Knives you did not like in pics but loved in person

GalvanizedHero said:
I can't say enough good things about the Maxamet. Spyderco is decades ahead of everyone else with the steels it uses and for the price you'd be lucky to get a s30v or other entry level steel from someone else.
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Not to mention they do a better job on heat treat than any other production company, especially with the steels they are willing to work with. The LW Manix 2 is maybe my ideal EDC, and the ability to get them in lots of exotic steels just illustrates how much Spyderco cares for the enthusiast knife community.
 
The good ol’ Buck 110. I always just scrolled right on by it. Even though my Dad had that black pouch hanging on his belt every working day, I never thought twice about it. For some reason the old folding hunter never caught my eye.

I bought one for my nephew this past Christmas. I thought it would be cool if his first knife was the same kind his Grandpa had. I got to spend some time with it when I showed the kid some sharpening basics. Now I understand.

Also, Vics/SAKs. Didn’t use to think of them as “real knives”. Got one as a gift and now I’m a big fan.
 

This new Gerber US1 that I couldn't pass on trying for the price, not as drastic as you described but I don't really hate the deep abrupt forefinger choil like I thought I might ( no way to handle it )

And there's this Grohmann mini Russel lockback that I've seen and thought was really ugly, shame on me because it's one if the most ergonomic medium sized pocket folders there is. Everyone I show it to instantly says " wow " with no further words needed.
 
ZT 0909 for me. Had no interest in it because of the weight and size. Got discontinued, was able to pick it up on sale for cheap and love it. Shame it never caught on. Very very tempted to buy a 0900 now since they are discontinued and see how I like it.
 
Wowbagger said:
Yes since you mention it . . . believe it or not . . . the Gayle Bradley One. I thought the blade was thick, I don't care for hollow grind and to add to that the shape is funny.
I said I would NEVER BUY one of those !
Then I read about them. Then I looked real hard at the specs . . . hmmmmm . . . not very thick . . . hmmmmm the hollow grind is pretty subtle . . . how thin is it behind the edge ? OH ! ! !
Then I watched the vid by the designer (G. B.). Wow . . . he has brain (as Pooh Bear would say).
GB940Rookie . . . you had a significant hand in this as well :D

By that point I couldn't wait to get one and have NEVER regretted it.
Great Freekin' Knife ! ! ! :cool: :thumbsup:

(the top knife in this photo for those not familiar with this one)
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You need to check Marthinus’ old thread of thinning it down ;)

Joe Bass said:
Manix 2. Didnt appeal to me until I felt it in hand. And eventually loved it so much I got the composite steel version sprint run.. (sorry about the crummy lighting)

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Yup. I held the M2 blurple and fell for it. But I could stop from going further, the lockback is calling though...
 
I'm another guy that thought the ZT301 would never work for me. I just didn't like the big belly and all the crap on the blade. Then my wife bought one for me out of the blue. As soon as I held it and opened it a couple times I was hooked.
Love that knife.
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They really need to bring back a version of the 301 for those of us that missed it.

I respect the hardcore useable pocket jewelry that ZT is making. I've got half a dozen of them that carry regularly. However, it would be nice if they could keep one or two monster work knives to balance out all the pretty stuff.

I'd love to see a 301 in one of their premium steels on captured ball bearings without a torsion bar. Nothing fancy, nothing showy, just an old school update of the knife that put ZT on the map.
 
I never could quite warm up to the looks of the Rat folders, but after trying one I am hooked. One of my favorite folders.
 
First ones off the top of my head that became some of my favorites are, Benchmade griptilians(didn't like the look of the handles), Ontario Rat's(the angle of the blade-handle and the 'choil') and Spyderco Air(the size/shape/and twill handles).

But they all make sense when they are in hand and look much better in person. Wasn't crazy about the techno or fluted Military either until i handled them.
 
Yup... CQC-7

I thought it was going to fit in my hand like a Glock (or a 2x4) so I did not get one for the longest time. Boy was I wrong. Once I held one in a local shop that was it. I've got quite a few now.
 
I am a long time spyderco fan, but avoided the Military until a few years ago. I have small hands and always thought it would be too much. When the PM2 came out I thought that would be perfect, and I like them a lot. I now own a pile of those in various steels (love spyderco's willingness to try and offer steel variety). I finally got a Military when it came out in some steel I really like (forget which one), and it was love at first handling. I could not believe how much more versatile the extra length made it, how ergonomic it was even with the longer handle, and now it gets way more pocket time and use than my PM2s. And I have a small pile of them now too.
 
Rike 1507s. Never heard of them until recently; never bought a Chinese made knife from a Chinese company; did not care for the futuristic handle shape. But had a need for a narrow knife and after some research this popped up on my radar. Magazine and Youtube reviews whom I trust all praised the 1507 so highly that I decided to shelve my biases/misconceptions and give it a try. What an eye opening surprise. Fit, finish, form and function all exceeded my expectations, so much so that I purchased another. Only quibble is that both knives needed sharpening out-of-the-box.
 
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PNWhovian said:
Three Sisters Forge Gorgon - The pics don’t do it justice and the few videos I found leave you wanting more.
I actually got my hands on one when I drove down to Knivesshipfree before they moved out of Oregon. All it took was a good 30 seconds of handling it before I realized it was a keeper. Feels amazing in hand, smooth action, solid lock up and the blade just cuts so well. I’ve yet to develop any hot spots while using it for any length of time and the Stonewashed Ti slabs show almost no signs of wear or marking even though it’s been carried and used heavily.
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Late reply. 100% agree on the Gorgon. The TSF Beast gets some attention and it's a nice knife. The Gorgon seems to get no attention. I saw it at the Oregon knife show last year and almost overlooked it due to the size - too big for me to EDC. Once I held it I was buying one.

Then the wife picked it up and fell in love. It has displaced her ZT duty knife and goes to work with her every shift. After 10 months of first responder use it looks almost new. Edge retention is excellent - I've sharpened it once or twice in that time.

The lockup on this thing is addictive. Great detent that helps it fly open and it has the best lockup sound I've ever heard.
 
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whitty said:
Have you folks had knives that you saw pics of online or in magazines and you just knew it was never going to be the knife for you, then turned around and held it in person and instantly fell in love?
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Latest one would have to be my Jurassic. I never thought I'd like it from the pix I saw. Then I got to play with one at Gear Barrel in Ocala, FL. It completely surprised me. It just felt like a perfect fit and was very well balanced in my hand. It's probably my fav Hinderer at this point.

Before that, it would be an SnG. It looks really clunky and uncomfortable to me but it turned out to be one of the best fitting folders I've ever handled.
 
Spyderco Caspian Salt, burst out laughing when I first saw it in pictures, eventually warmed up to it, bought it and now it is permanently attached to my primary BCD, and I wish it wasn't discontinued because if I ever lose it or it get stolen, well, replacement will be a problem.
 
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