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Most Overrated Folder
- Thread starter Thrustus
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I would say that its mass popularity does play a factor in peoples overall opinion of the knife but nothing gets that amount of popularity with ought being something special from the get go.
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bld,
We share aesthetic appreciation on many knives. I will say that I have paid secondary prices for 2 XM-18's (2 different sizes and blade styles), and do not regret for a minute my purchases. The only negative is that on the 3.5 flipper, my finger is not strong enough to flip without wrist action, but I don't mind using my wrist, and I prefer thumbstuds myself anyway. My favorite is the 3" non-flipper slicer. It is so smooth, I can flick out the blade with the thumb stud for hours on end. Perfectly constructed and designed. And I like being able to change the scales on a whim; have had bright blue for a while though.
And I know people hate them because a certain class of people can buy them cheaper. Frankly, I discounted that in my decision. I bought purely on the F&F of the knife itself, and would have returned it to the vendor if not satisfied. Expensive, but worth it, to me. And as long as Rick keeps them scarce, their value will hold.
We share aesthetic appreciation on many knives. I will say that I have paid secondary prices for 2 XM-18's (2 different sizes and blade styles), and do not regret for a minute my purchases. The only negative is that on the 3.5 flipper, my finger is not strong enough to flip without wrist action, but I don't mind using my wrist, and I prefer thumbstuds myself anyway. My favorite is the 3" non-flipper slicer. It is so smooth, I can flick out the blade with the thumb stud for hours on end. Perfectly constructed and designed. And I like being able to change the scales on a whim; have had bright blue for a while though.
And I know people hate them because a certain class of people can buy them cheaper. Frankly, I discounted that in my decision. I bought purely on the F&F of the knife itself, and would have returned it to the vendor if not satisfied. Expensive, but worth it, to me. And as long as Rick keeps them scarce, their value will hold.
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Yes, indeed we do. And I always enjoy reading your posts. I am, however, not as taken with Hinderer XMs as you are. I had an opportunity to examine them side by side against Chris Reeve Sebenzas a couple of years ago at the Plaza Cutlery Show and I would say they're comparable. But I would no more pay twice the price for a Hinderer as I would for a Sebenza. The problem, once again, is the level of education and understanding I've gained since I've started investigating the world of custom knives. I tell you truly, Locutus, you owe it to yourself to snag a Laconico Slim EDC if you can manage to get your hands on one. Take my word for it, it will be a revelation for you. And the blush may well come off the Hinderer rose once you see how much knife you can get for far less than what you have to pay for Hinderer XMs on the secondary market.
In the final analysis, regardless of what I pay for a Hinderer XM-18, I'm going to end up with a $385.00 knife. That's what the manufacturer says it's worth and based on what I've seen, I'd say the manufacturer has priced his product fairly.
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Just because something is overrated doesn't mean it isn't cool to own.
My nod would go to the Hinderer knives. I still like them and even though I can afford them I think the secondary prices are silly I can buy a nice 1911 or a new AR build for that kinda cash.
I believe in a free market so good for him but you are fooling yourself if you think it's a value for the quality and they may be limited but not as rare as people perceive.
My nod would go to the Hinderer knives. I still like them and even though I can afford them I think the secondary prices are silly I can buy a nice 1911 or a new AR build for that kinda cash.
I believe in a free market so good for him but you are fooling yourself if you think it's a value for the quality and they may be limited but not as rare as people perceive.
After reading through the comments I wanted to say that they are just knives. It's not like someone is calling your girlfriend or wife ugly. Everyone likes different things. There are knives and designs I don't care for but I don't think that means they are overrated.
To each his own!!!! I am in now way as educated in the knife building realm as some...but overrated to me should be based on performance or the lack of. Even that can be subjective. If it does what I need it to do then it's ok by me. Aesthetics shouldn't be considered. Give me facts on locks that fail or crappy steel or something!!!! It is the individuals decision to buy a knife. If someone bashes the knife you think is the 'TITS" because he doesn't like the way it looks, well then it is what it is. Opinions, opinions.......I buy Randalls.......are there plenty of knives that can do the same thing for half the price or even less? Absolutely ......are they over rated....maybe for some....again...To each his own.....and I'm buying a Southard anyway.
