1. We Be Knives

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San Francisco, CA

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We Be Knives

3.8 (89 reviews)
PriceyHobby Shops
Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Best brick and mortar knife store in SF Bay Area
Edwin L.

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.

Splinter under nail

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.

Knives
Joseph F.

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.

Samuel B.

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.

Nice legal blade length balisong.
Nina B.

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.

Fox Dart knife bought at We Be Knives!

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

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Ask the Community - We Be Knives

Review Highlights - We Be Knives

“Derek has helped me tremendously in not only learning about knives but making educated buying decisions.”

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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Blick Art Materials

Blick Art Materials

3.9(87 reviews)
1.3 mi•Polk Gulch, Nob Hill
•$$

I went back today to take advantage of the huge Blick sale. Wow great prices!…read more Being a newbie, I really didn't know where to start but had a list from my art teacher with the colors and types of paints to get. One of the staff (an asian woman- didnt' get her name) was so nice to help me find the exact colors I needed and patiently explained the sales and discount pricing for the huge aisle of liquitex acrylic paints. Then when I got to the counter (albeit really overwhelmed by too many choices) Jayy was at the counter and smiled and was a calm beacon to my shopping anxiety and confusion - with only like 20? minutes left until closing time! She painstakingly helped me look at each of the colors my art teacher wanted me to get and helped me choose two paint sets that I could afford that met my criteria for both watercolor and for acrylics. Jayy sat there patiently scanning and calculating all the different permutations of paints and even gave me advice about what colors to get now vs maybe later when I save more money up! She even helped me maximize my discount and coupons. WOW. Jayy was so knowledgeable about the colors and types of paints I needed and this AMAZING experience was why I was SO GLAD I went iN PERSON to the store! thank you thank you Jayy for making my shopping experience so much less stressful!!!

I have been a patron of Blick art supplies store on Van Ness Avenue for as long as it has been…read morethere. I have always received great service and wonderful selection of supplies ..in recent years the team led by E is above and beyond exceptional! Each staff member is welcoming,friendly,helpful, knowledgeable, energetic and personable. It is an incredible team whose dedication to helping the clients is sincere. I am loyal to the Blick Brand thanks to this excellent team and their customer service!

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Blick Art Materials
Blick Art Materials
Blick Art Materials

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Chinatown Kite Shop - Chinese New Year Lantern Decorations from the Kite Shop

Chinatown Kite Shop

4.5(50 reviews)
1.1 mi•Chinatown
•$$

Compact store filled with kites for all budgets and ages, plus other small toys, keychains, and…read moresouvenirs. We didn't want to carry something too big on transit, and we were able to get a very portable pocket kite for only $5. There is also a shop cat that greets customers.

We went to the San Francisco to celebrate mid autumn festival in Chinatown. It was my boys first…read moretime to attend this festival. We walked all of Grant Street festival vendors and also supported the local vendors. We stopped by many of the local shops for my boys to buy trinkets, souvenirs, and just anything they wanted. My youngest wanted to stop by the Kite Shop in Chinatown. We browsed around the shop and my son wanted to buy a lighted dragon sword. They were located right at the front of the cashier. They were $9.99 each and then she had another one that was tagged $5.99 without batteries. My son said daddy I'll buy the cheaper one since that will save me money and plus we have batteries. The cashier which I do think is the owner said it works and all we needed is to add 3 AAA batteries. Long story short, we get home tonight and when I opened the battery cover to add the batteries I can see that one of the battery terminals were very rusted. I added the batteries and the sword lights and sound does not work. I'm pretty certain the owners knew about this defective sword. My son was sad because he used his own money to buy the sword. The owner even saw my son take out his money from his backpack and paid for it. Shame on the owners and I do hope they read this review and make it right by allowing my son to exchange the sword for a working one. We live an hour away and visit SF monthly.

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Chinatown Kite Shop - Beautiful Lantern Decorations Shipped from the Chinatown Kite Shop.

Beautiful Lantern Decorations Shipped from the Chinatown Kite Shop.

Chinatown Kite Shop - MIMI, bodega/ store cat; 5 years old, female (10/2023)

MIMI, bodega/ store cat; 5 years old, female (10/2023)

Chinatown Kite Shop - The lighted sword we bought from the Kite Store in Chinatown does not work because of the rusted battery terminals.

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The lighted sword we bought from the Kite Store in Chinatown does not work because of the rusted battery terminals.

We Be Knives - hobbyshops - Updated October 2026

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