Taste vs. Prejudice

Well, as for me, I don't really know if I know enough to have prejudices against certain or general things in relation to knives. I wonder if that also means that I haven't developed my tastes?

There are knives that I like, and ones that I don't based on a picture in a computer screen, nothing more, but I either like it or I don't, usually in a millisecond. All kinds of knives too, as long as they have good lines. But what does that mean? Is it meaningless? Is physicality a defining difference in its meaning?

It is nit picking, no doubt:) Computers!:rolleyes:



Finally, David- I find your approach to collecting custom knives to be one of the most intriguing, and so full of gratitude in general.
I have to ask; how do your custom knives get made? Do you collaborate, or stand back and record? What a wonderful approach at any rate.
It's really a win-win for everybody who's involved. As far as I'm concerned, you're a genius for making that happen. Brings Collecting to another level on so many levels:thumbup::cool:
 
As a novice to the knife world I go with the initial gut instinct. Often though that just gets me looking closer and at that point my "like" or "dislike" changes and refines.
What I mean... The Best Bowie thread was perfect example of the process. When it came to the final choices I was immediately drawn to one knife and had the opposite reaction to another. The rest had elements I liked more than others etc.
Well I chose the one that at first I was least drawn to. After looking more closely it turned out that it had the most coherent design and most balanced execution. They were all fabulous but there was the one that stood out in a subtle way as my favorite whereas my initial favorite was based on the parts rather than the whole.

So things change, sometimes over the long term, sometimes the short.

What I find interesting is how a long held bias against something can be changed by the exposure to one really exceptional example and from there allow the "archetype" to be seen in the lesser example. For instance, I did not like stag on anything until I held a Daniel Winkler knife. Now I look at it more closely and appreciate it.
The other direction has happened too where a flashy picture of a knife has lured me and the reality has turned me off a maker's work.
 
Prejudice: (1): preconceived judgment or opinion (2): an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.

I don't believe I have knife "prejudices". My focused collection may appear that I do.
Of course there's elements/materials I don't care for however that's just a matter of taste rather than prejudice.

I believe one of the most blatant examples of "knife prejudice" is when some have the notion that embellished knives (wallhangers, as described by some) can't perform or cut as well as plainer knives or knives by maker's who boast how well their plain knives perform.

Initially, I decided that I would learn as much as possible about the particular knife styles before I started making major acquisitions. As I feel one needs to know what they are buying in order to consistently make wise purchases. Thus forged knives are predominate in my collection. I have since (especially since participating here on the BF) become much more interested in folders and stockremoval knives and am trying to learn as much as possible about them. Again, don't feel I have ever been prejudiced against them.

To Jon's and Roger's earlier point, I have never been directed "away" from makers by dealers, however have quite a few times been directed towards certain maker's by dealers who sell their work. One just has to remember that dealers sell knives/makers as a business.

SBranson, not sure how it relates to "taste vs. prejudice", however I do agree that expertly enhanced knife photos can result in disappointment at times upon examination of the actual knife.
 
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My tastes in knives runs the gamut, and I see beauty in many things.

Prejudice? Yup. Mea Culpa.... I refrain from admiring fully work from makers who might appear disrespectful, or have poor business acumen, or communicate poorly (that's all the same thing, really.)

No one needs a custom knife. You have to want it.

Coop
 
Kevin Jones said:
SBranson, not sure how it relates to "taste vs. prejudice", however I do agree that expertly enhanced knife photos can result in disappointment at times upon examination of the actual knife.
Click to expand...

I think I was just illustrating an example how something that was to my "taste" based on pictures but has turned into a prejudice based on the reality. Now I don't even like the pictures of the work. I appreciate the photographer's skill but that makes me think even less of the knife.
Just a personal example of the whims of fancy.
 
SBranson said:
I think I was just illustrating an example how something that was to my "taste" based on pictures but has turned into a prejudice based on the reality. Now I don't even like the pictures of the work. I appreciate the photographer's skill but that makes me think even less of the knife.
Just a personal example of the whims of fancy.
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
That is very interesting indeed. Lots to think about there, with that being said.:confused:
 
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