The best??? or "Do you go GA-GA over your knives"

ARtsig1

ARtsig1

Banned
Joined
Jul 20, 2000
Messages
3,692
What is the best? Need some opinions here folks.
When you make a new purchase do you "feel" the need to get on the forum and tell the world about your new purchase? Do you praise the new knife and the maker of the knife? Do you ever come right out and say, "this is the best knife of it's type"

Just curious as to how you respond to new purchases or new trades. It seems I may go a bit overboard in my praise for a new knife from one of my three favorite makers, (guess who they are??:D :D) and give the impression to some that this maker crafts the very best knife there is to the exclusion of ALL other makers!

'Course I'm NOT going to curb my "ENTHUSIASM" for these makers and their knives as each one of them I get seems to be better in some small way than the last!!

So lets hear it.........surely I'm not the only one to get so enthusiastic over knives?.....I mean Russ is still among us!!:D ;) :cool: :)
 
Art, I'm with you 100%. It's fundamental human nature to want to extoll our good findings. Exuberance far surpasses cynicism in appeal, and you have lot's of exuberance. I am even more guilty I think! ;)

And as Gus and so many other's have drilled in our heads: "It's more about the people". This is a small, but VERY IMPORTANT way to pay back our gratitude to the makers and folks that have fulfilled us in some way. For them, it's a lifeline to the next sale. It's a good cycle, and by your posts you perpetuate our craft.

Keep it up!!

Coop
 
One of the hardest things for me when I was a mod. in this forum was to quell my enthusiasm on my purchases when I came in here.(At first it got me into more trouble than I care to remember.)

The thing about "best" has to be used with care since none of us have the experience to be able to call something the best. That would mean that we have seen/used everything that there is to see. Thankfully that will never happen (at least in my case) :D.

There are way to many excellent knife makers of all types and all price points for me to even think about trying to figure out the best. The more I learn, the more knives I handle and the more people I meet emphasizes that there is always better. At a minimum, time will always make the best makers better since they will always be pushing themselves and never be satisfied. It does not matter what the profession is, that fact is always true.

That being said one of the best things about the forums is being able to share the enthusiasm with someone who has a new knife and it is even more fun when you have some type of connection with the maker and the person who ordered it. Like Coop said, it is the people.
 
WOW! Two great responses. So lets hear it from the rest. Come on, lets get ENTHUSIASTIC!!!:D :D :cool: :cool: :)
 
Actually, I don't like raving comments too much, and I don't beleive in them at all.

First, there's a clear conflict of interest from the buyer's POV: they just bought a knife, it is in their direct interest as an owner that this maker's work be celebrated. This way, they can maybe one day resell their knife, and the goodwill they accumulate with the maker may pay off some way or another. More important (I think) is the fact that it's hard, psychologically, to admit that we've done a bad deal. There's important psy rewards in claiming to have made a great purchase, esp. when in doubt it's the case. It's especially good because on a forum, you generally will be validated: your likely to get agreeing responses, rather than someone saying that they don't find so-and-so that impressive.

Second, all raving comments look the same. They bring no information about the objective value of the piece and how it compares to other knives at the same price point. What that means is that one may end up with too high expectations relative to a given maker, and then be disappointed when the knife comes. I have fallen to that at least once, for a maker who's quite well regarded.

I don't mean to rain on your parade. I still love the posts, esp. because they often come with good pics.

JD
 
Joss: Well put. There is always two sides to a topic. *Maybe* more... ;) Good info and right on target.

Gus: Well put. "Best?" I once read a book from the seventies called 'I can sell you ANYTHING!'. It was about advertising on the TV from a top ad writer.

Question: Three maker's have knives. They are rated GOOD, BETTER, and BEST. Which one would you want?

The answer is BETTER (according to the Gods of advertising)! "So, you have the BEST knife? Well mine is BETTER!" Better always wins.

See?

Coop
 
A carefully put together collection is like one's fingerprint - each person has a different definition of perfection and it's interesting to see what some who are very knowledgable have obtained. I may buy a knife, post it, live with it and then find something that maybe isn't "perfect", but it fits someone else's definition perfectly so I embarrass myself in the "Exchange".
Others' comments from a post give other perspectives on a given knife which is always welcome. So through sharing our different tastes we not only show gratitude to the makers, but we build relationships among others with similar interests. Then my ball and chain (I mean my wife) yells at me and I value the time spent here even more.
 
Artsig, you remind me of myself in that you say how great a knife is and then you post it in the "For Sale" section to pay for your next sharp love of the moment!;) :) :) You are entitled to your exuberance, afterall, if you don't tell us, who will you tell? Most folks will think you are weird of dumb for talking about what a great deal your new $450 knife is. I always enjoy hearing about new purchases. Some affect what I will get, others just let me be happy for someone who has a great new toy (OK, tool).
 
You right on the money there Anthony! I have had a "change" of heart at times. I've found that earlier in my collecting of custom folders I would not always favor one maker over another, but then I begin to find a certain "style" of knife that really appealed to me. The way it was built, from what it was built, and not always from who it was built.

