so educate me...how do I become a knife snob?

R

red96ta

Joined
Jun 15, 2008
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132
I've read of knife snobbery on the forum and since I'm new, I want to know what I need to do in order to become one...

Ok, I'll duck down since this may become a heated argument that I'm not baiting here at all.....just curiosity.

I currently have three knives (I always lose them before I can create a collection so let's just say that I've had dozens of knives over the last 25 years). My Ti-Lite with an aus8 blade stinks IMHO due to a bad heat treat. My Kershaw Leek and Benchmade Stryker are great knives.

What else am I missing here....why type of knives do I need to seek out in order to create an opinion on which ones will generate this snobbery? D2? S30V?

Is it that one blade material is better than the others and folks die defending their blade material, or is it one of those 'Benchmade is the greatest knifemaker in the world and nobody can compete with it' attitude?

Ok....I'm going to duck down and hope it stays civil....
 
There are basically four kinds of knife snobs:

1. The brand snob: They are so enamored or taken with one manufacturer's product that they consider all others as inferior. If someone asks for a recommendation, no matter what the price restrictions or stated dimensions, this snob always ends up recommending his favorite brand, even though the price may be three times the stated limits and the size 50% or 150% of what is wanted. I must happily confess to being a Busse brand snob. There is, however, a subset of the brand snob who, when asked for evaluation of other manufacturer's knives, puts them down even though he has never used or even held one. I absolutely deny being one of these.

2. The "custom is better" snob: Maybe so, maybe not. Depends upon the user's requirements and financial limitations.

3. The reverse snob: He is proud of the fact that he uses all of his knives. Nothing wrong with that. However, through his comments he manages to convey the subtle or not so subtle message that there is perhaps something a little less than honorable about a collector who has "safe queens."

4. The "knife person" snob: This is a perfectly valid affectation that afflicts most of us. Deep inside we hold the notion that, because we have the good sense to carry the most practical and universal tool ever devised and believe in beeing prepared to cope with life as it comes, rather than being reduced to the animalistic level of tearing at cellophane packages with our teeth, we are somehow superior to those who stumble through life without a ready edge. Of course, we are correct.
 
Agree with all except the last one. Most people don't need a knife, and billions on non-knife carrying people the world over get by just fine. I simply prefer to because its convenient. Don't mean to knock your list, but I don't feel particularly more enlightened because I carry sharpened steel.
 
MikeH said:
There are basically four kinds of knife snobs:

1. The brand snob: They are so enamored or taken with one manufacturer's product that they consider all others as inferior. If someone asks for a recommendation, no matter what the price restrictions or stated dimensions, this snob always ends up recommending his favorite brand, even though the price may be three times the stated limits and the size 50% or 150% of what is wanted. I must happily confess to being a Busse brand snob. There is, however, a subset of the brand snob who, when asked for evaluation of other manufacturer's knives, puts them down even though he has never used or even held one. I absolutely deny being one of these.

2. The "custom is better" snob: Maybe so, maybe not. Depends upon the user's requirements and financial limitations.

3. The reverse snob: He is proud of the fact that he uses all of his knives. Nothing wrong with that. However, through his comments he manages to convey the subtle or not so subtle message that there is perhaps something a little less than honorable about a collector who has "safe queens."

4. The "knife person" snob: This is a perfectly valid affectation that afflicts most of us. Deep inside we hold the notion that, because we have the good sense to carry the most practical and universal tool ever devised and believe in beeing prepared to cope with life as it comes, rather than being reduced to the animalistic level of tearing at cellophane packages with our teeth, we are somehow superior to those who stumble through life without a ready edge. Of course, we are correct.
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Quoted for truth:thumbup:
In all seriousness, given time and doing a little homework will get you to the point where you are an educated knife person. The snobbery aspect is just the unwanted compulsion that follows when you take it too far and put on your blinders.

An educated knife person understands why Busse's cost so much and why they are worth it, why a simple cheap SAK is so invaluable in the right hands, and why the path of the mall ninja leads to utter damnation;)
 
Your only a snob if you want to be, I prefer to be called a educated knife user.:cool:
 
Abacus said:
Agree with all except the last one. Most people don't need a knife, and billions on non-knife carrying people the world over get by just fine. I simply prefer to because its convenient. Don't mean to knock your list, but I don't feel particularly more enlightened because I carry sharpened steel.
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You SHOULD feel more enlightened.:p
And you KNOW how a bunch of those non-knife carrying folk get by? BY BORROWING OUR KNIVES!!!(seriously, the unprepered always seem to need the help of someone who WAS prepared; go figure).
And do these people who "don't need a knife" tear open packages with their teeth at home?:confused: No steak knives there? No paring knives, no kitchen knives of any sort?
 
MikeH said:
There are basically four kinds of knife snobs:

1. The brand snob: They are so enamored or taken with one manufacturer's product that they consider all others as inferior. If someone asks for a recommendation, no matter what the price restrictions or stated dimensions, this snob always ends up recommending his favorite brand, even though the price may be three times the stated limits and the size 50% or 150% of what is wanted. I must happily confess to being a Busse brand snob. There is, however, a subset of the brand snob who, when asked for evaluation of other manufacturer's knives, puts them down even though he has never used or even held one. I absolutely deny being one of these.

