Is it just me

dwdickey said:
or are too many people expecting too much from knives these days?

I see complaints all over the place about edge grinds not even, blades a millimeter to one side or the other, the scales don't look like they do in pictures, it's too stiff, it's too loose, etc.

People seem to think they are buying perfection when perfection doesn't exist, and seem to forget they are buying a tool for a specific purpose and as long as it does said task it is doing what it was designed to do. While there are some situations that are legitimate complaints many are not and are a byproduct of people's lofty & unrealistic expectations.

Anything that is built by human and machine alike is bound to have some flaw if you look hard enough it's the nature of manufacturing.
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Expecting quality isn't asking for too much. When I pay close to a hundred dollars or more for a knife, the level of quality should reflect the price tag. Yes, human beings do make mistakes, but instead of asking the consumer to continue paying the prices and accept the qc errors, why don't the manufacturer lower their prices and keep allowing out of spec tolerances, blade grinds, etc leave the factory?
 
K.O.D. said:
Lobster or crawfish? Either way, yum!
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The crawfish/crawdads/crayfish/craydads/yabbies/Astacoidea we caught in Kentucky and boiled in an empty can of corn over lobster any day. Freshly caught Maryland Blue crab over lobster or yabbies any day.

I like me a highly polished flat - what frustrates the hell out of me is that tiny, nearly microscopic spec of dirt on my microfiber clothe that scratches the entire length of the blade in my efforts to 'clean' it.
 
When I buy a $19 Kershaw OSO Sweet, I expect it will perform like a $19 knife. If I spend $300 on a knife, I expect a lot more.

Sounds reasonable, but my expectations aren't the same as the next guy, and so on.
 
Phixt said:
The crawfish/crawdads/crayfish/craydads/yabbies/Astacoidea we caught in Kentucky and boiled in an empty can of corn over lobster any day. Freshly caught Maryland Blue crab over lobster or yabbies any day.

I like me a highly polished flat - what frustrates the hell out of me is that tiny, nearly microscopic spec of dirt on my microfiber clothe that scratches the entire length of the blade in my efforts to 'clean' it.
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I'll take Galveston blue crab over Maryland. My grandfather used to have craw and crab boils down at his camp, fresh caught. Fresh caught broiled Speckled trout as well.

Anyway, back to knives.

I rarely spend less than $100 on modern folders due to QC and f&f. There are exceptions of course. Fixed blades are a whole different ball game. It's hard to get one wrong, other than heat treat and the edge.There are no moving parts.
 
People pay a lot of attention to things I don't even think about with my knives, but there's no standard amount of attention people should pay to these details.

I personally don't get caught up in the search for the next best best Steel, materials, or technologies.
I don't buy expensive or higher end knives because I just don't need what they may or may not offer.
That being said, the ONE thing that I'd really get for the money would be a fancier knife so I'd expect it to be nicer with more attention to details.
 
I don't think flaws are related only to price. Some CRK examples:

My Sebenza and Tilock were flawed in that CRK reccomends using the Sharpmaker, but neither had an edge bevel that suited it...But lucky me I have the diamond reprofile rods.

The small sebenza has a design flaw where the tip catches and frays the lanyard...luckily I can figure out how to take it off...OMG the knife now rattles :)...luckily I don't shake it often.

My Tilock's clip screw fell out, per CRK they must have forgotten to locktite it...luckily I found it in my pocket and have locktite sent to me by Spyderco. OMG at that price point...:) My doctors have screwed up, why can't CRK?

All flaws in pricy knives that I accepted, fixed and didn't start a thread about. I also love both knives and won't ever part with them easily.
 
brownshoe said:
All flaws in pricy knives that I accepted, fixed and didn't start a thread about. I also love both knives and won't ever part with them easily.
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Exactly. Personally, I would never complain about a knife. I only complain about other people complaining about their kives.
 
Chariotz4 said:
...IMO, a flaw on anything is still a flaw and can be pointed out as such, BUT the validity of the complaint(s) about said flaw(s) generally increases with the price paid for the item/knife. Outside of extenuating circumstances, people tend to expect a better product the more they pay for something.
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That's my take. But with one exception (that I can think of), price depends on one's ability to meet that price and this will vary from person to person. $100 to one person may be nothing..... ah, a flaw, into the grabage can it goes; or It might reflect months of saving for another. Same flaw, just a different perspective on the relative importance of it.
 
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Is there a legitimate reason why people care if their knife's blade isn't perfectly centered when closed ?
I understand the attention to detail expected with an expensive knife, but as long as its not rubbing does this actually make any difference in function ?
I might be missing something, but I've never noticed any problems with blades that are a little off center but not rubbing .
 
Hickory n steel said:
Is there a legitimate reason why people care if their knife's blade isn't perfectly centered when closed ?
I understand the attention to detail expected with an expensive knife, but as long as its not rubbing does this actually make any difference in function ?
I might be missing something, but I've never noticed any problems with blades that are a little off center but not rubbing .
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It's esthetics. Like wanting a really pretty bone handle on a traditional slip joint. The bone doesn't function any better than raw steel, but it looks much nicer.
 
KELAMA said:
^ So you don't own any of Chris Reeve's knives, I see. ;) There is perfection out there, maybe you just haven't found it yet.

FWIW: you see a few the same member's here, always posting their negative crap- never anything positive. My feeling: is they're most likely unhappy people in life, the type of person whom views everything in life, as one big fat negative.

If I had one bit valuable wisdom to share with you, it would be this: don't spend too much time being consumed, with what random internet strangers think...

You'll be a much happier person. :) :thumbsup:
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For the record I do actually own several CRK products. Small Regular, Large 21, Umnumzaan Old Pivot, 1st run TiLock.

Perfection by definition is unobtainable in the engineering and manufacturing world.
 
Morrow said:
You should take your own advice. Once again you try to derail a thread while standing on your soapbox.
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I trying my best.
dwdickey said:
For the record I do actually own several CRK products. Small Regular, Large 21, Umnumzaan Old Pivot, 1st run TiLock.

Perfection by definition is unobtainable in the engineering and manufacturing world.
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If you're not happy with your Zaan old style pivot model, please let me know; I'd be more that happy to take it off your hands. :)

Perfection IMO, is in the eye of the beholder. Just received a stunning example of a ZT 0392 in the mail this afternoon. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I would classify my CRK Wilson Combat Zann Star-tac, as close to perfection as you'll find (in every aspect).
 
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