Strange Knife Brand hangups?

bobusx

bobusx

Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
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I was just thinking about some of my weird hangups when it comes to knives. I find that I associate certain features with certain brands, and I won't buy knives of that brand unless it has the feature. I even cringe inside when someone else on the forums buys one of the following brands without that feature, even if it is unreasonable. :o Here they are:

Benchmade's must have an Axis Lock, no matter how nice it looks or feels, I won't buy one unless it has an Axis Lock.

Kershaw's and Assisted Opening/Speed Safe. I won't buy any Kershaw unless its an AO, and I won't buy any AO knife that is not a Kershaw.

Spyderco and non G-10 or FRN handles. If its a Spyderco with a metal handle, I don't care, whether its Stainless Steel or Titanium, it goes right off the list. If I see one with wood or bone or something, right off the list too. I don't own any with Carbon Fiber, but I would still consider it at this point. I think I associate Spyderco with really light weight for blade size, and this gets messed up by heavy metal handles.

So, am I all alone in this, or do you guys have any Brand/Feature hangups that really stick for you?
 
Those are strange knife brand hang ups. ;)
I used to be hung up on aesthetics but nowadays ergos are more of a deciding factor.
 
I do agree I have some of the same hang-ups.

Non Axis BM are like Vegi-burgers. It's missing that essential ingredient that makes it a BM.

Heavy Spydies are generally off my list. The Gayle Bradley is the only exception to this rule. I also avoid steel handled ones.

I do have other non-brand specific hang-ups. Lately, every knife I buy has a thumbhole. Good ergos trump aesthetics every time.
 
Weird, but I have to think that I've subconsciously done the same thing, especially with Kershaw and Benchmade and the examples you've listed. I think through my collection, and find that I've done just as you have, without even realizing it! Weird...

I have one non-assisted Kershaw (JYDII SG2), and I find myself thinking of it not as a Kershaw, like all my others. I also don't own ANY Kershaws that were not designed by Ken Onion, other than the JYDII SG2 Titanium. Weird again...:o

Off to ponder the complexities of my subconscious mind...:rolleyes:

DD
 
I will not buy a Buck folder unless I can handle it first. This includes clamshell packaging.

I cannot stand that almost every Buck folder I have bought has a severly offcenter blade, and with time it ends up getting worse.
 
I love Buck pocket knives. I would love to try one of the new ones. All mine have swedges and long pulls, new ones don't. Just can't love the look of the new ones.
 
I associate "too expensive" with Benchmade.

I associate crazy recurves, AO, and mafioso-style knives with Kershaw.

I associate "weapon" with every Cold Steel, but that's their own fault lol
 
Eye Brand Carl Schleiper, I cannot look at the tang stamp eye. It is rough, because they are great knives. I cannot purchase anything Cold Steel or Strider and feel good about it. Emerson with the round thumb stud screwed into the top of the blade is just odd. Spyderco used to be on the list due to the shape of them, but now Spyderco is a favorite. Lobster pen knives also are repulsive to me.
 
Interesting. I won't buy a benchmade if it has an axis lock. Other makers with their own versions of the axis lock is fine by me, but I'll never own another Benchmade Axis lock knife. Something about it is just not natural for me to use.
I generally associate Cold Steel with inexpensive but functional tools. (Aside from the tacti-cool stuff)
SOG I associate with junky but very visually appealing folders, And pretty nice, but over priced fixed blades.
Spyderco of course spyder-hole
Kershaw I generally think "good deal"
 
I like Spydercos but prefer thumb studs instead of the Spydie Hole. With Benchmades I wish they had more backlocks instead of all Axis or liner locks. I guess that's about it for my strange brand hangups.
 
THG said:
I associate "too expensive" with Benchmade.

I associate crazy recurves, AO, and mafioso-style knives with Kershaw.

I associate "weapon" with every Cold Steel, but that's their own fault lol
Click to expand...


"Kershaw Mafia? I know nothing about any Kershaw Mafia"!
 
Benchmade's must have an Axis Lock, no matter how nice it looks or feels, I won't buy one unless it has an Axis Lock.

Spyderco and non G-10 or FRN handles. If its a Spyderco with a metal handle, I don't care, whether its Stainless Steel or Titanium, it goes right off the list. If I see one with wood or bone or something, right off the list too. I don't own any with Carbon Fiber, but I would still consider it at this point. I think I associate Spyderco with really light weight for blade size, and this gets messed up by heavy metal handles.
Click to expand...

I'm right there with you on these two except NO FRN, must have G-10 or CF on the Spydies!
 
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These are my quick associations:

Spyderco: Awesome, daring designs. Represents the hawkbill well!

Benchmade: Fantastic axis lock. Worth the higher price for such good quality.

Kershaw: Great designs (spec bump looks fantastic), but if it isn't lefty friendly, I ain't buyin'. Also, tons of AOs, which I don't care for.

Sog: Very cool designs, but price too high considering materials used.

Cold Steel: Rediculous videos, tons of weapons that became obsolete hundreds of years ago.

Chris Reeves: When I get a higher paying job perhaps I'll reward myself with one. Othewise, I'll just ogle over the pictures.

Emerson: No lefty-friendly = no go. Also, price is a bit higher than I would like.

Gerber: Used to be good, now it's trash.

Buck: Vantage pro is good value, but I need more lefty friendly knives to focus on them more.

ESEE: Awesome fixed blades!!!

My personal preferences:

Must be at least 3.5"
Must be lefty friendly
Must not be FRN
Must not weigh more than 5 ounces
Must not be AO
Must not be combo edge
 
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Spyderco: I dont like em unless they have the spyderhole

Benchmade: I like the framelocks and axis locks (mainly axis locks)

Chris reeve: I love the Sebenza, but plain jane only--not a fan of the inlays for some reason

Emerson: Like the non-chisel grinds but dont own one yet

SOG- Hate em in every way

Cold Steel- Another company I just will never buy from. Just a joke and an insult to knives IMO

So I got some hangup :)
 
I guess my answer is nil.
If I like the way a knife looks, I buy it.
Doesn't matter to me what type of lock, handle materials, A/O or not, hole, stud, sprinkles etc...

You guys are crazy
 
Except for these:

Spyderco - every model uses the same blade
Boker - gonna have to send it back for F&F issues
Kershaw - no AO no happy, AO = flicking fun
ZT - gonna love it
Strider - tulip bulbs
Benchmade - I want
CRK - I need
 
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