Am I getting too picky or have standards dropped off?

I'd say hit or miss with me on everything I buy. From electronics to even knives. Bought my 1st Bark River NIB arrived with a terrible and unfinished grind very tip was squared off, Fixed myself and is a user anyways. But I have bought 2 from kaBar a mass production in comparison, from the BK series and they were perfect, and I preceded to remove the finish and convex them anyhow :).... I think it has always been like that even "back in the good ol days"
 
The part that really bugs me is getting them back from warranty work with scratches on them that weren't there before. This has now happened to me twice, and I'm not dealing with small time/cheap makers here either, I'm talking about some of the biggest most sought after names in the mid-tech arena.
 
I've never had any issues with Spyderco and Benchmade. I've a few less than perfect customs, but only one had an issue and it wasn't cosmetic, it was a lock issue. If you want absolute perfection shell out $3,000+ for a Tony Bose. Otherwise, you're probably going to find some miniscule imperfection in most knives. I haven't had any issues with scratches or off center blades from Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw, or CRK. In fact the only time I've received blades with scratches are fixed blades that have kydex sheaths.
 
LadyEarth said:
The use of "OCD" is the use of a modern cultural description of a human behavior where a person can go overboard while doing a particular activity/action. It does not have to be the literal medical definition.

As for redundancy itself, just by the fact that the person over-examines a knife for flaws only to turn around and abuse it to oblivion is a redundancy; he or she no longer can validated the action of being picky about the cosmetics of knives they buy after subjecting said knives to it's intended tool functions.
re·dun·dan·cy
riˈdəndənsē
noun
noun: redundancy

1.
the state of being not or no longer needed or useful.

Such is the beauty of the English language. I hope the above helped to make sense for you.
Click to expand...

I'm curious where you found this definition of redundancy as I have never seen/heard it used this way (correctly at any rate). I understand that language is fluid and perhaps through usage the meaning has evolved but in my understanding the meaning of redundancy is : the state or condition of being superfluous or unnecessary by virtue of repetition. Therefore to meticulously examine a knife for flaws only to beat and abuse it later is not a redundanncy, although some might consider it insanity. Examining the knife for flaws repeatedly could be considered a redundancy as could owning two of the same knife...just sayin...
re·dun·dan·cy
noun \ri-ˈdən-dən(t)-sē\

: the act of using a word, phrase, etc., that repeats something else and is therefore unnecessary

: a word, phrase, etc., that repeats something else and is therefore unnecessary : a redundant word, phrase, etc.

: a part in a machine, system, etc., that has the same function as another part and that exists so that the entire machine, system, etc., will not fail if the main part fails
 
Helotone said:
I'm curious where you found this definition of redundancy as I have never seen/heard it used this way (correctly at any rate). I understand that language is fluid and perhaps through usage the meaning has evolved but in my understanding the meaning of redundancy is : the state or condition of being superfluous or unnecessary by virtue of repetition. Therefore to meticulously examine a knife for flaws only to beat and abuse it later is not a redundanncy, although some might consider it insanity. Examining the knife for flaws repeatedly could be considered a redundancy as could owning two of the same knife...just sayin...
re·dun·dan·cy
noun \ri-ˈdən-dən(t)-sē\

: the act of using a word, phrase, etc., that repeats something else and is therefore unnecessary

: a word, phrase, etc., that repeats something else and is therefore unnecessary : a redundant word, phrase, etc.

: a part in a machine, system, etc., that has the same function as another part and that exists so that the entire machine, system, etc., will not fail if the main part fails
Click to expand...

Yeah, after reading that post I was just left shaking my head and considering, decided to not pursue a conversation with such a master of our language's fluidity. :)
 
I'm fascinated with everyone's takes and opinions on this wonderful and rather addictive hobby of ours.
I've been diagnosed OCD, and have discussed my knife obsession with my psychiatrist on many occasions. My take on this topic is you will never be happy if you suffer from OCD, I collect mainly higher end production and mid techs, and I can find something wrong on every knife Ive own, I have returned CRK because one screws shows machining lines, returned a ZT because I don't like one line on the stone washed handle facing a certain direction. Getting stressed out and lost sleep over a 1mm dark spot on my Sebenza 25. A grind line on the blade of a ZT 0392 that reflect just a little too much under certain lighting condition. Sold a PM 2 because the screws has scratches.... So it goes on, and this is not counting real functional issues. I think my knife dealer tolerates me because I spend so much money with them. I guess I'm rambling a bit. The truth of the matter is if you are anything like me, then there is no such a thing as a perfect knife, no matter how much money you spend or how many knives you've examined.
The simple act of handling and touching a knife would introduce choas to it that will not be possible to revert back to its original condition, and it only deteriorate from there.
So if you are not at my level of OCD, then be happy with some minor blemishes otherwise it'll take all the fun out off this hobby and turn it into a sickness.
PS I do have a Sebenza 21, that I consider absolutely flawless, which never left my house. Sad but this is partly the reason I'm still chasing the next perfect knife....
 
5 pages not a single picture. dont know exactly if everyone is on the same page. Every new knife I bought looks terribly messed up under magnifying glass.
 
Since I use my knives a minor mark on the blade just isn't a big deal to me.
 
Fanglekai said:
This thread is old.
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This, and imperfections in manufacturing were solved like 6 months ago. /sarcasm
This is a never ending topic. I actually really liked the post by @lai77120. Thanks @lai77120! :)

My (unofficial) OCD is selective. I had to own a $400 knife so that I could finally really use my Spyderco Stretch. Now the Stretch gets used just like my $15 knives I (ab)used as a child.

The (or maybe all) forums are an insanely vocal minority that I question the true usefulness of (the insanely vocal part). Sure, they keep the manufacturers on their toes, but they also make us all a little more OCD, and not in a good way (for me).
 
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Thanks Nullity, this is my first time posting on BF, didn't realise how old this thread is.
I'm struggling to figure out how to attach a simple cellphone picture here. Any tips?
While I'm typing this, still thinking about that 1mm dark spot on my sebe 25, and I swear when I check it this morning it looks like it's getting bigger! So I took a measuring tape to it.. Still 1mm😂
Who need an OCD support group when you have BF right? 😅
 
I'm willing to put up with imperfections here and there in production knives; it's just the nature of production. However, the higher the price point, the less willing I am to deal with it.

The only 100% absolutely perfect knife I've ever received was my custom shoppe Buck 110.
 
I'm not saying this to be a dick, but you sound an awful lot like my wife - who is diagnosed OCD. Might be something to talk to a health professional about if you're at the stage where it has started ruining your fun.
 
Zombie thread from two years ago. Further proof that OCD is common to all collectors.

*****************************


"5 pages not a single picture."

Now that's an interesting observation. It's something I've observed myself in the most recent threads on these forums. People are becoming more dependent on visual aids and less used to actually writing responses. And much of what is written shows poor spelling, grammar, etc. Probably further proof of the downfall of Western civilization.

(Sorry. I seldom get to apply the information from my college sociology classes these days.):)
 
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