Has a knife ever changed your miind completely?

[Comeuppance]

I'm dead-set against slip joints. It needs to lock up solidly or I have no confidence in it.

I will not carry a smaller knife. If it's shorter than 3.5", I'm not happy.

...That's what I used to think, anyway, until I picked up one of these:

Boker Subcom 42 slipjoint.

It was listed on eBay for a great price in conjunction with some other Bökers. I really just wanted the other knives in the listing, and figured I wouild just trade or sell that knife to someone with different tastes.

Then I actually held it in my hand! What a charming, fun little knife. It's a slipjoint, but the finger groove keeps the knife from closing on your hand, and the blade shape makes that tiny blade extremely practical and useful.

I've had to completely reconsider my position on smaller knives and slippies. Has anything like that happened to you?

 

[EyeDog]

Been there done that, you'll get over it. [emoji38]

Best lock up us a fixed blade.

My first CRK and first real Hinderer were "mind changers and heart breakers."

Can't tell you how many times I've bought a knife and said "I'll never sell this." 4-6 months later it's gone. Here's the only knife I've never sold and beat the crap out of.

Mike

 

[Surfingringo]

Yes, I would never have thought I would buy a flipper...much less fall hopelessly in love with one.

 

[Tachead01]

Been there done that, you'll get over it. [emoji38]

My first CRK and first real Hinderer were "mind changers and heart breakers".

Mike

Could you elaborate please? I am considering these knives as well. If you could outline your experience it would be great. Thanks man.

 

[EyeDog]

Could you elaborate please? I am considering these knives as well. If you could outline your experience it would be great. Thanks man.

Quality, quality, quality. I like flippers and Hinderer makes a solid quality flipper (Hinderer XM18 3" top in photo).

Chris Reeves knives are simple and near perfect. Polished Sebenza small 21 CF in photo.

Mike

 

[Officer's Match]

I truly hated the Sebenza 25 (as compared to 21's and earlier), even and especially after owning one. It was traded for a (Star Tac) Zaan promptly. I ended up with another later, and after swapping to a Ti Lock spring pocketclip, I can't stop carrying and using it. Utter pocket EDC perfection.

 

[Tachead01]

Quality, quality, quality. I like flippers and Hinderer makes a solid quality flipper (Hinderer XM18 3" top in photo).

Chris Reeves knives are simple and near perfect. Polished Sebenza small 21 CF in photo.

Mike

Thank you sir. Beautiful knives. You have similar tastes to mine. That XM is the exact model I have been wanting. I have his mid-tech "Hinderance" and love Rick's wharncliffe grinds. Do you regret either purchase considering the cost? And, was it worth it to you over mid-techs like the ZT's? Thanks again.

 

[EricV]

I never understood traditionals. I had a crappy imperial when I was in scouts that would not hold an edge and constantly closed accidentally that really soured my opinion on them all. Then I started seeing some pictures of really well done jigged bone, perfect fittings, and beautiful blade shapes, I'd taken the bait. Then I started thinking about how I really liked the worn in look my SOG powertool had from all the years of use, and how the jacked up blade coating on my RC3 reminded me of all the fun trips with it and the hook was set, I had to get some carbon steel to carry every day. I have weak nails so a pinchable blade was a must and the guys over in the traditional sub forum pointed me in the direction of a GEC #15 after I picked up a a bear trap of a sunfish.

So basically: I discovered traditionals, became nostalgic and did a 180 on my knife preferences. Just ordered my 2nd GEC, should be here tomorrow to give this guy a run for pocket time. I still carry a small Seb on the weekends, but where else can you get a huge variety of blade/handle shapes and materials, made in the USA, for under or around $100 each with most of the plainer scales I tend to like for around 70. Awesome values that even non knife people tend to appreciate.

 

[gooeytek]

The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 changed my mind about small folders.

 

[VolGrad]

Tried a Strider SnG and didn't care for it for my EDC needs. It was too large overall and didn't ride well in my pocket. Great knife but just didn't fit my needs in a EDC blade.

Later found a Strider PT and it changed the game. It's basically just a scaled down SnG but is an excellent EDC blade. I carry mine frequently.

 

[EyeDog]

Thank you sir. Beautiful knives. You have similar tastes to mine. That XM is the exact model I have been wanting. I have his mid-tech "Hinderance" and love Rick's wharncliffe grinds. Do you regret either purchase considering the cost? And, was it worth it to you over mid-techs like the ZT's? Thanks again.

Hinderer ZTs just wet my appetite for his real stuff. I've got several now, but the XM18 3inch in the photo was my first. It has a OEM Carbon Fiber scale, brass standoffs and screws--all added by me. I polished the blade and use it a lot.

As for cost...you can buy five $100 knives or one $500 knife. Once you get your hands on some of $400+ blades you'll be hooked. I funded some of my purchases by selling off a lot of my fixed and traditional blades. I've kept some of my favorite traditionals, mostly lockback knives as I agree with the OP about having a locking blade in my pocket. But no, I don't regret the investment in these knives. I still have a few ZT's including my pimped 450 which is set up as a neck knife.

