Your recent opinion on Nick Shabazz ?

unwisefool said:
To me, most of them are annoying and pad their videos so they are 3 to 5x linger than necessary. No offense to Nick, but he has a voice that makes me want to stab my eardrums
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That’s not his voice. It’s a bit. He puts on the voice to retain a degree of anonymity so he can move freely at knife shows and such. That’s why he wears the Batman mask while reviewing a knife with a reflective blade.

I agree, the voice is a bit like nails on the chalkboard, but when you realize why, it’s not so bad. I actually respect it in the end.

Nick has done a lot to downplay his celebrity, and that’s something I can get behind. He’s developed a self-awareness that’s rare in the YouTube world, even trying (and failing, but trying nevertheless) to backpedal from the Slysz Bowie feeding frenzy he started.

Wow, I sound like a total fanboy, lol.
 
Hackenslash said:
That’s not his voice. It’s a bit. He puts on the voice to retain a degree of anonymity so he can move freely at knife shows and such. That’s why he wears the Batman mask while reviewing a knife with a reflective blade.

I agree, the voice is a bit like nails on the chalkboard, but when you realize why, it’s not so bad. I actually respect it in the end.

Nick has done a lot to downplay his celebrity, and that’s something I can get behind. He’s developed a self-awareness that’s rare in the YouTube world, even trying (and failing, but trying nevertheless) to backpedal from the Slysz Bowie feeding frenzy he started.

Wow, I sound like a total fanboy, lol.
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Nope, don't care if it's a bit, annoying voice gets no watching from me.
 
When I've been curious enough about a knife, I've viewed Shabazz videos with the sound off...usually only to the size comparison.

Why the 80/90s-esque wrist action, though? He isn't some punk teenager trying to look cool. Knives have evolved A LOT, and I'd guess that the vast majority of the knives he's covered open just fine. I guess I could understand not wanting to flub the opening on video...BUT if a knife doesn't open consistently via whatever mechanism is there, I'd want to know.
 
Here's a vote for Nick. Yes, his voice can be grating after a while, but at least his patter keeps his reviews going. Contrast Nick's offerings with pitiful "reviews" that are filled with "uhms," "ers," and plain dead air.

That said, the gold standard for knife patter is David C. Anderson of Knife Center. But he's selling, not reviewing. Nonetheless, he is both watchable and informative.
 
Kirk Raptor said:
Here's a vote for Nick. Yes, his voice can be grating after a while, but at least his patter keeps his reviews going. Contrast Nick's offerings with pitiful "reviews" that are filled with "uhms," "ers," and plain dead air.

That said, the gold standard for knife patter is David C. Anderson of Knife Center. But he's selling, not reviewing. Nonetheless, he is both watchable and informative.
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I enjoy DCA as well. Keeping in mind that he is trying to push whatever KC is selling, the secret is more in what he doesn’t say than what he does. I’ve also seen him on occasion point out things he’s less than thrilled about, like action or style that might require more practice than others to get comfortable with. He won’t come out and say something is awful or stupid, but if he’s less than complimentary about something, then it might be worth diving in further before putting that order in.

The point is, some of these guys post what they post to inform, like Nick, and those all get thumbs up from me, even if their style might be a little quirky. Others who do it to show off or draw attention to themselves rather than the product they’re supposedly reviewing, they get shut off pretty quick.
 
I don't watch alot of knife videos.
Yet when I have needed a video, I found what I needed from Nick's videos.

TBH his voice doesn't bother me at all.
Other youtube video guys have bothered me. So I'm happy he's around.
 
I understand that some people find his vids annoying (I personally dont). One thing I have always enjoyed though is he seems very fair and not in whatever manufacturer gave him a knife's pocket. So many reviewers just seem to love every single thing they hold and that just screams bias to me.
 
I haven't followed this thread much, but I'll share a story of how I came to respect the opinion of NickShabazz NickShabazz . As you may know, he occasionally reviews watches, and he just so happened to review a newly released watch that I was considering (Omega Railmaster). For the most part he gave the watch a positive review, but his final determination was that there were just some things lacking about it he couldn't get past, and that for the price there were much better options out there like an Explorer (the other watch I was considering at the time happened to be the Explorer II). What does he know right? I went ahead and grabbed the watch. In fact, it was likely the exact one because I rang up the jeweler he purchased it from and they gave me a good discount. I get the watch, and wear it for a week or so, trying to force myself to fall in love with it, but guess what? Lo and behold, there were just some things lacking about it that I couldn't get past, and for the money I realized that there were much better options out there. I ended up selling it (luckily because of the discount and because it was still new and fairly scarce I got back what I had into it), and putting those funds towards the Explorer II. Ever since then I have given little more credence to Nick's take on things, even though I don't always share his likes/dislikes.

For the most part I appreciate having YouTube knife content out there, and if I don't like a channel I simply don't watch it. There's alot of chatter these days from the "use your shit" zealots, that knife reviews have no value unless they baton cardboard with the knife for a month straight ;), but I disagree. When I watch a video about a knife, all I'm really looking for is an overall feeling of the knife, something I can't get from pics and written descriptions, and I think Nick's success can be attributed to the fact that he provides that well. Also, as someone who in some way modifies almost every knife I buy, I especially appreciate the disassembly videos, and condiser them an asset to the hobby.

