Knives you would never buy again!

+$1B on the CRKT M-16 line. Neat idea but just wasn't a comfy knife for me. Gave both of the ones I had away.

Ka-bar folders...specifically the Warthog. Why is it that dang thick because I didn't find it very robust.

Oddly out of all the crummy Gerber talk, I've got one gerber folder, a trident I think I bought in 2010 me and my buddy were talking about today even. It's held up well and sharpens well, holds a fairly decent edge and has what is so far a good locking/opening mechanism. Also picked up an LMF II, but haven't had a chance to use it yet.
 
I would not buy another ProTech TR-4. Not because anything is wrong with it. It's just a little too big to fit nicely in my admittedly smaller hand and it's a bit heavy for EDC. Opens strongly, is tight, just too big and heavy for daily use by me. Looking to find a TR-3 to try out before spending that much money on a knife "unheld".

Maybe someone will start handling them locally as Autos become legal carry Sept 1. :D
 
Sorry if this offends - Not my Intention:

- Spyderco. I have a very bad taste in my mouth regarding these knives. The tips break off on all of them it seems. I was always left with a sharp flathead screwdriver. Spyderco were my first entry back in 1990 with "mid" knives, and I would never go back. I recently bought a Manix 2 moonglow, mainly for the moonglow - but the knife itself - I don't like the lock, and the blade is too thin.

- New Benchmade. They have really gone downhill since my CQC7 Emerson back in the day.

- Emerson Production. Fit and finish is poor for what they cost.

- Rob Dalton. terrible fit and finish. they fire like a rocket but they just seem like they aren't quite "done" being made. I've had 5 of them now, and I'm just not impressed. They seem like someone's shop project that they never got around to completing.

-Paragon. Old Paragon were ok, but the new paragons are really unimpressive for the cost.

- Darrel Ralph. Every single one I've held looks great from far away, but when you start to examine it, for the price, it should be much nicer. I've been underwhelmed by all of the ones I owned. I don't mind paying the bigger sums to get something good, but Ralphs aren't it. I "kinda" liked the trigger maze, but even that was lukewarm. For those prices you should enjoy the piece.

-Lone Wolf D2 Harsey D/A: Now, at first glance this is a great knife, locks up well, fires hard, hidden release - it's very nice, and very fun. A few things however stand out on this piece that make me never carry it. The pocket clip is terrible in design, and the knife is very hard to put in the pocket and extract. Even a bit bent, and it still is just not good. The handle/scale is a Kraton blend, and it is incredibly slippery as a material. It's a bit squishy and plasticy but you can't hold onto it! The knife is just too wide because of the kraton scales. Ergonomically the knife just is "off". It's a shame because at first review, it's quite outstanding - only having it for a while, do these things come to the surface.

I also echo every sentiment regarding Gerber, SOG, Bear, BUCK, Kershaw, etc. At this point I'm a bit of a knife snob, but I expect quality for my money.
 
I'll agree with those who have said the PM2. The ergonomics have been highly touted, but the handle wasn't comfortable to me at all. The blade developed side to side play within a couple of months of extremely light use and the pocket clip started to wiggle side to side a lot and thread locker would't fix it. GOOD knives, but not on par with the higher end blades they're often compared to.
 
Another mark against SOG, I ordered a flash 2 and twitch 2. The flash 2 had side to side play out of the box that I couldn't get rid of without making it too stiff to open. The twitch 2 felt like I could have snapped the blade with my fingers, it was way too thin and just felt cheap, could have been bad heat treat or something, guess I'll never know. Sent them both back. Also I feel they are over priced for the quality and materials you get.

While I actually quite like Benchmade I admit they are not perfect, I sent back my mini-grip because it was just to small and awkward in my hand, I kept the full size grip though, but it does seem a bit over priced (I think I paid around $70 for it) and has the slightest bit of side to side play that I can't remove without making it a fixed blade. I love my 275 however, its my favorite knife I own.

Also I have yet to be blown away by Spyderco the way the rest of the knife community seems to be, though they are definitely growing on me.
 
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My Spyderco Bob Terzuola slip joint. Why?? Because it HATES me. Tries to bite me every time I open it. :eek:

Seriously though, there have been several CRKT's that I wasn't impressed with after I got them, especially the ones with the Autolawks system.. Also I wouldn't buy another Spyderco Leafstorm. It looks great, but has terrible ergos. And I probably wouldn't buy another Hest 2.0. It just underwhelmed me in general for some reason.
 
