Knives that surprised you

madcap_magician

madcap_magician

Farts rainbows.
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What knife did you always pass over on the internets but eventually gave in and bought and it totally changed your mind in person?

For me, it's Hinderer. I always thought they looked angular and not terribly ergonomic. Based on the pictures, I assumed they were heavy, bulky, and overbuilt. I didn't like the protruding Phillips screws on the pocket clip and the filler tabs. I didn't like the lack of the lockbar insert, and I heard odd things about Teflon washers. But then the Gen 6 ones came out with the tri-way pivot bearing options, and DLT and USAMadeBlade started to pump out exclusives in 20CV and M390.

Then I got a spear point Eklipse almost solely because they arrived at DLT at the same time my stimulus check hit my checking account. And it just melted into my hand, and it seems to fit in my hand and carry in my pocket a lot smaller than I would have otherwise thought. Plus, really oddly, but the working finish just really made me comfortable right off the bat throwing it into my pocket. Often I have a weird honeymoon phase with new knives, especially expensive ones, where I'm reluctant to ruin the NIB state, but this one just dropped right into use even though it's the most expensive folder I've ever bought.

... and now I gotta find some more Hinderers.
 
I'll agree with you, but go in a somewhat circular direction to get there.

Other than having met Rick early on at the Blade Show probably close to 20 years ago or more, my first experience with his designs were the ZT 0550 and 0551 which were gifted to me by Thomas Welk years ago. (He sent me a couple that had either been returned or had minor flaws.) I fell in love with the pattern and really liked its heft and feel in the hand.

I followed this up a while later by purchasing the ZT 0562CF from another forum member on the exchange, and found that it also fit my hand very nicely, had excellent fit and finish, and had a nice blade made from Carpenter 204p.

But I still didn't own one from the Hinderer shop.

That changed fairly recently when I wanted to do some business with Rob @ National Knives and took a flyer on an O.D. Green XM-24 with battle bronze lock side and a working finish Sheepsfoot blade. I loved the way it looked on the site, and upon arrival, loved the way it felt in hand...despite my hand being only about medium to medium-large in size.

Yes, it's a big beast of a knife, but does not feel heavy in hand or pocket, is well balanced, has excellent action, fit and finish and the edge it came with is pretty darn refined. (Slices phone book paper cleanly like nobody's business.)

So, I guess I was somewhat pleasantly surprised that this big galoot came with such nice attention to detail, fit and finish while still satisfying that "up for anything" toughness I enjoy in some of my knives.

The XM-24 and Demko AD-20 are my two most recent purchases, both stout offerings, and I've got to say, I love them both.
 
Blues said:
I'll agree with you, but go in a somewhat circular direction to get there.

Other than having met Rick early on at the Blade Show probably close to 20 years ago or more, my first experience with his designs wer the ZT 0550 and 0551 which were gifted to me by Thomas Welk years ago. (He sent me a couple that had either been returned or had minor flaws.) I fell in love with the pattern and really liked its heft and feel in the hand.

I followed this up a while later by purchasing the ZT 0562CF from another forum member on the exchange, and found that it also fit my hand very nicely, had excellent fit and finish, and had a nice blade made from Carpenter 204p.

But I still didn't own one from the Hinderer shop.

That changed fairly recently when I wanted to do some business with Rob @ National Knives and took a flyer on an O.D. Green XM-24 with battle bronze lock side and a working finish Sheepsfoot blade. I loved the way it looked on the site, and upon arrival, loved the way it felt in hand...despite my hand being only about medium to medium-large in size.

Yes, it's a big beast of a knife, but does not feel heavy in hand or pocket, is well balanced, has excellent action, fit and finish and the edge it came with is pretty darn refined. (Slices phone book paper cleanly like nobody's business.)

So, I guess I was somewhat pleasantly surprised that this big galoot came with such nice attention to detail, fit and finish while still satisfying that "up for anything" toughness I enjoy in some of my knives.

