What, No (Love For) William Henrys at BF? (With Pics)

[somber]

William Henry knives, the only knife company that would prefer to sell in jewelry stores than a knife store. This is just my opinion, but I don't feel that their demographic is 'the knife community' (the guy who has Benchmades, ZT, Striders, CRKs, etc...), their demographic is the individual who is looking for a high-end (maybe even just expensive for the sake of being expensive) knife to match his Rolex...

That's might explain why you don't see much discussion for them, too.

 

[bodog]

William Henry knives, the only knife company that would prefer to sell in jewelry stores than a knife store. This is just my opinion, but I don't feel that their demographic is 'the knife community' (the guy who has Benchmades, ZT, Striders, CRKs, etc...), their demographic is the individual who is looking for a high-end (maybe even just expensive for the sake of being expensive) knife to match his Rolex...

That's might explain why you don't see much discussion for them, too.

So, 'the knife community' are the guys who have Benchmades, ZT, Striders, CRKs, etc...?

Where is this information derived from?

 

[somber]

I'm not speaking in absolutes.

In my mind, William Henry tries it's hardest to distance themselves from that market, as evident by the fact that they specifically target high-end jewelry stores to be their dealers, they are not targeting the guys who are buying Benchmades, ZTs, Striders, or CRKs.

Where is this information derived from?

Like I stated, this is all personal opinion.

William Henry knives, the only knife company that would prefer to sell in jewelry stores than a knife store. This is just my opinion, but I don't feel that their demographic is 'the knife community' (the guy who has Benchmades, ZT, Striders, CRKs, etc...), their demographic is the individual who is looking for a high-end (maybe even just expensive for the sake of being expensive) knife to match his Rolex...

That's might explain why you don't see much discussion for them, too.

You don't have to agree.

 

[155440]

I'm not speaking in absolutes.

In my mind, William Henry tries it's hardest to distance themselves from that market, as evident by the fact that they specifically target high-end jewelry stores to be their dealers, they are not targeting the guys who are buying Benchmades, ZTs, Striders, or CRKs.



Like I stated, this is all personal opinion.



You don't have to agree.

Considering they market their products as Personal, High end, and Luxury, there is an element to truth to that but just because you don't find a Rolex or Grand Seiko in a Macy's doesn't mean that they aren't for the "watch community". Do you think the same guys who are buying benchmades as their primary carry knives are the same ones buying $2,000 art knives? Even if that answer is no, it doesn't make either any less part of the knife community.

Basically I think there is sound logic behind your opinion, I just think more "knife guys" have william henry knives than you would think.

 

[ATwistedStaple]

I gotta think anybody willing to drop $2k on a knife is a knife guy. They may be into a different sort for a different reason, but it still makes them a knife guy.

 

[somber]

Do you think the same guys who are buying benchmades as their primary carry knives are the same ones buying $2,000 art knives? Even if that answer is no, it doesn't make either any less part of the knife community.

Basically I think there is sound logic behind your opinion, I just think more "knife guys" have william henry knives than you would think.

First, to clarify: Of course William Henry is part of the knife community. Please closely re-read what I wrote. I specifically referring to their customer demographic. To use your analogy, do you think that Thomas Prescher's demographic is horologists / watch enthusiasts or millionaires with too much disposable income who need a watch to wear? Can some horologists afford a Thomas Prescher? Yes. Would Thomas Prescher sell watches by targeting the individuals who may appreciate the watch or to the individuals who can afford it?

To answer your question [and again], this is purely my opinion: No, I don't think the guys who are buying Benchmades as their primary carry knives are the same ones buying $2,000 art knives. There will always be those outliers who carry anything or use everything, but, no -- that customer is a different person entirely. William Henry makes a fine knife for the gentleman looking for a knife to fill a position, probably giving the knife no more thought than the aesthetics and cost.

 

[coinbuysell]

I ran into the EDC line last summer and found an E-10 for $225 on the forums, NIB, and I love it for every day carry in the office. The D2 holds a nice edge and it is big enough to perform any of my office type cutting tasks (and probably many harder)...I just don't care for their really blingy models, they seem to be more pocket jewelry than knife but the E series is the right combo of upscale, usable knife for me. I don't carry it as much lately, I really like ZT's (0770cf) and autos (Brous Bionic) so I tend to carry those two a little more but I do mix in the WH E-10 form time to time, especially when I am wearing a full on suit.

I have 20+ ZT's and quite a few other tacticool/hard use other blades and auto's but the E series is a nice knife and it has a place in my rotation.

I still don't really "get" the Sebenza thing, I had a 25 and a small 21 insingo but sold both of them. I realize they are made to last and very functional but they just don't do it for me. I am considering picking up a CRK 'zan tanto but I have not been able to pull the trigger since I just found out that I am up for a Grimsmo coming soon

To each their own...

 

[The Burgh]

Quote from Post #44 above (by 155440): "I just think more "knife guys" have william henry knives than you would think." Hope this thread gives us at least a bit of genuine info about that theory - one reason I am the OP.

Regarding the thoughts about costs (of some WHs, not all or most) and the perceived fragility of WHs: CRK? I suppose some (how many?) CRK owners do not carry their CRKs.

Browsing their offerings, I found a new WH "grail" (which is not crazy expensive to some potential buyers):

Notice the lack of gemstones and the subtle inclusion of contrasting brass-colored annodizing in the scale grooves and on the clip. The blade is black-coated, extra strong ZDP-189 laminate; the one-hand button lock and the thumb stud are set with smoky quartz. No one-sided scale framelock here! Custom? No. $475 MSRP.

