I’m getting there hahaha Had to put a lot on the back burner to get my 4th of July drop done! WHO HERE WANTS TO WATCH ERICAS DESTROY A KNIFE?!?!?!? Ya or nah?!?
Everyone has a right to free speech whether they purchased the knife or not. Makers should show pride in their work and that attention to detail shows how much they respect their craft and their customers. Thank you for having integrity!
I recently had to say something very negative about a friend's knife design and he was an absolute GENT about it! And it's something that will hurt the sale of the knife I felt really bad but it just is what it is ii can't not say something if I'm showing it. And he was a great example of how they should deal with criticism. However the opposite has also happened many times similar to your situation
Why do you think fit and finish is an issue for MANY makers. I have spent over 3 decades in a quality position and I will not tolerate failure to meet internal quality criteria, let alone accept a customers complaint entirely due to poor outgoing quality inspection. Why is this mentality prevalent in so many industries; Games, knives, clothing, cars....etc..
@Cy1onRaider I personally think it's multiple things, one being skill set. And another being standards. Yiu should have very high standards and be very critical of your own work. Some makers will just say well you don't know how hard it is to bla bla bla and another maker will say I need to do better and I will. There standards are completely different therefore the results are very different
@@NeevesKnives Yikes.... So, consumers that allow low grade quality have contributed to the overall acceptance of low quality products. This only reinforces my policy of: The customer is ALWAYS wrong. Quality is an internal struggle, unless you are oblivious to social medias.
The Clinch Pick had an issue of turning in the hand so the maker made a 2.0 version to address this. Spyderco came out with the Stretch but it didn't take off and people wanted something closer to a typical Spyderco so they came out with the Stretch II. Cold Steel had the Kobun with crap plastic clip, so they came out with a metal clip. No knife is perfect and quality makers care about honest feedback.
Good morning, Erica. This video makes a very valid point. I'm not experienced with fixed blade knives. Currently looking into the Mantis from Jacob at Very Good Knife Co in GA. Do you have any experience or opinion about his knives?
His knives are fantastic. I have the tribute and adventure and theyre amazing. Built for hard use and were some of the most ridiculously sharp knives ive ever gotten.
Very much agree with you. As a community we've experienced operative conditioning when it comes to knives at these price points. Any knife in the 150 plus price point should be dam near flawless!!!
If you BUY it, you can SAY whatever you want!! 💯 I fully agree with you Erica. I pre-ordered (paid for) a gso3 s90v from survive! Knives and I might not get it
Good riddance to makers who react to constructive criticism with toxic defensiveness. These relationships are self-selecting. By the nature of this process, and with enough time, we can surround ourselves with people who are emotionally healthy and set their standards at a certain level. Life is too short to waste precious time and energy on people who are boobs.
Just a sign of how soft adults are now a days! Taking criticism to make ourselves better is the adult thing to do. Miss Erica keep speaking the truth because you are a gem in the knife community!
If someone is going to sell their knife for a few hundred bucks, it better look and PERFORM as expected. The industry has advanced to the point where there really is a floor for performance and QC at a given price point. If makers can’t meet that standard, they need to either fix their processes or they need to change their prices accordingly. How do they ever expect to get better as a maker if they don’t take criticism and feedback? But at least they aren’t pulling the survive knives bullshit and people are actually getting their knives.
Id like to see a trend where makers take a few pictures of their knives before they ship out. That way they can personally investigate any claims for cosmetic flaws within a 30 day time frame. Blocking ppl over constructive criticism is the actions of a child lacking standards of professionalism. Holding conversations privately is the best course of action in my view. Failure on either end the industry moves backwards not forward.
@@steeltoez8345 taking notes...I'm liking that picture thing . I was thinking of doing a close to video of each knife and if anyone wants it...they could let me know in the comments but...that would limit my sells to just my very small community. Great idea on the pictures my friend.
There is something very obvious going on in the knife community and I’ll try to explain it. Most makers have friends/relationships in the community, and some of those friends can also be knife makers themselves or loyal customers. These cliques/groups of people have each other’s backs and they speak highly of the knives in forums and on social media. They don’t point out any of the negatives or flaws the knives might have, because they don’t want to hurt the relationships or risk not getting knives for free or at a discount. The result is that a lot of people get misled. They buy the knife and end up getting disappointed. Greed and lack of integrity unfortunately.
Erica because you speak with honest open feelings of a community of pride and belonging and love of life and caring and growth people that lack integrity run away from people like ones that possess such quality i am highly allergic to people that lack integrity
This is why I love Tkell knives Tim and his wife and team really care about the Knives they put out the only problem there having is when your a small maker and your knives explode in popularity. Tim and his wife do a live feed on there TH-cam channel every Sunday to answer questions 11:00 Est they love feed back and are open to ideas and suggestions.
I totally understand where you’re coming from!! Much like you, I inspect, disassemble, clean, and sharpen a lot of knives. Doing some maintenance and sharpening on knives is something I have sort of fallen into over the years. I have been a knife collector, sharpener, and overall knife tinkering nerd for almost 20 years. And as you might expect I have quite a bit of money invested in sharpening systems, stones, tools, and other miscellaneous supplies. The example I’m about to give just happens to be Benchmade, but the problem is not exclusive to them. I recently had a buddy purchase the new Benchmade 710, this one is the production model, but it was still $400. To make a long story short I ended up taking it to my little shop because it had a terribly uneven edge bevel and it literally had a burr left on it that stretched almost the entire length of the blade. I mean Benchmade is really taking $400 knives and finishing them on a powered belt sander and then not even taking the time to strop them out so that miserably uneven edge will at least cut. I mean for $400 I don’t mind if you remove the bulk with a belt, but they should be finishing these knives on a precision sharpening unit. Of course the knife should be finished with a nice ceramic hone followed by some diamond emulsion stropping. A place like Benchmade should have a cascade of Tormeks, with CBN wheels, where the knife can be produced with a super even finished edge that’s actually apexed and symmetrical. I see this kind of crap work all the time and it’s really frustrating. His knife is good now, and it’s the way it should have come from the factory for $400!!
@@ericasedc Here’s what’s even more sad!! I recently got my hands on a new Spyderco, the Spyderco Tenacious with M4 blade steel. Im sure everyone is aware that the Tenacious model is made in China. And I must admit it’s kind of interesting to see Spyderco starting to upgrade their China built models with higher end powder metal steels. As it stands Spyderco has a couple of options in S35VN and at least one in CPM-M4 that are China produced. So I got this new Tenacious because the guy wanted a sharpening choil on it, and you know that’s something Spyderco doesn’t really do. Well I went ahead and put a decent little sharpening choil on it, but while I was at it I couldn’t help but notice that the fit and finish was probably as good as any Spyderco I have ever seen. I really do hate saying this but the edge bevel was almost perfectly symmetrical, a nearly exact 20 degrees per side. In addition, this knife was basically new out of box and the edge was finished to what looked like about a 1000grit and I looked at the edge under a microscope and you could definitely see signs of stropping. Just a a side note i just have about a $200 AmScope that goes to 80X, nothing super fancy, but it’s good enough to see most of the pertinent detail on the edge of a blade. I mean you could still see some convexity but they are at least using a belt based system that will produce a relatively symmetrical bevel. My guess is they are using a jig that holds the angle in a much more precise fashion. Places like Benchmade must be hand grinding edges with no supporting jig, and it shows! The knife has a beautiful satin finish and you can tell, especially under microscope that they at least finished the satin work by hand, not saying they did all the work by hand, but they definitely finished by hand. And that’s not uncommon, push through the lower grits with the belt and then hand finish with the higher grit. It’s surprising because you don’t really see that type of quality from knives that are far more expensive made here in the states. This is just an observation and it was made from an example of one, so don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. However, when I see a knife like that out of China it’s kind of disappointing because it would be very hard for me to not recommend that Tenacious over some of the USA made models.
You have raised a valid issue. This is why I don't like to buy knives unseen. If the fit and finish don't meet my expectation for the price, I just won't buy. If a company's quality control is sloppy with what we can see, how can we trust them to be consistent with their heat treatment? I've gotten use to knives coming from manufacturers with fat edges. With just about every knife I own it was necessary to rework the bevels to thin the profile to get the performance I wanted. A recent exception to this is the White River Backpacker Pro I bought during the Atlanta Blade Show. The edge was absolutely perfect.
WOW! 💯%!!! You're effing awesome and 💯% correct!! Really great info honestly. Great knowing who some of the better craftsmen are. I'll definitely be supporting them going forward for sure. Maybe those other guys are just skeered of what you'll do with their moms 🤷
Sorry to hear you’re taking heat for being honest. As they say, when the chips are down, people show you their true colors. Thank you for all you do for this community!
