The knife lifestyle pops up in GQ mag

19-3ben said:
More people carrying knives is more exposure. More exposure de-sensitizes the masses. Now, if hipsters start murdering one another (ironically of course) with knives, then that would obviously be bad for the cause.



Maybe not at first, but if it puts more people on the slippery slope toward accepting knives as something other than weapons i'm cool with it I'm not talking about teaching hipsters how to discern which edge angles and and micro bevels are going to be best suited for their knife usage, and how the grain structure of the steel fits into the fineness of that edge, etc.... that gets heavy into knife knut territory. They don't wan't "appropriately priced tools." They want an image. It just so happens that the image they want means that they don't think "knife" is a dirty word any more. I call it a win.

I also realize that I am grouping "hipsters" into one thing as though they all think alike, and are all motivated by the same thing. If there's a flaw in my argument, it's most likely that I am using my large paintbrush...
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You obviously missed the point. If scruffy unkempt losers (as seen by much of the country) start carrying and openly flaunting their hipster knives their image will hurt that of knives rather than help.
 
19-3ben said:
I'l also add that some of them might get one of these "james" knives, get into it, and before long, they are into traditionals (because it's retro, and therefore super cool) and all of a sudden they are buying GEC, Queen, etc...
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Oh gec fans will love hipsters flooding the already limited releases.
 
jbmonkey said:
i do find it humorous that these city kids want to dress like regular folks round here look like. having a beard and pocket knife are used as fashion and the fashion is kinda like a regular man costume. who would have thought.....
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Yup, I feel like if I ever ventured out to Portland people would assume I'm a hipster but in reality I just hate shopping and still wear flannel shirts I bought in the 90's, I've been carrying a pocket knife every day for the last 25 years, and I haven't been clean shaven since getting out of the Marines. At least I don't wax my mustache lol.

But yeah, I agree it's not a bad thing that hipsters are getting into pocket knives, even if they do start with some overpriced crap. We all started somewhere. I bet they'll go crazy for traditionals once they stumble upon them.
 
craytab said:
Oh gec fans will love hipsters flooding the already limited releases.
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Even worse they'll probably get into vintage knives, then next thing you know imperials and Shcrade old timers will start fetching up to 50$ in real beat condition and over 100$ in lightly used condition.:(:(:(
 
craytab said:
You obviously missed the point. If scruffy unkempt losers (as seen by much of the country) start carrying and openly flaunting their hipster knives their image will hurt that of knives rather than help.
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I think you have a good point and I wouldn't say that I am certain I am correct here. I am, perhaps, optimistic about changing the public image that knives are just for old men, rednecks, and mall ninjas.

Keep in mind that the parts of the country where hipsters are most accepted (New York, liberal west coast, New England) are also the places where knives are the most looked down upon... Sure, folks in rural Alabama are gonna look at a hipster like a pariah, but I don't think that's the demographic that needs the most convincing that knives are a useful tool. On the other hand, when folks in Manhattan see relatively acceptable Hipster on his single speed bike with messenger bag whip out a pocket knife, it normalizes it for them, since Hipsters are already a normal part of that culture.

Again, it could just be that I'm being optimistic here. You definitely make a good point that hipsters don't make our strongest ambassadors!!! Of course Ted Nugget is a flaming ass-hole and I don't think he's hurt the pro-2A movement too badly despite his best efforts....
 
jimmyd1982 said:
I'd rather some hipster buy 1 gec to use than have 1 "collecter" buy 6 so he can keep 1 in a safe and then flip the other 5 for a profit once everyone sells out.
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There is a whole lot more hipsters than gec flippers. And who do you think those flippers are going to sell to when hipsters get into gec? The problem will get worse because gec ain't upping production anytime soon. Traditionals could be screwed if this takes off...
 
craytab said:
There is a whole lot more hipsters than gec flippers. And who do you think those flippers are going to sell to when hipsters get into gec? The problem will get worse because gec ain't upping production anytime soon. Traditionals could be screwed if this takes off...
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On the flip side if hipsters had gotten into traditionals a year or 2 ago maybe canal street cutlery would still be open. If the demand is there someone will step up to fill it.
 
The media drives me crazy with this re-selling, recycled mongrel of fashion accessories.. repackaging as HIPSTER.
The present term isn't even accurate!
The original HIPSTER, some one who is Hip, beat, aware and tuned in.. the era of jazz, a unique mixture of artist, writer, intellectual, jail-bird, con-man and thief. Hipster: I think of Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg, Charlie Parker... not some metro-sexual in a first-time beard, a hemp shirt and a Latte. Also, Burroughs loved switchblades and Spyderco's.
 
19-3ben said:
I think you have a good point and I wouldn't say that I am certain I am correct here. I am, perhaps, optimistic about changing the public image that knives are just for old men, rednecks, and mall ninjas.

