How long will you carry a new blade before deciding if she’s a keeper?

It depends. I'll carry something for a few days. If I don't like it, I usually force myself to carry a few more times before it goes into the "I need to sell this" pile.

Thankfully, after 35 years of carrying a knife, I'm pretty good at avoiding knives that I won't carry.
 
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I pretty much know before I buy these days, but definitely within a week I know how much or in most cases how little (because it won’t overtake the current knife in a particular role) a new knife will get carried.
 
99% of the times immediately, or the first time carrying it.

1%:
- CRKT minimalist, great knife, misjudged it at first but impressed after carrying a bit
- Peña X front flipper trapper, tried to like it, but realized too late I've been misguided, hyped too much by youtubers
- Spyderco Millitary, bigass handle, linerlock, nothing impressive. Carried one for a few months, and it just...works.
- UTX70, my first OTF. Really didnt expect it to be so damn useful everywhere I can have it
 
I'd say spend some time with it--and don't just carry it, use it for light tasks. If there's something that really annoys you or something you just can't get over, it might not be the knife for you.

Specific to your situation: I carried Sypdies (especially the Delica, Caly, Native, Urban, Dragonfly, Chap) for 15 years before I got a 940. I love the convenience of the Axis lock and the relative thinness of the blade in your pocket. I'd say don't give up just because you're not used to a new feature and a more premium blade. And you'll learn new locks if you carry more than one.
 
It takes me less than a day to figure out if it's really not the knife for me. And now I think I can spot a knife I won't like. But that makes me not buy it. So I don't really know.
 
I buy knives mainly to collect - not to use or carry - and (barring any defects or other issues) I have seldom immediately regretted the purchase of a knife, based on the photos that I saw and the research that did before I bought it.

So, it usually takes me a year or 2 before I decide to sell a knife and the reason that I sell a knife usually isn't because I don't "like" it anymore but primarily because I don't think that it "fits" in my collection anymore.
 
Short answer: It varies.
All of mine are "keepers". But I got the "frequently carried group" and the "seldom carried group". I also got a very small "Oh crap why did I buy that, anyway? group".

Sometimes a knife Immediately clicks with me. Sometimes it grows on me over time.. Sometimes it never clicks and the knife goes into the "seldom group".
 
I have sold nearly every knife I've bought. I've bought different variations of the same knives plenty of times, too. The internet and this forum makes it really easy to sample pretty much every knife I could afford, so I've taken advantage of that. But, the ones I keep the longest - the ones I carry and use - are similar in that they're generally in the same size range, they're simple, and their blades cut well.

Sometimes I get a new knife in the mailbox and I know from the first grip that it's not for my hand. If it's iffy, it'll take me about a day to decide. If my first thought is "yes I want this," then I'll at least have it for a few weeks ;)
 
Depends. Some things I buy with total intention as keepers, such as the PM2s I thought I'd never tire of. Others, like my Police 4, I thought would not be much crazier than an Endura, but I've become acolyte of the knife. No more use for normal Endura. Sometimes I can tell instantly, if something about it appeals to me, like the fancy Espada XL, I can tell. But for use... Nah, I need time and exprience. Good thing, too, cause I made a bunch of good plays in my Spyderco addiction phase, and now am just sitting on nice knives + solid money, even without gouging.
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
I don’t usually know a knife is for me until I’ve bought & sold it at a loss multiple times thereby guaranteeing the most expensive route of ownership

Welcome to the forums.
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Ron Sabbagh Ron Sabbagh , I thought I would fall out of my chair laughing at that one! No kidding.

For me at this point in my life, I am like a lot here and have a great idea of what I want from a knife these days. I look at the blade shape, length, the blade steel, the over all design and who makes the knife. Then the price/value/utility. All of those computations can be done in about 2 minutes or so.