I think at this point I have begun to really zero in on what it is about a custom folder I am really looking for. I've found that I want a heavier built folder, a deep carry folder, and a well engineered folder. Once I found those things I began to seek out the makers of such knives. A couple I had dealt with before in my earlier years and a couple I had never dealt with. But I have now and I find their work simply amazing, as most times it is right on the money for what I look for and want in a folder.

*The Sebenza was my "top" folder for over a year and I still like this knife and still think it is one of the best engineered knives available today *(note I said MY opinion, not your opinion unless you want it to be. My opinion is just that.....MINE, and I'm not changing it!:rolleyes: You are free to have your own opinion:D ) But somewhere on the way I begin to "crave" those differences that custom folders brought along with them. For the past 6 months or so I have really been into these custom folders and pretty much settled on the three makers in my signature line. This is not to say that there is anything amiss with other makers as I'm sure there are others who build the type folder I like. As a matter of fact I have Charles Marlowe building me a folder right now that promises to be a heavy duty model just to my liking.


I guess the bottom line here is that I will really find it hard to curb my enthusiasm when a maker produces for me what I think is/are the "ideal folder('s)"!

So if enthusiasim ain't your bag..............you probably won't enjoy my posts. But hey that's alright as we all have our own opinions!!
:D :cool: :)
 
Thanks Art! I've probably read all your posts at BF recently, and because of that I knew what to do when I saw an Obenauf on Les Robertson's site. I got a small Model 2 S30V and CF. I'm very pleased with it of course.
Go right ahead and enthuse! When someone has had a lot of folders through their hands, and they are enthusiastic about something, it helps us beginners know what to look at.
I've been disappointed a couple of times when I got knives that had a lot of internet buzz about them, but as I learned more I saw that I was disappointed only because I didn't know what I was looking at. The knives were great, I just wasn't smart enough to realize it yet.
I appreciate the time you take to make those posts (and the money you spend on turn and burn:) ).
 
I like your posts personally, plus I share your enthusiam-maybe not for that particular knife but knives in general. I know that you have handled enough knives (good lawd have you) to have a qualified opinion. I sure would not want my co-worker to tell me I need to have surgery-I'd leave that to a doctor.
 
Art,
Keep that exuberance! We share a lot of the same tastes in folders though I may have a little broader selection and tastes. Where we differ is that you cycle many of your knives through whereas once I acquire one it stays cause I never seem to lose the excitement over my acquisitions. I have only traded away two Elishewitz's in all the knives I have acquired - all of the others have a permanent home - takes quite a while to play with them all. I still love my 1st custom as much now as in '95 when I acquired it - a CARSON large Mod. 16 Tanto - 420V - with skeletonized handle (all of the holes are even as opposed to Mayo's - hehe! :D ). Still as nice as any have acquired in interim though I do wish had gotten drop point rather than tanto - was into tantos at time - still love knife though! Can't begin to tell how excited I am over Mayo TNT, Anderson Valkyrie & Mohawk Warrior, and our collaboration knife from JW Smith that are coming - all going to be sweet, sweet knives! Without the excitement what are we doing this for?

Bill
 
I never presume to call a knife that I have purchaed the best knife of its type, but I will definitely come to the forum and praise the knife and the maker if I feel it is deserved. If I love the knife I will continue that praise whenever that maker's name comes up, or when someone is asking for a recommendation.

I have no problem with your enthusiasm. If I don't feel like reading it, I won't. Pretty simple really.
 
Yes i do feel the need to post pictures and tell the world how happy i am with my new toy, just like i liked showing off a great present when i was a kid, no difference. I think it's that same feeling we get over our love for knifes that makes us feel young again. The makers that i love take special care just getting one of their knifes like Onion and Mayo, when i get one i'm stoked! I love the way you feel about knifes Art, keep up the spirit and besides i like your tastes and sales if you know what i mean. :D hehe

Cheers!
James
 
ART!!!! bud!!! Sorry I am just seeing this thread. I do not spend as much time here as I used to. Am I that obvious:D

You know I love extolling the virtues of my fav maker's folders:D .

I have no qualms whatsoever about stating that the TNT is the BEST folder out there. I would think it obvious that my comments are subjective. After all, I am going by my own tastes.

As to gaining favor with a maker by praising his wares, I would think if the praise were not sincere, it would become apparent to the maker soon enough through continued exchanges with the customer, just my opinion though. And if the praise is in fact sincere, wherein lies the problem??

As to singing the praise of a new knife, I would take any post at face value and take the poster to be sincere. I see no reason for someone to post otherwise just to blow smoke up one's ass.

Let's see...I was trying to respond to all the opinions so far...


There are many fine makers out there. 'Just one for me. I went through many a folder in my search for the {for me} holy grail of folders. I will continue to extoll the virtues of the TNT. I have even gone so far as to state that I will no longer seek out TNTs from Tom at shows, if by doing so will perhaps allow someone else to get their first, maybe second TNT. I decided this after seeing others post how they probably won't be able to get a TNT now, due to prices on the secondary market. I am quite fortunate. I have acquired more TNTs than most, and developed a true friendship in the process. I want everyone to enjoy the experience that is the TNT. :D

Sorry for the rambling bud. If I have not answered your question by now, Yes, I love posting enthusiastically about new acquisitions!! :D



Just my thoughts and sincere opinion here. No bullshit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top