Keep in mind that the parts of the country where hipsters are most accepted (New York, liberal west coast, New England) are also the places where knives are the most looked down upon... Sure, folks in rural Alabama are gonna look at a hipster like a pariah, but I don't think that's the demographic that needs the most convincing that knives are a useful tool. On the other hand, when folks in Manhattan see relatively acceptable Hipster on his single speed bike with messenger bag whip out a pocket knife, it normalizes it for them, since Hipsters are already a normal part of that culture.

Again, it could just be that I'm being optimistic here. You definitely make a good point that hipsters don't make our strongest ambassadors!!! Of course Ted Nugget is a flaming ass-hole and I don't think he's hurt the pro-2A movement too badly despite his best efforts....
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I may be focusing on the wrong thing here , but just wanna say that the motor City mad man is one helluva guitar player and musician, and while his words and personality may be a bit eccentric I believe he knows exactly what the 2A is all about.
He takes care of his land and the population of wildlife on it, knows that bad people are the real problem, and is the same way towards knives.

Now I do agree that hipsters may not be the ideal people to represent the knife community, but are probably the best option in places like Manhattan.
 
Hipster is such an outdated term which doesn't point specifically to flannel shirts and scruffy beards...

Anyone who lives/works in any major city knows that hipster is about as vague a term as preppy or urban. It means nothing more than the trends within a broad subculture.

Besides, the impression I got from the GQ article was more geared toward a younger crowd rather than a specific subculture.
 
Nick Shabazz actually reviewed one of those, I think the gist was that it had a couple aesthetic and ergonomic issues, and as others have already mentioned, overpriced for the overall quality.
But perhaps more importantly he quipped something like:
"And if you go to their website, HOLY HIPSTER, Batman! I could feel my jeans grow skinnier just looking at it... I found myself growing a beard without my own volition..."
 
I work in NYC and have to wear a suit and tie...

I had to cut the half hanging tag off my tie today near Grand Central. I was a bit worried but I only carry little guys like this one in public and no one batted an eyelash.

 
19-3ben said:
I think you have a good point and I wouldn't say that I am certain I am correct here. I am, perhaps, optimistic about changing the public image that knives are just for old men, rednecks, and mall ninjas.

Keep in mind that the parts of the country where hipsters are most accepted (New York, liberal west coast, New England) are also the places where knives are the most looked down upon... Sure, folks in rural Alabama are gonna look at a hipster like a pariah, but I don't think that's the demographic that needs the most convincing that knives are a useful tool. On the other hand, when folks in Manhattan see relatively acceptable Hipster on his single speed bike with messenger bag whip out a pocket knife, it normalizes it for them, since Hipsters are already a normal part of that culture.

Again, it could just be that I'm being optimistic here. You definitely make a good point that hipsters don't make our strongest ambassadors!!! Of course Ted Nugget is a flaming ass-hole and I don't think he's hurt the pro-2A movement too badly despite his best efforts....
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That's an interesting point, I wonder if the movement to change the NYC knife laws would be helped if knife carry became a fashion trend among the young and hip.
 
Ok I have comment on this thread. I work in Seattle, very hipster part of town, although not as bad as Portland! I have seen hipsters here kitted out like the gold rush. Seen some with fixed blades in belt sheath. Which in the People's Democratic Republic of Seattle is a no no - all fixed blades are illegal. If you think Russell's catalog is hipster - not - take a look at the Filson catalog on line! Filson makes their stuff in Seattle. Nice stuff, always pricey, but since bought by investors now prices are crazy. Look at their knife prices. Hope others are right that the move will help make normal knife accepted again.
 
seabil said:
Ok I have comment on this thread. I work in Seattle, very hipster part of town, although not as bad as Portland! I have seen hipsters here kitted out like the gold rush. Seen some with fixed blades in belt sheath. Which in the People's Democratic Republic of Seattle is a no no - all fixed blades are illegal. If you think Russell's catalog is hipster - not - take a look at the Filson catalog on line! Filson makes their stuff in Seattle. Nice stuff, always pricey, but since bought by investors now prices are crazy. Look at their knife prices. Hope others are right that the move will help make normal knife accepted again.
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That's just bizarre. It doesn't bother me, but it's kind of bizarre in that "What-will-they-think-of-next..." sense.
 
On a long shot, I emailed the James Knives guys about their knives and the knife designer emailed me back. Totally friendly and open guy, to me.

Tells me that he does the design, the knives are made in China by one of the reputable oems that works for Spyderco and Kershaw, and materials are sourced from all over. He says that the video is dated and that while they used to do the assembly at their shop, the oem does the entire manufacture now.

Whatever else, seems like a legit operation. They're not claiming anything that any other reputable cutler is embarrassed of.
 
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