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Bad Survive! Deserves A Permanent Post In The Hall Of Shame
- Thread starter ncrockclimb
- Start date
I hesitate to post this here, and may regret it. But I have a few of these guys' knives, that I ordered and got back in 2016, or ordered and got sometime between then and now. I don't carry any of them anymore. Well, I guess I never did, really. But anyway, I digress. One, a GSO-4.1, has been relegated to only performing fire duty. Helping get the wood stove started, making feathers from fatwood, things like that. So, I had to build a fire this weekend, and I used that one. I have to say, the grip on the Survive-assembled knife, the older, smaller grip, is really quite comfortable. And actually is usable in several grips. It was actually a good knife for starting that fire.
It is a crying shame that: (1) they have sh** on so many customers in getting their knives to them that they now have a reputation that they will likely never recover from -- even if they can actually amend their (near?) criminal business practices; (2) they went and TOTALLY f-ed up their handles. Although on that second one, it probably no longer matters. I've given them the last money they'll ever get from me. I've got their old stuff. And now I've gotten some of their new stuff. Their old stuff was good. Their new stuff.... it really isn't worth the money, not to me.
I will also say I used one of Busse's just-delivered RAD blades working the feathers for the same stove fire. Even though the thickness of the bevel behind the edge is probably twice as thick on the RAD as it is on the 4.1, but INFI of the RAD actually cut feathers better than the vaunted thin edge of the 4.1. I was surprised. But it proved to me once and for all that the Survive knives, especially the new ones, just aren't worth the money. Especially when you compare the customer service between the two companies. I mean... you really can't compare them. I almost feel ashamed to speak of Busse in the same post as Dead!Knives. It seems almost an insult to Busse to do so.
It is a crying shame that: (1) they have sh** on so many customers in getting their knives to them that they now have a reputation that they will likely never recover from -- even if they can actually amend their (near?) criminal business practices; (2) they went and TOTALLY f-ed up their handles. Although on that second one, it probably no longer matters. I've given them the last money they'll ever get from me. I've got their old stuff. And now I've gotten some of their new stuff. Their old stuff was good. Their new stuff.... it really isn't worth the money, not to me.
I will also say I used one of Busse's just-delivered RAD blades working the feathers for the same stove fire. Even though the thickness of the bevel behind the edge is probably twice as thick on the RAD as it is on the 4.1, but INFI of the RAD actually cut feathers better than the vaunted thin edge of the 4.1. I was surprised. But it proved to me once and for all that the Survive knives, especially the new ones, just aren't worth the money. Especially when you compare the customer service between the two companies. I mean... you really can't compare them. I almost feel ashamed to speak of Busse in the same post as Dead!Knives. It seems almost an insult to Busse to do so.
I watched the new video and those GSO 5.1 were the same ones that fell out of the boxes right, so why haven't they been shipped by now. Guy said he owns the machines and things are going smoothly now so why after several months are there still 1000 unfinished blades? People still waiting since 2015 and 16 are going to keep waiting till they ask for a refund. Survive will most likely sell those blades to another company to keep the ponzi going. Dang it is like silver certificates / coins that get sold 10 times and they shit when a costumer wants the actual product to possess at home. News Nugget we got our crap worked out and we will send out complete sets out in a few months and yet after a few months NONE have been sent out.
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2013
- Messages
- 2,771
Those knives that are waiting since 2015 and 2016 have long since been sold or will never be built at all. None of those people from 6/7 years ago will ever see a knife. Guy has no intention of going back that far to redeem himself or the company. He’s moved on to fleece the next group of suckers.
You may be correct at this point. However, I will say that in 2020 I received two knives that I had ordered in the 2015/2016 time frame. I would have to go dig out the orders to give you exact dates. But definitely in that time frame.
That's the only reason I'm still kinda hanging on until my final knife (hopefully?) gets delivered. So far, they're only about 5 years, 9 months late. So i'm trying to be reasonable and understanding.
That last part is said in jest. I just don't want the hassle of fighting to get a full refund when there is a chance that I may actually still get A knife from them. It is unlikely to be THE knife I ordered.... but A knife.
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2017
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- 3,371
For that kind of money
dogboye
I would be happy to sell you A knife but I can promise it won't be THE knife or even a GOOD knife 
But seriously I do understand the position of waiting with hope though the KS project I lost money on I have also lost all hope and have said goodbye to that money. I had hope for the first 6 years or so and we are not at year 10 I think I lost track and I have no recourse as the project creator has gone dark on anything except new projects out of his new company which at this point I and other suspect was born out the the funding of the dead project.
dogboye
I would be happy to sell you A knife but I can promise it won't be THE knife or even a GOOD knife But seriously I do understand the position of waiting with hope though the KS project I lost money on I have also lost all hope and have said goodbye to that money. I had hope for the first 6 years or so and we are not at year 10 I think I lost track and I have no recourse as the project creator has gone dark on anything except new projects out of his new company which at this point I and other suspect was born out the the funding of the dead project.
