That one bad experience that totally ruined the brand for you.

I've lost interest in certain brands but never because of one experience. I'm willing to give a manufacturer the opportunity to rectify a problem. Sometimes more than one chance if I like the knife enough.
 
Condor.

Was looking for a Parang for woodwork.
Found one by Condor, carbon steel, reasonable price...

The reality was a dull piece of steel, steep grind so lots of regrind needed.
Once its sharp it dulls by looking at it.
Not talking about the handle. Rough, sharp edges...

Never again.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
The large Sebenza 31 nearly "cured" me of my CRK addiction due to the heavy detent and "Sebenza thumb". But, it turned out that I really dig the Inkosi. Wouldn't have bought an Inkosi if the 31 wasn't such a bear to break in.

It all worked out in the end, and they are still getting my money.
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Felt the same way about my one n only 31. But I will say that once it broke in it is now an absolute joy to use. As you said the break in period was rough but made it endearing once broken in. Absolutely agree on the inkosi, really the only crk I need, well one of every version of them! Lol
 
Kizer Begleiter for me. I purchased this knife because I liked the way it looked. Anyways, it wouldnt lockup at all. No more Kizers for me.
 
I won't be acquiring anymore ZT's after having a relatively decent sample pool; the last straw was a 0556 that is unusable with horrible lock rock and a non-existent detent. The steel seemed incredibly soft as well, not sure what they claim the HRC to be; but it felt/performed like butter in use.
 
Jake hoback…. Passive aggressive response over concerns and calling his customer dumb brought him and the whole brand down the drain, plus, he is a prick. I was a huge fan but not so much after that sour experience. Also, not fan of made in china stuff so there’s that after the cat is out of the bag.
 
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I bought a Spyderco Native about 15 years ago. I hated it. The handle was not comfortable and I couldn't get used to the Spydie hole in the blade. Just my opinion though.
 
I still buy Spyderco, but will never use their warranty again. I tried to get warranty work on an original PM1 with vertical play. I forget the wording, but they blamed me. New, the lock travelled all the way to the other side.

They offered 15% off MSRP on a new knife and sent mine back after grinding a notch in the blade (and sharpening after I specifically asked them not to). It was not a great experience.
 
jux t said:
I still buy Spyderco, but will never use their warranty again. I tried to get warranty work on an original PM1 with vertical play. I forget the wording, but they blamed me. New, the lock travelled all the way to the other side.

They offered 15% off MSRP on a new knife and sent mine back after grinding a notch in the blade (and sharpening after I specifically asked them not to). It was not a great experience.
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Spyderco for me as well. I’ve had multiple bad experiences with warranty. They never have taken care of anything i’ve had a problem with and its been a few. I don’t own any currently and have no plans to buy more.
 
CKRT. In the late 90s I bought an m16 that had steel so soft you'de have thought it was made of pewter. Loved the design but it would dull on a couple cuts of cardboard. Tried a different CKRT and same issue. They may have used AUS4 at the time. Ive heard they are better but I still cant bring myself to do it.
 
A well known maker sent me a beautiful knife that basically had no cutting edge at all. The maker was very nonchalant about it, stating he had recently changed his process and had other complaints about the same thing. He makes beautiful knives but I won’t buy another.
 
Camillus. I grabbed one of their cheaper ones awhile back just to bring an order up over $100 for the free shipping. Had the worst case of lock stick I’ve ever seen. The more I tried to wear it in, the worse it got. Frustration finally got the better of me and it met a very tragic and violent end. I probably shouldn’t impugn a whole brand because of one bad cheap example, but it left a bad enough taste that I most likely won’t be buying any more of them.

Ironically, the other (relatively) cheapie I got in that order, a Begg Mini Glimpse, turned out to be a very nice get.
 
This reminds me of an experience I had with a very popular maker, their handle material was separating from the knife (it was epoxy'd) I contacted the maker and he told me it's a known problem and that he'd only fix it once. Rolls eyes.
 
Strider: I was interested in the folders. Once I found out about the stolen valor, it completely ruined it for me. My father is a 2/75 Ranger and still has problems adjusting to this day, so I take our Veterans very seriously. Hoback and Survive are dishonorable mentions as well.
 
Reswob said:
I hear ya, but you're missing out. Once they started putting the right springs in them, the Launch series is fantastic
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Agree! The 3 different launches I've owned have been fantastic both in quality and in action. IMHO they knock up with others on higher lvl price tier.

A.L. said:
Fällkniven. Chippy knife that just chipped away. When I asked Fällkniven they said I was poo poo head and that I’m wrong.
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Shucks, happened to me too with the NL5. Was super excited about this knife and love immensely the ergos but blade chipped on me as well within 3 months.

jacobconroy75 said:
The large Sebenza 31 nearly "cured" me of my CRK addiction due to the heavy detent and "Sebenza thumb". But, it turned out that I really dig the Inkosi. Wouldn't have bought an Inkosi if the 31 wasn't such a bear to break in.

It all worked out in the end, and they are still getting my money.
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Yep, went the same route and found out the Inkosi just has better ergonomics. I get not everyone likes a knife where your grip is locked in and I still love the classic hardware on the 31's but if CRK started making an "Inkosi 31" (an inkosi plus hardware of the 31) I'd probably gift wrap my money in bundles. :D

1911bphil said:
I bought a Spyderco Native about 15 years ago. I hated it. The handle was not comfortable and I couldn't get used to the Spydie hole in the blade. Just my opinion though.
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Same. Was pumped hearing all the good reviews and the knife itself seemed more asthetic than others but in hand, just felt so off. Too bad as had a nice CF version.
 
Randall Made Knives:

Bought one for our son back in 2000. Waited four years and a bit. Paid for it " . . .more than a good bird dog . . ." as I have heard it said in West Virginia. Bought it on perceived reputation, knife lore and Chrisma (there is a longish poem).

It finally came and was given tyo the new Lieutenant at Twenty-Niine Palms as his unit began a serious training work up prior to deploying to Iraq in 2004. A few weeks later I was told that it was too shiney to take on a field training exercise in the desert. Twenty years later now, it is not clear in my mind if this came from someone iin the training cadre or from the young man himself. I got the Kinfe back and contacted the folks at Randall via e-mail and phone. I was asking for some OEM dulling treatment that was condoned by Randall Made. They said no. I asked for an off-site shop recommendation from them. They said no. I asked for a recommended treatment method I could arrange for myself. They said no. They had no interest in this issue.

At a time when the "Global War on Terror" was an everyday real thing, they were non-responsive. At a time when about every knifemaking outfit offered their tactical models with some form of anti-glinty treatment, Randall Mafe adamantly would not. Eventually I got with a local gunsmith who bead blasted the Randall polish down to a uniform dull grey. He wouldn't take my money.

I consider this to be a customer service deal breaker for me with Randall Made for any other purchase going forward.
 
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2 bad experiences, same brand.
Benchmade.

Ordered a 940 and bugout, I believe knifecenter or bladehq.
Both came with very dull edges, and play in the pivot. Also felt kind of cheap.

I put it on my KME and found the bevel angles to be all over the place on both blades. At the prices they were, this was not tolerable for me. Sold them as used right away, losing money.
 
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