Same Model Knife- many differences

[Seth Thomas]

One of the many reasons I like my favorite knife shop is the opportunity to handle, play, draw from the pocket many different knives.

The Shop owners are patient as I paw and fawn over thier stock.

When I decide to buy a specific model, I have them haul out every sample of that model and play with each one.

I've notice that a sampling of the same knife can have many differences. Smoothness of opening, tightness of lock, edge grind, fit and finish, all can vary within the same model. Sometimes different models from the same maker can have different levels of sameness.

I know in mass production, perfect replication is not possible, but in some models the differences are extreme.

In your buying experience, do you come across wide variations in the same model?

Seth

 

[OwenM]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Seth Thomas:
When I decide to buy a specific model, I have them haul out every sample of that model and play with each one.

I've notice that a sampling of the same knife can have many differences.</font>

I do the same thing, and have noticed the same thing.
Most of the "big name" knives I've checked out, like BM, MT, and Spyderco have all been pretty much the same. Minor differences, like how much travel a liner lock has, etc.
Where I notice really big differences is in mass-produced slipjoints. Huge differences in the fit of handle materials and bolsters. Many have protruding pins, and some have wobbly blades.
I've bought my grandfather two slipjoints in the past year, one a Case Canoe Ltd Edition with the blue scales, and a small Boker Tree Brand with bone scales. Both times, I went through at least half a dozen knives, and only found one that was "right".
These were not "cheapo" models, but some of the nicer ones at about $60/each (at a place that has pretty low prices, at that).
It has discouraged me from buying similar knives online (usually wouldn't have time to go through the hassle of returns, as I don't buy knives like that for myself, but as gifts).

 

[Raptor]

I feel the same way and I do the same thing when I'm in a knife store.
That is your major advantage of buying from a B&M store vs online.

I have found small variations with almost every knife model that I have looked at/inspected. It's not generally a problem with me but I do like to compare and get the one that feels and looks good to me. Why not?? Most shop owners will understand that some of us are more picky than others.
The people I find strange are the ones that can't see these small differences or don't care to look.

--The Raptor--

 

[Cosmic Superchunk]

I think most production knives will show slight variations on the same model. some more than others, especially on low end knives. The worst I've ever seen is on the Schrade Lake & Walker knife. I've seen various samples of this knife and the fit and finish varied from tolerable to outright awful. Also, some will show a slight degree of blade play to extreme wobble. The lockup has been crappy on various samples I saw to the point where you have to ask yourself, who is really going to want to buy this knife? Again, I've seen slight variations on same model knives from several manufacturers like Buck, Gerber, CRKT and even Emerson Knives, but nothing as bad as what I've seen with Schrade.

 

[cpirtle]

I have had pretty bad luck lately getting production knives that I felt were up to par. IMO the worst QC in the lines I have seen have been the BM 710's and MT M-SOCOM's. Both are excellent knives but I had a hard time finding ones that I thought were acceptable.

I don't have the luxury of going to B&M's since there are almost 0 in my area, the one I know of sells at list. So now I rely on asking the dealer to inspect prior to shipping.