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You'll be in good company when you do. IMO, the Southard is one of the best bang-for-the-buck knives so far this year . . . even if it does look a little funny.
How about anything with a liner lock....... 
These days with options like the axis lock, compression lock etc. is there any reason to still be using a bent bar wedge to lock up a razor sharp blade? How many times do we hear about liner lock folders at almost any price point having lock up problems, you can go through the list, benchmades, spydercos, ZTs, striders, sebenzas, dpxs, crkts, .....etc. etc. I'd suggest the only reason we don't see more non-liner locks is patent and license fee issues.
I really think such a question about individual products comes down to a few things.....
1) diminishing returns, your personality, and your checkbook. I've owned "expensive" strider/reeve etc. knives, and while I can afford them, and I see in some examples the quality/fit/finish difference over a $150 knife, for me I still didn't want to hard use/abuse a $500 knife, not to say it wouldn't take it, but my personality just could not justify spending that when a $100-200 good knife for my use always performed just as well. For the record I'm not lumping strider with CRK in the overrated department, I think strider well ahead in the hype department. I'd agree with others that $100-200 range is the sweet spot for getting the most bang for your buck.
2) personal preference.....
examples the ESEE knives get a lot of praise, but the 3-4 handle is way too small for me and I have small hands. I love the nimravus but a lot of guys break them using it as a pry bar
I love my PM2 because it's thin, light, and has a secure lock, but it's not a knife for abuse, and I do think it gets over praised.
I really like the quality for the price on the zt551 I have, but others have had issues, and it's a thick heavy beast in the pocket, the 560 is too big for my liking.
The griptilians are nice, though I think overpriced at the $100 they seem to hover around now, but I'd gladly pay a little more for a g10 handle.
Ritter MK3 gets a lot of praise, but for me it's too much blade for not enough handle, I'd rather see another 1/2" of room to choke up on the handle without getting into the blade edge, to be a 4" knife should be capable of doing delicate work as well, and the MK3 really only has a hand position for doing larger chores.
All personal pref issues, doesn't speak to the quality of the knife at all, but makes it good/bad for the user.
3) use......if a $500 knife has 10% better cutting performance over a $100 knife will your use notice it, my day to day use usually won't aside the frequency of the sharpening interval. I almost never use my knives so much in a single day that they go from sharp to worthlessly dull. Some people no doubt do. I'd suspect that 99% of knife users would easily be served perfectly by most $150 and cheaper blades of good build quality. That doesn't mean to some spending $1000 on a knife isn't worth it, but it's just not to me.
These days with options like the axis lock, compression lock etc. is there any reason to still be using a bent bar wedge to lock up a razor sharp blade? How many times do we hear about liner lock folders at almost any price point having lock up problems, you can go through the list, benchmades, spydercos, ZTs, striders, sebenzas, dpxs, crkts, .....etc. etc. I'd suggest the only reason we don't see more non-liner locks is patent and license fee issues.I really think such a question about individual products comes down to a few things.....
1) diminishing returns, your personality, and your checkbook. I've owned "expensive" strider/reeve etc. knives, and while I can afford them, and I see in some examples the quality/fit/finish difference over a $150 knife, for me I still didn't want to hard use/abuse a $500 knife, not to say it wouldn't take it, but my personality just could not justify spending that when a $100-200 good knife for my use always performed just as well. For the record I'm not lumping strider with CRK in the overrated department, I think strider well ahead in the hype department. I'd agree with others that $100-200 range is the sweet spot for getting the most bang for your buck.
2) personal preference.....
examples the ESEE knives get a lot of praise, but the 3-4 handle is way too small for me and I have small hands. I love the nimravus but a lot of guys break them using it as a pry bar
I love my PM2 because it's thin, light, and has a secure lock, but it's not a knife for abuse, and I do think it gets over praised.
I really like the quality for the price on the zt551 I have, but others have had issues, and it's a thick heavy beast in the pocket, the 560 is too big for my liking.
The griptilians are nice, though I think overpriced at the $100 they seem to hover around now, but I'd gladly pay a little more for a g10 handle.