I think the loss of face to face interaction due to technology has created a monster - for some. Back in the day we bought things from our neighbors. If there was a problem, we worked it out together- in the presence of one another. Now, though technology gives us so many options - we are detached. And we’ve become thinned skinned babies in many cases - always playing the “victim”. Time for all of us to GROW UP.
I absolutely appreciate what you do and the honesty you give. I can only afford to buy a good knife once maybe twice a year. So many times I would buy a knife and end up not really liking it as much as I thought I would because it simply did not perform as well as I thought it should. With your channel, you can be guaranteed that if Erica says it's a great knife and it performs very well, then that's exactly what you will get. We end up saving a lot of money buying 1 great, tested knife than buying 3 or 4 not so great knifes that we end up not using in the end and just end up replacing with the next questionable knife. Keep up the good work Erica!! Respect!!
So I just subscribed to your channel and this is the first video I've seen, I'm a meat cutter of 20+ yrs, I LOVE KNIVES and EDC gear, but your rant on how people should be is what got me, we shouldn't click up, we need to click together, especially the way the country is going, "WE THE PEOPLE" HAVE TO HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER, BUT THATS ANOTHER SUBJECT. But I feel what your talking about here is a step to teaching people and calling out why they act like that!! And don't click up and make decisions based on one person's experience or story. Ya feel me!!?
@@ericasedc I hope it does as well, I don't know how big your channel is but I'm sure your a busy woman, thanks for replying. It means a lot!! I also follow Melissa backwoods, she did a GAW and I got a winner message, so I tried to see if it was someone scamming ppl using her page, and no reply. Anyways, I'm gonna check out your vids now, thank you for the honest reviews, in your opinion. Stay safe and be free!!!
First of all, if I pay over $50 for a knife, it better come razor sharp. That is the whole point of having a knife, to cut stuff with ease. Secondly, if I pay over $100 for a knife, it better come perfectly assembled and finished. Thirdly, if I pay over $200 for a knife, it better be made out of a rare asteroid steel with scales made out of authentic materials from planet Krypton or close to it. You have too many people who are full of themselves doing an amature job charging way too much money. They should realize their own talent level and charge accordingly. Everybody wants to be Benchmade, that is why I buy Spyderco.
I don't agree. If anybody is going to spend 50$ or more for a user, then he has to 1st, know more about knives and 2nd, be able to prepare the edge for use and thus also be able to resharpen when it becomes dull. All new factory made knives, need a reprofiling/sharpening at least, before first use. For such an edge, to perform as it should, one has to get rid of the "burnt" steel that all factories create while trying to establish an edge bevel. None of these dges though, will last for long, or have any edge stability, if that edge is not prepapred for use. Never judge a knives cutting ability or edge stability and edge retention, if it's edge hasn't seen at least, 3 full sharpneing sessions. Again, I talk about afacts and I talk about knives that are not one use throw away knives, like most people buy and use...those are junk and thus disposable...
@@greekveteran2715 The reprofiling or getting rid of the burnt as you call it is the makers job. I don't go to a car dealership to buy a brand new car then go to a shop to change out the tires, get a new custom paint job, and put aftermarket parts on it. Some people do that, I don't. I pay my money to get what I pay for. Far as knowing how to sharpen, I agree. If you are into knives, you should learn how to sharpen them....but not when they are brand new!!! Also, many chefs and professional knife users take their knives to a professional sharpener. DIY is not always the way to go. Skill is not learned. You can learn how to do stuff, but no matter how much you practice, you will never get good as somebody with natural skill.
What I’ve found is that knife makers are artists and the one’s I’ve run into this with have an artist’s mindset. Their art is their child and they’re very protective of that child. It’s like the song writer/musician that has hundreds of songs tucked away because they do not want the world to see them and have that chance to criticize them. Or the painter that has a studio full of paintings and they’ll tell you they’re not done yet. I’m all for objective feedback and dialogue. However, I have run into this many times. One time with a very well known custom maker. He even went as far as to personally attack me. I have the screenshots of the DM’s. He tried many of the things you mentioned. He told me I shouldn’t have put out a video, he told me that he would not ship the knife back to me after repair (it was a knife that a friend had sent to me to forward to his country with several other items), and he told me that any further videos need to be seen by him before they’re posted 🤣🤣🤣. I don’t support blind babbling or crass bashing, but making objective comments about an item, I cannot see the problem.
Awesome video, Erica! Totally agree, and fuck the haters who shat all over you for plugging solid makers! Because of you and your community mindedness I now own 2 kick ass knives from Levi and Steve, and I defo plan to get more from them as well as probably eventually also something from John and Dusty! Keep on keepin' on! 🤘
Dude I don’t think any other channel has as many videos regarding custom/smaller knife makers. You’d think the most intelligent thing for those makers to do is make sure your experience with every aspect of service was top notch. It’s already so difficult for smaller makers to acquire a following, especially when selling things $250+ items when not very many people have heard of them. And then to find out some need hemorrhoid ointment after receiving honest feedback on how to make their products better is wild to me. For all of the possible candidates to be reviewed in the future on this channel, just know, Erica isn’t trying to crap on anyone (unless they crap on her). You know how I know? Because of the fact that she has a genuine passion for this industry. No one continues to spend time doing everything she does, basically for free, and not have a passion for what they’re talking about.
Thank you so much. And I really appreciate you saying all that. No one will EVER find a receipt for a PENNY I made for any of this- because it doesn’t exist. I do it for free because it’s my passion. And I feel I can be honest in return. It’s too bad some makers cannot handle anything but fluff and sunshine.
Right, there's a way to do it. For me, if they fix it and make me happy, it's over. I will never talk about it again with anybody. They made it right, that's all I wanted
All knives are good knives and you’re not allowed to say anything bad about any maker publicly for any reason. That’s the way it works and if you’re unhappy with it kick rocks. That’s pretty much what I’ve always been told.
We live in a culture where people think the only point of doing something is getting maximum money out of others is the only point of pride, the only purpose. It's a goddamned shame. The musician Brian Eno once said "When you release something, you do release it" and these people don't understand that. They only understand doubling down on their failure. It's a shame.
I often think in terms of what was advertised to decide if I got a bad deal. I've seen some custom makers show very expensive knives that look... "rough and ready" to say it nicely. If a buyer was disappointed that the quality wasn't at a higher level, even though the website/Instagram photos accurately represented the product, then that buyer is at fault. If the maker only posts photos of their best work but ships out everything regardless of if it meets that standard, then the maker is at fault.
I as a maker love my AEB-L at 61HRC (basically the same as Nitro V) and this then the edge stability allowes to have a very small thickness behind the edge and very acute sharpening angle. Now having done a "convex" sharpening doesnt really make sense for the consumer. It does make sense for the maker, as its very cheap and quick, most probably running the knife over the slack portion of the belt grinder. Really liked your video and the style of it, people should not be afraid of their mistakes, mistakes are gems, they are the best indicators on what to improve to be even better,
Thank you for your honesty, I have to agree with you owning case, bark river, also bear forest. We need to elevate back to a higher standard. Each of those companies I purchased from had a flaw here and there I share same expectations as you. Cheers
Traditional slip joints were improving on time by a praxis between the experience of users and the competition between makers to fulfill users needs. I wonder why with this kind of knives is not working by default. Quality control is just common sense. Pls , keep going with your reviews as usual. thank you!
I believe you are defining “ continuous quality improvement” which is a motto many Japanese car makers and aircraft manufacturers follow. You can only improve your product if you recognize where improvement is required. If your customer is not happy it does not matter what you think because you will soon have no customers.
YES! A lot of these "makers" should really watch this. I love how they turn it around and act like its the buyers fault that their product isnt up to par. not to mention the crazy money they ask for their product
"crazy money they ask for".... ohh man that is the craziest take i think i have ever heard... for a lot of makers its there life and also most makers are horrible at customer service like most people are terrible and dont know how to handle negative cristism
Sometimes, customers give me really good suggestions, and occasionally, someone has an expectation or opinion that differs from mine. Each piece of feedback is of potential benefit and should be taken as such. That does not mean I always agree; however, I don't think I have ever been confrontational or angry about it.
I can understand them getting butt-hurt emotionally, but then taking actions with regard to customer service from their butt-hurt state is just a really ineffective business strategy. Telling your customers that they're wrong or stupid never works out well for a business.
I can forgive the rough and ready look IF it's intended to be a hard use knife, more than I can forgive that fake hammered metal look that some knives have. I draw the line where the lack of finishing could effect the longevity of the knife or if it appears that the poor finish is down to a lack of skill rather than being down to the cutler making a deliberate descision not to fancy it up too much because it's only going to get all scuffed up in the first week of use anyway. Keep being honest with the reviews Erica, it sorts out the wheat from the chaff.
