Spyderco Forums

Good Evening Gents and Gals,

I have a question for the forum group,

So my father's birthday is coming up and I want to get him a Spyderco that he would really enjoy. The thing is he's not much of a knife guy, and when I ecstatically brought my Manix lw SV110 to show him, his response was "why do you need a knife that big" (reality, guess I don't but why not).

Also, last night when I whipped out my pm2 at the dinner table (my mother requested to cut some cord on a large Flower necklace) he quickly scoffed at the surgeon's scalpel.

I was thinking of getting him the Dragonfly2 Knifecenter exclusive because it is compact and classy, or gifting him my native 5 fluted titanium but I fear that may also be on the "big side". What do you all think, I'm definitely going to get him a portable ice maker but the knife would be more of a bonus.

Dragonfly. The pakkawood is classy enough for a gift, and the knife itself is useful and ergonomic enough to be good for anyone.

From my experience of giving a knife to a non-knife person, I bet the knife is still in the box where he put it away. I have never seen him carry it.

Depends on how non-knife a person he is. If a person never uses one, will cut something with scissors or a key instead, and expresses no enthusiasm or appreciation toward works of art like :spyder: (like you have experienced), it may be a lost cause.

One the other hand, if someone is always borrowing yours, uses knives on regular basis, and expresses some interest in your collection, that person is in a need of a gift.

Pakkawood Dfly would be nice, an SE H1 Dragonfly would be more useful maybe (especially if he can't sharpen) tell him he can use it on food or in the kitchen and that it's rust proof and washable. I got my father a ZDP-189 Manbug for his Birthday (he doesn't carry it much). I got my mom a Hawkbill ladybug that she uses a lot.

You can lead a horse to water...

EDIT TO ADD: Perhaps an unassuming Gent's would find a use, or a Manbug Salt. There is no clamshell it won't take down.

H1 steel definitely crossed my mind because he has property in Hawaii, and last I was there a lot of the knives were rusted or pitted (they've been there quite some time).

I wish the Native 5 lc200n came out because I would get him that definitely thinking Salt 2 with yellow handle, or the salt h1 dragonfly 2 (if not the Knifecenter Exclusive).

Your father seems like a person who values things that are practical and simple. I'd go with a Roadie. Remember your getting a knife that suits him not you, but I'm sure like most dads he will appreciate a gift from his son no matter what you decide.

maybe a native 5 or delica. A basic lockback design in one of spyderco’s classic patterns. One that you wouldnt worry if they never use it or lost it.

Are you buying him a knife because he needs or wants one, or because you're a knife enthusiast?

My brother has a beard. I do not. My brother has all sorts of expensive, fragrant beard conditioners and other such things. If he bought me expensive beard oils and such that he uses, and then expected me to grow a beard to appreciate them, I would smile, thank him, and they would go to waste. I would have been better served, and he would have been more thoughtful, by buying me cheap razor blades.

...but it's the thought that counts, right?

Buy him a gift card instead of a knife. A fancy knife would go to waste on him by the sounds of it, and a gift card is a nice way of giving someone a thing as a gift even when you don't know exactly what thing they'd like. If he decides that he wants a knife after all, he can spend the gift card to buy one, and you can recommend the Salt knives to him as a potential option.

Your dad sounds like mine. :)

I bought him a little Puma Four Star with genuine pearl scales about twenty years ago. He said it was nice, thanked me and put it back in the box. I’m tipping it’s not seen the light of day since. :rolleyes:

I buy him lottery packs for his Birthday, Father’s Day and Christmas.

I second the Roadie. It is unusual, great pocket carry and definitely not a big knife.

I think a Tatanka would be well received. :)

Cold Steel all terrain chopper.

Lol, nah... I think that pakkawood dragonfly would be nice. I'd say delica but if he's scared of a manix, might want to go small.

based on my experiences, the non-knife people i have known has tendencies to use their knife in ways it is not supposed to be used (prying, opening cans, using the blade to drive screws, storing it dirty, losing it, etc) so what you need is a spydie which can do all those without being too expensive. this is why my suggestion is the clipitool standard

The ZDP dragonfly converted my dad from being a "non-knife" person (never carried a knife, used cheap knives). He ended up with 2 ZDP Dragonflies (one for the shop and one to carry) and then a RN Chaparral (to carry, one Dragonfly is now his "house" knife, and the other is still in the shop).

So I'll vote for the Dragonfly again. :)

Successful knives I have bought non-knife people are:

Wife: Dragonfly FRN. It is so light and easy to carry and fits in her small pockets.

Friends: Victorinox Classic SD. The knife is so small they feel as though they are not carrying a knife, plus it has a toothpick and tweezers, among other great tools.

UK Penknife, Roadie, Manbug.

The newest Dog tag knife, why not?

What about getting him a Spyderco Clipitool. Does he like a beer or three ?