How do you decide if a knife is right for you?

A

Angelus1781

Joined
Feb 22, 2003
Messages
702
An odd question I know. Bare with me.


We all have a lot different knives, and I was wondering if anyone ever bought a knife that just didn't click with them. Maybe the carrying sucked, or the sheath. Too short of handle, or odd design. How do you decide if a knife is right for you? Wear it for a week? Or if doesn't feel right the first time, forget it. Neck knives are something I've never feel comfortable wearing for some reason. Like the concept, and some of the neck knives out there, but they didn't feel as handy as I liked them to be. I like the ryan plan b(poopy sheath) I just never wear it.

Example. My first spydie I pretty much clicked with. It carried right, it opened and closed right. My swamp rat HR felt the same way. My BM630..I'm slowly adjusting to, but it didn't bond with me the first time I had it like my spyderco.

so what do you think?
 
Interesting question. Some of my knives have been like your Spyderco, I knew they were for me the first time I picked them up. :) Others have been exciting initially, but later exhibited some flaw that made me decide to stop carrying them. I used to love my Camillus EDC and still think it's a great design, but for some reason the pivot screw on both of the ones I've owned will not stay tight. I got tired of adjusting it every few days and now it sits in the knife drawer. Still others barely even caught my interest, yet over time have become favorites. When I first got my BM 710, I thought it was nice but didn't really want to carry it. Now it never leaves my pocket. Of course none of this makes me stop looking for the next great thing ;), but that's what makes this whole business fun really.
 
If I have to ask the question, then something is wrong.

What is usually wrong is that I own too many excellent knives, and have become unnecessarily picky (a form of perverse entertainment).
 
That can be a very expensive lesson to learn. You pretty much have to buy a knife and use it for a while to see if it's right. If it's right you keep it and if it's not then sell it or throw it in the drawer. I can pretty much hold a folder and decide quickly whether or not the knifes for me.
 
They all click with me in some way, but after buying a lot of knives and trying them my top pics are:

Reg Sebenza Large
Reg Sebenza Small
BM 630
BM 710
BM 705
Aftermath

But I had to buy them all and many others, carry them and use them in order to really know. Money well spent.
 
I have so many oportunities to handle before I buy, that comfort is never an issue. What matters is if the knife can keep up with me. Some of my old CRKT's were AUS 6, so they just required too much maintenance to hold a semi-decent edge. So they eventually found their way into my knife drawer or were given to friends who thought they were cool.
-KC
 
i've now owned several knives that just didn't click. unfortunately, i won't know that i don't like them until i actually clip them on (or sheath them, or whatever) and try them for a few days. usually by then, i know if i like it or not, and of course, by then it's also too late to take them back! :(

other knives are just IT, and you know it right away. my Endura just choke-slammed me the second it was in my hand. it FIT. it fit in my pocket, in my hand, i like the look, the weight, the edge, the materials. i mean, the very second i handled it. kinda weird. same thing happened with my Leek. it just felt and looked right in all respects (though with low-grade steel, but what are you gonna do?).

an example of one i got psyched out of was my SOG Twitch II. great knife: very gunlike design, nice weight and size, and fun to flip. but for one reason or another, it just did not "do it" for me. i'd still recommend it, however.

i have a feeling that's how it goes for a lot of folks... it's just a crapshoot.

abe m.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top