Acceptable reasons to return a knife to the factory?

Yo Mama

Yo Mama

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
6,248
I really hope I'm in the majority but wanted to make sure. What are your acceptable reasons for returning a non-custom knife to the factory?

For me:

1. Dull as heck, and super duper steel (otherwise I'll sharpen myself)
2. Malfunctioning lock
3. Missing parts
4. Tolerance off so much that damage is caused by working with the blade.


I'm just getting annoyed with folks not getting a "perfect" blade, and expecting the manufacturer to "fix" a perfectly working blade.
 
I've returned knives that I simply have not liked once I get them in hand. I've never returned a knife because I had an issue with fit or finish or malfunctions. Only returned three that I wasn't pleased with simply because I felt like I had given too much for what the knife was in person.
 
Once I have a knife in my hand, I'm extremely reluctant to let it go again. If I spend under $100 for a knife, its never going back. I've had a brand new knife show up completely broken, but then I use it for an experiment and end up loving it even more :)
 
It really depends on the price of the knife. If I'm spending over a $150.00 then I expect it to be flawless. I won't hesitate to send it back to the factory if it comes with ANY of these issues.

Off center blade
blade play
weak detent
uneven grinds
 
Last edited:
I would send it back if it was busted... I have had 100's of knives, I have never sent one back...
 
bpeezer said:
Once I have a knife in my hand, I'm extremely reluctant to let it go again. If I spend under $100 for a knife, its never going back. I've had a brand new knife show up completely broken, but then I use it for an experiment and end up loving it even more :)
Click to expand...

That sums it up for me.
 
Yo Mama said:
I really hope I'm in the majority but wanted to make sure. What are your acceptable reasons for returning a non-custom knife to the factory?

For me:

1. Dull as heck, and super duper steel (otherwise I'll sharpen myself)
2. Malfunctioning lock
3. Missing parts
4. Tolerance off so much that damage is caused by working with the blade.


I'm just getting annoyed with folks not getting a "perfect" blade, and expecting the manufacturer to "fix" a perfectly working blade.
Click to expand...

If I spend $100+ on a knife I do expect some level of craftsmanship because I can just as easily pick up another knife for $10-$20 OR take my money elsewhere.

The only way to be clear is to simply form your own baseline. Collect characteristics of knives in price ranges, and different types of knives and compare.
What I found was pretty consistent. $80+ is about the point where machining should start to occur and quality levels should start to be near guaranteed.

Lastly I still find it puzzling that people think just because you like something it means you can't speak the truth about it.
 
texas gun person said:
I've returned knives that I simply have not liked once I get them in hand. I've never returned a knife because I had an issue with fit or finish or malfunctions. Only returned three that I wasn't pleased with simply because I felt like I had given too much for what the knife was in person.
Click to expand...

Buyer's Remorse isn't a valid reason to return a knife, IMO. Now if all you buy is AG Russell offerings, then its fine. AG's warranty is incredible.

But to return a knife just because you didn't feel you got your money's worth or didn't like the way they felt in your hand is not something I would do. Gift them or trade them. But to each their own.
 
Metal Made Fox said:
It really depends on the price of the knife. If I'm spending over a $150.00 then I expect it to be flawless. I won't hesitate to send it back to the factory if it comes with ANY of these issues.

Off center blade
blade play
weak detent
uneven grinds
Click to expand...


All but the weak detent is being pretty picky.

Most of the other things can be fixed by turning screws and sharpening.
 
Weak detent is tops for me, followed by a way off center (like rubbing the liner) blade that I can't fix. I can fix anything that has to do with grinds or sharpening. Another one that will cause a return is poor fit and finish on an expensive ($150+) knife.
However, I usually spend a little more and support my local shops. I can hold the knife and inspect it before I buy it so there are no return worries.
 
SPXTrader said:
Buyer's Remorse isn't a valid reason to return a knife, IMO. Now if all you buy is AG Russell offerings, then its fine. AG's warranty is incredible.

