Unless you're a knife expert, buying a knife for yourself or as a gift can be a daunting task. You have so many aspects of the purchase to consider. Knife quality, the blade style, the steel, construction and warranty, the grip and handle, the locking mechanism if it's a folder, the tang, the sheath and much more.

Be Aware

And in today's world of knock-offs on everything from beauty products to shoes, you want to be sure you're getting the real deal and not a counterfeit. Thankfully, there are some pretty simple ways to ensure you're getting an authentic knife made by the authorized manufacturer.

Where to Buy

First off, buy from a reputable dealer. Avoid the guy on the street corner who set up shop out of the trunk of his car. At least, if you want to be sure you're getting an authentic knife. Remember that old adage that if "something seems too good to be true, it probably is"? Well, that applies to knife purchases as much as anything else. The first step to take to ensure you're not buying a counterfeit knife is to consider who you buy from.

What's the Brand

Another way to ensure you're buying an authentic knife is to look for the "brand." Not just the brand of knife, but the brand ON the knife. Gerber knives, for instance, proudly carry the name "Gerber" emblazoned on the blade. That lets you know that the knife you're buying is a real Gerber original. You don't have to worry that you may be getting a knock-off version or cheap imitation.

Study Beforehand

Also, know what the knife you're buying should look like. Visit the manufacturer's site. Learn about the design. Read up on the knife's features and properties. If you're looking at a Gerber LMF II, for instance, you'll see that the handle is either brown or green. If you're offered a knife with a blue handle and someone tells you it's an authentic LMF II knife, you'll know to question its authenticity since you did your homework.

Be Cautions

Sometimes when a counterfeiter or an agent is trying to sell you a fake knife, they'll go on and on about who owned it, where they got it, how much it cost originally, and more. If the seller is offering too much information or trying too hard to convince you of the authenticity of a knife you're considering, you might want to be weary. That's not to say that a seller is necessarily trying to sell you a counterfeit knife just because he's chatty, but that, coupled with other questionable aspects could help you determine if a knife you're considering is the real deal.

Get Out There

When you're buying a knife, especially as a gift but for yourself as well, you want to know you're getting your money's worth. You want to get a real, authentic, brand name knife that is what it claims to be. Keeping these few simple tips in mind will help you in that situation and you can know that you're getting a knife you can be proud to own, use and display for years to come. And you'll never have to feel you've "been taken" or duped into buying a counterfeit knife that you're ashamed of.