Is it just me

The hand made knives I've owned have owned all had better fit and finish than any production knife I've owned. Which is as it should be.

Production, even more expensive ones, have been a mixed bag. My Manix 2 CTS-XHP has been perfection. My PM2 has many flaws.
 
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.
Click to expand...

NO they are not expecting too much.
This is what knives are about. Jewelry that also functions as a tool.
That's like saying "are people being too picky because they expect a horse they buy to have four legs and be able to walk / run reasonably well with ALL of them".

Hey this is what it is about. Yes there is crap out there. When it shows up at my door it goes back the next business day. If I wanted funny colored handles with crooked un even grinds and gaps and stuff all over the place . . . hell . . . I would just make my own knives. I buy knives because I want something better than I can make. Doesn't keep me from modding them though.

You want to talk silliness. My diamond in my ring has a "flaw" . . . whine . . . I can only see it at the jewelers through some microscope but . . . .
the rest of the time I can't tell and it makes no difference in the day to day twinkle . . . to me that might be over the top.

Knives with flaws ? Now that is intolerable ! ! !
:D
 
Last edited:
I have heard good and bad stories about custom knives, folders in particular. I hear some people who say their customs are worlds ahead of what's on the production model. I hear others who say that their custom folders after another have terrible flaws.
n
Now honestly I think what matters the most is which maker ynou go to but what are you people's experience
 
There's a lot of people always demanding the next best thing. To me honestly I'm completely okay with my collection I have now. There are a few I will never get rid of. I'm always willing to try something new but not at the expense I go broke over it
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Some people don't have much appreciation for craftsmanship.
Click to expand...

I would go so far as to say MOST people.
Part of the reason there are so many poverty stricken fine crafts people around. Often needing a "real job" to make ends meet. Makes me sick to the core.

I know more than one super talented, classically trained, cabinet maker who have had their work show cased on the back of Fine Woodworking Magazine. It is the back but it is THEEE show case for the best work for that issue.

. . . anyway these people have true greatness but can't make a living from their craft.
Throw away staples and press board is what people "want". Buy it and throw it in the dump every decade or so rather than buy a REAL piece of furniture that would last generations and provide constant satisfaction to one who knows what to look for.

excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall.
 
Lapedog said:
I have heard good and bad stories about custom knives, folders in particular. I hear some people who say their customs are worlds ahead of what's on the production model. I hear others who say that their custom folders after another have terrible flaws.
n
Now honestly I think what matters the most is which maker ynou go to but what are you people's experience
Click to expand...

To see what CAN BE the difference take a look at the cutting performance difference between the Wilson knives and about everything else. Heat treat and blade grind and edge grind / geometry is the diff. here. I'm all for pretty to go along with that though too.
 
I don't mind a few minor cosmetic flaws on a cheap knife. But I expect an expensive knife to be very well-made, if not perfect. My most expensive knife is a Benchmade Griptilian and thank God I'm lucky to get a very well-made one, considering how many horror stories there are about Benchmade knives now. No blade-play, blade looks nicely centered, smooth Axis-lock, etc. But it's what I expect for an American-made knife and for the price I paid, bearing in mind I'm in Singapore so it's a lot more expensive here even after currency conversion. If the blade were rubbing on the liner, I'd be very unhappy. I bought it at a store and I didn't have to ask for another piece. I honestly wouldn't have dared to order one online...
 
The Benchmade knives I have handled have generally been well constructed. Glad your Gripilian was near "perfect". I would say my Mini Barrage is near perfect. I don't demand perfection in manufactured goods. I demand that they work mostly and I like a manufacturing environment that has sufficient checks and balances (QA/QC) to catch most of the duds before they are shipped to retailers. All factories have duds. My complaint with Benchmade knives is mostly the price. Hence I seldom even look at their products in stores.
 
KELAMA said:
I trying my best.


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).
Click to expand...
Pics ?
 
Like almost everyone else, I expect the quality to be commensurate with the price.
There's nothing wrong with expecting someone to do their best, when making a product.
The reality is though, some people don't try very hard.
 
stabman said:
IWCUZJS.jpg
Click to expand...

