Default knife configurations you can't stand

[ShaiHulud]

To clarify, what are some knife configurations adopted by most companies that irritate you to no end, for some its the lanyard holes, for others its the ---?

I'll start, and im probably alone on this but I get irritated that a lot of folding knives are configured with a tip up design, I prefer tip down, whats your beef?

 

[edgelion]

Frameless composite scales.

No hate, but no sale, either.

 

[Delgadonine]

Fixed blades that are perfect.

Yet, they didn't give the same amount of attention and skill to the sheath.

 

[Danke42]

Swiss Army knives. Too complicated, it's always the wrong blade when you flick them open.

 

[norcalAF]

Swiss Army knives. Too complicated, it's always the wrong blade when you flick them open.

Right?! Sometimes it's a corkscrew, sometimes it's a Phillips!

 

[ShaiHulud]

Fixed blades that are perfect.

Yet, they didn't give the same amount of attention and skill to the sheath.

Far too common unfortunately

 

[Comprehensivist]

Fixed blades that are perfect.

Yet, they didn't give the same amount of attention and skill to the sheath.

Far too common unfortunately

I agree with this sentiment.

Even worse are perfect fixed blades that don’t even come with a sheath. The last thing I want to do after buying a pricey knife is dealing with the hassle, expense, and wait of shipping it off to have a custom sheath made. I have adopted a strict “no sheath / no buy” policy on handmade fixed blades.

Phil

 

[ShaiHulud]

I agree with this sentiment.

Even worse are perfect fixed blades that don’t even come with a sheath. The last thing I want to do after buying a pricey knife is dealing with the hassle, expense, and wait of shipping it off to have a custom sheath made. I have adopted a strict “no sheath / no buy” policy on handmade fixed blades.

Phil

Good points, another sheath gripe is kydex with nothing but lashing holes, I imagine they aren't catering to people like me because I don't live in a molle vest or wear an adventure pack as much as I wear a shirt

 

[Deino]

Not default, but very common: Small sharp angle choil... Yes easier for resharpening, but the drawback of compromising blade strength most of the time isn't worth it.

I agree with this sentiment.

Even worse are perfect fixed blades that don’t even come with a sheath. The last thing I want to do after buying a pricey knife is dealing with the hassle, expense, and wait of shipping it off to have a custom sheath made. I have adopted a strict “no sheath / no buy” policy on handmade fixed blades.

Phil

Meanwhile, I ordered knives without sheath because I like to DIY my own. It makes me feel like I do contribute to the knife as I own it (also I'm cheap ). Though, I do agree that custom knife makers should be able to offer sheath to come with their knife.

Good points, another sheath gripe is kydex with nothing but lashing holes, I imagine they aren't catering to people like me because I don't live in a molle vest or wear an adventure pack as much as I wear a shirt

I understand the frustration, but you don't need much to weave through the holes to make your mounting points. It doesn't need to be mounted with pals/molle neither, it is quite flexible.

 

[Shorttime]

Features that get in the way of holding the knife. Not everybody on the design side seems to really pay attention to how your hand moves the knife about when you use it. Lots of notches and swoopy thumb ramps give you lots of surface area to hold on to, but they can also mean that having a comfortable, secure grip makes you have to move your whole arm to make the cut, or do things with your wrist that will either tell you if your have tendonitis, or help it along!

 

[scorpnsnake]

Overly stiff framelock lockbars with bad access. Access locks with no detents. Touchy lockbars that impede deployment. lol

 

[EatingSarma]

Pointy knives with no guard.

Holes and cutouts on blades on fixed blade knives.

 

[elde66]

The “scourge” of plunge-type button locks.

 

[The Hawk]

I have purchased quality knives with sub-par sheaths. That is annoying to say the least.

 

[Dagoth_Blur]

Lanyard holes on folders that screw up the placement of the pocketclip. (Looking at you spyderco)

 

[ShaiHulud]

No to knives designed in part to be fidget toys, this is a platform civivi ran with on many models with their button locks--- I dont need to fidget with a knife, anxious hands and sharp objects aren't a match made in heaven

 

[Jsega51]

Dual thumb studs.

 

[not2sharp]

Knives that are made in an endless alphabet of knife steels. I am looking for a useful knife not a collection of wall hangers. Pick the best steel for your design and leave it at that; why would you also produce an endless range of sub-par clones. Also, when you do find a new steel, design a knife that leverages its key properties, don’t just bolt another blade onto an old frame.

N2s

 

[Boattale]

Liner lock, followed closely by frame lock.

 

[Quiet]

I used to join threads like these and spend many, many words talking about things I don't like on knives, my "Will Not Buy a Knife If..." lists and so on....and then it came to a point where I realized that I owned at least a few knives in my collection that I enjoy that broke all or most of those "Don't wants", so these days I'll just say that I enjoy some traits more than others, but if I like the knife for other reasons (materials, steel, maker, etc.) all of those things can be overriden. Your mileage, as always, may vary.