Knives you won't buy (and why)

Any folder that's not made by Cold Steel. An overkill lock is a good thing when your fingers are at stake.
 
I won't go so far as to say "never buy" but I do try to avoid the following (with a few minor exceptions):

1. Any knife that is extremely flashy just for the bling.

2. Anything that takes up massive amounts of pocket real estate. That means you, Spyderco.

3. Full metal scales or handles. Vic Pioneer/Soldier is an exception.

4. Assisted opening knives. I own three, that's more than enough. In my mind, if the knife is designed well, you don't need AO.

5. Knives that are chisel ground and/or combo edge. Give me a plain blade or something fully serrated.

I am finding that a knife's ergonomics are becoming more important to me day by day. I also find that my taste are changing. Give me simple design, like a FFG drop point with good blade steel and quality workmanship and I will have a smile every time I pull the knife out.
 
Lee48 said:
Tell me about those features that make certain knives a "no buy" for you.
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Well the common emerson features like wave and chisel grinds
G10/Titanium framelocks
G10
Blade serrations
Recurves
5.5-9inch blades
Knives from China, Taiwan, or any other sweatshop unless they're from a custom craftsman.
Work knives with rectangle and thin handles.
Overbuilt pryba...knives.
Maker reputations
Assisted opening blades
Gaudy features
Finger grooves and needless choils

Not a hard and fast rules but micarta and knives with longer than a 6 month wait time. My patience for the GSO12 has about run out.
 
Serrated blades. Useless to me and a pain to sharpen.
Recurve blades. Useless to me and a pain to sharpen.
Coated blades. Terrible performance, looks ugly.
American made japanese knives. Japanese make them best.
 
Not saying that I will NEVER buy one, but I really prefer knives not made in China. So many things are made in China that in most things we buy, we really don't have a choice. When I buy a knife, I have choice. I'm not stuck on "Made in USA". There are many great knife makers in other countries, too. Having said that, I do prefer knives made in USA. Other than that, I'm also not fond of serrations.
 
Made other than USA.
Exceptions:I want a Rockstead and a Shirogorov.
8Cr13MOV. Period. I hate it.
Wave opening. I've cut my hand accidentally and almost cut countless couch/chair cushons.
Serrations. I have a Skeletool with serrations and I often don't carry it simply because of that fact.
Not a huge fan of AUS8 either but that's not a total deal breaker.
 
bladeboss said:
Made other than USA.
Exceptions:I want a Rockstead and a Shirogorov.
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I don't think theres anything wrong buying European or blades native from their home country. Can't get much more authentic than a Puukko from Finland and a Khukuri from Nepal.
 
Kershaw and Cold Steel. They are like the gateway drugs to the knife hobby but not a main course.
 
Chisel grinds
Things I see as "net ninja" oriented with wild names or boasting of tactically de-animating someone (do cartoons do that to each other?)
Knives made by people I simple don't like or trust (strider)
Try to avoid chinese blades
Handles which are not designed to be used for more than a few minutes. Many knives look cool now but if you used them for much work your hand will be aching.
EDC targeted knives which are really, really non-PC. I may like and respect them but don't need the hassle
Usually not into serrated either
Things I see as gaudy
"fantasy" knives
Knock offs of others design, I would rather have the original unless it's a licensed product and a lot cheaper than the original
 
hermit dave said:
Any folder that's not made by Cold Steel. An overkill lock is a good thing when your fingers are at stake.
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I do agree about overkill locks being a good thing. Part of why I still have and carry that lovely Espada you sold me years ago. :)
 
I will not buy:
-Gerber
-flippers (unless I can deassist it)
-8cr13mov
-black coated blades with the exception of DLC (for example, cold steel uses an awful coating)
-anything over $200. Sorry to you knife enthusiasts, but as a college student, I can't imagine paying over $300 for something like a sebenza that I'll probably end up babying aka never using. $300,$400,500?? That's a large investment for something you plan on cutting open packages and maybe the 5 pieces of rope you encounter in your lifetime. That's my opinion, I'm more than likely going to get my ass chewed out over it, but so be it.
P
 
I won't buy knives made in China, there are too many great American made knives to choose from.
 
JDX said:
black coated blades with the exception of DLC (for example, cold steel uses an awful coating)
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Uhm huh? You only want DLC, but hate Cold Steel, because their blades are coated with DLC?

Not really making any sense there.
 
jerzeydevil said:
Thanks for the laugh! Basspro shop in socal sells nothing but Chinese knives! Its probably safe to assume dicks sporting goods is the same way.
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Does bassoro here in SoCal still sell the brawler by Kershaw for $50 I don't even look at the knives there becAuse if that. They do have some nice ones in that bottom display tho
 
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