The Worst of Bad Taste

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I read my August 2011 Knives Illustrated magazine last night.
The article on the Gerber LHR combat knife really ticked me off. It wasn't the knife, which appears to be a good product from Chris Reeve and friends............
It was the clownish photos of Mark Prince in a cemetery looking like a Zombie Killer on the prowl.

This is so disrespectful and in the worst of bad taste. I would assume they didn't have any permission to do the shoot on private property , as they make no mention of the location.
I guess he felt that they were 150 year old dead people , and don't matter any more.

I wrote to KI, Gerber, and Chris about these photos.I'll let you know what they say.
I asked some friends, and they also thought it was poor taste.

Sadly, such advertisement/articles/reviews can badly affect a new product. When someone asks me about this knife, all I will remember is the stupid posing of Mark Prince in the cemetery. It makes the knife seem to be a $20 Zombie Slayer, not a real combat weapon.

What do you guys think about the location and poses?

 

[NickWheeler]

Haven't seen it yet Stacy--- but generally speaking I think most of the stuff that the TACTICOOL crowd comes up with is in bad taste. Trying to get the sheeple of society to accept custom knives and knife makers is not made any easier with all the "death slayer, slasher, ninja assassinator" crap floating around out there.

So yea, from the sounds of it, I'll think this whole thing is pretty retarded. But I'll hold off on judgement till I see the article

 

[Kevin Cross]

Hi Stacy, I admit I got the magazine but when I saw the picture, I just figured they were advertising a knife for the mall ninja crowd and went right on past it. Now that I know there might actually be a good knife in the article, I will go back and read it. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I should be old enough not to judge a book by it's cover anymore but......
Kevin

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I have already heard back from the editor:

"Point well said. I think you can rest assured you have seen the last of cemetery
photos.

Thanks for letting us know your opinion. "

J. Bruce Voyles
Editor
Knives Illustrated Magazine


And from Chris Reeve knives:

Stacy,
I forwarded your email to Chris. As it happened he had just started reading that article and completely concurs with your feelings. Unfortunately, he was not privy to the photos before the article went to print or he never would have approved them.

Again thank you for bringing this to our attention.
All the best,

Heather
Chris Reeve Knives

 

[NickWheeler]

Good stuff Stacy!

Just for the record, I don't want anyone to think I was bashing on Chris Reeve Knives... I think they make a great product!

It's the stuff like "hunting Zombies in a cemetery" (which they had nothing to do with) that I think is a bad idea.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I am going to expand this thread to include the article on Home defense in the KI issue. It was OK, as far as pointing out that there are many ways to defend your home and family, but it seemed a bit over the top in the staged attacks and invasions.....and the defense poses. How did you chaps like that article?

Nick,
I'm in total agreement with you on the name and image thing. Guys like us want the right to carry a knife , and try to teach care and respect for the custom blade. At the same time the industry pushes a "bad-ass" image of people who carry knifes. Which one will the politicians pay attention to?

 

[Phillip Patton]

Stuff like this is why I let my KI subscription lapse. And why I'll let my BLADE subscription lapse.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I let my KI subscription lapse too. I just wasn't reading it much. *shrug*
I'll probably subscribe again in the future.

It is my feeling that "Blade" has stepped up their game. Used to be it would come in and I'd hardly read it, but I've been enjoying it more and more. The last few issues have had technical articles about different folder mechanisms. I like the technical and historical articles and they seem to be doing their homework better than they once did.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

It's the stuff like "hunting Zombies in a cemetery" (which they had nothing to do with) that I think is a bad idea.

Well, then where exactly would you expect someone to be hunting zombies? The mall?

...okay, maybe there, too.

Not sure I can make a stance in this example. You can't regulate morality, or expect someone else to share your beliefs. Writing letters to complain is certainly the right thing to do, but you're never going to win folks over that view knives in a bad light, regardless of how you portray them.

I get where you guys are going, but I think you're being a bit overly sensitive. After all, we make weapons. I don't care if they're well made, or properly appointed, or feature skill and craftsmanship. They're weapons, and the core, fundamental requirement of a fighting knife is that you could kill another human being with it. Glossing it over is merely a feeble attempt to mask this fact. Is it safe to say that everyone that's posted so far doesn't only make kitchen cutlery and 3" hunters?

 

[tattooedfreak]

I started to post early this morning but got busy, I'm glad I waited. I haven't seen the August issue yet but I'm sure most of the articles are ok but there always seems to be one that turns me off a little. Don't get me wrong, Im not insulting the writers or making fun of them but sometimes, I think they let the spirit of what they are doing get the better of them. The guys who test the tactical blades with pork loins and blue jeans are fine but the faces they make for the pics are a little much sometimes. I know it's a good way to test the blades and the techniques to use them but it's not always necessary to make the "killing face" while you are doing it. My other major beef is with the sword guys. I find it very hard to believe that they have practiced every sword art there is, yet they "test" every style of sword they can get their hands on and they always seem to test on the bushes that are in the backyard or a piece of copper pipe or some other silly test like that. The articles are always full of pictures of the author in some "traditional" outfit in a pose that is dubious at best. If they would put their relevant backgrounds in the article it might be different. That's the end of my rant, thanks for bringing it up Stacy.

 

[Burl Source]

Well, then where exactly would you expect someone to be hunting zombies? The mall?

...okay, maybe there, too.