"That's not a knife."

HotSwat

HotSwat

Joined
Sep 13, 2002
Messages
490
It seems to happen to me more and more lately. I'll catch one of my buddies using a knife or I'll spot a pocket clip and check out their knife. It is usually a chinese POS or a Mtech. After I give them back their crappy blade I give them the Crocodile Dundee and say " That not a knife.", I'll whip out some huge benchmade or my new XL voyager and say "Now that's a knife!". Then I'll teach them how to spot a quality knife.

Am I the only one that does this?
 
IDK...I think I would tend more toward celebrating the fact that they are actually carrying a knife and presumably see some value in doing so.

It is a good service to them to explain what it is involved with a more costly knife and let them determine if it has the requisite "value" to them. Just try to reflect on how it would feel to you if someone gave you the exact same response about your "not-a-knife" Voyager or Benchmade and failed to hide their feelings that yours is a cheap POS (to them) after showing you something they are carrying that is a fair bit pricier. Depending on how it is handled, some could learn from you and rush out to feed their new appreciation...I think that is the reaction you are wanting right?
 
My toy is better than yours!!!!!!

funny-pictures-cat-thinks-he-is-better-than-you.jpg
 
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unit said:
IDK...I think I would tend more toward celebrating the fact that they are actually carrying a knife and presumably see some value in doing so.

It is a good service to them to explain what it is involved with a more costly knife and let them determine if it has the requisite "value" to them. Just try to reflect on how it would feel to you if someone gave you the exact same response about your "not-a-knife" Voyager or Benchmade and failed to hide their feelings that yours is a cheap POS (to them) after showing you something they are carrying that is a fair bit pricier. Depending on how it is handled, some could learn from you and rush out to feed their new appreciation...I think that is the reaction you are wanting right?
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I'd have to agree with Unit.
 
unit said:
IDK...I think I would tend more toward celebrating the fact that they are actually carrying a knife and presumably see some value in doing so.

It is a good service to them to explain what it is involved with a more costly knife and let them determine if it has the requisite "value" to them. Just try to reflect on how it would feel to you if someone gave you the exact same response about your "not-a-knife" Voyager or Benchmade and failed to hide their feelings that yours is a cheap POS (to them) after showing you something they are carrying that is a fair bit pricier. Depending on how it is handled, some could learn from you and rush out to feed their new appreciation...I think that is the reaction you are wanting right?
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I agree. Better to build on the brotherhood of knife enthusiasts than rub their faces in their ignorance... We were all ignorant once.

I'm sure the OP didn't mean to be mean. Share the enthusiam, and gently break the news about locks, steels, blade shape, geometry, handle materials... Let them become paying members of BF! :D :thumbup: :cool:
 
The bigger the knife, the better, right!?!

Huge = quality

This one is enormous. It must be the best knife ever!

DRJz5DYgkKuv5CW.jpg
 
The majority of people don't know or care to learn how to maintain and care for, or even sharpen a knife. For them a knife that sells for <$25 is great, and they can get a "good" knife for $35 for special occasions.

I look at all the shiny new 2wd 1/2 ton trucks on the road and think how worthless they are in my eyes. But they fill the role the guy driving it is trying to fill.
 
meh, at least they're carrying one.

I work with a guy who told me he "collects knives" when he first started working here, I got all excited and started asking him what brands and steels, he couldn't name any brand but S&W, and he was carrying some no name, flea market knife that was horribly dull... He always talks about how well his butcher's steel sharpens his knife, then I look at the edge and try to do a simple paper cut test and it's horrible...

But I don't make fun of him, I've offered to sharpen a knife up for him to see how it's really done.
 
goodeyesniper said:
meh, at least they're carrying one.

I work with a guy who told me he "collects knives" when he first started working here, I got all excited and started asking him what brands and steels, he couldn't name any brand but S&W, and he was carrying some no name, flea market knife that was horribly dull... He always talks about how well his butcher's steel sharpens his knife, then I look at the edge and try to do a simple paper cut test and it's horrible...

But I don't make fun of him, I've offered to sharpen a knife up for him to see how it's really done.
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I bet it does what he wants though...
 
