First off, let me start off by saying thank you so much for answering my question about which knife you were currently carrying a few weeks ago. I was pretty astonished by the variety of gear in your pockets & packs; your responses were definitely interesting enough for me to make a post about, and so that will be coming, but no promises when!
The next thing I’m curious to know: Where do you guys happen to buy your knives?
I know it might sound like a weird question to ask, but it’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about considering our move from Canada to the UK has changed our own knife-shopping behaviours considerably. I definitely didn’t realize how dramatic the shift would be.
Spyderco Sage 1 Carbon Fiber Plain Edge Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
Knife Shopping in the UK
Here in the UK, Thomas and I primarily use Heinnie Haynes to buy knives, and every once in a while we’ll snap something up on Amazon. But Amazon.co.uk doesn’t have many knives at all, so that’s definitely a rarity. We did manage to snag a Spyderco Matriarch with an Emerson opener a short while back for a really good price, so it happens, just not as often as we’d like.
Sometimes, if Thomas spots something he likes, he’ll scoop up a knife or two, second hand off a For Sale section on one of the forums. It’s how he got me my second Sage 1 since we left my first one back in Canada; don’t worry, it’s still sitting at my mum’s house in my childhood room closet – we’ll get it back one day.
Buying second hand is much more affordable here in the UK than it was in Canada, mostly because parcels are incredibly cheap to mail out (from a Canadian perspective). And since second hand is always already a little cheaper than buying new. It’s by far been our favourite method of acquiring new-to-us knives in the UK, at least whenever we see something that piques our interest. This option may no longer be available to us sometime soon, however, since there’s been plenty of word that in the UK, home deliveries of knives ordered online may be banned. Of course if this happened, it would mean we wouldn’t be able to use online stores to buy our knives either, meaning even our use of Heinnie and Amazon would be impossible. If this happens, we’ll of course move our shopping over to physical stores, or to try buying from American retailers all the while crossing our fingers that customs doesn’t catch us. If that doesn’t work, this change is likely to make us go to many more knife & survival/bushcraft conventions than we otherwise would’ve needed to go to.
Spyderco Roadie Tiny Slip Joint Folding EDC Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
Knife Shopping in Canada
This is of course a dramatically different way of shopping compared to back in Canada, where we essentially had access to everything on the US market if we paid a little extra for shipping, and where Amazon.ca was fully stocked with nearly any knife offering available in the States anyway.
In Canada, we’d primarily shop on Amazon. Thomas would stalk the forums to see if there was anything interesting to buy, but if he did find something, he’d usually prefer to buy multiple knives at once from the same seller since shipping in Canada is so expensive.
We’d use knife retailers from the States like Blade HQ & GP Knives and pay a little extra for shipping if there were knives we wanted that were not available in Canada (really rare, but it happened once in a blue moon), or in case we did the math and it was actually cheaper to make a big order containing what we wanted and pay the extra shipping + currency conversion fees (again, rare, but it did happen).
We’ve never really shopped on eBay all that much, not in either country. That being said we have snapped up a few knives on eBay, so it’s never been completely off the table, just usually wasn’t as easy/wasn’t worth the risk of getting a fake knife. When we shop on eBay for knives, we often go for quirky vintage/historical knives instead of new, branded ones, where we’d rather pay full retail or snap up second hand on the forums to be on the safe side. That being said, Thomas has a good eye for spotting fakes, and so while it would take a little more effort to buy on eBay, we were never all too worried about ending up with a fake considering he somehow easily sizes up what’s being sold (a skill I doubt I could ever develop).
Cold Steel Voyager Tanto XL Oversized Folding Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
Your Experiences Knife Shopping
What about you? Where do you usually buy your knives? Do you prefer to buy them online or in person?
- Have you bought any knives at conventions? Do you buy used knives through forums?
- Do you prefer to hold your knives in a store before you buy them? Would you only shop from specialty stores in person or do you use department/hardware stores for knives sometimes? Canuks, have you ever picked up knives at Canadian Tire?
