Where/how do you fellas buy your knives?

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AmadeusM

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Online? Knife shows? Knife stores? Gun shows? Other venues? What are your thoughts?

First of all, I should say that I can't really afford customs as a student..maybe in a year or two.. :)

For me online seems to offer the biggest selection, but you can't really get a feel for them..and you have to pay s&h for defective knives..and you never know who you're dealing with..
Knife shows, there aren't any in the Twin Cities area that I know of...gun shows, usually a table or two with knives only...can find really nice prices. But, gun shows are not too frequent.
Specialty (knife) stores, well, the selection is there, but the prices are through the roof...Sporting good stores, well, the prices are right, but the selection is crappy...am I omitting something obvious?

Thanks.
 
Started buying online, but switched to buying from the local knife store, River's Edge in Columbus, Ohio. It's prices are close enough to online that it's well worth the little extra to actually handle a knife before buying it. You can look at a knife on the internet until you're blue in the face, and get all kinds of advice from this forum, but until you hold it, how can you know it's right for you? But I'm lucky -- not every city has a River's Edge.

River's Edge has been great to me. Huge selection of production knives, and a growing number of customs. If you're ever in central Ohio, be sure to stop by. For directions call (614) 792 EDGE (3343).
 
Where do I buy my knives, lets see:
Online, yes,
Knife shows, yes,
Knife stores, yes,
Gun shows, yes,
Other venues, yardsales, fleamarkets, and estate auctions, yes.

What are your thoughts? Keep your eyes open people are sellin' and tradin' knives everywhere.

First of all, I should say that I can't really afford customs as a student..maybe in a year or two.. :) Not true I've bought customs for as little as $40,(ANZA File Knife, Greco Dangler).

Look around, there are shows and clubs everywhere.
 
Most of my knives were bought online. The worst part is the long wait for the UPS guy.
 
I get my autos from a local shop, Bladerunner Knives. Usually very close to internet prices, and he'll usually match internet prices for special orders.
 
No question, you can get knives (and just about everything else) on the internet. However, I think that the way a knife feels is very important, and I take care to throw a fair percentage of my business to the (currently) only good knife store that I have found in my area (as well as a few farther ones). That way, I can go in there and handle all the knives I want, without feeling pressured to buy everything from them. No, they can't match the internet prices, but they don't take too much of a markup. In additiion, they perform other services (such as acting as intermediaries with companies if needed).

I consider paying slightly higher prices to knife stores as payment for a service.
 
I'm a student in Ames, IA and we have basically no knife shows around here and I've never been to the gun shows in the area. Also not much in the way of retailers with anything that even approaches a decent selection so that leaves me with online purchases.

I often shop and look at New Graham, True North Knives, Steel Addiction Knives, EDC Knives, etc. Also do a whole lot (most) of my purchasing off the sales forums here and elsewhere. My main interest is in customs so even if there were knife shops around here I doubt they would carry much in the way of customs.
 
I recently went on a large knife shopping spree (I plan on detailing it in a future post...). I went to a local knife store with a fairly good selection but generally high prices. I made a list of all the knives I liked and shopped online for price. I went back to the store and bought a couple of knives that were reasonably priced and bought the rest online. The lady there was really nice so I wanted to give her some business and not feel like I couldn't go back to handle other knives in the future. I also bought some knives online without feeling them first, but I did alot of research on user opinions and read the specs. If you can't handle a knife first, make sure you find out the blade/handle size, weight, blade thickness, blade shape, clip type, and locking mechanism. For example, a knife might look great and big in a picture, but you didn't realize it only had a 2" blade until it arrives. This will allow you to compare it to a knife that you have handled and get a decent idea as to whether you like it. I would say that for the knifes I bought without feeling them first, I am 98% satisfied overall with my decisions.
 
I have been buying most of my knives and gear online. There aren't any knife stores nearby. Sometimes I get to a Cabela's store that's just over an hour away. A new Gander Mountain just opened up about 45 minutes away and it has a real good selection. I like to be able to play with knives and especially multi-tools before I buy them. Having the Gander Mountain that close may get expensive :D
 
Most of the time I buy or trade online. I have a great knife store nearby, but they don't have many customs, and they are a little pricey. When I can make it to a show, I usually pick something up as well.
 
Almost all online since the local retail selection isn't that good. Over the past 6 months though, almost all my knives have been purchases or trades on the Exchange Forum. Now, I always do a search through the forum to see if I can buy or trade for something before I'll get it locally or from an online retailer. Both my 940 and Gunting EDCs came from trades.
 
I should add that I have purchased knives online from vendors (newgraham mainly), but I do make an effort to buy at the brick & mortar store. Even if it's a little extra cost, I'd still prefer to give the local guy business.
 
Call me wierd...ok I hear you...Stop calling me wierd.

I have to hold it before I decide on what to buy. Of all the aspects, requirements, proclivities and biases that surround knife buying, for me how it feels in my hand is the first consideration. The blade steel the all other aspects second. I just spent the last 6 weeks looking for a replacement for my PEII. Something with harder steel that had a simular lock and better feel in the hand.

Picky %#*&^ ain't I? :)


A tool that doesn't feel right in your hand will not be used and therefore a waste of time and money.

Save the wales...Trade them in for valuable prizes!
Charlie
 
Hi theer...me again. I look for options on line, jot down the makes and models then find a store that carries them, go look and feel. I also check out the manufactures web sites and compare prices. If the stor is more expensive I buy online of vise-versa.

Ok...I'm done...Honest
 
99% online as I collect antique knives There is one large show in town each year which I like to attend
 
I go to gun stores, knife stores, sporting stores, swap meet, anywhere there my be a knife for sale I go. I also research, on line, in the library etc. About half of what I buy is on ebay or online somewhere else, saves a lot of money. By buying a few real nice knives in the knife and gun stores where I like what they carry, I get to know the owners and clerks. It may cost a few dollars more to buy at the stores but any time I come there the red carpet is out. They all know that I may just buy a $100 to $500 knife that day. It's nice to be able to hang out for an hour or so and be trusted with the merchandise, gives you time to get a feel for the knives. And the owner know so much about the knifes, they can really clue you in.

I also buy about %10 to %20 of my knifes sight unseen, except for pictures on line and what people say about it. I should be getting my Camillus Aftermath in the mail tomorrow, never touched one before, just heard about it. My Cuda Maxx Stiletto was the same way, I like it so much, now an Aftermath. But I buy knives mosly just for my collection, not to carry, but I do test each knife on what it can do for a week or two, hell they were made for work.
 
my local knife store is owned and run by a bunch of incompetent, dishonest jerks. it's great! i can peruse and handle all of the merchandise, walk out empty-handed (without feeling guilty), and buy online. ta-da!

abe m.
 
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