Traditional Knife Library

Lots of knives can be had for just a few dollars at yard sales, flea markets, gun shows. And it has been discussed here many times about trying an inexpensive Brand of knives such as Rough Rider, Colt, or just about any other offshore brand. You don't have to buy a top of the line Collectible to "try out" a pattern. And.... Ed, you hit the nail on the head!
 
Always glad to help Bob. Just speaking bluntly as you recall I do sometimes.:rolleyes:
 
Bob, Ed .. it's not that I disagree, it would just be nice as an option. I'd like to try the 54 Moose and 82 but I don't want to risk the funds just to see if my small hands like them. Im pretty sure the 54 is to big for my needs, but I wont know for sure until I hold one.

As far as the whining and moaning..I know you were not speaking directly to me, but I have always asscoiated that mentality with collectors, this would be for knives that would be used, Im guessing. I personally don't know enough to whine and moan. :D
 
You're correct Brett. I did not mean you directly when I made my comments. I meant them in a general sense. But the trend is on the upward swing of individuals buying knives and then returning those knives just because they wanted to try one out and then used some paltry excuse to the dealer to justify the return of the knife. I used to resent a dealer that charged a restocking fee for returns but not so much anymore what with the mounting return of product for some made-up or self perceived reason to do so.
 
Kitten Party said:
Heaven forbid somebody on a knife forum make a post about a method for "test driving" a knife.
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It is OK to disagree. It is not OK to use sarcasm. Sarcasm is not friendly; and we are all friends here.
 
First off- If the reference is toward me, I don't return knives-ask Bob. Second, Im merely looking for input, so far I have a few members that think it's not worth my effort and a handful that thinks it's a good idea. This effort is not to degrade the distributor of knives, but to help those interested in knives learn what they like. Every six months or so, Rma gets fed up and says he's out and I can see why, I'm just trying to help, but if the masses think this is a dead issue, so be it. It's hard to justify buying a $100 knife to see if you like it.
My interest here is only in serving "the porch".
 
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At this point, the discussion needs to be about the idea of a lending library of knives, not about each other. If it continues to be about each other, the thread will be closed.
 
knarfeng said:
It is OK to disagree. It is not OK to use sarcasm. Sarcasm is not friendly; and we are all friends here.
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Oftentimes the problem with written communication is the lack of inflection leading to different perceived tones in comments depending on who is reading them. I didn't perceive some of the comments as being very friendly. You're right though, I shouldn't have responded like that.

Yes, lets get back to the conversation. I am interested in OP's thoughts of the ideas given.
 
It's a very generous and helpful idea, and long-term it might actually promote even more interest in diverse patterns. Certainly, it might have certain admin complexities but I think it reflects the ethos of generosity and camaraderie, something the forum prides itself on ,right?

Regards, Will
 
KBA said:
Josh, I think this would be a great idea if it could be ironed out.

I would suggest following suit with BF rules. I think they are that you have to be a paying active member with at least a year old membership. I also think the person loaning the knives should not have to pay fees and shipping. I know I would pay a deposit fee and shipping to use an 82 Dixie stockman for a week. (Ive been on the fence with that one for a while now.)
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Shoot me a PM. I've got an 82 you can borrow for a week.
 
Thank DB. At this point I'm just getting a feel for if members would like to see a "borrowing library". I had bought a user 82 a couple of weeks ago to see if it would be a pattern that would ride in my pocket. Like so many times, I knew I wouldn't carry it and sold it immediately. I bought it just to hold it. Perhaps we can have a better way.
 
Rockon75 said:
Thank DB. At this point I'm just getting a feel for if members would like to see a "borrowing library". I had bought a user 82 a couple of weeks ago to see if it would be a pattern that would ride in my pocket. Like so many times, I knew I wouldn't carry it and sold it immediately. I bought it just to hold it. Perhaps we can have a better way.
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Exactly, I have no problem buying large quantities of knives :D BUT, I hate buying a knife that the second I see it in person I am like "nope, not going to carry it" time to sell it.
 
How about just make a sticky thread at the top for "test drives request" or whatever else you want to call it, where you can post what model you'd like to try out and then any member that had that model and wanted to turn it loose for a week could respond. Then the whole transaction is between him(or her) and you. You all know each other well in here, could still keep it to paying members gold and above, whatever. Asking for a deposit would be up to the individual(s). Can't imagine many of you regulars wouldn't be willing to loan a knife for a week to an upstanding member with presence here, not to mention the "catalog" of our member presence here is far greater than any one could assemble.
 
Personally, I would be worried about the postal/shipping (it may be somewhat rare, but things do get lost or damaged in shipping (I lost a somewhat rare vintage fishing reel once that way. The only part of the package delivered was part of the box. The seller refunded my money, but I would have rather gotten that reel.) or losing the knife or damaging it in some way.
I'll just "play it safe" and buy a Rough Rider in a pattern I want to try out.
 
RR are good enough knives on their own and can be useful 'tester's too, but they still don't make a lot of patterns like GEC do. That's why this is a valid proposal.
 
MattWRog said:
How about just make a sticky thread at the top for "test drives request" or whatever else you want to call it, where you can post what model you'd like to try out and then any member that had that model and wanted to turn it loose for a week could respond. Then the whole transaction is between him(or her) and you. You all know each other well in here, could still keep it to paying members gold and above, whatever. Asking for a deposit would be up to the individual(s). Can't imagine many of you regulars wouldn't be willing to loan a knife for a week to an upstanding member with presence here, not to mention the "catalog" of our member presence here is far greater than any one could assemble.
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I like most of the ideas mentioned here but I like this one the best. It seems less complicated and it would allow any member in good standing to participate if he/she so desires.

Having said that, I'm not really sure where I stand on this issue. On one hand I think it would be great to spend just a few dollars on shipping to test out a knife. On the other hand, if I take advantage of the program and I end up liking the knife then I still have to purchase one which results in more money spent than just buying the knife outright. If I buy the knife outright and then decide to sell it I will likely lose money too but probably not that much more than I would have spent on shipping back and forth for the trial knife. There is also a risk of the knife being sold out by the time I determine if I like the trial knife.

When I lose money on a sale I consider that the amount of money it cost me to "rent" the knife. I get to enjoy the knife and find out if I like it and I have never expected that to come at no cost.

I would probably take advantage of a program like this at least once to see how it works out and I would certainly be willing to donate a knife for an upstanding member to borrow if I have that knife available. Honestly though, I don't really mind buying a knife just to see if I like it. It's a process that I've accepted and gotten used to over the years.
 
I don't think anyone here prefers borrowing tools to owning tools, but it's also not always feasible to buy every tool you'd like to try out. Buying a Rough Rider or something similar is fine and dandy, but not all versions of a pattern are going to perform or feel the same in the hand, and it's not just about the pattern; this would allow people to see how different manufacturers compare as well.

I think it's a great idea. Back home in Seattle there are a couple of full fledged tool libraries where members of the community can check out tools from screwdrivers to table saws and it's a great service for the community. I think a library dedicated to knives would also be a great service for this community.
 
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