knives that surprised you..........

Most all of the Chinese Kershaws. A good number of the Chinese Bokers. A bunch of different SRM, Enlan/Bee, Navy models, which are selling under their own names now , after lots of experience making them for US knife companies.

And conversely, any number of the moderate priced US made Bucks have gone downhill, which is really a bigger (and sadder) surprise than the upswing in all the nicely made Chinese ones.

- OS
 
Last edited:
For me the surprise has worked both ways, sometimes overly pleased and others really disappointed. I've been collecting since 1986 and have amassed quite a collection over the years. Honestly I think the biggest surprise was back about 7 or 8 years ago when Buck came out with the Strider/Tarani folders in G10 with the Bos heat treated blades, I bought a bunch due to the sub $100 price tag as gifts, when they showed up I actually kept them ALL lol, I promptly sold my Strider which even used paid for the 3 Buck versions and never looked back, to this day I still carry one of those bad boys from time to time. Also the ZT0301, got it with no expectations whatsoever on a friends recommendation and man was I impressed, its been in my pocket now since Feb of last year, the knife is built like a tank!

On the flip side, starting with ALL of Microtech's side openers since the CMTX5 until about this year, I've been disgusted with their apparent complete lack of any sort of QC, I haven't seen a company slip that quickly until I bought a S&W revolver earlier this year, real crap.

Just my .02

-A
 
For me it's the Spyderco Delica 4 ffg. I have been through several knives this year, I keep comming back to the Delica. Small fast and light. Stays sharp. What's not to like.
 
Well I'll have to say my medium Cold Steel Voyager clip point. I had a Cold Steel Voyager tanto blade about 15 or so years ago and it was nothing to write home about. I saw the new blade shape and thought I would like to try that blade just based on looks alone. I got it in the mail last week and I have put it to some wood cutting tasks and cut a pretty fair amount of cardboard so far. It cuts really good for a knife of $35. I've only sharpened it once so far on my diamond stones but it took a nice edge and I think I'm really going to like this knife. They have really raised their game since the last time I tried their products. For the price I'm super happy with my choice to purchase this knife.
 
Böker applegate-fairbairn. When I handled the knife in knife shoppe, I developed whole new respect for the knife.
 
I'm used to my Gayle bradley and manix 2, they are nice and I use them daily. I recently got a Burger EXK and my first small sebenza, these 2 knifes really surprised me!! The more I use them, the more I love them!!!
 
I bought this nondescript folder about 15yrs ago for $10....was one of my first and I didnt know much about steel and handle
materials and all that then but just felt right about it. It has taken a lot of beating (not abuse) and is still my primary EDC blade (along with a Victorinox of some kind).....call it first love or just sheer luck, but this unassuming little guy has turned out to be a giant surprise!!
 
For me, the hands down biggest surprise in quite a few years has been the manix 2. Absolutely fantastic knife for the price. Runner up for excellence would be my ti-millitary. Not as surprising to me, except for the fact that I carry this knife far more than my XM-18, SNG, Sebenza, or any other that I own.

On the downside, the 2 handmade Emersons. Not nearly worth the aftermarket price. Buy a production Emerson and a bottle of Loc-Tite (you'll need it, trust me!) if you like the design. You ain't missing anything but a chunk of money with his customs. ZT! Big disappointment. Bought one to take to kuwait. Went to reverse the clip on day one and every screw stripped. Put it down and never touched it again. It's a shame 'cause a lot of folkes give em good reviews, but I'll never trust em again. They left me stranded on foreign turf! Not good!
 
flarp said:
Mora - I had read a lot of positive reviews of these, and I was interested in a decent inexpensive camping fixed-blade knife. When I first got it, my initial impression was that it felt and looked cheap (unfinished spine, light plastic handle). Once I started using it, though, I was very impressed at how well it cut and at its toughness.
Click to expand...

I forgot to add mora! I still have yet to get a better knife for fuzzystick and carving, the mora's just go through wood like a lightsaber!
 
Dorito Monk said:
Cold Steel American Lawman. Given the pretty awful quality of some of the other Cold Steel products I owned or used, I didn't expect much from the AL.

I was surprised to find out that it's a pretty damn good knife - well made, well designed, and features decent materials. I definitely don't regret buying one of these suckers. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this statement:thumbup: It's as if I wrote it word for word ;) Great work knife :thumbup:

Paul
 
Same here Bond. Its built like a tank and the m.a.g.i.c a/o is the most powerful opening I've had in a knife. I love it and am planning on getting a plain edge version asap cuz I found a place that has them for under $30(if its still on sale:confused:)
james_bond said:
My $35 Smith and Wesson SWAT knife has worked hard and held up very well
Click to expand...
 
Fallkniven PXL

At the time I was convinced of Fallkniven's less is more functionalism. Then this silly fetish object turned up in the post one day.

I think it could have been conceived as an engineering piece to compete with Sebenzas. Just silly.
 
Rough Rider put the shock and awe on me I had heard they were "decent" and "pretty nice for the money" but still I was a bit skeptical so I decided to sample several different models seeing as they were very inexpensive and very easy to come by and after I made my observations I came to the conclusion that they were in fact very good even so much so as to put some of my more expensive and American made slipjoints to shame.
 
Condor Bushlore. Best value in a "bushcraft", type knife out there. Beautifully made leather sheath to boot.
 
Spyderco Squeak(super sharp,and stays that way)
SRM 710,
Junglas(heard a lot ,then got one-super nice)
FFG Delica
SAK Cadet
 
BladeChick777 said:
Wow, Quite A Few On That List! Ontario RAT 1, Kershaw Skyline, Kershaw Black Gulch, Enlan EL-02B, Meyerco Catch Dog, Ka-Bar K2 Gila, Ka-Bar TDI Folder, Ka-Bar Dozier, Rough Rider, Timber Wolf, Case Sodbuster, Mtech Twist Balisong, Spyderco Tenacious, Spyderco Resilience, Spyderco Persistence, Spyderco Native, And Probably A Few More I'm Sure.

Oh And Swiss Army Knives! I'm Addicted And They're Amazing, Great Quality, And Awesome Useful Knives.
Click to expand...

I was mailing some Xmas stuff today, to beat the traffic. I pulled my Resilience out of the glove box and used it to slice some materials. It was lightly oiled and forgotten about a few months ago. It was half frozen from recent temperatures when I found it today. It still flipped open nicely, maybe not super butter smooth like when it's warm, but fine none the less. It was rust free and still razer sharp.
 
Sanrenmu 710. A quality knife, regardless of the absurdly low price. SOG Flash II, given to me by a co-worker who was
a two time convicted felon and could not own any knife or weapon. Took an amazing edge and made me re-think my
previous opinion of AUS-8A.
 
1. Spyderco Military. I bought my first just because of the blade steel, turns out the rest of the knife was even better!

2. Victorinox. Solid craftsmanship and everything is mirror polished.

3. Cold Steel 2011 Voyager. For a plastic handle it has surprisingly little flex and the pivot is very smooth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top