How do you choose what knife you want?

G

Gideons

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Dec 9, 2015
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Hey BF,

I look and research a lot before purchasing knives. Sadly, there are no stores in my area so I can't actually pick up the knives. But, lets say... Benchmade Griptilian vs Axis Stryker. They are very similar knives, in weight, shape etc. How do you decide which one you want? The stryker is a little longer and thinner etc. But, really the differences are very small. That is just the current example I am thinking of. So I am wondering how do you decide which is the right knife for you when there are so many good knives that could do the job?

-Gideons
 
I am in the same position re: local stores. eBay, the exchanges on this forum and others, and Amazon have been indispensable.

I wait very very very patiently until I find them cheap enough that I can resell them without losing money if I don't like 'em. It can take months, but, it's not like I need -that- knife to cut stuff, so I wait.

If I couldn't do that, I wouldn't have nearly as many knives or experience with them. It also lets me keep my photography skills sharp.
 
Gideons said:
Hey BF,

I look and research a lot before purchasing knives. Sadly, there are no stores in my area so I can't actually pick up the knives.
-snip​
-Gideons
Click to expand...

I do this as much as possible although I've been in a situation or two where there was no time.
Sadly, most of the stores around here don't carry much of anything I'm interested in. Think places like Monkey Edge, Plaza Cutlery, Blue Line Gear, Blade HQ and you'll have more of an idea where my interests lie. I did drive down to Portland a few times to visit Knivesshipfree before they moved. There were quite a few pieces that I was able to rule out and a few that I'd originally had no interest in that made the cut.
I definitely recommend getting some 'hands on' time before buying if at all possible.
 
I too have no way to handle knives before I buy. I do a lot of research, like 'til I'm blue in the face. Read reviews, look at tons of comparison pics and watch videos of knives in hand. I usually just get a feeling, forget about the numbers, and trust my instincts.
Once I decide, like Comeuppance said, I wait for a great price. I'm rarely disappointed.
Trust your instincts.
 
Asking this question is like asking me to encapsulate my entire knife buying carrier.

I have very limited ability to handle knives before I buy them as well. I guess I live and learn a lot! Gold membership here helps a ton. Buy on the exchange, find you don't like the knife, sell for not much loss. Keep doing this year after year and you will find what you do and don't like. After that, you can really narrow your buying choices down simply by stats on paper. Still nothing like holding it in your hand and using it. Nothing will trump that. Even a knife that feels good in store could still prove unsatisfactory in actual use. No free lunch. Sometime you just have to bite the bullet.
 
Amzon. Buy it handle it decide to keep it or return it. By the way the griptilian felt not great in my l-xl hands but original Stryker handle is great and could accommodate slightly larger hands too.


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I look for features that I like, then of those I pick the one that strikes my fancy the most.

If it has a fairly sterile handle shape I done need to handles it before I buy it. by sterile I'm talking about one without choils that could be uncomfortable, like the buck 110 for example.
 
I know what I like as far as shapes and sizes/measurements go. Ditto for styles. After buying knives of all varieties, I know what combinations of all of the above work for me.

For small folders there are boxes that must be checked for it to get my money these days; same goes for larger folders.

I'm still learning what I like and don't like for fixed blades.

Luckily I learn fairly quickly and have not acquired anything I truly regret. [scratch that, there was one exception, I forgot about the 0620 that I could not abide - it didn't fit the role I had in mind for that knife]
 
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Like eon blue above, I pretty much know from experience what size or size range I typically like. I would choose the one that you suspect you would like the best and you can always buy the other down the road or change completely.
 
My very first thought is wanting a knife that is very easy one hand open/close operation, then I go from there. Then quality and long lasting is the next. Materials, lock type(if it will last long), easy to sharpen yet holds a good edge, sometimes rust resistance for my fishing and rainy day knives. Comfort, size, and the last thing would be appearance. That is about it for me.
 
The more I use folding knives the more I look at the handle.
and . . .
the bigger the handle I want. Think thickish Spyderco Military. Of course I would have to carry it in a pouch. Sure violates the low ride inconspicuous rule doesn't it. Just tell people it's a flash light. Have smelling salts on board for the sheeple.
Some what I like handles that are rounded but not round. I guess they call them sculpted.
Unfortunately I am on a Titanium kick right now and most all of them seem to be flat, thin, slab sided dudes.
I would love to find a Griptillian handle from titanium that is exactly like the inexpensive basic Griptillian. It might be too tail heavy but lets dream big and mill it out on the inside.
yah . . . like I am going to find that.

Next I like a thin blade and for length three to four inches long. I have never broken a blade or tip other than that one super thin eight inch kitchen knife that I was battoning a rock hard squash with in the kitchen. Cracked the blade. Used it for like four years after that no problem. Still have it. Never broke. Just retired it. That blade is like under 2mm. A MAC kitchen utility knife by the way. I still miss using it and have a new one in the shopping list/cart. Very useful because it is so dang thin. I think they go for $60.

Top knife in this photo. I mirror polished it by the way so it is even thinner than stock. Had it for thirty years. Took more than twenty years to crack it. Used every day. You want to cut celery and stuff . . . this is your knife.



I should have used a saw on the squash. Oh look there is the saw in the photo. Now I have a Fiskers folding saw in the kitchen.
well now that we are all finished laughing, for the most part, lets continue . . .

PS: Toothy edge freaks . . . Ankerson etc., . . . I got your toothy folder right here (see Fiskers saw above). :)

I have never broken a tip off a knife but I don't do bush craft. I'm a city slicker that went snow shoeing (eight days once)(some of it was more than six feet deep and 11,000 feet altitude; step off the snow shoes near the bolders and you just disappear ), bike camping etc., with a Svea stove but now I am babbling.

For the most part I am good with a 2mm blade (or thinner) I have visions of grinding my others thinner on a belt sander or grinding wheel but haven't yet . . .
just a matter of time though.

Third or maybe first, just depends on the day . . . I look at blade shape. I find straight-ISH (very gradual continuous belly) the best. I do not understand a blade like the Slysz Bowie. But I don't skin animals. Perhaps that is good there but then I would want a fixed blade that didn't get full of nasty goop. Sorry Nick Shabazz . . . I just can not understand why you like that knife being a city slicker yourself.

So as far as shape. Look at the longer Spydercos like the Military or the Cold Steel Hold Outs. Even the Swiss Army large regular pocket knife blade.

Lastly, and this is a personal hang up, I look for ANY knife without round holes and a back lock. Why ? Because I have so many knives with round holes all over them and back locks on most of them.

What do I wind up buying ?

Knives with round holes and back locks.
it's a sickness.
Please help me.
 
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Sorry Bagger......you, and the rest of us, are waaaay beyond help my friend!!!
Good read bro!!
Joe
 
I read tons of reviews you people write. living in a country very faaar away from where the knives are being made and sold "returning" a knife i don't like is just expensive.

after I learn from the reviews, I look for comparison shots, asking for it here or just looking for it on Google. I compare the knife I wanna buy with the knife I already have. trying to picture how will the "new knife" would be like in my hands. etc, and then if I like it enough I just buy it. If I don't like it I just sell it on my local knife forum. that's how I buy knives for me to use.

For collecting/the knives I won't be using, the process is simpler. based by what I have inside my bank account
 
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