Taste vs. Prejudice

Lorien

Lorien

Nose to the Grindstone
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I feel I'm starting to be the 'vs.' guy, since most of the threads I've started include it:rolleyes:. But, as always, I digress.

People describe why they don't like certain things about certain knives, and people describe why they don't like general things about knives in general. And people do both at the same time quite often.

But where is the dividing line, for you?
Is your taste in knives biased in a way that you feel might limit your education and exposure to a wider world? If so, what does it take to push your bias aside when you see something which speaks to you, even though it incorporates features, design or materials that you are prejudiced against?
What happens when you take that step? Or does it ever happen?

Awhile back there was a cool thread about critique, trying to find answers to the eternal question of taste vs. objective critique when discussing a knife's shortcomings and/or successes. This thread is kind of in the same vein, but is not looking for answers to that, only impressions on how you go through the process of looking at a knife.
 
I don't care for mirror polished blades, brass or copper on knives. I guess these are just my preferences. I also just don't care for stag either.if a knife has any of the above, then I won't look at it any further.

There are other things that I do not care for on knives, but I just can't think of them off hand.

I guess as I grow as a collector, so do my taste in knives.


 
I think that there is alot of prejudice when it comes to this stuff. I am guilty of it also but try to keep an open mind, even to things I don't like. I have always wondered why alot of dealers and collectors are so stubborn about certain things. Like for example, I asked a dealer what they thaught of a certain maker (a well known very reputable maker) and he shook his head and said "no". I have no idea why.

Maybe that makers sales are down so it just doesn't seem like a good investment. I will never know.

I have that prejudice against giraffe bone because I don't really find it attractive. Also because I know that its not worth much. However, I would gladly use a knife with it. I own a using knife with GB. I just wouldn't spend big bucks on a safe queen with it, because I don't think of it as valuable.

I am starting feel that way about sheep horn, thanks to a very outspoken member here :) I think it is a good functional material, but its not beautiful the way ivory is.
 
jonathan brand said:
I think that there is alot of prejudice when it comes to this stuff. I am guilty of it also but try to keep an open mind, even to things I don't like....

I have that prejudice against giraffe bone because I don't really find it attractive. Also because I know that its not worth much. However, I would gladly use a knife with it. I own a using knife with GB. I just wouldn't spend big bucks on a safe queen with it, because I don't think of it as valuable.
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I'm not sure I understand why your feelings toward giraffe bone constitute prejudice - could you explain? Would this be an example of what you mean when you say you think there is "a lot of prejudice"??

I'm not all that fond of turquoise on a knife. To the point where I can say I wouldn't buy a knife with it. But I appreciate that some people quite like it and I respect there choices. Does that mean I am prejudiced against turquoise?

Roger
 
I think for the most part, people just like what they like, and don't like what they don't like :)

I think personalities can get in the way at times... but mostly this all just boils down to beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

Or so me thinks :)
 
I have my biases, and am comfortable with them. I don't look past them. They are incorporated into all my knife purchases. If I don't care for a certain material or design feature, that material or design feature isn't going to be a part of any knife I own.
 
For me, it is all about that first impression.
There are knives that are totally beyond what I'd buy, or say I like, that blow me away.
Then there are those that I 'should' like that leave me flat.

I guess I could say that they've either "got it" or they don't.
Just don't ask me what "it" is.
:D
 
Up until four years ago, I had no interest in art knives/daggers. I never thought I would. That same lack of attraction existed for me with other types of knives, for whatever reason. But I never let it get in the way. Once I even disliked Bowies.

If anyone has ever been looking at the images I tend to post, he/she knows something must have changed, because art knives, fighters and Bowies seem like all I ever acquire anymore.

Point is, tastes may change, but more importantly, an open mind expands the horizon.
 
