Default knife configurations you can't stand

[sgt1372]

Like guns & motorcycles, there are those that I prefer over others but there's not a knife (or gun or motorcycle) that I "can't stand,' regardless of how it's configured or where it's made.

I've still got a $5 Chinese made sub-2" auto that I bought at a gun show that's still sitting on my work bench that I play with from time to time..

Of course, I wouldn't buy a knife (gun or motorcycle) that I didn't like but I wouldn't throw one away if it were given to me for free either.

I'd just keep or "re-gift" it instead.

 

[HwangJino]

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

I was going to say Busse, but they're knives are far from perfect lol

 

[Greggy]

No recurves allowed. Other than that I try to avoid axis locks. That's it for me.

 

[Terry M.]

No recurves allowed. Other than that I try to avoid axis locks. That's it for me.

This is exactly what I came here to say.

 

[fielder]

No re curves, axis or frame locks. No very hard so called super steel that can't be sharpened easily enough.

 

[Danny Linguini]

What don’t you guys like about axis locks? Just curious. I have a few that I find work pretty well - they operate smoothly, and it’s easy to keep my fingers out of harm’s way. I haven’t had any fail (though I’m not exactly a hard user), and no blade play or lock stick when they’re engaged. The only thing I could see not liking is the knife pretty much has to be drop-shutty, cos too many fingers are busy releasing the lock to be able to manually close the blade at the same time. Again, just wondering. I’m not a fan of drop-shutty’s myself, but not so much that I avoid those lock types. I’d put push-button locks in that same category.

 

[ShaiHulud]

What don’t you guys like about axis locks? Just curious. I have a few that I find work pretty well - they operate smoothly, and it’s easy to keep my fingers out of harm’s way. I haven’t had any fail (though I’m not exactly a hard user), and no blade play or lock stick when they’re engaged. The only thing I could see not liking is the knife pretty much has to be drop-shutty, cos too many fingers are busy releasing the lock to be able to manually close the blade at the same time. Again, just wondering. I’m not a fan of drop-shutty’s myself, but not so much that I avoid those lock types. I’d put push-button locks in that same category.

I usually release axis locks with two hands, actually I release most folding knives that way, im not a fan of fidgeting and guillotine drop shutting knives, as well as flicking knives open, dont need them out that fast

 

[Tensaw]

What don’t you guys like about axis locks? Just curious. I have a few that I find work pretty well - they operate smoothly, and it’s easy to keep my fingers out of harm’s way. I haven’t had any fail (though I’m not exactly a hard user), and no blade play or lock stick when they’re engaged. The only thing I could see not liking is the knife pretty much has to be drop-shutty, cos too many fingers are busy releasing the lock to be able to manually close the blade at the same time. Again, just wondering. I’m not a fan of drop-shutty’s myself, but not so much that I avoid those lock types. I’d put push-button locks in that same category.

For me, it's the blade free falling on the drop and the very weak or lack of a detent. And I put plunge/button locks in the same category. I don't have one, but the new button operated liner locks that are coming out do interest me.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Im not a fan of knives where the locking mechanism is designed to be right where they designed your fingers to naturally rest

 

[Terry M.]

What don’t you guys like about axis locks? Just curious. I have a few that I find work pretty well - they operate smoothly, and it’s easy to keep my fingers out of harm’s way. I haven’t had any fail (though I’m not exactly a hard user), and no blade play or lock stick when they’re engaged. The only thing I could see not liking is the knife pretty much has to be drop-shutty, cos too many fingers are busy releasing the lock to be able to manually close the blade at the same time. Again, just wondering. I’m not a fan of drop-shutty’s myself, but not so much that I avoid those lock types. I’d put push-button locks in that same category.

I’ve tried a number of Benchmades over the years and I just can’t get past the thought of that spring breaking when I really need the knife. It’s engrained in my head. And I’ve NEVER had one actually have that happen to me oddly enough.

 

[goldie]

Ive had Benchmade axis locks since the 710 was out in 1998 ; in 26 years ive never broken a spring.And the ritter grips from Hogue use springs made by Wolff who make springs for guns too.....

 

[ToddM]

I can see that, I have had a BM axis spring break on a Rift, it was still functional but was a bummer. It's kind of like I don't like that Spyderco uses plastic for their ball bearing lock button on the Manix etc. I personally have not had one fail, but we've certainly seen them fail, granted a chunk of them appear to get broken by those disassembling their knife. However I still stand by my opinion that no part of the locking mechanism or activation of it should be plastic.

 

[Flatsman007]

You would love this sharp prybar! By one of my favorite forum makers @David Mary !View attachment 2938230View attachment 2938231

I have some that would qualify as well just not my favorite configuration of a cutting tool. A pry bar would be better to use as pry bar and a cutting tool as a cutting tool is my point.

 

[SharpBits]

I have some that would qualify as well just not my favorite configuration of a cutting tool. A pry bar would be better to use as pry bar and a cutting tool as a cutting tool is my point.

99.9% of David’s knives are cutting machines, but sometimes he makes something “just because “.

 

[norcalAF]

No recurves allowed. Other than that I try to avoid axis locks. That's it for me.

You must be lusting after an amphibian

 

[ShaiHulud]

Though not strictly a default configuration--- teplaceable blade folding knives, just could never be swept up by them.

 

[ToddM]

Not sure this is really a configuration, but blades that have so much material removed for a thumbhole etc. that they look like you could snap the blade if you looked at it wrong, or dropped it on a hard floor.

I've never broke a blade (aside at the tip), probably never will, and we really never hear about blade failures like this, but there's something that just feels "wrong" about removing 80% of the material near the pivot where any leverage put on the blade is going to be focused and magnified.

Probably just ignorance on my part, and they are 10x stronger than my brain believes, but it just seems like a poor practice.

 

[TSR2]

RIghty only options

 

[RubiSoHo]

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

How about framelocks in general?

 

[scorpnsnake]

How about framelocks in general?

Love em!