Knives that you're glad you gave a chance

carrot said:
What knives did you initially pass up on that became favorites? Why?
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Spyderco Gayle Bradley. Thought the blade shape was dumb looking and would not be so useful. Thought the hollow grind would be deep like most of the hollow grinds that I don't like. I wasn't excited about the blade steel (after all it wasn't a high vanadium CPM-SyadayadaV).
I was gloriously WRONG on every point.
So happy with that knife.
Why :
  • Blade shape feels really good for what I cut. Hard to define but just gets in there and gets the job done; good orientation in relation to the handle. Not awkward in the least.
  • The hollow grind is subtle and does not take over and guide the cut. Want to know what I mean by that ? Slice an apple with a hollow ground blade then put the slices back to back.
  • M4 blade steel; turned out to be my all time fav. Gets silly sharp, I don't need diamonds to sharpen it, holds most of that crazy sharpness a good long time. Heck I even enjoy the patina it takes on.
I'm glad I finally ignored my preconceived notions and listened to these guys. I would have missed out on a treasure.
 
mt666tm said:
Emerson CQC-7

The look / aesthetic never appealed to me for years. I had other Emerson's, and other knives from other makers. I was never interested in getting one, always 'meh' when an opportunity to buy one came up. This was until a friend left one at my place, and I actually carried it for a day and used it before giving it back (it was his user so he didn't care). Now I have five of them with the BW-BT being EDC most days.
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I knew you would come in with the cqc7:D
 
Todd Begg Steelcraft Kwaiken
When this knife arrived I first thought "no way will I ever carry that thing" I didn't even take it out of the box. The seller said I could carry it for a week and return it if I didn't like it!!
This is the best edc ever!!! The action on this knife is amazing. Like no other flipper I have ever had. Plus it disappears in your pocket. Best money I have ever spent on a knife!!!!
I have dcMartin to thank for that!
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Spyderco para 2.

At first I thought the blade shape was stupid and didn't think I'd like the thumbhole method to open it.



Well after I tried my first one at a gun shop I ended up loving it and couldn't imagine not having one now.

Easily my favorite folder.
 
Srtr said:
Spyderco para 2.

At first I thought the blade shape was stupid and didn't think I'd like the thumbhole method to open it.



Well after I tried my first one at a gun shop I ended up loving it and couldn't imagine not having one now.

Easily my favorite folder.
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That's what I am afraid will happen if I purchase a PM2!
 
Spyderco Manix 2.

Holy awesome ergonomics Batman.

I recently got one in a trade and have always wanted to try one out. It molded to my hand. I immediately bought three other variations and am using the cutlery shop exclusive lightweight in s90v as my do it all knife. I have an xl that I used to chop and shave wood for a campfire this past weekend. I have the s30v and s110v variants that I've put into my EDC rotation as well. I've owned a lot of knives but the Manix is by far my favorite. I don't think it's an eyesore either as others have mentioned. If you see a massively long for sale ad from yours truly soon, its because of the Manix.
 
Brands, kizlyar supreme and kizer didn't disappoint for their respective price points.
 
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Delica 4!
With nerve damage in my hands I found Spyderco's are the easiest to get open one handed and the Delica is slim enough in pocket I can get my hand in without having to fight past it unlike the fuller handles and leaf shaped blades of other Spydercos.
 
Rough Riders in particular, and traditional slipjoints in general. For many years, the only knives I knew were Opinels and SAKs. I had multiples of each. I was no knife nut, I toured and camped on motorcycles and tried to keep one of each on every bike I traveled on. I usually brought a little Anza and a Tapio Wirkkala puukko, but that was pretty much the extent of my knife ownership. I was vaguely aware of slipjoints, or jackknives as I called them, and even more vaguely aware of the one-handed openers that were beginning to appear.

My wife gave me a few other knives, including a USMC Ka-Bar and a Griptilian. That got me more interested in knives. I bought some other Benchmades, and then a couple of Moras. The Moras and Opinels led me to BF, specifically to the Traditional forum. Once there, I could not avoid reading about traditional slipjoints, and particularly these bang-for-the-buck Chinese knives that made it painless to enter the world of traditional knives. These were the knives I should have grown up with, but somehow managed to avoid.
 
Got a PM2 on the way. I hate the paper specs but I have an obligation as a knife nut to try it. And this PM2 is in....M4:D!
 
W. Anderson said:
Kershaw/Emerson CQC-4KXL. Couldn't imagine a 30.00 knife being any good. It has become my work EDC, however. Nothing but good things to say.
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No doubt, I buy these for people to hammer on and they love them. I abuse mine at work and touch up every few days. What a deal.
Another for me is the original sage, got it in a trade years ago, carry it often. Nice comfy knife.