Yeah... it's a cruddy situation.For that kind of money
But seriously I do understand the position of waiting with hope though the KS project I lost money on I have also lost all hope and have said goodbye to that money. I had hope for the first 6 years or so and we are not at year 10 I think I lost track and I have no recourse as the project creator has gone dark on anything except new projects out of his new company which at this point I and other suspect was born out the the funding of the dead project.
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- Sep 18, 2013
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- 2,771
Yet they continue to deliver new models. Does it really take 5 YEARS to make a knife, especially a knife that you essentially are assembling from parts? It’s all a lie and a scheme to bilk the knife community out of their money and it’s working.
Agree, except for the bolded part. I have not seen them deliver new models. I've seen them advertise new models. I've seen a ton of blanks of supposedly new models. I've even seen what I believe were 3D prints of new models. But I've not seen one new model delivered.
[ETA: If you have seen any indication they have delivered new models, please point me in that direction. I'm guessing it may be on IG, or perhaps FB?]
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- Sep 18, 2013
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- 2,771
I misspoke. They’ve moved on to selling new models. They haven’t made anything. Sad really.
PeteyTwoPointOne
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2014
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- 8,005
Note the shady way S! uses the terms "finished," "shipped," "completed," "built," "worked through," "filled," "arrived," et. al.
They really, really liberally rely on vague contingency phrases like: "really soon," "as soon as," "very soon," "next few," "about," "fast," "working hard" <compared to what?>, "earlier," "very quickly," and the hits just keep on keep coming.
It's like reading a deposition from William Jefferson Clinton on his personal definition of "is" & "sex."
They really, really liberally rely on vague contingency phrases like: "really soon," "as soon as," "very soon," "next few," "about," "fast," "working hard" <compared to what?>, "earlier," "very quickly," and the hits just keep on keep coming.
It's like reading a deposition from William Jefferson Clinton on his personal definition of "is" & "sex."
So.... I've bad-mouthed them. I had started to really wonder if I was ever going to see my GSO-5.1. I really was. I was one of the ones that waited ... wait, I'll have to go check, and I'll come back and edit. Anyway, it has been 5 or 6 years. But I'll be damned if Survive didn't deliver that knife. I got notice earlier this week that it had shipped, and it came in yesterday. No, it isn't D3V. But, I really can't say I care. I have other 3V and D3V knives, and I don't care what anybody says, I haven't been able to tell a bit of difference between the two. I've gone into a lot of reasons or examples... or whatever... over in the Busse forum regarding Magnacut, so if you want to know specifics, you can look there. i don't want to reiterate all that here.
So, be that as it may....
Technically, it isn't the knife I ordered. I cannot honestly say that I recall whether I ordered it before or after they started talking about providing D3V. I just ordered it wanting the GSO-5.1 knife that I already had, but in 3V instead of 20CV. The technicality of it not being the knife I ordered is the following:
(1) the handle area is longer. Like I had said earlier about the GSO-6, the handle got scaled up between when I ordered THAT knife and when I received it. I'm still a little miffed about the GSO-6.. But like I've said before, my daughter is happy with it, so I'm accepting of that. However, they somehow didn't f*** it up on this GSO-5.1. Instead of it feeling like they just scaled up a GSO4.7 to 6.0 size, this one is different. I put it up next to my GSO-5.1 of the era that I ordered THIS one from. Yeah, the older GSO-5.1 is shorter. BUT, the contouring of the new one matches the contouring of the old one. But the handle just keeps going for about 0.5 to 0.75 inch further at the butt end. It is acceptable.
(2) They changed the plunge grind... or the grind... or the bevel... I'm not sure what to call it. The primary grind does not go as far up toward the spine as the old one. It just isn't ground as high. Personally, I'm not overjoyed with this, as it makes the primary grind a little steeper. BUT, that may not be a bad thing. Dunno. The edge bevel is just as thing, though. Or teh thickness just behind the edge. So... jury is out on that one. In spite of the change of the height of the grind, it balances EXACTLY the same as the old GSO-5.1. The only thing I can figure is the lower primary bevel offsets the longer handle, so that the balance point is the same. I don't know if they intended this, or it they just got lucky. If they intended it.... I might have to be impressed. But it is unlikely I'll ever know... so, moot speculation.
So, I'm not coming on here to be an apologist for Survive. They really have a deep hole to dig themselves out of. And they are going to have to dig a bit before I'll consider ordering anything else from them. I still feel wronged for having to it this long for this knife, but I had to come on here and set MY record straight in this discussion. They still have a lot of work to do before i'll consider them a reputable company. But I got my knife. And for that, I'm happy.
Oh, one other thing... regarding the price.... People have said their knives are overpriced. I won't deny that. IMO, it is debatable that this knife is worth the money I paid for it. BUT, I will say, I have seen in the past few days a couple other knives advertised by manufacturers that cost more than I paid for this (admittedly 5-6 years later). For comparable or less materials. It isn't a custom knife... at best it is a mid-tech... if I understand that term. But of all the things I'm still a little peeved about this process... the price isn't one of them. Other than I paid it up front. That is still a shi**y situation.