It’s a soft world these days. You can’t be constructive about anything without taking bs from people. That’s is how you grow! And also get better! Sometimes you need someone to tell you what’s up so you can be that better person.
I just hope it helps start a conversation about new solutions to this issue! I am at a loss as to what I’m supposed to do with sub par products when the maker refuses to fix the issue or blocks me out.
Thanks for your honest opinions, I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with different knives, manufacturers and steels. I have found that people in general are very shallow and don’t like it when someone says something they don’t like. Just keep being yourself and don’t worry about it. I would rather someone tell me what I don’t want to hear than let me keep going the wrong way. Take care and God bless.
@@ericasedc If this person believes you're wrong about his work then surely it would be a simple thing for him to prove that? It's easy to offer 'advice' but for what it's worth, just keep doing what you're doing. If people agree with you then your channel will grow, if not then they'll leave. Either way you'll know you followed your own values.
Some people/companies will make s good item, send out, get good reviews.... Then make an inferior product to sale to the prospective buyers. Not a good business plan as they will be eventually exposed. Keep up the the great testing and let the Maker quality speak for the product. As stated, the item is your and not a gift/brib for a good review/result. Hope you had a good weekend Erica.
First off, banger shirt! Second, I don't make knives but I have sold a lot of them online and like, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I shipped someone a knife that I didn't do everything possible to make as clean and sharp as possible. And I don't know why that guy is charging 295 for nitro v!? Jesus 😮
People who (can only) sell the hype rather than deliver high-integrity quality are the ones that are "offended" & trying to cover up (aka lie) instead of stepping up and making things right and making things better.
😘 I just got the most boilerplate B.S. from OPINEL of all people. Two saws in manufacturer boxes with rust in the pivot, only in the pivot. Never been used but they want to blame it on my humid environment. 😮
Agreed with what you are saying,that’s why I buy spyderco,because the owner always wants to make things right if there is a problem. Spyderco will sell their blems at a reduced price and acknowledge that the knife is less than perfect. I used to make knives,and I would never sell them because I knew that my work was not perfect,but i still enjoyed creating something. Have a good day Erica!
I feel like there’s a portion of makers who’ve had a lot of success over the last 5-6 years and grew a big following during a time where things were selling out and there was a ton of demand. In turn they did not have to build their brand on things like exceptional quality and excellent customer service. I do think things are changing since demand has somewhat slowed down and more importantly the consumer has sort of caught up by being more educated in what is actually good as well as refining what they are actually looking for in the product. Hopefully it will lead to some of these makers changing their ways to keep the customers the do have and/or continue growing their customer base. Otherwise they’ll likely get left behind like the 1095 diehards who refuse to adapt or at least try something new.
If you buy it, you absolutely have a right to say whatever you want. That knife is a couple days pay for most folks! Anyone who sells a product should realize you are trading your actual life for that money so you/I want what the maker says they will make!!!! QC should be too notch with every maker.
SPOT ON!!!!!! 🙌🏻 I agree completely, makers that can’t take different opinions and constructive criticism are just in it for the money, not to actually grow and learn and adapt to what their customers want. Makers should be able to listen to their paying customers reviews and take any feedback like an adult!!
Any type of “craftsman” should take pride in their work but also strive to do better. If for some reason there is an issue with a blade either offer a new one, a full refund or partial refund depending on the issue. I have offered my knife mods at discounted pricing depending on how everything turns out. This is especially important when learning new things or trying new things.
I've been following your channel precisely because of your knowledge on knife quality and as I always say "As long as you don't criticize the establishment every thing is good" But luckly you're not like that! Keep up the parameters of your channel and maybe down the road with the right investors and builders... You could establish your own artisan knife company!
Reminds me of another much bigger knife company. Bewilders me why people don’t just return them and put the shops in a position to either fix their QC or lose lots of money. Money says it all
People who unfollow you for telling the truth, you're better off without... Some folks only subscribe to those who prove their integrity and dedication. You've done that over the years. Keep doing what you do, it's appreciated.✌🏼
Makes me think the knife community is a bunch of teenage drama, I found your channel from 2 TH-cam's running you down. About a knife edge, I like you to speak your mind it's your right. All reviews should be honest with the pros and cons, regardless of feelings, of a bunch of youtubers and knives manufacturers ratings, not all products get released in perfect condition. Just do the right thing and screw those who think there shit don't stink. There's many reviews I don't agree with, but it's my right to like or dislike a knife, and who to follow or not. Keep your head up and drive on
I would think the makers would be grateful rather than upset about some one bringing up issues and giving them a chance to correct it. Like... why in the world would some one want a bad example of their work floating around? -.-
I think the community is shallow. It's easy to unfollow a TH-cam channel if they find the content disagreeable. I myself am thick skinned and don't let negative content in the remarks bother me too much. Back when I first started watching your content, I made a comment that tripped your trigger, and you responded with a grumble. Had to keep watching your reviews, though, because, for the most part, I agree with most of your opinions. Stay strong. Keep doing what you do. Love you. Thanks
Just keep speaking your mind and giving your honest opinion because if we as knife lovers and reviewers do not hold these sloppy knife makers accountable for there shotty work then they will keep making crap and over charging people for it. And if a knife maker cannot handle some constructive criticism then they need to stop selling knives. For me I just speak my mind and give my honest opinion about the things I review on my channel and I do not care if it butt hurts someone because I am not out to kiss peoples butts to get there approval over my opinions about a product. So just be honest and fair in your reviews and opinions and if it hurts there little feelings well tough tell them to make a better product.
@@ericasedc No problem I have had my share of dealing with similar issues over reviews I have done as well. But if you are being honest and fair then they should take the time to listen and try and improve there product not attack you for your opinion and block you are whatever other little nasty thing they do to try and justify there shotty craftsmanship. So stick to your guns because you may not get as many followers for being honest but the people that do support and follow you will greatly appreciate your honesty. And they will be around long after the haters and butt hurt people are gone.
Think i am gonna stick with production knives i ordered a knife patch and forget to pay for the shipping now i need to pick it up they say lol hope i can fix this on monday have a good sunday my friend
You are so right Erica you recieve a knife you payed a heafty amount for it ecpecially when shipped to outside the U.S. and when you contact the company they ask you to take a photo and send it to them just like what happened with a company that starts with letters Da. that i purchased a small knife from them that costed me 550 Canadian dollars , it came convex on one side and very very concave on the opposite side , strange once i pay for something they want me to prove for them through a photo where the problem is immidiately i know they are a cheat never having integrity in caring what they produce and are ready to play games with customers send us this issue (instead of the knife ) buy camera so you take photo don't you know how ask a friend do this do that
I would think critisim would be an invaluable resource , especally to someone like me, that hasnt yet perfected the craft. Take all the info you can get. Its all worth something . 😎
People who respond negatively are people that I choose not to do business with. I am a hobbyist, but welcome feedback that will help me make a better knife. With any new product or new steel there is a learning curve. That is the purpose of having other people test knives. The desire is to find the flaws and make the best knife possible. I would love to have some additional equipment, but there is only so much that I can afford to spend on a hobby. I grind freehand, by eye. Everything ends up nice and even but if you really look, you will find clues that say this is hand made. Just like with any other skill, practice, time, and experience are needed to improve. Constructive criticism is a good thing, bashing someone is not, and a negative response is not appropriate!
There is NO room for "learning", they're about making money, and most people won't care and most knife TH-camrs are shills anyway, how many actual critical knife reviews do you ever see?
Many people have a different view of themselves than strangers. Learning the truth can hurt. Not everyone grows in the process. I have several knives from Bear Forest Knife. The steel is very well treated. The finish on the knives could be better. The manufacturer has come to a standstill in its development at this point. I don't like convex bevels either. The manufacturer could make some improvements to the bevel. I always profile the BFK blades myself so that I am satisfied with them. Nevertheless, in my opinion they are excellent working knives. The knives are great in my opinion. The manufacturer also does everything himself. He has no employees. I hope you will review the BFK knife. I am very curious about your valued opinion.
Great video! We’ve all been there I feel like and I’m so glad you do offer your constructive criticism. Please keep doing what you’re doing because now I know where I won’t be spending my money. If a maker won’t listen to you then they definitely won’t listen or hear someone out like me without a large social media or TH-cam.
