you mention. I reserve the gift of a knife or firearm to those who have earned my respect. An arm is the ultimate gift to a well-respected and trusted friend.
 
The hardest part about giving this kind of gift is that you really don't know what they'll like/want/use. It's kind of like buying for the wife, you will go through a few till it's right. Nothing sucks like seeing your gift given away.
I give my work knives away on occasion to people who will use them and that usually means people doing service or maintenance work. They are always grateful and it's never a problem seeing them motivated to do the sharpening and upkeep. Otherwise, I mind my own business.
 
Or go cheaper. I bought a Spyderco Tenacious for my dad:thumbup:.

Go into it with this mindset:
The sharpener is the gift, the knife is extra:thumbup:.
 
You could also look at it like this: Would they spend $130 on a present for you, one that they aren't sure you'll like, appreciate or even use? If not, then I wouldn't spend $130 on a knife for them.
 
I was taught and have stuck to the tradition of never technically giving a knife as a present - the recipient has to pay a token amount - 1 cent is fine - it's a luck thing.

Answer to question - Give them something of quality, it's easy enough to point out this is not a crappy knife - look after it! After that it's up to them.
If you can afford it - why not?
 
It appears the answer is no. I agree with everyone. Unless a friend or family member will use the knife on a daily basis, its not worth it. I did like Noctis' response, the Sharpmaker is probably the ideal gift and it only goes for $45 to $50. My brother uses a knife daily for his job, but I see him always grabbing for the leatherman. My SIL loved the kitchen knife I bought her, but had problems keeping it sharp. My FIL broke the tip off when he accidentally dropped it. I think being a knife aficinado is just in us. I remember collecting knives when I was 13 yrs old and taking good care of them. My parents thought I was possessed and my relatives stated like Rider did that knives as gifts was a sign of splitting a relationship or worst. I laugh at all of these taboos about blades. I may just get them a $50 Delica and have them buy a Sharpmaker and teach them how to use it. If they are not willing to buy a sharpmaker, then its not worth it.
 
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