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Who's done this...

E

EpO

Joined
Aug 22, 2005
Messages
69
I've spent weeks going back and forth over what my next purchase is going to be. Researching handle materials, blade materials, dimensions, etc... After I've got my preliminary research done I decide its time for actual physical contact with one or two of my choices. So I go into my local knife shop thinking to myself to make sure if feels good in hand, no blade play, locks up tight. I walk up to the counter and ask to see the Spyderco Kris, the gentleman behind the counter hands me the knife and I go brain dead. All I can think is wow, nice, shiney, sharp. "I'll take it!!!" Not that it was a bad choice, or I really needed to check those things, but I've got to remember to stop and think...a little anyway. I hope you all have a great evening and weekend, I'm going to spend it with my new knife.

EpO
 
When I was younger - you'll look back on these days with fondness (or disbelief).

Nice knife choice. Most unique.
 
No, no, I never did that.......oh forget it, who am I kidding. My version of the story is this...

When I was first interested in getting a Kershaw/Onion Speed Safe model I told myself to really look it over see if it was what I wanted, if it was really worth the cost. Don't jump at it when you see it in the case, look at other models, etc. I told myself all of this about a million times. I went to the knife store, asked to see a Leek and after what seemed like only 5 seconds the clerk was handing me a receipt and saying thanks for shopping here. I certainly didn't end up regreting buying that knife, but man did I forget everything I'd tried to think out ahead of time to make a disciplined purchase. It can still be an issue at times when you come across something you're smitten with.
 
Hmmm, just the opposite happened when I actually handled a BM Griptilian 551S. I lusted after that thing for weeks; twice I had it in my cart at 1sks, but something held me back. So, one day I happened to be in my local outdoor shop and I wander over to their knive case and lo and behold, what is staring me in the face but a nice new Grip. Let's see it, I tell the lad behind the counter, my heart a flutter. Played with it a few minutes and realized (gasp!) I didn't care for the handle, weight, or much else about it. Now, I know how popular this blade is; you can lose some hide hereabouts if you even suggest that a BM knife is anything less than the goods. Still, I couldn't work up any real affection for the thing. So, I hope you and your Spyderco live long and prosper. From now on, unless I can hold it and open it, I ain't buyin'.
 
jhansman, I'll go you one better! That experience you had with the Grip is the EXACT experience I had with the CRK Umfaan when I finally got to hold one. I distinctly remember thinking "$325 for THIS?!?!? I can't even get the *%#@&^# thing open!" Overall, it was quite a disappointment.

I've had knives that I just couldn't leave alone, though. An RJ Martin Devastator, comes to mind. As well as a few from the Jones Brothers. Sometimes it just happens like that.

Please give us a review of the Kris when you get a chance! It looks quite comfy, if a little on the odd side. Thanks!
 
Kinda makes you wonder how much manufacturers put into the looks of a knife versus the steel, parts and assemblage. They're not dummies, though; they know how consumers think and react. Shiny, sharp and sleek, yes; but will it save your life when 10 ninjas attack?
 
Whenever I go to a knife store, I usually spend at least an hour there. I always scruntinize the knife I intend on buying, as well as many others to see if the one I originally wanted is actually the one I want the most.

Luckily, people who work at knife stores appear to enjoy talking knives with me for an hour and letting me try everything out.

Sometimes I get a knife in hand and decide I don't actually like it after all. Sometimes I handle a knife that was far down on my to-buy list (or not on it at all) and fall in love.

After handling a Benchmade Appartition I took it off of my to-buy list (and not because I bought it). After handling a Benchmade Activator it went from the bottom of my list to "I'll take it".

I recently got to handle many great custom knives in Dave Ellis' collection (he is an ABS Matersmith and a knife dealer). I was going to buy a Tom Mayo TNT sometime this year and had never really paid attention to John W Smith. Well, after handling a Tom Mayo TNT and a Smith framelock, I decided they would be the next two knives I would buy- pushing the rest of my to-buy list back a couple months.
 
I don't have any good knife shops around here, so I buy my knives online, exclusively.
 
I don't have any knife shops here, either. That means I tend to do a fair bit of research before buying as it is usually on-line. That said, when I get to go to a knife store, I almost always buy something that wasn't on my "to-get list". I think it has to do with something along the lines that I "know" the knives I've researched and when I get to see and handle others, it's quite a bit more from the gut. I find the knives on my "list" are very rewarding to get, but the impulse purchases are more fun and rarely with regret.
 
I also tend to research a lot before buying and when I decide, it can be hit and miss. I do like to touch and feel first and so I tend to buy locally more but at a higher price BUT I know what I'm getting as well. I've done the same thing - looked and said "Now THAT, I could own", go and look at it be disappointed. It's funny how the mind works - maybe it's age:) but I've had more than few where I had envisioned the blade at a certain size, and then it wasn't anywhere close to what I thought. I had this happen with a CRKT/Gallager Montana Gentleman. I really wanted to add this to my collection, but decided to wait, and it turned out to be much smaller than I envisioned, so I didn't get it. The CRKT/Lake PAL, however, was the reverse - it was waaayyyy bigger than I thought and yes, I did buy it:) At the other end, I was at the shop just after I bought my first Delica and thought it would be a good idea to get an Endura 3 - compared the two, they didn't have a PE in stock, so I ordered it online. When it showed up, it somehow got bigger:eek: And, of course, there's the one where you get the phone call - "It's here", it's everything you wished for, go to pick it up, and it's still exactly what you wanted, and somehow a couple of other folders or "things" found their way into that bag on the way out:D

- gord
 
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