Too much focus on folding mechanism, not as much on the knife?

[jac_solar]

The folding mechanism, and the fact that it folds, are the most interesting aspects of a folder; and probably among the main reasons why someone would pick up a folder. As long as a review goes into the basics of the grind, handle comfort and its cutting performance, it's ok if the review is mostly about the folding mechanism.

Also, the grind and cutting performance can be changed at home. Even handle comfort to some degree. The folding mechanism can't. A fixed blade is a comparatively much more straightforward "cutting tool" -- handle, sheath, blade. A folder is the sheath, has a handle, blade, pivot, backstops, liner/frame/axis/button/back lock.

 

[marcinek]

Not at all. ...
Its like a folder becomes less of a knife because it folds.

Not at all. It becomes MORE of something that folds. Hence the importance of reviewing its folding.

And as has been mentioned before, you can tell how a blade cuts by looking at its geometry, and you are going to have to sharpen it eventually anyway.

 

[Klutz]

I like what I heard long ago: The edge is the technology and everything else is to support the edge.

 

[Czechmate]

I tend to agree with the op, though I had never thought about it. I bought a knife based on many reviews that I later gave away because it was not a good slicer/cutter. Opened great though.

If the knife is not good at being a knife, it does not matter how quickly it opens, how it locks, or how deep the clip is. Few reviews show the cutting ability, most sit there and flip endlessly while they talk.

The value of a tool shows in it's use... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Regardless of price point, materials used, lock mechanism or looks; cutting performance trumps everything in a folding knife IMHO.

Everything else is just icing on the cake but it doesn't stop people from designing overly thick folder blades with obtuse grinds and terrible blade to handle ratios... YMMV.

 

[Czechmate]

The folding mechanism, and the fact that it folds, are the most interesting aspects of a folder; and probably among the main reasons why someone would pick up a folder. As long as a review goes into the basics of the grind, handle comfort and its cutting performance, it's ok if the review is mostly about the folding mechanism.

Also, the grind and cutting performance can be changed at home. Even handle comfort to some degree. The folding mechanism can't. A fixed blade is a comparatively much more straightforward "cutting tool" -- handle, sheath, blade. A folder is the sheath, has a handle, blade, pivot, backstops, liner/frame/axis/button/back lock.

All folders fold, thus making them folders... So that's the most interesting part of the knife? I'm confused. All of em have a pivot point LOL just different hardware for the pivots or the addition of bearings versus PB or teflon washers around the pivot.

All folders lock, except for the ones with no locks; that's more interesting as lock differences in folders in concert with the pivot are what create the desirable action some folks lust for.

 

[K.O.D.]

First off, I'll mention I have adhd.

With folders, for me, the most important aspects are how fun it is to open and close. I'm a desk jockey for a living, and when business is slow and I'm bored I sit around flicking my folders open and closed. Its that fun factor that attracts me. Opening mail and packages is the heaviest duty my knives see. Handle design is next most important as I have hands that rival the Incredible Hulk's. Steel is the next, then lock design.

As far as locks go, I'm really sick of frame and liner locks. They're old news. Sure, of the 10 folders I own, 5 are frame or liner locks. I understand the beauty in their simplicity, but I just don't like putting my fingers where the blade is going.

 

[jrawk]

For me as a lefty, I zero in on reviews that detail ergonomics and carry options more than how well the blade cuts paper, cardboard, feather sticks, and fruit. Just about any blade on a folder will perform those tasks, given a properly sharpened edge (which I can always fix myself).

 

[jrawk]

If the folding is the point, than my morning commute to work is more important than what I do at work. The focus on carrying and speed of opening suggests that folders are primarily valued for defense; not cutting, chopping, scraping, etc.

You must not live in the snowy north. In no way is performing my daily job more important than my safety on my commute to work. If my car ain't safe to drive, i'm finding a different way to get to work or i'm not going.

 

[Woodcamo Nut]

People buy folders because they fold. So, reviewing a folder's folding makes perfect sense to me. Seems reasonable.

In my case I only buy folders because fixed blades are not legal to conceal in my pocket. If there was no regulations on fixed blades I wouldn't even carry a folder.

 

[jac_solar]

All folders fold, thus making them folders... So that's the most interesting part of the knife? I'm confused. All of em have a pivot point LOL just different hardware for the pivots or the addition of bearings versus PB or teflon washers around the pivot.

All folders lock, except for the ones with no locks; that's more interesting as lock differences in folders in concert with the pivot are what create the desirable action some folks lust for.

What is confusing to you? Yes, the folding aspect is the most interesting element of a folder, or at least one of the main reasons why people like them, would buy them, instead of a fixed blade.

Also, folders have different pivots, and the action depends on what kind of pivot it is -- so, discussing the folding action is an important point in any folder review.

 

[Shotgun]

The folding mechanism, and the fact that it folds, are the most interesting aspects of a folder; and probably among the main reasons why someone would pick up a folder. As long as a review goes into the basics of the grind, handle comfort and its cutting performance, it's ok if the review is mostly about the folding mechanism.

I guess this is the difference between collectors and users. The two most important aspects for me is blade geometry and overall ergonomics of the knife. Locking mechanism a distant 3rd. How smooth it folds or what mechanism it uses to fold is really the least important feature of a knife to me. To put it another way, the fanciest knife with the smoothest operation is completely useless if a cheap knife with a basic folding mechanism can out cut the crap out of it. Different reasons for buying a knife I guess.

 

[ToddM]

It's because most knives of good quality will cut pretty darn well, certainly some will cut better, but it's very subjective depending on what you cut. Steel XXX might hold an edge for a long time but be difficult to field sharpen, it might be too brittle for field abuse, or it rusts, etc. A very thin edge might slice amazingly but be easily damaged. Folding knives have become as much (I'd say more) of a fashion statement now than a utility device.