- For those who shop online, what specific stores do you use? Blade HQ? Knife Center? Amazon alone? Has anyone bought knives through Walmart’s online store? And do you trust eBay? To what extent?
Would really love to know! Especially from the context of whether people in different States/countries have dramatically different shopping experiences and if you guys in the UK/Canada have similar experiences to our own in those countries.
Looking forward to your comments!
I am in the UK and I know how you feel, trying to find reasonable and safe website to purchase from, while heinnie is the site I like to use, I often find the prices are better at some of these sites
https://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/
http://www.moonrakerknives.co.uk/
https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk
https://www.mindyourfingers.co.uk/
I have bought from knivesandtools.co.uk- great store, especially with the countdown deals!
While I lived in the UK I used to buy them in army surplus stores, but those stores are now an endangered species in the island. Back in Brazil I buy in cutlery fairs, gun or outdoor stores. Knives are like apparel or shoes, we have to try and see if it fits.
Good point, I don’t remember the last time I saw an army surplus store..
I buy my knives online and I cannot remember the last time I bought a knife in person. Amazon and eBay are the sites where I have made my purchases, and on occasion Ka bar’s website.
I live in Colorado and buy from my local Sportsman’s Warehouse, prices are always the same as BHQ, they carry all the major brands Spyderco, ZT, Benchmade, ect, even Helle and KOA. And the best thing here is I can have hands on any product before I buy.
I usually do research online and of course read y’alls reviews as I trust what your opinions. I purchase most of the nice ones online because its just cheaper and easier. Amazon is usually where I buy them. I do like to see/hold them when I can and I had to travel to TN for work a couple of weeks ago. Smokey Mountain Knife Works in TN is AWESOME. You can hold and check out knives from most of the mainstream manuf. They also have a HUGE selection. They claim to be the biggest knife showroom in the world. They have several clearance tables. I picked up a KaBar Warthog and a Schrade 221BK for a total of $25. Also got a BM Griptillian while there. I’d encourage any enthusiast to stop there if possible or check them out on line. I had a blast there. Blew Dicks/Gander Mountain away.
That’s awesome! If only we had something like that here in the UK (I don’t THINK we do, but I might be wrong!). The clearance tables sound like an absolute dream to go digging through.
Thanks for the great article, Elise. I’ve read through most of the comments here and notice nobody has mentioned pawn shops as a good source for used knives. Usually, the labeled price is way too high, but most pawn shops I’ve been to will accept offers as low as 50% of the price they have it marked at. The only times I buy new knives is if they are to be a gift to a family member or friend. I can’t remember buying a new knife anywhere but walmart. Not that I am a fan of Walmart, but you can’t argue with the authenticity and the price. I can buy most popular brands at wholesale price, but after factoring in shipping costs, I find I can usually get it cheaper at Walmart, and the Walmarts here in Montana have a great selection of brands to choose from.
The fact that pawn shops will take offers as low as 50% of mark up is good to know, nice tip!
Agreed, the prices at Walmart are really reasonable and in one of their stores, you know you’ll never end up with a fake.
UK buyer – I’ve generally stopped buying knives new. My go to place is the Bushcraft UK classifieds (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11). You can often get knives in great condition for half price or less if you can wait.
!!! Thank you for this comment, seriously! Sent the link to Thomas earlier today and he moped over knives he missed out buying because we didn’t know this forum was a good one for snapping up used knives.
Used to buy on British Blades, but that’s been down for ages, so this will 100% be our new place to stalk for used knives. Thank you so much for mentioning it! :)
You’re welcome. I use IFTTT with it to get notifications of new posts as I got fed up with missing bargains. As far as I can tell the people who used to sell on British Blades have now moved to Bushcraft UK so there’s plenty of traffic.
Online on Amazon primaraly
Feel you there! Easiest way.