2. The "custom is better" snob: Maybe so, maybe not. Depends upon the user's requirements and financial limitations.

3. The reverse snob: He is proud of the fact that he uses all of his knives. Nothing wrong with that. However, through his comments he manages to convey the subtle or not so subtle message that there is perhaps something a little less than honorable about a collector who has "safe queens."

4. The "knife person" snob: This is a perfectly valid affectation that afflicts most of us. Deep inside we hold the notion that, because we have the good sense to carry the most practical and universal tool ever devised and believe in beeing prepared to cope with life as it comes, rather than being reduced to the animalistic level of tearing at cellophane packages with our teeth, we are somehow superior to those who stumble through life without a ready edge. Of course, we are correct.
Click to expand...

Pretty spot on, but you forgot the ubiquitous "steel snob"; the guy who thinks that anything non-super-stainless won't cut through butter even when hot, or the 1095 dude who still believes his granpappy's wisdom...that stainless knives will break if you look at them wrong.
 
The anti-mall ninjas (includes most people)

The Mall ninjas (currently "waving" their fiskars folding saw for swifter deciduous deanimation)

The Knife Size Snobs (convinced that anyone who uses a blade longer than 4 inches and thicker than a hair on a gnat's ass is a "Rambo" wannabe)

The Cheap Knife Snobs (Thinly disguise their jealousy by calling any knife over $X amount "Overpriced")


There was one guy a while back who would only chime in with some statement about "Manure Stainless" and "Good Ol' 1095" :D
 
I've read of knife snobbery on the forum and since I'm new, I want to know what I need to do in order to become one...
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It's easy....ignore all other factors except price.
Nevermind how a knife actually performs, it's the price that really matters!
Regardless of what others might say, always remember "more expensive equals better".
A $100.00 dollar knife simple cannot be as good as a $500.00 dollar knife.
And any knife in the double digits can be nothing but garbage.

Keep this mindset and you will soon join the ranks of "The Knife Snob".
 
It is easy to be a snob. Find a niche and defend it beyond all reason.

I will not be a snob. I will acknowledge that there is more than one way to skin a cat.

The main thing with knives is to find what you like and what works for you.

I like inexpensive knives. I like plain non-serrated edges. I prefer smaller blades. I like to own a few users. I use what I own. I do not collect. I like them sharp and my method of sharpening works for me. I prefer stainless steels. In my price range there are few "exotic" steels so I stick to mainly 440 and AUS type steels. I own both fixed and folders.

If you do not agree or wish to throw some snobbery go ahead. I will ignore you and go on with my life confident that, contrary to any scorn you have for my blades or methods, your snobbery will not interfere with the work that my cutlery will enable me to accomplish.

Any snobbery over the internet is akin to what is now being called "internet bullying". I find this humorous. How can anyones opinion, bullying, or snobbery affect me unless I allow it to get to me. It is very easy to ignore it.

Edited to add: I just thought of one area I am a snob about. I like my blades sharp. I do not care what method you use but I will turn my nose up at a dull blade.
 
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Eight Trigrams said:
Pretty spot on, but you forgot the ubiquitous "steel snob"; the guy who thinks that anything non-super-stainless won't cut through butter even when hot, or the 1095 dude who still believes his granpappy's wisdom...that stainless knives will break if you look at them wrong.
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+1:thumbup: you beat me to it:D
 
Keep repeating in every post you make that any knife that doesn't have a blade made of ZDP189 steel is a worthless piece of junk.
 
Eight Trigrams said:
Pretty spot on, but you forgot the ubiquitous "steel snob"; the guy who thinks that anything non-super-stainless won't cut through butter even when hot, or the 1095 dude who still believes his granpappy's wisdom...that stainless knives will break if you look at them wrong.
Click to expand...

Yes...

The famous steel snob probably outnumbers all others.

As mentioned, there are the "I'm wiser 'cause I'm retro" believers that only traditional carbon steels like 1095 can get 'er done.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are those who believe that if you don't have the latest super steels like S90V, ZDP 189 or at least S30V, your knife will be duller than a butter knife and crack faster than the mirror, an ugly girl stared at.
 
From what I've seen, at least on this forum, you become a "Knife snob" if you have the temerity to even insinuate that someone, somewhere, using newer technology and newer steel, just "MIGHT" make a better knife than a Buck 110. :p
 
This is all really good advice. Stick around and pay attention to the posts; if you see that people are responding to one particular person with a lot of :yawn: , :rolleyes: , or :jerkit: faces, you know that they're a snob to emulate and admire. For some great IRL snobbery, go into your local big box hardware or camping store, go to the knife section and sigh while shaking your head. Then walk away without buying anything.
 
Ben Dover said:
From what I've seen, at least on this forum, you become a "Knife snob" if you have the temerity to even insinuate that someone, somewhere, using newer technology and newer steel, just "MIGHT" make a better knife than a Buck 110. :p
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There is a better knife than a Buck 110?! I've never seen one. ;)
 
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