Great customer service and surprisingly good prices for SF. The guy working the counter really know his stuff too - highly recommend visiting if you are looking for a new knife or two! read more

Really disappointing experience. The employee barely looked up from his phone when I tried to ask questions, which made the interaction feel very dismissive and unprofessional. On top of that, the prices seemed to keep changing, so it was difficult to know what I was actually being charged. I expected much better customer service and transparency. I wouldn't recommend this place based on my experience. read more

The service was absolutely amazing! The selection was very good they had a section of D.C and Marvel knives which I thought was very cool. I purchased a Joker knife, a pen knife, and a trainer knife. The guy let me practice with each one which I appreciated. Also the prices were very good for the quality of the knives so overall good value! I recommend this is a store you must visit in pier 39! read more

Great store and good selection! Felipe such a great guy very friendly and nice! Wished we could've knew about this store before, really recommend it to everybody! read more

Derek was incredibly helpful when I was looking for a new every day knife. He was knowledgeable about the products, and help me find something that fit my needs. read more

Good selection and surprisingly low prices because you know they're paying through their nose for the rent. Plus they sell autos, which I find fascinating with the store being in the most touristy area of SF. I found their prices are only $5 or $10 more than online prices, but that's nothing if you're paying $200 or more for a knife, and in some cases they are actually LESS than MSRP. Plus you get to handle them, not a luxury you have when buying online. Both times I went there only one person was showing knives to customers, answering questions, and ringing up purchases. The shop is very small but every inch of the store is optimized to display knives. I bought one of the new generation Sandsharks and a Pro-tech CQC7 that I've never seen anywhere else. read more

See all

This is the best knife store I've ever been to. I was astonished by the product selection, Absoloutely incredible selection of knifes. I visited the store twice and both the service was amazing. Each knife I asked for was explained to me. I ended up leaving with a Chris Reeve. If you're in the Bay Area and like knives this is a must visit. read more

I love this place! It has the best selection of knives in all of California. The prices are very fair, even for San Francisco. The service was excellent. I visited on two different days and purchased several knives. I interacted with two different employees, and both were fantastic. If I didn't live so far away, I would visit at least once a week to buy a new item. read more

My 6 year old got a giant splinter under her finger nail while watching the sea lions at pier 39. Of course we didn't have tweezers when we needed them. The security office didn't have much to help. Noticed the knife store and thought, maybe they have replacement tweezers for Swiss Army knives. The store was packed, my daughter was freaked out. The gentleman behind the counter quickly pulled out some tweezers and handed them over. I was happy to pay for them but he refused and said "they're yours". Service doesn't get better than that. read more

We Be Knives - Splinter under nail - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Finding retail knife shops is getting more and more difficult these days for various reasons. We Be Knives has stood the test of time. From a customer standpoint it's because Derek is awesome, his team is great, the selection has something for everyone and his passion for the industry really shines through. Derek is a pillar of the knife community and heavily involved in all things that are sharp and not just a guy that has a store that sells knives. I've enjoyed all my visits because it's not just a store but an experience. The prices are more than fair and I'm always looking forward to my next blade from We Be Knives. And when I can't make it out there he has a kick ass website now! https://webeknivessf.com/ Check it out! read more

There must be a "San Francisco tax" I don't know about, because they were selling their knives at a much higher price then what online retailers sell the exact same knives for. I want to "support local", but I'm a tourist in San Francisco, and not local. Why would I pay these guys $100 for the same knife I can get for $70 at Blade HQ? Edit: Hello Derek, thank you for your response to my review. Is that 8.63% tax on top of the normal tax of like 7.50%, or whatever it is? That still wouldn't make up for the large disparity, but it would make a little more sense that you would charge 30% or more then online retailers. And you are suggesting that I should have haggled with the shop employee? Would that have really worked? Should I have suggested a lower price then normal retail price, and then your employee would have suggested only 20% over normal retail price, and I would have made a counter offer, and on and on, until we had agreed on a fair price? I'm only a resident of the normal America, where haggling isn't really a thing, but I will try it out the next time I visit San Francisco. I've haggled in Mexico, where it is apart of a normal purchase at a tourist shop. And only two negative reviews of two shops in the Bay Area is actually pretty good. Two reviews isn't really a spree. And I praised one restaurant that I enjoyed during the trip, and I think I will post a couple more positive reviews of some of the places I visited. But my negative review for your shop stands. read more

