Where Do You Buy Your Knives From ???

L

Llamedos

Joined
Jul 14, 1999
Messages
352
I was wondering where everyone buys their knives from. Do you get most of them from stores or do you buy off the internet ?

What about international forumites ? Do you buy from within your country or do you order from US via the web ?

If via the web is this due to unavailability in your country or price differences ?

An example of price differences :
In the UK a Large Sebenza (Plain) is £325. In $$$'s this equals $533
eek.gif
This is the reason why I buy off the internet.

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Hacker of the HORDE
http://www.thehorde.cjb.net

"If you run, you'll only die tired."

SPENCE
You ever kill anybody?
SAM
I hurt somebody's feelings once.
From Ronin (1998)
 
My preference is to buy directly from the makers. I like to support the custom artists of my own country, Canada, and as a rule they are great folks and the feedback, at least for me, is very enjoyable. Of course, there are some fantastic makers in the USA who are also great to deal with, but the exchange rate and shipping across the border is absolutely brutal. That is a big discouragement.
So far I haven't bought much from Canadian dealers. There are very few up here and the prices generally aren't really competitive. There are now one or two that seem to be exceptions, but limited selection, especially for customs, is a frustrating problem.
I have had the pleasure of doing business with a few US dealers and I have been very happy. The better dealers offer excellent service, prices generally equal to what the makers offer, and often much faster availability. For example, I got my Polkowski Scorpion from Les Robertson several months faster than I could have got it from Al directly. I like the convenience of the net, if I already know the knife and don't need to fondle it first. Most dealers have a reasonable return policy, but shipping and returning and risking all those sticky fingers at the Post Office and delays is no joy.
The knife shows might be the best place to go looking and buying, but that's a special series of skills all its own, and not everyone can get to them and be there early enough to score well. Your best bet is probably to get to know the better dealers, and the few knifemakers whose work you really like. If you collect, it's good to have a theme or specialty: your own country is a good place to start. One man's opinion anyway.
 
I also prefer to deal with a Knife Maker directly whenever possible. That is easy to do with anyone with savvy on the Net, for most items anyway, and I have developed a few nice friendships that way. It is also good to develop a relationship with a trustworthy Custom Knife Dealer, a very convenient way to have access to pieces. For instance, Allen Elishewitz doesn’t offer Bolster Lock versions of his knife directly, so if you want a specific one you have to order one through a dealer with a relationship with him.

Speaking of which, I have a few decisions to make…

As for production knives, I have found a few trustworthy and reliable sources on the Net. There was a recent thread on the subject.


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James Segura
San Francisco, CA

[This message has been edited by stjames (edited 01-26-2000).]
 
I guess I qualify as an international forumite!
I have just started to buy from US dealers on the net and from one or two US custom makers. The US dealers have so much choice, good clear websites and great information and links.
I know of only one or two sources of decent knives in the UK and they are expensive and unhelpful. The Americans are all so much nicer to deal with!
Llamedos, where did you see that UK price for a Sebenza? That's just horrific.

Roger
 
I dont like to buy from makers or stores because they always seem to be more expensive(kind of ironic). I like buying from internet dealers because they always seem to have some sort of deal.

anyway, i most likely will not be purchasing any knives anytime soon. I will start to make my own
biggrin.gif


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And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold the great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads...And His tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth; and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

[This message has been edited by IUBI (edited 01-26-2000).]
 
The purchases that I have made my self have all been from Knifecenter and twice from here. I have been extremely pleased each time. The prices are very good and so is the service. I have a Sebenza arriving in a couple of days from KC as it happens
biggrin.gif


When I come to the Blade show this year I will make alot more purchases. I cant wait !

Roger, the Sebenza price was in an old issue of Gun Mart.

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Hacker of the HORDE
http://www.thehorde.cjb.net

"If you run, you'll only die tired."

SPENCE
You ever kill anybody?
SAM
I hurt somebody's feelings once.
From Ronin (1998)
 
I buy exclusively from the net. There are NO decent knife stores in my entire province! I buy from a Canadain dealer when I can, but a lot of the times the US dealers are giving better prices, even with the exchange and shipping. The only problem with is that I really have to build a good relationship with a couple of dealers. I've buying all my stuff sight-unseen, there's gotta be trust.

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Johan, I know what you mean about the lamentable situation in Canada [for sure in Ontario] re knife dealers. Especially for customs. But ProEdge looks promising. Fortunately, we do have some really good custom makers throughout Canada and the Canadian Knifemakers Guild is the best thing we have. There are three or four good shows a year that I know of, but that's not enough. Don't you hate getting brutalized by the exchange rate? Maybe we should raise this in the [unofficial] Canuck Forum/thread?

[This message has been edited by HJK (edited 01-26-2000).]
 
The majority of my knives have been purchased from fellow forumites here on BF. I have a couple from Murray at ProEdge in Canada, and highly recommend him. Other than that, I deal with a couple custom makers, Neil Blackwood and Lynn Griffith, who can fill all my fixed blade needs, answer any questions I have about knives, and generally just have fun talking and dealing with. I am very lucky and happy to have them both as friends, and I'd like to thank the folks at Bladeforums (again!) for allowing this to happen.
Paul
 
Depends on what I'm buying. Custom knives I like to get direct from the maker if at all possible.
Factory / Production knives I get from the cheapest possible source, which is usually one of the internet dealers. I have about 20 or 30 in my bookmarks, but I end up buying from only 2 or 3, who have consistantly low prices, great service and adaquate shipping.
 
HJK, I know what you mean about the exchange rate. I'll start up a post in the Canuck thread in the Community Forum. Try ADaM Sharps Cutlery, he's really good-doesn't have it, he can get it.

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Aw, hell. I'll throw in yet another Canadian perspective. I've been buying from a shop called S&R Knives at the Woodbine Center. It's a bit of a trek by subway and bus from my home in the downtown Toronto core, but if you saw the prices in the Yonge Street surplus stores for BM, CRKT, Spyderco, and the rest you'd gladly make the trip!

As for S&R, service is GREAT, and they always seem to have the lastest factory stuff in stock. Don't worry about the sticker prices either. I went there to buy a Kobun Tanto, but they didn't have the plain edge version. (Booo!) So what happens next? 5 minutes laer I'm walking out the door the proud owner of a BM Nimravus, which was supposed to be twice the price of the Kobun. The guy just upped and offered it to me for $200.00 Canadian, cash, all tax included. The sticker said $269.00, BEFORE tax (15%). $200 is less than I would have been able to order and ship the knife from a US dealer for, after exchange, taxes, customs, etc.

Prior to the BM I've purchased 2 CRKT folders, 2 Stiff KISS'es, and 1 Gerber Multiplier there and always get deep discounts once I've made my choices. That Nimravus deal took the cake though.

Bottom line. S&R Knives gets my business, and referrals. (And when folks see my toys they want referrals!)

However, ADaM Sharps Cutlery's website has better pricing *posted*, but then when you figure GST, PST and shipping, well...

Anyone deal with ProEdge? His prices are definitely better on Emerson products, for one.

Paul
 
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