Knife you weren't expecting to like so much? Or, the OPPOSITE?

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Have you ever had a knife that you didn't expect much from, yet it ends up being one of your favorites? Or, a knife that you thought you'd like, but ended up a disappointment?

I tried this basic little friction folder for a week, and now I want to carry it. Didn't expect I would like it so much, but it packs a lot of performance in a compact and lightweight package. I have fun using it. It has taken the place of my SAKs and Svord Peasants.
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Opinel. I knew about them for a while, and in my mind I thought "In this day and age, why would you want to have a knife that rusts and gets stiff when opening after getting wet?" Well a few years later I was in a shop looking at knives, saw some Opinels and the cheap price they go for and thought "let's just see what they are like". So picked up a no. 6 in carbone and it changed my life. It did a knife's sole purpose so damn well (to cut). It got frighteningly sharp with such little effort. It grew a patina and built up character. I finally understood.

I sadly lost it to security at a music concert more than ten years ago, but the Opinel sickness stayed with me, and I have since gone through quite a few Opinel accumulation cycles. I have a slightly modified no. 8 in my pocket as I type this. I have stated that a no. 9 is the knife I would choose if I could only have one knife for the rest of my life. The no. 6 makes a great office knife. The no. 8 a good all-rounder. I just love Opinels. They can be modified and personalized, cut so damn well, and they are very affordable. They have their quirks, but that's part of their charm for me. I'm very glad I gave them a chance all those years ago. I didn't expect myself to grow so fond of the humble Opinel.
 
In a moment of madness I purchased a Maserin Bundeswehr. I like the sheath, and the blade is fine but it's got the crappiest handle I've ever seen/held on a knife. I'll probably rehandle as it's a cheap (ish) knife that is totally let down by said handle. All my other knives I pretty much got what I expected.
 
The knife I expected to like, but didn't - the Spyderco PM2. I tried it, sold it, bought another, sold that, then bought & changed to aftermarket scales. That was better; but I probably carry a PM2 less than I carry a large Sebenza. (I didn't mention the large Sebenza because I didn't expect to like it)

The knife I didn't expect to like was the Berg Iron Pup. It was too small; but I tried it anyway. That thing OWNED my RFP for 2.5 yrs...I only pulled it to see if I could make myself like a small Sebenza (I ended up giving the space to a much larger knife, instead)
 
Dav1 said:
In a moment of madness I purchased a Maserin Bundeswehr. I like the sheath, and the blade is fine but it's got the crappiest handle I've ever seen/held on a knife. I'll probably rehandle as it's a cheap (ish) knife that is totally let down by said handle. All my other knives I pretty much got what I expected.
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hhmoore said:
The knife I expected to like, but didn't - the Spyderco PM2. I tried it, sold it, bought another, sold that, then bought & changed to aftermarket scales. That was better; but I probably carry a PM2 less than I carry a large Sebenza. (I didn't mention the large Sebenza because I didn't expect to like it)
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I know the "moment of madness" feeling 😁

hhmoore said:
The knife I didn't expect to like was the Berg Iron Pup. It was too small; but I tried it anyway. That thing OWNED my RFP for 2.5 yrs...I only pulled it to see if I could make myself like a small Sebenza (I ended up giving the space to a much larger knife, instead)
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It's funny how a small knife can get the job done, and be a pleasure to carry. We just think we need bigger.
 
Yup I only did it once, but I'm thinking some black G10 scales and it should look good!

I'm also about to pull the trigger on a Helle Nord, I love 14c28n and wanted a bigger blade in this steel and the Nord fits the bill. I'm sure it will be a good knife but I'm still a little hesitant as its expensive imo for what it is, I'd much prefer a blade blank so I could handle myself. We shall see if I'm disappointed.
 
I didn’t expect to like the Bugout as much as I do. I originally got the CF Elite version just to see what it was about. Ended up liking it so much I sprung for the M4 version with G10. I honestly can’t fault this knife. Action is superb, fit and finish are perfect, and the thin blade is a slicing machine. And I get no hot spots in use, so really feels like I could “hard use” this knife for hours. Don’t have any other knife, modern or traditional, that I feel exceeds it as an overall package. Whooda thunk…?
 
Some that I didn't expect to like so much that come to mind:

The Benchmade Sibert designed Vicar. I only bought it because it was heavily discounted after it got discontinued. The smoothness in the action just blew me away from the first time I tried it though and left me thoroughly impressed.

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The Stretch 2 in K390. Supposedly similar ergonomics to the PM2 which has just never clicked with me, so I wasn't expecting much, but for some reason this one just did. I only got it because it was a model I hadn't tried and I wanted to experience K390, but I've ended up carrying and enjoying it much more than I ever expected to.

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The Kershaw Launch 10. I dig mini autos, and for the price this one is hard to beat. My first Kershaw auto, and I don't buy much Kershaw (other than ZT), but I love this one.

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akaMatt said:
I didn’t expect to like the Bugout as much as I do. I originally got the CF Elite version just to see what it was about. Ended up liking it so much I sprung for the M4 version with G10. I honestly can’t fault this knife. Action is superb, fit and finish are perfect, and the thin blade is a slicing machine. And I get no hot spots in use, so really feels like I could “hard use” this knife for hours. Don’t have any other knife, modern or traditional, that I feel exceeds it as an overall package. Whooda thunk…?
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Wait 'till you try a Taggedout!
 
Oh yeah, and a recent purchase: Thu Buck 841 Sprint Pro in burlap micarta. I bought it for the burlap micarta to pair with a Boker traditional I had purchased, and at $115 I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but man I really dig this thing.

Shown here modified
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Here's how it came stock
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exceeded expectations - crkt pilar 3
expectations greatly missed - dpx hest folder
 
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