Slipjoint for non knife guy

markpmc

markpmc

Joined
Aug 10, 2011
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A friend of mine was razzed quite a bit last week when the new PCs showed up at work and he w/o a knife.

He's from India and was actually embarrassed to find himself unprepared when the other guys reached for their knives to been unpacking. My EDC is a Case stockman so of course I think he needs a 3.5" Stockman :D

I thought I'd ask for some recommendations of non stockmans. I may have a bit of tunnel vision.

Thanks,

Mark
 
In my experience, people who don't carry knives are only likely to change if they are given a small knife. For that reason, I'd say go with something like a Case peanut or swayback.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Can't go wrong with a SAK.
Click to expand...

Another vote for an SAK. A Wenger SI or a Vic Farmer would work nicely. Especially when dealing with computers. The screwdrivers fit the standard PC bolts/screws like they were made for them.

They aren't made of the hardest stuff in the world either. Easy for a new guy to sharpen and he probably won't snap a blade off it he does try to pry with it.
 
Any small Buck US made slipjoint. Stainless for a non knife person. Better stainless then Case IMO.
 
I agree that smaller is better in this case. How about a Victorinox Executive?

-- Mark
 
powernoodle said:
Maybe ask him what he would like.
Click to expand...

^^^ this ^^^

Do you have any loaner knives that you don't mind getting back ruined?

My nephew recently asked me for suggestions for a traditional knife for him to EDC. I brought over several of my knives including:
+ Camillus peanut
+ Ulster Camper (like an SAK)
+ Schrade 5OT (small lock back)
+ Opinel #8
+ Buck 110

I asked him to handle them for a bit and I described the basic features and asked him which ones captured his fancy and which ones he just didn't like. He ruled out the Buck 110 (and modern tacticals, which we also discussed) right out the gate. He also dismissed the peanut immediately. He considered the Camper for a bit but in the end, decided he didn't like it either.

That left the Opinel #8 and the small lock-back. I loaned him each for 2 weeks or so to carry and use.

After a month of trying the 2 knives, he really like the small lock back best. I ended up getting him a Buck 501 as an engagement present and he's carrying it regularly and loving it.

Knives are a personal thing. I'm carrying the Opinel #8. It's by far my favorite day in and day out. But, that's for me, and not for my nephew, or for your friend.

The other basic types I would add to the try list would be a sod buster and a (choke) multi-tool (choke). I really dislike multitools but your bud might think they're the greatest thing in the world. If he loves it, that's all that matters.
 
The 500 series Buck knives are amazing for the price IMO.

It would be good to find what he likes but also to be able to lead him in the right direction keeping that in mind.
 
Keeping in mind that this is a non knife guy, lets not put our likes over his. Plus, he does not come from a culture of knife carrying, most likely.

Don't get him anything much over keychain size, or he won't carry it. Being from India, one of the most recognizable knives you can give him would be a sak. Victorinox is well known all over the world, and a small sak would be best. A bantam, executive, recruit, alox cadet.

All slim and small enough for business casual, not intimidating, and with a few tools to diffuse the knife thing, making it a pocket tool. If the sak ignites some desire to carry a knife, then he can make a more personal choice for himself. It's nice to introduce a newby to the bar, but let him make his own choice of drink after the first visit.
Carl.
 
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Maybe I am in a disagreeable mood today, and I know this is nothing to lose sleep over :-p ...

...but, I don't know about the introduce him to the bar and let him pick. There is a lot of junk at the bar (at least the entire bar). Unless you mean share some of the years of trial and error based knowledge that you have gained using knives to form your own hand picked bar :)

Maybe I took it the wrong way. Have you ever skimmed a knife catalog to see a description of :

-Made of the lowest quality steel
-Too Soft to hold an edge
-Shoddy construction
-Don't worry about it being to soft to hold and edge; you won't be able to form one

I have never read a description like that.

I think I took you the wrong way Carl :)
 
I would go the SAK route since most of those knives have other very handy tools/functions that a non-knife person will be able to utilize.
 
A short discussion with Carl and I realized I read his words wrong. I was just trying to make it clear that I don't feel knives were being forced onto the OP due to likes, but because the knives being suggested are examples of quality cutlery.

I will leave my original post so everyone can see what a a terrible misinterpretation I made. Embarrassing but true.

My apologies Carl.
 
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