When your buddy thinks his Frost Cutlery is the most amazing knife ever...

wensynch said:
Your friend who doesn't know much about knives wanted to show you what he considers one of his favorites, because he knows how much you do love them. He probably already realizes you know more then him and that whatever are his favorites isn't saying much.

Perhaps, he was open to deferring to your opinion and your view at whatever level that is. Maybe he is interested in knife world and wants to know more. Maybe, the Frost was just a means to strike the convo.

Give your friend who doesn't know much about knives a $5 Opinel #6. Sharing is caring.
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Very good point! I might (carefully) prod that subject more with him...
 
Heartland_edc said:
I live in Kansas, and just about EVERYONE carries a folding knife. Most common are your Wal Mart Gerbers and CRKTs, which are perfectly fine for what they'll be used for. Every now and then I run into someone who carries a Benchmade or Spyderco, but never anything more expensive than that. I tend to avoid talking about knives with anyone who isnt a "knife person," because most people can't fathom how any knife could possibly be worth more than $100. Which I can understand if they don't know what goes into them. I have a good buddy who doesn't know anything about knives, but he knows I love them. He told me he wanted to show me his "favorite knife", and brought it with him to work today. Later, I tried to find the exact knife on google. Looks just like this but with a black or dark green scale.



Initially, I had an overwhelming urge to point out everything that was wrong with his knife. I wanted to explain to him in great detail why the design was flat out silly, and that Frost is... well... you guys know where I'm going with this. But I didn't. He was so excited to show it to me, and he clearly loved the thing. I realized this wouldn't accomplish anything, and might even take away his love for it. On top of that, it ultimately would have been an excuse to show off the knife in my pocket, and to go on and on about its "vast superiority." Which, again, would have been pointless and stupid. I turned his knife over in my hand and pretended to be intrigued by it. Ended up telling him it was "a pretty cool knife" and then went about my day. He's my friend, and thats probably the only reason I didn't go off on a rant. I spend so much time here on the forums in my little "superior knife world" that I forget most people don't view knives the way I do. It was a humbling experience, and I'm honestly glad I kept my mouth shut this time. I have definitely made the mistake of deeming myself a "knife elitist" in other conversations, and the only things I got in return were confused and insulted expressions. Might have to start toning down my knife pride. Has anyone else been in this situation?
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Many times heartland....

You did good! Often we do not realize one persons prize is another's trash, or the other way around. I am the same way. When we think consciously about what we are to say say or do... and pause and take a different direction because deep down it doesn't work, we are growing as people. In this case Knife people. As I mentioned in a similar post, It's difficult to walk in another man's shoes until we try them on. God Bless, Nice post to read. TD
 
Hickory n steel said:
when I was a kid I actually wanted the knife pictured.
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I got INTO this game because my childhood friend showed me his "SOG", which could supposedly pierce the hood of a car and still shave hair. I never got one, but I went to a knife store, got me started at least.
 
I wouldn't go so far as to mock the guy carrying that thing, but I would feel dishonest if I didn't at least point him towards a brand like CRKT or even Gerber. Progressively educate him without telling him his knife sucks.
 
Something similar happened to me about 6 months ago. Met a guy on the job who saw I hade a knife in my pocket and asked to see it. I KNEW what was coming.......he wanted to show his knife off to me.
I showed him my Cruwear Millie with A Putman scales. He glanced at it for a second and pulled his knife out to proudly display a Coast tacticoolie POS and went on to explain to me how it was such a better knife than the one I had.
I bit my tongue, hard enough to bleed. It wasn't easy!!
I figured he'd learn on his own after a bunch of stitches.
Joe
 
I've never had to hold back with non-enthusiasts, really. I'm too polite in real life. It's only on a place like BF that I am super opinionated about knives.

