Have you ever changed your mind about certain features on knives?

BenLong1018

BenLong1018

Joined
Apr 12, 2012
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I've always been a tip up only guy I'm not sure why, but I was always so closed minded about clip orientation. Recently I've decided I'm not going to let a knife being tip down stop me from buying it. What really changed my mind was when I went to a gun show earlier in the month and handled a Spyderco Military. I always liked the Military, but it being tip down only always bothered me so I never bought one. I plan on getting a Military for sure and I also was playing with my dad's Junkyard Dog today and I really enjoyed it so I asked for one for Christmas. I also have always kept the weight limit on my knives to about 6 oz or less, but recently I don't care so much about weight. I bought a Boker Plus Dark Hollow because I love the design and that beast is heavy I think it's around 9 oz and it carries very well for me so I just don't really care about weight anymore either.

So have you guys ever just gotten over one small thing you didn't like about a knife and just bought it anyway because you really like everything else about it?
 
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Case Trapperlock. I try to avoid 420 blade steel, but I liked everything else so I gave it a try. I like it very much still.
 
There's one small thing I don't like about almost every one of my knives!

I don't like FRN handles, but I love my mini grip.

I don't like AO, but I love my 770.

I don't like rough G10, but I love my Southard.

I don't like coated blades, but I love my EDC-1.

I get really picky about stupid little details, to find a knife with every feature I like and nothing I dislike I would probably have to go custom. Neither my wallet nor my patience could handle that, so I'm stuck with knives that aren't quite perfect.
 
That JunkYardDog 2.2 is a great knife. I bought three; gave two to friends.
I'm not excited about having a large choil in my folder's blade. I just got a nice knife; tried to cut some cardboard, and ended up with the choil getting caught up in the cardboard time and again. It's bothersome. Obviously, I need some training.... :)
 
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I use to be a tip up guy as well. Until I got my Rat 1 and it came tip down. At that time I just moved so all my tinkering tools were packed away. And now I prefer tip up ccarryjust a lil more comfortable fow me.
 
In a basic sense, I know that my own tastes have changed. When I was younger, I was really into tanto blades and knives billed as "fighting" knives. Just thought they were cool. It wasn't until more recently in the past couple of years, where I have changed almost completely over to bushcraft/woodcraft type knives. Another difference would be that back then, if there was a folder I liked, I had to have the half-serrated model. These days, I prefer to have knives withOUT partial serrations. As I've gotten better with my sharpening skills, I have just come to realize that serrations do little more than take up the useful cutting edge above the guard (or choil), that could be used to do fine detail work. I like to think I've gotten smarter and more realistic about the uses I would have and do have for my knives.
 
Sooo many times. Opposite of your tip up preference, I originally thought I had to have tip down carries. Soon realized how ridiculous that was. I went through a phase where I though autos were ridiculous and completely unneccessary. Used to be I wouldn't buy anything without at least partial serration. I have learned many lessons through the years :)
I am now at a point where I simply go for trusted manufacturers, good materials, and whatever features I might be looking for at the given time. Nothing is really a deal breaker. (although with the advent of frame locks/RILs I have admittedly found myself frowning at traditional liner locks ;))
 
Same as the poster above me. I hated liner/frame locks till I got a nice one. Now MOST of my knives are frame locks.
 
blame it on god said:
Same as the poster above me. I hated liner/frame locks till I got a nice one. Now MOST of my knives are frame locks.
Click to expand...

i had a bad experience with a cheap Chinese knife liner lock failing when i was 13 and that put me off them for a long time, until i was checking out my friends s30v blur that liner lock is pretty solid along with a Gale Bradly i think they called it at a hunting shop
 
I acquired a few Spydercos during the early 90's, and never really warmed up to them as the Spyderhole was quite polarizing so I ended up giving them away. I got a Military in a trade a few years ago, and since then the Spyderhole became my favorite means of opening up a folder. I guess it became more of a 'function over aesthetics' revelation and the Military has become one of my favorite knives. I've even become more partial to thumbholes on other knives, including customs.
 
For me, it's pocket clips. When I first started to collect some 25+years ago, I thought clips were cool and convenient.
After losing, and happily finding, my Blade magazine Spyderco "Q" twice I started taking the clips off my knives and
carrying them in a belt sheath.

A few years ago Mr Ed Fowler wrote an article for Blade stating his dislike for clips and relating a story about his
wife losing a special knife because of wearing it with a pocket clip. I have read Mr A G Russell is also not a fan
of clips. Good enough for me.

Additionally, a pocket clip is an open admission you are carrying a knife. Seeing no reason to advertise, I have
removed the clips on all my knives and will not buy any knife with a non-removable clip.
 
As far as clip orientation I was always a big fan of tip down. I guess this came from the Military and AFCK and being able to do the "Spydie drop". Now the blade i carry 99% of the time is a tip up. Also one thing I really wanted to like is flippers. I don't carry my Skyline and I sold my 0560 because I prefer holes, studs or thumb discs.
 
My tastes have not changed much- hate heavy knives over 6oz, prefer one handed open knives with clips over traditionals. One thing has changed. No longer like partial serrated knives. In the late 90's I had to have the partial serration or ever full serration.
 
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