We Be Knives - Knives - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awesome shop. Awesome dudes. They are knowledgeable guys and eager to expand your knowledge about the ever growing knife world. read more

Hands down the best shop in San Francisco. Staff are respectful, inventory is great. Yes they are slightly higher than online, but it's just that. There's a lot more expense to a brick and mortar store compared to shopping online. Online it could be sitting in someone's humid basement waiting to be shipped out. You don't get to handle the knife, feel the knife, ascertain it's weight and characteristics before making your purchase. Online it's look at a picture and decide whether to buy or not. I will be returning here anytime I'm in the Bay Area. read more

While there selections of knives are very high it seems like most of them are way priced above msrp and you can find better deals on blade hq read more

Incredibly friendly staff and very knowledgeable on their products. My son is a collector and they had an extensive inventory. I am a huge fan of Batman and Joker, not to give away the surprise but I was very impressed! If you are a fan of Katana's they also have beautiful display of different styles. read more

I first came here in the late 90's, maybe 2000. Bought a knife (don't remember the price), which I still have to this day (picture posted). I haven't exactly used it a whole lot (I mean, what exactly am I gonna use it for?), but it's still very sturdy and has that oil smell from being inside the sheath. Place is very small, 10 people in here would be cramped. They have a selection of knives and swords, from practical to movie themed. Prices seemed fairly reasonable. Sadly my wife didn't let me buy anything, cause apparently she things getting a Klingon dagger is impractical. PSH! Fun store to explore, definitely worth stopping by if you're at the pier. I think it's one of the oldest stores at the pier. Don't quote me on this, but I THINK they have a catalogue with more swords they can order for you. read more

We Be Knives - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

The only shop I go for my edc knife employee know there knife well and are vary friendly also if you bring your knife that need to be sharpen they will sharpen it for you I'm a sf native but every time I go by I have walk inside and buy a knife read more

This store is ripping people off charging why to much for knives, do not shop here and do not buy any knives from this guy unless you want to pay over 200% what you can but it online. Do your research before you buy anything from this store!!!! read more

Very friendly staff. I went in as more of a curious shopper, and the staff was incredibly educated on all the products. I was visiting from out of town and could not bring anything back, but I'd 150% recommend this place for anyone who is either looking to collect or just looking to learn a bit more! read more

Had a great supply of Benchmade. Prices are MSRP but you aren't going to get a huge discount online. Worth paying the retail premium to feel the knife first and compare them. Staff was friendly and helpful as well. read more

Nice selection in a very touristy area. Everything from inexpensive blade to display weapons to functional knives for work or everyday. Gentleman who assisted me was knowledgeable and straightforward. He knew his stuff without hesitation. (He also has excellent posture & taste in music!) Would gladly recommend. read more

We Be Knives - Nice legal blade length balisong. - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This knife shop in my opinion, is the best knife shop to go to. My reasoning first off the owner was super chill and has a great personality to do business with so long you treat him with respect he gives it right back. He doesnt try to hustle you and try to sell you a knife, he's simple you want a knife he's gonna fit you with a knife no gimmicks. Secondly his inventory has a wide range from high end to low end all name brand some off brand but it's guaranteed high quality stuff. The shelf's are not stocked with CSGO knife or remakes from video games which you see a lot of stores, that often try to sell you, all knifes here was the real deal holy field stuff. In all if your in the SF area it's definitely worth checking out, I came here on vacation from Hawaii and honestly if I ever go back to SF I'm coming straight there again. I highly recommend this place. It may not be the best store in the world, but to me I really love these small shops. The workers/owners really treat you as a friend as supposed to just another customer, and the value on that is priceless. Hope nothing but the best for this shop. read more

We Be Knives - Fox Dart knife bought at We Be Knives! - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