However, I have been disappointed by folks who told me they "loved knives" or "always carried a knife" only to see the junk they had in their pocket.

number9 said:
... Still her perfect knife ...
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A buddy of mine who is not a knife nut but knows that I am came to me to help him buy an edc knife a few years ago. He'd been inspired to start to carry by how often he'd seen me use my knives. He gave me a budget and what he wanted out of his knife and I gave him a list of possibilities. He ended up buying a Kershaw. Was definitely not for me (too small, assisted, middle-of-the-road materials) but it has served him well.

It was a nice experience and I sharpen it for him once a year. :)
 
palonej said:
Something similar happened to me about 6 months ago. Met a guy on the job who saw I hade a knife in my pocket and asked to see it. I KNEW what was coming.......he wanted to show his knife off to me.
I showed him my Cruwear Millie with A Putman scales. He glanced at it for a second and pulled his knife out to proudly display a Coast tacticoolie POS and went on to explain to me how it was such a better knife than the one I had.
I bit my tongue, hard enough to bleed. It wasn't easy!!
I figured he'd learn on his own after a bunch of stitches.
Joe
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I can absolutely picture this happening. It would be sooo much harder for me to hold my tongue in this situation because of how it played out. Kudos to you for swallowing your pride!
 
It was NOT an easy thing to do brother!!! Especially since there was a gorgeous mirrored edge on the Millie!!
Still pisses me off till this day!!
 
Watches, cars, knives, cologne (millesime), and most of things I enjoy.

What you did was "grown up," for lack of a better term. It's so much easier and 'nicer' to simply nod and say something nice or positive. I also really enjoy the back arrow.

I've found, there will always be something better or best what one has or had; so I always approach life with that in mind.

Example: how many of you looked up milleieme? That word might have never crossed your path until today...or at least in its context.

I usually wait until someone asks specific questions about my 'stuff,' before I explain what it is.
 
You hafta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run.
 
I am known around the office as the resident "knife guy" and am routinely asked what knife I'm carrying on a given day. I have a modest rotation at this point, plus a few oddballs that make it into my pocket every now and then, so it could be anything from a $20 Coast (not sure if it meets palonej's tacticoolie POS requirement) to a $200 ZT, but not everyone who sees a particular knife is going to care much for it. One of my co-workers will inevitably show me their knife, and more often than not, it will be one of the most over-the-top, gaudy TacForce, MTech or S&W models you can buy for MSRP at a gun show. If they clearly love the knife, I'm not about to rain on their parade.

But if they claim it's nicer than mine, we're going to have a talk about materials and workmanship.
 
I commend you for being able to hold back and not turn it into one of "those" situations. Ultimately, there is no point in it, which is something that I myself have forgotten at times. I'm in that same boat with you. Even my friends who are self proclaimed "knife nuts" can't understand why I have spent the money that I have on certain knives. I simply keep it all to myself anymore. I am happy with my perception of what a great knife is, and I am sure they are as well. So, why be a knife snob to those who have a basic understanding? I have to remind myself of this regularly. It is humbling. Kudos to you.


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Inazone said:
But if they claim it's nicer than mine, we're going to have a talk about materials and workmanship.
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Agreed. Even if I know it might create tension, thats when pride gets a hold of me. I know in those moments I should let it go, but I take it as an insult to my time spent appreciating and understanding knives. I'm usually disgusted with myself in hindsight.
 
You did the right thing. I've had a couple of similar experiences, and I just opened and closed them a few times, handed them back, and said "pretty cool" or "right on." I figure if they're happy with them that's cool, and at least they're carrying a knife. Who am I to bring them down? If someone asks me for a truly honest opinion, then that's a different story, and I'll try to steer them toward something better that will fit their needs, budget, and taste. :thumbup:
 
It's always best to just compliment the guy and tell him you think it's a great knife. Better yet ask him where he got it and to tell you what he uses it for, etc. About a year ago or so I was having a drink after work at the local Elks Lodge. The guys at our table know I like knives but they don't know squat about them. The only reason they know about my knife addiction is because someone needed something cut and I flicked open a Spyderco Sage and obliged. One guy said, "That's a switchblade!" I explained how it wasn't and showed how I had merely "flicked" the knife open without a button or switch and then pulled out a Case medium stockman and basically explained the differences between locking knives, non-locking knives and one handed opening knives vs. a switchblade. After that I became the knife guy.