So... I've talked enough. Just wanted to put this out for full disclosure. Survive isn't a knife company I would recommend to anyone. Yet. Maybe never. Because I don't know if I'll ever order anything else from them. But they MAY be heading in the right direction. Even though they were still 4 months late on their latest estimate. I don't care if it was because of the sheath. They still messed up the estimate.
Hopefully yall don't throw me to the wolves for posting this. But... I've grown a reasonably thick hide over the last 50+ years... so I'll be OK if you want to dog-pile me.
[ETA: went and looked. I ordered this knife in May of 2016. I received it 4-7-2022. Just shy of 6 years. That is pathetic.]
So, be that as it may....
Technically, it isn't the knife I ordered. I cannot honestly say that I recall whether I ordered it before or after they started talking about providing D3V. I just ordered it wanting the GSO-5.1 knife that I already had, but in 3V instead of 20CV. The technicality of it not being the knife I ordered is the following:
(1) the handle area is longer. Like I had said earlier about the GSO-6, the handle got scaled up between when I ordered THAT knife and when I received it. I'm still a little miffed about the GSO-6.. But like I've said before, my daughter is happy with it, so I'm accepting of that. However, they somehow didn't f*** it up on this GSO-5.1. Instead of it feeling like they just scaled up a GSO4.7 to 6.0 size, this one is different. I put it up next to my GSO-5.1 of the era that I ordered THIS one from. Yeah, the older GSO-5.1 is shorter. BUT, the contouring of the new one matches the contouring of the old one. But the handle just keeps going for about 0.5 to 0.75 inch further at the butt end. It is acceptable.
(2) They changed the plunge grind... or the grind... or the bevel... I'm not sure what to call it. The primary grind does not go as far up toward the spine as the old one. It just isn't ground as high. Personally, I'm not overjoyed with this, as it makes the primary grind a little steeper. BUT, that may not be a bad thing. Dunno. The edge bevel is just as thing, though. Or teh thickness just behind the edge. So... jury is out on that one. In spite of the change of the height of the grind, it balances EXACTLY the same as the old GSO-5.1. The only thing I can figure is the lower primary bevel offsets the longer handle, so that the balance point is the same. I don't know if they intended this, or it they just got lucky. If they intended it.... I might have to be impressed. But it is unlikely I'll ever know... so, moot speculation.
So, I'm not coming on here to be an apologist for Survive. They really have a deep hole to dig themselves out of. And they are going to have to dig a bit before I'll consider ordering anything else from them. I still feel wronged for having to it this long for this knife, but I had to come on here and set MY record straight in this discussion. They still have a lot of work to do before i'll consider them a reputable company. But I got my knife. And for that, I'm happy.
Oh, one other thing... regarding the price.... People have said their knives are overpriced. I won't deny that. IMO, it is debatable that this knife is worth the money I paid for it. BUT, I will say, I have seen in the past few days a couple other knives advertised by manufacturers that cost more than I paid for this (admittedly 5-6 years later). For comparable or less materials. It isn't a custom knife... at best it is a mid-tech... if I understand that term. But of all the things I'm still a little peeved about this process... the price isn't one of them. Other than I paid it up front. That is still a shi**y situation.
So... I've talked enough. Just wanted to put this out for full disclosure. Survive isn't a knife company I would recommend to anyone. Yet. Maybe never. Because I don't know if I'll ever order anything else from them. But they MAY be heading in the right direction. Even though they were still 4 months late on their latest estimate. I don't care if it was because of the sheath. They still messed up the estimate.
Hopefully yall don't throw me to the wolves for posting this. But... I've grown a reasonably thick hide over the last 50+ years... so I'll be OK if you want to dog-pile me.
[ETA: went and looked. I ordered this knife in May of 2016. I received it 4-7-2022. Just shy of 6 years. That is pathetic.]
ElementalBreakdown
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2020
- Messages
- 492
A thoughtful addition. You acknowledge the nonsense and how ridiculous this is, but are making some good points about why we shouldn't just write them off as complete lunatics and/or thieves.
A steaming pile of horseshite that at least has something at the bottom if you are willing to get your hands dirty. Like eating a whole box of the world's worst cereal for a prize at the bottom.
Thanks for the report. Obviously we shouldn't be willing to accept this nonsense, but at least you are OK with the end result and that makes me happy for you.
A steaming pile of horseshite that at least has something at the bottom if you are willing to get your hands dirty. Like eating a whole box of the world's worst cereal for a prize at the bottom.
Thanks for the report. Obviously we shouldn't be willing to accept this nonsense, but at least you are OK with the end result and that makes me happy for you.
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- Jul 3, 2019
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- 14,742
I think telling folks about your honest experience is a good thing to do. Survive!’s reputation will speak for itself, which I think you’ve addressed. I’m happy you finally got a knife, which is better than no knife.
6 year wait time… ooph.
It’s still my humble opinion that S!K is ten pounds of excrement in a 5 pound bag.