In your opinion, what is the most OVERrated knife currently available for purchase.. and also list the most UNDERrated knife currently available? Why?

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Overrated: Sebenza
I wouldn't benefit much from tight tolerances. Low blade play hasn't helped me. I've used a fixed blade with no blade play, and a folder with some.
They lack some features, like milling for weight reduction and a deep pocket clip.
I don't know if the steel makes sense. It might be better to have less edge retention and a replacement blade.

Underrated: Olfa Works FK-1
Its the ultimate thin bushcraft knife. It has replaceable blades that are designed to not snap off. Its a snap-off knife. Its strong enough to baton. You don't want to baton with this. Thick strong knives are needed for bushcraft, but you don't always need the strength. Thin blades make sharpening easier, and you can put it off by replacing blades. Use it when you can, so you don't have to sharpen your thick knives much.
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Sbs1974 said:
Ok I’ll chime in. I have many in mind but for overrated I’m going to have to go with the PM2. It’s a decent knife, that’s it. Definitely don’t see all the hype. It usually just uses decent materials (except exclusives) and it’s priced with some knives that I think have better locks and materials and feel. Don’t get it at all

As far as underrated I think there are so many but if I have to choose 1 knife I’m going to say the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter. I picked mine up (well my gf actually got it for me) on sale for under $90 and it has S35VN steel, a super solid lock and great ergos. Honestly IMO it puts a lot of others in my knife box to shame for the price/what ya get statistic. If I had to say a brand that’s underrated I’m going with Hogue. They really are putting out some excellent offerings in the last few years and stepped up their knife game
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Out of curiosity, aside from the triad lock, which knives in the price range of the PM2 have better locks?
 
Sbs1974 said:
Shark Lock for one
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But a comparable offering with a Shark Lock is over $400 from the maker. Comparing the AD20.5 to the PM2 purely for the lock is ignoring the fact that it’s a downgrade in every other facet. And honestly, speaking as a person who just bought an AD20S, I’m not even sure the Shark Lock is an upgrade when you consider the sheering force required to render either lock unsafe isn’t just nearing abuse levels but flying past them on a rocket ship.
 
Murdamooktemp said:
But a comparable offering with a Shark Lock is over $400 from the maker. Comparing the AD20.5 to the PM2 purely for the lock is ignoring the fact that it’s a downgrade in every other facet. And honestly, speaking as a person who just bought an AD20S, I’m not even sure the Shark Lock is an upgrade when you consider the sheering force required to render either lock unsafe isn’t just nearing abuse levels but flying past them on a rocket ship.
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I totally disagree. I’d also argue the Able/Axis lock is superior
 
Overrated: Bricks. Medfords, AD-10s, Adamas', and the like. Obviously I can't speak for others, but never in my life have I needed a pocket knife that big, heavy, or obtusely ground. Or with a lock that can suspend an elephant hanging off a torque bar without failing. I need a knife that cuts, not one that hacks, chops, or splits. I want to slice through things without effort, rather than have to force the blade through it so it doesn't bind because it's so thick and obtusely ground. Those knives are like the lifted trucks and SUVs that are never taken off road. Years ago I carried a Severtech auto for quite a while. Not once was I glad I had that knife instead of something "less capable".

Underrated: Victorinox Cybertool SAKs. I've carried a 29 (now called the S/Small) for years and it gets almost as much use as my regular knives. Not the blades though, but the bit driver and flathead screwdriver (although not the bottle opener so much, since I quit drinking). The small phillips screwdriver is pointy enough to tighten the screws on sun/eyeglasses. The T8 and T10 TORX bits fit nearly any knife pivot that needs adjusting. I'm always using my Cybertool and its various bits or other tools to fix things at home or at work because it's right there in my pocket and I don't have to find my screwdrivers at home, or worry about bringing them from home to work. Even the pin and the pen get use (not the toothpick so much though). Heck, I took a Latin exam with the pen once because I forgot a real pen and nobody else had one to lend me. I see pictures of people's SAKs in the EDC threads all the time, but so few Cybertools. The bit driver and bits are so useful that I'd almost prefer the knife without the blades just to save a bit of weight/thickness, because I'd still carry it since it's so useful.
 
Honestly anything that is over a couple of hundred dollars is overrated to me. If I didn't have a knife appreciation/addiction and they were just tools to me I would be satisfied with far less expensive items. I can drive a Ford but rather a Bentley kinda thing. So to answer the underrated I would say SAK, they will do 99% of what I need on a daily basis. Not fancy, inexpensive and they work great.
 
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Overrated. The becker BK2 in that it is just too much knife for most jobs most people do. You have this thing that can can open a car and you wind up mostly opening packs of noodles with it.

