Knives that surprised you

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,993
It’s not often that I get a knife that surprises me, in a good way. I’ve had a lot that surprised me in not a good way too and that list is much longer, but I don’t dwell on those, I just hope I don’t get any a second time because I forgot 😂.

But it’s those rare times that I am talking about here.
This one I didn’t have high expectations of but it was part of a trade and I agreed to it with the idea worse thing I would gift it to my nephew who is an up and coming knife knut.

The CIVIVI Copper McKenna, this one has a Damascus blade and the grind is quite thin behind the edge, a great slicer. The metal handle gives the knife some needed weight since the blade is very thin. My few nitpicks are that it is a front flipper and they did not include a place for a lanyard. But I am liking it just the same.

https://flic.kr/p/2s3v1Qe

So, what knife has surprised you?
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
It’s not often that I get a knife that surprises me, in a good way. I’ve had a lot that surprised me in not a good way too and that list is much longer, but I don’t dwell on those, I just hope I don’t get any a second time because I forgot 😂.

But it’s those rare times that I am talking about here.
This one I didn’t have high expectations of but it was part of a trade and I agreed to it with the idea worse thing I would gift it to my nephew who is an up and coming knife knut.

The CIVIVI Copper McKenna, this one has a Damascus blade and the grind is quite thin behind the edge, a great slicer. The metal handle gives the knife some needed weight since the blade is very thin. My few nitpicks are that it is a front flipper and they did not include a place for a lanyard. But I am liking it just the same.

https://flic.kr/p/2s3v1Qe

So, what knife has surprised you?
G2
Click to expand...
Comprehensivist said:
^A Gary W. Graley Gary W. Graley without a lanyard? Oh the horror! I feel sorry for the next buyer in the Exchange who will receive a knife without one of your wonderful deluxe signature lanyards. 😉

Good idea for a thread by the way.

Phil
Click to expand...
It really is a great idea for a thread. I was thinking about three in particular recently that fit the bill perfectly:

First are the Berg Blades Alpha and the Vero Engineering Lux 2. Both very similar in style and quality but they also have their own particular characteristics that really endear them to me. I can’t decide which one I like more.
IMG_1365.jpeg

The other is the ZT 302 that was gifted to me by an old friend. Never expected to like it as much as I do - but I do a lot!
image.jpg
 
The humble Case Peanut.

I payed around $20-00 for mine new about 15 years ago or so and that even included my initials on the handle.
I wanted a small dedicated knife for my coin pocket for travel. Everyone raved about the Peanut so I thought let's give it a go.....
It truly has been a great little knife and has traveled all over the planet with me spending huge amounts of time in my pocket.
Absolutely surprising! :)

 
Steven65 said:
The humble Case Peanut.

I payed around $20-00 for mine new about 15 years ago or so and that even included my initials on the handle.
I wanted a small dedicated knife for my coin pocket for travel. Everyone raved about the Peanut so I thought let's give it a go.....
It truly has been a great little knife and has traveled all over the planet with me spending huge amounts of time in my pocket.
Absolutely surprising! :)

Click to expand...

I just so happened to have taken mine out today. I never really carry it, but I do appreciate it.
 
The Chris Reeve Sebenza. I had never spent more than 250 on a knife before. I didn't want to. But a friend showed me his and and the "Meet Your Maker" documentary on YouTube. Still wasn't interested when I handled one, as I'm a lefty. But then he said "they make lefties." Well damn. Now I own 14 lefty CRK folders. My CRK collection is worth more than my truck. I was surprised by how much I have been smitten by these knives.
 
BP Green said:
It really is a great idea for a thread. I was thinking about three in particular recently that fit the bill perfectly:

First are the Berg Blades Alpha and the Vero Engineering Lux 2. Both very similar in style and quality but they also have their own particular characteristics that really endear them to me. I can’t decide which one I like more.
View attachment 3140304

The other is the ZT 302 that was gifted to me by an old friend. Never expected to like it as much as I do - but I do a lot!
View attachment 3140311
Click to expand...
I'm really digging the Vero Lux 2 as well buddy!
 
Steven65 said:
The humble Case Peanut.

I payed around $20-00 for mine new about 15 years ago or so and that even included my initials on the handle.
I wanted a small dedicated knife for my coin pocket for travel. Everyone raved about the Peanut so I thought let's give it a go.....
It truly has been a great little knife and has traveled all over the planet with me spending huge amounts of time in my pocket.
Absolutely surprising! :)

Click to expand...
Such a cool picture. . .
 
Great thread Gary! Nice to hear others mention the Vero Lux. Held one at Bladeshow with no intention of buying anything else and walked away with one which I still carry. Splurged on the small Lux with Bacon Damascus, OUTSTANDING!!!!! Oh yeah, the Lux also has an edge that even Gary would be proud of, hair whittling sharp.

A2 knives action, fit and finish blew my doors off.

ZT 0640. I already appreciated ZT but this one is special.

Benchmade Anthem always makes me smile. The action and being an integral are so unique even for Benchmade.

Quiet Carry Drift. 100% rust proof is correct. Take it to the beach every year, zero rust after swimming in the ocean for a week and the action is exactly the same, AMAZING knife.

Cold Steel AD-10. Who knew Lynn could make a knife with super smooth action. A beast that deploys like it’s riding on air. Legend

GB2 is another I did not expect to be so smooth and zero lock stick. I carry a regular GB2 with Micarta scales. Hard to beat overall for $200. It might the the pound for pound champ for value, Steel, performance for the price.

https://imgur.com/a/awtv7ou


IMG_4941.jpeg
 
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This folder has also surprised me with the features
Kizer Tycho
Small blade of M390 that is hollow ground and arrived sharp and has kept its edge well.
Titanium handle with carbon fiber inlay.
Clip inset with flat head screws, made for right hand carry, so there isn’t anything disturbing the show side (not great for lefties but nice for righties)
Cross bar lock
Thumb stud on one side, which I prefer as I have had some folders with double ones catching on my pocket and opening the blade when I wasn’t expecting it!
And finally a hidden lanyard pin that I can attach my lanyard without disturbing the handle when gripping it.

https://flic.kr/p/2s3FsoP

https://flic.kr/p/2s3Ef1m

G2
 
Last edited:
Gary W. Graley said:
This folder has also surprised me with the features
Kizer Tycho
Small blade of M390 that is hollow ground and arrived sharp and has kept its edge well.
Titanium handle with carbon fiber inlay.
Clip inset with flat head screws, made for right hand carry, so there isn’t anything thing disturbing the show side (not great for lefties but nice for righties)
Cross bar lock
Thumb stud on one side, which I prefer as I have had some folders with double ones catching on my pocket and opening the blade when I wasn’t expecting it!
And finally a hidden lanyard pin that I can attach my lanyard without disturbing the handle when gripping it.

https://flic.kr/p/2s3FsoP

https://flic.kr/p/2s3Ef1m

G2
Click to expand...
Great photos G2!
 
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