 

[RamZar]

Browsing their offerings, I found a new WH "grail" (which is not crazy expensive to some potential buyers):

Notice the lack of gemstones and the subtle inclusion of contrasting brass-colored annodizing in the scale grooves and on the clip. The blade is black-coated, extra strong ZDP-189 laminate; the one-hand button lock and the thumb stud are set with smoky quartz. No one-sided scale framelock here! Custom? No. $475 MSRP.

It seems like the new B12 Spearpoint ‘TB’ is pretty much the B12 Spearpoint 'Atlas' with different color accents and coating. Very nice!

 

[bodog]

I'm pretty sure that most everyone who bought a WH knife on their own has probably carried and used at least several knives. And if I was a rich guy buying a present for someone and it was going to cost 2,000 bucks, I probably wouldn't give them an expensive knife unless I knew he was a knife guy.

there was just a ridiculously nice dagger being sold on here for 1500 bucks. I guess the guy who bought it wasn't a knife guy because he spent more than 200 bucks on a knife.

Honestly I kind of wonder if guys buying moderately expensive knives and putting them in a drawer and never using them are knife guys more than I wonder if someone buying a WH knife is.

 

[somber]

I'm pretty sure that most everyone who bought a WH knife on their own has probably carried and used at least several knives. And if I was a rich guy buying a present for someone and it was going to cost 2,000 bucks, I probably wouldn't give them an expensive knife unless I knew he was a knife guy.

there was just a ridiculously nice dagger being sold on here for 1500 bucks. I guess the guy who bought it wasn't a knife guy because he spent more than 200 bucks on a knife.

Nice, thanks for putting words in my mouth.

Since you lack reading comprehension, how about you just stick to reading what I said and take it at face value as my opinion and nothing more.

 

[RamZar]

You can find some true "gems" in the WH stable that are neither relatively expensive, per the quality, nor ostentatious.

WH does not pretend to cater to the market below $275!

To each their own niche. Let's not be so elitist towards one segment or another.

 

[bodog]

That's not putting words into your mouth or anything other than reading what you wrote. Just in case you forgot:

"I don't feel that their demographic is 'the knife community' (the guy who has Benchmades, ZT, Striders, CRKs, etc...), their demographic is the individual who is looking for a high-end (maybe even just expensive for the sake of being expensive) knife to match his Rolex"

 

[somber]

Yeah, where do I say someone isn't a knife guy because they spent more than $200 on a knife?

 

[bodog]

Yeah, where do I say someone isn't a knife guy because they spent more than $200 on a knife?

With the exception of the CRK and Strider knives, the knives you mentioned are almost all around 200 bucks or less. I guess I should've said 500 just to encompass all of what you were talking about?

And I should've said that the knife community only likes thick bladed knives that might but probably won't cut that well and usually made with mediocre quality control? If someone wanted a super nice piece made with super great tolerances and super nice materials that also cut really well then they CAN'T be knife guys, right?

 

[155440]

First, to clarify: Of course William Henry is part of the knife community. Please closely re-read what I wrote. I specifically referring to their customer demographic. To use your analogy, do you think that Thomas Prescher's demographic is horologists / watch enthusiasts or millionaires with too much disposable income who need a watch to wear? Can some horologists afford a Thomas Prescher? Yes. Would Thomas Prescher sell watches by targeting the individuals who may appreciate the watch or to the individuals who can afford it?

To answer your question [and again], this is purely my opinion: No, I don't think the guys who are buying Benchmades as their primary carry knives are the same ones buying $2,000 art knives. There will always be those outliers who carry anything or use everything, but, no -- that customer is a different person entirely. William Henry makes a fine knife for the gentleman looking for a knife to fill a position, probably giving the knife no more thought than the aesthetics and cost.

Very well put. Thanks for clarifying your stance. I do agree that they strongly market their products to the consumer looking for a knife just to fill a position.

 

[somber]

With the exception of the CRK and Strider knives, the knives you mentioned are almost all around 200 bucks or less. I guess I should've said 500 just to encompass all of what you were talking about?

And I should've said that the knife community only likes thick bladed knives that might but probably won't cut that well and usually made with mediocre quality control? If someone wanted a super nice piece made with super great tolerances and super nice materials that also cut really well then they CAN'T be knife guys, right?

I'm not bothering with you, dude. You're just a troll. Have fun under that bridge

 

[bodog]

Very well put. Thanks for clarifying your stance. I do agree that they strongly market their products to the consumer looking for a knife just to fill a position.

The same thing could be said about most of these limited edition knives and any other knife that costs more than 400 bucks. Are they really buying them to use as tools or are they buying them to look at and admire? It's fine either way, but just because someone does that with a 2000 dollar knife instead of a 500 dollar knife doesn't mean they're not "knife guys." Kind of a ridiculous notion.

 

[somber]

Very well put. Thanks for clarifying your stance. I do agree that they strongly market their products to the consumer looking for a knife just to fill a position.

Which isn't a bad thing! The William Henry brand is really, really well managed. There knives are beautiful and the quality is impeccable. I believe Kikuo Matsuda is doing the grinding on the blades, even, which is pretty cool.

 

[155440]

The same thing could be said about most of these limited edition knives and any other knife that costs more than 400 bucks. Are they really buying them to use as tools or are they buying them to look at and admire? It's fine either way, but just because someone does that with a 2000 dollar knife instead of a 500 dollar knife doesn't mean they're not "knife guys." Kind of a ridiculous notion.

Well I think William Henry doesn't specifically market towards your average blade-forums user. In fact, I think they aggressively target those who are just looking for some pocket jewelry to spice up their executive life style. That's not to say that your average blade forum user can't purchase and appreciate William Henry knives for the functional pieces of art that they are. I EDC a $400 dollar custom slip joint because it is pocket jewelry yet cuts like a dream and has a perfect fit and finish, pull, and half stop.