What do YOU get out of this forum???

[Doberman_Dave]

So what does everyone who reads this forum get out of it?
While I'm asking, and given the current "critique" series of threads, who are you (see poll)?

In no real order, I

• love to see and learn about the knives so many people generously post
• enjoy learning what I can about knife design, making, and collecting
• like to "discover" makers I wasn't aware of and go looking for more of their work

What I would like to see more of are more detailed commentaries by the makers on what they were thinking and trying to achieve when they made a given piece. What design elements, construction methods, etc., and why?

I'd call myself - Other (Regular Lurker) since I don't have a large collection and don't post much.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[T.K.C.]

I am a regular poster here. I LOVE knives, and I love to learn about knives.I am always learning something new, I like that!! I also like to share my knowledge with other people. I REALLY enjoy it here. I have made some good friends here. The great people here is one of the things that keeps me coming back.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I get to learn from some of the most knowledgeable custom knife makers and collectors. I have learned much here in the last year and a half.

I get a place to share my collection as I believe it's a shame how many custom knives go from maker to collector safe without being enjoyed by many.

I get to possibly help some new makers and collectors get off on the right foot.

I get to interact with custom knife enthusiast, as I enjoy the people involved as much as the knives.

I get to promote custom knives.

 

[NickWheeler]

I get inspiration from seeing threads about guys like Burt Foster, Don Hanson, Russ Andrews, and the like.

I get a lot of insight as to what some of today's current collectors are into.

I get a spot to display my work and gain exposure and feedback.

I get a lot of frustrated people that email me after coming to this forum and want to order a knife only to get a "sorry, not taking orders..." reply from me

I get a lot of positive support.

I've made a lot of friendships that were started here.

 

[Kohai999]

I get to discuss custom knives with a lot of people that like them, and some who know what they are talking about.

I get to interact with makers and collectors before actually meeting them, so some of the "getting to know you" that gets in the way of knife stuff can get out of the way.

I get to look at some of the best photos of knives, before or if ever, they get published in print.

I get up-to-date information about who, what, why, when and how.

I get to commiserate with news of life, and death, and everything in between.

I get a 24/7 marketplace with some occasional gems.

I get a place to try and give back as much as I get.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Keith Montgomery]

-First a foremost I enjoy the feeling of community that I get when hanging out in this forum. There are folks here that although I have never met them, I consider them to be friends.

-The knowledge I have gained over the years spent here has been very important to my enjoyment of collecting knives. This leaves me feeling confident that I can evaluate what I should be paying for knives.

-Of course I love seeing and discussing knives. This forum gives me the chance to do that in abundance. Getting to see as many knives as I have has helped tremendously in my knife purchasing decisions.

-This place gives you a look at what is going on in the world of custom knives in a much more thorough and up to date way than reading magaines and books.

 

[Keith_H]

I stumbled upon this forum looking at survival knives, and found out that there is information about making one. I would not be registered if there was no shoptalk, (i would later on though) I have learnt a lot about making knives, and get inspiration seeing accomplished makers posting here. I have only made one knife (spending time on a kmg clone now) so i would be other (regular poster)

(i was going to put maker, but i am a noobie maker)

 

[jkarp_53]

I'm a regular contributing collector. Haven't been here for too long, but am enjoying the ride so far. One of the best things I've done was to sign up for a gold membership, and it has been a benefit.

BladeForums is a good place to learn from numerous perspectives what's up in the industry and where it's going.

Mostly I collect Benchmades and Spydercos and don't feel the need for anything else.

This is a great place to learn from and I hope to be around for a long time.

Thanks,
Joe K.

 

[Bruce Bump]

I consider myself a lurker although I do post sometimes. I frequent this forum daily and learn from the collectors. I like this thread because it has some of the best knives and photos anywhere.

 

[ddd]

I live thousands of miles from where everything is happening. This forum
is my true live link to what is happening out there among serious knife
collectors and many of the custom knife makers.

The BladeForum also helped me more than once to create exciting
relationships both with major collectors and several knifemakers.
These relationships were strengthened when we met face to face at
the few shows I manage to attend...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[peterinct]

Good responses so far and I guess for me I get:

To be a part time "lurker", part time poster

I get to see some of the best pictures of the best knives being made

I have the opportunity to learn from some of the most prominent and prolific collectors and makers

Thanks to those such as STeven, I enrich my own vocabulary and get a good laugh from time to time too!

Thank you all,
Peter

 

[Don Hanson III]

This forum is a window into the current custom knife world. Not a complete view but a nice peek into what's happening right now. The knife mags are always a few months behind the forums.

A great place to show a new piece and get instant feedback.

Great entertainment (usually better than TV) and some of my best friends hang out here

 

[seamus]

I had to read some of the responses to figure out the difference between a lurker and poster. Actually I'm ready to up my membership to a "maker" and spend more time at this forum. There's a lot of good and critical information available and a great group of people to bounce ideas off of.
Jim Harrison
www.seamusknives.com

 

[Don Hanson III]

Good to see ya here Jim. You are definitely not a regular poster

 

[Kyle Royer]

I like the Forms for all the info I get about how to do this or that on a knife. And for selling knives. And posting different knives and ether getting constructive criticism or encouragement or both.:thumbup:

 

[David Schott]

1. As a part-time maker, I get endless inspiration from seeing the work of the best out there, as well as those who are at my level.

2. I get to see people's reactions to knifes, their likes and dislikes, that I can use when making choices on materials or designs in the future.

3. Honestly, the #1 reason i frequent as a lurker is simply to view the best knives and pictures of knives posted by the makers themselves and commented on by the people who actually have the funds to buy them. I get more enjoyment from simply viewing the beautiful pictures than I get input on my own work.

 

[seamus]

Don,
Good to be on board ! I guess my three previous posts do sort of pale in comparison to your 3400+ posts. The gap will probably spread even more.
Jim

 

[hunterfisher808]

When I first stumbled across this forum I was mostly into tactical folders. I ended up buying a couple of custom tacs with a couple of William Henry's too. Then I read a little bit more and saw some awesome fixed blades, soooo as an avid hunter I wanted a custom fixed blade skinner for use. I now have three. Then I started to read some more and saw some really awesome slippies and bought the usual Case, Bulldogs, Fight n' Rooster etc. in different patterns, then got into Queens, CSC, S&M's and now am seriously looking at a custom slippie.
This forum has educated me and turned me into a lover of good knives not to mention the knowlege from looking at the classifieds and trade forums regarding the fair market value of many production knives. Found outrageous deals at gun shows, garage sales etc. all because I knew about what I was looking at. Sadly the search feature is not open to all anymore, if I did not have access to this feature in the beginning of my small interest I probably would not be the knifeknut I am now lol, and probably have a fatter savings acct. . Any way I really appreciate this forum.

 

[Doberman_Dave]

Thanks to everyone who's replied! I've enjoyed reading the posts and seeing some new names.

As rough as the numbers are, the votes show:

• Readers votes are 50% from Collectors, 33% Makers, and 17% Others.
• Of the Collectors' votes, 61% are Posters, compared to 44% of Makers and 43% of Others.
• Votes from Posters and Lurkers are about equal in number (52% to 48%). I'd assume that Lurkers would be less likely to vote. Certainly a lot of names, familiar and not, have floated by on the list of active readers at the bottom of the thread.

Any thoughts?

Dave