New Knives that aren't perfect

jill jackson

jill jackson

Joined
Sep 5, 2006
Messages
20,593
You order a brand new knife and wait with great anticipation.
Only to get it open up the box and it's not so perfect.:mad:
Has a little nick or scratch someplace, the edge isn't ground so evenly, or maybe the lock-up isn't as perfect as you'd like.
Do you live with it or send it back?
I'm pretty picky about anything I buy brand-new and I just sent a high-dollar knife back because it had a mark on both sides of the blade, from the handle rubbing a mite. Very small marks but the knife retailed for 350 and I wouldn't live with it. (doesn't matter the brand it can happen to any of them)
How bad does it bother other members when a new knife isn't just as perfect as you'd hoped for? How much does it take to make you send it back?
 
If it were one of mine I would hope you would send it back so I could make the situation right. I believe I speak for all custom makers on this subject.

George
 
I figure that when I have produced and sold my ten thousandth flawless knife, I have a right to expect perfection from anything that cost as much or more than what mine sold for.

I'd be willing to bet I can find a flaw on a $285,000 sports car. You can pick what brand.
 
For me it would depend on whether it was going into my collection, or was going to be a user.

On a user, if the mechanics aren't right, or the knife isn't comfortable to hold, it will go back. If it has a few scratches, that isn't going to bother me. I'm just going to be adding more anyway.

In regards to the knives that go into my collection, they have to be as close to flawless as possible. The more I spend on the knife, the closer it has to be.
 
That is a tough call Jill. I also am VERY picky about things I buy, especially knives.

I think each situation is different and needs to be judged accordingly. I would expect quality control on a $350 knife to be such that there should not be any nicks or scratches that were incurred by handling.

If you look hard enough, there are almost ALWAYS imperfections at some level. Sometimes it can be a tough call, but generally, if it bothers YOU, then it should be sent back.

I know that feeling of anticipation/excitement waiting for delivery, then to be disappointed. Not fun!

That is why, if possible, I prefer to buy at shows, where you can look before buying.

Peter
 
Keith is spot on with his assessment. If it's a user, I would let the maker know just for their QC info. If it's for the collection, it would go back.
 
I'm in agreement with Keith Montgomery on this one. And yes, the higher the price, the pickier I get.
 
Depends on my intended use and age of the knife.

If I know it will be a user or EDC I will put up with more imperfections. I know that I will likely re-profile the edge to my liking so small dings do not bother me. I am not too concerned about looks at that point just about functionality.

If I picked it up to be part of the non-use collection (just started this recently) I am pickier about the initial condition. I am really picky if it is a "limited edition".

Age is the last factor I consider with getting a new knife from a dealer. Is this a new knife from the manufacture to the dealer or has the dealer had it sitting in its inventory for a while? I have found some "new" knives in the remote corners of dealer shops. Some of these are discontinued models from my favorite manufactures. Even though they have never left the box, there may be a few small wear marks or shiny areas on the outlying points (clips, other high points).

Thanks for reading,
STICF
 
I'm not talking about a tiny flaw you have to look hard for.
I'm talking about a nick or scratch big enough to see with a casual once over of the knife. (or some other issue you notice fairly easily)
I realize nothing is truly perfect in this world.
But, I have sent some brand new knives back with some defects that bothered me and I've kept others that were not so bad.
One thing that bothers me if I do keep a knife with something wrong, is selling it or trading it later and having to tell the prospective new owner it's flawed. When I paid for a brand-new knife and I haven't used it.
It just doesn't make for the best trades or sales.
 
Well for a $350 knife, I expect it to be as perfect as possible, especially if I have it just for show.

But for a decent priced knife that I'm going to beat up anyways, it won't really matter, unless the imperfection affects the performance of the knife.
 
I don't collect - but if I did, it would have to be perfect. That's what a collection is all about in my mind.

For using, I choose the knife because of the shape, ergonomics, materials, and assembly methods, like fasteners, etc. A slight flaw means no more than finding chipped paint in the bed of a new truck - in six months of proper use, no one will care, bed liner or not.