Mike

 

[Boris74]

I'm dead-set against slip joints. It needs to lock up solidly or I have no confidence in it.

I will not carry a smaller knife. If it's shorter than 3.5", I'm not happy.

...That's what I used to think, anyway, until I picked up one of these:

Boker Subcom 42 slipjoint.

It was listed on eBay for a great price in conjunction with some other Bökers. I really just wanted the other knives in the listing, and figured I wouild just trade or sell that knife to someone with different tastes.

Then I actually held it in my hand! What a charming, fun little knife. It's a slipjoint, but the finger groove keeps the knife from closing on your hand, and the blade shape makes that tiny blade extremely practical and useful.

I've had to completely reconsider my position on smaller knives and slippies. Has anything like that happened to you?

I looked at that when looking for a replacement for my almost 20 year old Gerber EZ out Jr. I ended up with a spyderco squeak. I handle a Chicago pretty often and like the size and feel but don't like the hard to manipulate lock on a small knife when my hands are full. The squeak is its slip joint brother and I like it better than the locking Chicago. If you're looking for more slip joints the squeak is on clearance at KSF right now.

Hultafors changed my mind on cheap plastic puukkos. Little cheapie holds an edge better than a much more expensive traditional made in Finlamd puukko I have. So I bought a mora in stainless and I'm very impressed at the quality of steel in that too for the price. That brand we do not mention here impressed me so much seeing friends and family beat the crap out of them I bought two and my son was so impressed by mine he requested one for his birthday so I got it for him.

But if you like that Böker check out the squeak.

 

[orca8589]

I've hated recurve blades for years. Somewhere along the line I got hold of an El Cheapo Gas Station Special, and it was an aggravation to sharpen, and wouldn't hold an edge.

Later, I got into better quality knives, and bought or traded for a ZT0200. The ergonomics are perfect, and everything is just about right for me to be able to sharpen it properly. Really helped me see the value of a well-executed recurve blade.

~Chris

 

[NMpops]

I don't really understand your's or others worries about slip joints. I use a knife to slice and cut and a lock does not help either purpose. I never worry about a knife closing on my hand because I never use it to stab.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Game changers for me:

Spyderco C01 Worker, one hand opening, pocket clip non traditional pattern, it made history in the early 80s and redefined what I pocket knife was.

Buck Titanium 186, another Game changer and contrary to popular belief it was the first US made knife with a pocket clip and made from titanium.

Spyderco didn't make a knife in the US until the mid to late 80s and Sebenza also weren't made in the US till later.

Speaking of Sebenzas they were another game changer as far as fit, finish and functionality went, a historical knife that set the bar for production knives.

Finally, William Henry T10-P Lancet, this was my first true gentleman's knife, my first piece of man jewelry.

 

[SmedleyButler]

I used to think that OTF knives were all junk and basically toys. Then I got a Microtech Ultratech. That did nothing to change my mind - still junk. Then I got a Microtech Scarab...Wow! Then a Halo V...WOW!!! Then a Benchmade Infidel, also WOW! Now, for certain tasks/days, I use one of these rock solid OTF's and beat the hell out of them. Great knives.

 

[ChickenSlinger]

Interesting you use that knife. I saw this thread title and instantly thought of the Boker Subcom as well but for a different reason. I hated the design and overall look of the Subcom until I got it into my hands, now I love it.

 

[ChickenSlinger]

"
Can't tell you how many times I've bought a knife and said "I'll never sell this." 4-6 months later it's gone. Here's the only knife I've never sold and beat the crap out of.

"

I do love that 530(BK) Pardue, one of my alltime favorite EDC knives.

 

[orca8589]

I don't really understand your's or others worries about slip joints. I use a knife to slice and cut and a lock does not help either purpose. I never worry about a knife closing on my hand because I never use it to stab.

Same here. I respect everyone's opinion, but I grew up in rural North Carolina. It wasn't uncommon for most of the men I grew up with to have only one or two pocket knives, and maybe a fixed blade. One great uncle used [what I now know was] a Case large Trapper for years to skin out one or two deer each fall and clean several dozen fish a year with the grandkids. It worked fine for everything he needed to do, without a lock.

Most folks I knew had Stockman & Trapper patterns. There were also a lot of TL-29 lineman's knives, and what we all called "sailor's knives" (Rigger's knives with a large sheepfoot blade.) The last two were very common - as in, bins full - at the old Army-Navy Surplus stores. Not having a lock was not even an issue for anyone that I knew.

~Chris

 

[link2derek]

Yep, twice, at least. First time, because Sebenzas are definitely worth the money (so much knife and artistry for $350-600)! And second time, because Mora Companions are so worth the money ($12-30) that it's sick! RAT-1 also gets honorable mention as a knife that makes you rethink how much you have to spend to get a great quality blade (if you don't mind the Taiwan thing).