Why would you ever buy a knife without holding it?

There's really no choice for us fanatics who have to handle something new or different on a regular basis. It's very frustrating and expensive since I am dissapointed more often than not.
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hmm, ya know if someone had knives that people could signup for and try for free that would be an idea. :p :p

Seriously if someone wanted to help in that passaround ofrum by getting some experience then finding a company that's not represented there yet is interested in participating that would be great.
 
When I go to the custom knife shows, the makers always volunteer to have me pick up their knife I am looking at. This is a great sales method, because if it fits and feels right, I have to have it.

Production knives I buy at my local well stocked knife store in Orlando where I have noticed that my buying criteria is in order 1. how it feels in the hand 2. functionality 3. looks 4. price .
I would have liked to have thought that price would have rated higher, but thinking back on knife purchases, I realize that the tactile feel of the knife won out.
 
I have to travel a couple of hundred miles to get to a knife shop where I can handle a good selection of the knives that interest me. That would cost me almost as much in gas as the knife would cost. I tend to purchase my knives based on previous experience with the knife companies that I purchase from.
 
Pretty much all my knives were bought without handling them first. I buy 90% of my knives over the net and the rest from department stores that sell them in sealed packages such as clamshells or blistercards. I have been disappointed a few times but it mostly works out. I mostly buy inexpensive knives between $30-$50 so it's a low risk gamble.
 
For the most part, I prefer to handle one before purchasing. If it's a brand name that I've had success with before, I will get from that manufacturer on-line, if I can't get it locally. Some, I have bought "on spec" so to speak - so up here, I consider $60-100 CDN as low risk. I've purchased more than few of my CRKT's online, because I simply couldn't get them here at the time I wanted them, or the pricing was really whacked. I bought a BM Mini-Grip locally, but bought a 550 online. Same with my Delica - I bought an Endura online after playing with the Delica. My Paramilitary, though, I did buy it locally despite the premium I paid - I looked at that one for quite a while before biting the bullet one it. As my tastes change, which they are doing, I'm tending more and more to handling first. Problem for me, is if I REALLY like it, I want it now and if the cash is there....... :) The good part, is I'm getting fussier about what I'm getting. I'm also looking at usage to make sure I can use the thing. Still get tripped up the odd time, though. Last week, I was looking for an SE Spydie of sorts, and actually found a NIB Grey Caly Jr in PE :D

- gord
 
When I got my first Strider, there is no where around where I live that carries them, therefore there was no way for me to handle one, BEFORE acquiring it. So, yes, I acquired it without ever handling any. In fact, I buy a lot of knives online, and have never handled them before I purchase them. I have had good luck so far.
 
That's the thing I miss most about my old job... I got to order all the knives because I was the only one who really knew anything about them, and I loved meeting with the Benchmade dealer especially. He even gave me free stuff - a shirt and a hat. :D

We were also on their pre-production plan thingy, where they'd automatically send us the newest knives and I would get all excited when something new came in. No one else seemed to share my enthusiasm. :( (Our Benchmade dealer was also kinda hot. ;) ) Now he has to deal with the rest of them (mainly just the one person, a woman, who manages the store, and my father, who knows how to sharpen better than anyone, but doesn't know a thing about "production" knives) who don't know anything even though I've tried to show them stuff and have printed out pages of things about knives and different types of steel and stuff... No one even bothered to read it. You'd think our "store manager" should learn these things, but as the store is combined with a kitchen store, and she likes to cook and stuff, she pays little attention to the knives, aside from the kitchen knives, which she also doesn't seem too interested in. Now she just re-orders the things that I always kept in stock before, which is good, but I wish she'd take more of an interest and at least TRY to learn about the knives.

~ashes
 
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