Underrated are any of those Swedish brands that are not moras. Bahco, hultafors those sorts of things.
 
Won't say on the "overrated" because...Different strokes for different folks.. But I have been carrying a Steel Will folder here on the farm, cuts anything I need it to, very reasonably priced for D2 blade.. I'd say it's somewhat underrated...
 
Sbs1974 said:
I totally disagree. I’d also argue the Able/Axis lock is superior
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With which part? The cost? The only contender in the same price range with a Shark Lock is the AD20.5 which is foreign-made, uses a significantly inferior base steel, inferior handle materials, and is significantly smaller. The Axis lock design has an inherent flaw in that it relies on the Omega springs. Also, every single knife I have to an Axis lock has developed vertical blade play. Benchmade is allergic to solid lockup. My Able lock examples don’t suffer from that but still rely on the Omega springs. I also think they test similarly in strength tests. The only thing I’d really give the nod to is the ball bearing lock made by Spyderco.
 
Planterz said:
Overrated: Bricks. Medfords, AD-10s, Adamas', and the like. Obviously I can't speak for others, but never in my life have I needed a pocket knife that big, heavy, or obtusely ground. Or with a lock that can suspend an elephant hanging off a torque bar without failing. I need a knife that cuts, not one that hacks, chops, or splits. I want to slice through things without effort, rather than have to force the blade through it so it doesn't bind because it's so thick and obtusely ground. Those knives are like the lifted trucks and SUVs that are never taken off road. Years ago I carried a Severtech auto for quite a while. Not once was I glad I had that knife instead of something "less capable".
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Having recently purchased an Adamas, I do have to agree. It's a fun knife, but it does stretch the utility of a folder. It's that catch 22: Big enough to handle most any job you need done even beyond reason, but so bulky and heavy that you could pack a comparable fixed blade and have more strength.

My controversial underrated pick:
Chinese-made slip joints/traditionals. Not going into the politics of anything, they are great values for the money. IMHO, I think that Rough Ryder knives are on part with anything comparable coming out of the Case factory. That is to say, I get better walk and talk from a $20 RR than I do from a Case Stockman coming in at $50-60 with no blade rub or buggered kicks causing the blade to hit the frame. You do have to settle on stainless steel with the RR, though. When you step it up to pay around $50, I have been really impressed with my Brother Cowfish. VG10, nice grinds, a little wobble on lock up but honestly not much different than from my low end GEC Missouri Trader. Certainly not the same level of quality, but I think it's a fair comparison.

While I am not one who collects or carries a traditional most days, I would say that your options are limited when you want quality better than Case but don't feel like playing the GEC lottery.
 
The Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter is underrated, in my book.

I don't see the BM Bugout as overrated at all. It does what it is supposed to do splendidly. Different strokes I guess.

Planterz said:
Overrated: Bricks. Medfords, AD-10s, Adamas', and the like. Obviously I can't speak for others, but never in my life have I needed a pocket knife that big, heavy, or obtusely ground. Or with a lock that can suspend an elephant hanging off a torque bar without failing. I need a knife that cuts, not one that hacks, chops, or splits. I want to slice through things without effort, rather than have to force the blade through it so it doesn't bind because it's so thick and obtusely ground. Those knives are like the lifted trucks and SUVs that are never taken off road. Years ago I carried a Severtech auto for quite a while. Not once was I glad I had that knife instead of something "less capable".

Underrated: Victorinox Cybertool SAKs. I've carried a 29 (now called the S/Small) for years and it gets almost as much use as my regular knives. Not the blades though, but the bit driver and flathead screwdriver (although not the bottle opener so much, since I quit drinking). The small phillips screwdriver is pointy enough to tighten the screws on sun/eyeglasses. The T8 and T10 TORX bits fit nearly any knife pivot that needs adjusting. I'm always using my Cybertool and its various bits or other tools to fix things at home or at work because it's right there in my pocket and I don't have to find my screwdrivers at home, or worry about bringing them from home to work. Even the pin and the pen get use (not the toothpick so much though). Heck, I took a Latin exam with the pen once because I forgot a real pen and nobody else had one to lend me. I see pictures of people's SAKs in the EDC threads all the time, but so few Cybertools. The bit driver and bits are so useful that I'd almost prefer the knife without the blades just to save a bit of weight/thickness, because I'd still carry it since it's so useful.
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I gotta agree with the bricks thing here... Also, I'm now sufficiently intrigued to go grab one of these Cybertools for myself. Good post here, My Friend.
 
Random Dan said:
Overrated:
Spyderco Paramilitary 2. Very long and bulky handle for the amount of usable blade you get.

