Social Graces at Blade Shows or Retailers

dirtsqueezer · Nov 3, 1999

Please help me out here. I'd love some pointers on etiquette whilst handling another person's knife.

Including:
A knife you may purchase from a vendor.
A knife you probably won't buy, but just want to touch

How much opening/closing, flicking, loading the lock, shaving of your arm, testing in your pocket or picking your teeth is reasonable and what is out of line?

Is it rude to pass a knife back in the open position?
What is the one knife social blunder that drives you mad?

Uneducated, yet inquiring minds want to know.

-j-

cwknifeman · Nov 3, 1999

If the blade was open when picked up I would like it the same way. But, it really doesn't matter cause I'll end up cleaning it off anyway, just to keep the oil and skin salts off of the blade.
You see at a knife show - if they don't handle the knife then they definitely wont purchase the knife. Just the facts, and the fact is that the more people that see and handle my product the more will end up purchasing my product - and my product is my knives.

Custom Knives for the Customer...

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Curtis Wilson -
Wilson's Custom Knives, Engraving, and Scrimshaw

JoHnYKwSt · Nov 3, 1999

There was a thread on this subject recently in the custom knives forum. Worth checking out. http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000581.html

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Johnny
[]xxxxxx[]=============>

automantic · Nov 3, 1999

Hi DS,

NEVER touch the one that you don't plan on buying!

You may fall in love with it and your addiction will have cost you ever MORE money!

Heh heh heh

Later,
John

P.S. Whatever you do, DON'T sneeze on the knives!!!!!
_____________________________________________
"Extremism is the last refuge of the careless"

[This message has been edited by automantic (edited 03 November 1999).]

Ghecko · Nov 3, 1999

I can't really comment because I'm not a maker or seller. One thing I do know is that if you hand it back open be sure to hand it back butt first. I've heard some people say that shaving arm hair with a custom knife (at a show) is pretty stupid. Plenty of cases of people removing the top layer of skin... I personally don't care to be *that* surprised out how sharp a blade is.

One thing I do remember though, I was at the Atlanta Blade show earlier this year. Unfortunately I don't remember the maker's name but he had a single folder on display. *Beautiful* knife with (blued?) damascus blade and bolsters and phenomenal carved pearl handles. He encouraged me to pick it up and open/close it even though it was clear I was only drooling... It's a shame I don't remember his name.

Jon

Joel Stave · Nov 3, 1999

...that's another good rule -- wipe the drool off before handing the knife back.

Strider · Nov 3, 1999

I have found over the years that stabbing or slicing the person showing you the knife is a no-no.Also try to avoid testing the sharpness of the blade on other merchandise the shop owner may have with in reach. Funny how little things like this can piss some people off.
Bob

Dr.Lathe · Nov 3, 1999

I don't do shows however have had some experience with customers handling knives.
Be very carefull returning knives to their sheaths. I've had several sheaths ruined right before my eyes!!
Also, most custom knives are SHARP!!!I've had two customers wives cut themselves. One was admiring her husbands new knife. The other was wrapping one for Christmas, took it out of the sheath to cut some ribbon, OUCH!!
Most makers at shows I've been to, encourage you to pick up and examine their knives. I usually wait untill they say "go ahead"! Personally, I wouldn't flick a knife more than once or twice unless I was serious about buying it.
Hopefully the makers will be selling! I try to let them deal with potential buyers rather than taking up their time discussing knifemaking! If it's slow and I have a question then I go for it.
Neil

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Just updated 10/31!! New Knives, New Pics!!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

Lynn Grififth Knives · Nov 3, 1999

I set up at 6-12 shows per year. I absolutely encourage people to handle my knives. The only thing that upsets me, is when someone drops the knife back on the table when they are done. I usually have that happen about once per every 3-4 show I do. It only takes an extra second to place the knife gently, back where you picked it up from.

I agree with Dr. Lathe about the sheaths. I have had many leather sheaths ruined in the past, do to people jamming them in the wrong way. I however don't have that problem, now that I use Kydex. People still try and put them in wrong, put Kydex is harder to pearce than leather.

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Lynn Griffith
Available knives now listed on
My website
GriffithKN@aol.com

James Mattis · Nov 3, 1999

I sometimes put a few band-aids out at the front of my table at knife shows, to remind people that they live in an orderly universe.

My pet peeve is not the guy who fondles the knife and says he'll be back and I never see him again. It's the guy who shows up in the last half hour of the show, when some folks are already packing, and tries to buy stuff cheap.