You are right , spot on. Not offering advice , just maybe go and work with an indy knifemaker like Kyle Noseworthy as an example. It would offer you so much raw knowledge. Hey Kyle are you listening buddy! Also Erica , please think about doing a future video solely on the amazing steel Maxamet :) Stay groovy :)
This world is way to soft, if you put something out that your ashamed to stand behind, don't put shit out. I recently learned that most knife companies have switched their warranty to were if it has a lifetime or 2 year or whatever warranty, it only covers the original buyer on file, if you sale it to Joe Blo and he has an issue, yep he screwed
If people make knives for profit and the quality isn't up to par (HT, Fit & finish etc), criticism is fair game. If makers can't handle honest and FAIR critique, it might be time to hang up the hat or correct course. In my opinion and experience when a maker doesn't respond to criticism well, It's often because the maker thinks they know best or there are some other excuses. With the makers, I know here in Scandinavia and Europe. If I had bought a knife from them but the handle was too thick for my hands, every one of those makers would say, my bad send it back in and it will get fixed. That's how small makers get repeat customers, by having great products and good service.
What I used to say. They get $65.00 to $45.00 of handmade knife. 🔪 whenever I was selling. My solution is having a overseas factory make them For me 😂.
Good points, I had a $13000 knife collection a few years ago, I make a few in my workshop, I bet if you asked the maker of that knife they would say it's looks really good !!! They have no idea. Look at all the sub standard custom knives made in Pakistan sold online. I bought a double edge sword I have here here from Pakistan, big mistake.
It’s a tough issue. I definitely don’t agree with makers that block people or fight back against constructive criticism. I do think makers like that are doomed to fail though. You can only be like that for so long before it catches up with you and you lose most of your clientele. Sure maybe some fans will stick around but that probably won’t be enough to keep a business alive. Then there is also the idea that what you as a customer deems a flaw or sub par the maker doesn’t. Heat treatment can be optimized for certain aspects but it’s hard to say there is an objectively correct heat treatment for a given steel on a given knife. I’ve seen old timers that want a knife in aeb-l that’s 56-58hrc and I’ve seen people say that aeb-l is pointless because magnacut has the same toughness at 64 hrc and there is no viable reason to run steels softer than that. These are both outlier opinions I know, but It’s just to point out that what some person may want isn’t what someone else may want in terms of design or heat treatment. In these areas “constructive criticism” is kinda pointless as it’s just saying “hey change this” while the maker might be told by someone else “hey don’t change this” This isn’t meant to excuse shoddy workmanship. Horribly uneven scales, belt bites in handles, horribly uneven grinds, unsharpened edges etc need to be addressed but when you talk about that I think you need to bring in cost and what the maker actually nets on the knife into discussion as well.
@@ericasedc thanks for replying and reading my comment! I do hope it wasn’t taken as hostile or backlash as it wasn’t meant to be. I agree with 99% of your sentiment in this video and I don’t wish you to face any backlash or hostility for sharing your thoughts on knives.
If they shipped it and there’s obvious issues with it they have no right to complain that someone points it out, and others need to know to avoid those bad knives
@@ericasedc exactly, your points are no different than a review would be on Amazon, and i definitely don’t understand the groupies that unsubscribe, makes no sense but your better off without them then
that knife looks crude for sure. it looks like it had alot of hand finishing. no CNC or high tech manufacturing processes involved. I think there is some charm in that. I prefer the cleaner aesthetic of precision machining, but I can see why someone else might appreciate a more crude product.
There's a bunch of issues here. First, why do you review knives? I watch reviewers because i dont want to spend 200+ dollars on a knife that isn't as good as a cheap schrade knife . So you do you. That's why people watch you. Second, if a knife maker doesn't make a good product, they won't be doing it long. Especially a high-end knife maker. I have 8 Bark River knives. At a $250 average cost. Every single one has been worth it. If i couldn't sharpen it, i wouldn't buy another one. Eventually, everyone wouldn't buy them, and they'd go out of business. So knife makers who don't listen to feed back won't be in business long. Who cares how many people unsub you when it's ten. How many subscribe to you to get honest reviews. Why don't makers listen to you? Well, who cares? Your job is to review knives. If a $285 knife can't be sharpened, either they'll fix the problem or go out of business. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Sheffield knife makers lived by one motto. A knife should cut. They made knives to the highest quality that were sharp, could be resharpend, and were durable. If you're a knife maker and don't understand that or aren't interested in making your knives better, maybe you shouldn't be a knife maker. You should be fair and consistent in your reviews. Looking in the mirror and being honest will make you a better person. I think your reviews are honest and your criticism constructive. You don't just crap on knife makers. Just keep on doing you. The knife world needs that.😊
Brand new to this channel but a very seasoned buyer….it could be as simple as not giving you your due respect…for whatever the reason. I dont make knives myself but I sure could review them after 65 years of handling them….but, who am I!
I’m getting there hahaha
Had to put a lot on the back burner to get my 4th of July drop done!
WHO HERE WANTS TO WATCH ERICAS DESTROY A KNIFE?!?!?!?
Ya or nah?!?
I am getting there!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂
@@Primitivebearknives yes, I want to see some destruction !
Everyone has a right to free speech whether they purchased the knife or not. Makers should show pride in their work and that attention to detail shows how much they respect their craft and their customers. Thank you for having integrity!
Thank you for chiming in!!!
I recently had to say something very negative about a friend's knife design and he was an absolute GENT about it! And it's something that will hurt the sale of the knife I felt really bad but it just is what it is ii can't not say something if I'm showing it. And he was a great example of how they should deal with criticism. However the opposite has also happened many times similar to your situation
Why do you think fit and finish is an issue for MANY makers.
I have spent over 3 decades in a quality position and I will not tolerate failure to meet internal quality criteria, let alone accept a customers complaint entirely due to poor outgoing quality inspection. Why is this mentality prevalent in so many industries; Games, knives, clothing, cars....etc..
@@NeevesKnives I’m sure you have encountered this!!! Thanks so much for joining into this man.
@@Cy1onRaider yes!!!
@Cy1onRaider I personally think it's multiple things, one being skill set. And another being standards. Yiu should have very high standards and be very critical of your own work. Some makers will just say well you don't know how hard it is to bla bla bla and another maker will say I need to do better and I will. There standards are completely different therefore the results are very different
@@NeevesKnives Yikes.... So, consumers that allow low grade quality have contributed to the overall acceptance of low quality products.
This only reinforces my policy of: The customer is ALWAYS wrong.
Quality is an internal struggle, unless you are oblivious to social medias.
The Clinch Pick had an issue of turning in the hand so the maker made a 2.0 version to address this. Spyderco came out with the Stretch but it didn't take off and people wanted something closer to a typical Spyderco so they came out with the Stretch II. Cold Steel had the Kobun with crap plastic clip, so they came out with a metal clip. No knife is perfect and quality makers care about honest feedback.
Absolutely!🎉
@@CanadaFree-ce9jn amen 🙏
IMO honesty should be praised, not attacked. Thanks for always being real. Have a great weekend, E!🤟
I agree. Thanks for the support man, have a good one!
Good morning, Erica. This video makes a very valid point. I'm not experienced with fixed blade knives. Currently looking into the Mantis from Jacob at Very Good Knife Co in GA. Do you have any experience or opinion about his knives?
I’ve heard they’re decent! I cannot personally comment, as I have never handled one!
His knives are fantastic. I have the tribute and adventure and theyre amazing. Built for hard use and were some of the most ridiculously sharp knives ive ever gotten.
Very much agree with you. As a community we've experienced operative conditioning when it comes to knives at these price points. Any knife in the 150 plus price point should be dam near flawless!!!
Couldn’t agree more Robert!
If you BUY it, you can SAY whatever you want!! 💯 I fully agree with you Erica. I pre-ordered (paid for) a gso3 s90v from survive! Knives and I might not get it
You won’t get it 😢
@ericasedc how do ya know? You a 100%?
@christianrink1891
They closed the doors a couple weeks ago.
Ran out of money, they have over 3500 pre orders that will never go out
@@SuperSteelSteve WOW! please lmk if there is a class action lawsuit
Good riddance to makers who react to constructive criticism with toxic defensiveness.
These relationships are self-selecting. By the nature of this process, and with enough time, we can surround ourselves with people who are emotionally healthy and set their standards at a certain level.
Life is too short to waste precious time and energy on people who are boobs.
@@ambrosefairview117 I absolutely agree with you!!!!
Just a sign of how soft adults are now a days! Taking criticism to make ourselves better is the adult thing to do. Miss Erica keep speaking the truth because you are a gem in the knife community!
@@mr.delacruz559 I so appreciate you!!!
If someone is going to sell their knife for a few hundred bucks, it better look and PERFORM as expected. The industry has advanced to the point where there really is a floor for performance and QC at a given price point. If makers can’t meet that standard, they need to either fix their processes or they need to change their prices accordingly. How do they ever expect to get better as a maker if they don’t take criticism and feedback?
But at least they aren’t pulling the survive knives bullshit and people are actually getting their knives.
Haha true!