Is this the Great Forest Lobsters I've read about?
 
Wowbagger said:
NO they are not expecting too much.
This is what knives are about. Jewelry that also functions as a tool.
That's like saying "are people being too picky because they expect a horse they buy to have four legs and be able to walk / run reasonably well with ALL of them".

Hey this is what it is about. Yes there is crap out there. When it shows up at my door it goes back the next business day. If I wanted funny colored handles with crooked un even grinds and gaps and stuff all over the place . . . hell . . . I would just make my own knives. I buy knives because I want something better than I can make. Doesn't keep me from modding them though.

You want to talk silliness. My diamond in my ring has a "flaw" . . . whine . . . I can only see it at the jewelers through some microscope but . . . .
the rest of the time I can't tell and it makes no difference in the day to day twinkle . . . to me that might be over the top.

Knives with flaws ? Now that is intolerable ! ! !
:D
Click to expand...

Your diamond example is exactly what I'm getting at, so many today take "flaw hunting" to the extreme and go beyond the normal expectations for the price, use, design, & materials. They want a diamond for the price of a ring pop then complain when their ring pop doesn't glisten or it melts when it gets wet; or that their knife has a.0001mm bias in the blade to one side or the other or that their hand ground & hand sharpened blade isn't perfectly symmetrical.

Those are unrealistic expectations to have at any price point and everyday it seems as if someone else posts a negative review of "a perfect knife example but..." a knife that they built expectations to the moon about and then we're disappointed when they got it in hand because it didn't meet the expectations they built unrealistically for it.
 
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.
Click to expand...
Was this post influenced by my post about Case? We apparently have different expectations, and thats totally fine. Forums are about sharing ideas. Here's where I am coming from. Case is a century old brand, an icon of American production and craft over the years. Case used to make stockmen and complex folders that had no blade rub, centered perfectly and had excellent walk and talk. It would be different if they'd always made products with loose tolerances. But i have a 45 year old stockman that is of higher quality than my 1 year old stockman. For the past 30 years, it seems the Zippo and corporate people have let quality go. They've sold out a great brand that generations of my family have relied on and carried, as have so many others. They won't change unless people voice concern. My hope is that they have some employees that care on this forum, and maybe discussion about lapsing quality will spur some change, and restore a great brand to the level of quality it should be held to. Just my point of view. To end on a positive note, I did just buy a Copperlock that has very nice fit and finish.
 
Regarding Case specifically, here's two more considerations. They have purposefully positioned the Case brand as a collectable product. At their current quality level, there is nothing collectable about them regarding the true attributes of a knife, walk and talk, fit and finish, etc. Sure you can collect colors and logo'd blades, like kids would collect baseball cards or hot wheels cars. The other thing is that Buck produces a similarly priced knife, made in the USA, that doesn't rub. Walk and talk, fit and finish could be better but are acceptable. Case has gotten lazy.
 
I think a lot of it has to do with price point. I buy a $19 Skyline, I expect a lot different quality control than a $250 zt or a $800 custom or.....

In every industry, the high end pushes the low end. Take cars as an example, or computers. High end has become entry level and forces the high end to continue to innovate.
 
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.
Click to expand...
To a certain extent I think the nit picking is part of the fun. The thrill of the constant search for something that exactly fits what you are looking for.
It doesn't really bother me, except for when people swear off an entire brand and trash it because of some little thing that is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
So yes, people are expecting to much these days, but chasing perfection is a noble pursuit, and frankly part of the fun of knife collecting.
 
I've owned a few hand made knives, and only one had issues, a TSF Beast. Jim fixed it immediately in addition to a modification I requested. Took all of three weeks.

My Brian Tighe mini Tighe Rod was perfect, other than that the handle was too small. Sold that, plan to get the medium size in the future.

My Matt Bailey model 2 flipper geek edition was perfect, and the sharpest new knife I've owned.

These are the kinds of things I expect at $300 and above.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top