I will never buy a serrated knife again (more or less useless), nor will I ever buy a non-USA made knife( except for SAKs). Yes there are great quality knives made off shore but I believe in supporting the US economy. And if some US company could produce a SAK in the US, I would quit buying Victorinox.
 
CRKT Shenanigan.
I never in my life expected to not like a Ken Onion designed knife, and maybe I just got a lemon, but I paid over $60 for it and less than a week later was glad to sell it for $35.

The funny part is that the CRKT classic stockman is one of my all time favorite knives ever!
 
Pretty much any "budget" knife made in China by any brand. I know that origin of manufacture does not necessarily justify quality, good or bad. But there is a correlation for cheaper models.
Once you own a few high end knives, the <$50 foreign made knives just don't cut it.
 
I will not buy another Zero Tolerance 0777! Okay, I didn't buy the one I have - my wife gave it to me. Moot point as they didn't make that many of them. But it was seriously over-hyped and I am more seriously under-whelmed - as I was after seeing it's prototype at the last two BLADE shows. Not my cup of tea. My wife is a keeper, however!

Likely no more CR knives, either. Who wants/needs a knife you cannot find fault with? What fun is perfection? Okay, there is the price ... but you probably noticed that when you wrote the check... Naw, I still want a large Sebenza!

Okay... Buck 110's - I may just finally have 'enough', including 'basics', upgrade steels, and Custom Shop models. Belay my last... I just thought of another custom 110 to lust after.

The preceding diatribe was an effort to display the fickle nature of we knife-folk. Love it today - hate it the next day... and so on!

Stainz
 
cold steel recon1. After buying a cold steel voyager (Gunsite addition) I said never again, but sadly a few months ago I bought the recon after all the reviews. Lost its edge quick, cant keep it sharp. Also takes 2 hands to open 99% of the time, and if you "adjust" the screw it goes from tight opening to the blade wiggles like crazy- no fine line between. Ill just stick with my Benchmade for out and about, and my CRKT M21 for work(its a work horse that doesnt brake the bank if you break/lose it)
 
^The recon 1 definitely isn't for everyone. I love mine, but I have big hands and can one hand open it easily. As much as I like mine, I wouldn't buy it again. The g10 is too rough, and I don't like one hand openers that take two hands to close. Plus, I want to keep to tougher/better steel than AUS-8.
 
Stainz said:
Likely no more CR knives, either. Who wants/needs a knife you cannot find fault with? What fun is perfection? Okay, there is the price ... but you probably noticed that when you wrote the check... Naw, I still want a large Sebenza!
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Oh, you can definitely find faults in a Sebenza. I mean yeah, there are a lot fewer ones than with others, but every knife has it's issues. The soft heat treat/edge warping on their S35VN, the looks can be either great or utterly boring depending on who's looking, they're not that comfortable to open with their thumb studs, their blue coatings last about as long as a box of tissues in a teen-aged boy's room, and if you like any steel or handle material other than what they offer you're out of luck while competitors like Hinderer and Strider in similar price ranges offer tons of different handle and blade options/finishes without having to jump into a totally different price range.

That said, their F+F is untouchable and their attention to details is amazing and even though I don't really LOVE their looks, they look nice overall and have an amazingly useful blade shape. But there's no such thing as PERFECTION in a knife. That's why there are so many!
 
Any Benchmade with a hole opener, those are for Spyderco's :D
Any Kershaw with a stud lock, I just can't warm up to them.
Benchmade 860 Bedlam - Way too much handle. The knife could have had the handle shortened by 1/2" to 1" and it would have been much better.
Sebenza - I don't like the design of the 21 and the newer 25. I really liked the design the regular and when that went the way of the dodo that was it for me.
ZT 0560 - Great knife it just wasn't for me
 
CRKT SPEW. For virtually no added cost they could have used 8Cr13MoV and I'd be happy. At least I could get a razor edge with that steel, not the crap they have on it now
 
imbryan715 said:
actually i will add another one to that list.

any knives made by KAI (kershaw,ZT,shun)

they second somebody has something negative to say about a model or a steel such as elmax they handle the situation like a little child.
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LOL! Yep. Agreed.


That said, a particular knife I wouldnt buy again: ZT 0561 . Came butter knife sharp, I sharpened it nicely and it dulls from just a little bit of cutting. Come to think of it, they may have shipped it sharp and the movement in the box en route to me probably dulled it. Horribly disappointed in the knife.
I have to give props to the 0350 though. I have two of them and they are great knives.
 
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