My husband wanted a very specific and hard to find knife. After searching for more than a year with no luck I found We Be Knives. Derek promised me he would find one for me. He came through and I received it the day before Christmas Eve. Amazing!! my husband was thrilled. I do appreciate him going above and beyond to get this special gift under our tree. I highly recommend this business, kind, honest owner and fast service. read more

This small mom and pop shop offers some of the widest selection of knives in San Francisco. Their staff can come off as a little standoffish and won't approach you unless you talk to them (or at least that was my experience). However when you start talking to them they do give some nice recommendations and are actually pretty friendly. They do not offer any MAP pricing or price matching unfortunately. So I'd recommend going to some other dealers like Bernal Cutlery or Katachi (also located in the city) if you're looking for the lowest price. But if you're looking to support this small business then this is not by any means a bad store to go to. This store is located in fisherman's wharf so it does get tricky to find parking around the area. But it's a nice shop to visit if you're around the area. read more

Jesus guess all the reviews of their shitty customer service are true. I'm a knife collector and have pocket knives worth more than $1500 so definitely dont care about the higher price comments. However wasn't even greeted and they had only one other customer in there. The customer asked to see a knife, employee says "Do you even have money for this knife" lol wtf is that. Regardless if he had money or not I had money and was willing to buy a knife or two especially since no retailers near me carry WE knives. But forget that I'll take my money elsewhere where they respect customers. Didn't care so much about the not greeting me part I wasn't there to make friends but that stupid a** remark made him look like an idiot and he lost a customer and many more since I know many people in the knife community. Thanks for nothing. read more

Great shop in the heart of Pier 39. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and you can tell they are well versed in all types of knives. Terrific place to get those gift topper or get a real nice knife as the top gift itself. Will head back soon! read more

On a quest for the perfect gift, I stopped into this store mainly because of the intriguing name - We Be Knives. Yes. You be. I was honestly browsing for myself but ended up finding my perfect gift. The owner really blew me away with his knowledge of knives. If he wasn't 3x my age, I might have tried to woo him. When purchasing knives, it's definitely a plus and a good sign when the staff knows what they're selling. Unfortunately I didn't score anything for myself, which was fine because swiss armys aren't really my love tap of choice anyway. Ive got the place bookmarked though......just in case. read more

I've lived back east and also out west during my life. This by far hands down the best knife shop I've come across. The staff is knowledgeable and super chill. If you live in San Francisco or are visiting, you will be missing out if you don't stop by we be knives. I will definitely be back. read more

This place has a huge inventory of knives, swords, daggers, etc. They pretty much carry anything you need with a sharp edge one way or another. Whether you're looking for some cheap 440 stainless steel for daily chores or a tactical automatic switchblade, they have it. All their employees have extensive knowledge of knives and have always held an enjoyable lengthy conversation. I love the fact that they have no problem with letting us play with their most expensive knives. I would even go as far as they practically encouraged me to play with it despite knowing it was way out of my price range. That would probably be my one and only complaint here. The majority of the knives are a little pricier than normal, but I don't mind paying a little extra to help a family business. It is in the middle of tourist county after all. read more

I went in here after a recommendation from the Spyderco online forum and with a warning that I'd pay MSRP or worse for anything I bought there. They weren't kidding. Obviously most of their customers must be tourists who don't realize how much they're overpaying. I asked if they're aware if the huge price discrepancy between them and shops that sell online. They tell me all discount stores online drop ship from warehouses and they don't have the costs of keeping a real inventory. Whatever. There are plenty of well-regarded real stores that have a true in store inventory and do a lot of online business also so they have the best prices. Ask any knife enthusiast. But they do have a bigger selection than most places (if you can even find a local knife store anymore) consisting of Spyderco, Benchmade, Emerson, Kershaw etc, and they're the newer models too. Plus more upscale brands like Al Mar, Chris Reeve, and William Henry. I don't mind paying more for an in-store purchase because being able to handle a knife is important. That being said Ive purchased from several shops that price below MSRP, sometimes at MSRP, never over. That is just not a necessary practice. If We Be Knives feels like ever offering a discount to a customer it's not a strain for them; they'll just make a good profit instead of an obscene profit. Also, they shouldn't just have one of each model hanging on a magnetic wall (ugly and cluttered way to display knives, plus you're asking for damage). I hate buying display models because they've been flicked open hard and handled to death and they're no longer new, and if I'm going to pay MSRP it better be brand spanking new in the box. Not sure if that was the case but thats what it looked like considering how tiny the place is. Save your money unless you have the "I want a knife now" itch. I also recommend WBK get a bigger Chris Reeve inventory. If there's one knife worth paying every penny of MSRP for it's a Reeve. Same for Emerson. read more

