Pulling the trigger on a an order, kinda having regrets...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
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This may be a common thing here with you folks... I placed an order on a brand that I feel is spotty on their quality control consistancy. The product is a Utica Cutlery fixed bladed hunting knife that I have been looking at online, and really wanting. The current Utica pocket knives that I own and have in my collection, were all picked out in person at a local sporting goods store. They were not just purchased sight unseen, and I did go through a few of each pattern before picking them up. Many had issues like slight cracks in handle around their pins, and so so handle fitting. So, I kinda know that these are not that perfect, but okay if one can hand pick. I swore to myself not to buy any more current Utica knives for those, and some other reasons. But, this fixed blade Utica just called out to me. The local store no longer carries this brand.... and nobody in the area has them. No way for me to inspect one prior to purchase. Well.. pulled the trigger the other day and ordered one online. Tomorrow is when I am supposed to be getting it, and here I am already thinking it was a bad idea to order it.... I mean yeah, I really am hoping to be lucky, and for me to find it to be acceptable.... but with this company I know my chances are just as high that I won't be. So, have you guys been there... swearing off of buying a brand, or from buying that brand sight unseen.... but there you go, ordering one anyway! This knife bug can be something else, huh! LOL! ;-)
 
Btw... I will give the knife a good looking over and share pics and such when it arrives. If it looks anything like it's online pics, I think I will be extremely happy. The handle scales are brown jigged bone, steel for blade is 1095 carbon.
 
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This is the knife I have on order (found the pic online). And it's all I have to go on, pics on the internet. Very little info online about these knives, as far as reviews go. So, fingers crossed! ;-)
 
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This is the pic that won me over.... I love how the jigged bone looks on this knife... but.. will it look this good! LOL! ;-)
 
Good luck with that! Hopefully you will do just fine. That isn't a complicated pattern nor is it a complicated assembly design. I'll bet you are OK.

Robert
 
Yeah... You may be very right, sir! I remember looking at fixed bladed knives and pocket knives, but never really thought much about their assembly requirements. Now, I realize so much more has to go right for the pocket knife not to be wrong. Not saying it's easy to get a production fixed blade knife right.. but just seems so much more goes into the mechanical of a folder :-)
 
I have repeatedly bought robert klaas knives and regretted every purchase. They are not that bad really, but they always have some annoying fault - a monolith with huge flaring backspring gaps and asymmetrical bolsters; a congress and a whittler , both with all the faults that it is possible to find on these complex patterns, a jackknife with corkscrew that wasn't too bad, though the corkscrew was crudely fitted.
 
Well, I think I may have justified my order based on it not being a folder.. hoping somehow that their fixed blade knives are more consistant :-)
 
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Enjoy the thrill, enjoy the surprise (or deal with the disappointment), that's the internet. The best buy is over the counter but the choice on the net is so overwhelming you must give in from time to time. I'm still on the fence for a Lone Wolf or a Rough Rider... Curiosity, that's it !
 
For me, the American made thing is a big deal. I know that very few American firms are left making them here and of traditional style. Utica is one of those last ones... and with a good amount of history, which just like Queen, I find facinating and desirable. Roll the dice, hoping for lucky number seven! ;-)
 
I'm guessing that it will be fine Jimmy. My collection is 50% fixed blades now with that ratio growing. While I haven't tried a Utica, the others that I have purchased new have been perfect. As has been said above they are of a lot simpler design to make so I think that helps in them being made right.

And as with all on-line purchases, I always look at their return policy before ordering. If an item is defective or not up to my standards, I simply return it to the vendor. I don't try to make a habit of this, but if it isn't right it isn't right and the vendor should stand behind it with a good return policy.

Now off to look at that Utica knife some more - I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival to you to hear your report.
 
Definitely, Stan.. will report back with some pics and my overall impressions of it. It does look like the old ph1 & ph2 style that Schrade used to offer... Now I wonder if Utica aquired the equipment to make these when Schrade went belly up?.... hmmm.... guess I'll never know.
 
I really like a classic drop point hunter design for a fixed blade. I have three Bark Rivers, 3 USA Schrades (PH1 & two PH2s) and a Rough Rider. You'll have to give us a mini review when your Utica arrives. I'm wishing you the best of luck.

Tom
 
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I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for ya!
My prediction is that it will be just fine. A simple sheath knife is way less complicated to produce than a folding pocket knife with many moving parts.
 
I don't worry nearly as much about fixed blades as I do with folders. In my experience it's the blade movement that causes the most problems with folder quality. Wobbly blades, mis-aligned parts in open or closed position, ill-fitting parts, blades rubbing...

If you get a wobbly blade on a full-tang fixed blade, there's a serious problem. And if it totally sucks, you can send it back.

p.s. I love drop-point fixed blades, my favorite pattern, and based on the photo you've shown I'd buy that knife. Please comment on any quality issues when it arrives.
 
you're becoming worried or neurotic over something you haven't received yet? give it a chance and take it as they come. once it arrives make a determination.
i learned from the first knife i ordered and kept about scales, bone, and blade centering. once i started asking questions on the forum and getting answers, i already owned the knife for a few months and just kept it. live and learn.
 
Looks like a really nice knife and a very useful size. I like the handle. Folks buy really large knives and then not use them because they are clumsy to use (hence dangerous) unless you have a lot of practice. Looking forward to hearing what you think of the knife after you get it and perhaps use it a couple times.

I have a pile of unused knives, quite a few customs that would fit the hunting knife niche nicely. That looks like a great design.
 
Looks like a nice knife. They have a repair or replace warranty so if there are problems you can get it fixed.

Let us know how you like it when it shows up.
 
Yeah, you guys have cut down on my worries a bit, thanks :-) Like I mentioned before, my experience with Utica thus far has been with their folders, and my finding quite a few ugly little things that would have been deal breakers for me if one had been sent my way. Quite a few of the specimens I looked over, before making my choices on the ones I picked out, had cracks in the bone around the pins... and some had ill fitted handle scales. Obviously, these are also factors to consider on a fixed blade knife too... But whatever she comes as, I will definitely share with you good people here, all the good, bad, and ugly.... (just hoping there will be no bad or ugly!) lol! ;-)
 
Its not just knives but anything you buy online sight unseen. Its the inherent risk. I buy all my knives online and have never been stuck with anything I could not return for another or a refund. Out of all the knives I have purchased I have only been unhappy enough to exchange one. All the rest I have kept.

For me it is a risk I'm willing to take to save 20-60% off of retail price. Even if I had a retail location (which I don't) I would still choose to buy online for the price savings.
 
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