A week ago I'm at the Lodge and a gentleman I did not know came over to the table and asked if I was the guy who was into knives. I said yes I was and expected him to ask me something about a pocket knife. Lo and behold he whipped out a six inch or so long fixed blade with an Osage Orange handle. He made the knife himself in his garage together with an absolutely beautiful homemade leather belt sheath he kept it in. I couldn't quit gushing over the knife which was extremely well done. So last night I'm at the Lodge again and the same guy came in and showed me a very nice liner lock knife. He had replaced the stock blade with a homemade beautiful drop point etched blade with thumbstud and fancy file work on the spine. He wanted to see what I was carrying which was a Para 3 which he liked. I told him he was a very talented man and not to gush too much about my stock knives but to be very proud of his work and craftmanship.
 
wensynch said:
Your friend who doesn't know much about knives wanted to show you what he considers one of his favorites, because he knows how much you do love them. He probably already realizes you know more then him and that whatever are his favorites isn't saying much.

Perhaps, he was open to deferring to your opinion and your view at whatever level that is. Maybe he is interested in knife world and wants to know more. Maybe, the Frost was just a means to strike the convo.

Give your friend who doesn't know much about knives a $5 Opinel #6. Sharing is caring.
Click to expand...


That hasnt been my experience. In fact i find when non knife people want to show me their knife its because plain ignorance has them having a much to simplified viewpoint on the subject. I had one guy who wanted me to "spice up" his heirloom knife. Before he will even show it to me he gives me a speech about how i need to be extremely careful with it. He claims its without a doubt the most expensive knife i have or ever will hold and i need to be prepared to pay for any damages that may be done to it in my care. I agree and he pulls out a knife with the winchester logo. I inform himthat his knife is actually a $5 knife that is part of the yearly holiday gift set knives sold in wal-mart. He was insulted and refused to let me inspect it further. He wanted the knife anodized originally and after he took it back he said he would find someone who knows their stuff to do the work. He thought "titamium coated" meant it was solid titanium.
 
I work with a fellow that is getting into knives.He bought several of mine that lost I interest in ( Spyderco Southard, ZT 0350, 0550 gen 1, 0550 gen 2, 0560, Hogue EX01, EX 04,Benchmade Rift) but his regular carry was a Gerber Paraframe. One day while we had some downtime, he pulls it out to show that it's half open and stuck. I gave him a user Spyderco Endura for the privilege of throwing the Gerber in the dumpster. He eventually replaced that with a Benchmade HD knife purchased from the self proclaimed largest knife store in the south (maybe for that part of La.)

Over time he starts asking about good brands, best types of steel, etc. I tell him I'm no expert, I buy what I like and if it were not for lurking on here, I would have never heard of any of the higher end brands. I told him about the forum and I don't know if he is a member or not. He never mentioned visiting or not. To answer his question about different steels, I sent him a link to one of those charts that explains composition and descriptions of hardness and wear resistance. When he asked whats the best knife, I gave my blanket answer of 'the best knife is the one you have on you.' However, I did reccommend buying a SAK since they are inexpensive, and easy to sharpen.
 
While it's an imperfect analogy, it's a similar dynamic with watches. Most every knife will cut just fine, as most every watch will tell time just fine. At some point, some people like to move away from Timex and keep going to Patek Philippe. Most stop at some point in-between. I guess it all depends on what's important to you.
 
I have been in similar situations with close friends and I tend not to hold my tongue and I always regret it. But with people I don't know very well, I hold my tongue. I think it is because I know that my friends will forgive me and nothing will change. I'm getting better about it though.


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