Most Overrated Folder

If you own a knife and appreciate it, and get a lift each time you you use it, then it's not over rated. If you feel ripped off, or feel bad when you use it, then it's over rated. My opinion about your knife really has nothing to do with much of anything. Personally, it's all good. I love this hobby.....
 
Delica 4 FRN FFG.

This knife is seriously overrated. It's the worst out-of-box knife i've bought in the past five or so years, and that includes a few Ganzos I bought out of curiosity.

The fit is good but the finish stinks. I'm surprised Spyderco puts their name on this knife. The blade came profiled with a differently angled bevel on each side and tool marks on one side of the bevel so deep they survived a reprofiling with an Edge Pro. In addition to this, the thumb hole seems to have missed the polishing step along with parts of the blade hidden under the handle. Tool marks galore hidden in there.

This knife isn't up to the quality standards of a couple china made Kershaws I recently purchased, much less up to the standards of my other Spyderco, a Manix2 Translucent Blue FRCP. (Another disappointment from Spyderco). I'm surprised such a bad blade came out of Seki City. I have a few Mcustas from Seki City that blow this knife away in terms of finish.

Mark
 
I see Hinderer knives in stock regularly at various dealers. They usually sell within a couple days, but it's not difficult to buy one form a dealer site...IF you're willing to pay the price. They are usually anywhere from $800 - $1100 just for a prodo version. So, I do wonder if Dealer's are able to just get them easily...and not just first responders or whatever. I actually did buy an XM-18 from a dealer site, and I do think the knife is great...as good as anything else in the $400 price range. But you'll pay at least twice it's value buying it on a dealer website.

Back to the original question. I'm gonna have to say Emerson knives, in my own experience. I've bought a few and all were too difficult to open one handed. I can't see paying $140 - $220 for a knife that I'm expected to take apart myself to clean and lube and fit parts, immediately upon receiving, just to be able to use it. F&F was extremely lacking. I understand it's not his thing, and I rolled the dice and a took a chance. I thought the ergos were good, but was surprised how poorly the F&F, quality control was on them. It was like they were put together by kids in detention, who were forced to do it and didn't care at all about how they turned out.

Actually, I've bought many knives, from the $5 gas station knives, CRK Sebenza, Hinderer XM-18, and Striders, including customs...at the end of the day, the various Emersons were the only ones that I felt were not worth what I paid for them.

Also, not everyone buys knives just for cutting tasks. I have some for that, others for chopping, others for self defense, and others for just collecting. Most knives could handle any number of those roles, but certain ones do certain tasks better.

To summarize...it's all opinions and personal preferences and opinions...and you're both right and wrong...depending on who you talk to.
 
While not exactly overrated, the Benchmade 300 Axis Flipper was/is seriously overhyped as the first Axis lock based flipper.

First off, an Axis based knife needs a flipper like a fish needs scuba gear. An Axis knife can be flipped open more easily using either the thumb-studs or Axis lock.

Secondly, IMHO, the 300 is improperly designed for a flipper, it just doesn't flip open as quickly or as easily as compared to most flippers. This isn't really a problem since the flipper extension is small enough to be ignored, but that takes away from the 300's whole raison d'être.

The 300 is chunky and heavy (robust for the optimists out there). The nicely contoured brown and tan scales are about twice as thick as they need to be. I really can't see a reason for that since Benchmade could have taken design hints from the Volli and nested the liners inside the scales. This would have cut down on the chunkiness and saved a bit of weight.

One fortunate design element is that the flipper mechanism calls for a long cutout in the blade to accommodate the Axis bar. The upshot of this is that the actual flipper can be removed by just cutting away about ⅛" of metal at the base of the blade near the choil without compromising the strength. I probably won't do this but it's nice to know the option exists.

All things considered, this is a poorly designed knife for a flipper but a decent Axis knife. It came sharp, behaves well as an Axis knife and is good looking. It has a stainless deep carry pocket clip, a nicely shaped 154CM blade (I prefer 154CM over S30V) with no blade play and a nicely shaped handle with finger grooves and beautifully sculpted scales that provide an excellent grip.

I hope Benchmade learns their lesson and avoids Axis flippers in the future. They have other lock types that would lend themselves nicely to a flipper design.