I'll see your Voyager XL POS and raise you my Yuna or Lambert. See how that works? :p

IOW I agree with the other posters here.

Educate him and let him decide if his little no name blade is a POS. Arrogance goes a long way. I don't like people (even friends) who say "look at my 'X' it is better than yours". Especially when I have spent MY money on it.

And FWIW bigger and/or more expensive is not always better or the knife that is carried and used on a day to day basis. I am a chef and know other chef's with 400-2000$ chefs knives. Those are not the ones that are used in the kitchen at work. The cheap $100 ones are.
 
goodeyesniper said:
meh, at least they're carrying one.

I work with a guy who told me he "collects knives" when he first started working here, I got all excited and started asking him what brands and steels, he couldn't name any brand but S&W, and he was carrying some no name, flea market knife that was horribly dull... He always talks about how well his butcher's steel sharpens his knife, then I look at the edge and try to do a simple paper cut test and it's horrible...

But I don't make fun of him, I've offered to sharpen a knife up for him to see how it's really done.
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I have a few no name dull as s**t $10 knives in my collection. I also have Lambert, Yuna and William Henrys.
 
Nor does "expensive" mean good. I have sub $25, scary sharp, world class knives too. Moras, Opinels, etc etc etc. They must be POS's! :rolleyes:

Some might say that thinking that "big" or "expensive" automatically means "quality" might show a lack of deep knowledge about knives.
 
HotSwat said:
It seems to happen to me more and more lately. I'll catch one of my buddies using a knife or I'll spot a pocket clip and check out their knife. It is usually a chinese POS or a Mtech. After I give them back their crappy blade I give them the Crocodile Dundee and say " That not a knife.", I'll whip out some huge benchmade or my new XL voyager and say "Now that's a knife!". Then I'll teach them how to spot a quality knife.

Am I the only one that does this?
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I sharpen many peoples knives at work. Most of them are in your category of "POS". If I talked to them like that they would consider me to be a pompous ass and most likely ignore anything I have to say. The only thing I mention is how long it will hold an edge. If someone has an unsafe knife I will suggest or show them good knives in their price range. I have gifted all of my good friends with quality knives I no longer EDC. Many people don't want to go through the hassle of online ordering. I order it for them and get reimbursed. Some people think I am crazy for using $100+ knives at work when their $5 knife works just as well, but they respect my choice and knowledge just as I respect their choice and reasons for what they EDC. Telling people that stuff they like and enjoy safely is crap is just counter productive.
 
I only give the, "That's not a knife" response when someone is using something that's not a knife.

If someone is using a Key to cut something, or trying in vain to tear open a package with their bare hands, I usually make fun of them for a little while and then hand them whatever pocket knife I'm carrying.
 
Also...when you have whipped out your Voyager XL and are teaching your buddies that how yours is a "quality" knife and theirs is "...a chinese POS ..." it might be worth remembering what is said on the Cold Steel website

Q: Where are Cold Steel products made?

Our products are manufactured world wide. Most items are made in Japan, Taiwan, or China.
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viva la said:
I am a chef and know other chef's with 400-2000$ chefs knives. Those are not the ones that are used in the kitchen at work. The cheap $100 ones are.
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i'm a chef too. i use knives over 400 everyday for prep and line work. what's the point owning a 2k honyaki knife and use it at home twice a week ?

a knife is a tool, if you can't afford to use it, you just can't afford to buy it. especially a kitchen knife.

imho obviously.
 
I don't have too many friends that carry knives, but the few that do I first noticed them using some Flea Market/Gas station special. I commented on any good aspect of the knife I can even if it's just "yeah, I bet that's light in the pocket". Then the next time a see a good deal on something of better quality (if I don't already have something I picked up just because it was too good of a deal to pass up laying in the safe) I pick it up and gift it to them the next time I see them. They quickly come to appreciate the difference in quality.
 
if i see them with one ill ask them to see it. if its a cheapo i dont praise it but i dont knock it either. if they ask about mine ill show it to them, but i try not to say too much about it being nice or epensive unless they ask. but if they ask ill explain to them why my sebenza or mini ritter m4 grip is better than their $5 knife.
 
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