Features You Don't Care For

[black mamba]

Traditional knives come in all different shapes and sizes, many different handle materials and steel alloys, plus a myriad of other characteristics which give us a seemingly infinite choice. While I appreciate a wide diversity of patterns, there are a few things which I just don't like. Here are some of the ones I can think of right now.

Deal Breakers
• double nail nicks - hate the look and one is bound to be better, so why have both?
• single blade equal ends - the pattern begs for blades at each end, and I prefer some taper on a single blade handle.
• easy open notches - ruin the flow and grip of the handle and are NOT needed.
• redundant blades - if they're not different, then one is enough.

Not Preferred, But Acceptable
• pile side secondary nail nicks - put the smaller blade in front and have both nicks on the mark side.
• half-stops - in my experience more dangerous than smooth tangs.
• end caps on jacks - bare heads both look and feel better.

Please add your own lists, and state why. I anxiously await the variety of responses!

 

[mrknife]

this may come as a surprise to some, but a secondary blade. I have to send them usually to J jsdistin to delete.

 

[black mamba]

Do you not like the weight, or the thickness, or why else?

 

[Un-Chained]

Any BRASS….
on stag, or any light coloured scale materials.
Not really a deal breaker, but I do tend to dream on and on… as you know Jeff.

 

[hornetguy]

My deal breakers are pretty few and far between...

One is like yours, the double nail nicks... that's why I don't own a 97 yet... I want one in ebony or stag, but won't buy a double nail nick.
I'm also pretty much done with any kind of muskrat knife. Two blades alike? Nope.
Any knife with more than 3 blades... (SAKs excluded)
Any "sunfish" style knife.
Any "one legged Kate" style knife.

My "almost" deal breakers...... matchstrike nicks. RR knives have sort of ruined this for me. I know it's not true, but I see a matchstrike and think... 'cheap'..... Plus, you can't buy strike anywhere matches anymore, so what's the point? Although I DID just buy a Bulldog #12 toothpick in stag (made by GEC) that has the matchstrike nick, but I just overlook it, because it's such an obviously nice knife.

 

[mrknife]

Do you not like the weight, or the thickness, or why else?

Yes to all of those. A secondary blade adds to the weight, the overall thickness of the knife, it can distort grip and often makes it uncomfortable to hold in hand.

 

[r8shell]

Yes to all of those. A secondary blade adds to the weight, the overall thickness of the knife, it can distort grip and often makes it uncomfortable to hold in hand.

I love the fact that we all like different things.

I prefer two blades, because it does add to the thickness of the knife. On a small-ish frame that makes it more comfortable for me to use. I also like having two different blade shapes: a straight edge and a curved edge. That's one of the big advantages of a traditional over a modern knife.

My "almost" deal breakers...... matchstrike nicks. RR knives have sort of ruined this for me. I know it's not true, but I see a matchstrike and think... 'cheap'..... Plus, you can't buy strike anywhere matches anymore, so what's the point? Although I DID just buy a Bulldog #12 toothpick in stag (made by GEC) that has the matchstrike nick, but I just overlook it, because it's such an obviously nice knife.

Agreed. I dislike matchstrike nail nicks. I sometimes like matchstrike long pulls, depending on the knife, but it makes no sense on a nick. Not long enough to actually strike a match, and I can't shake the association with cheap knives.

 

[JohnDF]

Deal Breakers...
Fat or uneven stag handles
Lazy action or weak pulls
Bulbous bolsters that get in the way of the cutting surface and blade... #38 Special for example.

 

[Tx308]

As others have mentioned - match strike nicks or long pulls. They aren't an absolute deal breaker but almost always turn a maybe purchase into a no.

 

[Alex.Y.]

• half-stops - in my experience more dangerous than smooth tangs.

Have to disagree on that one. Once I tried to stick my 97 into the wood without looking at it, and it folded on me, and only thing saved my day was a half stop.

 

[Will Power]

Basically agree with your list Jeff. EZ-Open notches not only look like a deformity they impede handling too.

LOATHE - Shields on Barlows
-Engraved bolsters
-Brass bolsters.
-Etched stainless blades particularly if it includes colours, tattoo look
-Longpull on Wharncliffe, notably if it has a swedge, just looks overdone
-Shields made of MOP/MOT worse, Ivory...
-More than 3 blades.
-Spey single


TOLERATE What Jeff said. Plus, non matching Stag or bone PROVIDED both slabs are attractive, same end Jack
knives, don't really like them and seldom carry them, much prefer blade each end. 3 spring knives, bit
too thick, although Buck does it very well.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Number One deal-breaker = thick blades or thick edge grinds. I've become too spoiled on thin, beautiful slicing grinds. I now tend to avoid buying or using thicker ones, UNLESS I've already taken the time & effort to thin them out.