Ritter MK3 gets a lot of praise, but for me it's too much blade for not enough handle, I'd rather see another 1/2" of room to choke up on the handle without getting into the blade edge, to be a 4" knife should be capable of doing delicate work as well, and the MK3 really only has a hand position for doing larger chores.
All personal pref issues, doesn't speak to the quality of the knife at all, but makes it good/bad for the user.
3) use......if a $500 knife has 10% better cutting performance over a $100 knife will your use notice it, my day to day use usually won't aside the frequency of the sharpening interval. I almost never use my knives so much in a single day that they go from sharp to worthlessly dull. Some people no doubt do. I'd suspect that 99% of knife users would easily be served perfectly by most $150 and cheaper blades of good build quality. That doesn't mean to some spending $1000 on a knife isn't worth it, but it's just not to me.
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It'll be a cold day in hell before I give up my Michael Walker Klotzli ACC-1.How about anything with a liner lock.......
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Agree. But I still like folders.
Bill. folder would never be as durable and reliable as fixed blade. Never ever no matter the locking mechanism. Would you bugout with a folder? I would not.
evilgreg
Why so serious?
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Ooh, never seen one of those. That's a nice looking knife.
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I never said that a folder was as durable or reliable as a fixed blade. I simply said that it takes more skill and refinement to manufacture a quality folder than it does a quality fixed blade. No offense intended to high end fixed blade makers.
I don't really subscribe to a lot of the prepper fantasies, I probably would bug out with my folder, simply because that would be the knife I had on me at the time. I would also have a fixed blade with my other gear though.
timberweasel
Platinum Member
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The higher you climb, the farther there is to fall.
I think any knife that receives popular attention will have the potential to disappoint to an equal degree. I also think that the more one pays for a knife the greater the expectations one will have for it. So if someone buys a popular expensive knife with high hopes and it turns out to be not their cup of tea, I can see how they'd feel especially underwhelmed, disappointed, maybe even cheated. And should the buyer win the unlucky lotto and receive a lemon, the disappointment is compounded...
Just my 2¢
I think any knife that receives popular attention will have the potential to disappoint to an equal degree. I also think that the more one pays for a knife the greater the expectations one will have for it. So if someone buys a popular expensive knife with high hopes and it turns out to be not their cup of tea, I can see how they'd feel especially underwhelmed, disappointed, maybe even cheated. And should the buyer win the unlucky lotto and receive a lemon, the disappointment is compounded...
Just my 2¢
Ankerson
Knife and Computer Geek
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The higher you climb, the farther there is to fall.
I think any knife that receives popular attention will have the potential to disappoint to an equal degree. I also think that the more one pays for a knife the greater the expectations one will have for it. So if someone buys a popular expensive knife with high hopes and it turns out to be not their cup of tea, I can see how they'd feel especially underwhelmed, disappointed, maybe even cheated. And should the buyer win the unlucky lotto and receive a lemon, the disappointment is compounded...
Just my 2¢
A lot of truth to that as we all know people tend to really talk about their new toys and tell everyone how great they think they are.
One thing people need to understand is just because a knife might cost a lot it doesn't mean it will move mountains and or work miracles.
People also should stick to what they can really afford to buy because they would be a lot happier in the end...... Like I always say if they can't afford to literally burn that money they are going to spend then don't get that knife....
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Zero tolerance. Their knives are WAY too heavy. Their are a lot of lighter knives that are stronger. Also benchmade. Why buy a 90$ gripptilian when I can buy a 60$ endura with better materials?
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I'll happily buy my $90 Griptillians, which happen to use a better locking system, better steel, and handle scales that don't look like a $5 gas station knife.
In my experience people don't think that way. They think that the Hinderers are overpriced in absolute terms and the LEO/EMT/Fire thing is a marketing riff that has no connection with reality. Hinderers don't seem to get discussed on LEO forums when knife choice comes up (I've done some google site specific searches), they don't match what these people say they want in a knife (the Cop Tool is one match, a cheap serrated non-stabby folder another) and they do match the parameters of the Tacticoolus Fanboyus's taste in knives exactly: stabby, smooth flipping (like a cop is going to care about that!) and pretty. They're disliked as well-built knives with extremely suspect marketing and consequently silly prices - it's the suspicion about the marketing that causes the dislike, not the prices themselves, still less that some people can get a discount.