I will say that one late night when I was watching one of his videos on the bedroom TV, my wife woke up, and when I asked her if it was bothering her she responded with "Well, his voice isn't exactly soothing." 🤣
 
He's in the pockets of several dealers/ manufacturers
Who accepts small payouts in exchance for "honest reviews"
not to mention a part time clown
A fourth Stooge
unwisefool said:
Nope, don't care if it's a bit, annoying voice gets no watching from me.
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When I first heard his voice, immediately what came to mind was a cheesy henchman in the old time crime movies
 
I find Nick entertaining, but his recent stuff hasn't aligned with my interests. I don't need a disassembly video until I'm ready to disassemble, and my recent knife interests have diverged from his. He has gotten more esoteric (probably because he as become part of the "in crowd", and needs to keep doing new things). When I was first getting into modern knives I went back through some of his older videos, but now .... I just don't see the need.

I like that he keeps a narrative going, and his hand gestures also keep me entertained. It's sort of like watching 3 card monte in slow-mo.
 
Not to hijack but I find I get real info and pertinent details from MC, okay back to the Shabazz man. Havnt watched him in ages, videos are too long, he's a tad biased, loves his Chinese stuff
 
One of the best. One of the best.

I know he loves the CS Espada XL although he comes short of expressing how much so.
 
I've refrained from posting in this thread for two reasons- #1. I feel as if doing so only contributes to the notion that Mr. Shabazz is someone important in the knife world, so important that he is worth having an opinion on. But I don't. I don't think he is important. I normally don't give him a moments thought, but then I see this thread and I'm reminded of him.

And that leads me to reason #2. which is- If you can't say something nice about someone... well, you know the rest. But hey, what the hell.

To the point of Mr. Shabazz's importance, maybe I'm missing something, maybe there is something about his background that I'm not aware of. What exactly is it that makes his opinion of a knife any more valid than anyone else's? Is he a renowned knife maker? Has he ever worked for any knife company? Does he have any knife design patents? Is he any kind of survival expert who has survived in the wild with just a knife? I have no idea.

To me he's just another guy on the internet giving his opinions of knives, and who's opinions are no more valid or insightful than any of the other countless guys doing the same thing, or any of the members on this forum.

And now, to be more specific, I've watched ONE of his videos, and it was enough to convince me to never watch any more.

I've often mentioned on this forum that the Cold Steel Ti-Lite 6 is my all-time favorite knife. And as such I am inclined to watch just about anything featuring this knife. Sometimes this pays off, sometimes it doesn't. But it led me to watch the Nick Shabazz video where he "reviewed" the Ti-Lite 6.

Now I don't need other people to like what I like. And I couldn't care less if someone gives a negative review of my favorite knife. But if you want to know my opinion of a Youtube knife reviewer, that opinion is going to be based on his knowledge of the knife, and his general attitude. Both of which I found less than impressive when it comes Mr. Shabazz, as displayed in his review of the Ti-Lite 6.

Some specifics- He clearly did not know the history of the folding stiletto, and it definitely appeared that this lack of knowledge affected his review of the knife. For those who don't know, the folding stiletto was a fighting/dueling knife in Italy and Sicily way back in the old days. Genuine folding stilettos of the time often measured 15" and 18", the Ti-Lite 6 is 13".

Colds Steel specializes (or did before the sale) in producing modern interpretations of old-world designs (like the Espada for example, a modern version of the Spanish navaja fighting knife). But apparently Mr. Shabazz isn't aware of this. He repeatedly expressed a complete lack of understanding regarding the size and design of the Ti-Lite 6. Based on it's size he referred to it as "absurd", "meant for comedy", "meant for jack-assery", and a variety of other disparaging remarks. And his method for measuring the worthiness of a knife seems to be whether or not you would pull it out in Starbucks to cut a thread off a sweater (that's the reference he made).

Watching the video, and listening to his method for evaluating the knife, I couldn't help but wonder how he would review something like a bowie knife. Imagine someone reviewing a bowie knife without knowing the history of the design and calling the knife "absurd" due to it's size and it's impracticality for cutting threads off sweaters in coffee shops.

And if that weren't enough, he repeatedly made statements like "you gotta be a jackass to buy this knife". Well, I own several Ti-Lite 6's, and I don't consider myself a "jackass", nor would I call anyone else a "jackass" based on the knives they choose to buy, no matter how much those knives run contrary to my personal tastes.

So, to sum up, I have no respect for any "knife reviewer" who doesn't know the history behind the design of the knife he is reviewing, bases his review on that lack of knowledge, and not only insults the knife, but insults anyone who buys the knife.

Now don't get me wrong, despite the length of this post I really couldn't care less about Mr. Shabazz, his reviews, or his opinions, and I'm certainly not going to feel insulted by something some guy on Youtube says. I just keep seeing this thread so I thought I'd throw in my (dissenting) 2 cents.

If you like the guy, if you think he's the greatest gift to knife reviews, that's great, more power to you, and him, I'm not trying to change your mind. And there's nothing you can say that will change my mind.

As far as the Nick Shabazz fan club is concerned, count me out, and it has nothing to do with his voice.
 
^^^
I think that you are taking Nick a little too seriously. I thought his review of the Ti-Lite VI was funny and I mostly agree with him. I wouldn't have one of them if you gave it to me. But when it comes to large knives, I'm a fixed blade guy. So, what do I know?
 
I used to watch a bunch, and enjoyed the content, but he's reviewed most of the folders I like and most of the content now is for knives I'm not really interested in. No fault of his own, there is only so many products to review.

I do miss Michael Christy and Cliff Stamp videos.
 
I really enjoy Mr. Shabazz's content and I like how he teaches how to disassemble and reassemble the knives. He appears very knowledgeable and very helpful to those of us who need the final nudge to buy a knife that he has reviewed. He's good people as us southerners like to say.
 
Chapp said:
He's mostly seen as your good guy Greg of the knife world and his reviews seem to gather some attention. I know he wasn't really liked at the beginning but people seem to have mellowed a bit about him recently. What's your take about him ?
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He has interesting hands and a Goodfellas voice.
 
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