Weirdly enough - I enjoy having my opinions on knives challenged and sometimes changed.Here's some that have fallen apart in the last couple of years: 1.) Don't like metal handled knives= they're slippery. So why do I still own 3 Spyderco ATR's ? Handle geometry maybe more important than what the handle is made out of or scaled with? 2.) How 'bout the Poliwog? Too small to get a grip on it ? Ah -choils ( remember the Strider PT?) 3.) Gotta have a fair sized knife (3.5 to 3.75) inches to get some work done.So why has my EDU been a G&G Hawk MUDD (3") for the last few months.BTW - looking for the most useful little big knife has been really interesting. Strong honorable mention to both the Spyderco Lil'Temperance and the Emerson CQC-14(less wave) .If it seems like I'm on a Spyderco kick - not really - most I've handled wern't for me - actually used to have a bit of a prejudice against 'em - have owned 5 times as many Kershaws.
Existing prejudices: A.) Shiny fancy clips - especially long pointy shiny clips that catch on stuff when you're crawling.Henry Ford's favorite color preferred. B.) Tanto blades. Don't work as a drill substitute in plastic all that well.C.) serrated edges. Not convenient for peeling the shields off of co-ax cable ( at least for me). D.) Da WAVE ( thank God for Dremel tools) E.) Pointy thumb studs.F.) Slim tips - gotta be able to pry. G.) Stuff sticking out of the back of a knife that keeps me from using it as a half assed hammer.H.) Sharp edges that aren't on the bottom of the blade. Especially if they're on scale edges.I.) Shiny blades/handles. Not a deal breaker = but subdued is better. J.) Blade play -don't care if it's vertical or s2s - it's just evil!
 
wow, some amazing input into this thread.
Roger, if you ever make your way to the west coast, I hope that you get in touch.:thumbup:
 
Roger- I might have expressed myself badly. I guess I am not really prejudice against GB. I just don't like it so its a matter of differentials in taste. The practical side of me thinks "sure why not put it on the handle of a user" but the collector side keeps me away from it. Its not a valuable material to me.

And to answer your other question, Its not really an example of there being alot of predjudice. I was refering more to makers who are hot vs. makers who are not. Some do great work but aren't written about all over the place and dealers who don't carry their work will try to sway you away from them.

I should put my foot in my mouth because I sort of spoke on impulse with out thinking about this, and I find myself struggling to explain myself, still.
 
NickWheeler said:
I think for the most part, people just like what they like, and don't like what they don't like :)

I think personalities can get in the way at times... but mostly this all just boils down to beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

Or so me thinks :)
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Nick,

You thinks like everyone else... Their preferences, likes and don't likes,
all boil down in the end to their personal tastes - like in everything else.

I love knives of beauty and design that make me stop and stare nearly
loosing control of my emotions. BUT I concentrate on selected folders
made specially for and displayed in my books.

The fixed blades I keep (also of course made for my books) are mainly
those shown in the making in my new series on Custom Knifemakers
of the World, but also some exceptional ones (my taste...) from my
other books on Modern Custom Knives.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
A person should always stay open minded, but we are going to have biases. Our personal tastes can change over time, but there are always going to be things about knives that turn us on or off.
 
Good Thread!
When viewing knives, a knife will jump out at me, catch my eye, and I can truly appreciate that knife. Would I own it? That is a different story. MY knives must meet my taste and standards.
 
jonathan brand said:
Roger- I might have expressed myself badly. I guess I am not really prejudice against GB. I just don't like it so its a matter of differentials in taste. The practical side of me thinks "sure why not put it on the handle of a user" but the collector side keeps me away from it. Its not a valuable material to me.

And to answer your other question, Its not really an example of there being alot of predjudice. I was refering more to makers who are hot vs. makers who are not. Some do great work but aren't written about all over the place and dealers who don't carry their work will try to sway you away from them.

I should put my foot in my mouth because I sort of spoke on impulse with out thinking about this, and I find myself struggling to explain myself, still.
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Jon,

I don't think you expressed yourself badly at all - I just think that the term "prejudice" was misused here as it is frequently misused when discussing something so (in the big scheme of things) utterly trivial as handle material or construction method. Prejudice can be a very harmful thing - to use it in this context trivializes the concept.

Your experience with the dealer trying to steer you away from a particular maker is not one I have shared. I would likely have pressed to know why he / she was making that recommendation. There may have been a valid reason. There may simply have been bad blood between them. As you say, we don't know. And since we don't know, we can't assume that prejudice was the motivation.

Roger
 
I know handle materials mostly sell the knife,and many knives are bought because of who the maker is more then the knife itself. But when I look at knives by others I appreciate all the work that went into those pieces. Each maker has their own styles and ideas and I've learned a great deal from all. There are just a few handle materials I don't care for because they just aren't good canidates for the knives I make, but they work and look fantastic on someone elses work and I can appreciate that. There's very few knives I see that I don't care for, but that could be because I look at a knife differently then a collector does. There are a ton of talented makers these days and I like seeing all their work. But then again I don't collect knives, I just make'em.

Now, anyone that thinks Wheeler thinks. WOW, have you been misled and you'd better rethink that. :)

Bill
 
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