Id like to see a trend where makers take a few pictures of their knives before they ship out. That way they can personally investigate any claims for cosmetic flaws within a 30 day time frame. Blocking ppl over constructive criticism is the actions of a child lacking standards of professionalism. Holding conversations privately is the best course of action in my view. Failure on either end the industry moves backwards not forward.
All the makers I listed here send photos before shipping! I love it!
@@steeltoez8345 taking notes...I'm liking that picture thing . I was thinking of doing a close to video of each knife and if anyone wants it...they could let me know in the comments but...that would limit my sells to just my very small community. Great idea on the pictures my friend.
There is something very obvious going on in the knife community and I’ll try to explain it. Most makers have friends/relationships in the community, and some of those friends can also be knife makers themselves or loyal customers. These cliques/groups of people have each other’s backs and they speak highly of the knives in forums and on social media. They don’t point out any of the negatives or flaws the knives might have, because they don’t want to hurt the relationships or risk not getting knives for free or at a discount. The result is that a lot of people get misled. They buy the knife and end up getting disappointed. Greed and lack of integrity unfortunately.
That is exactly what happens
Erica because you speak with honest open feelings of a community of pride and belonging and love of life and caring and growth people that lack integrity run away from people like ones that possess such quality i am highly allergic to people that lack integrity
I totally feel ya there!!!!
Also thanks for the kind words always❤I appreciate it
100% Agree!
This is why I love Tkell knives Tim and his wife and team really care about the Knives they put out the only problem there having is when your a small maker and your knives explode in popularity. Tim and his wife do a live feed on there TH-cam channel every Sunday to answer questions 11:00 Est they love feed back and are open to ideas and suggestions.
That sounds amazing!!!
Keep it raw, fuck their feelings.
Thanks man!
Allen's so great. I keep trying to talk him into making the SC5 again
Heck yes!!!
I totally understand where you’re coming from!! Much like you, I inspect, disassemble, clean, and sharpen a lot of knives. Doing some maintenance and sharpening on knives is something I have sort of fallen into over the years. I have been a knife collector, sharpener, and overall knife tinkering nerd for almost 20 years. And as you might expect I have quite a bit of money invested in sharpening systems, stones, tools, and other miscellaneous supplies. The example I’m about to give just happens to be Benchmade, but the problem is not exclusive to them. I recently had a buddy purchase the new Benchmade 710, this one is the production model, but it was still $400. To make a long story short I ended up taking it to my little shop because it had a terribly uneven edge bevel and it literally had a burr left on it that stretched almost the entire length of the blade. I mean Benchmade is really taking $400 knives and finishing them on a powered belt sander and then not even taking the time to strop them out so that miserably uneven edge will at least cut. I mean for $400 I don’t mind if you remove the bulk with a belt, but they should be finishing these knives on a precision sharpening unit. Of course the knife should be finished with a nice ceramic hone followed by some diamond emulsion stropping. A place like Benchmade should have a cascade of Tormeks, with CBN wheels, where the knife can be produced with a super even finished edge that’s actually apexed and symmetrical. I see this kind of crap work all the time and it’s really frustrating. His knife is good now, and it’s the way it should have come from the factory for $400!!
I am so with you!!!!!
@@ericasedc Here’s what’s even more sad!! I recently got my hands on a new Spyderco, the Spyderco Tenacious with M4 blade steel. Im sure everyone is aware that the Tenacious model is made in China. And I must admit it’s kind of interesting to see Spyderco starting to upgrade their China built models with higher end powder metal steels. As it stands Spyderco has a couple of options in S35VN and at least one in CPM-M4 that are China produced. So I got this new Tenacious because the guy wanted a sharpening choil on it, and you know that’s something Spyderco doesn’t really do. Well I went ahead and put a decent little sharpening choil on it, but while I was at it I couldn’t help but notice that the fit and finish was probably as good as any Spyderco I have ever seen. I really do hate saying this but the edge bevel was almost perfectly symmetrical, a nearly exact 20 degrees per side. In addition, this knife was basically new out of box and the edge was finished to what looked like about a 1000grit and I looked at the edge under a microscope and you could definitely see signs of stropping. Just a a side note i just have about a $200 AmScope that goes to 80X, nothing super fancy, but it’s good enough to see most of the pertinent detail on the edge of a blade. I mean you could still see some convexity but they are at least using a belt based system that will produce a relatively symmetrical bevel. My guess is they are using a jig that holds the angle in a much more precise fashion. Places like Benchmade must be hand grinding edges with no supporting jig, and it shows! The knife has a beautiful satin finish and you can tell, especially under microscope that they at least finished the satin work by hand, not saying they did all the work by hand, but they definitely finished by hand. And that’s not uncommon, push through the lower grits with the belt and then hand finish with the higher grit. It’s surprising because you don’t really see that type of quality from knives that are far more expensive made here in the states. This is just an observation and it was made from an example of one, so don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. However, when I see a knife like that out of China it’s kind of disappointing because it would be very hard for me to not recommend that Tenacious over some of the USA made models.
@@Painterrap oh I totally hear you!!!
Bombers will tell u - “if ur taking flak, ur over the target”
Truth!
I won't buy a Case knife anymore unless I can hold it and inspect it first. QC seems to be an issue with them.
Omg they are the WORST.
I agree , I’d never buy one online you just never know these days .
@@ericasedc but dont you own some case knives?
@@chicken-little8620 I own a decent amount yes!
Case qc has been shit for many years
You have raised a valid issue. This is why I don't like to buy knives unseen. If the fit and finish don't meet my expectation for the price, I just won't buy. If a company's quality control is sloppy with what we can see, how can we trust them to be consistent with their heat treatment? I've gotten use to knives coming from manufacturers with fat edges. With just about every knife I own it was necessary to rework the bevels to thin the profile to get the performance I wanted. A recent exception to this is the White River Backpacker Pro I bought during the Atlanta Blade Show. The edge was absolutely perfect.
Yes I feel this same way! How can we trust you as consumers if you give us sub par products?
I’ve noticed a lot of people get mad at reviews they don’t agree with. We can’t make everyone happy! Haha!👊🤣🤘
TRUTH F!
WOW! 💯%!!! You're effing awesome and 💯% correct!! Really great info honestly. Great knowing who some of the better craftsmen are. I'll definitely be supporting them going forward for sure. Maybe those other guys are just skeered of what you'll do with their moms 🤷
Ok that cracked me up!!!!
@@ericasedc 😂
Sorry to hear you’re taking heat for being honest. As they say, when the chips are down, people show you their true colors. Thank you for all you do for this community!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
I think the loss of face to face interaction due to technology has created a monster - for some. Back in the day we bought things from our neighbors. If there was a problem, we worked it out together- in the presence of one another. Now, though technology gives us so many options - we are detached. And we’ve become thinned skinned babies in many cases - always playing the “victim”. Time for all of us to GROW UP.
@@RobAndersonTexas I hear you man!!! And agree.
I absolutely appreciate what you do and the honesty you give. I can only afford to buy a good knife once maybe twice a year. So many times I would buy a knife and end up not really liking it as much as I thought I would because it simply did not perform as well as I thought it should. With your channel, you can be guaranteed that if Erica says it's a great knife and it performs very well, then that's exactly what you will get. We end up saving a lot of money buying 1 great, tested knife than buying 3 or 4 not so great knifes that we end up not using in the end and just end up replacing with the next questionable knife. Keep up the good work Erica!! Respect!!
I am so happy to help!!!
So I just subscribed to your channel and this is the first video I've seen, I'm a meat cutter of 20+ yrs, I LOVE KNIVES and EDC gear, but your rant on how people should be is what got me, we shouldn't click up, we need to click together, especially the way the country is going, "WE THE PEOPLE" HAVE TO HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER, BUT THATS ANOTHER SUBJECT. But I feel what your talking about here is a step to teaching people and calling out why they act like that!! And don't click up and make decisions based on one person's experience or story. Ya feel me!!?
Seriously, 200.00 + for a knife is not as easy to buy with the economy we live in now, so that's crazy!!!
@@secret2678 thanks so much for watching. I really hope this helps us come together- not divide!
@@ericasedc I hope it does as well, I don't know how big your channel is but I'm sure your a busy woman, thanks for replying. It means a lot!! I also follow Melissa backwoods, she did a GAW and I got a winner message, so I tried to see if it was someone scamming ppl using her page, and no reply. Anyways, I'm gonna check out your vids now, thank you for the honest reviews, in your opinion. Stay safe and be free!!!
First of all, if I pay over $50 for a knife, it better come razor sharp. That is the whole point of having a knife, to cut stuff with ease. Secondly, if I pay over $100 for a knife, it better come perfectly assembled and finished. Thirdly, if I pay over $200 for a knife, it better be made out of a rare asteroid steel with scales made out of authentic materials from planet Krypton or close to it. You have too many people who are full of themselves doing an amature job charging way too much money. They should realize their own talent level and charge accordingly. Everybody wants to be Benchmade, that is why I buy Spyderco.
