Disappointing First Impressions

T

The Towcutter

Joined
Jan 16, 2001
Messages
166
I see and hear about the majority of knives on the net before I see them in person. Sometimes I'll go to a gun/knife show just to see if anyone has some of the knives that I've seen on the net, but never touched.

For the most part, the knives....when seen in person, have exceeeded my expectations. These brands, however, are the exception. Suprisingly they are pretty popular and sought after..

1. TI Knives. I loved this knife on the net. Looked awesome and they seem to be well respected for their quality. I looked at three different models at diffent knife shows and I was shocked by how poorly they were put together. There was so much bladeplay that it was unusable. They were also very dull. I would have blown it off as a defect if it had only been one example, but all the ones I've seen have been this way. Very surprising!

2. William Henry. I heard great things about these knives also. I checked some out at a gunshop awhile ago. I again was suprised by how much I did not like them. I know they are gentlemans knives, but they feel very weak. Too thin to hold. The ones I handled were almost like an unfinshed liner lock. Basically very thin steel slabs with some overlay on them. The overlay looked cheap and they had that generic "seki" look to them. Seki Japan makes great knives, but I could get a seki cut for alot cheaper than this WH. I checked out there carbon fiber handled models next. The liner was so thin that I mistook it for a knockoff flea market knife. Very bad. Carbon Fiber was nice quality though.


3. Sebenza. The king of production folding knives. Well the fit an finish are intoxicating. Everything everyone said it is. But....... I can't operate it. The action is very stiff and I cannot get the lock to disengage with one hand. I like the knife, but I'm skittish around that action, too much effort on that thumbstud/locking frame....one slip and my thumb is split open !!!!

I'll get the Sebbie another try. Maybe I need a used/broken in one.

What knives dissapointed you???
 
The Sebenza is hard to open unless you have the right technique. You have to make sure that you are putting all your force outward from the handle, not down onto the thumbstud. It is easy once you are used to it.

The William Henry Evolution series of knives are not as elaborate of as finely finished as "true" William Henry knives. They are manufactred overseas and probably don't get the same personal attention that the semi-custom models do. They are, however, very fine using knives, and they make excellent usable "gent" knives. No one should hesitate to pick one up if they are in the market for that sort of knife.
 
Originally posted by Steven Roos
The Sebenza is hard to open unless you have the right technique. You have to make sure that you are putting all your force outward from the handle, not down onto the thumbstud. It is easy once you are used to it.
Click to expand...


Steven Roos is correct, it took a few weeks of playing with my first sebbie before I started getting the actions down. Closing with one hand is not any different than other frame locks.



Steve
 
I agree with the others that the Sebbie has to be broken in to some degree. I had a difficult time closing my first Sebbie until it got broken. Once it got broken it opened and closed more smoothly than any knife I've owned. Just be patient and give it time. Good luck.
 
Same here, I just recently got a Strider SnG and I had to break it in so to speak...about 300-500 cycles and it starts to become easier to open, and you get used to how to disengage the frame lock. Now - it's like butter and built like a tank. A LG Sebenza is next on my list.
 
Disappointments?

I've been surprised at the number of custom knives I've received that have been poorly sharpened. I don't think of myself as being very proficient at sharpening, but I'd say about 50% of the time I receive a custom knife, I could easily put a better edge on the knife in about 10 minutes of work. I am perplexed by this as it seems like such an important and easily addressed detail.

Kevin Cashen is exemplary in this regard. Even on pieces that are highly unlikely to be used, he has great edges even when examined under a microscope.

I've also been surprised by the number of custom knives that have poor grind lines. The worst offenders seem to be limited run tactical fixed-blade knives in the $750 range. I've seen lots of asymmetrical grinds, incomplete grinds, off-line tips and so on. What's really surprising is that these aren't subtle - they are obvious under even casual inspection. I get the feeling that the maker gets to about #16/25, screws up, and just can't suck it up and trash the blade.

I have never seen this on a Neil Blackwood knife, and I've looked at a fair number of his blades over an extended period of time. I've seen considerably fewer Brend blades, but have never seen a detail out of place on his grinds.
 
