Upgrading family members.

I have given knives as Xmas gifts to my nephews. It is a tough thing as I know one of the first things they will do is get on line and look it up and see how cheap I am. If I felt strongly about gifting a knife, I would do it regardless. I have often thought about giving my brothers knives that I own already that have never been used. They just sit.

A multi-tool is a great kind of present, especially if it's a name brand like Leatherman, Victorinox, or SOG, and to a lesser degree Gerber.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Have you ever bought someone a nicer / better quality knife or multitool...ect as a gift simply because you're tired of seeing them use " junk " even though they're generally perfectly happy with what they've been using....

I just went to the local hardware store and picked up a Leatherman super tool 300....
Click to expand...

This is me. I was sick if seeing my little bro fuss around with a junk multitool. I also bought him a ST300.
He's a marine vet who saw combat and was a helicopter crew chief. He knows the value of tools.
But he is just not that into it. I was bummed and thought he'd love it.

His thoughts on it. If he's in a situation where he needs a tool, he has the right tool for the right job. The ST300 is a compromise on all fronts and it's too heavy to carry around. It's perfect glove box tool, but not the user I envisioned for him.
 
Steve6387 said:
This is me. I was sick if seeing my little bro fuss around with a junk multitool. I also bought him a ST300.
He's a marine vet who saw combat and was a helicopter crew chief. He knows the value of tools.
But he is just not that into it. I was bummed and thought he'd love it.

His thoughts on it. If he's in a situation where he needs a tool, he has the right tool for the right job. The ST300 is a compromise on all fronts and it's too heavy to carry around. It's perfect glove box tool, but not the user I envisioned for him.
Click to expand...
That's a bit of a bummer.

My dad was just telling me how his new tool was really stiff at first but since he's been using it's starting to break in which he's happy about.
 
22-rimfire said:
...A multi-tool is a great kind of present, especially if it's a name brand like Leatherman, Victorinox, or SOG, and to a lesser degree Gerber.
Click to expand...

What's wrong with Gerber?

I own multi-tools from Leatherman, SOG, and Gerber. My Gerbers see more action than all others combined. I do consider Leatherman a better product but I like Gerber's ergos better.
 
Absolutely! I've basically introduced all my friends and family to the new Buck 110 LT. Gave my uncle one a few weeks ago to replace the junk Gerber he was carrying that was basically falling apart. My Dad liked the one I gave him so much he needed up buying 3 more for spares/back up. Hes got them stashed in his truck, hunting bag, and kitchen junk drawer including the one he carries!
 
sabre cat said:
What's wrong with Gerber?

I own multi-tools from Leatherman, SOG, and Gerber. My Gerbers see more action than all others combined. I do consider Leatherman a better product but I like Gerber's ergos better.
Click to expand...
aaahhh, just my opinion mostly based on what I have read here (strength). But I don't use any of these tools hard..... so I feel sure the Gerbers would work just fine.

I own two or three Gerber multitools (my first actually around 1990). I just like my Vic multitool better and I have settled into this space. With Leatherman, I know they have good tools and a good warranty, but the only Leatherman's I own are the small key chain types.
 
Robinson1 said:
Absolutely! I've basically introduced all my friends and family to the new Buck 110 LT. Gave my uncle one a few weeks ago to replace the junk Gerber he was carrying that was basically falling apart. My Dad liked the one I gave him so much he needed up buying 3 more for spares/back up. Hes got them stashed in his truck, hunting bag, and kitchen junk drawer including the one he carries!
Click to expand...

That's the way to go, when someone has been using a cheap knife that's about to fall apart buy them one that won't and they'll take notice when it holds up and hopefully realize that some knives are better than others.
 
Probably unfair, but my experience with a Gerber Gator machete has put me off the brand completely.
 
Gerber makes good and bad. Their top of the line knives are actually pretty nice. It's the cheap stuff that destroyed the name.

I remember a time when Gerber was as well regarded a name as Sypderco or Benchmade
Henry Beige said:
Probably unfair, but my experience with a Gerber Gator machete has put me off the brand completely.
Click to expand...
 
Robinson1 said:
Gerber makes good and bad. Their top of the line knives are actually pretty nice. It's the cheap stuff that destroyed the name.

I remember a time when Gerber was as well regarded a name as Sypderco or Benchmade
Click to expand...
Early this year I bought a US2 for $14 and I find it a decent inexpensive smaller light duty American made knife, but imported Gerber's are nothing I'd ever buy again.
 
Last edited:
The Gerber MP400 and MP600 are American-made. They're my top choice for an affordable MT.

I have a technician buddy at work who insists on Gerber because of the one-handed opening pliers.

