Just ask Marshwheeling.
Are there any knife reviewers who aren't overbearing snobs, specialists, or fanboys?
- Thread starter Echo40
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To answer the OP’s question: No . . .
(Edit: Knives are very personal. More so than guns. Hence, the hullaballoo . . . )
(Edit: Knives are very personal. More so than guns. Hence, the hullaballoo . . . )
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BourbonCowboy
Member
I spent quite a bit of time looking for a decent EDC knife. Much like the OP, I found a lot of snobs and fanboys. But I kept digging. I wanted a locking folder with a maximum 3" blade with partial serrations. The only other necessity was that it have a reversible clip, as I'm a lefty. I found quite a number of contenders, but eventually settled on a Spyderco Native 5. I really like it. It's thin, lightweight, dependable, ambidextrous, and the S30V steel gives a sharp edge at a (sale) price I could live with. I also like the fact that it's made in the USA. On the other hand, it's not much to look at. In fact, it's somewhat ugly. That doesn't matter to me, as few people would want to steal it.
Am I a Spyderco fanboy? No. It's the only one I own - and I don't plan on buying another (unless this one gets lost or stolen). But I am a fan of the Native 5. It checks all the right boxes for me.
Am I a Spyderco fanboy? No. It's the only one I own - and I don't plan on buying another (unless this one gets lost or stolen). But I am a fan of the Native 5. It checks all the right boxes for me.
Better check again . Several of those on your list sell knives made in China . SOG and Spyderco do for sure .
OLDSTER
Member
My 110 is 40 years old, and except for normal wear is as good as the day I bought it. IMO, the 110 simply is the best option for a folder. I hope they're still made 100% in USA.
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And Buck. Although they'd changed their website to say "assembled in the U.S.A.".
brendonjames65
US Veteran
85% of all Buck knives are made in their Post Falls, Idaho plant and 15% are outsourced, presumably to remain competitive with their lower price point newer models. All of their classic models are 100% USA made. They still offer free factory tours too, pretty neat.
OP
Echo40
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My observation over the years, in terms of the guys that do knife reviews is that they are usually serious, nit-picky nerds. Gun/shooting review guys tend to be down home dudes, knife review guys are the jerky IT guy from the office. No offense to the IT jerk from the office….
In addition to Blade Forum, check out some of the larger online knife retailers. They have great selection of knives, and usually good reviews from purchasers.
So many good choices in knives. You looking for folder, or fixed blade?
It would certainly seem that way based on my observations as well. They seem to care far more about aesthetics than actual performance too, often times whining about cosmetic imperfections like a blade not being well centered in a folding knife, the blade grind not being perfectly symmetrical, handle materials not being perfectly aligned with the tang/spine, the designs on holsters/pocket clips, etc.
It's especially nonsensical when they proceed to beat the heck out of the knife in their "testing" which obviously exacerbates the aesthetic imperfections they called issue with in the first place.
Don't even get me started on the guys who constantly bellyache over size/weight, acting as if knives like the Buck 110 are a machete or something with their exaggerated comments about how the 9" OAL of the knife is gigantic and the 7.5oz weight makes it a boat anchor thus rendering it all but impossible to carry. It's like, yeah, it's heavy by modern standards, but 7.5oz really isn't heavy overall. A can of soda weighs more than that, as do all the super duper lightweight pistols like the Ruger LCP, so it seems downright laughable to me when grown men make a big deal over a knife weighing 7.5 ounces.
I'm mostly looking at folders.
I don't know where you heard this, but it's false. I've been shopping on Buck's website and all of their knives are either marked "Made in the USA" or "Imported".
Are they manufactured with foreign materials? Absolutely, but they've never made any attempt at hiding it, in fact they typically come right out and say where their wood/metal was sourced, from their African Cocobolo and Ebony wood to their German 420HC Steel.
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Richard Simmons
Member
My 110 is 40 years old, and except for normal wear is as good as the day I bought it. IMO, the 110 simply is the best option for a folder. I hope they're still made 100% in USA.
I agree completely and they are 100% made in America though the leather sheath is made in Mexico.
My 110 is 40 years old, and except for normal wear is as good as the day I bought it. IMO, the 110 simply is the best option for a folder. I hope they're still made 100% in USA.
My 43 year old two dot and my new buck
100 percent American made except the sheath. Buy I have my original.
I wish I could like this 20 times. I buy nothing from China. That would be today's Schrade, and Smith and Wesson included. Just terrible what was done to the knife industry in central NY State.
Some of the Bucks are made elsewhere too. I buy nothing from Taylor Cutlery.
O.K. So I got the wording wrong, it was "imported" and not "assembled in the USA" on their website, but the point was that they're using some other wording than "China" on the knives. Someone on here a few weeks ago posted about being told by a Buck rep that if you see a Chinese Buck knife it's old stock and knives were all "USA" now. They're still making the knives in China. I don't think "assembled in the USA" would hide much to anyone over 12 anyway.
China or Taiwan? I know some make knives in Taiwan and, of course, Japan, but I did check and didn't see "China. BICBW - I didn't spend too, too much time on it.
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Echo40
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Alright, and? Some of their knives are imported from China, if that bothers you, don't buy them. It's not a valid criticism of the company as a whole, nor does it affect the quality of their American-Made knives, and if you consider anything made from even the smallest amount of imported materials to be of inferior quality, then I'm sorry to inform you that practically everything that was ever made in America is "Assembled in America" (most likely yourself included) by your definition because even the oldest of mass produced American-Made knives had at least the materials for their handles imported from other countries.
Unfortunately, a lot of folks consider Taiwan to be a euphemism for China because technically Taiwan is under Chinese rule, so don't be surprised if someone comes along saying something to that effect.
Boy you're making a lot of assumptions aren't you? Someone posted a list of knife companies and said none were made in China. Someone pointed out a few on the list that did sell Chinese knives. I pointed out Buck as well. You had your hissy fit. If you want Chinese knives, buy them. If you don't like my posts....... don't read them or put me on your ignore list
My opinion about many reviewers on Youtube be it knives, guns tools, widgets, is that they are looking for a validation of their purchase decision/agenda or "strokes" from the thumbs up given and comments posted. And on the flip side, most people hope to find reviews that validate the opinion they have already formed.
The reviewers that are truly objective, are in the minority of what's posted, so you have to go to multiple review/feedback sources to form you own consensus.
Having said that, I found this one to be interesting in that it answered a question I had about the various 420HC bladed knives.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIpIZ-YCtRk"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIpIZ-YCtRk[/ame]
The reviewers that are truly objective, are in the minority of what's posted, so you have to go to multiple review/feedback sources to form you own consensus.
Having said that, I found this one to be interesting in that it answered a question I had about the various 420HC bladed knives.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIpIZ-YCtRk"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIpIZ-YCtRk[/ame]
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LVSteve
Member
When the knife reviewer thing gets fixed, can we find a gun reviewer for American Rifleman who will review a gun without mentioning the 1911 trigger and their preference for same.
mikeruns
Member
Most everybody likes a Swiss Army knife….high quality, multiple uses, cost efficient….you can’t please everyone but, like I mentioned, almost everyone will like a victorinox Swiss knife…look them up online…
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