Mark
 
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motts said:
I see Hinderer knives in stock regularly at various dealers. They usually sell within a couple days, but it's not difficult to buy one form a dealer site...IF you're willing to pay the price. They are usually anywhere from $800 - $1100 just for a prodo version. So, I do wonder if Dealer's are able to just get them easily...and not just first responders or whatever. I actually did buy an XM-18 from a dealer site, and I do think the knife is great...as good as anything else in the $400 price range. But you'll pay at least twice it's value buying it on a dealer website.

Back to the original question. I'm gonna have to say Emerson knives, in my own experience. I've bought a few and all were too difficult to open one handed. I can't see paying $140 - $220 for a knife that I'm expected to take apart myself to clean and lube and fit parts, immediately upon receiving, just to be able to use it. F&F was extremely lacking. I understand it's not his thing, and I rolled the dice and a took a chance. I thought the ergos were good, but was surprised how poorly the F&F, quality control was on them. It was like they were put together by kids in detention, who were forced to do it and didn't care at all about how they turned out.

Actually, I've bought many knives, from the $5 gas station knives, CRK Sebenza, Hinderer XM-18, and Striders, including customs...at the end of the day, the various Emersons were the only ones that I felt were not worth what I paid for them.

Also, not everyone buys knives just for cutting tasks. I have some for that, others for chopping, others for self defense, and others for just collecting. Most knives could handle any number of those roles, but certain ones do certain tasks better.

To summarize...it's all opinions and personal preferences and opinions...and you're both right and wrong...depending on who you talk to.
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No comment. ;)

Certainly everyone has different opinions on different knives, but I am at a loss to suggest a knife that is over-rated. I think that all knives find their market price points that attract the appropriate buyers. If we are voting with our dollars, how can an over-rated product exist for any length of time?
 
motts said:
I see Hinderer knives in stock regularly at various dealers. They usually sell within a couple days, but it's not difficult to buy one form a dealer site...IF you're willing to pay the price. They are usually anywhere from $800 - $1100 just for a prodo version. So, I do wonder if Dealer's are able to just get them easily...and not just first responders or whatever. I actually did buy an XM-18 from a dealer site, and I do think the knife is great...as good as anything else in the $400 price range. But you'll pay at least twice it's value buying it on a dealer website.

Back to the original question. I'm gonna have to say Emerson knives, in my own experience. I've bought a few and all were too difficult to open one handed. I can't see paying $140 - $220 for a knife that I'm expected to take apart myself to clean and lube and fit parts, immediately upon receiving, just to be able to use it. F&F was extremely lacking. I understand it's not his thing, and I rolled the dice and a took a chance. I thought the ergos were good, but was surprised how poorly the F&F, quality control was on them. It was like they were put together by kids in detention, who were forced to do it and didn't care at all about how they turned out.

Actually, I've bought many knives, from the $5 gas station knives, CRK Sebenza, Hinderer XM-18, and Striders, including customs...at the end of the day, the various Emersons were the only ones that I felt were not worth what I paid for them.

Also, not everyone buys knives just for cutting tasks. I have some for that, others for chopping, others for self defense, and others for just collecting. Most knives could handle any number of those roles, but certain ones do certain tasks better.

To summarize...it's all opinions and personal preferences and opinions...and you're both right and wrong...depending on who you talk to.
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I would have to agree.

I just bought my second Emerson, mostly because I wanted the blade length and shape, which I really couldn't find anywhere else.
Fortunately, it was on sale and I got it for much less than what it usually goes for.

Once I had it, I did the usual 'break it down, re-lube, straighten everything out" procedure. It still is a pretty mediocre folder. Al Mar would eat worms before it let anything this bad leave the factory.
I was then left asking myself, "Why do I keep buying these things?"

Oh, I did buy a Boker Nano just to see what the fuss about this design is all about. Good, not great, for the money. However, it's the first Boker I've ever had that was worth a crap. They usually suck.
 
A.P.F. said:
No comment. ;)

Certainly everyone has different opinions on different knives, but I am at a loss to suggest a knife that is over-rated. I think that all knives find their market price points that attract the appropriate buyers. If we are voting with our dollars, how can an over-rated product exist for any length of time?
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Very true. What's over-rated for one person is the greatest knife ever to another. The knives I've been less than thrilled with are others' favorite blades. I certainly can't fault others for their likes, and I don't want to bash any companies. I have my own personal experiences with many different makers. All we can do, as you say, is vote with our wallets.

I don't think over-rated is the best way to word it. It's really about opinions and likes. You can say what you like and what you don't like and what your reasons are for liking or disliking knives or manufacturers. Obviously the ones in business are doing something right for enough people to keep staying in business.
 