Then there are those who like to buy mint knives and carry them to use. I don't see how they can complain about cosmetic flaws at purchase when their intent is to degrade the condition thru fair wear and tear anyway.

In the last case, I see the user's self perception and ego reflected as a narcissistic distortion more than the supposed flaw in knife. :rolleyes:
 
are my users:D that being said i think each person has their own level of acceptable. I also believe that might change as the price begins to go up, i know it would for me especially if its new. But i love old slippies so i've learned to look past some cosmetic things.
Each knife nut is gonna be different.
ivan
 
If I am not happy with a custom knife I bought, I would discuss it with the maker, and then send it back.
 
Jill, just keep buying Spyderco's, then you'll never have to worry. :D

On a more serious note, if I spent more then $200 on a knife, it'd better be perfect. It'd better come shaving sharp and ready to roll right out of the box. I'm sure nobody buys a Sebenza with an off center blade or uneven grind or dull.

I guess I've been lucky. I've never bought a NIB knife that wasn't NIB and perfect.
 
biggerjon said:
my biggie is having a blade off center. i really hate that.
Click to expand...

I only have four knives at the moment.
Three off them had the blades off center, a Boker Trance a Kershaw Shallot and a Rough rider something.
Boker replaced the Trance and I now have a perfect one.
Still waiting for Kershaw to see what they'll do.
I don't care about the Rough rider, it was less then €10.

Edit.
Just checked my other knife, a Buck collegeau, also not straight inside the handle.
That's 4 out of 4!
 
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I'm not very fussy usually, I like the look of a new knife and like it to be good, but I know I'll be tinkering with it a bit, giving it my own sharpening, trying some other surface finish etc. And so I know it's going to get scratches and marks, it's ok, it's a tool and meant for use.

If the knife is mechanically allright and functional then it's good. Mind you, I don't really buy the very high-dollar stuff, those I would be too finicky about.
 
I agree with most of what has been said; I buy the majority of my knives from one source and was surprised to get one, while not expensive(60 dollar range) it had some what appeared to be rust in a couple of places. Since it was to be a carry/user I didn't get too excited but felt I should let the source know and I did. My surprise was because Ihave been buying knives there for many years and never had anything like that happen but my other surprise was there was absolutely no response!
 
If you buy a NIB it should be in good condition. The higher the price the better the quality and condition is expected. Don't settle for less. If its a custom, the maker I'm sure would be more than happy to fix any issues you have. If its for EDC and the price you said, I want to put my own scratches on it. Send it back.
 
It's important to me. Very important. It upsets me when I take possesion of a $100 - $300 knife that just seems to have been assembled without any care.

I want my blades to be centered and the lock up to be tight with no blade play and I hope the cosmetic condition is on par with the value of the product as well.

It upsets me a lot when I receive expensive knives with off centered blades and visible machine marks or scars on the scales, etc.

I have been disappointed by every manufacturer I have purchased from too. What gets my goat even more is when I get better fit and finish more consistently on some lesser knives.

I will say however, that I feel the Seki City made knives always seem to have better fit and finish per volume, than any other production knives I have purchased over the past few years. I feel like the care that goes into the finished product from Seki City is higher than the USA made knives unfortunately. That is my own personal opinion but I'm pretty sure my own personal metrics would bear that out easily.

The subject of this thread is the sole reason why I have narrowed my supplier(s) down to those smaller businesses that actually inspect the knife for me before they ship it. I know that's asking a lot but one of my recent yet primary suppliers picks them out for me now. I hope that can last a while. He will get my business consistently as long as he continues to do this for me.

A big reason for this attitude is that I am as proud of and pleased about the visual aesthetics of the knives I carry as I am about how well regarded they are as a tool. I get a lot of pleasure pulling my EDC out during the day and just looking at it. I have a better experience doing this when I don't see something about the knife that I don't like while knowing the next knife down the line probably doesn't have the same flaw.
 
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