A knife you got that blew you away...WAY better than expected? I just got one...

I was mightily impressed with the Spyderco Southard when I finally got it. Fit and finish is impressive, flips like a champ, cuts very well and carries great. :thumbup:
 
There have been ton's of knives that where better than I expected, but just like Hyundai keeps winning "Initial Quality" ratings, it doesn't mean much to me anymore.

It takes me about 4-6 weeks of EDC to truly be able to say a knife was really better than I expected.
It's a rarity, and I can only think of two knives that where better than I thought over weeks and then months/years of use....

I have learned that "way better than expected" before long term use is really not something I get excited about anymore.
 
Gonna' have to go with the Spyderco Slysz Bowie. Looking at it's pics and specs online do nothing to convey it's innate design and build quality.





 
Mo2 said:
Maserin AM-2 carbon fiber - really smooth and flips amazing great ergo's and that blade shape. a few negatives but nothing major (heavy since metal liners and only n690 steel blade). not sure on cost. i got mine very cheap, i believe its marked up way to high for what most retailers are selling it for.

ZT 0562CF - cf, titanium smooth ball bearing flipper for cheap used, between 150-220$ (240 new)

ZT 0804CF - amazing quality, super smooth at a great price. smoother than the 0562cf. 180-220$ (msrp is 280) in comparison to other knives that cost more.

Reate Horizon D CF - better than even the ZT 0804cf but at around $100 more (300-380$ used or like new) ceramic bearings, textured/milled cf and ti

overall the ZT's and Reate's i enjoy. i have a WE Knives manufactured one on the way. should be as good if not better than these. i have many others i like alot, but these blew me away.
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I like your knife choices and have 2 of them. You won't find a zt 804 anywhere new for 180-220$ though....

Russ
 
Knives that changed my world perception...... I got my first SAK (a Tinker) in 1983. Never thought they were very good knives. Still carry a SAK today.

There have been many knives since that first SAK that were a lot better than I expected. Maybe I impress easily. I picked up my first Benchmade AO this year, I was impressed with the overall quality. I didn't expect to like a typical Spyderco with the hole (my first was a Native). The blade shape does not excite me, but they work.
 
The Mnandi was one I was certain I would regret, but it is a the classiest knife I own. The Odino checks more boxes than any other single knife I own. It is "Goldielocks choice". The Hungarian got a little reshaping and has been a constant companion. It slices like a 3.6" scalpel. It turns pocket lint into fine powder when I walk.
It doesn't have to kick other knives out of my pocket, because the others have stopped trying. Right now, my adorable puppy is in his bed and the Hungarian is on my lap. Who's a good boy?

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I'm kind of ashamed to admit it - A Code 4 by Cold Steel. One of the sharpest knives I've received from the factory.
 
silverds said:
The Mnandi was one I was certain I would regret, but it is a the classiest knife I own. The Odino checks more boxes than any other single knife I own. It is "Goldielocks choice". The Hungarian got a little reshaping and has been a constant companion. It slices like a 3.6" scalpel. It turns pocket lint into fine powder when I walk.
It doesn't have to kick other knives out of my pocket, because the others have stopped trying. Right now, my adorable puppy is in his bed and the Hungarian is on my lap. Who's a good boy?

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Nice job on that Hungarian blade, should have come more "persian" from the factory like that IMHO.
 
Sanrenmu 7073LUC

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For 12$ its just stupidly well made. If it came in nicer packaging instead of a cheap plastic shell and cardboard you'd think its a premium product. The blade is so nicely polished, everything looks well constructed and it was the sharpest knife out of the box that I've seen so far.
 
benzy2 said:
Mine would be two. The Spyderco Chaparral has fit and finish for its price that are unmatched. It's just a real beautiful knife for the money and the blade steel is excellent as well. A very classy knife in the trend of heavy, thick, overbuilt knives.

Second, and a bit more so was the Boker Plus Exskelibur 1. The fit and finish is very nice. The blade size/shape/material/grind is great. Then the action is really good for nylon washers. Unbelievable really. Then you have the front flipper. It seems like the ideal opening mechanism. Less bulk than most standard flippers, no stud poking out in the blad. I had hopes it would be a nice knife but it was just a full package that continued to impress.

A few others have been as nice or nicer, but I was expecting they would and there wasn't as much surprise.
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I dnot agree with the boker plus exskelibur 1. i like the knife very much. but it has crap quality. the only impressive thing i like is the carbon fiber and the flipping action. take it apart, if you can lul, its junk inside. no lockbar, nylon washers, anodizing just rubs off, the titanium was stamped and the edges were never cleaned up, the tool to take it apart doesnt work, no hardened lockbar and super thin titanium. lockup is bad and if not will probably get there sooner than later because you want to flip it. Whats DETENT? thing just flips open when you shake it in your hand.

i enjoy this knife alot, going to eventually get an original from burger knives http://www.burgerknives.co.za/ which would be on my list here, if i had one.

mycough said:
I like your knife choices and have 2 of them. You won't find a zt 804 anywhere new for 180-220$ though....

Russ
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i got mine NEW on ebay. brand new for around that. they go for around 220 buy it now also. but yea, other than that you wont find any retailer selling it at that price.
 
Mo2 said:
I dnot agree with the boker plus exskelibur 1. i like the knife very much. but it has crap quality. the only impressive thing i like is the carbon fiber and the flipping action. take it apart, if you can lul, its junk inside. no lockbar, nylon washers, anodizing just rubs off, the titanium was stamped and the edges were never cleaned up, the tool to take it apart doesnt work, no hardened lockbar and super thin titanium. lockup is bad and if not will probably get there sooner than later because you want to flip it. Whats DETENT? thing just flips open when you shake it in your hand.

i enjoy this knife alot, going to eventually get an original from burger knives http://www.burgerknives.co.za/ which would be on my list here, if i had one.
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Maybe mine is just the perfect set of tolerances but I have literally none of the complaints you have. Every edge is rounded or chamfered. If you mean no lock bar stop, then correct. I don't see that as an issue. I know it's nylon washers but they are as smooth as any PB washers I've used. Maybe not quite as light but I feel no grit or grumble when opening the blade, fast or slow. The ano has been no better or worse than any other Ti scale from a looks or a wear point of view. The tool is a bit blah but there are other simple options. My lockup is right 55-60% and has been that way since day 1. If it's a problem I'll further down the road then I'll work on it then. My detent is not like that. I can't shake the blade out no matter how hard I shake. Again, maybe I just hit the tolerance lotto but mine hasn't shown the problems you state.
 
The Kizer Flashbang in the Vanguard Series, hell of a lot of knife for around $75.
 
The 20CV Griptillian for sure. I loved (eh..) my old Griptilian tanto in 154cm for the simple fact that it was with me during every emergency situation (rollover and two fires) and helped me out. I hated it for the fact it had cheap plastic feeling FRN handles. So I ridded of it long ago. But not to long ago a chance for a trade came up and I gave it another shot with the G10 model with my favorite new steel 20CV. This thing blew me away, and I already owned a Grip. Perfect amount of heft, feels way more solid, same amazing action, with a better steel (somewhat subjective :P) and a cooler look to it (that grey on blue).

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Ontario Rat 1, because the more I use it, the better it becomes (smoother, no blade play developed). This is from someone who owns Hinderer, Reate, ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco, and Cold Steel. Not saying Rat 1 is better than these other more experience knives, just that given its price, it is up to and beyond my expectation.

Knives like Reate Horizon D I should have high expectation because of the price point. Due to that, there is actually not much wow when receiving such knives.
 
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