The only thing I don't like about them is that most of the tools take awhile to get out. Oh, and the blade profile is so steep that I can't really sharpen them well. Need to re-grind first.

I think those two make great gifts.

Know what knife muggles appreciate most? Having me sharpen their kitchen knives. ;)
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
Also...he still thinks i have too many knives. Lol.
Thanks for letting me share my story in your thread.
Click to expand...

Nice story. You're brother's right, but you wouldn't be here if you didn't have too many knives.

My wife and I carried small pocket knives all our adult lives--Bucks, Shrades, SAKs, etc. I gradually moved into modern folders--cheaper ones at first like Gerber, CRKT, and SOG, then moved up into Spydies, Benchmades, ZT, ending up with those plus CRKs, RHKs, Shiros, and other mid-techs. J stayed with what she always carried until a dealer threw in a CRKT Drifter with a purchase I made, she loved it, and it became her EDC.

Later, I showed her my BMK mini-Stryker which I was about to sell, she gave me that look, and that became her beloved EDC for a couple years. Over time, now, I've bought her a couple full-size Strykers--serrated and plain--for yard work, a bright blue Delica for the woods, and what's now her favorite a 551-1 Grip. Someone wrote in a topical thread here that you know you're a real knife guy when your wife has better knives than your friends and co-workers.

Of my three sons, my oldest has trouble keeping and maintaining knives and isn't into them much. My middle son has gotten a Tenacious and a matching 710BK/705BK pair from me that he uses and those seem to be enough for him. He lives and works in NYC, so has to be careful with carry, even though his knives are work-related. My youngest is into the hobby and EDCs, though most of what he has came from Dear Old Dad, starting out with a name-engraved RAT and includes knives like a Crooked River, a Tenacious, a Kizer Laconico, a user 'Zaan, a Millie, and a PM3 of mine that he cleverly admired on his birthday. He's bought me a couple solid, not-expensive blades along the way too.

It's nice to see one's family into knives and well-outfitted, but like I imagine for most of you lot here, even those closest to me who appreciate and carry still :rolleyes: at someone with a hundred or so knives.
 
My wife thinks I am nuts and can’t understand why I have so many knives.:p She does carry a Spyderco Ladybug in her purse and actually uses it, so that’s a good thing. She also has a pink Buck she uses at home. My sons are both in their early 20’s and have little interest in knives. The youngest has a Chinese Kershaw AO I gave him but rarely uses it.

I don’t push it and they just tend to call me to get a knife when they need something opened/cut.:thumbsup:
 
I've completely upgraded my parent's kitchen knives in the last two years, they have gotten a slow infusion of good knives from me on holidays and now essentially only use the good ones.
 
I’ve upgraded a lot of the family’s knives over the years. My older brother got a Kershaw Blackout, My younger bro got a Cold Steel Voyager LG. Both of them had some type of cheap traditional.
They’ve both moved on to Spydies and BMs.

My mom’s husband got a Spydie Chaparral. He carried some cheap crap he found on the ground. I got him a Sharpmaker. Upgraded the parents steak knives and kitchen cutlery also.

Worst of all was the foldable knife thing my wife carried in her purse when we were first married. She now has a Delica G10, Manix 2 LW and an ESEE 3. Most recently she took control of my BM 707.

My son-in-law is getting an upgrade from a cheap little Kershaw to a BM 940 for Christmas, he just doesn’t know it yet.;):)
 
I'm planning on getting my friends and family a couple inexpensive byrd knives this Christmas.

The ones who are a little anti knife or just not knife people I'm getting them the rescue model with telling them to keep it in the glove box for emergencies.
 
Yes. I gave a buddy of mine a PM2 I had carried for over 2 years. He always admired it and never could see himself paying Cabelas asking price. He is an older gentleman but he looked like a little kid on Christmas that day. It felt good to share.
 
Last edited:
I’ve given my brother a Mcusta Tactility in cocobolo and various other folders, which he loves. He now buys me blades, mainly antique via auction houses. Cavalry sabre, kukhris dating back to the British Raj. That sort of thing. Most recently he bought me an FS dagger, probably dating from the 50’s. He tells me I will “love” my Christmas present. It’s good to have a shared interest, and now he wants advice on sharpening!

My mother, who has developed rheumatoid arthritis recently, asked me for a knife that she could use on the train to ‘eat an apple’ - bless you Mum - so I bought her a Buck Ridgeway, a UK legal carry slip joint which is very easy to open with arthritic hands*. She is very pleased with it, and it fits inside the leather pouch my niece made for her birthday. That was for a solid silver folding knife she owns, which she doesn’t want to risk losing. Are you seeing a family trait here at all? ;)

Good on you that you sorted out your Dad, OP. :thumbsup:


*Wish it was a USA model, but it’s a lovely little knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top