I live in eastern California. There aren’t any brick and mortar stores anywhere near here.
I have purchased just a few knives from Amazon. Some from eBay (using the caveat of good standing used by previous comments). I’ve purchased many from Arizona Custom Knives, KnivesShipFree.com, Knife Center, and Blade HQ. I’ve had good experiences with all of these online stores.
Very cool. Sounds like you’d be the type to shop around, checking as many sites as you can for a good price before you make your purchase online. Wish I had the ability to do more of that here in the UK!
My wife is a collector. I am a user. I buy wherever and when ever I find something I want a a price I can pay. I like unusual, strongly built, and unusual handles. All my knives are to be used. I enjoy most brands, if they are quality, and fit my need. My wife likes all things Benchmade, and her working knives are Tops, Essee and a couple of Condors. We buy and sell on EBay, buy from shows, dealers and from the occasional friend. I am considered rather eccentric by my friends as I normally have a multi tool, a small pocket knife, at least one usually two assisted or auto knives and one Fixed blade on me at all times . Habit I guess.
Well you fit right in here, certainly no one who regulars this site would see that as eccentric behaviour ;)
That’s very interesting about where you get your knives! Feels like the complete opposite of us!
I’m glad to see other couples into knives “together” so to speak. I’m definitely more into collecting than using, unlike Thomas, so I empathize with your wife, haha. It’s hard to resist a gorgeous Benchmade or Spyderco, though that definitely doesn’t stop me from grabbing cheaper knives I’d be happy to use and abuse either. Still, must admit that I have bought many more knives than Thomas that I will never use, and just have because I love the look of ’em.
Thanks for sharing!
I live in Sweden with little access to any brick and mortar shops with a decent selection. I scan forums/sites, read reviews, and watch youtube (although I agree with the above statement that most unpacking vids are just d-bags showing off their baubles). If I decide to buy new, I visit lamnia.com (preferred) or knivbutik.se.
Makes sense to me! Where do you buy knives used? Primarily forums?
I have bought from eBay, Amazon, local cutlery shops and, on occasion, big sporting goods stores and Wal-Mart. Even hardware stores. If I know what I’m buying, I’ll risk eBay, especially for secondary market deals or obscure collectibles. For new stuff, especially if I need guidance and it is for something special like a Bark River or a custom, I buy from Derrick at KnivesShipFree.com. He’s never steered me wrong. Amazon is for cheaper new stuff in the rare event I buy that, or for certain tools from Spain, like Cudeman.
Very cool! Your system makes sense and I feel is exactly what we’d do if we were in the States.
Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Unbelievable store, it’s impossible to see every knife there in a day. Every major knife manufacturer has a counter there.
Although I did buy my Buck 124 at Bass Pro/Outdoor World. While I was waiting in line I found it on Walmart.com (on my phone) for about $50 less and they reduced the price by that amount on the spot.
I found an antique knife while browsing through an antique mall one day. It was a WWI German issue folding knife with a fork that folded down on the outside.
I paid too much for it too.
Oh wow that’s awesome about the on-the-spot price reduction.
I have purchased knives online but I live about 20 miles from the Benchmade factory and retail store and about 30 miles from Kershaw and sometimes stand in line (long, long, long lines) for Kershaw blems. Works out very well for me. Really like the Benchmade store.
Um.. so cool! Would love to tour the Benchmade factory, don’t know if they do that kind of thing, but it’d be wicked! I’d say you have the best deal ever being so close to both factories!
Interesting article Elise. I’m in EU as well, The last couple I bought new on ebay, one from outfittercountry in the states, the other from Israel. No problems from either seller but I know of someone who had a knife stopped by customs recently. Apparently it’s illegal to send a deadly weapon in the post, it was a small Buck 110! Prices are a lot lower in the states than bricks and mortar shops here, even after shipping.
From reading reviews centering and knife opening and also locking can be a problem from some brands, maybe shows or shops would be a better option. Has anybody bought directly from China?
