Recent Knife Purchase Disappointments

misque

misque

Joined
Jul 9, 1999
Messages
3,316
Okay kiddies, it's WAAAAHHHHH!! time!
The last few knife purchases I've made have turned out to be such bummers that I feel the need to vent. Kinda.
First I have to say that Boker, in my un-humble opinion, has no business making liner-lock folders.
I tried their Boker Brend model and it turned out to be one of the worst buys I've ever made. It has a scale retention pin right under the contact point of the pocket clip that ripped my pants upon withdrawal from the pocket. The paper thin liner-lock, while surprisingly able to pass a spine whack test dangerously dis-engages when the knife is gripped with anything other than a medium strength grip. I started to do an edge retention test, but the lock popped from my gripping it every time I tried to slice with the knife.
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Everybody gets a bad knife now and again so I marked it off as just that. No harm. No foul.
Boker has come out with their Gemini series which looked promising to me. The overall package looked comfortable and useable. Not being the type to hold grudges, I thought I would really like to try one of these so I special ordered one from my dealer. I decided on the Angler model in plain edge. It has a green handle with black Kraton insert. Well it came in and I picked it up. Did the good ol' spine whack test and it passed. I got my new toy home and decided to put it thru it's paces. My first task was to go out and cut some flowers from our Magnolia tree out front. Magnolia's have wonderfully scented flowers on a woody stem and are a favorite with my wife. I cut one and passed it down to the wife. Went for another and as I pulled back a little to whack the stem, the blade hit a branch above and the blade snapped closed on my finger cutting a bloody little 3/4" long slice just in front of the middle joint.
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After stopping the bleeding, I went to examine the knife and tried a light spine whack test. The knife snapped closed mucho fast and hard. On closer examination with a loupe, I see where it appears the paper thin liner actually bent during use. When I say paper thin I mean the liner is about as thick as some of the construction paper my wife uses with her Elementary school kids. (She's an Elementary School Art Teacher, BTW).
And after the long winded story, this is why Boker has no business making liner lock folders. I know some of you are going to say that my spine whack bent the liner. Fine. If it bends that easily it has no business being on a knife that is hyped the way Boker is hyping their wares in the knife rags.
FWIW, I have Boker lock backs and fixed blades and they are first rate product, so they are not by any means all bad.
My next problem came with my new CRKT Steve Ryan Model 7 folder. Great looking design and has the LAWKS too! Too good! When I started familiarizing myself with the knife, it became readily apparent that this monster thumb stud was as worthless as a Rolex on a Bear's paw. Now, I fixed this by removing the thumbstud from Hell and discovered a perfectly good Spyder-hole underneath.
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Too COOL! Now this knife rocked and rolled in the opening dept. I started carrying it and after a few attempts at quick pocket withdrawal the cutouts in the Zytel handle continually hung up on my pocket leaving my knife either stuck halfway in or out of the pocket or laying on the floor where it does me little good.
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BUMMER.
I was manipulating and flicking my Spyderco Ayoob the other night and the smooth Almite coated Aluminum handle flew from my hand like it was made with ice coated Teflon on a fast flick and boomaranged across the room and nearly hit my wife in the leg. Suffice it to say that if looks could kill I would not be here right now.
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This was a disappointment because now I cannot trust this knife in an emergency situation due to that slick handle and the fear of losing the knife in an emergency opening scenario. Unless of course it slipped out of my grasp during opening and stuck in the BG's throat or something.
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This is one knife that BEGS for a G-10 handle. If it had some kind of traction on the handle, it would be close to being "All That" in my book. I love the design, just not the execution of the design.
Well I guess I've used up my bitch quota for the next couple of months, so I'll shut up now.
Any other flops or close-but-no-cigar knives out there I should know about?




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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
Gotta agree with you misque. My Brend came with a recurve in the liner lock that rubs against the blade. Not too surprising as thin as it is. I use my Angler for light cutting duties at work, so the lock's not a problem. As you mentioned, the lock backs are super. My 3000 (green bone) is slick as they come. I also think their pocket knives are great. I have two, and they're both as good as I've seen.

