The gift of knives to non knife people

gave a work buddy a buck 500-something, the lockback similar to the 110 but is an actual *pocket* knife instead of a folding sheath knife lol. he likes knives although hes no sort of accumulator/collector/whackjob. probly wouldnt give something like that to someone who didnt like knives. its not that its big, or scary or too expensive; its just a little too knife-y if you know what i mean.

gave my wife a #7 opinel because she loved mine so much. also a couple of usa old timers like the one she used to have before i lost it. but i mainly see her with the opinel. i would likely give more opinels; some non-knife people might like the whole 'elegant design' aspect. plus they are built well, easy to sharpen and will still cut when dull.

gave my dad and father-in-law victorinox tinkers. they are unobtrusive to carry and have all the screwdrivers and whatnot which is good for them. kind of like the old scout knives but smaller. my father-in-law mentioned that he nicked himself a couple times because hes not used to a knife that sharp. (factory edge; it is as it came out of the blister pack on christmas morning. lol)
i speculate that a swiss army knife would be the best all-around gift choice. everybody knows what they are, the tools can be just as useful as the blade, you can get them in all sorts of bright, friendly colors.
 
I start out buying knives for people then end up keeping them. I hate my sickness of knife hoarding.
 
I love to give Vic classics that are cheap, come in many colors,and have many functions. Most of the time they lead to a knife person as well. So I will continue giving Vic classics to friends and family.
 
SAKs are usually a good gift, especially small ones with scissors. I have also given a big, solid folder to my son when he was sent to Iraq in the Army Medical Corps. Children of Scouting age like scout knives, with parental permission. I have given my wife a number of useful SAKs but she never has one when needed. My father is a WWII USMC veteran, so I would like to find a decent KABAR for him, while he can still appreciate it. Otherwise, knives as gifts tend to be neglected or lost - you really need to show the recipient how the knife can be useful.
 
My other half works in retail and a few Christmases ago I bought her a leatherman style for when she is in the stockroom. She complained that she always needed to cut strapping and open boxes and the endless amounts packaging that goes with everything these days. She loves it and uses it all the time.

I then asked her recently why she didn't carry it outside work and she said that she preferred to pinch my peanuts (as in wrcase ones, not an innuendo) because she thought them much more elegant and refined. So I bought her a RR tiny toothpick. She loves it. In fact, sometimes I pinch it myself!

Paul
 
I gave my son a Buck 110 that I had gotten as a child.
Gave a co-worker (a good friend of mine) an Emerson CQC-7A
that is now his EDC.
Gave my brother a ZT 0551....
 
Well I have always tried to be "that uncle" in the family.
After first consulting with their parents, I have given each of my nephews and soon nieces (they should be old enough this Christmas) their first knives.
My older nephews have received knives, tomahawk, multi-tools and spears from me over the years.

More than one friend has been given a knife after they expressed an interest in a knife
 
I gave a friends daughter her first knife (with parent's permission, of course) a 'Barbie" pink VIC classic
Gave the older teenager a Kershaw chill because she is an aspiring knife knut, but I got tired of seeing her carrying horrible gas station knives.
I gave an artist friend an Opinel because I thought he'd appreciate a carbon blade with a patina.

I spend Christmas eve with a friend's family. We eat and drink and exchange gifts. Last year, I went online and picked out a different Rough Rider for everyone. Lots of variety, from little MOP pens to bone sowbellys. It was a big hit. When I was picking them out and deciding who would get what, I did feel a little like the little boy who gives his mother a baseball mitt for Mother's Day. I mean, it's what I would want, so wouldn't everyone?
 
FarmKid said:
I start out buying knives for people then end up keeping them. I hate my sickness of knife hoarding.
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Hah-I hear ya. When I go to the dentist he has to give me usually 4 shots of anesthetic before he gets near my teeth. Its the same with knives.
One tear I bought a load of used SAK Classics off the bay. We put them in the Xmas Crackers/bon bons. Everyone thought it was great but I seriously doubt they still have them. Maybe.
 
Last year, Wendy and I gave a lot of people very nice kitchen knives. We never heard a peep about them. I suspect they are banging around in a drawer with some K-mart knives.

I gave a Northwoods stag canoe to a friend of mine who helped me with my doctoral dissertation, he said, "Why do I need a weapon like this?" I explained it to him, but some people will never get it.
 
okbohn said:
Last year, Wendy and I gave a lot of people very nice kitchen knives. We never heard a peep about them. I suspect they are banging around in a drawer with some K-mart knives.

I gave a Northwoods stag canoe to a friend of mine who helped me with my doctoral dissertation, he said, "Why do I need a weapon like this?" I explained it to him, but some people will never get it.
Click to expand...

A canoe a "weapon"!!! Oh my,

I have ordered a few knives from you now, one is going to my son in Boy Scouts when he is promoted to first class!!

I've given 2 SAC to management at the plant I work at. They still have them and are used often!
 