But to return a knife just because you didn't feel you got your money's worth or didn't like the way they felt in your hand is not something I would do. Gift them or trade them. But to each their own.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY (thank u for suming up my words i could not find)

thank god there some honest people left on this dying planet
 
I might be extreme here, but if they take returns, then any reason is good enough for me. It's my money. If I'm not satisfied, then I'll take that money somewhere else.


That said, I've only returned one knife. It had an s30v blade that chipped out about 1/8" on me.
 
that i accept
chopchop said:
I might be extreme here, but if they take returns, then any reason is good enough for me. It's my money. If I'm not satisfied, then I'll take that money somewhere else.


That said, I've only returned one knife. It had an s30v blade that chipped out about 1/8" on me.
Click to expand...


That said, I've only returned one knife. It had an s30v blade that chipped out about 1/8" on me.

the factoru used chippy 30 steel, that is why there us 35vc - carbon is good! said conan!

when the knife chips that is areturn but did you abuse it?

the only way the factory learns is from complaints in many cases! i wip out my engineer degree again.

once there was an incinerator commissioned, designed by enginners, approved by the army core of enginners....... 10 mins into my conference call,

did anyone think that slag will corode the insulating refractory? no!

it was builT!
it was unuseable!

it had been designed for 100lb/cu-ft material when it needed 160

scrap baby! what a mess

lesson: return stuff that fails, that is why my new knife i got today is 35vc not 30v
 
Last edited:
dragonsprayer said:
when the knife chips that is areturn but did you abuse it?

the only way the factory learns is from complaints in many cases! i wip out my engineer degree again.
Click to expand...

Well, abuse is all a matter of perspective. I cut a cat5 cable with it, and it chipped. Other knives I've had didn't fail like that. I had carried it for 3 or 4 yrs at that point. It was a benchmade mini ritter grip, and it had a warranty, so I sent it back. After talking with the BM rep, I think I ended up paying a small fee for either postage or the blade or the work. I can't remember. Either way, they fixed it for super cheap. I was happy. Good company.


Wow, that's a huge pooch screw on that incinerator! One of those things where it looked good on paper, and the designer probably wasn't an experienced user of the tech.
 
I've never returned a knife, but if I did it would have to be due to lock issues or some other major defect or malfunction.
 
I have never returned a brand new knife with issues to the factory. Always through the dealer. I have returned a few and I have become loyal to dealers who honor their return policy and stand behind what they sell. They take care of me, I'll support them with my business.

Poor FnF (ie lockback switch not flush with the handle, etc.), threaded screws, bladeplay/centering issues that I couldn't remedy are the reasons that I have made returns. Some are content with wiggly knives and that is fine, you may claim that it isn't grounds for a return, but I am not you. If I am not satisfied and unhappy with something new I just bought, it is as good as useless to me.
 
Last edited:
good thread:

return knives if you spot obvious issues, or if you use it and it fails under normal use.

Do not use the knife send it back, get a new one, send it back then tell us how smart u are - we find u and stick all the use knives in ya - joke!

if it is new and does not fit, just send it back and if you get service tell them why and they help u fit one, if it is dull call them and ask them. I took a new ZT 0550- black gen 2 - shave test - i have a complete bare spot on my arm.

i watched tv worked it back and forth for 2 hours, it now flips open with my tumb - my tumb is sore and 0550 is bitch too break in. new it would barely move - i expect it, and there is a good reason why

point: i researched it and new it needed a good break in, and for the price and the 35vc steel it better shave my arm - all of it! keeper! in the safe.

----------------------

off point

the reverse grip on the ZT0550 is very close too my edc $25 buck sandman - shtf - the zt is in my pack my edc. my back up $25 sandman (new) is too.


ok i got off point again ,,,yaya it is engineer, my index finger is crushed,,,no it was not a knife, weights dropped by others.


ok return bad knvies

return new knives that do not fit
return dull knives

do not use for a week camping then return a $20 knife and say it failed after you cut rope, fish, steel cans.........lol!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top