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GronK
Just 'cause yer paranoid don't mean someone ain't out to get ya!
 
Boker make folders which are far away from famous "German quality"
 
The bad part is the Brend design as Boker has done it could be a super knife. I really like the overall design and size of it. Boker really screwed it up though. Had this knife been built along the lines of the SERE, as far as thick liners and excellent fit and finish, then I don't believe Boker would be able to churn them out fast enough! As it is, I have had a couple and I have let a couple go!



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Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
Well I've become dissatisfied with my most recent knife purchase, a Kershaw one handed combo edge tanto folder. I can't say it was because of the overall quality of the knife but rather because I simply didn't do my homework before I bought. I wasn't really into learning about knives at the time and I bought the first thing the guy at Academy sports suggested. While I found the action rather addictive to play with I really didn't like the chisel blade or the serations.

Now that I've educated myself I've made a new choice and am going to pick it up this afternoon. I've carried a knife since I was a kid but this is my first really informed knife purchase.
 
Well, there's recent, and then there is recent.

A couple months ago, bought a CRKT Tighe Tac. Had drooled over the pictures a long time before they were released. I still think it a very good looking knife. But, the handle is too angular/sharp for comfortable gripping. It is well assembled, sharp, but not a knife I'd want to hold real tight, or for any length of time.

Sorry to cut the woes short. Every other knife I've bought recently -- excepting the enormous CS Twistmasters and the Timberline Wortac -- has significantly exceeded my expectations. I've been like a pig in clover.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
I am regularly dissapointed with my knife purchases. One of the drawbacks to knife collecting, for me, is that it is largely a mail order business. I rarely get to handle a knife before I purchase it. Doesn't make a difference if it is custom or production. I would say I'm happy with my purchases about half the time.
Bugs, Why didn't you like the CS Twistmasters?

[This message has been edited by averageguy (edited 06-03-2001).]
 
Misque, you might try a little skateboard tape on that Ayoob. It will save you from having to explain to your in-laws why you sliced their baby girl
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It has been a long time since I have gotten one that has been disappointing. I think that is because I buy a lot from B+M stores and shows. That way I can give a good inspection before I buy.
David
 
Not too long ago, I traded a Cold Steel Magnum Tanto (not "San-Mai") for a REKAT Satin Hobbit Warrior. Dumb me...I had never held a Hobbit Warrior before, and discovered that the grip (finger-grooves) didn't even come close to fitting my LARGE hand, and that the hand-guard & grip is designed for ONLY blade forward, reverse-grip...
frown.gif
.

I DID end-up trading the Hobbit Warrior for a REKAT D-2 Sifu, so I guess it DID turn out ok...
smile.gif
.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
The skateboard tape is a fascinating idea and worth looking into. If it can keep attatched to a skateboard after the way these guys attack their boards and still keep them on said skateboards then it should work just fine at keeping one's hand on the knife handle.
Any idea where I can get this stuff?
Thank You DavidB415!
biggrin.gif



Bugs3x,
I have the same problem with my CRKT Tighe Tac too. Looks like a kick-ass gent's folder, but it bites the hand that attempts to use it.
frown.gif

And I also agree with you 100% on the Timberline Wortac. One Helluva great knife for the price. No bones about it.

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu

[This message has been edited by misque (edited 06-03-2001).]
 
I have always opined that production folders marketed as "Tactical" or "hard use", no matter what brand they may be, have NO business making them if their handles are finished either polished or smoothed!! Misque, I have been giving my experience and comments on this same matter when I spot similar posts. Whenever I handle a folder, or even a fixed blade, that has a smooth/ polished finish I have already decided that it is not what I will buy and carry for a hard use blade. Period. Unless I think its design and materials are extroadinary enough that I will have it sent out to have a checkering job done on its scales. This improves its grip and security by a quantum leap! (love those words
smile.gif
).