Sadly I've given away more modern knives, but as far as traditionals go I've given some peasant knives, a buck 110 and a case whittler to my dad, which actually got him carrying a knife daily now.
 
Interesting thread....

Given my brother several knives over the past couple of years. A Case, several SAK, and a terrific looking JBF stag. Dang, I really liked the stag but kept the rosewood.

Given several ladies SAK Classics. In fact, gave my 84YO neighbor a Classic. She really likes it, especially the scissors and has it on her keyring. Also gave her one of those tiny flashlights for her keyring.

Given several Opinels...

Recently gave my next-door neighbor a couple of knives including a Mora (he's an avid hunter and fishing guy-he also cuts my grass).

Over the past few months I accumulated a ton of knives, including at least a dozen GECs. I think I may start giving a few of those away if I happen across someone who may appreciate them.

Hope all is well with you folks.......

Regards,

George

edit: Just remembered, gave my doctor a Classic, told her she could use it for emergency tracheotomies. Also, just ordered her a doctors knife.
 
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I've only given opinel knives, they've gone over extremely well but sometimes end up like this.

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I've given many of my good friends knives as gifts over the years. Usually a decent, user type of knife with some type of assisted action (kershaw leeks, scallions, and bursts as well as CRKT M-16s). All my friends know me as the blade junkie of the group but I've never had anyone shocked or disappointed by an edged gift (even the ones who typically shy away from "weapons"). Many of my family/friends have received more than one knife over time, each a different type for different occasions (edc knife, dress up knife, utility knife). I've always enjoyed sharing my quirk for objects with edges with those around me and will continue to do so as long as i can.
 
In my senior year of High School, we had this really lax class, that was Agriculture, but took place in a building with a shop, and we'd always talk our teacher, into letting us screw around in the shop, most often my buddies would role their vehicles in and mod their Audio stuff, and while I knew, and know nothing about that, I'd act like I cared and watch, and try and help, it seemed like every other task, they were asking to borrow my knife. Usually my SAK, or Opinel. One guy was fascinated with my Opinel, the other two guys in my class, thought it was sorta light. I gave the guy that liked my Opinel, an 08 in Carbon, and the other two Rough Riders, one Stockman, and a Trapper. They all appreciated them, and two I know for certain carry a knife everyday now. The third uses his knife quite often, but keeps it in his vehicle.
 
I usually gift knives to my dad.

GEC #25, S&M File and Wire grandad barlow, Some big one handed folders, a few fixed blades.


Some time ago, he handed me an old Western Barlow. It was his fathers. Grandpa has been gone for more than 20 years now. My dad just found his Barlow when we finally had to move Grandma into assisted living (at 98 years old!).
 
Well, I have a single blade spear TC Barlow in Rust Red for my 5 year old daughter and a 2-blade spear TC Barlow in Yellow Saw Cut bone for my 2 year old son.

I gave my father a Boker Trapper last father's day...I wanted to give him a GEC, but Boker and Buck was all he knows about knives and that's what he wanted...his is still a safe queen.

One of my brother's really wanted a knife so I gave him my #42 Missouri Trapper and explained to him that it was carbon steel and gave him the rundown about the care for such a knife (stuff that we all take for granted). He was carrying a Buck 307 before and was ecstatic about the GEC. One of his friends got himself a pretty deep gash as he inspected a knife that he had never heard about. Just recently, this brother asked if I could sharpen his knife and also wanted to show off his "matina...or what did you call it? Patina?" I saw it and there's reddish-brown all over..."that's not Patina" I told him. I overhauled the knife, forced a patina, and gave him the rundown on 1095 once again.

My other brother didn't want a knife, but I chose to give him a #73 in Cocobolo anyway. I asked to see it to compare sizes and when he found it, there was a splotch of...I don't know what...it looked like mud. It was probably months of dust bunnies that stuck on to the oil that I had on the blade.

Knives...collecting them, talking about them, admiring them , selling them, buying them...it's all stuff that I share only with you fine folks. As far as gifting them, I think that I'll stick to blades under $50. Very few people know these brands that we discuss on a day-to-day basis. People are intrigued by the quality of these knives, but for the most part, our poor GEC's go unnoticed to the vast majority of people out there.
 
At 13 years old, boys have their Bar Mitzvah and at 12 girls have their Bat Mitvah
So I am constantly having to buy presents

The most well recieved gift I can get them is a SAK Tourist
Across the board they are liked, and kept as a knife and nt returned as they often get more than one leatherman type tool
I always send it with a lanyard attached so it is harder to lose .....

I have had kids come to me a couple of years later thanking me for the knife
 
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okbohn said:
Last year, Wendy and I gave a lot of people very nice kitchen knives. We never heard a peep about them. I suspect they are banging around in a drawer with some K-mart knives.

I gave a Northwoods stag canoe to a friend of mine who helped me with my doctoral dissertation, he said, "Why do I need a weapon like this?" I explained it to him, but some people will never get it.
Click to expand...

I don't recall a Northwoods coming equipped with a ninja star
 
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