What to expect at Gander Mountian?

JD Mandrell

JD Mandrell

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
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A new Gander Mountian store has opened up about 40 minutes away from me in Kentucky, the family may be going there tomorrow, what kind of knives can I expect to see? Anything good or junk?

I've never read their catalog, so I'm going in blind!
 
Try their website to get an idea of what they carry. I know store inventories don't always match what's available in the catalogs or online, but it should be close.

http://www.gandermountain.com/

After looking around the website, it's very limited, the store should have much more.
 
They opened two stores here and when I checked them out, I was pretty disappointed. Mostly junk and the rest was way over priced. Matter of fact most of the store is way overpriced. If I'm going to pay a premium for sporting goods I'll do it at REI where at least I get a dividend.

Now the local Sportsmans Warehouse has some great knives. Over priced compared to online, but that's to be expected.
 
Yup, we've got one here in Lansing. "Disappointing" definately the right word.

Very limited selection of knives. Maybe enough to make it worth the time to stop and look if you're already in the mall. Not enough to drive anywhere for.
 
Thanks, guys, it's right by the mall in Paducah, might drop in for a few minutes if were in the area, otherwise sounds like a pass.
 
Expect a poor selection and high prices. The Gander Mountain Here is pretty lame for knives. Walmart probably has as good a selection, although Gander mountain carries a few spydercos.
 
Geeze, I don't know what the deal is but the Gander in Rockford IL has a decent selection of knives. I was actually kinda surprised they had what they did. Some of the stuff I saw:
Spyderco Delicas and maybe Enduras in clam wrap. maybe even Calys
BMs, I bought a Monocrome for my brother in law last year for Xmas but he ended up going with a Griptilian I bought somewhere else. (I still have that Monochrome and it's still in the clam oddly enough.) Seems like they had a 722 in the display too which kinda surprised me. I'm thinkin the rest was Red Class stuff
Buck 110s in clamwrap
Seems like they had some Bokers but I may be wrong.

I'll make a point to go back in there and check things out again to see what they still have. Funny thing is about this particular loc having all that stuff is there's a real knife shop just down the road from there (Tom's Cutlery) that carries all that stuff and customs and other productions too.

later,

oil
 
OilMan said:
Funny thing is about this particular loc having all that stuff is there's a real knife shop just down the road from there (Tom's Cutlery) that carries all that stuff and customs and other productions too.
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Amazing how real competition will inspire a business to upgrade their selections. :D
 
Regular prices aren't that great. Good if you need something right away.
They do have decent specials and sales from time to time.
 
The one that just opened up close to me has a few Benchmades, Spydercos, Lots of CRKT [way overpriced $20 or $30 more than ebay] and some other assorted knives, most are in those aggravating plastic clamshell packages that need battlefield nukes to get them open, so you can't handle most blades, just the most expensive ones. You can do far better on the internet.
 
Hey MSCantrell, I'm in Lansing as well. And I agree with your post. I like GM for their occassional sales on hunting clothes, and you can at least handle some knives before you go searching online for a much better price.
Phil
 
I don't know how it is at other Gander Mountain stores, but the one near me is a disappointment.

Every time I want to handle the knives, I have to wait for at least 15 minutes until a sales person who works in "the knife area" is available. I waited 20 minutes one time while an employee chatted casually with a friend. When I do get someone to unlock the displays and show me the knives, they seem to have a "hurry-up-and-buy-it-or-stop-wasting-my-time" attitude. What happened to customer service?

On top of this, the store has gotten rid of all their SOG products (I really like SOG). They still have a decent selection, but I believe it may become smaller in the future.

Really disappointed,
TheSurvivalist
 
TheSurvivalist said:
Every time I want to handle the knives, I have to wait for at least 15 minutes until a sales person who works in "the knife area" is available. I waited 20 minutes one time while an employee chatted casually with a friend. When I do get someone to unlock the displays and show me the knives, they seem to have a "hurry-up-and-buy-it-or-stop-wasting-my-time" attitude. What happened to customer service?
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I'm beginning to qwnder myself lately what's hapened to "customer service" with a lot of places. What you describe above has made me walk out of stores before.


On top of this, the store has gotten rid of all their SOG products (I really like SOG).
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I'm gonna hijack my own thread at this point, I have never owned a SOG folder, but am wanting to try one. Which one would you recommend 3-4 inch blade?

I recently got to handle a SOG Flash II it was my neices boss' knife and I sharpened it for him, seemed OK, but had this horrible rainbow finish on the blade and I am not big on assisted openers.
 
I'm gonna hijack my own thread at this point, I have never owned a SOG folder, but am wanting to try one. Which one would you recommend 3-4 inch blade?
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If you can get used to the assisted opening, it would be good to buy the Flash II. The Flash series (and Twitch, though less so) are the best of the SOG folders. However, the Flash series would be better without the assisted opening feature.

I like their fixed-blades more than their selection of folding knives.

TheSurvivalist
 
TheSurvivalist said:
If you can get used to the assisted opening, it would be good to buy the Flash II. The Flash series (and Twitch, though less so) are the best of the SOG folders. However, the Flash series would be better without the assisted opening feature.

I like their fixed-blades more than their selection of folding knives.

TheSurvivalist
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Thanks, I spent some online time today looking and I kinda like their Pentagon Elite folders, may give those a try.
 
My wife and I just got back from Peoria where I visited their Gander Mtn. Not impressive. They did have the cookie cutter Spydercos (Delica, Endura) but thats about it.
Matt
 
TheSurvivalist said:
If you can get used to the assisted opening, it would be good to buy the Flash II. The Flash series (and Twitch, though less so) are the best of the SOG folders. However, the Flash series would be better without the assisted opening feature.

I like their fixed-blades more than their selection of folding knives.

TheSurvivalist
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Seems like AG Russell has some Flashes that aren't assisted openers. You may also want to check out SOGs Vision and Night Vision if you can still find one, they are the best folders SOG ever did. The Night Vison is no longer made as they went to a cheaper handle material and called it the XRay Vision.

later,

oil
 
TheSurvivalist said:
I don't know how it is at other Gander Mountain stores, but the one near me is a disappointment.

Every time I want to handle the knives, I have to wait for at least 15 minutes until a sales person who works in "the knife area" is available. I waited 20 minutes one time while an employee chatted casually with a friend. When I do get someone to unlock the displays and show me the knives, they seem to have a "hurry-up-and-buy-it-or-stop-wasting-my-time" attitude. What happened to customer service?

It is exactly the same thing in Fredericksburg Va., there is one young fellow who tries to get to me as quick as he can and seems to be interested in what I like and tries to "sell" something. I say this, because all the rest seem to give me the feeling I'm waisting their time and NEVER try to "close" the deal. :confused: :( *sad thing is, I still buy when I like something :rolleyes:
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TLC, I'm about 45 minutes the other way, small world huh. As bad as their selection is there, that is about as good as it gets around here. The only place that I found to have anything was Helton's Edge in Metropolis, IL. But.....I only learned of their existince the last week they were open and that was over three years ago.:( :grumpy: I did get a good deal on some Spydies he was getting rid of though.
 
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