If it makes it to the credit card and into my pocket, then it usually takes me from a few hours to a couple of days see if it makes the grade and isn't sold or gifted away.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Hit or miss for me. I have had knives for a long time before realizing they are not for me like the Drop/Ferrum Forge Falcon. Too chunky and small to be a joy to carry compared to larger more hand filling knives or smaller less obtrusive knives. Then there are other times like the Giant Mouse Ace Clyde that I will know the day of. For that one I tried to fix the action, play with the pivot, dye the scales, and then thin out the blade stock. All I wound up succeeding in doing was making the knife un-sellable
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I've been looking to pick up a Falcon. Lately been drawn to FF designs.
 
At least a few days. Since I only buy traditional patterns I like (E.G.: Large Stockman, Barlow, Canoe, Moose, two blade slipjoint folding hunter, to name a few) most new purchases are "keepers" out of the gate. After the initial introductory carry, they get carried again at least once a year for a few days to a week or more.
A SAK or 4 blade Scout/Camp knife may go on semi-permanent duty directly from the box/clam pack, however. 😁
For example, if I get around to ordering a replacement SAK Huntsman, it will probably take the place of my Evo Grip 14 on my belt loop for at least six or eight months ... maybe as much as a year, unless I get a 111mm Forester or Trekker or a 130mm Ranger Grip 57 Hunter to compliment my 111mm Hercules, after getting the Huntsman. :)
 
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Was just discussing this the other day. I can watch a handling video and tell to a high degree if it will suit me, but that is a recent development. Once I have one, the normal testing period is a day or two of normal tasks and repeated opening/closing. I have phased out different knives over the years as my tastes and actual needs change, but I have yet to totally reject one. This might just mean I love knives.
 
Normally will throw it into the rotation and just keep it. I've never sold a knife, to my recollection, just given a few away. That being said, I just bought a knife new, that after 5 minutes decided it was going back. Just didn't like the feel. However, if it hadn't been a $300 knife, I probably would've just put it at the bottom of my "like" list and gone on....or given it away.
 
I use most of my time (several weeks) browsing and researching a knife before I determine it is worth my consideration. So the day I get it is usually the day I decide it being worthy of EDC or not.

Years may pass without changing up my EDC.

I do not collect knives.
 
"How long will you carry a new blade before deciding if she’s a keeper?"

What time do you have? ;)

My memory is not what it use to be, as I've owned some models more than 4 times, I think the one I've bought the most was the Spyderco Southard, but now, I'm better at remembering not to get that one ;)

But most times it's a day or two before I know if it will stay around or not, one tell tale sign is if I make a sheath for it, then I think enough of it to expend some time and effort to make it mine, but, that is not a hard and fast rule.

Other times I'll know within an hours time and lately if that was the case, I'll return it to the dealer.

But like others have said, 'it all depends' one tip I have is 'Don't buy a LOT of knives all at the same time!' when they all arrive around the same time, you can easily end up with buyers remorse and favour one or two more than the rest, while all are probably pretty nice by themselves, but it's the fact that you have too many new knives at the same time, it becomes hard to focus.

I've recently had this happen and I knew it probably would be a problem....and boy I hate being right ;)
G2
 
I decide right off the bat. I do plenty of research before buying (to me , that’s half the fun). So when I get it , I know what I’m in for. On the off chance that it’s less than ideal for me to carry everyday then I’ll just add it to the collection for occasional carry. I don’t return knives. But I will sell them now and then. But that’s usually just to make room for more knives. I have two on the way right now 😊
 
I like to not only carry it (better be comfortable), but use it until it’s dull (better feel good in my hands), sharpen it, and then use it some more before I decide if it’s a keeper/user. Otherwise it’s gifted or ends up in a collection of knives that get labeled “meh”
 
I don't buy knives that I don't use. I do have a cigar box full of folders that were gifts from family. Most of them are knives I wouldn't buy for myself because I don't like them for one reason or another, but I can't just get rid of them either.

I guess my answer to the OP is that I keep a "new" knife till i lose or break it.
 
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