Knives you weren't expecting to like so much until you had them in hand

Kaizen1

Kaizen1

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Jan 4, 2006
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Any insight into what changed your view once you had it in hand, used it, owned it for a while, or just finally saw in person, is appreciated.

A recent one for me is the Ban Tang Knives SAF (Sexy As F***). A few things stood out once I actually handled:
  • It's more ergonomic than I was expecting. The hook toward the pommel makes the handle feel like it can't go anywhere if you don't want it to. The finger groove by the ricasso tilts the knife tip forward to better do what it's designed to do. It also adds a lot to the overall ergonomics of the knife.
  • The cord wrap provides a lot of confidence in the grip
  • The different grinds on each side is just nice to look at. It's chisel ground, and one one side you have a flat/ zero edge, and on the other, you have a very slight hollow grind leading to a polished convex edge.
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The first knife that really changed my view about what quality pocket knives could be, was the Spyderco Manix (1st gen). I had no idea a pocket knife could be so ergonomic.
 
The endura started it for me in 1992. Felt very futuristic: feather light, plastic, and a very sharp fully serrated blade. I couldn't understand why anyone would want a "pen pocket clip" on a knife until I got pocket lint/sand in the pivot joint.
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This is just nasty. I have a bunch of XL knives, and this one feels like a true pocket sword.

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PM3.
I could not decide between the PM2 and the PM3, since both had been getting all of the praise in the world.

Ended up buying both of them, but not really expecting to dig the PM3, because of its much smaller size. The PM2 now sits in a drawer, very much unused, while the PM3 has climbed in to my Top 5.
 
The Cold Steel Recon 1 Clip Point is easily the knife that best fits that description for me. I bought one mostly because I like clip points and it was one of the few longstanding Cold Steel models that I had never so much as handled. By the time I picked one up, the base model was DLC-coated S35VN with linerless G10 handles and a retailer had it for sale for 90 bucks.

While I entirely expected to be ultimately underwhelmed, it nearly immediately became -the- knife that I would keep if I needed to sell down to bare essentials. It fits my hand like it was made for me. It's strikingly thin and light for how absurdly robust it is. It is mechanically perfect (centered when closed, no play when opened) and is easy to operate one-handed. The exaggerated clip point is aesthetically pleasing, and yet the blade shape/grind is perfectly functional as an everyday cutting tool - while still being 100% prepared for any car-hood stabbing encounters, or, god forbid, a situation where I need to defend myself against a steel-toed boot filled with meat.

It is a knife that inspires 100% confidence. Lynn bless us all.
 
I also have the Cold Steel Recon 1 but it's the older version with the axis lock. It's huge, black coated, has serrations, and the g10 feels rougher than sandpaper. It has AUS8 steel which isn't anything exciting. But it cuts like a beast and I've been basically abusing it for years now and it's still working like a champ. Still perfectly centered with no blade play and it's easy to sharpen. I think I got it for $30 when it was discontinued. Best $30 I've spent.
 
Massdrop Laconico Keen. Given the glowing reviews, I expected to like it. I did not expect that it would be the one folding knife I would keep if I could only keep one. The simplicity, quality, blade shape/function, and glassy smooth action, at $150 is just remarkable.
 
Last year's (2018) surprise knife was the Benchmade Mini Presidio II folder. I generally hate folders with metal handles. I just don't buy them. Handled this knife in the Spring and bought it, metal handles and all and loved it immediately.

In 2017, it was the Steel Will Mini Cutjack in M390. Handled this one at a knife store and it just worked for me. At the time, I was anti flippers and this knife turned me back toward them after years of ignoring them.

Will see what 2019 brings....
 
The zt 808 blk. On paper it wasn’t for me. Loved the look but I didn’t think it was big enough for my hand. I always stay away from full ti or aluminum scales because of the lack of grip.

I got it in a trade and fell in love with it. The dlc adds just enough ?traction? that the ti doesn’t feel slippery. The handle is just long enough to get a a full grip on it. The blade, I always liked, is awesome. Great tip. Good length for most lite tasks. Its a keeper for me.
 
The Spyderco Southard -- My first reaction to seeing it was all negative. Too-scratchy baby-poop-brown scales, asymmetric handle side thickness, stupid pointless idiotic hole in the blade (it's a flipper, and the hole is not even particularly convenient to use on the model), too-thick blade, oddball blade shape? No thanks. Turns out it fits my hand perfectly, it carries great and feels great in use--I love the knife still all these years later.

True story: the first pocket knife my wife bought me was a Spyderco Southard. When it came in the mail, she opened it up and disliked it so much that she thought it was a poor gift, so she ordered a Sage 2 to replace it and then just gave me both.
 
I never thought this Gerber Prodigy would make it in my collection. This knife is so comfortable and ergonomic. It is a dream to use. This knife has been abused and is still going strong.


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Comeuppance said:
The Cold Steel Recon 1 Clip Point is easily the knife that best fits that description for me. I bought one mostly because I like clip points and it was one of the few longstanding Cold Steel models that I had never so much as handled. By the time I picked one up, the base model was DLC-coated S35VN with linerless G10 handles and a retailer had it for sale for 90 bucks.

While I entirely expected to be ultimately underwhelmed, it nearly immediately became -the- knife that I would keep if I needed to sell down to bare essentials. It fits my hand like it was made for me. It's strikingly thin and light for how absurdly robust it is. It is mechanically perfect (centered when closed, no play when opened) and is easy to operate one-handed. The exaggerated clip point is aesthetically pleasing, and yet the blade shape/grind is perfectly functional as an everyday cutting tool - while still being 100% prepared for any car-hood stabbing encounters, or, god forbid, a situation where I need to defend myself against a steel-toed boot filled with meat.

It is a knife that inspires 100% confidence. Lynn bless us all.
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The Recon 1 is my answer as well.

I am in no way a fan of Lynn and his idiotic videos, but when I started looking for a heavy duty folder, I initially settled on a BM Adamas or a CS 4Max. Both were pricy for a knife to use hard IMO, so I figured I would try a limited edition S35VN in satin from a Canadian retailer for around $100USD.

Great knife. Liked it so much I added an XHP serrated Recon 1, an American Lawman in XHP and a Rajah III in BD1.

The Tri-Ad lock IS fantastic and even though I don’t plan to put my Recons in a vice and hang a dead cow from them (chopping meat boots does hold a certain allure for me though :rolleyes:) but I have absolutely zero worries about the lock failing.

The Italian made mini Steel Will Gekko is another knife I didn’t have on my radar until I went to a B&M store while on business to buy a BM Crooked River. I couldn’t put the Steel Will down and left with it over the BM. Best fit and finish I have seen on a <$500 knife and I think I paid around $150USD. Amazing action and ergonomics.:thumbsup:
 
Cold steel recon scout in Sanmai with custom g10 handle. Once I had it in my hand it became an extension of my arm, perfect fixed blade in every way. Never was a fan of CS before I knew of ichiro hattori.
 
Spydiechef. It looked ugly and too big for me. But I noticed it's handle looked slightly like the Kershaw Link, which I find to be comfortable. I got it and instantly loved the slim frame, it disappeared in my pocket. A bit of oil and some flipping time to wear out the minor lockstick, and I had my unexpected new favorite EDC.
 
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