Even head to head cutting performance stats are of questionable usefulness, and they usually meet with a lots of resistance/complaints. For example, all the blades need to be sharpened to the same angles, cut the same material, etc. to be a head to head comparison tests the blade steel, but not necessarily how well it will work for what you want to cut. I do think that cutting tests and also hardness testing is valuable information, but it's only a small piece depending on how you use your knives.

Even something as simple as sharpening to the same angle is an issue, perhaps I want thin folding knife I won't abuse sharpened to 10 degrees per side for amazing slicing ability because I cut foam all day. It's certainly going to slice much better than the same blade sharpened to 20 degrees per side. However, the first heavy staple I hit in a shipping box is going to significantly damage that 10 degree blade.

 

[Czechmate]

What is confusing to you? Yes, the folding aspect is the most interesting element of a folder, or at least one of the main reasons why people like them, would buy them, instead of a fixed blade.

Also, folders have different pivots, and the action depends on what kind of pivot it is -- so, discussing the folding action is an important point in any folder review.

So, if I read this correctly the mere fact that the knife folds trumps materials used, utility, design, performance, price point etc?...

Reminds me of that FFK Knife that we heard so much about a while back; it's the best of both worlds and would solve this argument err, discussion altogether.

I also mentioned folders have different pivots too so we agree on that. :thumbup: One might say that a pivot is pivotal for a folder to be considered a folder for fear that it be confused with a fixed blade. :foot:

 

[RX-79G]

 

[KennyB]

Discussing things about why a distal taper or a hollow grind or one thing or the other doesn't convey a lot of information. Even if I told you that a blade had a distal taper for example, that doesn't really tell you anything about how the knife will feel when it performs, it just helps to describe the overall shape of the knife. You would still have to try it yourself, and it would be subjective and heavily susceptible to opinion, so the simple thing to say is "I like the way it cuts," rather than talk about various parts and functions of the blade itself.

Such nuanced discussions are better suited for people making knives rather than people using knives.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

So, if I read this correctly the mere fact that the knife folds trumps materials used, utility, design, performance, price point etc?...

I think it's more like... if you're looking to buy a folder, and you're either in a store or online, you would likely ignore a fixed blade and pay attention to a folder. Yes, even if the folder's overall quality isn't anywere near that of the fixed blade. Doesn't mean you'd BUY the crappy Tac-Force folder, but you likely won't buy a Cold Steel Trail Master or something similar if you're not looking for a fixed blade.

Reminds me of that FFK Knife that we heard so much about a while back; it's the best of both worlds and would solve this argument err, discussion altogether.

I also mentioned folders have different pivots too so we agree on that. :thumbup: One might say that a pivot is pivotal for a folder to be considered a folder for fear that it be confused with a fixed blade. :foot:

Oh man I completely forgot about FFK, thanks for the reminder. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Discussing things about why a distal taper or a hollow grind or one thing or the other doesn't convey a lot of information. Even if I told you that a blade had a distal taper for example, that doesn't really tell you anything about how the knife will feel when it performs, it just helps to describe the overall shape of the knife. You would still have to try it yourself, and it would be subjective and heavily susceptible to opinion, so the simple thing to say is "I like the way it cuts," rather than talk about various parts and functions of the blade itself.

Such nuanced discussions are better suited for people making knives rather than people using knives.

I disagree, discussing things like a distal taper and hollow grind can convey a huge amount of information if paired with accurate measurements. Problem is, most of us aren't equipped to translate that information. Primary grinds have a pretty major influence on cutting performance and that is going to be consistent despite different manufacturers or blade steels. I really do wish every reviewer would take the time and money to A. Buy a decent set of calipers and B. Measure the actual thickness of the spine at the heel, midway and at the tip, and also the thickness behind the edge in those three places. That alone would give some pretty serious clues as to how the knife will perform. It would also, if we had enough people doing it on the same knives, let us determine with some accuracy what the standard deviation in those measurements would be, which would help determine how much performance could differ from one knife to the next.

 

[jac_solar]

So, if I read this correctly the mere fact that the knife folds trumps materials used, utility, design, performance, price point etc?...

Reminds me of that FFK Knife that we heard so much about a while back; it's the best of both worlds and would solve this argument err, discussion altogether.

I also mentioned folders have different pivots too so we agree on that. :thumbup: One might say that a pivot is pivotal for a folder to be considered a folder for fear that it be confused with a fixed blade. :foot:

No, I'm not saying it trumps all those things, just that it needs, at the very least, to be well done. The folding mechanism of a folder is an essential part of it, it's what makes it a folder, and if that mechanism is poorly done, it doesn't really matter what sort of design, performance, materials it uses.

 

[RX-79G]

No, I'm not saying it trumps all those things, just that it needs, at the very least, to be well done. The folding mechanism of a folder is an essential part of it, it's what makes it a folder, and if that mechanism is poorly done, it doesn't really matter what sort of design, performance, materials it uses.

What do you mean by poorly done? Poor quality is always bad, but what if a knife's mechanism is basic, slow, or requires two hands, like a Buck 110 or Opinel?

What happens when the Buck or Opinel end up actually being more useful as knives than a ZT or Benchmade? (For instance, not actually claiming they are.)


Aside from bored husbands driving their wives crazy flicking knives on the sofa, is the true measure of a good folder the 1-2 seconds it takes to get them into action, or what they will do once they are deployed?

 

[B34NS]

It is going to be one of the parts that will require future maintenance .