Originally posted by The Towcutter
I checked out there carbon fiber handled models next. The liner was so thin that I mistook it for a knockoff flea market knife. Very bad. Carbon Fiber was nice quality though.
Click to expand...

I have two carbon fiber model WH knives: a CF Lancet and a B&T Persian. Don't let that first impression lead you astray -- the liners are every bit as thick as they need to be (there's no flex when you apply pressure to the spine) and lock-up is rock solid on both knives. No, they're not "hard use" knives but they are absolutely first rate for their intended purpose.
 
I got to see a tactical tanto style blade by a certain Canadian Mastersmith and the grind lines were all crooked and the grooves filed into the thumb ramp were unevenly spaced and cut to different depths and not on purpose I might add. I was quite surprised. Maybe it was just this one because I've seen his other knives and they are very nice.
 
First, it depends upon how much I paid, or was being asked. The more a knife costs, the more I expect. Second, I can live with some disappointment if the cure isn't too expensive or too much of a hassle.

Half of the Benchmades I have purchased have had problems - blade centering, pivot issues, dull blades, etc. However, I keep on buying them as users because of the price point, the customer service for warrantee fixes, and my ability to sharpen knives.

Like Gabe, I am shocked at how many custom knives by some popular makers have DULL blades and grind issues. Only Dozier and Murray Carter hand made knives have consistently had blazing sharp edges.

I have never been disappointed by the fit and finish of a Chris Reeve knife, and own several. However, I do not particularly care for the ergonomics of the butt end of the classic Sebbies.
 
The only knife I was ever disappointed enough to send back was A Boker Klotzli folder. There was nothing really wrong with the knife, but I was into tactical folders at the time and this was basically a gent's knife. I sent it back and got a Military instead and was very satisfied.
 
I handled some Busse knives for the first time at the Blade show and I really didn't like the balance of the blades at all. I have no doubt they are as tough as they come, but I'd rather have a good forged blade. About William Henry, I was extremely impressed with their booth at Blade. A liner lock doesn't need to be thick to function well. It's all about the geometry where it engages the tang. They're thin and light for a reason.
 
You can adjust the sebenza to make it work exactly as you please.
It may take a few tries but it is very simple. First, loosen the pivot and stop pin screws just a tad, then take off the clip and bend the lock bar ever so gently past full open until it is at the pressure that satisfies you...........

I would also recomment taking it apart and using some less sticky grease on all four sides of the pivot pins and all around the pivot hole on the blade...........you can make it so that it flies out and unlocks very easily.

Dont do this at home...........we are professionals!!! :p :eek: :p
 
Chris would scold you about bending the lock bar outward to adjust lock bar pressure. What, are you some type of framelock expert or something?

:D

Professor.
 
The only two knives that I can think of that were disappointments to me was a Kershaw Trooper, as it was ALOT smaller when I received it than I had envisioned it to be (eventho I did have the measurements), and a Buck Intrepid II that had HORRIBLE (un-even & wavy) grind-lines.
 
The two knives that come to mind that I was unhappy were the Benchmade 705 and a Delta Z High Tech folder. The Delta Z was just no put together that well in my opinion. The liner lock seemed near useless, mostly there for decoration. There was also a lot og blade play. to make the wobble go away, you had to tighten the pivot so tight it took two hands to open the knife. The Benchmade 705 was a disappointment from an ergonomic standpoint. It was just too thick for it's size. Like a short fat chick, the porportions just weren't right. I'm not opposed to small knives, just couldn't warm up to this one.

Speaking of small knives, don't underestimate the strength of a William Henry Carbon Fiber Lancet. It's a Tactical knife in the truest sense of the word. A tactical knife needs to be there when you need it. The T-10 is small enough and light enough to be carried all the time, everywhere. It's also made from absolitely top shelf materials and will take a lot more abuse that you imagine. The lock is very secure and the blade is wicked sharp. It's a lot of knife in a vanishingly small package.