I don't agree. If anybody is going to spend 50$ or more for a user, then he has to 1st, know more about knives and 2nd, be able to prepare the edge for use and thus also be able to resharpen when it becomes dull. All new factory made knives, need a reprofiling/sharpening at least, before first use. For such an edge, to perform as it should, one has to get rid of the "burnt" steel that all factories create while trying to establish an edge bevel. None of these dges though, will last for long, or have any edge stability, if that edge is not prepapred for use. Never judge a knives cutting ability or edge stability and edge retention, if it's edge hasn't seen at least, 3 full sharpneing sessions. Again, I talk about afacts and I talk about knives that are not one use throw away knives, like most people buy and use...those are junk and thus disposable...
I really see your point!
@@greekveteran2715 The reprofiling or getting rid of the burnt as you call it is the makers job. I don't go to a car dealership to buy a brand new car then go to a shop to change out the tires, get a new custom paint job, and put aftermarket parts on it. Some people do that, I don't. I pay my money to get what I pay for. Far as knowing how to sharpen, I agree. If you are into knives, you should learn how to sharpen them....but not when they are brand new!!! Also, many chefs and professional knife users take their knives to a professional sharpener. DIY is not always the way to go. Skill is not learned. You can learn how to do stuff, but no matter how much you practice, you will never get good as somebody with natural skill.
What I’ve found is that knife makers are artists and the one’s I’ve run into this with have an artist’s mindset. Their art is their child and they’re very protective of that child. It’s like the song writer/musician that has hundreds of songs tucked away because they do not want the world to see them and have that chance to criticize them. Or the painter that has a studio full of paintings and they’ll tell you they’re not done yet.
I’m all for objective feedback and dialogue. However, I have run into this many times. One time with a very well known custom maker. He even went as far as to personally attack me. I have the screenshots of the DM’s. He tried many of the things you mentioned. He told me I shouldn’t have put out a video, he told me that he would not ship the knife back to me after repair (it was a knife that a friend had sent to me to forward to his country with several other items), and he told me that any further videos need to be seen by him before they’re posted 🤣🤣🤣.
I don’t support blind babbling or crass bashing, but making objective comments about an item, I cannot see the problem.
Wow that is insane dude. What a JOKE! Thanks for being the starter for this conversation and video. You are a huge idol to me!
When you pay for the knives, they should be sharp and made right for the money you pay. Good knives are not cheap.
Thanks so much for commenting!❤
You are absolutely right. How can you expect to grow and improve if you can’t handle constructive criticism. If you aren’t growing, you’re dying!
AGREED!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉
Awesome video, Erica! Totally agree, and fuck the haters who shat all over you for plugging solid makers!
Because of you and your community mindedness I now own 2 kick ass knives from Levi and Steve, and I defo plan to get more from them as well as probably eventually also something from John and Dusty! Keep on keepin' on! 🤘
Ok that MADE MY DAY!!!!🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊😊😊
Dude I don’t think any other channel has as many videos regarding custom/smaller knife makers.
You’d think the most intelligent thing for those makers to do is make sure your experience with every aspect of service was top notch. It’s already so difficult for smaller makers to acquire a following, especially when selling things $250+ items when not very many people have heard of them. And then to find out some need hemorrhoid ointment after receiving honest feedback on how to make their products better is wild to me.
For all of the possible candidates to be reviewed in the future on this channel, just know, Erica isn’t trying to crap on anyone (unless they crap on her). You know how I know? Because of the fact that she has a genuine passion for this industry. No one continues to spend time doing everything she does, basically for free, and not have a passion for what they’re talking about.
Thank you so much. And I really appreciate you saying all that. No one will EVER find a receipt for a PENNY I made for any of this- because it doesn’t exist. I do it for free because it’s my passion. And I feel I can be honest in return. It’s too bad some makers cannot handle anything but fluff and sunshine.
very true
I just bought a knife that wasn't sharp....expensive too. Imagine sending out a knife that doesn't cut....that's like selling pens that don't write.
@@jusme8060 yep! And then when you talk about it- you get blocked.
Right, there's a way to do it. For me, if they fix it and make me happy, it's over. I will never talk about it again with anybody. They made it right, that's all I wanted
All knives are good knives and you’re not allowed to say anything bad about any maker publicly for any reason. That’s the way it works and if you’re unhappy with it kick rocks. That’s pretty much what I’ve always been told.
Same. It sucks.
We live in a culture where people think the only point of doing something is getting maximum money out of others is the only point of pride, the only purpose. It's a goddamned shame. The musician Brian Eno once said "When you release something, you do release it" and these people don't understand that. They only understand doubling down on their failure. It's a shame.
You are so right!!!!
I often think in terms of what was advertised to decide if I got a bad deal. I've seen some custom makers show very expensive knives that look... "rough and ready" to say it nicely. If a buyer was disappointed that the quality wasn't at a higher level, even though the website/Instagram photos accurately represented the product, then that buyer is at fault. If the maker only posts photos of their best work but ships out everything regardless of if it meets that standard, then the maker is at fault.
Great addition to this discussion!
I as a maker love my AEB-L at 61HRC (basically the same as Nitro V) and this then the edge stability allowes to have a very small thickness behind the edge and very acute sharpening angle. Now having done a "convex" sharpening doesnt really make sense for the consumer. It does make sense for the maker, as its very cheap and quick, most probably running the knife over the slack portion of the belt grinder.
Really liked your video and the style of it, people should not be afraid of their mistakes, mistakes are gems, they are the best indicators on what to improve to be even better,
@@BalticBlades LOVE this stance!
Thank you for your honesty, I have to agree with you owning case, bark river, also bear forest. We need to elevate back to a higher standard. Each of those companies I purchased from had a flaw here and there I share same expectations as you. Cheers
@@adamkoc1465 like flaws can be expected- but PRICE ACCORDINGLY and do not get upset when we notice them!
Traditional slip joints were improving on time by a praxis between the experience of users and the competition between makers to fulfill users needs. I wonder why with this kind of knives is not working by default. Quality control is just common sense. Pls , keep going with your reviews as usual. thank you!
Hey thanks so much!
I believe you are defining “ continuous quality improvement” which is a motto many Japanese car makers and aircraft manufacturers follow. You can only improve your product if you recognize where improvement is required. If your customer is not happy it does not matter what you think because you will soon have no customers.
@@kevola5739 exactly. That is literally it. Since I’m passionate about this whole hobby.
YES! A lot of these "makers" should really watch this. I love how they turn it around and act like its the buyers fault that their product isnt up to par. not to mention the crazy money they ask for their product
@@CodytheFordGuy yep!!! It’s too bad
"crazy money they ask for".... ohh man that is the craziest take i think i have ever heard... for a lot of makers its there life and also most makers are horrible at customer service like most people are terrible and dont know how to handle negative cristism
Sometimes, customers give me really good suggestions, and occasionally, someone has an expectation or opinion that differs from mine. Each piece of feedback is of potential benefit and should be taken as such. That does not mean I always agree; however, I don't think I have ever been confrontational or angry about it.
Creely you are the man. I appreciate you and your work greatly.
I can understand them getting butt-hurt emotionally, but then taking actions with regard to customer service from their butt-hurt state is just a really ineffective business strategy. Telling your customers that they're wrong or stupid never works out well for a business.
Oh I totally agree
I can forgive the rough and ready look IF it's intended to be a hard use knife, more than I can forgive that fake hammered metal look that some knives have.
I draw the line where the lack of finishing could effect the longevity of the knife or if it appears that the poor finish is down to a lack of skill rather than being down to the cutler making a deliberate descision not to fancy it up too much because it's only going to get all scuffed up in the first week of use anyway. Keep being honest with the reviews Erica, it sorts out the wheat from the chaff.
I am with you on this one. Thanks so much for chiming in. ❤
It’s a soft world these days. You can’t be constructive about anything without taking bs from people.
That’s is how you grow! And also get better! Sometimes you need someone to tell you what’s up so you can be that better person.
I wholeheartedly agree!
Thank you for this straight forward video and honest opinions.
I just hope it helps start a conversation about new solutions to this issue! I am at a loss as to what I’m supposed to do with sub par products when the maker refuses to fix the issue or blocks me out.
Thanks for your honest opinions, I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with different knives, manufacturers and steels. I have found that people in general are very shallow and don’t like it when someone says something they don’t like. Just keep being yourself and don’t worry about it. I would rather someone tell me what I don’t want to hear than let me keep going the wrong way. Take care and God bless.
