Thread: What is the best knot you have bought?

I agree with that, Black badger has no back bone, Finest would be a good replacementfor Boar, probably my favorite

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Pixel is the "Anti Boar" So as a user of boar, I can surely recommend the Finest, or 2 band as a badger knot for boar lovers! Blacks have no backbone atall, IMO

So from this thread I can gather TGN Finest might be the best???

Originally Posted by JeremyDeLaGarza

So from this thread I can gather TGN Finest might be the best???

There is no "best", which is what everyone has been trying to tell you.

"Best" is very subjective, meaning it varies from person to person based on personal preference. Different guys like different things.

Some guys love boar and don't care for badger at all, some guys won't touch a boar and swear by badger. Some guys prefer finest two band, others prefer a silvertip. We can't decide for you, pick one and try it.

Originally Posted by JeremyDeLaGarza

So from this thread I can gather TGN Finest might be the best???

That Knot will serve you well.

well as far as quality of hair and manufacturing of the knot there is a best. I think there are very few manufacturers that are supplying the entire world market with hair and knots. After sampling many (really) and speaking to several it's clear that it's more or less a commodities market. A few farm their own animals but I believe the vast majority are buying the hairs/animals/pelts from smaller farmers at auction/market type situations.

Hair is harvested, separated and then graded. Marketing takes over from there.

The major "manufacturing" related quality differences I've seen all come down to resin plug consistency/quality and packing density.



also... as far as if virgina, ace, ali, or TGN are the best

this is what someone said about that.

Do they buy only from one manufacturer? Unknown for sure, but I do know that Virginia Sheng's gave me quality and source assurances after I tried samples and before I purchased a large bulk load from them and they followed through. In my experience the Golden Nib has been consistent in their supplier as well for the most part. The majority of their knots used to have a relatively distinctive golden/yellow resin plug, but I have noticed as of late that they have been selling knots with cream/white resin plugs too. Does this mean they are buying from other manufacturers? Or did their manufacturer merely change their materials/process? In either case, their knot quality has remained high and I would attribute this to the quality standards and demands of TGN themselves more than who made it. If someone supplies them with crappy product, they don't buy/resell that product again, lest their customers get disappointed and the TGN reputation suffer.

Other sellers are much less concerned - they want to turn the cheapest knot over at the maximum profit level. Some go even further shady in my opinion by tagging things with arguably made up or impossible to prove marketing BS like "Manchurian" - I'm not DNA testing these hairs, nor is anyone I know. It's BS - it may be a treated or higher grade of hair, but I believe it all came from...a badger. At best, maybe a preferred farmer who has exceptionally good or distinctive breeding stock.

In other words, who cares who made it as long as the quality is there? I may catch flack for this, but as far as my experience has shown me, a badger is a badger is a badger. The quality lies in the amount of care that went into separating and grading the hairs, and then how they mount/glue in their resin plugs.

Advice from others can tell you quality - your preference can only come from personal use.

Originally Posted by kwlfca

There is no "best", which is what everyone has been trying to tell you.

"Best" is very subjective, meaning it varies from person to person based on personal preference. Different guys like different things.

Some guys love boar and don't care for badger at all, some guys won't touch a boar and swear by badger. Some guys prefer finest two band, others prefer a silvertip. We can't decide for you, pick one and try it.

That is so true of almost all things in life, there virtually is no such thing as "best" anything only what works for you. I am to the point where I cringe when somebody proclaims something is the "best" anything. There are no easy answers.

Bob

Jeremy, if you have bought alot of knots,than you know the answeres to your questions.
I buy alot of Knots from TGN,have yet to see one with a white plug but maybe I will down the road,probebly means nothing.
I have talked with all the major sellers of badger Knots,what I have been told is Badgers are not farmed in china,they are trapped, skinned and eaten,is an important food source in china just like rats.Badgers are very distructive animals in farming areas and considerd vermin.
As far as Manchurian or HMWs being a marketing ploy? I think not with the real deal.
The hair is differant. Any hunter or trapper knows that the best pelts of any fur bearing animal are at peak prime when taken in winter in cold climes usually at high altitudes (I.E, manchuria)

I have read this thread a couple of times now and I'm interested to know as I like to use soap/puck in the bottom of a mug if there's much difference in how the finest and the silvertip grade A load up this way. Also is there much difference between the whipped dog knots and these. Same size etc but is it a case of you get what you pay for. Cheers for any help. Ed

P.S. If you could help with this question it would help greatly.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...rush-info.html

Originally Posted by eddy79

I have read this thread a couple of times now and I'm interested to know as I like to use soap/puck in the bottom of a mug if there's much difference in how the finest and the silvertip grade A load up this way. Also is there much difference between the whipped dog knots and these. Same size etc but is it a case of you get what you pay for. Cheers for any help. Ed

P.S. If you could help with this question it would help greatly.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...rush-info.html

From what Larry has told me, his silvertips are comparable to TGN standard silvertips. I'm still waiting for my TGN Grade A to break in a bit more so I can better compare it to the one I got from Larry.

TGN pure and black badgers were the best from this brand.