Regarding the Sebbie, I also find them stiff out of the box, but they do seem to break in over time. I still haven't been able to warm up to a large Sebenza's ergonomics and find them difficult to open comfortably, but the small Sebenza is a near perfect pocket knife ergonomically as far as my hands are concerned. The Lil Sebbie is an absolute dream. I like it so much I might have to get another plain one that I can carry and beat on as I can't seem to bring myself to carry and beat on the decorated unique graffic one I have.

I recently got a Microtech Vector and was surprised to find an obvious flaw in teh blade grind lines. It was on teh opposite side from where the logo goes but it perplexes me that a knife like that would leave the factory. It probably doesn't affect it as a user, but is obvious to anyone who looks at it. My other Microtechs are near flawless so this one caught me off guard. I'm still not sure whether to sell it or keep it.

The only other knife that dissapointed me a bit was my Buck Mayo. I know it's a production knife, but after handling a couple real Mayos, I had expected more. I really love the overall design, but even after a trip to the factory it still doesn't seem quite right.

jmx
 
I have never been disappointed with a Sebenza, the few i have seen that werent smooth as glass, were made so by disassembling and properly lubing them with CR fluorinated grease. They can be made much smoother than they come from the factory, and with no polishing, just proper lubrication with grease. Took my SnG apart the other day, lubed it exactly as it shoud be, and it just isnt nearly as smooth as any Sebenza ive seen, its consistant, but you can feel a lot of friction, tweaking the pivot doesnt help, its just not an inherrently smooth knife, the AR is much smoother IMO, but for ultimate smoothness, and with bronze bushings, not teflon which is "cheating" the Sebenza is at the top, if properly greased, and the Boguszewskis are right up there with it. I have to admit though, my AR has become amazingly smooth for the type of knife it is. Hint, put a dab of a quality synthetic gun/knife grease on the tip of the detent ball, work it in, it helps.

I have been repeatedly disappointed with custom knives in general, it seems like something just short of a miracle is needed to acquire a custom that is basically without any significant flaws, i cant tell you how many knives i have examined, some of them by some of the top makers, that had blade play, way off center blades, and the most aggrivating flaw, a poorly executed lock.

My most surprising knife was a Lightfoot designed CRKT "Urban Shark" my wife got me, for $11 on Ebay, its actually a very well made smaller knife, for $11, i should have gotten 10 of them. :)

Most disappointing isnt a knife i bought, but when i had the chance to examine a group of custom Emersons, about 15 of them, i was appaled at the poor quality control, especially on knives in the $1200+ price range.
 
Megs,
youre gonna get people all fired up here! actually I havent really had any bad experiences as of late. In regards to the WH problems towcutter, they were probably the cheaper WH's- for sure, and I havent had any problems with Sebenzas- theyre real smoooooth!:D
 
My largest disappointments have come in the area of cutting performance. After growing up with slipjoints, most tactical folders tend to be very thick at the edge bevel, resulting in reduced cutting performance. I often end up thinning the edges on my blades, just to get a knife that cuts halfway decently. I was appalled by the cutting abilities of both my Benchmade 730 (which I traded away) and my CRKT M-16 spearpoint.
 
My most recent disappointment was really just a cosmetic one, but enough to make me take a pass on buying... and that was with the new desert tan Beckers. I really like Beckers, I have two... a BK-9 and the best of the bunch, the BK-5. Their handles work for me, so I cannot quibble there. The desert tan models initially looked sexy from the internet point of view, but I decided to wait until I could see one in person. Boy was I glad I waited... the desert tan color coating on the blade is kind of annoying... almost a pastel color. The handle colors looked great though. Like I said, this is a cosmetic disappointment only... but I don't want a pastel knife! If Becker makes them a little darker, they would have a winner in my book.
 
My biggest disappointments are from custom makers (unfortunately, I expect problems with production knives), and particularly around folders.

Sloppy fit and finish, stripped clip screws, lock problems (not fully behind the tang, tang angle not steep enough, lock passing the tang and going all the way to other side). Bad heat treats, etc. Or a table FULL of folders thrown together for a show, with much variability in fit/finish and lockup, even among identical models. Some of you can venture a guess as to who (2 different makers) I'm talking about.

I just expect a custom maker to nail this stuff, no excuses, for the kind of money they get... usually $400 for a tactical folder and on upward.
 
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