Knives you won't buy (and why)

Made in china :thumbdn: and companys that were once made in the USA and transferred there production to china IE kershaw:(

As much as I love the looks and design of thick beefy folders, I hate carrying them in my pocket. IE had a direware hyper90 the new slimmer one and it was way to thick for me to carry around.
 
I have a few deal breakers when it comes to buying new knives: 1 - I only buy fixed. 2 - No jimping or thumb ramps. 3 - All of the knives still in my collection either have wood, micarta, or G10 scales. 4 - I don't like overly thick spines. 5 - The blade shape & overall shape has to be simple/elegant. 6 - I don't like finger grooves in the handle. 7 - Fit & Finish has to be top notch...I don't want a "good deal" on a knife because it's not executed well.
 
I've had to think long and hard if there are any non-negotiable deal breakers for me and knives...and there really aren't. I'm willing to try any knife.

I guess that's how you end up a knife hoarder :rolleyes:
 
No Strider, ever. No Quartermaster, ever. No clones or counterfeits, ever. Otherwise, pretty open.
 
Hackenslash said:
I've had to think long and hard if there are any non-negotiable deal breakers for me and knives...and there really aren't. I'm willing to try any knife.

I guess that's how you end up a knife hoarder :rolleyes:
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It's exactly how you end up a knife hoarder. I'm the same way: if it's sharp and shiny, then sign me up!
 
TheOutdoorNerd said:
It's exactly how you end up a knife hoarder. I'm the same way: if it's sharp and shiny, then sign me up!
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Exactly. I've been trying to come up with a consistent list of features that would unequivocally discredit any given knife, but I got nuthin'. Hackenslash has it right.
 
Tanto blades - They are a pain to sharpen
Tip down only carry - It feels unnatural to me
Slipjoints - I have no interest in them
Newer Kershaws - It saddens me to see a company go from making quality, American made knives that are not only aesthetically pleasing but very handy to tacky low quality garbage that belongs in a BudK catalog. I've had cheapo "stainless steel" knives that have better edge retention than their 3cr13 blades.
 
Tanto blades
Combination blades
Serrated blades
Hybrid blades (where the edge is a different kind of steel . .just looks odd to me)
Anything primarily tactical - ie, stabbing blades, sharpened swedges, etc.
Any knife that is bigger or heavier than it needs to be.

I don't mind paying for top quality but I don't want to pay for anything that doesn't serve a functional purpose - ie, fancy scales, engraving, etc.

That should cover it.
 
ArchVV said:
Exactly. I've been trying to come up with a consistent list of features that would unequivocally discredit any given knife, but I got nuthin'. Hackenslash has it right.
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Although...I won't knowingly support clones and copies, but I didn't take that to be the question. We're talking about features, types, brands and style elements
 
I won't ever buy another knife with a chisel grind. That completely ruins the otherwise excellent leatherman Micra for me. I don't buy knives that don't give good value for their price. Like Emerson. Love the designs, but $200ish for a 154cm liner lock just doesn't fly. I've decided that the next folder I'll buy will be higher end. The problem I have is that I'm not going to pay extra for a brand name.
 
I would not buy a knife with a tanto blade. I like a blade shape that has at least a little belly for practical cutting applications.
 
Combo edges.

Knives with lock rock and blade play (I can only overlook it in a Buck 110).

"Hard Use Folders" that cannot live up their hype.

Sharpened prybar fixed blades-unless it is actually a sharpened prybar like the Becker BK3.
 
•$800 folders that, when closed, are indistinguishable from Jarbenzas (many of which have speed holes too). They don't Rock.
•Folders that, when open, look like a vulture with a big eye eliminating an arachnid.
•$400+ folders that feel like a titanium brick with zero personality having a hollow grind that looks like a street gutter and a silly off-blue anodized thumb stud that loses color quickly and that say they mean "work." It doesn't.
•Any folder made by what sounds like a baby food company.
•Anything beyond a SLIGHT recurve.
•Combo blades or fully serrated.
•Assisted openers where something pushes back when you try to close it.
•Folders with exaggerated or overly large leaf shape blades that have way too much belly. What's up, DOC ?
•Folders with weak detents.
•Blades that are too thin (usually less than .120") but tout strength for carrot slicers.
•Thin handled folders.
•Carbon fiber scales.
•Coated/painted blades. (I prefer seeing shining steel).
•Multiple finger grooves making it "comfortable" in only one grip.
•Most traditional folders. They were OK when they were the only game in town.
•Bead blast finish.
•Folders with bad pocket clips.
•Any knife that won't divulge the blade steel.
•Small, dainty blades designed not to offend the meek.
•Tantos with no swedge that look like concrete building blocks. Classless.
•Those things with blunt tips they call a "knife" made for those who apparently hurt themselves easily.
•Anything requiring a special tool to adjust screws or pivots...UNLESS they include said tool(s) with the knife. Good job, DPx HEST 2.0.
•Most of the Damascus blades.
•Knives marketed on cable TV.
•Folders without liners.
•I want it drilled for a lanyard/fob.

I might add more later....
 
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I generally don't buy (leaving open the possibility of someday having 1 of the below "speaking to me" :D)...

- chisel grind blades
- tanto blades
- flippers
- waved knives
- balisongs - just not into them
- certain brands that don't appeal to me visually - Spyderco
- gaudy "artsy-fartsy" knives - all my "wall hangers" are legitimate users that don't fall apart at a sneeze- sabers, swords, military knives, tomahawks/axes
- knives made with "mystery steel" - if it isn't good enough for the maker to be proud enough to specify the metal, said maker doesn't deserve my money
- knife makers with quality control or customer service issues. Mtech springs to mind here
- anything from certain specific makers - Fort Turner Forge, Strider
- any fakes/counterfeits/ripoffs
- Made in --- Pakistan, India, China, No country of origin
- liner locks
- "Damascus" knives - to me they look fugly. Lots of folks love the look, but me.
- other than my user Buck 110/112/48X/5xx, most traditionals made after 1980

and probably some other criteria that I'm overlooking as being part of my "mental rejection process".
 
:eek: Wow, some of you guys are awfully specific!

I'm also surprised to see a stronger focus on aesthetics than I expected.
 
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