My criteria for knife choices

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
28,365
Since I've come to realize that I'm not a collector... I now own less than 10 knives, not counting pending projects.

[video=youtube;yqgXocyMKm8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqgXocyMKm8[/video]

I'd be interested in knowing how some of you base your purchases.
 
I only buy what I want or like and fully expect to use.
As far as specifics, There are some things that I like, some that I don't, and some that are absolute deal breakers. I prefer full flat ground blades, carbon steels, and a few point styles that depend on the knife and it's usage. I absolutely loathe partially serrated blades, blade play on folders, uncomfortable handles, etc. I have become far more particular and selective over the years.
I'll probably think of more stuff and edit this tomorrow. I've become a pretty picky **** as the years have gone by and I've gained experience.
 
User as well here. Had to learn the "expensive" way that I could not get used to tip-up carry no matter how hard I tried (perhaps because of my XS hands) and that overbuilt thick bladed folders cut terrible. I want a knife that cuts well. Now I never buy a tip-up carry folder anymore (sold every one of them except a Recon 1) and I don't tolerate blades thicker than 5mm on folders anymore. Prefer 3mm.
 
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1.) Is it under $50? If yes, continue to question 2.
2.) Do I already have something like it? If no, continue to question 3
3.) Do I really want another knife? If yes, wait a week and ask #3 again. If yes a second time, continue to question 4.
4.) Has my wife spent too much on something recently that I am still trying to pay for? If no, continue to step 5
5.) Don't buy it, I have too many knives already and don't want any more.
 
1. Do you want that knive?
2. Can I buy it now or should I sell off something else for it?
3. Buy knife.
 
Does the knife feel great in my hand?
Does the knife give me complete confidence when I carry it?
Answer, Emerson.
For me, that knife is the HD7.
Hi Matt.
 
I bought two in five minutes or so this morning...a Benchmade 710-1401 in M390...never had this one in M390 before, just D2 models.
Also a Spyderco Sage 2...perhaps my favorite knife of all time. I've owned quite a few NIB; never carried one. I am fresh out of the Sage 2, so had to jump on this beaut. I just love the style, the feel, of the Sage 2. Titanium slabs ring my bell, whether CRK, Southard AVO, or this Sage 2.
I carry a Sebbie, Zaan or the AVO.
My criteria is style, beauty, function...in that order. Fixed or folder...
 
Function, style, ... beauty comes last.

That's how I choose knives.
 
Can it handle anything I might need a knife for on a normal day, and on a worst-case scenario day?
Could it do the same for years and years?
Can I easily maintain it myself for years and years?
Do I feel happy with it in my pocket and in my hand?
 
I would never consider myself a collector because that suggests there's some sort of direction or purpose to the collection; I'm more of a knife accumulator: if I find I need a certain type of knife I need for actual use, I go out and look for the perfect one for me within a certain price, and I buy it. Then after about a month I discover I was wrong and realize what I should have bought, and I get that. Usually that knife ends up being perfect. Each knife purchase stems from a need for a type of knife, wether it be for camping or EDC or whatever, and then I use the heck out of it and see how well it does. So for me what I'm usually looking for is function/durability, quality, and style in order. Price usually plays a big factor since I'm using the knife and cant stand the thought of breaking or losing something overly expensive.
 
Oh, and the basics:
No black coatings
no tantos
no serrations
one-handed open and close
 
I have come to a point where I have identified exactly what I dislike, but there are always exceptions. I own (or at least keep in my rotation) 11 knives (not including retired and or damaged ones). The following features are general exclusions when it comes to what I will buy/own. As said, there are exceptions.

1. Assisted--really don't like, the only exception being the ZT 0770CF, as everything about it is perfect, and the flipper assist feels natural, as in unassisted.
2. Thumb studs--Don't like the way they feel, and in the frozen tundra of Chicago they are more difficult to work with than a flipper or spydiehole.
3. Benchmade--Just done with them. Their QC/f&f is inexcusable for what they are currently charging. Of the four I owned, three had to be sent back. One for a bad HT, two for centering issues.
4. To go along with #3, any company charging a premium price for knives with average or subpar materials and/or QC/f&f issues. To quote a member here, MQQN "If you make it right, you won't have to 'make it right.'"
5. Smooth metal handles.
6. Tip-down only clips. Don't get me started.

I will not own a knife I will not use. I am an eccentric one when it comes to this as well. March is the Saint Patty's day month, so I'm only carrying green knives (I have 3).

A few weeks ago I dislocated and strained my right thumb, and sprained my right wrist. Despite being a lefty, I'm used to righty knives. It was hard enough manipulating my Manix 2 left-handed, let alone if I had to deal with a tip-down draw.
 
I don't buy knives I won't use or carry so it must be unique and different enough from what I currently have to justify owning it.
 
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Charlie Mike said:
I'd be interested in knowing how some of you base your purchases.
Click to expand...

I think that all of us, to varying degrees, have a train wreck between our ears. Even the best of us have a lot of subconscious angst in there.

In response to this trainwreck, sometimes we try to anesthetize ourselves. We do it with booze, drugs, porn, golf, bass boats, March Madness or fun toys.

We here at BF largely fall into the "fun toys" category, though there is plenty of the other stuff here too.

So here's how things play out, when it comes to train wrecks and fun toys. The whole process of getting on BF, searching the vendors, fantasizing about which knives we like, looking for the best price, making the selection, ordering the knife, waiting for it to arrive, watching for the mailman, opening the package . . . all of this stuff is anesthesia. It distracts us from the reality that we will never be an astronaut, or date 3 Swedish chicks at the same time, or be as good looking as Powernoodle. That distraction is good. Its anesthesia.

But after a while, it wears off. And we start the whole process over again. That's how I ended up with 14x Delicas, 10x Enduras, 4x CRKs, etc. Guys don't buy CRKs just to cut stuff. Any knife will do that. They (we) want to feel good. Distracting ourselves from the train wreck just plain feels good.

Not everyone here goes that route. You, CM, have only 10 knives. But you have had other forms of anesthesia. For many of us, though, especially for those of us who end up with a giant box full of knives we will never use, I think we are just using our fun toys to distract ourselves.
 
Wanimator said:
Where can you find the state laws on their site? The layout and design makes it near impossible for me to find anything.
Click to expand...

I criticized the design of their app (which is damn near unusable) here after paying money for it, and got nothing but attacks from people here. I've never seen a worse-designed app in my life and no one here dares to even utter a peep. It's absolutely pathetic.
 
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