Are you taken in by "overbuilt" marketing?

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If a car engine has more horsepower than you need, no problem: you're still getting from A to B as fast or faster than with a weaker engine.

If a knife is overbuilt, I've a problem: It cuts far worse than any random 10 $ knife. And that's embarrassing.
 
Kai Corp. said:
I get it, lot's of folks don't need a Hemi with a Supercharger either. Want, now that is another perspective. :)
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I need a folder that cuts. So for me, an Opinel is a supercharged hemi and these clunky, overbuilt, slabby folders are Yugos.
 
I held an Adamas for the first time a few days ago; damn that thing is thick! But it inspires more confidence than, say, a PM2 which will slice better. A knife manufacturer's main job is to provide knives for people across the board. Some forum members swear by Texas Toothpicks, some prefer 0550s. I'm just glad there are so many options in the market today.
 
Some people think bigger is better.... Or more is better. It's like all the dudes who brag about having a 9 inch penis. If you can only fit 7 inches of it in what good is having a 9 inch penis?
 
I tend to just buy a pocket knife that suits my everyday needs. If it's much more than 3 inches closed, and 3 to 4 ounces in weight, I won't bother with it. But then, I'm definitely not a SHTF type of person. If the knife doesn't ride well in a pair of Dockers for dress casual, I won't carry it. If I'm going to where things may get rough, like in the wilderness camping scene, I'll pack along a sheath knife or hatchet. I view the entire overbuilt folder thing as an over hyped artificial market with a product solution to a non existent problem. First, any knife that folds in the middle is half broken anyway. If I really want that rugged a knife, I'll have the right tool along.

I've been very lucky to have been a lot of places in the world that things are a bit more primitive than here in the U.S. North Africa, Southeast Asia, Central American rain forrest. The only place I've seen overbuilt folder is here in the U.S. among young male knife buyers. The rest of the world seems to get by very well with Tramontina machete's, Douk_Douk's,Opinel's, and no name local made machete with 1/8th inch stock. And these are people who live a SHTF existence every day, just to get by.
 
SnG, Sebenza, ZT0801, Umnumzaan, Spyderco Southard
Those are about as big as I like, anything bigger and I'd just get a fb. They are all overbuilt, but still cut good enough for me.
 
Beefy and quality build is good, but many of them have worthless geometry for cutting. A thick 2" wide blade with a tiny less than half width grind looks terrible and cuts worse.

Stock thickness is nearly irrelevant. Geometry cuts.
 
I like the 'overbuilt' folders to an extent... I also like under six ounces.

I can only imagine how (if?) some of those Medford folders cut... But Hinderers and FFG Striders are overbuilt and still useful as knives!
 
I like a great variety of knives, as my collection and experience grow, my taste broadens to include new types of knives. So I've got a few "overbuilt" folders (mainly ZTs, an Adamas and a couple of CS folders).

I don't think I need an overbuilt folder, nor do I think they are the right answer to the search for a stronger tool. If you routinely need a very strong knife, carry a fixed blade (I worked outdoors for years and never relied on folders). There might be a group of people, a niche market, that actually do need a super beefy folder. Luckily for the rest of us, we can still buy them just because we enjoy them.

I like my 0550, that's reason enough to own and use it. Plus, so far I haven't found it to be any worse than my thinner lighter folders at cutting the things I usually need to cut.

I do avoid overbuilt folders that give up too much cutting performance to increase toughness (the same goes for overly thick fixed blades).
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Beefy and quality build is good, but many of them have worthless geometry for cutting. A thick 2" wide blade with a tiny less than half width grind looks terrible and cuts worse

Stock thickness is nearly irrelevant. Geometry cuts.
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Excellent point. Like you say, if these things had a full flat grind instead of a saber they might stand half a chance of being a decent cutter.
 
I bought a few knives that were marketed as "overbuilt" mainly because I liked the look of them but
after carrying for a bit, I determined that I have absolutely no interest in them and have began getting rid of them.
 
I don't care for them at all, but its not because I'm turned off by the marketing. I prefer a lighter weight knife that cuts well.
The heaviest knife I'll carry is a large Sebenza(not a 25 with thicker .140 blade), but I don't really consider it to be overbuilt even though I guess it is. It just doesn't seem like it when compared to many of the bricks out there.
 
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My GEC slip joints.... as Mary Popkins said ... "Simply Perfect". Actually I'm a fan of a slightly larger slip joint, which some might call "over built" or over sized.

I'm still trying to convince myself that I "need" a ZT.

The marketing hype does little for me. But I think you choose a knife based on your typical usage.
 
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When I read the title, I immediately thought of fixed blades...
As far as folders - the ZT0550 is probably my favorite of their lineup, though I'm sure it is "overbuilt" by many standards. I've got a Manix2 XL (purchased only to sample S90V); which is big, but doesn't feel right to me. The Gayle Bradley is better, but still not right. My thing with folders is that I don't like knives that feel too small in hand, especially if I'm going to be using it for a while; so I do gravitate toward things like the BM 581 and ZT 0550 (though my old Kershaw Vapor II, has probably seen the most pocket time over the years).
Fixed blades are a different story. Overbuilt has more of a purpose, and makes sense in some applications...but the line is often more fuzzy? Is a Kabar BK7 overbuilt? Not in my mind. An ESEE 5? Maybe - depends on what I'm gong to be doing. Some would argue that Busse is overbuilt, or MBB. I probably wouldn't deny either claim...but that doesn't mean I don't want them. (Of course an MBB M4 isn't practical for EDC in MY life, so it sits on my desk most of the time)
 
Applies to overbuilt knives too. Marketing can be very persuasive.

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jackknife said:
The only place I've seen overbuilt folder is here in the U.S. among young male knife buyers.
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Hey, I don't live in the USA. :mad:
But thanks for calling me young. :D

Today on the way to the gym I took a quick hike and cut down a Hawthorne with my Cold Steel G-10 Espada XL, in order to make a really snazzy walking stick (once the wood is seasoned, that is). :thumbup:

The Espada XL cut it down quicker than the saw on my Swisschamp would...for the purpose I was using it for, it was the right tool.
And fits in the backpack easier than a Junglas does.

Did I need that much knife? In this case it certainly made the task easier and quicker, and the reach of it made getting those annoying thorns out of the way a cinch. :)

My Spyderco Lava would not have done the trick, although, to be fair, neither would my SmF or CQC-12.
 
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