Knives you underestimated.

Kbar USMC. This thing works a whole lot better than it should for the cost and weight. I've never tried to batton with it, but it's a better chopper than you'd think.

It's not my style now, but a pretty nice blade for what I could afford back in the day on a soldier's salary.
 
Subwoofer_CPF said:
One of the biggest surprises recently was the Buck Selkirk. Not the best fit and finish, but that knife just works.

For something that looks a bit like an overgrown SAK utility knife blade, the OKC Black Bird SK-5 is excellent. It does everything I've asked of it, and strikes a storm of sparks from ferro-rods.

Both of these are now go-to knives and are what I grab if I don't have time to pick something else.
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I agree with that statement Subwoofer...I bought the 835 Small Selkirk and was pleasantly surprised with it overall.The only flaw it truly has is just like the Vantage Series the blade veers pretty off center almost touching the liner.You can tighten the pivot screw and about 20 openings later it's shifted off center quite a bit.Feels great in the hand though and nice and thick liner lock up.


This link is for people who want to question the Chinese version of 420HC and if the heat treatment is piss poor or not.The Paul BOS method and marketing may not be advertised beyond stating it's hardened to 58rc.But still the guy's 836 Large Selkirk speaks for itself on the edge retention.
 
I ve been surprised by how good the Cold Steel Voyager is. Strong, light, good ergonomics and surprising steel. Fine work knife for a good price.
 
Cold steel Voyager xl(much better edge retention than I thought), Kershaw dash, Ontario rat 1 D2 version, esee zancudo D2, Spyderco manix 2 lw gray(now a firm believer in the wireframe pocket clip)
 
Two knives really blew mw away over the years.

In the past the Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1 blew mw away as a work knife. I thought I was just buying another Spyderco and another Carbon Fibre to add to the collection. Boy was I shocked. I heard M4 steel was good but WOW!

Then the second knife was the Boker Exskelibur titanium framelock. The version with Ti scales on both sides. First of all let me say the edge geometry and blade geometry on this knife is virtually unseen on modern knives. It is thin and practical. Just thick enough to give confidence. Then there is that it is such a slim and light knife. Seeing them build such a svelte and yet strong framelock makes me question my OVERBUILT!!!! framelocks.

This thing makes a Sebenza look like a Direware or a Medford, it's that light. It showed me how much I like front flippers too. One day I must get. Gareth Bull folder now.
 
Begg steelcraft bodega. I really didn't care for how fast reate raised their prices. And having seen the mini and the kwaiken I was convinced they were good knives just not affordable. Then I saw the finishes on the new bodega yet assumed it was just good photography. Mark reached out to me and convinced me to give one a shot knowing it really was what I had been asking Begg knives to do for a while. I honestly felt like a jerk. Because I really wrote them off as just another overpriced collaboration. Now that one has been in my pocket everyday for a few weeks and has convinced me to sell most of my collection I have really become a one knife person. The only knives I'm even keeping are a balisong and an OTF. The fit and finish on the handle is superlative and no one would guess it was made in china had they not been told. Plus the handground blade and hand rubbed satin really make you feel like you are carrying a custom knife that just happened to be made in china. There literally hasn't been a day since it arrived that I didn't wake up, go to my table that I keep all my crap that I carry and go "Oh yeah, I'm so glad I bought this". I don't even really like gold but the contrast with the bronze and the silver accents on mine along with the cracked Ice finish marks son Tobin did just really pushed it over the edge. Its one of the few knives that was expensive that I loved so much that I actually prioritized using and carrying the knife over keeping it in mint condition.

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Goldjuggernaut said:
Cold steel Voyager xl(much better edge retention than I thought), Kershaw dash, Ontario rat 1 D2 version, esee zancudo D2, Spyderco manix 2 lw gray(now a firm believer in the wireframe pocket clip)
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that is a beast of a folder in all categories -size, lightweight but strong, value knife, etc.- that surprised me as well

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Hinderer Half Track. I figured, it would be far to small for me. I like a 4" blade at least and the Half Track is a lot less than that. However, after carrying it for a couple weeks and using it, I'm actually very happy with it.
 
Zero tolerance 0450CF I was expecting to hate, but really ended up enjoying it. PM2... I wasn't excited for, but was a great knife and I can see why people enjoy it so much. Kerhsaw Cryo I enjoyed so much that it persuaded to upgrade to buy 2 ZT 0566BW which have become my number 1 EDC knife.
 
One that really really surprised me was the boker fr flipper with cocobolo.. the lock up is as solid as a rock for a sub 100$ knife. Awesome awesome knife if your looking for something gentleman ...
 
Two knives I underestimated in the beginning are the Vic Farmer and Mora Companion. I've been living out what would fit in my backpack since March 14 and will hopefully return home by November. Out of all my high end cool knives those are the two I choose for the journey for my life.
 
I have a few that I had extremely low expectations for that not only surprised me but I now carry regularly. The one that stands out more than any other is the SOGzilla. I got it dirt cheap and just assumed it was a cheap use and throw away knife. The fit and finish on it was ridiculous, and the lock up is probably the most solid you'll ever get out of a sog. No side to side and no up and down. The cheap steel holds an edge better than I could have ever imagined and overall it's light weight and hides nicely in the pocket. I'm actually tired of talking about this knife because I sound like a homer.

ESEE Izula is second on that list. I went into it with low expectations, just wanting a solid back up for hiking and camping. I ended up carrying it for a couple years straight as my primary. Threw on some micarta handles and it's one of my favorites now.
 
Most of the knives in this thread tends towards the cheap and the surprise comes when they perform above their price tag. Well, the Demko AD-15 is an expensive knife but I still underestimated it. Given who Andrew Demko is, I was expecting a super-upgraded Cold Steel folder -- big and strong with a handmade tune and finish -- and it absolutely is. But it's so much more too. The detent is perfect, despite its strength the lock is so easy to disengage, and it can slice. Best acting knife I've ever handled despite weighing as much as a baby Rhinoceros.

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SpySmasher said:
Most of the knives in this thread tends towards the cheap and the surprise comes when they perform above their price tag. Well, the Demko AD-15 is an expensive knife but I still underestimated it. Given who Andrew Demko is, I was expecting a super-upgraded Cold Steel folder -- big and strong with a handmade tune and finish -- and it absolutely is. But it's so much more too. The detent is perfect, despite its strength the lock is so easy to disengage, and it can slice. Best acting knife I've ever handled despite weighing as much as a baby Rhinoceros.
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I had to watch a video to see how this thing works. It certainly is an interesting knife. I would say my favorite feature is the sound. It has a very satisfying sounding lock engagement.

I don't like the thumbstuds. In general I don't like them but they are not a deal breaker. I wonder if there would have or could be a way to integrate the thumbstuds with the blade's stop pin. It would need to open something like a front flipper but I think it could work.
 
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I had less than ZERO interest in the Paramilitary2 until I bought one out of sheer boredom from not anticipating anything else. Once in hand I felt foolish for dismissing it and for ignoring the community, celebrating its merits, for so long. Now I have two and I am anticipating a third at some point.

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