Hi from France,
I just bought my first knife ever, so I don't have the slightest expertise on the matter.
I just spent the last 24 hours doing research though and I thought I'd share my experience, mainly in the matter of fakes.
So I needed a knife to carry on the road for a multi months walk and probably a second one for protection: I got taken by the idea of the untrained Joe still inflicting damage with the help of the nasty Civilian :)
To make things short, before I had the slightest idea of what is what and how much it costs, I had hit "buy it now" on a 20 buch paramilitary (2?) here :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291836364992?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
I then proceeded with more detailed research on the model and learned more about price and specs. Both were so off on my purchased item that I realized I got taken.
Just in time, considering I was on the verge of a repeat for a civilian; here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/222209894841?ss ... 1436.l2649
or here :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291835841637?ss ... 1436.l2649
or here :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/142064378334?ss ... 1436.l2649
Among many, many more...
Swallowing the evidence that I got fooled by my own ignorance and just bought a useless, possibly dangerous dud, I stopped right there and proceeded to buy a genuine Matriarch 2 which is barely higher priced than a fake CIV and seems a better fit anyway.
In the meantime, I had a good laugh with a $26 /250Gr Rubicon (this one should get a pass for being funny):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291837508958?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
You can read and watch quite a lot in a day and I came to realize how this company was awesome. Meaning my research is done and I know where to get my knives from this point on.
The main reason for this rather long post is that, as I am considering my options on reception of the fake PM2, I realize that this forum could be a wonderful trap for fakers and possibly of some help to the company.
Since it seems trivial to call fake and cancel a Paypal transaction, could we not organize a massive raid on those $20 knock offs, and then just cancel, leaving the fakers contemplating bankrupcy ? Surely, most of us can afford to part with 20 bucks for a month or two, in exchange for a good laugh + a good deed ?
I'm not even sure whether I want to go through the trouble on my own, as my own ignorance (more like stupidity) warrants some punishment but wouldn't that be funny for all forum members to get free knockoffs, raid the faker's finances and maybe organize some type of gathering with tons of fake knives sometime in the future ? Maybe have a few beers and laugh ?
Silly thought, maybe but I can't refrain from grinning at it...
To close this first post, I want to express how impressed I am, not only with the products I discovered, barring my obvious incompetence, but also by the tone and spirit of the company's team on this forum. That reminds me of another time, long ago, when most online communities sounded just like that. Good old days.
Now I need to train with that tacky video on SD with the civilian, so that I don't cut myself instead of the next aggressor...
Peace;
Roger.
Raiding the fakers
Re: Raiding the fakers
So this won't happen. Just a follow up, the knife was awful and I just tossed it for recycling and canceled the payment.
In the meantime, I got used to the Matriarch, which scared me and won't go out much. Still, a very nice blade that makes me feel like I have something to rely upon in case an awful situation develops.
The Matriarch got me interested in knives and Spyderco. So I got myself a Battlestation. I wish I knew about knives before.
One thing fakes are good for : getting newbies to know about this company. Not sure I would even have considered that large an expense for a knife before having a closer look. Now I'm addicted.
Off topic, the Battlestation is wonderful. Obviously safe, incredibly strong and even more pleasing to the eye and the hand than the pics and videos suggest. A bit stiff to flick with the medius, but I suppose it's design and will break in. Build quality like I have never seen in any knife before. The Matriarch, an already well made product, looks like a cheap toy in comparison.
This will seldom leave my pocket, my backpack certainly never.
Have fun with your knives, you all.
In the meantime, I got used to the Matriarch, which scared me and won't go out much. Still, a very nice blade that makes me feel like I have something to rely upon in case an awful situation develops.
The Matriarch got me interested in knives and Spyderco. So I got myself a Battlestation. I wish I knew about knives before.
One thing fakes are good for : getting newbies to know about this company. Not sure I would even have considered that large an expense for a knife before having a closer look. Now I'm addicted.
Off topic, the Battlestation is wonderful. Obviously safe, incredibly strong and even more pleasing to the eye and the hand than the pics and videos suggest. A bit stiff to flick with the medius, but I suppose it's design and will break in. Build quality like I have never seen in any knife before. The Matriarch, an already well made product, looks like a cheap toy in comparison.
This will seldom leave my pocket, my backpack certainly never.
Have fun with your knives, you all.