What an idea, a blade store there in Pier 39. Tourist heaven. But it works somehow, kids can go play in the arcade and eat their cotton candy, teenagers finger hawaiian jewelry trinkets, god only knows what keeps the adults busy, maybe staring at the silverpaint robot guys and new age casio acts out front, and here's a guy's fantasy looking at all the folding knives, fixed blades, handmade swords, things you can't take carry on back to Ohio. A very nice selection, staff of liberal urbanites that, lacking anything better to do, has learned the survivalist merchandise inside and out. They avoid the fake martial arts stuff, knives that don't work. And no shaving kits, camp stoves, fishing lures, nose hair trimmers, boy scout uniforms. Most things here are at least semi-serious in terms of being made of steel (or ceramic, titanium, etc) and cutting things. Some wacked out flashlights, leathermans, other peripheral goods. Prices are pretty close to retail so no discount there, but getting the right knife for your hand, for your manlihood, that's priceless. read more

I was just walking around Pier 39 and I stumbled upon We Be Knives. It's a small shop but all of the walls are covered in knives. The biggest plus is that the employee (or maybe he was the owner) know a lot about knives. He offered suggestions, showed me a couple that were his favorite, and also took the most expensive knife he had. $5000 for a knife!!! I guess if you have a diamond and 24k gold decorating it, it should cost that much. Even if you are not a knife collection, stop by this store and just look at the variety. read more

They carry a huge selection of knives from your Chinese $10 knives to custom and high end pieces from makers like Chris Reeve. They do charge MSRP on their stuff but their selection is huge. When I was living in the area I would stop by to take a look at a knife I was interested in first hand before I search online for a cheaper price. Gave them three stars for their selection, would be better if they had better prices. read more

I was told that there was a store on Pier 39 with a decent selection of knives, and it was, the staff was young and knew their products well. My only issue is the Price, I purchased a cool good knife that sells elsewhere(on-line) for ~$50.oo less. Most of their knives were a bit more than MSRP which is generally 50% more than on-line. Yes there is Value in touching and feeling the knives, yet I am filled with a bit of Buyers Remorse. Their receipt reads, "No Refunds only Exchanges" within 30 days. Next time I'll take note of the knives there, and make my $$$ go further on-line. read more

Nice shop, been around since I was a young Padawan. A plethora of sharp and pointy things. Whether you need a dime-store, piece of crap "disposable" knife, or something worth inve$ting in, they've got you covered. read more

Every time I come out to the Bay Area, I make a stop. Derek has helped me tremendously in not only learning about knives but making educated buying decisions. This time around I was able to land some limited edition Swiss Army knives and a really unique CRKT (at an amazing price) all of which will be adding to my collection. The ZT I picked up here on my last visit still gets all of the pocket time. Thanks again - keep up the amazing work. Follow them on Instagram as well! read more

Great little store with an amazing selection of low end knives to custom works of art, great service all around.

The guy with the glasses who works on weekends is such an ass terrible customer service I dono how they even stay in business with the mark ups they have from MSRP good place to check out the blades then buy from online for normal prices read more

The gentlemen at the store front today was very courteous and knowledgeable about the knife products at his store. I totally recommend any cutlery lover or any one who likes seeing cool stuff to stop by and go visit this awesome store read more

Was going to buy a knife due to the excellent knife set butttt didn't spend a dime or wasn't trying to at least with the jackass behind the counter round 6ish giving customers a one word answer. Dude clearly hates his job. I've talk to someone different on IG who was down to earth but this dude killing the reputation of a good company. Hope when I go back this dude not their so I can buy something read more