Has a knife ever changed your miind completely?

Chris, sounds like you missed the part about these being knives that changed their views. You're preaching to the choir, with some slightly condescending tone but that's probably not what you intended. And FYI my grandfather, father, friends dads, uncles, and myself all grew up with slip joints as well, and we all have all our fingers even with our hoighty touighty Yankee brains.
 
NMpops said:
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.
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That is my feeling as well. I carry a SAK every day. So, this business of a slip joint blade folding back on me is not really an issue as long as you don't stab or pry incorrectly with the knife. You always have to be aware of which way the blade folds relative to the pressures you are applying. By the way, I love GEC traditional knives.

Buying my first Spyderco (Native) in 2006 at Walmart was a game changer for me. I have not stopped liking Spydie products since and they have not left me hanging.

Added: Buying and using my first Vic SAK was also a game changer (30 years ago). I always considered them to be kind of toy knives up until that point.

Randall knives were also game changers. Prior to buying one, I seldom even considered buying a fixed bladed knife. That was in 1990. 1990 marked the year when I really started to broaden my knife horizons in areas that I previously had little interest or just a curiosity.
 
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Slipjoints are as good for cutting as anything else...if you know how to use a knife.
 
Slipjoints are okay...had one; sold it.
Spyderco changed my knife-life; still does. The great majority of knives that go thru my hands are Spyderco..
Of course I also appreciate CRK's as pure quality, and had my share.
 
... and as others have already said my first Sebenza was a life changer. Seriously.
 
PM2. I did not like the way the hole looked. Then I tried one. Now I get it. I have a few spydercos now and love them.
 
EricV said:
Chris, sounds like you missed the part about these being knives that changed their views. You're preaching to the choir, with some slightly condescending tone but that's probably not what you intended. And FYI my grandfather, father, friends dads, uncles, and myself all grew up with slip joints as well, and we all have all our fingers even with our hoighty touighty Yankee brains.
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Yup, looking back at my post, I think you're right. Apologies to all if I came across as rude. I have a deep affinity for the old traditional patterns.

That being said, I have more locking knives, than non-locking. I didn't realize that until today

Back on topic: another knife that changed my mind was the Spyderco Military. I had moved away from liner-locks, but I traded for one and was (and still am) amazed at how well it's engineered and built.

~Chris
 
Yep. I never thought I would buy another folder unless it was another flipper. Then I found this and havent looked back. I havent given up bearings though. Its just hard to find many folders with bearings that have gone through transition, lol.



 
First time I held a Benchmade 940 a few years ago.

In fact I need one back in my carry... NOW! :eek:

More recently my first Sebenza last year.

 
The ZT 0700 changed my mind completely. Before owning it the most I ever spent on a folding knife was $20. I had a really hard time understanding the price differences in cutting tools, but had some extra cash when attending a gun and knife show down south so I picked one up. Then when doing a side by side cutting test on cardboard, my old $20 folder dulled out in 30 or so 1 foot long cuts. The 0700 finished the rest of he cuts and still shaved my leg after. Showed me that you get what you pay for when it comes to good quality tools.

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NMpops said:
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.
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That's pretty much the conclusion that I have come to, as per the theme of this thread. I previously was absolutely adamant about lockup and blade sizes prior to handling the 42 and realizing I had been a fool for years.

I will say, though, that I'm still not particularly keen on two-handed pocket knives (nail nick, etc) - maybe something will change my mind about those some day as well...
 
VolGrad said:
... and as others have already said my first Sebenza was a life changer. Seriously.
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Word...same thing here. I held off as long as I could before pulling the trigger on my first Sebenza. A month after I had 5

Same for traditional folders. For a long time I didn't care for them, until I got a nice TC Barlow - that completely changed my mind about them. Now I have a plethora of them.
 
Comeuppance said:
That's pretty much the conclusion that I have come to, as per the theme of this thread. I previously was absolutely adamant about lockup and blade sizes prior to handling the 42 and realizing I had been a fool for years.

I will say, though, that I'm still not particularly keen on two-handed pocket knives (nail nick, etc) - maybe something will change my mind about those some day as well...
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Think of it in terms of smoking a cigarette versus smoking a cigar or a pipe. Especially when it comes to the views of others. The first, cigarettes and modern folders, are convenient and at least in the case of the knife useful, but not always looked at fondly. The second group though seems special somehow. The extra work involved makes it more of an event and for whatever reason more socially acceptable.

Something about pulling a leather pouch out of your pocket THEN removing the knife from the pouch and using two hands to open it just makes it less threatening. The ritual I guess.

If a man pulled a Glock from his pocket in a store I'd be nervous. If it was a flint lock dueling pistol, a packing rod(?), some powder, a ball, etc. though I'd just laugh and be on my way.
 
To answer the original question though, the Protech Newport. I always though autos were a bit silly and mostly for mall ninjas until I handled one and saw the level of refinement they managed to put into a production auto. I have a couple Protechs and a Kershaw launch now. Love them.
 
ATwistedStaple said:
To answer the original question though, the Protech Newport. I always though autos were a bit silly and mostly for mall ninjas until I handled one and saw the level of refinement they managed to put into a production auto. I have a couple Protechs and a Kershaw launch now. Love them.
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I have a Emerson / Protech auto inbound and a Launch 1 in my pocket as I type this.

I used to lump autos in with assisted knives - silly and pointless, given that manual knives can be opened just as quickly (or faster, with waved knives) and the spring robs you of the feeling of a well-made knife gliding smoothly open.

Then I got a OTF and I was done for. Autos are FUN, and Kershaw and Protech can make them super snappy AND high quality at the same time. (Microtech's proprietary hardware BS can bite me.) I was actually hesitant to get into autos after my experiences with two 7505-132s feeling somehow junky in ways I still can't quite put to words, but, I now have some USMC Presidios en route as well in an effort to give BM another shot.
 
I have many knives (as I'm sure most of you do), the plain yellow Case XX Stockman is pretty much the only knife I carry. I'm not planning on going against any commando ninjas anytime soon, and girls don't look at you like a potential serial killer when you open it. I've opened it in malls and other public place, and as of yet nobody has raised an eyebrow. I also enjoy the ritual like steps taken to open, rather than the "ta-da!" effect you get with thumb, spring, autos, etcetera. Maybe a bit of a nostalgia thing too... However, I do have 10 other Case XX knives, but I'd rather enjoy those for their aesthetics than use them as a utility.
 
This one.

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Introduced me to Spyderco. Made me learn what separates a quality folding knife from a Cheap $20 flea market folder.

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Got me into appreciating, carrying and using pocket knives.

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I recommend it to everyone who wants to try a different steel, or just pick up a terrific folder!
 
Probaby my Ganzo 722. I've been taking this everywhere with me. I guess some people don't like heavier pocket knives... but it just feels great in my hand.
 
SirPDH said:
I also enjoy the ritual like steps taken to open, rather than the "ta-da!" effect you get with thumb, spring, autos...
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Yeah, ta-da was cool at first, but I really find it un-necessary. The closest ta-da I use now is a ZT 0770CF. I use it sparingly in public places.
 
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