And I've also grown a strong dislike for weak-springed & timid closing pull on folding knives. Doesn't need to be especially strong - but at least enough to fully and assertively close the blade each & every time. I have a couple that struggle to do that, even as-new, and it's become a big pet peeve of mine.

And nail nicks that're too small or too shallow are something I don't like much. Combine that with (2) too-strong closing snap and (3) small unpinchable blades, and it becomes a little bit dangerous if the blade gets away from me on closing or when trying to open the blade. Combine that even further with (4) hard-snapping, square-ended tangs (half-stops), and it becomes a quadruple threat to the fingertips.

 

[Modoc ED]

Pretty much a deal breaker:

Spear blade. I much prefer a clip blade, sheepsfoot blade, lambsfoot blade, muskrat blade, or spey blade. If it must have a spear blade, I prefer them with a drawn swedge or cut swedge, and a bulbous (swollen) blade tip.

I very much like match strike nicks/pulls. I always have strike anywhere matches nearby and can easily find them in my neck of the woods.



I dislike exposed, sharp, tangs. I much prefer sunken tangs.

Will take wood covers over all others but the all others are very nice as a rule.

 

[Un-Chained]

Guess I don’t dislike much at all
Sure glad these dangling steel links were dealbreakers for most…

 

[hornetguy]

I always have strike anywhere matches nearby and can easily find them in my neck of the woods.

I will try those. I read a discussion somewhere that said those had to be struck on the box.... I'll check them out. Thanks for the info!

 

[Boattale]

Deal Breaker:
Made in China
Garish covers
Engraved bolster
Engraved blades
Only available on secondary market, often at significant markup over MSRP
Micarta or G10 covers
Oddball blade shapes like sunfish, elephant toenail and the like.

 

[Modoc ED]

I will try those. I read a discussion somewhere that said those had to be struck on the box.... I'll check them out. Thanks for the info!

You can strike those things on anything. I'd bet they'd even strike on hemorrhoids !!!

 

[JohnDF]

Only available on secondary market, often at significant markup over MSRP

Forgot that one. It's a deal breaker for me too. I'm not paying their markup... Blame the buyers, not the flippers.

 

[Stelth]

Carbon steel
Horn, pearl, celluloid, stag, (yellow, pink or other horrible colors) for handles
Scenic blade etching
Overly verbose or corny blade etching
Figurative holes in blades
Trappers
Multi-blades with the same blade profiles
Made in china

 

[OldHercDude]

When it comes to traditionals, there's not really any deal breakers for me, just a few strong preferences.

Preferences against:

Not a big fan of the chunky knives (Sunfish/ Elephant Toe/ etc...) - just too chunky for my personal tastes in traditionals. If I get something a bit chonky it's usually a non-tradtional, something like a Griptilian.

Not a big fan of certain blade types (spey/ ramsfoot/ sheepsfoot/ lambsfoot/ hawkbill). I understand the design and intended use, and why people like the blades. They're just not for me.

After trying and using quite a few patterns over the last 3+ years, I've found I really am not a fan of multiple-blade traditionals outside of Pen Knives.

I do have preferences for country of origin, but as with many items these days it can be difficult to stick to that list, as many parts are sourced from many places.


Everything else is open, and I'm willing to try. I've found while trying various patterns that looks can be deceiving, and something I think I'll like I don't (or vice versa). Couple of examples:

Tear Drops. Always thought it was an extremely odd design and didn't want one. Tried one, and found out quickly that the "odd design" fit my hands/ fingers wonderfully. It's now competing with single-blade Barlows as my favorite traditional pattern.

Swayback Gent. Beautiful lines, thought it would be a great addition. Got one, and immediately realized the design feels "upside down" in my hand and I constantly want to flip it over. I won't be getting another.

Peanuts. Love/ hate relationship with these. Like the design and size, I'm even OK with two blades. On the other hand, the double blades add enough thickness the pattern feels almost round in my hand and they tend to rotate in use. And they are small enough for my hands/ fingers they are fumbly for me, which is a safety issue with sharps. For me.

Patterns I've really come to like, a lot, and now have a preference for - Single-blade Barlow, Tear Drop, Tribal Lock, Trapper, Copperhead, Pocket Hunter, and double-blade Pens (standard/ large, not the smalls - fumbly, for me, like the peanut).

I've thrown my hat in the ring for a chance at JohnDF's pass-around Case box, and I'm hoping to get a chance at it and see if there are any other patterns I haven't tried yet that I end up liking.