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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001

SB · Nov 3, 1999

James Keating talks about it in his first issue of Comtech magazine I think? It's free and it's on his website. Very informative.

gohmer · Nov 3, 1999

Dirtsqueezer

Every dealer is different. I am inclined to let someone do almost anything, within reason, with my knives if they ask permission first. That is my advice, always ask first.

Gohmer

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SRKnife.com

DonL · Nov 3, 1999

Many good tips above, and a couple more here.

Make sure your hands are relatively clean before you handle anybody's knives so that you don't grunge up a blade.

Return the knife in the manner in which it was handed to you (ie. open or closed, butt first, etc.).

If it's in a glass case, it's there for a reason. If it's out ont he open table, it's still a good idea to ask before you pick anything up. It's just common courtesy.

If you can't afford a knife, or know you're only looking, leave the knife on the table. I did, however, break this rule once, upon seeing the most beautiful damascus blade, mokume guard and endcap, mammoth fossil handle, and absolutely gorgeous piece of art. *sigh* Before I could stop myself, I stammered, "Um, Mr. Zowada, I know I can't afford that knife, but it's absolutely beautiful, and I'm wondering if I can have a closer look..." And Tim Zowada, true gentleman that he is, insisted that I do just that, and he seemed glad that someone could appreciate his wonderful work. Mr. Zowada, my brother and I all discussed features and details of the knife, and my brother ended up jumping on his waiting list, so some makers will spend the time with someone knowing that a bit of good will can go a long way towards building friendships, and developing a customer base. I guess that sometimes, it doesn't hurt to ask, just don't assume you'll be given permission.

If I know I'll be handling knives, especially nice ones, I try to carry and use a clean handkerchief or bandana or even a Tuf-Cloth to wipe any smudges off the knife just to make the effort to let the dealer or maker know that I respect their property. I'm often told, "Oh, no, that's okay, I'll do that," or "don't worry, someone else'll come along and pick it up in a minute or so", but sometimes a dealer or maker will thank me for trying to be concientious.

I'm sure there are many others out there with their own tips or secrets, but these are a few of mine.

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Don LeHue

The pen is mightier than the sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.

Gollnick · Nov 4, 1999

Don's got it pretty well summed up.

Ask before you touch. This is just simple manners.

Make sure your hands are clean. If you step out for some lunch, wash your hands before you go back to handling knives. It's impolite to leave the poor vendor's knife covered with mustard that got on your hand from the hotdog you ate.

Carry a cloth with you and wipe your own fingerprints off carefully. But, if you're not comfortable doing this on the particular knife in question, don't.

If you don't know how to work the lock or something or are just simply uncomfortable with it, then ask for help.

Put the knife back where it was and how it was and then thank the kind gentleman.

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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick

Phillip Jones · Nov 4, 1999

One good tip is to never swing a sword while standing at someones table. Very dangerous.

The one thing that gets me is when I say "hello" or "how are you?" and the person looking at my table does not reply. That is just plain rude.

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If a man can keep alert and imaginative, an error is a possibility, a chance at something new; to him, wandering and wondering are a part of the same process. He is most mistaken, most in error, whenever he quits exploring.

William Least Heat Moon

Andre Simpson · Nov 4, 1999

I used to got to a few gun/militaria shows with my father.

We found that carrying a pair the thin white cotton gloves that photography supply stores sell for handling negatives was handy.

If we wanted to handle or examine something, it was usually a matter of asking (and getting

) permission, slipping on the gloves and away you go.

The fact that you are prepared to treat the dealers goods with respect and care carries a huge amount of weight.

Jeff Clark · Nov 4, 1999

A major part of my interest is in rare military knives. I ask permission to handle. I keep my hands clean. I handle delicately by my finger-tips. I don't touch the blades at all. I study construction, blade condition, handle condition, sheath condition. I put things back in the sheath very carefully. If I think I'm going to buy on the spot I might ask to test the blade attachment or something. In general I handle the knife so that it wouldn't suffer if the owner didn't wipe it off.

Marion David Poff · Nov 5, 1999

I think the consensus is:

Respect

Courtesy

Show that you are there to pay respect to the makers work by inspecting it, and I imagine that in 99% of the time, touching and cycling it will be no problem, but ask.

As a retailer, I hate people dismissing knives, I get shown some real crap, and I respect all of it for what it is, the knife that suits them.

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Marion David Poff aka Eye, one can msg me at mdpoff@hotmail.com If I fail to check back with this thread and you want some info, email me.

My site is at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/1770 Including my review of the Kasper AFCK, thougths on the AFCK and interview of Bob Kasper.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.

Social Graces at Blade Shows or Retailers

Musical Director