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

If s/o shows me crap and tells me it's God's gift to the knife world, I'll tell him it's crap. Then I'll tell him *why* and suggest an alternative. He may get upset at first, but he'll thank you later.
 
People sometimes show me their carry gun.... same sort of deal and they're so proud. It's usually some cheap POS. I have to hold my tongue.

Same deal with knives although not many people show me their knives unless they know I like knives. In some cases they have better knives than me and I can admire them. In other cases, it is like the carry gun above. I just smile knowing that they're happy in their choice. For this reason, I seldom show my knives unless it's a SAK. Some will chuckle at my choices. So, to each his own and live and let live. If you like knives, the use and acquisition is a journey and it is often circular. I ended up with SAKs, but I still have much more expensive knives that I use too.

Years ago, I would show my Dad my SAK. He would smile because he never liked them. He thought of them as toy knives. He liked Schrades, Bucks, and Case knives and obviously all traditional.

So as far as your friend goes, let him make his own journey if he is interested. I am making mine.

Oh, I do own a few Frost Cutlery blades.
 
Sounds like he's interested in knives, just ignorant about them.

Gift him a Delica or something similar and let him see the difference. Perhaps you have a potential convert to the sickness!

...on second thought don't...there is no cure! ;)
 
Another idea would be to introduce him to blade forum. I know that my own knowledge has gone up by quite a bit since I joined, and I can find the answered to about any question I can think of, as well as a few I never thought of. Definitely couldn't hurt anything.


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I have an encounter such as this at least once every week or two at work. Everyone I work with knows me as the "knife guy" and I usually get people asking me for recommendations on what to buy or how to sharpen or if I will sharpen something for them..

Occasionally I get something such as this. I can't recall the worst knife I've had someone want me to check out but nothing this bad. I typically just complement them on the knife and ask them what about it they like and why they got it and if they know anything about steel or as such. I'll usually pull out something of the 300-400 dollar price range and like to have them guess the price and what they would pay for it. One of the best was I had someone say they wouldn't pay more than $55 for my Sebenza 25 but as mentioned in almost every thread, to each is to own. It usually leads to them asking the price because once they guess, I chuckle and they warrant a reason for the price. I just say because of the materials used, the process of making it, the Company/Designer themselves and warranty.

It's one reason why I like to show them off at work per se because it keeps things interesting.
 
Hi. I think you did the “right” thing, I would have probably done the same :). Maybe, if really a friend more than a job acquaintance, I would have handed out an old/dismissed “good” one from my very small bunch and told him to use it and compare with his current favourite. Don’t like to be the joy killer :) !

Almost the totality of people I relate with are non-knives people. A sub-group of these, is formed by people who actually use knives casually for some reasons during the day, beyond food prep/kitchen/etc. connected tasks. They normally carry some sort of blades as they carry other tools but they don’t have any “interest” in knives as such. For these people knives are plain tools, like screwdrivers or pliers. These people simply don’t get how it’s possible to spend the cash most of us spend to get the same functionality that a 3 EUR knife provides to them in their daily operations. I don’t talk about knives with these people, the result is I end up being pictured as a weirdo or a fool :).

Then there is another group of people I deal with who are what I call “interested” knives users. I sort of belong to this group. These people are generally professionals (e.g. butchers, carpenters, plumbers, farmers, gardeners, etc.) or enthusiast (e.g. hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, wood carving, etc.). They understand what a “good” cutting tool is, have an “interest” into knives and they make conscious choices and purchases. I can talk knives with these people, they understand e.g. grinds, cutting capability, geometry, edge holding, type of steels, sharpening and even prices :D. We normally show each other our tools, compare them, chat about, try them out, etc. and have a good time together :).

Another group I have occasional contacts with are the makers, bladesmiths of some kind. I know very few in person, maybe two. These guys normally know their stuff very well (they make it for a living). I learn a lot from them and they usually they are able to give very good suggestions/inputs/feedbacks about what I have bought or want to buy. I can talk knives with them but they soon get too technical or too difficult for me to understand or fully appreciate as humble hobbyist :). Most of the stuff they make a big deal about is not relevant for me as week-end hiker/camper or EDC user. Sometimes also they are a bit grumpy or “elitists”.

The last group I sporadically interact with is what I call the “Collectors”. Very, very few I know in person (I count three actually, within my acquaintances), mostly I find them on forums or at exhibitions, fairs, meetings, etc.. These guys I know are essentially looking for “art objects” in the shape of knives and mostly care about aesthetics of items, rare/precious materials used, excellence/specialty in workmanship, historical value, etc. and basically are focused on monetary values of these “art objects” and the prestige deriving from their possession. They are normally super experts in everything about blades (and one can really learn a lot from them, e.g. I am amazed by ancient sword collectors knowledge and their stories), except how they actually perform in the field. This is a big no-no for them because “art objects” can be damaged or broken during use. I talk knives with them when have the occasion, but I can clearly see they consider my production cutting tools as “plebeian” or rough :) and show little or no interest in them, while they are very keen to show their masterpieces instead which, though always worth while having a look at, in most of the cases, wouldn’t survive an afternoon barbeque in my backyard :D:p.
 
