Things you like in theory, but not in practice

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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Jan 12, 2013
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I've found there are a few characteristics of knives that seem desirable to me, but, once I actually have a knife with that characteristic and try to use it, I find I'm actually just not into it at all.

The foremost example I can think of is that of dagger grinds. I have owned something like a dozen dagger-ground folders, and I always end up eschewing them in favor of other knives because of a combination of (1) having nowhere to put my thumb and (2) the knife looking overly stabtastic. I'm talking Paragon Warlock, Stedemon Han, even a full custom fixed blade I had ordered. I very nearly bought a Cold Steel Tai Pan, but just barely managed to talk myself out of that.

Another one is that of clip points, which is actually what prompted me to make this thread. I have one of the newer S35vn DLC clip point Cold Steel Recon 1s on its way to me, slated for delivery today, and I'm suddenly having flashbacks of the Emerson CQC-13, Cold Steel Espada, and Kershaw-Emerson CQC-10K that I was disproportionately excited about the delivery of when compared to how immediately I disliked carrying them. The tip always seemed too delicate, and the blade shape always seemed awkward as the tip had too much curvature to it.*

*I'm less worried about the Recon 1, since the tip is notably less swept back than the aforementioned models, but... I have concerns, nonetheless.

What are some knife characteristics you think you want, but dislike in practice?
 
I find double edge dagger designs really interesting purely from a knife hobbyist point of view. From a practical point of view I see little need for such in my life. I went through the dagger stage maybe 25 years ago. The sharpened false edge is primarily what keeps me for ever using a couple Randall's I own. I know why they're on the knife and the reason doesn't really fit into my normal knife carrying requirements.

I like the blade shape of the Cold Steel Recon 1. I generally like clip points and often because they are a little pointy versus a drop point design. Clip points are useful for opening store packaging (clam shell). I don't generally do much of anything that would break the point typically, but it could happen.

The feature on modern knives that I often buy that after I get the knife am luke warm with are thumb studs.

I have my preferences. Non-metal handles are one of them, but was really impressed with the feel of the new Benchmade Mini Presidio II which has metal handles. It has a thumb stud but it isn't very obtrusive in design, just enough. So, although I have preferences, I deviate from those from time to time.
 
Finger grooves - Handsome looking, but I much rather just a grip with more mid-belly. Also annoying if you need to cut edge up.

Sawbacks/Serrated backs - Useful in theory, neat in looks, but ho-hum in practice. I'd much rather add a Swiss Army with saw, or other type of survival saw to my gear than bother with one.
 
Eh, honestly....fixed blades in general. There are a bunch I like, I can totally see the use and practically of them, but I can't really bring myself to getting one for an EDC, I admit I like a bit of fun/fidget factor with a knife and I like the space saving a folder brings, so I know whatever fixed blade I get I'd end up not carrying it.
 
b00n said:
Eh, honestly....fixed blades in general. There are a bunch I like, I can totally see the use and practically of them, but I can't really bring myself to getting one for an EDC, I admit I like a bit of fun/fidget factor with a knife and I like the space saving a folder brings, so I know whatever fixed blade I get I'd end up not carrying it.
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I can relate to that to some degree; the fixed blades that appeal to me are largely impractical for EDC, and finding fixed blades that I’ll actually carry is fairly difficult. In-pocket fixed blades are pretty much my only real consideration these days.
 
Comeuppance said:
I can relate to that to some degree; the fixed blades that appeal to me are largely impractical for EDC, and finding fixed blades that I’ll actually carry is fairly difficult. In-pocket fixed blades are pretty much my only real consideration these days.
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Open carry laws in California make them wholly impractical for me to carry, but I still buy em. They only see use in the home and its good to have em just in case. I guess that is good enough for me.

This is actually a very hard question for me. I dont think I truly have come across something I liked on paper but not in practice. Maybe the wave. I dont always intend to deploy a knife when I pull it out, like when I’m showing someone or putting it away, or just to look at it, but with the wave, it deploys anyways. Typically, I can deploy fast without it.
 
Dfunk1210 said:
Maybe the wave. I dont always intend to deploy a knife when I pull it out, like when I’m showing someone or putting it away, or just to look at it, but with the wave, it deploys anyways. Typically, I can deploy fast without it.
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I carry a waved knife everyday, I never "wave" it open. I could, but I don't. I do have to be conscientious pulling it out of my pocket or I'll have a partially open knife.
 
Neck knives. Seems like it would be a great place to carry a small fixed blade for ambidextrous use but it's very indiscreet. If you try to make it discreet, it then becomes impractical to draw.
 
SpySmasher said:
Neck knives. Seems like it would be a great place to carry a small fixed blade for ambidextrous use but it's very indiscreet. If you try to make it discreet, it then becomes impractical to draw.
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I was going to agree with you (which I do), but then I realized based on the OP's criteria these never seem like a good idea to me.
 
jceckrosh said:
I carry a waved knife everyday, I never "wave" it open. I could, but I don't. I do have to be conscientious pulling it out of my pocket or I'll have a partially open knife.
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That really is what I’m talking about. Or at times I’m sitting and the pocket is tight. It’ll snag at times you don’t want it to. It’s happen to me a bunch of times.

EDIT: Oh, I got it now. The double guard on the CRKT m16-13sf that acts like a wave. This was one of my first knives when I truly got into knives as a hobby. That double guard was all tacticool and everything but man did they get in the way all the time in the pocket. They snagged when you didn’t want too.
 
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1) Assisted opening, especially in the era of bearing pivots
2) Not very tough steels being HT'd for "toughness"...aka Emerson 154CM...call it what it is, soft.
3) Maxamet...it's so rust prone and horribly expensive yet doesn't really outperform other PM HSS in actual use to be worth it. CPM M4, Cruwear etc are better choices and not as costly to all involved.
4) Cerakote as a blade coating...it may be great on guns but it is not on knives!
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Kydex sheaths. I love them on paper and I like many of the practical aspects of them, but I always end up finding leather more comfortable and attractive.
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100% agreed. Any knife I get with a kydex sheath, I assume that I'll end up ponying up for a leather sheath later on.
At one point I even bought a index press, and a bunch of index sheets, rivets, etc... to make my own, but really it doesn't get used. I keep meaning to post it for sale, and i forget... I'll get around to it one of these days.

Pomsbz said:
Smooth metal handles. Look great but my hands don't like the lack of grip.
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This is the other one I agree with. I loved the look and feel of the Cold Steel Code 4, but the lack of traction got me to sell it. Same for a stainless Delica. The only thing I could see it being good for, is if I bought it and had an engraver do something like a gun-style checkering in the metal scales. That would be very cool looking and give good traction. Of course, by the time to you do that, you've more than doubled the cost of a $80 Delica....
 
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