Everyone posts......................

MThunter · Jan 10, 2000

Okay all, I have seen posts about "favotite this or that" "carry what" and "best Tactical who" I have a new one for you. Tell me what it is you look for in a knife, when you first look at a knife, and decide if you like it or not. What is it you are looking at? I believe
That you can like both Tactical knives and Tradition knives, does not have to be one or the other.
What turns me on to a particular knife is mainly the lines, do they flow? I also look at the edge, does it have a well designed edge, for its purpose? I have seen many knives with beautiful lines, then the cutting edge ruined the appeal.
Makers, I also want to know what you are looking for when you design a knife.
This all may be hard to put into words, I think it is, but I also think it would be interesting to see what other people look for in the knives they buy

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Tis better to be the hunter......than the hunted

Rex · Jan 10, 2000

Fit and finish. good attention to details.Neat workmanship

UW Mitch · Jan 11, 2000

Aesthetics (looks) make me pick it up. Ergonomics keep it in my hand. Fit and finish, and overall sharpness and quality make be want to buy it.

~Mitch

TheMartialWay · Jan 10, 2000

UW Mitch said it all. Thanks UW for saving me the time of posting.....Arrgh! I just posted.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"

rkellogg · Jan 10, 2000

Mitch took the words right out of my mouth. Even though everybody's taste is different, looks are what gets the ball rolling.

rk

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As for me and my house...

Joshua 24:15

scanpro · Jan 10, 2000

It just has to look right. And also what kind of mood I'm in that day!

Jim

[This message has been edited by scanpro (edited 01-10-2000).]

Elvislives · Jan 10, 2000

The button...

FullerH · Jan 10, 2000

Does it "sing" to me? By this, I mean "Does it have emotional appeal as well as utilitarian appeal?" An example would be a discussion that I had with ptalpha. While the Spydie Wegner may be an ultimately utile device, it has little emotional appeal FOR ME, while the REKAT Sifu, which has little utility for me just croons to me like Old Blue Eyes himself. Does that explain anything or just convince people how crazy I really am?

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller

[This message has been edited by FullerH (edited 01-10-2000).]

Normark · Jan 10, 2000

Hey Guys....

Now I know I'm not the only one with this particular knife fetish!

You guys All pretty much tell the story...

For me the I look at the lines and curves on a knife. That will make me pick it up, keeping it here it will have to feel good and be well made.
If the knife talks to you,, you know you've got one that you need to buy...

ttyle Eric....

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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

MTF3 · Jan 10, 2000

I look to see if the design of the knife matches my reason for purchasing the knife. I also look at blade material and overall toughness for long and/or hard use. Balance in the hand and reputation of the maker is important. This forum does a lot to benefit knife buyers/owners.

Then again I have made purchases at shows just because something about the knife "spoke" to me.

Matt Shade · Jan 10, 2000

I don't worry to much about looks unless I really don't like the way it looks. I look at how heavy duty it is for its size, will it be able to hold up under the use I want it to? Is the blade a profile I can use? What materials are it made of, will it be a pain in the a$$ to maintain? Then I look at the price. Can I afford it, and can it be replaced if I lose or break it?

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !

bald1 · Jan 10, 2000

MThunter,

I alluded to it in my article in To-The-Point: if it appeals to me asthetically, with fit, finish, utility and price point to match.

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-=[Bob Allman]=-

I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!

BFC member since the very beginning
Member: American Knife & Tool Institute; Varmint Hunters Association;
National Rifle Association; Praire Thunder Inc.; Rapid City Rifle Club;
Spearfish Rifle & Pistol Club; Buck Collectors Club (prime interest: 532s)
Certified Talonite(r) enthusiast!

silverwing · Jan 10, 2000

at this point, since i've been lucky enough to see plenty o' knives, it has to stand out from the sharp shiny crowd in some way...of course, different days, different knives will jump out depending on my mood. but pretty curves in the handle, a nice belly or recurve on the blade, something has to catch my eye first.

then it has to feel nice in my hand, and i'm SUPREMELY picky about such things. the fit and finish has to be grand, or my money stays in my pocket. the weight has to be appropriate for my hand and whatever use i have in mind. the scales have to feel nice. the balance must be good. action MUST be smooth as silk, and the sound of the "snick" as it opens (okay, mostly i look at folders these days) must be satisfying. the lock must be solid, but if i can't operate it safely with my small not-so-buff hands, then it doesn't go home with me. there's plenty of big knives i like, but if i have to hand them to some Big Male Person to get them closed up, well, what's the point?

and it's gotta be SHARP because what good is a dull knife?

other than than, i agree with Hugh--it's gotta sing! case in point: when i was in Dennis Wright's shop, trying out William Henry's for my christmas gift, i was lucky enough to have a choice of THREE little pearl handle kestrels he had in stock. i'd loved the first one i picked up, the one in the case, but tried the others, just in case...same knives, same design, same makers, but there was just something about that first kestrel...it didn't want to leave my hand.

still doesn't

i'm getting up my courage to start looking seriously at fixed blades, and the same rules will apply: must have that "something special" to catch my eye first, then it's workmanship, quality, ergonomics, and what kind of song it sings to me....

silverwing

automantic · Jan 11, 2000

Hi y'all,

STYLE is the most important thing to me. I don't care if its the best utility ever if it looks like a brick (or even a really nice rock) I am not going to buy it.

Second is fit and finish. If a knife is beautiful, but the handles are loose, I'm (most likely) not going to buy it.

Third is ergonomics. I am probably never going to use any of the knives I buy very much, but if I am purchasing it specifically as a user it had better fit my hand at least close to perfectly. If not, I will not buy it.

Fourth is materials. I like damascus and high polished blades. Pearl, ivory, and stone handles. I like a knife I'll buy it, these are just the little extras that make it that much more nice.

Fifth is rarity. I love limited runs and collectors editions.

Anything rare and valuable is at the top of my list of must haves. This usually does not affect my day-to-day knife buying, but once in a while I'll pick up something really special and to know that only around 10 other people have something just like it makes it all the better for me.

Lucky for me I happen to know of a great company called Microtech (www.microtechknives.com) which supplies me with more of all of the above than I can stand!

Later,
John

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Skeleton walks into a bar and and says "give me a beer and a mop."

[This message has been edited by automantic (edited 01-11-2000).]