Lets see if we can get him to get the sickness too. Let him borrow a less value one that I'm sure you have laying around and try talking him into buying something better lol
 
Good job.

I never will disparage someone's knife if they show it to me, I am just happy to see another person that believes in carrying a knife.

I prefer seeing someone with even a cheaply made knife to the "ewwwww that's a WEAPON" mindset.

If someone wants to show me a knife, I will look at it and not critique.

Now if they ASK me if I think the knife they have is a good one, I may gently explain some things about a better tool, but still won't trash their knife.

Good things are never the result of disparaging another.

best

mqqn
 
I consider myself a knife nut. I have a few $200 ish range knives of different makes, which I know isn't as much as others, but a lot to me, but I'll most likely be carrying a Case or Buck that are probably in the $50 dollar range or less mostly for sentimental reasons. One day at work, roof started leaking and everyone had to pull out a knife and cut some plastic sheets to cover up stuff and most of the guys were pulling out benchmade 710's and one guy had the newer g10 grip, and pulled out an old Case stockman and we were comparing knives, and I said, " I've got one of those g10 griptilians at home and an old 710 at home"..............man, I could just feel the eye rolls behind my back because they were thinking, "sure he does." I just like carrying old beat up knives for some reason?
 
As they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

My brother could afford to buy and use any knife made if he wanted to. He has a cost barometer (as most of us do) for guns, knives, and sporting equipment. For the most part, that barometer was set 30 years ago. He gets by just fine with his one or two knives that he owns and they are each under $100. If he ever gets the knife itch, he'll start the journey and see where it leads. He does understand acquiring things for the fun of it, but he has never been infected with that disease.

I generally show people modestly priced knives generally (pretty good, but middle of the road stuff) which is what I primarily use anyway. If they show an interest, I'll dig out the "better stuff" and we can talk knives if they like.
 
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Im really getting a lot of enjoyment out of reading everyone's posts on this subject! We all seem to have a similar way of dealing with this type of thing. The absolute best outcome, (in agreement with most of you) would be if I could carefully peak his interest in a higher quality folder. Its such an awesome feeling when you manage to turn someone. Witnessing the moment they start to understand is so great. Not an easy thing to do, but always worth it if they end up with a better appreciation for knives!
 
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On the (very rare) occasions I find someone carrying his own knife, I'm glad they think it's a sensible and appropiate thing to do and gives you so much capabilities and ways to interact with the modern world and be minimally prepared.
They're usually SAKs, Opinels or $5 flea market flippers, but even then I point out my thoughts and congrat them as fellow knife carriers/users, and only if they ask or want to talk further do I "teach" them the basics (grinds, steels, shapes and styles...) if they show genuine interest.

This way I've "converted" to the knifenut side two people in all these years, and gained acceptance as the "knife guy" amongst many family members, friends, etc.
 
I try to do the same when I encounter people like this. I don't own any crazy expensive knives, but even my budget knives are great for their price point. I mostly just excited that someone carries a cutting a tool at all.

I did encounter a Co worker a while back who was bragging about his gas station flipper. He even went so far as to ridicule my becker BK14 that I happened to be carrying that day. I had to stand up for Ethan and told him that my knife would quite literally cut his cheap folder into pieces. I even offered to buy him a new one if he would let me prove my point. He did not let me.
 
It is the same with everything. From shoes to cars to homes, it's all good. Always all good.
If you want to introduce him to something nicer, gift him a blade from your personal collection.
 
I just accept that most people could care less about what knife you have on you. Granted I could care less about most peoples hobbies on the flip side of that.
 
There's a time and a place, and that wasn't it. Well done.

Hasn't happened to me with knives (I don't own many, most of mine fall in the "budget" category, and I don't have anybody else to talk to about it besides you all), but I can think of two other examples.

First, flash back to a friend's wedding in England about seven or so years ago. It was an afternoon affair that lasted well into the night. The bride was a Scot, and as is apparently done, a lot of good scotch showed up at the wedding. Somewhere past midnight, a masterclass was held by friend of the couple, a former Royal Marine, still built like a tonne of bricks. He poured us all a glass to sip neat, think about it describe it; then, a glass with a drop of water, same exercise; then with ice, same exercise. His final line was, slightly paraphrased: "So, what's the RIGHT way to drink Scotch? However you D*** WELL PLEASE." You don't argue with that. :) (As an aside, the same scotch really did taste different in those different modes.)

Second, I get this often about coffee, another passion of mine and one more widely discussed. I can tell you plenty about coffee and what makes a better cup, objectively as well as subjectively. There's an amazing amount of science and art that goes into it. When people ask me the best way to make coffee? Simple. Find what you like to drink, drink THAT, and don't let me or anybody else tell you you're bad for it. Now, if you want to learn how to make it better, and are willing to put in some effort, we can talk about that. But far be it for me to burst your bubble.
 
One dude I know had a M Tech knife similar to this one and he said it was "military issue". I told him it was not military issue and he insisted it was.

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I would buy a BM550 and give it to this person.
 
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