That ONE friend who can't understand...

Both sides of the argument have brought up some interesting points, but I don’t think the OP is paying attention at this point.
 
Basp2005 said:
It's just a tool at the end of the day.
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Not to a true knife knut ! And that's the unbreachable gulf between OP and his buddy . Between anyone that loves a specific someone or something and those that don't . Two separate and distinct versions of reality . o_O
 
I have a friend like that also. He delights about breaking a blade or losing a knife, because he's "out only ten bucks." Of course, he once bought one hundred knives for one hundred bucks...and still has tons left.
There is no cure...Accept him for his faults and have a beer. Don't try to educate him; it cannot be done. Trust me.
 
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Why doesn’t Mr. Opinel just recess a couple of bronze washers into the wood on either side of the blade pivot? Or make the exact same knife except with composite or even titanium as a handle? Boom! Indestructible Opinel!
 
Because Mr. Opinel is a damn cheapskate. No, just kidding. Opinels are good, affordable and disposable knives. Intended for farmers and workers. Keep them cheap so they buy another when they broke theirs. A titanium Opinel (while not impossible at all...) would be almost an oxymoron. I would be thrilled to see you make one ! Really.
 
craytab said:
Yup. A fact that is lost on those who claim they are on a durability level of other more modern inexpensive knives.
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Just to clarify, I didn't make that claim. I said Opinel 9 & 10s are more durable than Buck and Schrade US lock backs, which has been my experience. I also recommend that the OP look at the Ontario Rat series.

I assume your comparison between modern designs and Opinel 9 & 10 is likewise based in experience.

Can describe the conditions in which you've seen an Opinel 9 or 10 break or get damaged where a modern design has not?
 
I can only recommend Case Sodbusters. Like them a lot. Go for them... A good riliable knife.
 
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Heartland_edc said:
Whats the right thing to do here? I could buy him a nicer knife...
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He abuses his ten-dollar knives...and, of course, they break. That's fine. They cost ten bucks.
IF IF IF you give him a "nice" knife...he WILL treat it the same way, and likely BREAK it also rather soon.
DON"T!
He is content in his ignorance. Leave him be.
p.s. He carries a ten-buck knife. I carry a very nice folder and an excellent cross-draw fixed blade EDC.
His knife cuts. My two knives (total $700) also cut.
Which person needs help?
 
I have gifted a good bit more than 20 knives and every one of them has been a quality knife. That count is just single bladed knives. I’ve given probably 6-7 Victorinox SAKs too. Out of all the people I’ve given knives to, I think only the smallest percentage ever had the preparedness stick. I think every one of those knives has been lost though. Somehow people are careless with these things. They seem to take the everyday tasks that can be performed by a pocket knife for granted.
The last knife I gave away was May 12. It was a Spyderco Fluted Carbon Fiber Native CF. I tried to nudge the individual toward researching at least the steel (s90v) so they could get some idea what they had there. I don’t think they ever realized they were holding a $300 knife. I know he used it for less than optimal tasks for an s90v steel knife which is fine but the knife was lost shortly after. When he told me he lost the knife, it was in a - matter of fact - it’s easy to misplace small things like this - way. I guarantee he thought it was a $30-40 knife.

I have had one friend who just could not grasp that a knife could cost $3-500 without having some embellishment such as precious metal or jewels. He rides a $8,000 mountain bike and somehow could not get the analogy that a really well made hub cost more because it’s really well made as opposed to a cheaply made hub that is lower cost. He looked at me like a dog who has just been shown a card trick and said “but these are hubs and there’s a difference... those are still just two knives.
 
I tend to let the friends I have do their own thing. If they want to use a cheap knife, that's fine by me. If they ask me about my knives, well, lets just say they get an earful. Not that my knives are particularly expensive compared to some of the fine specimens I see here, nor do I have an exceptional number of knives. My cheapest are a pair of Opinels (No. 08 and No. 12). My most expensive is a Helle Dokka. An SAK and Kershaw Leek fill my midrange and see the most use. Each one has a purpose. I don't take the Opinels surf casting and I don't EDC my Dokka at work in NYC. My choices are mostly dictated by the work I do, both at home and my career, and my recreational activities.
I reckon that if I were landscaping and using my knife for grubbing in the dirt and other abusive tasks, I would go for a more "disposable" tool that wouldn't cause me any bother if it got lost, stolen, broken or plumb wore out. But I would probably still have a small herd of knives that I purchase for their honor of tradition, materials and aesthetics because I value tools with those qualities. Particularly when used on my own time. That's just who I am.
As for the OP's dilemma, I would suggest that if the friend admires the OP's higher quality knives and comments on them occasionally, then making a gift of a higher quality, higher cost knife would be justified. If not, then this is an area on which the OP and friend simply are not on common ground. In this case, there are probably more satisfying gifts to be given and received.
 