@@Stans_Cutlery_Universe thank you so much man. Blessings- I so appreciate you mate
Thank you so much for this vid. Now I know for a fact that I’ll never buy a Nudge knife 😂
I couldn’t believe when he unfollowed me for saying 60-61 is a bit soft but I appreciated the geometry. Wtf.
@@ericasedc insane. I’m not a fan of makers like that. Smh. Thanks for what you’re doing for the community
Anyone who is so arrogant about their work they can't accept criticism needs to find a new way to make money
@@Mark--Todd he blocked me after this video. The maker of the Wicket. So ridiculous.
@@ericasedc If this person believes you're wrong about his work then surely it would be a simple thing for him to prove that? It's easy to offer 'advice' but for what it's worth, just keep doing what you're doing. If people agree with you then your channel will grow, if not then they'll leave. Either way you'll know you followed your own values.
@@Mark--Todd yes totally!!!!
dont worry about them no loss love your vids
Thank you!!!❤
Some people/companies will make s good item, send out, get good reviews.... Then make an inferior product to sale to the prospective buyers.
Not a good business plan as they will be eventually exposed.
Keep up the the great testing and let the Maker quality speak for the product. As stated, the item is your and not a gift/brib for a good review/result. Hope you had a good weekend Erica.
Always good to see you Mike!!!!
Knives by nuge run soft so bushcraft guys can sharpen it on there Wazoo viking whetstone necklace
@@KnivesAndPizza bahaha YES.
Haha! Spot on. They’re a type 😅
First off, banger shirt! Second, I don't make knives but I have sold a lot of them online and like, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I shipped someone a knife that I didn't do everything possible to make as clean and sharp as possible. And I don't know why that guy is charging 295 for nitro v!? Jesus 😮
Yeah the whole thing is wild
People who (can only) sell the hype rather than deliver high-integrity quality are the ones that are "offended" & trying to cover up (aka lie) instead of stepping up and making things right and making things better.
Oh totally
Too many makers have too much pride and are too sensitive to critiques.
Absolutely
😘 I just got the most boilerplate B.S. from OPINEL of all people. Two saws in manufacturer boxes with rust in the pivot, only in the pivot. Never been used but they want to blame it on my humid environment. 😮
Thanks for watching!
Agreed with what you are saying,that’s why I buy spyderco,because the owner always wants to make things right if there is a problem.
Spyderco will sell their blems at a reduced price and acknowledge that the knife is less than perfect.
I used to make knives,and I would never sell them because I knew that my work was not perfect,but i still enjoyed creating something.
Have a good day Erica!
I love that stance! Have a wonderful day my friend. Thanks for joining the discussion!
I feel like there’s a portion of makers who’ve had a lot of success over the last 5-6 years and grew a big following during a time where things were selling out and there was a ton of demand. In turn they did not have to build their brand on things like exceptional quality and excellent customer service.
I do think things are changing since demand has somewhat slowed down and more importantly the consumer has sort of caught up by being more educated in what is actually good as well as refining what they are actually looking for in the product. Hopefully it will lead to some of these makers changing their ways to keep the customers the do have and/or continue growing their customer base. Otherwise they’ll likely get left behind like the 1095 diehards who refuse to adapt or at least try something new.
@@poncho151 yeah true!!!
If you buy it, you absolutely have a right to say whatever you want. That knife is a couple days pay for most folks! Anyone who sells a product should realize you are trading your actual life for that money so you/I want what the maker says they will make!!!! QC should be too notch with every maker.
I agree Joel!!! Cheers!
@@ericasedc Back at Ya Babydoll!!
SPOT ON!!!!!! 🙌🏻 I agree completely, makers that can’t take different opinions and constructive criticism are just in it for the money, not to actually grow and learn and adapt to what their customers want. Makers should be able to listen to their paying customers reviews and take any feedback like an adult!!
@@nicoledodge7240 I agree! He blocked me now🤣
Any type of “craftsman” should take pride in their work but also strive to do better. If for some reason there is an issue with a blade either offer a new one, a full refund or partial refund depending on the issue. I have offered my knife mods at discounted pricing depending on how everything turns out. This is especially important when learning new things or trying new things.
@@Knife_guy I agree. Instead, I was blocked. Oh well- only speaks volumes on him.
I've been following your channel precisely because of your knowledge on knife quality and as I always say "As long as you don't criticize the establishment every thing is good" But luckly you're not like that! Keep up the parameters of your channel and maybe down the road with the right investors and builders... You could establish your own artisan knife company!
That is the goal!
Reminds me of another much bigger knife company. Bewilders me why people don’t just return them and put the shops in a position to either fix their QC or lose lots of money. Money says it all
@@CorpseGrin yeah- something needs to be done!!!
@@ericasedc we need solid honest opinions and reviews like yours. We need our own experience. And we need to vote with our dollars.
@@CorpseGrin AGREED!!! Cheers to that!
Dude that KISS t shirt is EPIC!!!!
Walmart $5😂
People who unfollow you for telling the truth, you're better off without... Some folks only subscribe to those who prove their integrity and dedication. You've done that over the years. Keep doing what you do, it's appreciated.✌🏼
@@jimbusmaximus4624 hey thanks for the kind words man. I really appreciate it!!!!
Makes me think the knife community is a bunch of teenage drama, I found your channel from 2 TH-cam's running you down. About a knife edge, I like you to speak your mind it's your right. All reviews should be honest with the pros and cons, regardless of feelings, of a bunch of youtubers and knives manufacturers ratings, not all products get released in perfect condition. Just do the right thing and screw those who think there shit don't stink. There's many reviews I don't agree with, but it's my right to like or dislike a knife, and who to follow or not. Keep your head up and drive on
Oh I’m sure you did!!! A lot of channels don’t like me because I review the good and the bad. Can’t please everyone.
@ericasedc just be yourself. You have the knowledge. They feel threatened by you
I would think the makers would be grateful rather than upset about some one bringing up issues and giving them a chance to correct it. Like... why in the world would some one want a bad example of their work floating around? -.-
RIGHT?!
Thanks for the review.
Thanks so much for watching. I appreciate it!!!
I think the community is shallow. It's easy to unfollow a TH-cam channel if they find the content disagreeable. I myself am thick skinned and don't let negative content in the remarks bother me too much. Back when I first started watching your content, I made a comment that tripped your trigger, and you responded with a grumble. Had to keep watching your reviews, though, because, for the most part, I agree with most of your opinions. Stay strong. Keep doing what you do. Love you. Thanks
Oh wow I don’t even remember that!!! Thanks for still sticking around even through my bs😂❤ I appreciate you man!!!!
Just keep speaking your mind and giving your honest opinion because if we as knife lovers and reviewers do not hold these sloppy knife makers accountable for there shotty work then they will keep making crap and over charging people for it.
And if a knife maker cannot handle some constructive criticism then they need to stop selling knives.
For me I just speak my mind and give my honest opinion about the things I review on my channel and I do not care if it butt hurts someone because I am not out to kiss peoples butts to get there approval over my opinions about a product.
So just be honest and fair in your reviews and opinions and if it hurts there little feelings well tough tell them to make a better product.
@@BravoBassin awesome advice. I appreciate you!!!!!
@@ericasedc No problem I have had my share of dealing with similar issues over reviews I have done as well.
But if you are being honest and fair then they should take the time to listen and try and improve there product not attack you for your opinion and block you are whatever other little nasty thing they do to try and justify there shotty craftsmanship.
So stick to your guns because you may not get as many followers for being honest but the people that do support and follow you will greatly appreciate your honesty.
And they will be around long after the haters and butt hurt people are gone.
@@BravoBassin ok that is a great point!!!! Thanks man
Just found your channel and am a new subscriber, just curious do you do any other edc items or just knives?
Watch my 800 edc videos to find out!😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤
Think i am gonna stick with production knives i ordered a knife patch and forget to pay for the shipping now i need to pick it up they say lol hope i can fix this on monday have a good sunday my friend
@@snowtiger44 that works too!!! Cheers mate! Enjoy your weekend!
Love this video. 1st off, love the KISS shirt lol next, I totally agree with what you’re saying here.
@@richterknives it’s from WalMart Richta!😁
The first knife you displayed in this vid looked like a high school shop project
It’s pretty rough…
@@ericasedc the way that looks, wouldn't surprise me if the maker drooled all over it from his cleft pallet
And the people, not companies that make knives is awesome, thats blacksmithing!!! Id love to learn how to make knives!!!
Right!
You are so right Erica you recieve a knife you payed a heafty amount for it ecpecially when shipped to outside the U.S. and when you contact the company they ask you to take a photo and send it to them just like what happened with a company that starts with letters Da. that i purchased a small knife from them that costed me 550 Canadian dollars , it came convex on one side and very very concave on the opposite side , strange once i pay for something they want me to prove for them through a photo where the problem is immidiately i know they are a cheat never having integrity in caring what they produce and are ready to play games with customers send us this issue (instead of the knife ) buy camera so you take photo don't you know how ask a friend do this do that
Wow that is so crazy man.