Russ
 
mycough said:
No doubt, I buy these for people to hammer on and they love them. I abuse mine at work and touch up every few days. What a deal.
Another for me is the original sage, got it in a trade years ago, carry it often. Nice comfy knife.

Russ
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Hamming on would be the best way to describe what I do with it. Holding up 100%
 
DPX HEAT. I thought it was too small, too chunky and kind of gimmicky. Got one and it's very well built, the ergos are very, very good and, while small, I don't feel underknifed in the least when carrying it.
 
Spyderco: I passed on Spyderco knives in general for a long time until I finally purchased a Native at Walmart to try out. Liked the knife a lot and that started my buying of a number of their knives over the last 10 years.

Benchmade: I honestly never really looked at them although I knew they made a good knife. When I thought of a Benchmade knife, I thought of the Adamas and it was way too big for me. Looked at a Mini Barrage (#585) a year or so ago and purchased my first Benchmade knife and was pleased.

Great Eastern Cutlery: I initially could see little difference in quality to justify the cost above a similar Case branded slip joint. You have to understand that I always felt Case slip joints to be kind of expensive. But I finally gave GEC a try and now own about 20 knives that they made.

Queen/Schatt & Morgan: I never really considered one of their knives until I purchased a small fixed blade. It was not a bad knife and I have purchased a number of knives of the two brands since that time.
 
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Henry Beige said:
Rough Riders in particular, and traditional slipjoints in general. For many years, the only knives I knew were Opinels and SAKs. I had multiples of each. <snip>

The Moras and Opinels led me to BF, specifically to the Traditional forum. Once there, I could not avoid reading about traditional slipjoints, and particularly these bang-for-the-buck Chinese knives that made it painless to enter the world of traditional knives. These were the knives I should have grown up with, but somehow managed to avoid.
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I was never an Opinel fan, but you mentioned Rough Riders. I read about them. Then I handled a few different ones. Then I bought a few different ones.... I found them remarkably well made and couldn't believe they could manufacture and sell a knife for this price. I don't know how far back Rough Rider knives go, but they are a relatively recent phenomena or in the last 20 years. I just assumed they would be like the Frost slip joints which I found to be lacking overall.

I grew up with slip joints and it took little to convince me to take a look at them again after joining BF.
 
Mine is the Cold Steel Ti-lite 6 with zytel handles and Aus-8A steel. I don't like stiletto blades because I think of them as a weapon not as much a tool. To me knives (in general) are strictly tools not weapons. Unfortunately I need to visit inner city Baltimore more than I care to. Am I a knife fighter.... No. Do I ever wish to use a knife to harm anybody..... HELL NO! But I do feel (slightly) better knowing I have an opposing looking blade on me. I'm hoping that the mear site and sound of it would buy me time in a bad situation. Since Maryland is anti CCW it's the best I can carry. I never would've bought it with my own money. I had a gift card so I bought a "toy". I'm glad I did!
 
Slyzs Bowie. I put it off for the longest time. Now it's one of my sheepdogs for the rest of the herd.

Shirogorov 111. Retail price is over what I am willing to put down but when an the opportunity arose, I grabbed one on the exchange. What a thoroughly impressive knife. Reviewers struggle to firmly state that it's not worth the premium price. Like a Sebenza, (for most folks) once you get it, you get it.

That brings up Sebenza and Mnandi. I fought any chance that I'd ever own either. Both were very compelling once I got them in hand.
 
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There would be several that I could mention but I will just go with the top 3.

Small Sebenza
Almost 13 years ago I gave a Chris Reeve Small Sebenza a try for the first time. It did not appeal that much to me but I had heard so much about it I was never going to be satisfied until I put one in my pocket. That knife stayed in my pocket for 5+ years exclusively and is still one of my treasured possessions today.

ZT0456
As a dealer I saw the pics of it and thought it looked too funky and clunky. When they came in and I flipped the first one I immediately changed my mind. I put the first one I opened in my pocket and it is still in heavy rotation today. Just an amazing knife.

Hinderer Half Track
If you pay attention to my post on here this will not surprise you. Truth is the first Half Track I ever put in my hands was at blade show a couple of years ago. When I did, I did not like it. Not sure why but it just did not appeal to me. When we got our first shipment of them it still did not appeal to me. Still every time we sold one I had to open the box and check it out. Every time I opened one it started to appeal more and more to me. It did not take a week before I realized, despite my initial reaction, it was the knife I had spent a very long time looking for. I put one in my pocket and it has been bliss for me ever since. I now own 7 of them:D
 
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