archieblue said:
I have gifted a good bit more than 20 knives and every one of them has been a quality knife. That count is just single bladed knives. I’ve given probably 6-7 Victorinox SAKs too. Out of all the people I’ve given knives to, I think only the smallest percentage ever had the preparedness stick. I think every one of those knives has been lost though. Somehow people are careless with these things. They seem to take the everyday tasks that can be performed by a pocket knife for granted.
The last knife I gave away was May 12. It was a Spyderco Fluted Carbon Fiber Native CF. I tried to nudge the individual toward researching at least the steel (s90v) so they could get some idea what they had there. I don’t think they ever realized they were holding a $300 knife. I know he used it for less than optimal tasks for an s90v steel knife which is fine but the knife was lost shortly after. When he told me he lost the knife, it was in a - matter of fact - it’s easy to misplace small things like this - way. I guarantee he thought it was a $30-40 knife.

I have had one friend who just could not grasp that a knife could cost $3-500 without having some embellishment such as precious metal or jewels. He rides a $8,000 mountain bike and somehow could not get the analogy that a really well made hub cost more because it’s really well made as opposed to a cheaply made hub that is lower cost. He looked at me like a dog who has just been shown a card trick and said “but these are hubs and there’s a difference... those are still just two knives.
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If this were a competition for best example of non-knife people doing irritating things, I think your friends win by a wide margin.
 
pinnah said:
Just to clarify, I didn't make that claim. I said Opinel 9 & 10s are more durable than Buck and Schrade US lock backs, which has been my experience. I also recommend that the OP look at the Ontario Rat series.

I assume your comparison between modern designs and Opinel 9 & 10 is likewise based in experience.

Can describe the conditions in which you've seen an Opinel 9 or 10 break or get damaged where a modern design has not?
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Never bought an opinel. The ones I've seen seem too flimsy. I'd rather buy a knife with no lock than what I consider a poor one. For not much more money I can do much better in a knife for what I use them for, including many of the hard use tasks you claim the opinel has done.

And just to clarify, in the past you have claimed the opinel was the toughest folder you've ever used. You post all over bladeforums touting the opinel as the best thing ever. Folks reading your posts should know this and take your opinion with a big grain of salt.
 
Heartland_edc said:
I have a lot of good friends who have slowly become appreciative of "more premium" cutlery. This has a different meaning to everyone, but in this case, what I mean is, "better than the gas station folders they were carrying." They were all skeptical of the higher prices at first, but once they finally buckled for a nicer knife, they fell in love after using it.

Some people buy, carry, and use super cheap folders, and thats totally fine if they last. What bothers me is hearing about how often they break or wear down, and need to be replaced. Thats generally when I suggest a nicer tool.

HOWEVER...

I have ONE friend who ABSOLUTELY REFUSES to accept that a more premium knife could possibly perform in a way that corresponds with a higher price. He can definitely afford it, and can definitely use it. He works outside, and uses his Home Depot "check out lane" junker all the time. He keeps it fairly sharp with a rod, and when the liner/frame/pivot fails, he just buys another one. I've known this guy for 15 years, and he's gone through dozens of knives.

Whats the right thing to do here? I could buy him a nicer knife... but I also feel like it should be his choice to upgrade. I could also just leave him to his stubborn ways. Any advice or similar experiences?
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Here's a knife I got a buddy that uses knives hard: https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS3830/Kershaw-3830-Injection-3-5-Folding-Knife

I have one as well and it is very well built. When you consider the $15 price tag and what you get for that, it has got to be one of the highest vale knives ever. Heck, if he breaks it, depending on what he breaks on it, Kershaw would take care of it through warranty. Can't get that with a $10 gas station knife.
GFTVEKwh.jpg
 
craytab, it looks like your liners are cut out. Mine (on both sizes) are not; the scales are, leaving posts between but not the liners, wish they were. :( Did they come like that or did you do it? Sweet! :thumbsup:
 
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