As for friction (skateboard) tape, I have found it useful for providing a secure and rapid draw when a piece is applied to its pocket clip and on the opposite scale near its pivot pin (tip down carry) where the thumb would grasp it. Take a look at the curent issue of TK mag were Ralph Mroz reviews the BM Pinnacle. Covering any more surface other than this will wear your pockets out quite quickly, not to mention your hands if you use your blades real hard/ on a regular basis.

Find a folder without this silly smooth/ polished, highly refective, mirror imaging finish.
smile.gif


Nakano
 
My recent disappointment was CRKT Polkowski Companion. I should clarify that disappointing was the sheath and not the knife. I loved the knife absolutely. It is wickedly sharp and very comfortable in the hand. Now the sheath is another deal. My first complaint is that it is extremely uncomfortable, I would say even impossible, to carry inside the waistband. Since the sheath rides vertically one cannot sit or bed forwars while wearing the knife. The lower part of the sheath was poking me in the hip and the handle of the knife in the 12th rib. I should mention that I have pretty flat stomach. I have a custom made knife with the sheath made by Eric from Normark and he drilles additional holes in the kydex so that the sheath could be worn angled along the appendix line. My second complaint is the effort required to withdraw the knife from the sheath.I had to hold the sheath with one hand and really pull the knife hard. When the blade finally came out it had the pieces of the plastic ripped out of the sheath. Forget about taking the knife out while it is on your belt. In this respect all the attachements for the neck carry looked pathetic. The result of such draw would be in the best case torn chain and in the worst, broken neck. Now a note to Glockman. REKAT Warior Hobbit is designed for the reverse grip, so there should be no complaint there. As to the handle size, I tend to agree. However you can get their larger version of this knife or get Al Mar's Warrior.
 
Misque

I have the Boker Gemini Badger---same knife with part-serrated blade, black handles.

You are right on about the liner lock. It is very thin. Mine has, however, held rather well.

I have no problem with it as it sees fairly light utility use. It will see salt water action this summer and the x-15 steel is reputed to stand up quite well in that type of environment.

When all is said and done, I feel I will get my $55 worth of use out of it.

For more "serious" purposes I can go to any number of other choices.

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----------
Dick
 
hey misque, liner lock aside, how was the
x-15 steel? I came really close to buying this knife yesterday but didn't because i'd never heard of the steel before.

brandon
 
Snow,
To be honest, I only got a couple of cuts out of it before it starting manifesting it's problems so I haven't had the chance to do any real edge testing with it yet. Sorry.
It is a real comfortable knife to hold, but other than that, I'm leary of using it after it bit me practically new outta the box.

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
snow,first off,welcome to the forums.

second,x-15 is supposed to be good. there was an article in last months tactical knives magazine about the durablity of the steel. jeff randall took the knife out into the jungle to test,and no rust.
i dont have much experience with boker,aside from a fixed blade,but have heard some good and some bad things.
if you decide to buy it,make sure to check the knife out before you actually pay for it.look for lock weakness,make sure the blade doesnt rub against the inside of the handle,and most important in my opinion,make sure its comfortable.

if you do all that,then i dont think you will have a problem with it at all.
-maurice
 
not real happy w/my CRKT point guard - the location of the disc on the blade is too far forward(for me anyway) and makes it difficult to open the blade w/the disc - other than that, and having to flick it open to acces it quickly, which i prob woulda done anyway , its a great knife - so ALMOST being nit picky - but they should either move disc back on the blade toowards the handle, or relieve the handles in that area for better access - imho anyway


SIFU
 
skateboard tape: beware!!!
i skate a fair amount, and would like to insert a warning about griptape, as it is called.
i've worn several holes in pants from just carrying my board next to my leg, and i've also gotten harsh/severe abrasions on my legs and hands from my deck (board). brand new griptape is very abrasive, and with good quality tape this tends to last for quite a while before wearing down to a grit that would be comfortable for bare skin contact.
the glue on the back tends to leave a sticky-ass residue, as well, so be sure you really want to apply this to your knife.
peace.
aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

[This message has been edited by alex_111 (edited 06-04-2001).]
 
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