The XM-24 and Demko AD-20 are my two most recent purchases, both stout offerings, and I've got to say, I love them both.
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention this, because that was pretty much the same here - for years I would say "Zero Tolerance makes the best Hinderers" because of the quality ZT was putting out, how you could get them easier than actual Hinderers; and they had more of the modern flourishes - steel upgrades, lockbar inserts, overtravel stops, etc.; and they were about half the price. I know a lot of the purists say that the older generations are better, just like a lot of CRK fans swear by the 21 and say everything has gone downhill since, but I really like my current-gen Hinderer. Mine is FDE G10 and battle bronze ano with working finish. I really like the combination, but I actually think battle bronze is a great combo with any of the normal G10 scale colors.

I too was surprised by the edge. My Eklipse just replaced a GiantMouse ACE Grand in my pocket, which was also a stout blade but much thicker behind the edge and actually a worse cutter. I think my Hinderer is as stout as it can be without being overbuilt or compromising on being a good cutter. Just terribly pleased with it.
 
I finally picked up an AD15 from cold steel last year and I liked it so much that I sold my demko custom.
 
Spyderco shaman

Recently picked one up and love the thing
 
madcap_magician said:
What knife did you always pass over on the internets but eventually gave in and bought and it totally changed your mind in person?
Click to expand...

Before the internet I had this experience. 1990. I had an order from the USMC unit for Spyderco Enduras. Oh man! I thought: weird design, should have ordered a stronger folder if that what was wanted, and a fixed blade was better. Ok. I was persuaded to order one for myself. 31 years later, I routinely carry one in my pocket when I leave home.
 
We knives. Bought one for my wife and was very impressed with the quality. Was expecting it to feel like every other $200 knife but it feels more like a $400 knife.
 
Spyderco Southard. Bought one a long time ago, didn't get it. Seeing all the custom scales and love for it, I considered, reconsidered, and finally 5 or 6 years later bought another. Should have kept my original.
 
Civivi Praxis. My previous experience with cheaper knives had been stuff like the CRKT M16 and FRN Spydercos (back when you could get a Dragonfly for $50-60). I'd already had a few knives from higher price tiers, but it made me reset my entire value scale. For $42.50, an absurd amount of attention goes into them.
 
Like most so far, Hinderers. My brother asked me about them, me being the knife nut I am, and I stated my dislike for them. Big, chunky, heavy, and that damned incongruent handle material. I cannot stand having different handle material on either side of a frame lock knife.

Years and years later I bought an XM-18 3.5" non-flipper spear point, ended up loving it, and miraculously found a titanium handle for it. More recently, I bought an XM-24 spanto. Unfortunately, titanium handles are very hard to come by. I wish that wasn't so because I'd like the XM-24 more and would definitely own more Hinderers if they were.

So yes, I'm surprised I like the Hinderer XM design as much as I do and didn't expect to.
 
Demko AD-15 and similarly afterwards the CS version. I love the lock and I was suprised how functional and strong it was.

We knives have impressed me alot. I did not think I would like some of there designs like the Arrakas look very angular but in actuality it is very comfortable and the looks are impressive. We knives are definite conversation starters.

There are many knives that have surprise me and continue to do so. Artisan Cutlery has one as do other makers. Some have surprised me in how much I spent to how little I have gotten as well. Its part of why we buy and collect I suppose.
 
Benchmade Mini Presidio II
I don't know what it is about this specific Benchmade, might be because of the full steel liners, but it feels better than a lot of other Benchmade knives, and the sounds it makes when closing it sound different as well. It's slightly smoother as well. For example when I handle it next to my Freek, it just feels higher quality in action, even though the Freek does slice a bit better the Presidio just has a higher quality feel.

Stainless steel handle Spyderco Endura
It's way different to the FRN models, I know obviously it's going to feel different, it's solid steel, but it's not even the same knife as the FRN version. The sound it makes when you close it is almost addictive. It makes a very unique vibrating metal clunk sound. And when you deploy it it makes such a crisp snap. I ended up beating this into the ground and used it for a year as a dedicated beater, prying, cutting open tin cans, hammered a few nails with it. I'm thinking to buy another one just to keep in mint condition to play around with just to fidget with and listen to. It wasn't what I expected it to be, it's so smooth and enjoyable, I expected a clunky beater.
 
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