For a while I was looking at buying a used Leatherman Wave in the states on-line, but prices were almost as high as a new one online, but not anywhere near as a new one here in a bricks and mortar shop. Good idea from Thomas to ship a few together, although customs might sting, wheras if they were sent separately chances of them all being stopped should be lower.
Buck 110 = deadly weapon.
Kitchen knives are fine, though!
Will never understand this mentality…
Leathermans are so expensive here… it’s nuts. I think what we have is pretty good for now but in the future I feel I might have to go back to Canada and buy Leathermans and the like when I’m visiting my relatives there if I want more.. EU/UK pricing gets unreasonably high with the American stuff.
The majority of my knife acquisition is from online dealers. Knifeworks and The Knife Connection are my favorite online suppliers.
Very cool! Hadn’t heard of The Knife Collection before.
Estados Unidos, in person, with cash. Let’s me be more grey than Amazon likes me to be.
Makes sense!
I live in the Midwest United States. The vast majority of my purchases online have been through KnifeCenter. Shipping for a knife usually runs around $3 for a single knife.
My local Walmart has a pretty good selection of knives. They carry Spyderco, CRKT, Kershaw, OKC, Leatherman, and Buck knives. My most recent purchase from there was a Spyderco Persistance. They also occasionally have Walmart exclusive knives from the afore mentioned companies that I find interesting. It is nice to be able to get a close up look at the knives there before purchase. Most knives are in blister packs to help prevent theft, so you can’t actually hold the knife. Also, Walmart has some great prices on their knives and I don’t have to pay shipping.
Occasionally I will pick up unique old knives at yard sales and estate sales or auctions.
Instagram sellers is the place where I find custom handmade knives. Payment methods vary but it is usually through PayPal.
I don’t use e-bay for many reasons. I don’t purchase much from outdoor gear stores, gun shops, or hunting outfitters because the prices are usually much higher than I can get it other places.
Surprised Walmart has a pretty good selection in-store! I don’t recall them having anyone besides Gerber in my local Walmart back in Canada, but maybe that’s cause we don’t buy as many knives as a whole so stock is different for us.
Yard sales are so good for that kind of thing, but it’s rare and you have to do a lot of looking before you find something where I’ve lived. Never thought Instagram was the place to go for customs, but it makes sense!
Amazon has been where I’ve purchased most of mine lately. I will occasionally get them elsewhere like a hardware store or Target etc. Cutlery shops are way over-priced IMO.
They are often way overpriced in cutlery stores. Sometimes you can ask for a deal if you’re buying multiple, but even then, not usually worth it when you compare to prices online.
U.S. buyer, major US city,
1. The big box stores that offer edc/tactical/hunting/survival knives do it through referrals. Because of political pressure and the cost of labor, you will never see a decent knife in one of the stores, much less be allowed to handle it.
2. Yes, I deal with eBay sellers who have a good reputation on eBay, including the ones you named. If the seller has a low rating few ratings and is offering a whale of a deal, it will be a knockoff and not the real name brand knife.
3. Occasionally, a Store like Big5 will have a closeout/sale with a coupon which brings a price down to near internet prices. You will still not handle the knife. The clerk will walk the packaged knife to the cash register.
4. Amazon is not an authorized seller for most knives. If you have a warranty issue, it may well not be honored by the manufacturer when it discovers that you bought off Amazon.
Generally, I will watch some videos on youtube (most of the unpacking videos are worthless and many reviews are by ignoramuses seeking to self validate their purchases) and I do look at negative ratings/comments of verified purchasers on Amazon. I also look for commentaries on Bladeforums.
That’s a really excellent point about eBay – going by reputation of sellers I mean. And definitely agree on the low prices being a dead giveaway.
That’s a good system for vetting knives before you buy them to see if you’ll like them. It’s true it’s very hard to find a place that will let you handle before buying a knife.