Underrated:
Spyderco Astute. Nice ergonomic handle but slim profile and good blade to handle ratio. Honestly this might be my favorite Spyderco design. If there was a golden made version with a premium steel it would be a grail status EDC knife for me.

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I might have the polar opposite opinion on this one:

The PM2's reduced cutting edge is for the extra "finger groove", which I find gives me a level of precision control rarely found on any other knives.

Technically I don't have any 1st hand experience w/ PM2's stock handle. All of my PM2s arrived w/ aftermarket ergo CF scales pre-installed, which feels so good in the hand I see it a must-have. I have the scale dealer receive the PM2s and install them for me before shipping to me cause I don't want to deal with pivot glue and tail tube on my own.

After being very satisfied with my PM2 purchases I decided to try bigger, thus ordered a Military. Man did I not like it. The handle on Military is indeed needlessly long and bulky.

However, the biggest takeaway from my Military experience is that liner-lock cutouts is an absolute no no. It creates a painful hot spot no matter how I hold it.

Right now I avoid any Spydercos w/ liner lock.

https://imgur.com/oW76CEU
 
Drop bear said:
Overrated. The becker BK2 in that it is just too much knife for most jobs most people do. You have this thing that can can open a car and you wind up mostly opening packs of noodles with it.

Underrated are any of those Swedish brands that are not moras. Bahco, hultafors those sorts of things.
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Recently I saw a Japanese free diver / spear-fisherman / Youtuber using a BK2 as a diving / fishing knife.

In a fishing "survival" challenge.

I was shocked. Shocked beyond words.

I feel I have to share the vid here. So you can all feel what I felt. The only plausible explanation I can come up with is he's using the knife as a diving weight.

(to be clear I love his vids. Really good content.)

The BK2 comes in at 9:20.

 
I think the most overrated knife is the Sebenza. Yes, they are nicely made. So what? They cost an arm and a leg and they don't do anything special. A Buck 110 would be just as useful in pretty much every way and they are cheap.:p
*The real answer though is that deep carry clips are the most overrated thing! Especially on big "hard use tactical" knives, like the Benchmade Adamas. Its a big heavy knife that carries like a brick but it has that little dainty fold over clip that makes it like a loose pendulum on the edge of your pocket and makes it harder to grab ahold of. What the heck? Plus, if a deep carry clip is supposed to be inconspicuous then why put it on a big beater knife rather than something small (like a Mini Griptillian) where it would make sense? The whole concept of deep carry is kind of silly anyway since truly inconspicuous carry has been around since your Grandpas Case knife, just drop it in your pocket... People can see the clip, so how is that stealthy? I saw one the other day that was skull shaped, that's not super stealthy:rolleyes: lol I think that at this point they have just become a marketing fad.
The most underrated would be the Benchmade Presidio family (and have been for a long time). The old models were great (especially the Ultra with that great hollow grind!) and the new models are incredible! I think that they get overlooked because they look plain. Lets be honest, 90% of the knife enthusiast market is buying knives based on looks and then justifying them later with imagined use. lol I do this too, I'm not picking on anyone lol:)
 
The_Iron_Joe said:
I'm sorry, aren't the RAT 1 and 2 both made with dual thumb studs with tip up and down mounting positions for the pocket clip on both right and left side?

EDIT; I just realized that you probably meant a left handed liner lock! It's funny, the few lefties I've known personally dislike left handed frame and liner locks, saying they feel "strange".
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Unfortunately, it is probably because they are now conditioned to use a lock that is wrong for them.
It's the reason I throw righty. I was given a righty baseball glove and was forced to use it "the right way".
 
seacucumber said:
Overrated: Sebenza
I wouldn't benefit much from tight tolerances. Low blade play hasn't helped me. I've used a fixed blade with no blade play, and a folder with some.
They lack some features, like milling for weight reduction and a deep pocket clip.
I don't know if the steel makes sense. It might be better to have less edge retention and a replacement blade.
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CVamberbonehead said:
I think the most overrated knife is the Sebenza. Yes, they are nicely made. So what? They cost an arm and a leg and they don't do anything special. A Buck 110 would be just as useful in pretty much every way and they are cheap.:p
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Ok, I'm gonna be that guy.

The sebbie isn't all about the tolerances, to me it's about the beautiful clean design and the esthetics. And A LOT of people get this, I'm sorry you don't.

When you have that design and manage to create a consistent high performing action, blade grind(also a great design) with good steel, you have a winner. There is a legit reason they can't make enough knives..

Screw deep pocket clips, as some posts already stated that is an overrated thing by itself.

Would it be nice if they cost 150 bucks less, of course. But I don't think the high quality CRK enterprice would be putting out the same product at that price.

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Overrated blades? I have deep respect for those who stayed away from mentioning one, I'll have to mention the Norseman.
 
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