Ignorance can be educated but stupid goes all the way to the bone. I guess I've been fortunate because I haven't had to deal with 'goober'. When someone asks me about the knife I'm wearing, I tell them, as I hand them the knife, that I made it. They know right away it is handmade because it says so on the blade. Before we get through, they usually ask me if I made the sheath too.
I wrote an article for my website some time back that ends up with:
For the most part, hunters are a practical lot. We all want good value and performance for the money we spend. We look for the best equipment we can afford to do the job at hand. Considering that a knife is the tool that sees the most use on a hunt, why would a hunter settle for one that is mediocre at best?
I could go on for quite a while about the virtues of a hand made knife and how to choose one but that is a subject for another time.
There probably is no perfect knife, but a properly chosen and designed knife will do what you want it to do and will do it much better than what you will find in the sporting goods department of your local retailer. Whether you are hunting, fishing, handling chores around the house, or on a trek through the backwoods or across the prairie, a good knife can be a trusted and welcome companion.
When you own and use a hand made knife, it is unique and because your knife is unique, there is a pride of ownership that is unknown with a mass produced item, it becomes a part of your history to be passed down to loved ones and to be admired as an heirloom by generations yet unborn. Just imagine the day, many years from now, when your child tells his child or even grandchild with pride, "This was my Dad's knife."
I try to include some of that when talking to someone who knows nothing about quality, handmade cutlery.
That's a little more than .02 but it's what I got.
Take care,
Carey