I would think critisim would be an invaluable resource , especally to someone like me, that hasnt yet perfected the craft. Take all the info you can get. Its all worth something . 😎
I agree brother!
People who respond negatively are people that I choose not to do business with. I am a hobbyist, but welcome feedback that will help me make a better knife. With any new product or new steel there is a learning curve. That is the purpose of having other people test knives. The desire is to find the flaws and make the best knife possible. I would love to have some additional equipment, but there is only so much that I can afford to spend on a hobby. I grind freehand, by eye. Everything ends up nice and even but if you really look, you will find clues that say this is hand made. Just like with any other skill, practice, time, and experience are needed to improve. Constructive criticism is a good thing, bashing someone is not, and a negative response is not appropriate!
This is why I love you, Ken!!!! You’re a real one. We all appreciate you!!!!
There is NO room for "learning", they're about making money, and most people won't care and most knife TH-camrs are shills anyway, how many actual critical knife reviews do you ever see?
@@rflats771 I don’t watch knife reviews really so I wouldn’t know.
@@ericasedc definitely don't blame you, many of the TH-cam knife channels are just extended advertisers
@@rflats771 I’m sure😓
**COUGH**GREG MEDFORD! You can’t imagine the junk they ship out of there 700-2k per knife. Pathetic QC
@@jonmay55 I’ve seen it first hand trust me
I buy Medfords because I like his politics.
Great shirt
Thanks Jake!!!
You’re always fair and honest. Your opinion is valid and should be appreciated by every maker and company.
Hey thanks man I wicked appreciate that. It truly means a lot to me.
Many people have a different view of themselves than strangers. Learning the truth can hurt. Not everyone grows in the process.
I have several knives from Bear Forest Knife. The steel is very well treated. The finish on the knives could be better. The manufacturer has come to a standstill in its development at this point. I don't like convex bevels either. The manufacturer could make some improvements to the bevel. I always profile the BFK blades myself so that I am satisfied with them. Nevertheless, in my opinion they are excellent working knives. The knives are great in my opinion. The manufacturer also does everything himself. He has no employees. I hope you will review the BFK knife. I am very curious about your valued opinion.
@@JPHomeland thanks so much for the info- we’ll see!!!
Thanks for the video. Appreciate your work.
Thank you so much!!!
Great video! We’ve all been there I feel like and I’m so glad you do offer your constructive criticism. Please keep doing what you’re doing because now I know where I won’t be spending my money. If a maker won’t listen to you then they definitely won’t listen or hear someone out like me without a large social media or TH-cam.
I’m glad it helps! Thanks for watching❤
You are right , spot on. Not offering advice , just maybe go and work with an indy knifemaker like Kyle Noseworthy as an example. It would offer you so much raw knowledge. Hey Kyle are you listening buddy! Also Erica , please think about doing a future video solely on the amazing steel Maxamet :) Stay groovy :)
I have an entire series on Maxamet with reviews and everything- please check them out under my Steel Talk and Knife Reviews playlist! Thanks!
This world is way to soft, if you put something out that your ashamed to stand behind, don't put shit out. I recently learned that most knife companies have switched their warranty to were if it has a lifetime or 2 year or whatever warranty, it only covers the original buyer on file, if you sale it to Joe Blo and he has an issue, yep he screwed
Oh totally!!!!
Continue to be honest
Thank you❤
If people make knives for profit and the quality isn't up to par (HT, Fit & finish etc), criticism is fair game. If makers can't handle honest and FAIR critique, it might be time to hang up the hat or correct course. In my opinion and experience when a maker doesn't respond to criticism well, It's often because the maker thinks they know best or there are some other excuses. With the makers, I know here in Scandinavia and Europe. If I had bought a knife from them but the handle was too thick for my hands, every one of those makers would say, my bad send it back in and it will get fixed. That's how small makers get repeat customers, by having great products and good service.
I agree!!!
That's pretty crappy. I've had my eye on that wicket myself just never pulled the trigger because its alot of money for me to spend on a knife.
A lot of money for a tiny soft knife with a maker who will unfollow you if you say anything remotely negative
@@ericasedc that's a shame
They don't want to except accountability for shoddy work best thing to do is warn others.
Agreed!!!
What I used to say. They get $65.00 to $45.00 of handmade knife. 🔪 whenever I was selling. My solution is having a overseas factory make them
For me 😂.
@@ShawnCantwellKnives thanks for watching!!!!
Good points, I had a $13000 knife collection a few years ago, I make a few in my workshop, I bet if you asked the maker of that knife they would say it's looks really good !!! They have no idea. Look at all the sub standard custom knives made in Pakistan sold online. I bought a double edge sword I have here here from Pakistan, big mistake.
Oh I bet!
It’s a tough issue. I definitely don’t agree with makers that block people or fight back against constructive criticism. I do think makers like that are doomed to fail though. You can only be like that for so long before it catches up with you and you lose most of your clientele. Sure maybe some fans will stick around but that probably won’t be enough to keep a business alive.
Then there is also the idea that what you as a customer deems a flaw or sub par the maker doesn’t. Heat treatment can be optimized for certain aspects but it’s hard to say there is an objectively correct heat treatment for a given steel on a given knife. I’ve seen old timers that want a knife in aeb-l that’s 56-58hrc and I’ve seen people say that aeb-l is pointless because magnacut has the same toughness at 64 hrc and there is no viable reason to run steels softer than that. These are both outlier opinions I know, but It’s just to point out that what some person may want isn’t what someone else may want in terms of design or heat treatment. In these areas “constructive criticism” is kinda pointless as it’s just saying “hey change this” while the maker might be told by someone else “hey don’t change this” This isn’t meant to excuse shoddy workmanship. Horribly uneven scales, belt bites in handles, horribly uneven grinds, unsharpened edges etc need to be addressed but when you talk about that I think you need to bring in cost and what the maker actually nets on the knife into discussion as well.
Thanks for sharing!!!
@@ericasedc thanks for replying and reading my comment! I do hope it wasn’t taken as hostile or backlash as it wasn’t meant to be. I agree with 99% of your sentiment in this video and I don’t wish you to face any backlash or hostility for sharing your thoughts on knives.
@@christianlishen1280 not at all!!! That’s why I thanked you!
@@ericasedc okay just making sure. It’s hard to convey tone over text haha
@@christianlishen1280 I really appreciate the clarification!
If they shipped it and there’s obvious issues with it they have no right to complain that someone points it out, and others need to know to avoid those bad knives
Right especially since they took our money too!😅
@@ericasedc exactly, your points are no different than a review would be on Amazon, and i definitely don’t understand the groupies that unsubscribe, makes no sense but your better off without them then
I have come across unfinished Blades before, also. Right on, great discussion. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
Cheers man. Thanks for stopping thru!🎉
that knife looks crude for sure. it looks like it had alot of hand finishing. no CNC or high tech manufacturing processes involved. I think there is some charm in that. I prefer the cleaner aesthetic of precision machining, but I can see why someone else might appreciate a more crude product.
I love hand made stuff. Leaking epoxy, dings everywhere, uneven handles, poor grind and warped blade are a bit much for me.
There's a bunch of issues here.
First, why do you review knives? I watch reviewers because i dont want to spend 200+ dollars on a knife that isn't as good as a cheap schrade knife . So you do you. That's why people watch you.
Second, if a knife maker doesn't make a good product, they won't be doing it long. Especially a high-end knife maker. I have 8 Bark River knives. At a $250 average cost. Every single one has been worth it. If i couldn't sharpen it, i wouldn't buy another one. Eventually, everyone wouldn't buy them, and they'd go out of business. So knife makers who don't listen to feed back won't be in business long.
Who cares how many people unsub you when it's ten. How many subscribe to you to get honest reviews.
Why don't makers listen to you? Well, who cares? Your job is to review knives. If a $285 knife can't be sharpened, either they'll fix the problem or go out of business. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Sheffield knife makers lived by one motto. A knife should cut. They made knives to the highest quality that were sharp, could be resharpend, and were durable.
If you're a knife maker and don't understand that or aren't interested in making your knives better, maybe you shouldn't be a knife maker.
You should be fair and consistent in your reviews. Looking in the mirror and being honest will make you a better person. I think your reviews are honest and your criticism constructive. You don't just crap on knife makers.
Just keep on doing you. The knife world needs that.😊
Thanks for watching!
Brand new to this channel but a very seasoned buyer….it could be as simple as not giving you your due respect…for whatever the reason. I dont make knives myself but I sure could review them after 65 years of handling them….but, who am I!
@@doitnow3291 thanks for watching!