This is all subjective, naturally, but when a knife receives a great amount praise and you go out and spent your hard-earned money on one and are left wondering "what the hell were they thinking?", then it's something I'd like to hear about. It's entirely possible that my tastes or priorities might coincide with the person saying "meh" about a $500 custom knife, or the person may bring up a point I hadn't considered. Personally I'd like to hear it all. People's opinions are valid and I'm eager to hear them and the reasons behind them. Sabenzas may be some of the greatest knives on the planet, but I'd like to hear from the few who don't like them, and why. I may disagree but I might also learn something. So I think we should all pick our least favorite knives and tell everyone exactly why we regret buying them. At worst it could be cathartic.
 
Emerson knives truly meet the definition of overrated. People talk about them like they are indestructible light sabers capable of splitting molecules and prying the treads off an Abrams tank. I've owned a couple and I can tell you they don't live up to their 'rating'.

The ones I've owned haven't been particularly well fitted and are made from the same materials as better fit knives that sell for much less. You can buy a stronger (or at least equally strong), smoother and more securely locking folder made from better blade steel from a number of other makers for significantly less.

The only reason I still own one is because of the Wave opener. I do have to give them credit for that---it's a nice design feature.
 
elkins45 said:
Emerson knives truly meet the definition of overrated. People talk about them like they are indestructible light sabers capable of splitting molecules and prying the treads off an Abrams tank. I've owned a couple and I can tell you they don't live up to their 'rating'.
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Agreed. I also don't get the Blur love, but for the price...it's a nice blade. I'd take a Grip over it any day though.
 
Have you owned one? I own 4 WH's and the F&F is phenomenal. Rock solid, no blade play, and the highest grade materials. An I also own XM-18s, CRKs, etc as most posters know who know me. And William Henry is right up there in quality. Yes, some of their models are overly decorated for my taste, but each to their own. Below is one of my main EDC knives, and tough as they come with ZDP-189 blade.

kelson67 said:
William Henry IMO, just decoration
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kelson67 said:
William Henry IMO, just decoration
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I would have a problem calling a William Henry knife overrated primarily because they're not really meant to be used. I'm pretty confident that the vast majority of William Henry knives are purchased as collectable works of art rather than for EDC use. They're beautiful but for well over $1000 they better be. As for one's suitability for use as an actual knife, of course it would work well due to the workmanship and materials being top notch, but why would you? EDCing a WH would be like carrying a pocketful of uncirculated coins. It detracts from the value for no good reason. Sure it could be popped into a tuxedo pocket on rare occasions, but most owners aren't going to have one rattling around with their keys on a daily basis.

For me, an overrated knife would be like the Delica 4 I posted about above. Basically a knife from a reputable manufacturer, praised by users and in the media, yet when I bought one I was surprised by the poor quality and felt I'd been mislead.
 
Mark_42 said:
For me, an overrated knife would be like the Delica 4 I posted about above. Basically a knife from a reputable manufacturer, praised by users and in the media, yet when I bought one I was surprised by the poor quality and felt I'd been mislead.
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What you described doesn't sound anything like my Delica. I'd see about getting a replacement if I were you.
 
Definitely the Sebenza and the CQC 7, both ugly knives and do not provide any extra benefit or advantage for the price over a lot of other great folders.
 
Mark_42 said:
For me, an overrated knife would be like the Delica 4 I posted about above. Basically a knife from a reputable manufacturer, praised by users and in the media, yet when I bought one I was surprised by the poor quality and felt I'd been mislead.
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Sounds like you got a lemon, for the money a Delica 4 is amazing value. Could you specify on how your D4 was of poor quality? Was it the materials? the worksmanship? Because its a fairly durable knife that can take a beating.
 
I'm going to be a massive hypocrite here because I own both of these knives: The Spyderco Para Military 2 and the Zero Tolerance ZT0561.

Now don't get me wrong, I think they are both fantastic knives, but one has to understand that "overrated" doesn't mean "bad," it just means "not as Earth-shatteringly awesome as people say it is." To me, both knives fit that category. I love and carry both of those knives regularly because they just work for me, but there are plenty of designs out there that accomplish what they go for at least as well as they do. Again, I love both of those knives but I will never argue that they are the best in their categories, they are just one of many excellent options.
 
Strider. Why, you ask? they are made by a stolen valor, SF poser, convicted felon. They could be the best knives in the world (they aren't, IMHO) but with an owner/manufacturer like that, it doesn't matter.
 
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